• Topic: United Sun Guard Unit.
• Focus: Autocannons, solid armor, mobility through medium mechs (Enforcer/Centurion) and air defense (JagerMech).
• Structure: 1 command lance + 4 companies.

Overview

• Number of units: 52
• Number of lances: 13
• PV value (all skill 4): 1339

Battalion staff (command lance)

Function: Coordination and heavy fire.

Command Lance

1. BattleMaster BLR-1G (Commander) – The classic Davion field commander.
2. Marauder MAD-3R – Direct fire support (AC/5).
3. Warhammer WHM-6R – The iconic “partner” of the Marauder.
4. Archer ARC-2R – long-range missile support.

1st Company “The Iron Guards” (Heavy & Assault)

Focus: This company breaks the enemy line.

Lance A: Assault Lance

• Bonus:Demoralizer (intimidation of opponents).
  1. Atlas AS7-D – The anchor of the line.
  2. Victor VTR-9B – Davion favorite with heavy autocannon (AC/20).
  3. Stalker STK-3F – Massive firepower.
  4. Awesome AWS-8Q – PPC battery.

Lance B: Fire Lance

• Bonus: Sniper
  1. JagerMech JM6-S – Specialty of the House of Davion (ACs).
  2. Rifleman RFL-3N – Air defense and support.
  3. Catapult CPLT-C1 – LRM support.
  4. Blackjack BJ-1 – Solid medium-range fire support.

Lance C: Striker Lance

• Bonus: Speed Demon
  1. Thunderbolt TDR-5S – The “brick” of the Inner Sphere.
  2. Crusader CRD-3R – missile boat in close combat.
  3. Grasshopper GHR-5H – Excellent close combat fighter and jumper.
  4. Quickdraw QKD-4G – Mobile heavy cavalry.

2nd Company “The Federated Suns Cavalry” (Medium & Flexible)

Focus: The workhorse battalion. This is where the Enforcer and Centurion shine.

Lance A: Medium BattleLance

• Bonus: Lucky.
  1. Enforcer ENF-4R – The Davion signature mech.
  2. Centurion CN9-A – The partner of the Enforcer, AC/10 carrier.
  3. Trebuchet TBT-5N – Fast LRM support.
  4. Hunchback HBK-4G – AC/20 city fighter (bodyguard).

Lance B: Striker Lance

• Bonus: Speed Deamon.
  1. Phoenix Hawk PXH-1 – Command Mech for reconnaissance aircraft.
  2. Griffin GRF-1N – long-range skirmisher.
  3. Shadow Hawk SHD-2H – All-rounder.
  4. Wolverine WVR-6R – Robust skirmisher.

Lance C: Recon Lance

• Bonus: Eagle Eyes
  1. Valkyrie VLK-QA – Light Davion LRM mech.
  2. Wasp WSP-1A – Standard Scout.
  3. Stinger STG-3R – Standard Scout.
  4. Locust LCT-1V – Extremely fast.

3rd Company “Davion Heavy Armor” (vehicles)

Focus: Cost-efficient firepower and defense.

Lance A: Assault Vehicle Lance

1. Demolisher Heavy Tank (AC/20 variant)
2. Demolisher Heavy Tank (AC/20 variant)
3. Schrek PPC Carrier (3 PPCs)
4. Schrek PPC Carrier (3 PPCs)

Lance B: Fire Support Vehicle Lance

1. Manticore Heavy Tank (PPC/LRM)
2. Manticore Heavy Tank (PPC/LRM)
3. Pike Support Vehicle (AC firepower)
4. Pike Support Vehicle (AC firepower)

Lance C: Fast Recon Vehicle Lance (Hover)

1. Pegasus Scout Hover Tank
2. Pegasus Scout Hover Tank
3. Condor Heavy Hover Tank
4. Condor Heavy Hover Tank

4th Company “The Mudheads” (Mechanized Infantry)

The Maxim provides massive fire support at the same time.

Lance A: Mechanized Battle Lance

1. Foot Platoon (Rifle)
2. Foot Platoon (Rifle)
3. Maxim Heavy Hover Transport (high transport capacity)
4. Maxim Heavy Hover Transport (high transport capacity)

Lance B: Mechanized Strike Lance

1. Foot Platoon (MG)
2. Foot Platoon (MG)
3. Maxim Heavy Hover Transport (high transport capacity)
4. Maxim Heavy Hover Transport (high transport capacity)

Lance C: VTOL / Air Cavalry Lance To maintain diversity, here is a rapid reaction force.

1. Foot Platoon (Flamer)
2. Foot Platoon (Flamer)
3. Karnov UR Transport (VTOL Transporter). Attention: Infantry is transported as cargo!
4. Karnov UR Transport (VTOL Transporter). Attention: Infantry is transported as cargo!

Tactical doctrine: The “hammer and anvil” of the United Suns

The tactical approach of this battalion is based on the classic doctrine of the Regimental Combat Teams (RCTs) of the United States: The seamless integration of mechs, vehicles and infantry to wear down the enemy through superior firepower at medium range and then outmaneuver them.

The battle begins with the 3rd company (vehicles) and the 2nd company’s Recon lance. The fast hover tanks (Pegasus, Condor) and light mechs swarm out to establish lines of sight and hunt down enemy scouts (spotting). Once the enemy is located, the 1st company (“Iron Guards”) together with the heavy tanks (Schrek, Demolisher) form the “Anvil”. These units move forward slowly and use their range to create deadly fire corridors. This is where Davion’s preference for autocannons comes into its own: units such as the JagerMech, Rifleman and Jagdpanzer cover the airspace and punish any enemy attempting to approach through open terrain with a hail of AC/2 and AC/5 rounds, while the Awesomes’ and Schreks’ PPCs burn holes in enemy armor.

While the enemy is tied down frontally by heavy firepower, the 2nd Company (“Federated Suns Cavalry”) acts as the “hammer”. Led by the mobile Enforcers and Centurions, this force uses its speed (8″+ movement) to fall into the enemy’s flanks. They force the enemy to either turn and open their backs to the heavy mechs and tanks, or take the cavalry’s fire into their own side.

The 4th company (infantry) is by no means cannon fodder, but the key to victory in Alpha Strike (Objective Control). While the mechs fight, the fast Maxim hovertransporters and Karnov VTOLs use their high speed to drop the infantry platoons deep in the field at mission objectives or lay ambushes in urban terrain. The enemy then has to draw valuable firepower from the mechs to dig the infantry out of the buildings – a tactical dilemma that this battalion exploits mercilessly.

Excursus: The skill value – quality over quantity

In the standard list, all units have a skill of 4 (Regular). This is the default value in Alpha Strike. However, in practice – especially with an elite faction such as the Davion Brigade – it makes tactical sense to upgrade certain key units.

The basic rule:

• A lower skill value is better (e.g. Skill 3 = Veteran, Skill 2 = Elite).
• A better skill increases the point value (PV) of the unit.
• Rule of thumb: An upgrade from skill 4 to skill 3 increases the cost of a unit by approx. 20-25%.

Who should be upgraded?

Not every unit needs an elite pilot. You should invest the points (“PV budget”) where they have the greatest mathematical influence on the game. Here are the best candidates from our Davion battalion:

1. The “High Damage Dealer

Units that deal massive damage must hit. If a Demolisher Tank (AC/20) or an Awesome (3 PPCs) misses its shot, the battalion will lose 4 to 5 points of damage that turn. This is devastating.

• Recommendation: Upgrade the Awesome AWS-8Q and the Demolisher Tank to Skill 3.
• Why? The Demolisher often has to fire at short range against fast targets (high TMM). A better skill compensates for the target’s mobility.

2. The snipers

Ranged fighters often operate at long range (42 inches). In Alpha Strike, this gives a modifier of +4 to the hit roll.

• Calculation: Skill 4 + 4 (range) = You need an 8+ to hit a stationary target. If the target is moving (TMM +2), you already need a 10+.
• Recommendation: Upgrade the JagerMech or Archer to skill 3.
• Why? With skill 3, the required base number drops to 7+ (or 9+ with a moving target). This increases the hit probability with 2D6 enormously (from approx. 16% to approx. 27% with target 10 vs 9).

3. The melee fighters (Melee & Brawlers)

Physical attacks in Alpha Strike are also based on the skill value, but usually add fewer modifiers. A good pilot turns a kick or axe blow into an almost sure thing.

• Recommendation: Upgrade the Grasshopper GHR-5H to Skill 3 or even Skill 2.
• Why? The Grasshopper is a “headhunter” that jumps behind enemy lines. When it arrives there, its attack must be effective in order to penetrate the enemy’s rear armor immediately.

4. the commanders (Survivability)

The commander is often the enemy’s number 1 target (“headcap”). A high skill does not help with survival (unless you use certain special rules for defense), but it ensures that the commander can eliminate threats before they eliminate him.

• Recommendation: The BattleMaster BLR-1G (battalion commander) should always have skill 3 or better to reflect his status as a leader.

Summary of the unit list (Total Count)

Here is the material list for the quartermaster of the United Suns.

BattleMechs (Total: 28)

Strict care was taken to ensure that no mech type was repeated within a company.

Combat vehicles & transporters (Total: 18)

Infantry (Total: 6 Platoons)