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12-07-2011, 05:44 PM | #51 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,586
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I never get sick of trying to figure out the order of battle for Cobra. I could see a system where the Viper Corps, including all specialty Vipers, was a sort of tiered noncom dedicated infantry trooper system.
Officers is officers. There are Cobra Officers doing everything from managing radar teams on the Terrordromes to leading company size Viper units in the field, but as officers they rarely get their hands dirty. I've never seen a Cobra officer leading a bunch of Vipers in the comic. But I've never seen a whole platoon size unit of vipers all in one place either. They probably had an officer somewhere at the back, perhaps with a Tele Viper, staying in touch with HQ. The regular Blueshirts could include anything from second-line auxiliary infantry units that haven't been equipped with the newest gear, to noninfantry Cobras who have been trained to a basic proficiency in small arms. If you're a kitchen worker, or a hangar sweeper, or maybe even a loader on a MAGGOT, when it's your turn to pull basic security detail, you go to your locker and put on your ubiquitous blue BDUs, facemask and helmet, pick up your rifle, and you become "a blueshirt". The "Blueshirt" uniform means about the same as the gray coat did in the German Army in WWII. Sure there were crack panzer grenadiers and para jager types who had their own snazzy camo, and those black clad Panzer crewmen (think of these guys as Viper equivalents). But the gray outfit was pretty much standard for most of the rank and file. I'd say the Vipers are generally speaking better infantry - they're trained in offensive operations, they train to fight alongside dedicated weapons specialist Vipers, and in close coordination with armor. But there could always be a few dedicated units of Cobra Blueshirt infantry that have long traditions back to the '80s or even earlier - units that have decided to hold on to their basic blue uniforms as a matter of unit tradition and esprit de corps. You know the mentality: "Oh we were the second oldest Cobra infantry regiment (after the Siegies)." "We fought our first battle before G.I.Joe was even created" "We were the first Blueshirt outfit ever trained." "My father fought in this unit, and died charging the Freighter in the Cobra Island Civil War, and here I am now." "We're old school, we don't need the fancy Viper equipment and 21st Century tech - we're just loyal beyond reproach, and tough as nails." This explains why we see Bluehirts in the comics doing all kinds of tasks, including garrison duty, guarding prisoners, etc as well as sometimes functioning as riflemen. Last edited by Stormgard; 12-09-2011 at 05:04 PM.. |
12-07-2011, 07:20 PM | #52 |
Iron Grenadier Sorcerer
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Silent Castle
Posts: 34,271
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My vote is don't allow yourself to be limited by Hasbro and other interpretations of GIJOE. Decide for yourself what you like and what is logical.
In my own Joe-Verse, the Vipers are a specialized unit within the COBRA army created specifically to battle GIJOE. The Dark Blues (my name for the Blueshirts) are involved in all COBRA operations but when GIJOE enters the equation, COBRA sends in the Vipers to fight them. Wherever GIJOE is interfering with COBRA activities, that's where the Vipers are. Just as the American military (in my Joe-Verse) created GIJOE specifically to battle COBRA, COBRA in turn created the Vipers to battle GIJOE. So, technically, a Viper and a Dark Blue may be, more or less, the same thing, just different gear and additional training based on facing a more dangerous enemy in GIJOE. Technically then, in a situation involving a COBRA Officer and a Viper soldier, the officer would have the higher authority though the officer would be well-advised to listen to the feedback given him/her from the Viper if they were in a situation battling GIJOE. That's how I do it, anyway.
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Last edited by Barefoot Jedi; 12-07-2011 at 07:25 PM.. |
12-07-2011, 11:30 PM | #53 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 444
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Quote:
I see it like this. Now Crimson Guards that's an interesting one.
They are the Political Officers of Cobra, sort of like how Soviet era Russia was set up. So he may not be the field commander but he could just as easily put a bullet in the field commanders head and take over.. They are trained as military officers and are usually brighter than what gets put in the field. Shadow Guards are the Gestapo wing of the Crimson Guards. Crimson Guard Immortals are the Highest ranking CGs and they do serve as battle field commanders occasionally. They all hold the rank of Colonel. They are only tapped for duty to serve with Cobra Commander. Cobra Commander does not travel lightly armed. But he keeps his detachment with him at all times. If one of these guys tells you to do something you know it came straight from the Commander.
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All work and NO play make Jack a dull boy....... |
12-07-2011, 11:40 PM | #54 |
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South Texas RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Posts: 11,700
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Cobra Officer is an officer of Cobra Army Ranks
Cobra Viper is the equivalant of a Marine so they are diff branch-I always saw the Night Watch Cobras as the Pre-Cobra Vipers since they do night ops and recon like Marines. |
12-08-2011, 12:23 AM | #55 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: south carolina
Posts: 1,060
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As far as rank go’s they all stink.
In my Joevers the Trooper and the viper are both entry level operative for different branches of Cobra. The Vipers are the military branch. Their rank is the same as standard military enlisted men. Starting with Private and moving up to Master Sargent. The Troopers are the espionage (CIA) branch of Cobra. They also have the same rank system as standard military enlisted men. Starting with Private and moving up to Master Sargent. The troopers do all the Intel and covert missions such as; assassinations, spying, organizing coup’s, things of this nature. Vipers are the muscle and backbone of Cobra. When stealth and clandestine won’t get the job done, you send in the Vipers. They specialize in brute force and firepower. Neither one as a group is higher ranked than the other, but you can have individual troopers and Vipers that out rank each other. That way some missions will have troopers leading a squad of Vipers and vice versa. The same goes for most of the Cobra troops, Ally vipers, Rock viper, Eels, etc. all have standard military ranks. The Cobra officers are just that, Officers. They rank from first lieutenant and up. The Crimson Guard are all Officers. According to their file card they are all professionals with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. They are also the secret police of Cobra (much like the KGB), infiltrating their own ranks looking for any dissention or spy’s within Cobra. |
12-08-2011, 01:59 AM | #56 |
Filecard Maker
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NJ
Posts: 7,300
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Ugh I hate this debate...I always am conflicted in where I stand.
I mean I get the POV that Officers and Blueshirts are above Vipers, and I can see that, but somehow I always look at them as being the green shirts of Cobra, and I can't see a green shirt being above any Joe. Its like saying a Greenshirt officer can order around Grunt or Footloose because their 'officers'. In my Joeverse I usually tend to think it goes like this... Trooper---> Squad Leader---> Officer From those three you could be tapped for Stinger Driver, Viper Glider Pilot, Cobra Gunner, Cobra Driver etc. After you get the basics down you can move to a Viper Branch _______-Viper Show some apptitude in any area and you can transfer into any Basic Viper branch, or EELs, or Air Viper. From there you can move into specialty branches Crimson Guardsmen, Snow Serpents, AVAC, Strato Vipers etc. Hey you did pretty good, showed more apptitude than most do...now we wanna hand you a bigger weapon, A Night Raven, or we think you can handle more duties. Elite Branches Well look at that maybe your good enough to be a Star Viper or Astro Viper, or maybe a Shadow Crimson Guardsmen or GG Immortal, maybe a Hydro Viper or Secto Viper odds are many apply for these positions but only the best of the best get them. Elite Units Well it looks like your a stone cold killer bad ass who has shown a special talent for killing babies and eating children, so you get picked for some special unit...like Bludd's sub unit, etc. Specialists Hey...did you actually manage to snag a individual code name? Or Maybe get the tack on rank of Leader or Commander...your a specialist! Command Level Are you so slimey that you've tried to overtake Cobra a few times? Do you command you own sub faction of Cobra?Destro...Serpentor...Baroness...Tomax Xamot...Zartan...a few others...hey your actually so slimey your in the Command Level of Cobra, which means you get to send ANYONE below you off to do the worst jobs you can come up with. One man's opnion only. |
12-08-2011, 02:16 AM | #57 |
CG Immortal Commander
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 19,277
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Anyone remember that Cobra "handbook" that came with the 12 inch Hall of Fame Cobra Commander?
I remember it having the ranks all spelled out in order. Not sure if all different troops were in it but it had quite a few. I tried to look on Yojoe.com but their site seems to be down at the momment. Im not sure where mine is either lol... |
12-08-2011, 03:11 AM | #58 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Staten Island Transplant (Currently: Hollywood, FL)
Posts: 1,501
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It always seemed so obvious to me. When Cobra started, skulking around fake hometowns and hiding in plain sight, they had Cobra officers and troopers. Easy system. Then, as they got bigger, they could afford to train their soldiers in expert fashion and provide them with better equipment... thus, Viper. All it really is to me is when the US Army switched from olive drab uniforms and flak jackets to ACU's and IOTV vests. Viper ARE better than 'blueshirts' but only because of improved training and finances.
Tom
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G.I. Joe fans are the kind of people who demand a steak dinner but will only pay for macaroni and cheese. Quote:
Please stop talking. The amount of insider information that you have is exactly zero.
Know how I know this? Because you posted a declassified flyer which was meant for fun as a NEWS ITEM. No one would ever tell you anything because the VERY FIRST THING you would do is post it here. Probably incorrectly. |
12-08-2011, 03:31 AM | #59 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 756
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What about Viper-Officers?! I have a few of those in my ranks, they are definitely above troopers and vipers!
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12-08-2011, 03:35 AM | #60 |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: At Home
Posts: 13,877
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