History Main / StandardSciFiArmy

Any machine that supports or even takes the role of an infantryman, and at most the size of a grunt. Sometimes [[MechaMooks humanoid in shape]], but [[AttackDrone not always]]. Robots are used by today's militaries, often for scouting, bomb disposal, and fire support. Because of their nature, these units don't need food or water, don't get tired, and can be fixed easier than a wounded trooper. However such units have technological requirements to keep operating (for example, a portable, efficient power source), as well as economic cost. On the bright side, a robot being lost is far more preferable over the lost of a living trooper.

For a full list of different types of naval craft see TypesOfNavalShips.

** '''Drop Troops'''\\
[[ItsRainingMen Airborne infantry]] [[UpToEleven writ large]]. They deploy into the combat zone directly from the ship or from a moving transport in the upper atmosphere, fully expecting to engage the enemy as soon as their boots touch the ground. Usually tasked to clear and secure landing zones ahead of the main force; as such, their role often overlaps with that of the Marines (which may be a source of InterserviceRivalry). Often overlaps with Super Soldiers - even if they pull from the same pool of recruits as regular infantry, they're expected to be a cut above the rest (largely because they ''have'' to be to survive the drop).

When operating on a faraway planet(or other foreign soils), sometimes the Army will be backed by local ("indigenous") forces, often in a temporary arrangement to accomplish the same goals. They can be militia, guerrillas, resistance fighters, or friendly aliens. Despite lacking regular equipment or training, they make up for it [[HomeFieldAdvantage by having a better understanding of the locale]]. They're also more motivated to fight, having much more personally at stake. In addition, they can tie down enemy troops which would otherwise be better used elsewhere. Sometimes, particularly when defending, this group includes local quasi-military forces like police.

Unmanned guided rockets capable of delivering a payload to a target, often something very explosive. While smaller craft and artillery are armed with smaller missiles, Strategic Missiles are large and can travel great distances. They can hit a target on the other side of the world, or perhaps on another planet altogether. Of course this is a one-way trip: the destruction caused by a missile means the engine can not be retrieved. In addition, a facility or launch platform is required to deploy this unit.

!!AntiAir

** This, while Generals on the other hand mostly remained realistic, with only very few true SciFi units. Examples are mobile Cruise Missile Platforms, anti-missile lasers and laser cannons, missile jammers, [[HollywoodHacking Hollywood]] [[TheCracker Hackers]], and the occasional GLA stealth unit, who are WorldWarII tech-using vaguely-Islamistish terrorists.

Close-knit helicopter/shuttle/dropship/hovercraft and infantry unit performing recon and short raids. Developed during the TheVietnamWar.

While not the most glamorous of infantry, their role is vital to victory. Logistics determines how long the troops can fight, how well their vehicles can operate, when and how battles are fought, how well everyone is fed and cared for, how to transport all those supplies, and, well, just pretty much everything. Which is why in stories, a good connection with logistics could get the heroes a vital device or transport that would be otherwise unavailable. Better yet, a good connection can get the heroes good grub. Alas, most stories tend to forget about these support troops.

* ''[[TransformersFilmSeries Transformers]]'': Like the series, giant Mecha with Civilians. Unlike the series, the Mecha get support from Special Forces Indigs with close air support (plus Armor support in the sequel).

In a group made up of several different races, the physical makeup of some species', for good or ill may set them apart from the other members of their coalition. They may be assigned special equipment that plays to their strengths or compensates for their failings.

Sometimes the Army will be backed by local ("indigenous") forces, often in a temporary arrangement to accomplish the same goals. They can be militia, guerrillas, resistance fighters, or friendly aliens. Despite lacking regular equipment or training, they make up for it [[HomeFieldAdvantage by having a better understanding of the locale]]. They're also more motivated to fight, having much more personally at stake. In addition, they can tie down enemy troops which would otherwise be better used elsewhere. Sometimes, particularly when defending, this group includes local quasi-military forces like police.

* ''VideoGame/JeffWaynesWarOfTheWorlds'': Similar to the Literature example above, but humans are on an even war footing with the Martians. The Human arsenal has been expaned with tanks, armored cars, self-Propelled artillery/anti-air, and a balloon. The Martians forces now have Recon, Exotic telepathic, and various construction units.
* ''VideoGame/MechWarrior Living Legends'', unlike previous MechWarrior games [[note]] which only had mechs for the players, as other assets were just CannonFodder in the singleplayer mode[[/note]], is a combined arms game (similar to the ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' series). The standard warfare unit is the [[AMechByAnyOtherName BattleMech]] [[WalkingTank walker]], which varies between [[HumongousMecha 20 to 100 tons]]. The mechs are the most adaptable asset, occupying almost any role, depending on the chassis and its loadout. Aerospace fighters occupy the Dogfighter, interceptor, bombing, recon, close air support, and the [[FutureCopter VTOL]] assets function like helicopters and are used primarily for [[GoddamnBats harassment]] and scouting. Tanks vary from 20 to 95 tons, and come in several flavors; treaded, wheeled, and [[HoverTank hover]] (as in hovercraft with skirts and fans). Tanks are more [[MightyGlacier durable]] than mechs, but slower, and generally very specialized, such as only equipping AntiAir weapons. [[AwesomePersonnelCarrier APCs]] work as resupply points for ammo, and as a spawnpoint for infantry. The game lacks standard [[CannonFodder infantry]], and instead has PoweredArmor, which has a jump pack, missile launchers, a big load of grenades in several flavors, and can carry two weapons, such as lasers or [[GatlingGood autocannons]].

Professionals brought in from a third party to provide training and guidance. They can be contracted by the state (like Hired Guns, and often drawing from the same sources) or provided by an allied power which can't or doesn't want to make their involvement more overt. [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution Baron von Steuben]] and LawrenceOfArabia are famous examples from real life. May end up GoingNative.

'''O'Neill:''' [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Bad example.]]

* ''SpaceAboveAndBeyond'': Both Humans and Chigs seem to rely heavily on infantry for ground combat. Pilots are also used for grunt work, although justified within the show. Armored vehicles are used occasionally by both sides.

** Praetorian Guards: The Adeptus Custodes, the God-Emperor's personal bodyguard, who followed him on the most vital of missions. They have extremely strong armor, ludicrously strong weapons, and fanatically loyal to the Emperor. It's said that Custodes are to the Space Marines what Space Marines are to [[{{Muggles}} normal humans]]. After the Emperor was forced to stay on the Golden Throne [[AndIMustScream for eternity]], they guard the Imperial Palace of Terra, [[spoiler: and hold back the tear in the Warp in the center of the Palace, through which demons pour endlessly]].

** Praetorian Guards: The Adeptus Custodes, the God-Emperor's personal bodyguard, who followed him on the most vital of missions. They have extremely strong armor, ludicrously strong weapons, and fanatically loyal to the Emperor. It's said that Custodes are to the Space Marines what Space Marines are to [[{{Muggles}} normal humans]]. After the Emperor was forced to stay on the Golden Throne [[AndIMustScream for eternity]], they guard the Imperial Palace of Terra, [[spoilers: and hold back the tear in the Warp in the center of the Palace, through which demons pour endlessly]].

** Political units, notably the infamous Commissars.
** Elites/Supersoldiers: The Space Marines, Eldar Aspect Warriors and several Imperial Guard Units
** Exotics: Space Marine Librarians, Psykers
** Logistical Support: Techpriests, Priests
** Mecha: Titans, Tau Crisis and Riptide battlesuits, Eldar War Walkers, Wraithlords and Wraithknights, Ork Killa Kans
** Most armies in Warhammer 40k are organized along different lines ([[OurOrcsAreDifferent this assumes they're]] [[HordeOfAlienLocusts organized at all]]), the Imperial Guard fall closest to the traditional mold

What makes an Elite force, well, elite varies. Sometimes the unit is the first to use newly developed weapons - for example, the British Rifle Regiments were the first to get rifled weapons, when everyone else was using muskets. Or it just means the unit has a longer battle history than others. Another reason is that the unit is created do employ newly developed combat doctrines, or specially trained for specific environments. Or for those showing enough skill and bravery, being transferred to the Elite is a reward. The last reason has drawbacks, namely it can create discipline and morale problems for the other regular forces.

* ''CoDominium'': During the CD era on the colony worlds, Infantry was king, aircraft gone due to technological developments, artillery valuable, and a single tank could decide a war.

* ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'': In the ''Macross'' saga, the SDF-1 forces include an Aircraft and Troop Carrier (both submersible [[spoiler: until the space fold, then they're just welded onto the ship]], a number of atmospheric Aircraft, and non-transforming Mecha. The bad guys wear Power Armor, but are huge enough to take on mecha. The ''Masters'' saga featured Tank-transforming-Mecha, Anti-air batteries, and a Security branch for humanity. In ''New Generation'', the Scott Bernard had to rely on a group of Indigs armed with Power Armor that could transform into Scouts.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Dominated largely by infantry (from Light to Elite, and of course the Super Soldiers), although both sides use field aircraft and at least one Armored vehicle. ''Halo Wars'' expands on this, giving the UNSC Heavy and Elite infantry (the Hellbringers and Helljumpers respectively), APC's, and Anti-aircraft units. Several of the Covenant vehicles are effectively Technicals, being repurposed mining equipment.

%%* ''Literature/{{Starfist}}''

* ''{{Starfist}}''

* The film version of the Mobile Infantry in ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' seems to consist solely of basic troopers and drop ships (compare to the other versions listed below). The Bugs have castes that act as tanks and aircraft and others though.

*** Harmony/Purity focuses on Super oldiers. Immortals are all-terrain Stormtroopers that can be upgraded to heal very fast. Architects are Command units with enhanced intelligence that can buff allies or (when upgraded, ''and'') debuff enemies. Their Ultimate, the Throne, is a Hover Tank Mobile Base.tob
*** Purity/Supremacy: The Drone Cage consists of Medical Drones and an accompaining Engineer, while the Autosled is a IVF Hover Tank(and avaaible much earlier than other Hover Tanks). Their ultimate is the [[MightyGlacier slow but powerful]] three-legged robotic Mecha known as the Golem.
*** Harmony/Supremacy: The Nanohive is an Exotic Robot, releasing a [[GreyGoo swarms of nanites that passively damage enemy units within two hexes]] while remaining invisible, whereas the Geliopod is a Robot Commando. Finally, the Aquilon is a powerful AirbornAircraftCarrier build around a gigantic floating Artificial Biological.
** In addition, Rising Tide also adds Patrol Boats/Frigattes and Submarines to the Navy.

Each type of artillery has it's own advantages. Rockets can go great distances very rapidly, making them perfect for shocking the enemy. Beams tend to be very destructive and a far range, but requires a direct hit to be effective. Shells have the advantage of having a variety of payloads: high explosive, armor piercing, fletchette, white phosphorus, sensors, chaff, anti-tank and anti-personnel clusters, chemical, smoke, marking shells, area denial (a shell the deploys mines), nuclear (yes, these actually exist), flares, and even rounds that could carry items and release them. Science fiction and fantasy tales can have all sorts of fun with these thanks to advanced technology or magic.

In real life, the term generally refers to units or commands of Elite infantry (such as the U.S. Army Rangers) or Special Ops (like the Para Commando of the Indian Army). Though renown, they don't operate on missions as single individuals.

[[ElitesAreMoreGlamorous Renown infantry]], equipped with better equipment and [[TrainingFromHell enhanced training]]. Sometimes known for fighting prowess, being able to operate with few resources and support. [[ElitesAreMoreGlamorous Generally also dress better and hog all the attention.]]\\

** Rising Tide added Patrol Boats/Frigattes and Submarines to the Navy.

* In ''{{Rifts}}'', where small arms are capable of slagging a 20th-century Main Battle Tank or vaporize a human, tough armor is a necessity. Also, Armored vehicles (from bikes to tanks), aircraft, PoweredArmor and HumongousMecha of many different types and configurations are available to mercenaries and independent adventurers, to say nothing of official military forces. Exotic troopers can include cyborgs, chemically-augmented super-soldiers, psychics, and depending on the individual force, even magic-users, mutants, and ''Dragons''.
* The G.U.A.R.D. faction in ''{{Monsterpocalypse}}'' are armed with tanks, helicopters, artillery, and other vehicles that act to support {{Kaiju}}-sized HumongousMecha.
* In ''{{Traveller}}'' the state-of-the-art armies use PoweredArmor for a good chunk of their infantry and grav vehicles for cavalry/armor. Rapid-interface units ({{Space Marine}}s, though only some of these are actually called marines) and the like, have suits that allow them to jump directly from orbit like paratroopers. Artillery is provided by missile launchers and in the case of the Third Imperium, meson guns. The army of the earlier Terran Confederation also contained a number of security divisions specially trained in hearts-and-minds work among conquered Vilani. The Zhodani had specialist commando units with psionic abilities and used Robot troops.
* ''StarGruntII'' is a miniatures game that focuses on the infantry, especially the [[TitleDrop grunts]]. However, PoweredArmor, APCs, air transport and gunships, and artillery are common elements. Tanks are less common, but are supported by the rules. This inlcudes a sample scenario which provides an object lesson in what happens to tanks without infantry support.