M270 MLRS

Freaking Finally!

The lovechild between an American engineer and a Soviet rocket launcher, the M270 combines the raw firepower of a multi-rocket launching system (MLRS) with the laser guidance systems of modern artillery warheads. Despite its yankee heritage, the M270 is used around the world by NATO countries looking for a long-ranged artillery system that can hit harder than any other weapon on the battlefield, short of dropping bombs and nukes.

A strategic weapon, these units were almost always classed at the division level thanks to the logistical strain, and the immense range one of these systems can fire up to. As with other Battlefront artillery pieces, this thing that should be sitting beyond 25km from the battlefield is here to support your forces half a mile away from the front.

In Team Yankee

USA

See how they like freedom via steel rain.

Finally the US gets a cheap anti-infantry Salvo template that doesn't come strapped to a pair of wings, either fixed or rotary.

The M270 Multiple-Launch Rocket System is a multiple rocket launcher platform able to launch 12 rockets up to 20 miles (or more, depending on the version and munitions). It utilizes a crew of three and was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1983, so the system has only been in service for two years by the time the Cold War finally goes hot in August 1985. The M270 is tracked, unlike standard wheeled platforms on the Soviet side, like the BM-21, but similar to them its armor is only meant for protection against small arms fire at best; anything much heavier and the M270, which is supposed to be literally miles to the rear of the line of battle, is in big trouble. Seriously. With 0 on the front, 0 on the side, and just 1 point of armor on top, the M270 is about as heavily armored as a civilian's car. Protect it, or Ivan will make it disappear.

Deployment of the M270 is straightforward. Keep it firing as far from the enemy as possible, and deny enemy air power and artillery any opportunity to reach it. Like its Warsaw Pact counterparts, the M270's rockets explode above the target area rather than impacting the ground to shower their enemy in shrapnel, popularly known as "steel rain" for the M270. This means that the system can do some pretty serious damage to infantry and lightly-armored targets, but heavily-armored units like the T-55 and T-72 main battle tank will be largely unaffected.

UK

The Royal Artillery declare this an infantry-free zone in the name of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The M270 MLRS is an artillery system that uses a variety of warheads to pulverize enemy positions of all sorts. Coming in at 3 points apiece (more than the Abbot and M109), this unit is the British answer to infantry and BMP hordes when the M109 just won’t do.

When using the M270, make sure you screen it with some troops. Units like the Abbot and the M109 can fire directly if needed, but the M270 literally has no other weapons to speak of. Its designers intended for it to be miles to the rear, firing toward the battlefield from a long distance.

Deutschland

Gotta be special with the name, eh Germany?

The M270 Mittleres Artillerieraketensystem (MARS) is the Bundeswehr's version of the American M270 MLRS; the name MARS more or less means Main Rocket Artillery System, although "Mittlerer" literally means "Middle," as in medium or middle between a heavier and a lighter weapon. The M270 MARS is essentially identical to the original American version, depicted here in Team Yankee as being part of the artillery formations of the West German Army's 1st Panzer Division.

Apart from being 1 point more skilled than their American counterparts, the West German M270 crews are also the most determined, with a morale check of only 3 needed for them to pass. Their tracked MARS are just as helpless if attacked up close as the American and British versions, so keep these rocket-throwers well to the rear, where they can rain steel on the Reds like they were meant to do.

IRL

Some one is about to have a very bad day

The M270 multiple launch rocket system is relatively new as far as Team Yankee is concerned. Coming into service during 1983. It is used not only by NATO countries but Japan and Israel. The latter who gave the the name "Smasher" in Hebrew. The latest version is the M270A1. Capable of launching MGM-140 missiles. Because nothing says screw your bunkers and vehicles than launching crap tons of ordinance at it.