United States military
The United States military, officially known as the United States Armed Forces, are charged with defending the people of the United States of America from all hostile military forces, be they foreign states, terrorists, or killer alien robots. It is structured into the following five branches of service:
- United States Army
- United States Navy
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Air Force
- United States Coast Guard
They have a habit of getting involved in the Autobot/Decepticon war on Earth because... well really, most of it takes place on American soil. It's their job. Plus a lot of Transformers disguise themselves as US military vehicles, and that's just not right.
Generation 1
The US Armed Forces contain several specialized units whose branch of service is speculative.
The only named unit whose branch of service is known is the Air Force Uberhogs squadron.
Transformers (2007)
Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)
Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) is a subordinate unified command of US Central Command (USCENTCOM). It is responsible for planning special operations in peacetime and war.
SOCCENT operates a Forward Operations Base in Qatar, commanded by Colonel Sharp, United States Marine Corps.
United States Army
Army Rangers
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)
Captain William Lennox leads a Army Ranger special-operations unit, stationed out of SOCCENT Forward Operations Base. This unit includes:
- First Sergeant Donnelly
- Technical Sergeant Robert Epps, United States Air Force (Air Force Combat Control officer)
- Chief Warrant Officer Jorge Figueroa
United States Air Force
CV-22 Osprey
The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover, and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for special operations forces.
Two Ospreys out of SOCCENT transported Captain Lennox's Ranger unit back to the base after a mission.
Note: The two Ospreys featured in the movie are two of only three that the US Air Force has in its inventory.
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a twin-engine ground-attack aircraft designed to provice close air support (CAS) to ground forces by by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. It is also called the Warthog about as often as its official name, in and out of the United States Air Force.
After recieving Captain Lennox's request for air support, the Pentagon ordered a nearby airbase roll in Strike Package Bravo, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fitted with AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, to immediately give support to Lennox's beseiged unit. USAF Sergeant Epps coordinated with an E-3 Sentry AWACS to have the A-10s direct their fire upon the target in killbox one-alpha, which was indicated by flares and painted with laser guidance markers. Approaching the villiage, the two A-10s strafed the robotic scorpion with 30 mm rounds from its Avenger gatling gun. Causing no noticable damage, the two planes followed up with their Maverick missiles, blowing up alot of sand but they missed as a result there was no appreciable effect on the mechanical beast.
E-3 Sentry AWACS
The E-3 Sentry is an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications to United States Military.
After Captain Lennox established communications with the Pentagon, Sergeant Epps coordinated with an E-3 Sentry to have fire directed upon Scorponok. The E-3's crew provided command and control to the pair of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in Strike Package Bravo and the AC-130 Spectre gunship that attacked Scorponok.
Crew
- Michael Adams (AWACS Controller #1)
- Ron Henry (AWACS Controller #2)
- Benjamin Hoffman (AWACS Controller #3)
- Michael McNabb (AWACS Controller #4)
- Jason White (AWACS Controller #5)
Note: Most of the crew of the E-3 Sentry seen in the movie are real crew of that particular aircraft. First Lieutenant Micheal McNabb (who played AWACS Controller #4) is a Transformers fan, and stated in an email to fansite TFW2005.com that director Michael Bay allowed them to come up with lines that they would really say to other aircraft in order to make the scenes as realistic as possible.
AC-130 Spectre
The AC-130 Spectre gunship is a heavily-armed ground attack airplane. It is used for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and flying urban operations.
With the lack of significant damage to Scorponok by the two A-10 Thunderbolts of Strike Package Bravo, Captain Lennox suggested the biggest barrels the Air Force has: the 105mm M102 howitzer cannons of AC-130 Spectre gunship. The Spectre pounded the Decepticon attack into the ground with a combination of 40 mm L60 Bofors cannon and 105mm sabot rounds, damaging Scorponok enough for it to retreat.
F-22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is a air-superiority fighter with stealth capabilities. It is the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world.
Two Raptors were launched to intercept and escort Blackout to SOCCENT. They were presumably destroyed when the Decepticon laid waste to the base.
Later, Secretary of Defence Keller sucessfully contacted the Air Force, F-22 Raptors were launched to give air cover to the combined Ranger/Sector Seven/Autobot unit in Mission City. One of the Raptor squadrons took heavy damage when the Decepticon Starscream sucessfully infiltrated the group and destroyed several aircraft before being driven off. With the heat off their tails, the Raptors participated in the destruction of Blackout and Megatron.
Real world
During filming of the Transformers live action movie, director Michael Bay worked closely with the United States Department of Defense, who saw a high-profile summer action movie where US troops fight evil alien robots as a good promotional tool. It's not known if they are an official sponsor of the movie franchise like corporate partners General Motors, Kraft Foods Inc., PepsiCo, and Target. However, military personnel did get the opportunity to see the film free of charge before its American release.
