Konflikt ‘47: Firefly Focus

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Historically, the Axis and US made the Rift-tech breakthrough that would lead to repulsorlift technology almost simultaneously. In the case of the Axis, it was a by-product of the Schwerefeld gravitational weapons program, while American scientists had targeted personal flight as a goal almost from the outset of their studies of the Los Alamos Rift.

Project Firefly had a simple objective – take a soldier, and his weapon, and give him the power of controlled flight. Initial tests focussed on generating a field which would render the man essentially weightless, allowing him to leap into the air under his own power. This quickly proved to be impractical, not least because of the difficulties in controlling the strength of the field. Several men would be lost when their equipment malfunctioned, either through falls from altitude, or the dreaded phenomenon of ‘gravitic inversion’.

The breakthrough came midway through 1945, with the project on the verge of cancellation. As a last-ditch attempt to produce a viable system, the Project Firefly team dropped the ‘whole-body-field’ concept for a much simpler design – essentially a small, rearwards-facing gravity field projector which, when activated, gave the wearer a massive boost away from the Earth, and into the air. By modulating the field’s strength, the rate of ascent and descent could be controlled, and although the smaller field precluded the carriage of particularly heavy weaponry, the project’s initial goal had been achieved. A series of developmental prototypes added small winglets for steering, and the concept – once mastered – proved workable. The design quickly settled in the form of a large backpack containing the gravity projectors, their generators, and a small fuel tank, with two movable winglets, all connected to a comprehensive system of harness straps and controlled by a simple squeeze-grip hand controller.

With the success of the new prototypes, funds were quickly released to bring full-scale production on line. Simultaneously, units of the elite 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions began training to operate as repulsorlift-equipped ‘jump infantry’, although this training was largely theoretical until the autumn of 1945 when the first ‘Repulsorlift, Personnel, M1’ sets entered service. The equipment proved popular, although the training was deliberately harsh in order to ensure that only the bravest, fittest, and most courageous men were able to achieve passing grades. Accidents were common, and those who made it through ‘flight school’ saw themselves as elites, even within the Airborne ranks. The moniker of ‘Fireflies’ was adopted, derived from the developmental project, and by 1946 the first of the new units were declared operational.

Initial operations saw small groups of Fireflies utilised as long-range strike and reconnaissance forces, dropped from aircraft to take out high-value targets before rapidly making their way back to friendly lines. These trials brought them into frequent contact with the most advanced and dangerous Axis Rift-tech forces, and convinced US senior leadership that, to make best use of the Fireflies’ capabilities, more effective weaponry was required. The M1X submachine gun project was delivering positive reports in early field trials, and the decision was taken to stand up two full Firefly divisions – the 108th and 109th – while converting the 11th and 17th Airborne Divisions to the new role at the same time, to be ready to adopt the new weaponry.

The arrival of the M1X2 to full-scale issue proved to be exactly what was needed for the Fireflies to realise their combat potential. Compact and lethal, it provided enough short-range punch to engage most targets immediately after landing, and soon replaced the venerable Thompson from which it was developed as the standard weapon of the Firefly trooper.

1946 saw the combat debut of the Fireflies in the massed drop assault role, securing critical positions on the approach to Brussels to hold up Axis reinforcements, and launching multiple counterattacks across northern Italy to blunt enemy thrusts. When able to employ the element of surprise the Fireflies proved to be a match for anything the Axis could throw at them, but it was found that, as with their paratrooper forebears, swift supporting action was required to consolidate their advances. The 108th in particular distinguished itself as a hard-fighting unit, and in 1947 would be chosen to spearhead the joint US-Commonwealth assault on Stuttgart – Operation Valentine.

1947 finds the Firefly divisions as the backbone of US forces in Europe. With their doctrine now firmly established as a key part of American strategy, they can be found across the continent – sometimes acting as small independent companies to reinforce regular units or support the Paragons on their high-profile missions, but more often deployed en masse for vital operations. The original cadre have become a hard core, and new recruits benefit from their combat experience. The equipment, too, has matured, with the M1X2 Thompson supplemented by disposable anti-tank rockets, flamethrowers, and Fireflies now drop into combat alongside mighty Linebacker and Mudskipper jump-walkers to provide immediate fire support. Competition to join the Firefly corps is fierce, with only the very best being accepted for training, and a pass rate of less than 50% – those men who fail being assigned to other combat arms.

The vast distances of the Pacific have precluded the massed use of Fireflies against Imperial Japan, but smaller units have found great success supporting the amphibious landings of the island campaigns, often launching from the decks of warships anchored just offshore. Indeed, the US Navy and Marine Corps are believed to be investigating the possibility of deploying jump-troopers of their own, although these plans are only in their infancy. On the home front, Fireflies receive second billing only to the superhuman Paragons in American media, and the image of a Firefly is, to many US citizens, synonymous with their divinely ordained fight for freedom and justice.

That’s what Fireflies look like in the world of Konflikt ‘47 – now let’s see what they look like in person…

On the Tabletop!

The new plastic sprue is absolutely packed with details and equipment, allowing you to assemble your Fireflies in a wide variety of dynamic poses – including optional legs so that you can have your troops either soaring above the battlefield, or in combat on the ground. In order to cope with the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of flying headlong through the air, they’re clad in the distinctive M46 reinforced jump uniform, complete with leather gauntlets and jump boots. For head options, you’ve got a choice of those with their signature M5 personal oxygen masks for high-altitude drops, or without, as well as a range of ‘bare’ heads, perfect for adding plenty of character to your units. A Firefly squad is unmistakable on the table, and incredibly easy to get looking battle-ready with only a few colours and simple painting techniques.

Soldiers need weapons, and the Fireflies are particularly well supplied in this regard. Naturally, the sprue is packed with their signature M1X2 submachine guns – Rift-tech developments of the Thompson that can hammer enemy infantry and light armour alike at close range – alongside a lethal flamethrower, the venerable Browning Automatic Rifle, and plenty of ATRD one-shot anti-tank launchers. However you slice it, these jump–troopers are packing some serious heat! You’ll also find plenty of additional equipment and ammunition pouches to kit your troops out for extended operations.

With all this weaponry, it’s a guarantee that Fireflies hit hard on the tabletop. Their repulsorlifts give them the Flight special rule, enabling them to soar around the battlefield and completely ignore intervening terrain. As a Rift unit, this is their Passive Rift ability, while they can Exhaust their Active Rift die to make use of Regroup In Hell!. This powerful skill enables them to move, complete an assault or shooting action… and then move again, to get away from enemy retaliation. This is extremely powerful and can turn the tide of battle if used well, but be careful – when their Rift die is Exhausted, Fireflies lose Flight, and have to footslog it with the rest of the grunts. While their 5+ Damage Value as Veteran troops is respectable, in the carnage of the Rift War, Fireflies don’t do well if they get caught on the ground – particularly if they haven’t got any cover nearby.

A wise commander will use their Fireflies carefully but decisively, striking when the moment is right, and keep plenty of supporting forces on hand to take advantage of their firepower, or bail them out if they bite off more than they can chew!

Are you ready to take to the skies with the legendary Fireflies? They’re available to pre-order individually, or as part of the US starter army and Konflikt ’47 starter set – all you need to decide is how you want to support them!

Quelle: Warlord Games