United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the United States Military.

The 75th Ranger Regiment, also known as the United States Army Rangers, is an elite light infantry special operations force of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Losing's really not an option for these guys.

“	This We'll Defend	”
—U.S. Army motto

“	Rangers Lead The Way!	”
—U.S. Army Rangers motto

Generation 1

IDW Hearts of Steel continuity

A unit of Federal troops was guarding a train that was rammed and destroyed by the Insectrain. When the Insectrain split apart and transformed into the Insecticons, the troops were powerless to stop them from steeling the cargo of currency and bullion. Hearts of Steel issue 2

Later, a cavalry unit discovered the Decepticons' abandoned construction site. They telegraphed Sacramento to let them know the Decepticons were on the move. Since the Decepticons were traveling by rail, it was not hard to guess which way they were headed. Hearts of Steel issue 3 Another Army unit set up a roadblock in hopes of stopping them, but the Astrotrain plowed right through them without even slowing down. Hearts of Steel issue 4

Clearly, the US Army was not going to be much help in stopping Decepticons, so it was left to the Autobots and their civilian human allies to put an end to their menace.

Live-action Transformers movies

Transformers (2007) movie

On the way back to SOCCENT Forward Operations Base in Qatar aboard two CV-22 Ospreys, the men in Captain Lennox's unit discussed their desires to be back home enjoying a "perfect day" of civilian life. CWO Figueroa wished to be home for his mother's cooking of barbecued alligators (something that disgusted Air Force Tech Sergeant Robert Epps) and top kick Donnelly wanted a flat beer and hotdog at Fenway stadium. When asked, all Captain Lennox wanted to do was hold his baby girl for the first time, earning him ribbing from the other soldiers.

Shortly after the men cleaned up and stowed their gear away, Lennox made a video call to his wife and daughter back home in the 'States. During this call, a MH-53 Pave Low entered SOCCENT's restricted airspace, refusing to identify itself. Escorting F-22 Raptors launched from SOCCENT reported that its tail number was 4500X, which was also the tail number of a Pave Low that was confirmed to have been shot down in Afghanistan several months earlier. The helicopter landed and began jamming SOCCENT's radar and communication systems, blinding them. Unexpectedly, the helicopter changed form, turning into a humanoid robot that laid waste to the soldiers surrounding it.

Epps ran through the barracks sounding the alarm that their antennae farm had been destroyed. Lennox's team, along with every other soldier with their wits about them, retreated from the unstoppable robot who was effortlessly destroying the base. After it was foiled in its attempt to hack the command center's server, Epps was almost crushed by the machine, but managed to capture images of it. The machine tried to stop him from escaping, but was fired upon by Figueroa. As Lennox's Ranger team and local boy Mahfouz made their escape, the machine unleashed a mechanical scorpion after them before obliterating the rest of the base.

The Rangers made their way across the harsh Qatar desert, unaware they were being stalked. Determined to bring back images of the machine to the Pentagon, they travelled to Mahfouz's distant village where a phone would be found. Just as the exhausted group reached the outskirts of the settlement, the scorpion attacked, killing Donnelly and sending the rest running for their lives. Fortunately, the townspeople joined in the defense against the mechanical creature, allowing Lennox to borrow a cell phone from Mahfouz's father, Akram. After some frustrations with an unhelpful phone company operator and some confusion over which of Epps' many back pockets contained his wallet, the Rangers were able to get in touch with the Pentagon. Under Epps' coordination with an E-3 Sentry AWACS, the Air Force sent Strike Package Bravo, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs which shot the hell out of the scorpion, but failed to do any significant damage. Epps was forced to turn to the biggest guns they had, a AC-130 Spectre with its 105mm sabot shells, which finally damaged the creature, breaking its tail and sending it scurrying away. However, the battle had come at a cost—Figueroa was seriously injured. A medical helicopter arrived hours later to ship bring the Rangers to a base.

On the way back aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, the Rangers were able to learn that the tail of the scorpion was made out of a self-regenerating molecular armour that was penetrated by the sabot rounds. With a way to damage their new enemies, Epps called command to advise the use of high-heat sabot rounds on all of their gunships. Almost immediately after touching down in the United States, they were approached by agents of the clandestine Sector Seven who ordered the soldiers to follow. The Rangers were brought to the base at Hoover Dam with a group of curious companions: Secretary of Defense John Keller and Sector Seven agent Tom Banachek; Maggie Madsen and Glen Whitmann, two computer programmers; and Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes, two teenagers who had apparently encountered the living machines. Agent Seymour Simmons, a person that everybody in the group took an immediate disliking to, met the group and explained how they had all encountered or were now aware of the N.B.Es (Non-Biological Extraterrestrials), in other words, the shape-shifting alien machines that had attacked SOCCENT Qatar and the ones encountered by the teens. They were brought to see the frozen N.B.E.-01, the very first of the alien robots found on Earth and propegenitor of all of Earth's advanced technologies. Sam pipped in with the information that N.B.E.-01 was Megatron, the leader of the evil Decepticons faction of the aliens who was after a cube-like object. Tom Banachek led the group into an observation room in a massive chamber containing the Cube, the All Spark, and explained the real reason for the construction of the Hoover Dam was to conceal the alien artifact's strange radiation energy from anybody on the outside. Unfortunately, one alien managed to get inside and call upon his commander.

When asked about the Cube radiation, the group was again led into another secure chamber, where they were shown how the Cube could turn ordinary devices such as a Nokia cell phone into transforming robots. During the demonstration, Hoover Dam was attacked by a transforming F-22 Raptor who disabled the main generators. Leaping into action, Lennox asked to be led to the arms room where they could prepare a defense against the alien aggressors. While this was going on, Sam Witwicky asked Simmons to be allowed to see his alien robot car who had been captured by Sector Seven, but Simmons flatly refused, stating they had no idea of what would happen if they let the thing near the Cube. His patience at an end, Lennox snapped and drew his sidearm at Simmons, demanding the boy be allowed to see his car. This caused a stand off between the Rangers who refused to acknowledge Simmons' orders and the various black-clad Sector Seven soldiers. Fortunately, John Keller ordered Simmons to let the Rangers have their way, as losing was not really an option for them. The Rangers followed Sam and Mikaela to a lab where the yellow car, Bumblebee was being tortured. After being freed, there was a tense moment where the alien reacted with hostility towards the humans due to his mistreatment, but Sam managed to calm him down and take him to the All Spark Cube. To the amazement of the assembled humans (especially Simmons), Bumblebee activated the massive Cube and shrunk it down to a small, portable size. Aware that to fight here with Megatron in the other hanger was a losing option, Lennox suggested Keller and Simmons try to contact the Air Force, as the soldiers could not make a stand without air cover. Meanwhile, the Rangers, with the Sector Seven troopers under their command, Sam, Mikaela and Bumblebee would head towards Mission City in the hopes that the hustle and bustle would mask the Cube from the Decepticons.

On the way, the convoy was joined by the Autobots, who formed up along side to protect the Cube.

Due to what is most likely a particularly bad continuity error (among many continuity errors in this film), the soldiers and their buggies do not appear at all during the freeway sequence where Bonecrusher attacks the Autobots.

Arriving in Mission City, Lennox was able to charm a pawn shop owner into giving him two working (if ancient) CB radios. Though Epps complained about their "Radio Shack Dinosaur Radio" age, he was seemingly able to contact an F-22 circling above the city, prompting Lennox to order the convoy to stop and pop green signal smoke. Unfortunately, the F-22 was apparently the Decepticon Starscream, who was recognised by the Autobot Ironhide. The old Autobot soldier's warning gave the humans enough time to scatter before Starscream unleashed his payload, crippling Bumblebee. In the confusion, Lennox berated Epps for apparently relaying an incorrect order that forced the F-22 to shoot at them, though Epps revealed that the illegal maneuvers the Raptor displayed was clearly made by an alien. Suddenly, modified Abrams tank appeared and fired upon them. The soldiers and the Autobots joined forces in disabling the brute before Megatron appeared on the scene, thirsting for vengeance. The Autobot Jazz and Ratchet ordered the humans to flee while they could. As he was retreating, Lennox noticed Jazz was bravely making a stand against Megatron to cover the humans. As the captain cried out for Jazz to fall back, the Autobot was blasted by Megatron, carried off into the air and torn in half. Realising that they could not hold the line against the Decepticons indefinitely, Lennox called for Blackhawk helicopters and ordered Sam Witwicky to make a run for it with the Cube while the soldiers held the enemy off. As Sam ran off, escorted by the remaining Autobots, and Mikaela drove off a tow truck with the injured Bumblebee strapped to it, the soldiers faced off against the tank thing, who had apparently received its second wind.

They struggled to fight it off, with Lennox observing that they weren't doing very well. Salvation came in the form of Mikaela driving the tow truck with Bumblebee on the back. The plucky Autobot's weapons made the difference, allowing them all to destroy the Decepticon. With the tank dead, Lennox and his men headed towards where the Autobot leader Optimus Prime and Megatron were fighting to lend the friendly alien assistance. Unfortunately, that Pave Low helicopter that attacked SOCCENT Qatar landed in the street ahead of them. Noticing that the evil alien was distracted, Lennox ordered Epps to call in F-22 Raptors to attack the robot helicopter while the soldiers attacked from the ground. Lennox got on an abandoned motorcycle and rode it towards the Decepticon, ditching it at the last moment moment to slide along the ground. As the F-22 missiles struck the alien, Lennox fired his grenade launcher into its gearbox, exacting his revenge for the deaths in Qatar.

With another Decepticon taken care of, the soldiers move to help Optimus Prime, who was struggling to fight the powerful Megatron. Together, the Air Force F-22s and the soldiers hammered the Decepticon leader, damaging him enough for Sam Witwicky. Lennox fired the round that pierced Megatron's chest armour, allowing Sam to shove the All Spark cube into the Decepticon's chest, killing him. As the dust settled, Lennox held his men back as Optimus Prime sombrely lamented his brother's death and thanked Sam for saving his own life. When the others arrived, Optimus briefly mourned the death of brave Jazz and thanked the assembled humans for their courage and bravery.

Sometime later, Captain Lennox got a ride home from Ironhide, and he finally met his daughter for the first time. It was the perfect day. Transformers

Notable personnel

• Captain William Lennox leads a Army Ranger special-operations unit stationed out SOCCENT Qatar. This unit included:
• First Sergeant Donnelly
• Technical Sergeant Robert Epps, United States Air Force (Air Force Combat Control NCO)
• Chief Warrant Officer Jorge Figueroa
• Burke (Bald white guy)
• Eckerson (Funny hair guy)
• Other Guy #3 (Runs-funny-in-slow-motion guy)
• Other Guy #4

Facilities

As part of the joint operational command structure, US Army soldiers were stationed at SOCCENT Forward Operations Base in Qatar alongside service personnel from the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force.

UH-60 Black Hawk

The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-lift utility helicopter designed to replace the UH-1 Iroquois (see below) as the US Army's tactical transport helicopter.

Shortly after the United States learned of the attack on SOCCENT Qatar, two medical evacuation UH-60Q Black Hawks flew to the destroyed base to search for survivors.

Later, two US Army UH-60 Blackhawks presumably stationed at Nellis Air Force Base transported teenagers Sam Witwicky & Mikaela Banes, computer hackers Maggie Madsen & Glenn Whitmann as well as Secretary of Defense John Keller to Hoover Dam.

Later, Army Blackhawks arrived in Mission City to help evacuate Sam and the All Spark Cube out of the city. One arrived on the roof to offer Sam assistance, but it was shot down by Starscream. The survivors could not render any help to Sam when the boy was faced with Megatron.

• More information about the UH-60 Blackhawk on Wikipedia

UH-1 Iroquois

The Bell Helicopter UH-1 Iroquois, commonly known as the "Huey", is a multi-purpose military helicopter, famous for its use in the Vietnam War. It has since been superseded by the UH-60 Black Hawk.

After Scorponok was driven off by an AC-130 gunship, an Army UH1 medical helicopter was sent to the battle site to evacuate the survivors to a friendly air base.

• More information about the UH-1 Iroquois on Wikipedia

Titan Transformers movie comics

This event is unique to the Titan comics continuity.

After the defeat of Megatron in Mission City, a six-man Ranger team under Captain Cartwright were sent to assist Ironhide in fighting Scorponok. His team were Warrant Officer Marcus Holt, Master Sergeant Carlos Jimenez, Weapons Sergeant Darius Gale, medic Sergeant First Class William Oates (the only one to show awe about meeting "an honest-to-gosh alien"), and Operations Sergeant Jim Moon. Transformers Comic issue 8

The Veiled Threat prequel novel

The Veiled Threat

Revenge of the Fallen movie

The US Army was involved in the NEST mission in Shanghai with at least 1 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter.

The US Army played a large role in the battle in Egypt with M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, M2A3 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, M270 MLRS multiple rocket systems and at least 1 M113 armored personnel carrier. With the help of the US Army the Autobots and NEST soldiers managed to hold back the Decepticons. Untill The Fallen managed to use his telekinetic powers to destroy/disable many of the Army vehicles after they opened fire on the top of the pyramid.

M1A2 Abrams

The General Dynamics M1A2 Abrams is a main battle tank and the primary weapon system of the US Army. The M1A2 Abrams tanks is armed with a 120mm gun. The primary ammunition for this gun are 120mm APFSDS-T (Armor Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot) rounds. These sabot rounds have a depleted uranium penetrator which makes them the most powerfull sabot rounds. The gun can also fire explosive HEAT rounds. Besides the 120mm gun the Abrams is also armed with 2 7.62mm machineguns (of which 1 coaxial to the 120mm gun) and a 12.7mm machinegun. The Abrams is also the best protected armored tank in the world with Chobham armor (which includes steel encased depleted uranium). Its thick front armor is nearly inpenetrable being able to survive anti-tank weapons as well as its own 120mm rounds. The sides are a lot thinner but still capable to defeating tank rounds and most anti-tank weapons. Its only weaknesses (like any tank) are its top, rear and bottom but even here it requires a powerfull autocannon or anti armor weapon toe pentrate. As shown in the first movie Transformers are vulnerable to high speed sabot rounds and are the best Earth weapons to destroy Transformers. Having the most powerfull sabot rounds, the M1A2 Abrams is the most capable weapon against Decepticons (apart from experimental railguns). Abrams tanks played a big role in the final battle in Egypt where their sabot rounds did a lot of damage to the Decepticons and providing covering fire to Sam and Mickaela. After they fired on The Fallen on top of the pyramid many were thrown trhough the air by The Fallens telekinetic powers. The vehicles themselves were badly damaged and unable to fight but because the tank is so heavily armored it is likely that many of the crews survived this attack (although probably with bad headache).

M2A3 Bradley

The United Defence M2A3 Bradley is an infantry fighting vehicle and is the modern infantry of the US Army. The vehicle has a 25mm automatic cannon which can fire both APDS-T (sabot) and high explosive rounds. 25mm may not be a large character but its high rate of fire does allow it to do serious damage to Decepticons, especially at weaker areas of their armor. Besides the 25mm gun the Bradley also has a launcher for M220 TOW2B anti-tank missiles and a coaxial 7.62mm machinegun. The Bradley is the second-best protected vehicle in the US Army (only the Abrams is better armored). It has all-round protection against 14.7mm armor piercing rounds and its frontal armor is protected against 30mm armor piercing rounds. Bradleys were seen in the battle in Egypt where they unloaded dismounts (infantry) and gave fire support.

M113

The United Defence M113 is a armored personnel carrier. Although replaced by the Bradley in its primary function as a troop carrier, many M113s are still in service. The vehicle is armed with a 12.7mm machinegun and its armor protects the vehicle against small arms fire and shell splinters. The vehicle is relatively lightly armored and armed but can be airdropped by C-130. At least 1 M113 was seen in the battle in Egypt, being fired upon by Mixmaster.

United Defence M270 MLRS

The Lockheed Martin M270 MLRS is a multiple rocket system. It is a artillery system which can be loaded with several artillery rockets. A normal loadout consists of 12 artillery rockets. These rockets have a range of 30km and each rocket contains many small bomblets which can blanket 1 square km with subminitions. Each bomblet can penetrate the top armor of a tank. The MLRS if perfect for bombarding an area. The MLRS can also carry 2 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles which have a range of 300km. MLRSs fired rockets at The Fallen on top of the pyramid as he turned on the machine. They were not seen in action before this moment so it is likely that they arrived later.

AH-64D Apache Longbow

The McDonnel Douglas/Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow is a attack helicopter. It is armed with Hellfire anti-tank missiles, rocket pods and a 30mm autocannon. The Hellfires are its primary weapon and can take out most tanks since they are top attack, meaning they hit the relatively weak armored top of a tank. Its rocket pods fire unguided rockets for use against soft targets such as unarmed vehicles and personnel. The Apache also has a 30mm autocannon which can take out soft targets and light armored vehicles. A Apache was deployed in Shanghai to hunt down Decepticons. The Apache engaged Demolishor and detected the second decepticon Sideways

Notes

• For the 2007 live-action movie, the actors portraying the soldiers on Lennox's Ranger team went through three days of basic training at Fort Irwin, in California. The segment of their experiences, titled "I Fight Giant Robots", can be seen in the 2-disc DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray editions of Transformers.
• In Revenge of the Fallen it is said: "Get those Marines" but the vehicles shown in the battle are clearly US Army. The US Marine Corps has no Bradleys, M113s or MLRSs. They do have Abramses but only the older M1A1 version, whereas the tanks shown are clearly M1A2.

External links

• United States Army on the Wikipedia
• United States Army Rangers on the Wikipedia