The United States Marine Corps (short form: USMC) is a BLUFOR faction that has been featured in both ArmA: Armed Assault and ArmA 2.
Overview[]
« | Celer, Silens, Mortalis. (Swift, Silent, Deadly.) USMC Force Reconnaissance motto
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Background[]
ArmA: Armed Assault[]
Marines from the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit (27th MEU) consisted of the bulk of reinforcements deployed to the Kingdom of South Sahrani in 2006.[1] At the time of their deployment, the 27th MEU was commanded by Colonel Davis.[2][3]
The 27th MEU were sent to relieve remnants of the U.S. Army advisory force and the RACS after they were pushed all the way to the capital of Paraíso when North Sahrani conducted its full-scale invasion of the South.[4][5][6]
ArmA 2[]
Deployed to the South Zagoria province of Chernarus at the request of the Chernarussian government-in-exile, the Corps' presence in the country consisted of the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit (27th MEU) who operated from bases in neighbouring Grozovia and their lead ship, the USS Khe Sanh (LHD-9), a Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ship based in the Green Sea region.[1][7][8]
A battalion of Force Reconnaissance Marines were also deployed alongside conventional forces. Their primary objective was to provide training, material, and manpower support to the Chernarussian government forces[9], who were being overwhelmed in a civil war fighting against an insurgency that called itself the "Chernarussian Movement of the Red Star" (ChDKZ).[10][11] The 27th MEU was tasked with restoring order to the province back into the hands of the legitimate government-in-exile.[7]
At the time of their deployment to Chernarus, the 27th MEU was commanded by General David Armstrong.[12]
ArmA 2: Operation Arrowhead[]
As part of the UN-mandated, NATO-led Operation Arrowhead[1], Marines from both the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit (27th MEU) and 9th Marine Expeditionary Unit (9th MEU) participated in the first phase of the deployment to Takistan.[13]
The main ground elements from both MEUs were combined into Task Force Bishop. They were based in neighbouring Chernarus as well as off the south-eastern coast of Takistan from the USS Khe Sanh (LHD-9).[13][14]
History[]
Events of Armed Assault (2006)[]
SPOILER ALERT |
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NOTE: This section contains spoilers from ArmA: Armed Assault's 'Armed Assault' campaign. After war broke out between North and South Sahrani, the 27th MEU were immediately dispatched to relieve the outmanned and outgunned U.S. Army garrison. Although the MEU had managed to get within range of South Sahrani by no later than June 12th[15], poor weather conditions temporarily prevented the MEU's aircraft from being able to conduct airstrikes against the SLA.[5][6] Eventually, just as American and South Sahranian troops at the Paraíso International Airport were about to be overrun by the SLA, the MEU's Harrier jets and Viper gunships are cleared to deploy.[16] They arrive in the nick of time to destroy the bulk of incoming SLA armour, blasting a hole in their lines and allowing allied troops to stage a successful breakout.[1][4] The MEU's Abrams MBTs were then shipped onto the shore, where they supported the ongoing breach. However, the northern coast of Paraíso was still too heavily fortified even for the MEU's tanks to assault.[17] USMC special forces, aided by their Army counterparts, infiltrated and sabotaged SLA anti-aircraft defences. Airstrikes then mopped up the rest, allowing their ground forces to proceed directly to Corazol and the other border cities. After two more days of fierce fighting, the South was fully liberated, and control of its northern border was restored.[1][18] When evidence of Northern atrocities is discovered by Southern forces however, the MEU's priorities were reassigned. They were to support a retaliatory invasion of the North instead.[19] The MEU carried out amphibious landings all across Northern shorelines, mainly invading the coastal settlements of Mataredo and Hunapu. By the end of the day the MEU's ground forces, supported by U.S. Army/RACS forces on other fronts[20], completely surrounded and eventually seized the Northern capital of Bagango.[21][22][23] The capture of Northern leader Prime Minister Torrez would set into motion a conclusion to the crisis on Sahrani, and also spelt the beginning of the end for the Communist nation.[1][24] |
Events of the Rahmadi Conflict (2006)[]
SPOILER ALERT |
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NOTE: This section contains spoilers from ArmA: Queen's Gambit 'Rahmadi Conflict' campaign. Despite the routing of the SLA and impending dissolution of North Sahrani, remnants of the SLA successfully fled from mainland following Bagango's capture by allied forces. U.S. intelligence worked around the clock to discover the location of the remnants, who were eventually found hiding on the remote island of Rahmadi off the coast of the Sahrani mainland.[25] As an air assault was simply too risky to attempt, two special forces teams were dispatched under the cover of darkness to prepare for an amphibious assault in the early hours of August 13th instead.[25][26] Both teams successfully sabotaged the coastal defences, and the 27th's ground elements were able to land onto shore safely without further trouble.[27] They quickly established a field camp as they waited for the sun to rise.[28] The camp eventually falls under attack by noon, though the SLA attackers are quickly driven back.[29] Further information comes in after the CIA "interrogates" Torrez, the former Northern leader informing them that he was not the actual leader of the country but rather former President Ramirez was. Ramirez was presumed to have died two years earlier, but he was in fact hiding on Rahmadi.[30] USMC special forces raided the village in which he had been hiding but he was nowhere to be found. An SLA officer captured at the site reveals that Ramirez had already fled on the eve of the invasion and was being relocated to the island of Porto.[31][32] With no time left to spare and Ramirez planning to go into hiding, everything came down to special forces fireteam callsign Nightwolf, who were the closest available unit that could chase down the rogue leader. Upon landing, Nightwolf intercepts a radio message from Ramirez ordering his elite bodyguards to carry out a massacre against Porto's citizens; all in the hopes of delaying the Marines.[33] Fortunately, Nightwolf succeeds in putting a stop to Ramirez's men, and the former President himself is eventually captured by the Marines.[34] His capture spells an end to the flashpoint on Sahrani, and the last traces of the North are eliminated at long last.[35] |
Post-Rahmadi Conflict[]
A year following the war's resolution, U.S. Marines continued to maintain a small presence on the island nation, assisting the new government in rebuilding the wartorn nation, and providing security in the unified Kingdom's northern regions.[1]
However, a few months later, the reigning King Joseph III is killed in an aviation accident alongside his son and first in the line of succession, Crown Prince Orlando. He is immediately succeeded as ruler by the sole heir to the throne, then-Princess Isabella.[1][36]
Isabella's first official decree upon assuming the throne was to mandate the ejection of all foreign troops from the country. As such, the last of the Marine garrison would be fully withdrawn from Sahrani by mid 2007.[1][37]
Events of Operation Harvest Red (2009)[]
Under the commands of its leader, Gregori Lopotev, a powerful insurgency called the "Chernarussian Movement of the Red Star" (ChDKZ) executes the standing Prime Minister of Chernarus, Alexander Baranov, in retaliation for failed negotiations with the Russian government regarding the integration of Chernarus back into the Russian Federation.[1][10]
Lopotev declared that the nation would now be known as the "Chernarussian Socialistic Republic", while the legitimate civilian government was forced into exile. An urgent meeting is called in the UN Security Council by the Russian Federation to discuss the state of the crisis gripping the ex-USSR nation, and to authorise the deployment of Russian peacekeepers into the region.[1][38][39]
Much to Moscow's ire, secret discussions between Washington and Novigrad would result in a USMC-led force being deployed in support of the Chernarussian government.[39] The 27th MEU is mobilised for Operation Harvest Red, tasked with the duty of preventing further civilian casualties in the ongoing fighting between ChDKZ and remnants of the CDF, as well as the elimination of all ChDKZ forces in South Zagoria.[7][11][40][41]
SPOILER ALERT |
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NOTE: This section contains spoilers from ArmA 2's 'Operation Harvest Red' campaign. Shortly before invasion starts, a USMC Force Recon fireteam codenamed Razor Team is deployed to a village on the outskirts of South Zagoria's capital Chernogorsk with the objective of destroying a ChDKZ communications outpost. Along the way, the team discover incriminating evidence of ChDKZ war crimes ranging from mass graves to the torture of the local villagers.[1][42][43][44] After liberating the village, neutralising their communications, and destroying many of their outposts guarding the coast, the full scale invasion begins. Alongside remnants of the CDF, the Marines of the 27th MEU successfully drive out the ChDKZ garrisons in Chernogorsk, Elektrozavodsk, and all other major cities and towns in the southern half of the country.[45][46] Lopotev himself and his aide-de-camp are even captured during fighting, after a raid conducted by Razor Team manages to subdue and restrain them. Before they could be brought back to USMC/CDF lines however, a ChDKZ double agent that had been posing as a CDF officer betrays the team and causes the death of Razor Team's leader, as well as allowing the two leaders to escape into hiding.[1][47][48] Despite the setback, joint USMC/CDF elements continue their push north with extensive counterinsurgency (COIN) operations to scour the region for remaining ChDKZ insurgents. After unsuccessfully tracing several bad leads on Lopotev's possible whereabouts, Razor Team finally manages to track down the position of Mikola Bardak, one of the escapees who initially managed to evade capture. Though Lopotev himself is nowhere to be found, Bardak is successfully prosecuted by U.S. forces and is brought back to the CDF for interrogation.[1] With Bardak in their custody and the southern half of the country liberated, the 27th MEU proceed northward to the regions bordering the Russian Federation to eradicate remaining ChDKZ troops. A large ChDKZ base is eventually discovered and wiped out by U.S. forces, along with valuable intel on the possible location of Lopotev gained in the process.[1][49][50] In the meantime, an "alliance" is even (unofficially) struck between anti-ChDKZ National Party (NAPA) guerrillas and Razor Team, though they are strongly distrusted by the locals who see the American presence as a hindrance rather than help.[51][52] However, a bitter turn of events is reached after news of a terrorist attack in the Russian capital; supposedly carried out by NAPA extremists, injures hundreds and causes the death of many Russian citizens. Denouncing their intervention as being reckless and poorly managed, the Russian Federation demands the removal of all U.S. forces from the region.[1][53] Against their better judgement, their UN-approved mandate is revoked and the 27th MEU is forced to stage a complete withdrawal from the country. Russian forces quickly assume their role as peacekeepers in the region and force the CDF to co-operate with them under the new conditions of their intervention.[1][53] Unknowingly however, the bombing was actually staged by a rogue Russian Spetsnaz agent called "Karelin", a pro-ChDKZ fanatic who intended to force the re-integration of the Chernarussian nation back into folds of the Russian Federation. Just as Razor Team are dispatched to retrieve intel from an informant's house, Karelin's forces engage and destroy the main USMC Forward Operating Base at Manhattan, with almost no survivors remaining aside from Sabre Team's leader who warns them of Russian involvement in his dying breath. With all of the MEU's forces having long since evacuated from the country, Razor Team go into hiding with the help of NAPA guerrillas. They manage to reach CDF lines and under new orders from their captain, receive commands to conduct further black operations in the country to uncover the truth behind the bombing, as well as to bring Lopotev to justice; all the while hiding their presence from the scrutiny of the Russians. With their covert assistance and leadership, Razor Team manage to help the CDF deliver significant blows against the ChDKZ. A formal alliance is also reached with NAPA, who with the addition of evidence retrieved by Razor Team, are proven innocent of the Moscow bombing. Their efforts eventually pay off as Lopotev is finally captured and brought to the Russians as further proof.[54] With overwhelming hard evidence and the tide of politics against them, the UN Security Council unanimously approves the 27th MEU's redeployment into Chernarus as the Russians themselves are forced to withdraw.[1][55][56][57] |
Post-Operation Harvest Red[]
The Chernarussian civil war finally reaches a conclusive end with the help of the 27th MEU. Peace to the wartorn region is achieved at long last, with Marines assisting in the reconstruction and stabilisation efforts to bring the country back to normality over the coming months.[58]
All information regarding Razor Team's involvement is denied on public record, with the deaths of Russian soldiers simply being blamed on the mistakes of low-level commanders.[58][59]
Events of Operation Arrowhead (2012)[]
Three years later, the USMC is once again deployed to support on-going NATO-led operations in the Green Sea region as part of Operation Arrowhead. Following the Takistani government's refusal to back down from its threats to invade its neighbouring country Karzeghistan, the UN Security Council unanimously agrees to a military intervention to forcibly put a stop to the Takistani regime.[1][13]
Ground elements from both the 9th and 27th MEU are formed into Task Force Bishop. They establish staging points on Chernarussian soil along the country's western border, and also position the USS Khe Sanh off the south-eastern coast of Takistan. The deadline eventually passes unheeded on June 1st, 2012[1], and coalition forces carry out a full-scale invasion.[13]
TF Bishop's primary target was the capital city of Takmyr, as well as the coastal cities and settlements located on the country's eastern region. They seized Takistani government facilities and military installations, and eventually occupied the capital after several hours of fierce fighting.[13] The USS Khe Sanh suffered light damage when Takistani gunboats swarmed the MEU's landing forces[60] but were quickly destroyed by a series of airstrikes by the USMC and the Royal Navy.[61][62]
TF Bishop later assisted U.S. Army forces from Task Force Knight, as they prepared to attack the central regions of Takistan. They established forward observation bases near Takmyr and helped to set up FARPs for their aircraft to resupply from.[14]
Equipment[]
ArmA: Armed Assault []
At the height of the Sahrani Conflict, reinforcements from the 27th MEU utilised the latest in American-made military hardware, gadgets and optoelectronic systems.
Almost every Marine is equipped with a set of night vision goggles and mainly wear the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) camouflaged in the Corps' arid version of the MARPAT camouflage pattern.
For ballistic safety, Marines wore coyote brown-coloured Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) vests for chest/torso protection and the Lightweight Helmet (LWH) for headgear, similarly camouflaged in MARPAT Desert.
ArmA 2[]
For their deployment to Chernarus (Operation Harvest Red), Marines of the 27th MEU continue to wear both the MCCUU and Lightweight Helmets, though both are now concealed by the Corps' iconic digital woodland MARPAT camouflage as the latter is better suited for Chernarus' forested environment.
For torso protection, Marines now wear the modernised Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) as their standard-issue body armour. MTVs are coloured in either coyote brown or are camouflaged in MARPAT Woodland. Specialist and ammo bearer Marines also carry Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) rucksacks and kitbags for storing heavy equipment.
Arsenal[]
Armoury[]
Motor Pool[]
Vehicle | Role | Notes |
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A-10 |
Ground Attack Craft | - Cannot transport any passengers |
AH-1Z |
Medium Attack Helicopter | - Cannot transport any passengers |
AH-6 |
Light Attack Helicopter | - Cannot transport any passengers |
AV-8 |
Ground Attack Jet | - Is able to toggle between standard and vertical flight modes |
Camel |
Fighter Plane | - Cannot transport any passengers |
CRRC |
Rubber Inflatable Boat | - Can transport up to 4 passengers |
HMMWV |
Light Utility Vehicle | - Can transport up to 3 passengers |
M1A1 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers |
M113 |
Armoured Personnel Carrier | - Amphibious - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant - Has dedicated variant that can heal injured infantry |
MH-6 |
Light Transport Helicopter | - Can transport up to 5 passengers |
RHIB |
Light Patrol Vessel | - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant |
Stryker |
Modular Armoured Fighting Vehicle | - Variable transport capacity depending on variant |
UH-60 |
Utility Helicopter | - Can transport up to 13 passengers |
Armoury[]
Motor Pool[]
Vehicle | Role | Notes |
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A-10 Thunderbolt II |
Ground Attack Craft | - Cannot transport any passengers |
AAVP-7A1 |
Armoured Personnel Carrier | - Amphibious - Can transport up to 19 passengers |
AH-1Z |
Medium Attack Helicopter | - Cannot transport any passengers |
AH-64D |
Heavy Attack Helicopter | - Cannot transport any passengers |
AV-8B Harrier |
Ground Attack Jet | - Is able to toggle between standard and vertical flight modes |
C-130J Hercules |
Cargo Plane | - Can transport up to 25 passengers |
CRRC |
Rubber Inflatable Boat | - Can transport up to 4 passengers |
F-35 Lightning II |
Stealth Multi-Role Fighter | - Is able to toggle between standard and vertical flight modes |
HMMWV |
Light Utility Vehicle | - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant - Has a dedicated variant that can heal injured infantry |
LAV-25 |
Armoured Personnel Carrier | - Amphibious - Can transport up to 9 passengers - Has a separate command vehicle variant for use in Warfare scenarios |
M1A1 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers |
M1A2 TUSK |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers |
M270 MLRS |
Self-Propelled Rocket Artillery | - Rocket-based artillery system - Cannot transport any passengers |
M1030 |
Motorbike | - Can transport one passenger |
MH-60S |
Utility Helicopter | - Can transport up to 12 passengers |
Mountain bike |
All-Terrain Bicycle | - Cannot transport any passengers |
MQ-9 Reaper |
UAV / UCAV | - Autonomous |
MTVR |
Utility Truck | - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant - Has dedicated variants that can repair, rearm, and refuel ground vehicles |
MV-22 Osprey |
VTOL Transport | - Can transport up to 23 passengers - Is able to toggle between standard and vertical flight modes |
RHIB |
Light Patrol Vessel | - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant |
Towing tractor |
Aircraft Tow Tractor | - Cannot transport any passengers |
UH-1Y |
Utility Helicopter | - Can transport up to 7 passengers |
Gallery[]
ArmA: Armed AssaultArmA 2 |
Video[]
Trivia[]
- In Armed Assault, USMC forces do not exist as a standalone faction. Rather, they are considered to be a sub-faction that is subordinate to the broader "U.S. Army" faction.
- A proper USMC sub-faction was not added until the release of Patch 1.14 (which also included the Warfare game mode).[63]
- As a result, the in-game USMC faction is incorrectly depicted with using Army vehicles and aircraft like the Stryker IAV or the UH-60 Black Hawk. They are however, authentically portrayed wielding M16A4 assault rifles as their service weapon.
- The 27th MEU's involvement in the events of Armed Assault is not actually stated in-game. This detail is only revealed on the official Armaverse Timeline, which explicitly states that the MEU were the ones who had arrived as reinforcements in Dawn of Hope.[1]
- TF Bishop's involvement in Operation Arrowhead is never depicted in-game as there are no desert Marine units (unlike in Armed Assault).
- Likewise, their occupation of Takymr is not shown in regular gameplay as the coastal regions of Takistan are not available as playable terrains. Information of their involvement was only made available through the campaign's intro news report, which details their involvement in the first phase of the operation.[13]
- The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content.
- During ArmA 2's pre-release stage of development, Marine units were initially shown wearing MICHs and the exact same IBA vests as their predecessors did in Armed Assault but were merely retextured to suit Chernarus' woodland environment. By the game's full release however, they were correctly remodelled to wear MTV plate carriers instead.
- Prior to its drastic development overhaul in 2012, the 27th MEU were directly mentioned by name in the buildup to the setting of ArmA 3's original storyline.[64][65]
- Tasked with defending the Greek island of Limnos, the former name of the Altis terrain before ArmA 3's overhaul, the MEU was wiped out by a massive invasion force of Iranian troops in 2025 - at the height of the original storyline's global conflict.[64] The 27th MEU's annihilation would pave the way for the island's occupation (and subsequently, the rest of Greece).[65]
- Given the significantly altered setting of the main campaign's release version however, it is not known as to what extent the 27th MEU's remnants (if any) would have played in the original storyline.
Notes[]
- ↑ Commander of the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit during the events of Armed Assault (2006). Replaced by Gen. David Armstrong prior to the events of Operation Harvest Red (2009).
- ↑ Replaced Col. Davis as commander of the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit prior to the events of Operation Harvest Red (2009). His command lasted for an unknown period after the deployment to Chernarus.
- ↑ Unknown Marine commander in charge of Task Force Bishop during the events of Operation Arrowhead (2012).
- ↑ Unknown Marine commander in charge of the 9th MEU during the events of Operation Arrowhead (2012).
References[]
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External links[]
See also[]
- United States Army
- Chernarussian Defence Forces
- Russian Armed Forces (REDFOR counterpart)
Factions of ArmA 2 | |
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BLUFOR | USMC • CDF • U.S. Army • KSK • ACR • British Army |
REDFOR | Russian Armed Forces • ChDKZ • Takistani Army • Takistani Militia |
INDFOR | NAPA • Takistani Rebels • United Nations • ION |
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces |
Factions - BLUFOR (ArmA 2) | |
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USMC • CDF • U.S. Army • KSK • ACR • British Army | |
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces |
Sub-factions | |
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ArmA: Armed Assault | Black Element • Resistance • USMC |
ArmA 2 | Bystrican Militia • Takistani Militia |
ArmA 3 | CTRG • IDAP • Task Force Aegis • The Visitors* • Viper |
ArmA: Mobile Ops | Attidan Guerrillas • Task Force |
* this sub-faction does not canonically exist within the main Armaverse timeline. |