The United States Marine Corps in the Great Martian War

The United States Marine Corps plays a critical role in the war against the Martians. They are the
primary projection of power of the US Navy on land. The Navy is tasked to defend the Mississippi River
Valley, support the war through logistical transport, and take the fight to the Martians by harrying them
in occupied territories along the coast lines of America. In addition, the US Navy is often found in
support of the forces of Great Britain all over the world as part of the Great Alliance. You can find
Naval and US Marine forces fighting alongside the British from Canada to India, Southeast Asia to the
Middle East, and so on.

While the rest of the US armed forces rely on the National Draft to fill their ranks, the Marine Corps is
an all volunteer force and, on average, receives twice the training of army combat troops both physically
and mentally before deployment.

Special Rule: Courageous - US Marines are famous for their courage and dogged determination and add
+1 to all Morale rolls.
Marine Corp Forces are commanded by their own officers but have several naval personnel attached such
as medics, signalmen, and Ensigns. In keeping with their elite stats, most Marine Corp forces fly the
Marine Corp flag in combat.

Units: 1 Element

Points per unit: 40

Type Speed Defense Armor Special

Infantry 6” 5 4 Stealth, Courageous

Weaponry Range Power Special

Rifles 15”
Units: 6 Elements (3 Assault Teams and 3 Fire Teams)

Points per unit: 75

The basic US Marine squad is made of highly trained and highly motivated men. Equipped with
Springfield rifles and grenades like their army counterparts, Marine Squads are divided into two distinct
teams. One team carries a pump action shotgun and the other carries the new Marlin Browning
Automatic Rifle. This combination of weapons and their training make them close assault specialists
against enemy infantry AND give them a bit more firepower than a typical army squad. It’s particularly
effective in their role of hit-and-run raids along the coast and the Mississippi River. During these raids
against Martian forward positions, the Marines often encounter Martian Drones and Lobototons up close.
A Marine Fire Team element rolls one dice for rifle fire when shooting and two additional dice for the
Automatic Rifle. A Marine Assault Squad, with grenades and a Shot gun, gains a +3 Power in Assault
against enemy infantry and, of course, can fire their rifles in the Fire Phase.

In the Firing Phase, this means a full Marine platoon rolls 6 dice for rifle fire and 6 dice for the rapid
firing automatic rifles.

Type Speed Defense Armor Special

Infantry 6” 5 4 Stealth, Courageous

Weaponry Range Power Special

Rifles 15”

Marlin Browning 15” Rapid Fire 2

Grenades, Shotguns Assault +2 (+3) (+3 Power against Infantry)

Units: 3 Elements

Points per unit: 40

Marine Sniper teams consist of two men, one a spotter and the actual Sniper. The team uses a Jackson
Sharp .50 caliber long rifle with a scope. It’s a bolt action weapon that fires a high velocity large caliber
round and it’s accurate at considerable ranges. Marine Snipers are especially trained to fire on vulnerable
parts of Martian machines to cause the maximum amount of damage. In game terms, Marine Sniper’s
accuracy allows them to reroll once if they miss on the first shot.

Type Speed Defense Armor Special

Infantry 6” 5 4 Stealth, Courageous

Weaponry Range Power Special

Sniper Rifle 20” +1 May Reroll to hit once.

The Marines make use of heavy machine guns. They are especially important to the Marines as many of
their missions may not allow heavier support in the form of armor or vehicles.

Units: 3 Elements

Points per unit: 45

Type Speed Defense Armor Special

Infantry 6” 5 4 Stealth, Courageous

Weaponry Range Power Special

Machine Gun 20” +1 Rapid Fire 3

Being a rapid strike force and often operating from boats and landing craft in quick hit-and-run raids,
the Marine Corp makes use of mortars. These substitute for tank guns and other forms of cannon that are
more difficult to transport rapidly or by watercraft. They do have the advantage of being stealthy even
though they are of relatively low power against the Martian Machines.

Units: 3 Elements

Points per unit: 45

Type Speed Defense Armor Special

Infantry 6” 5 4 Stealth, Courageous

Weaponry Range Power Special

Mortar 30” +1 Barrage 1

“River Rats” is the nickname given to army and more usually, State Militia troops, assigned to and ferried
about by the Navy for raids and installation protection within America. Essentially, they are just
standard US Infantry units, but have a distinct look as some of their kit is supplied by the navy, as well as
State militia uniform “peculiarities” such as blue helmets and locally sourced uniforms like the infamous
Missouri Whites. Remember that State Militia units have the Courageous rule when fighting in their
home state. (Page 85 Main Rule Book).

Units: 3 Elements

Points per unit: 30

Type Speed Defense Armor Special

Infantry 6” 5 4 Stealth, Courageous

Weaponry Range Power Special

Rifles 15”

Grenades Assault +2
Units: 3 Elements

Points per unit: 40

Type Speed Defense Armor Special

Infantry 6” 5 4 Stealth

Weaponry Range Power Special

Machine Gun 20” +1 Rapid Fire 3

The Battle at Foss Landing

Foss Landing, 1912, is a grand example of the typical role of the US Marines during that phase of the
Martian war. A column of civilian refugees was desperately trying to escape the Martians on the western
side of the Mississippi river. At Foss Landing, the only forces for defense on hand were a platoon of River
Rats from the Missouri State Militia and a single battery of field guns. For the evacuation, the navy
could muster only a single ship (The USS Asbury) for defense and commandeered a civilian river boat for
transport. A full platoon of Marines, with supporting snipers and machine gun teams, was towed to the
location by the Asbury.
 Heat Rays and Black Dust Fill the air overhead…

Civilian Refuges The Rush to the Belle

The Marines had just reached shore and deployed as the Martians emerged from the tree line and began
harvesting the stragglers at the end of the refugee column. Direct Fire from the Asbury destroyed an
Assault Tripod, and Marine Snipers were able to bring down a Slaver Tripod. The Marines assaulted the
drones left leaderless by the loss of the Slaver while, on the opposite flank, the River Rats and Field Guns
tried to stop the Martian Advance with no effect. A Martian Dominator Tripod appeared at the same time
as an Assault Tripod came around the river bend wading close to the shore. Under these conditions, the
Captain of the Southern Belle river boat had no choice but to cast off, leaving dozens of civilians on the
dock. Many leapt into the water and a precious few made it to the side of the Belle where they were
pulled aboard. Several died in the water from scalding steam as the wading tripod Heat rayed them
instead of attacking the Belle.
A Wading Tripod The Dock

The Marines Deploy

As unfortunate as it was for the victims in the water, the Tripod being distracted allowed the Belle to
make it down the River. The Asbury moved back from the Shoreline and continued to pour fire into the
advancing Martians. The Marines and the River Rats made a last stand at the dock, encircling the
surviving civilians, but were all lost to either heat rays or the tentacles of the Harvesters. The Asbury
sailed off with heavy damage from the missiles of the Dominator, but did manage to be repaired and fight
on for another year. Over two hundred civilians were saved on the Southern Belle. Captain Jacobs of the
Marine Corp Landing Force and Lt. Bryan Huckles of the Missouri State militia were both awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor (posthumously) for their actions in saving the civilians.

USS Ashbury

The Southern Belle