I'm trying to plan out a General African Militia force for a Mogadishu type scenario, African Warlord controling Militia clans etc, possibly backed up by a cadre of Crusties aka District 9. Figures possibly by Peter Pig's AK47 range and Old Glory's 15mm Modern Ireegulars.

Technicals will be provided by Old crow's range of Hammers Slammers, i'm thinking a slight upgarde on the trusty pick up, but certainly not Anti Grav, however they will provide speed and a punch with Heavy Mg and Recoiless Rifles.

So far so good, the problem i'm having is that i want to add one or two tanks to the force to give my opponents something to think about. Going on the concept of poorer nations buying surplus dated stock, by about the time of the Tomorrow's war scenarios what would Militia be using, to me seeing Militia in Leapard 2's and M1 Abrams does'nt seem right. Would kitting them out with an aged T 72 or T80 be too archaic?



Any suggestions appreciated, cheers guys.

I wouldn't think so, perhaps you add something like a CWIS or turret mounted ATGM to a) dirty it up, and b) not make it IMMEDIATELY recognizeable.

To my opinion it would be like if nowadays militia were using muskets rather than AKs and horse carts rather than technicals. But heavily modified/kit bashed models of modern tanks could do the job, as long, as Jason says, they are not immediately/easily recognizeable.

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"That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach." - Aldous Huxley

Seconded. Whilst militia forces may stereotypically not be particularly good with the maintenance needed by the increasingly sophisticated requirements of armoured warfare, especially in TW, there's probably someone selling downgraded equipment to them or local production of old equipment with new armour packages slapped on and so on.

On the other hand, it's been made very clear with the coverage of the war in Libya last year just how innovative militias with skilled engineers can get; so there's room (if your setting allows) for some cobbled together versions of equipment used by higher tech level powers, or rigging up of salvaged equipment for just long enough for it to be dangerous to both sides.

So I'd go with something near-future sci-fi looking MBT or even IFV, but then stick on additional armour plates, have new systems rigged to the outside with visible cables and basically anything you can do to make it look rickety whilst remaining sci-fi (tri-barrel powerguns from the Slammer's stuff would be perfect here) to make it fit with the militia look of things.