Just WHO are the marines?

[Seehund]

I've been thinking, recently. That's never a good thing.

Still, there isn't any hint regarding just WHO is manning the Sulaco; in fact, squads aren't even deployed following the canon, but that can be easily overlooked because of gameplay reasons.
No, this thread is about the Sulaco crew's. Which platoon are the marines part of? From which Company? Regiment? Division?

[bustered1]

wiki/Lore

[Seehund]

wiki/Lore

That doesn't cover the question, though. I get there's nine divisions and that the Sulaco is a Conestoga-class and so forth.

But what sections are the in-game marines supposed to be part of?

[bustered1]

I'm not that familiar with the marines, so someone else would have to answer that.

[MrGabol100]

In the movies, the sulaco deploys ALL PERSONNEL only thr bug stomper crew stayed, the ship, even for its size id completely automatic, so no military personnel has to worry about it.

We are deploying non-canonically as you say, but as we have a Commander, 1st lt, BOs, multiple squads... etc, We can't really match it with the canon.

[LordLoko]

2° Battalion - 9° Regiment

[Seehund]

2° Battalion - 9° Regiment

Interesting, is there a source for that? Honestly, the term "Regiment" varies confusingly from country to country; some Regiments are as big - or even bigger than Battalions, and some are just grouped-up Battalions.

[Jack McIntyre]

2nd Battalion Bravo team

http://avp.wikia.com/wiki/USS_Sulaco

[Seehund]

2nd Battalion Bravo team

http://avp.wikia.com/wiki/USS_Sulaco

Ah, the DS game. Interesting, though; the Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual casts some doubt on that.
Let me elaborate.
Canonically, A platoon (25 men, counting vehicle crew) is split into two sections - each section is then split in two squads of four marines each. Each of these sections gets a dropship and an APC, and so on...

This is where it gets iffy, since as far as anybody is concerned, both these sources (DS game and Manual) are canon.

I could realistically believe the marines shown in Aliens are half a platoon, but nowhere are brigades (3 to 6 battalions, ~3000 to 5000 men) mentioned outside the DS game.

Obviously, I have no indication of the actual size of a USCMC brigade or battalion, so I may as well be in the wrong here, please mind that.

[apophis775]

Typically, a "sulaco type ship" carries a Batallion. Lv-426 was a special top-secret mission, where an exception was made.

[UnknownMurder]

After looking deeper into this...
Who is actually a pilot of Sulaco?

[LordLoko]

After looking deeper into this...
Who is actually a pilot of Sulaco?

The BOs and the commander.

[UnknownMurder]

The BOs and the commander.

Then, they cannot exit the orbit when knowing aliens can use the shuttles, and suddenly we're going to use emergency pods.

Where's the Hyperdrive? Ludicrous speed?

[LordLoko]

Then, they cannot exit the orbit when knowing aliens can use the shuttles, and suddenly we're going to use emergency pods.

Where's the Hyperdrive? Ludicrous speed?

Uses the "when the plot requires" type of engine, runs on "suspension of desbelief" fuel.

[UnknownMurder]

[Samual Johnson]

Canonicaly Sulaco is automated with the officer in command being able to override the automation when needed. As for organization according to the technical manual there is a set makeup for a platoon but it isn't uncommon for there to be mission based differences. The Sulaco marines in the movie for example on paper were at section strength or half a platoon.