USF â Riflemen Support Company
Theme:
Riflemen upgradability (unique and new upgrades)
Unit and Ability Roster
Slot 1: 0 CP â Riflemen Smoke Grenades (RIFLEMEN UNIT ABILITY, 15 MUNITIONS PER USE)
Identical to the M23 smoke grenades currently on the Cavalry Riflemen
Slot 2: 0 CP â M10 "Wolverine" Tank Destroyer (AVAILABLE VIA THE BATTALION COMMAND POST, 300 MP, 80 FUEL, 10 POP. CAP)
Identical to the M10 "Wolverine tank destroyer from Armor Company (
NO veteran vehicle crew though).
Slot 3: 2 CP â Veteran Squad Leaders (RIFLEMEN UNIT UPGRADE, 60 MUNITIONS, ONLY CAN BE UPGRADED ONCE PER SQUAD (I.E. NO 7 MAN RIFLEMEN SQUADS), ADDS 1 POP. CAP TO EACH SQUAD WHICH UPGRADES TO THIS UPGRADE)
Almost identical to the Veteran Squad Leader upgrade on the German Infantry Doctrine on the Wehrmacht faction. The boosts it gives should be slightly reduced compared to the Wehrmacht version. This should take up one single weapon slot space too (i.e. can still pickup one weapon). The squad leader should be the Lieutenant/Captain model, with a M1A1 Thompson or M1 Garand as a weapon (M1A1 Thompson preferably).
Slot 4: 3 CP â Riflemen Assault Package Upgrade (RIFLEMEN UNIT UPGRADE, 70 MUNITIONS)
Identical to Cavalry Riflemen's M1A1 Thompson upgrade, except now it's for basic Riflemen at three command points. This upgrade will give Riflemen the ability to replace two M1 Garands for two M1A1 Thompson submachine guns for increased close range firepower. This upgrade should only cost one weapon slot.
Slot 5: 10 CP â M4 Sherman Calliope (CALL-IN UNIT, 380 MP, 140 FUEL, 15 POP. CAP)
Identical to Tactical Support Company's M4 Sherman Calliope
Strategies and Rational
It probably wouldn't be a meta defining commander, but it would give US forces new abilities to play around with. Cavalry Riflemen will likely still be stronger at close range than basic Riflemen, but basic Riflemen will be better at longer ranges.
Additional Context
Riflemen were, in real life and in-game, the backbone of the US military during WWII. Infantry doctrine (as opposed to German doctrine) was focused around riflemen, rather than machine guns. The United States also used artillery (and airstrikes) very frequently, more so than other nations of the time. So the Calliope emphasizes America's frequent and effective artillery, while all the Riflemen upgrades put emphasis on Riflemen (and adds new routes for upgrades rather than the stale, many years old, M1918/M1919/M9 Bazooka upgrades).