In the interests of better understanding the scab forces and their motives/tactics, i felt it would be a good comprehension exercise to review their standard equipment and readiness. I will also be using this exercise to argue for the specialties of the Atoman regiment and as such will be leaving out the dreg forces. I’ve decided against putting this in darktide general because that’s a cesspit and i’m hoping to have some considered oversight on the matter. brace yourself, images ahead.
The basic kit of the Moebian 6th is the generic standard kit of the imperial guard, although there are already several distinct differences from being manufactured in Atoma over Cadian standards. Armor plating is thinner and more tapered compared to Cadian standard, being especially noticeable at the shoulders where the plates are roughly 30% smaller. field adaptations have seen them including expanded arm/wrist guards to compliment the shin protections which are not to standard and poorly fitted to the body, hindering their hands in exchange for protection, which indicates the Atoman standard kit does not provide significant hand protection. the gloves underneath these makeshift gauntlets are likely the standard kit and not designed for hand to hand.
The helmet is conversely larger with the sides extended to better protect the head. Take note of the local Atoman model of gas mask, which is an older design adapted for the current model helmet featuring a leather covering of the respirator and low-light goggles. Note that the helmet and armor both share field repairs that have included spikes which indicates that the Moebian 6th’s tour of duty required a higher than normal level of hand to hand, possibly indicating heavy xenos opposition. Also note that extremely distressed state of the fatigues, especially compared to the boots which shows that the Atoman regiment was under supplied in terms of clothing and likely other "soft"supplies such as toiletries and foodstuffs. Most soldiers likely were unable to requisition spare uniforms and work their duty outfit constantly, to the point of them tearing from daily wear. It’s worth noting are the boots themselves are not standard guard models, but are an unknown model of cleated boot.
These cleats are most likely for improved traction on metal surfaces that have a think layer of grime, which is the common terrain in Atoma’s hive cities as we’ve seen. So the Atoman regiment is intended for concentrated urban-area fighting in all likelyhood.
Weaponry in the Moebian 6th is again, to general Cadian standard kit but modified by Atoman manufacturing. The standard kantrel model lasgun, instead of the older Terran model or more specialist Helbore is the service arm of choice, alongside a bayonet knife and frag grenades secured at the waist. Note the lower quality of the knife and grenades, with the frag grenades casing being massively simplified for manufacturing at the cost of being much less areodynamic most likely to streamline manufacturing with the simplest tools possible and the knife’s extremely crude blade design. This rough “cleaver” edge is ineffective as a piercing or slashing weapon and the heavily chipped blade suggests the metal quality is inappropriate for use as a blade. Also note the more modern filtration mask, which falls into line with Cadian models. This is an uncommon mask in the 6th and is most likely procured from supplies requested in the field from nearby imperial worlds.
Very few of the Moebian 6th’s forces have any indication of sidearms, but the few available indicate they are not part of standard-issue kit for Atoman forces.
The holstered weapon found here is of particular interest for review, as the gun’s frame is too compact to fit most laspistols and the holster strap’s bandolier suggests it is in fact a semi-automatic model of stub-pistol. Stub weaponry is not standard infantry issue and this pistol was probably produced on whatever world they were stationed on at the quartermaster’s request using relatively limited on-world manufacture. Also worth noting is the direct comparison of the close-fitted grieves to the cumbersome bracer armor at the arms as well as the non-standard belt buckle, which was likely acquired through supplies garnered on return to Atoma.
Significant numbers of the 6th carry melee weapons instead of firearms during this conflict, and their altered choices of loadout bear serious consideration in comparison to the standard kit.
Note the high level of wear on the uniform to the point the fabric on the legs is tearing on its own, baring skin. Note also the significant field repairs, with the chest plate having a large hole patched and a number of light, non-penetrating holes left on the armor in addition to the helmet having been lost or removed. Weaponry if of note as well. The heavy steel cudgel is likely standard issue kit from Atoma, as the manufacture is too exact for field improvisation. This is supplemented by a short stabbing sword at the belt which was likely produced by locals of the world the 6th was stationed at and does not match imperial guard standards.
Viewing the rear of the uniform further shows the serious level of wear to the uniform and allows us to see that the guard flak armor is supplemented by primitive chainmail, likely to protect against glancing slashes in close combat and the additional layers of armor at the shoulders. These alterations were likely made due to the 6th suffering from a shortage of functional lasguns in the field, with the quartermaster having to make do requisitioning supplies on-world, which seems to have been a significantly primitive feral world for the most part.
The Mobian 6th has deployed a large number of specialist troops as well, and the detail of their kit go a long way to telling us about the unit’s operation specialty. For starters, they have a proportionately high number of snipers, but no ratlings.
The standard Moebian 6th sniper’s kit seems to include both a longlas with passive night scope and full night vision goggles. the armor has been reduced to a hard flak vest, which covers less area than the standard infantry model. Fatigues (including light leather boots and gloves) are standard for the regiment, but colored a dark blue for night camo and paired with a cloak for breaking up the outline of the sniper. Important to note is the sniper’s pouches, which are designed to carry pistol magazines. The sniper does not carry a sidearm and the service rifle takes the larger las-pack so these pouches may be for holding replacement focusing filaments for the rifle. The 6th’s snipers have made extensive use of hotshot laspacks which have a reputation for burning out the focusing filaments in lasweapons if not attentively maintained. This may be where part of their difficulty in sourcing service rifles for the regiment comes from, but it would be unwise to place all the burden for that problem on sticky-fingered snipers as a quartermaster would have to approve them hoarding them.
Further review of the cloak shows that the Atoman design features urban camo patterns, with additional metal plating to further prevent identification at range against the largely metal rubble of an industrialized urban warzone. Take special note of the yellow detailing, which is hard to view here but helps to further break up the cloak’s visibility viewed through light-amplification night gear.
This heavily up-armored version of the melee kit, likely a shock trooper, sports fairly extensive field modifications, the spikes most 6th units have refit their armor with are must more pronounced and longer, additional chest and hip flak plating has been added, and a full chainmail tunic has been included. weaponry is largely makeshift hatchets, although the standard issue cudgel makes common appearances. Note the cabling leading inside the makeshift helmet, this is possibly an emergency termination explosive but given the highly agitated and erratic behavior is most likely a combat drug administrator. Also note the hazard stripes, which in the 6th seem to indicate the unit’s specialty forces, but in this case is likely incidental salvage.
From the rear, we are able to view the chainmail as well as the trench knife that seems to be shared with the 6ths shock assault forces. Take note of the model of helmet, which features extended neck protection from debris and the mounting spokes on the flak armor for mounting flag poles or trophy racks. These are possibly penal troops who attempted desertion of mutiny or volunteer suicide fighters too mentally unstable to handle continued warfare, given excessive amounts of aggression stims and turned loose on the enemy. Either would indicate a level of morale that would demand commisars intervene, but the Moebian 6th notably does not seem to have a single commisar.
Continuing the melee-oriented forces of the Atoman toumain, is their heavily armed melee shock troops:
Note that they continue the trend of field reinforcing their standard armor, in this case, a breacher’s version of the standard infantry flak with a blast guard at the neck and slightly elongated should paldrons, which has been improved with the addition of field improvised bracers, grieves, and a chainmail tunic as well as the addition of spikes and noticeable chest patches. the helmet has been further reinforced with a heavy welding mask, which restricts visibility but is much more durable to light shots such as lasguns and autoguns than the standard Atoman filtration mask. this armor includes hazard stripes which in the Atoman forces indicated breaching duty.
Most importantly is their selection of weaponry. A two-handed chainaxe, powerful against lightly armored and unarmored targets and capable of dealing lethal damage to most enemies with an otherwise glancing blow is an extremely unusual choice for most guard units and is only found in teams intended for marines used to breach bulkheads. Having such a large compliment of troops trained for these weapons indicates that it’s a common tactic for the Atoman regiments, rather than a job employed only by elite forces inside the regiment. The heavy chainaxes employed by the Atoman regiment are intended to be effective shock weapons meant to repel immediate attempts to halt the Atomans from gaining ingress through whatever channel they send these troops in to assault.
From the back we can see the chains used to hold collected trophies, the mounting spoes used by several units to display flags or trophy racks, and a heavy trench knife like is seen on the other melee assault unit. This knife is likely standard Atoman kit for tunnel fighting units and would be common for assault forces in breaching teams. Also note the chain armor reinforcing the arm areas of the armor, covering the holes in the normal Cadian style flak plating
Take note of the welding mask’s crude attachment to the helmet which is also a specialist model with an elongated neck guard to prevent debris from falling down the back of the neck when entering through a recently blown open hole. Also notice the longer grieves, which protect the entire knee.
finishing the election of regular line troops, is this loadout with a heavy tank-mounted flamer:
The rest of their kit is in line with the standard uniform, with the normal Atoman gas mask, fatigues, and armor which is given hazard striping to indicate either their risky equipment or more likely in relation to other units in this document their role in clearing fortifications. Note the armor’s defensive studs, and especially the tank feed to the flamer. This feed is a nonstandard jury-rig design likely added after deployment as the flamer is designed to hold a smaller canister flask which may have been in short supply on-world. (also note the tank feed hose falling between their legs-fatshark’s weird coding issues with free-flowing items strikes again) The weapon’s hazard striping apparently marks it as intended for breaching forces, which is shares with the shotgun-equipped units, generally called shotgunners in-game.
the shotgun elites are worth special consideration, as they present the most direct indications of the regiment’s function.
The armor’s markings, with both red paneling for elite units and hazard stripes signal this is a forward unit, intended for breaching. Their flak armor features a heavier chestpiece with a blast guard to protect the face and longer grieves at the legs, but curiously leaves off the shoulder armor. The uniform underneath is a different model from the infantry’s standard fatigue, with the sleeves being secured and rolled back for more mobility for the arms and the gloves being fingerless to allow full use of their sense of touch. The helmet is apparently an officer’s model, featuring extended cheek-guards and an officer’s tassle to identify them in combat.
Provided weaponry is also of note, as the shotgun is a lighter, drum-fed model, intended for clearing trenches and hallways of light troops and bears the hazard stripes of the unit. However this is of lesser importance for observing than the rest of their weapons loadout.
Leaving aside the field addition of trophy poles, the shotgunner’s armament includes a trench shovel and breaching charges, which tells us the unit’s full role. The shotgunner equipment is not assault gear, they’re engineering troops. These soldiers are most likely low-level officers in charge of planning counter-offensive and clearing enemy fortifications. This explains the other sort of shooter soldier I’ve previously glossed over earlier in the overview.
Note the identical uniform sleeves, with the fastener to hold them in the rolled state as well as the lighter boots and fingerless gloves. Also note the bandoliers of shotgun ammo and hazard markings on the lasgun. These are almost certainly engineering troops conducting the more basic checks needed to ensure defenses are shored up and breaches in the hive structure are conducted safely on orders of the officers. This also explains why they don’t show up as highlighted enemies, as they likely have guard training on how to avoid being high-profile targets to help get their job done. Interestingly, they cannot spawn with the entrenchment shovel but only spawn with the dreg’s crude swords. (there seems to have been some mistaken coding work here, as the dreg gunner does not spawn with swords but instead with the entrenchment shovel and cudgel for the scab forces-
This was probably not high enough on their list of corrections to merit attention and got buried ages ago. eh, these things happen)
These engineering corps are relatively uncommon as standard troops in an imperial guard regiment and show us that the Atoman forces are most likely equipped intentionally for dealing with fortifications. this combined with their overall preference for urban camo suggests they’re meant to be trench fighters, doing the hard job of break fortified defensive lines at their strongest point. On to the next unit.
The Grenader specialists continue the pattern of hazard stripes and red paneling for elite units and breaching teams, as well as the lighter shirt and fingerless gloves employed by Atoman engineering corps. Unlike the previous examples, the bombers prominently display their unit insignia and carry a large number of light incendiary charges. Prominant red striping on the armor indicates a ranking officer, and unlike other engineering corps this armor does include shoulder (and oddly, hand) plating.
Note the frag grenades, which do not get used for game balance purposes but further indicate this unit’s role in the field. This is most likely a defensive engineer, the one responsible for all the barricades we encounter throughout the maps and another officer. Their use for incendiaries is intended to provide area denial to further improve their defensive position as the situation calls for it. This matches their voicelines which are generally more professional and about helping their unit over chaos nonsense. Most likely they’re usually placing those grenades as booby-traps to prevent easy troop movements against their territory. They may even be the ones priming all the canisters we see to explode.
The next unit is a bit hard to place in the scab toumain- trappers are possibly MPs being assigned to capture teams.
The trapper’s kit seems to be basic elite units stuff, with the standard uniform and armor supplanted with night camo fatigues and additional long coated gloves- which are for some reason fingerless. They also have bandoliers for holding shackles and a mask that does not match any guard standard. The mask is likely a recent addition.
Additionally, they carry a heavy curved skinning knife which is not standard issue. Combined with their standard weapon of a net-gun not used in the guard, but common in local enforcer units I’m inclined to think these may not actually be scabs, but are instead cult members that are being pressed into the scab formation to assist in their attempts to secure their segment of the hive. This is further borne out by their posture which has serious problems and is likely someone that did not go through guard basic training.
It seems likely they’re employed directly by Wolfer to try and capture inquisitoral agents for capture, and are pulled from the cult’s elite hunters to provide Wolfer with local specialists in tracking and the cult with eyes on the inside of the scab forces.
That brings us to the elite forces of the scabs, their heavy stormtroopers:
Note the better fitting wrist bracers and grieves, the officer’s helmet with the longer cheek-guards and helmet plume, this time using the standard Atoman respirator, and the hazard striping and red highlights. these shock troopers have reduced inclusion of post-conflict spikes on their armor compared to line troops which is likely a point of pride as these are standoff units meant to provide fire support instead of hand to hand assistance.
Also important to note are the heavy hellfire lasguns, with the reinforced barrel and focusing filaments required to make full use of the heavy powerpack carried by these troops:
The Atomans have decorated their packs with skulls, which is not unknown among imperial guard units. Trophy taking is commonly accepted within limits, but the rather excessive taking of heads among the Moebian 6th suggest they were away from higher command for a prolonged period of time and either were incorrectly not issued a contingent of commissars or they were subject to violent reprisals of the troops. Finally, take notice of the unique knife design carried only by these shock troops:
While the blade is of exceptional quality and a very functional combat dagger, this is likely a decorative status symbol, intended as a symbol of espirt du corps among the shock troops. Likely these blades would be provided to those who were approved for and passed elite shocktoop training, which would be a symbol of honor in the regiment and are likely made on Atoma, unique to the 6th. Also worth notice are the grieves and kneeguards, which are properly fitted and of much higher quality that the makeshift protection affected by the line troops.
While this concludes the human troops, there remains the abhuman company attached to the Moebian 6th. Notably, Ogryn are quite heavily employed and unusually well integrated with the 6th’s forces, and it can be gathered that Ogryns are both common enough on Atoma and employed often enough in the Moebian 6th’s toumain that the Atoman forces are comfortable with them as fellow soldiers.
This rare Ogryn in full carapiece armor, with fully enclosed helmet to protect from gas and other airborne toxins (one of the few reliable ways to discourage Ogryn assault, given their high resistance to pain) has the markings of being an elite unit in the Atoman breaching forces. It does not, for some reason have a proper weapon, with a salvaged maul pulled from the superstructure and reinforced with discarded armor plates serving effectively as their weapon of choice. Take not of the curious choice of the bare fingers, indicating either a lack of armored gloves or difficulty in getting the Ogryn to keep them one. also note that the full-face helmet is missing their rebreather gear, which may be due to logistical problems
The back view of the armor is only notable for the indication the carapice plating is reinforced in areas by chainmail. As well is for noting that the belt is simple leather as indicated by the repairs stitching it together. The back-ring is an uncommon but not unheard of option for using Ogryn to haul field guns without needing to put their weapon down.
Outside of the heavy carapiece armor, the Ogryn forces seem to have resorted to using replacement uniforms procured in the field:
Noe that while this Ogryn maintains their standard issue pants and boots, their torso is protected by non-standard chainmail and thick metal plating for unknown sources. Also note the highly unusual augmentic eye, which is usually not found in guard regiments and indicates the Atomans make extensive use of Ogryn fireteams in the Moebian 6th for a guard regiment. This stubgun’s marking indicate it’s intentioned for breaching duty, but this isn’t important as all Ogryn are expected to serve in breaching duty due to their enthusiasm for assault work. Like many of the Ogryn in the Moebian 6th’s traitor legion, this Ogryn has mutated most likely due to their natural constitution making them too resistant to illness for the chaos spawned plague to have the normal effect.
In this example we again see how the Ogryn forces in the Moebian 6th have resorted almost entirely to hastily procured local replacements for their uniforms, almost certainly due to the common heavy levels of damage an Ogryn’s uniform suffers in the duty of being worn by an Ogryn. only the armor plating has survived and that has suffered heavy corrosion, although the hazard striping marks are still partly visible on the arm and leg plates. Note the heavy leather filtration mask, an addition whose origin is unknown and may equally be standard Atoman issue, field refit, or procured after being recalled to Tertium. Also note the use of a prison-issue slab shield intended to block prison corridors instead of the larger models used for assaults, indicating the unit has run out of their standard issue shields and procured some from either local prisons on Atoma or captured prison ships then they turned traitor.
Also of note is this large belt buckle, which is likely given to the Orgyn on return to Atoma, which is not standard but does provide the Ogryn with “Shinies” to flaunt, which is a common Ogryn reward.
To conclude this overview, allow me to offer my observations. The 6th is primarily a regiment flavored not by the exotic martial habits of their homeworld like the Tallerns or Valayns, but by the tactical focus and and strategic expertise, like the Mordians or Cadians (such as they remain Cadian). And it is that expertise that defines the 6th, for they are specialists in the single hardest aspect of modern infantry warfare, breaching fortifications. When you have an enemy under siege and you absolutely have to ensure their lines are broken, their guard is dropped and your forces are able to penetrate and get boots on the ground, you sent word to command to call for elements of the Moebian 6th.
Because Atoma’s bunker-busters are second to no-one. They have the skills to find the weak points of any fortification, the tactical units to isolate and expose those weakpoints, the engineering know-how to bring it down, and the hard-bitten assault forces needed to make that hole stay open for your forces to exploit. Quite the same they weren’t properly supplied and were turned traitor in the oversight by command.
