While not directly related to the Marine Recon campaign I’ve been slowly (VERY slowly) working on, I wanted to share something I had worked on several years back for 3rd Edition GURPS Special Ops.
The template below, covering the ARAS team, would be useful for either a GURPS Spec Ops or GURPS SWAT campaign. As members of the ATLAS Network of European Union Police Tactical Units members of ARAS could even find themselves in a campaign based on Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six book and games. Additionally, a character could have this as their background in a Twilight: 2000 (or similar post-war) campaign.
Background
The Baltic States (consisting of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) are three small nations that have lived under threat of invasion – both from the West and from the East. Occupied first by the Soviets in 1940, they were then invaded by Nazi Germany in 1941, then invaded again by the Soviets in 1944. Although they gained their independence in 1989, they have still remained under threat from Russian forces. As you can see by the map below, all three border Russian territory, and would be quickly overwhelmed by Russian forces were an invasion to occur (similar to what happened to Ukraine in the Crimea). Side note – there has been a lot of discussion in the last few years about military vulnerabilities of the Suwalki Gap.
In reading about the various defense forces, I stumbled upon an article on the specialized police division of Lithuania, called ‘ARAS’ (Lithuanian for Eagle).
Lithuania’s premier counter-terrorism unit was born out of the uncertainty leading up to and following the collapse of the Soviet Union. As waves of democracy swept throughout Eastern Europe, so did the presence of organized crime, most notably the Russian Mafia. Formed in 1991 to directly counter the threat of organized crime in Lithuania, ARAS was as much a symbol of democracy and stability of the new Baltic state as it was a crime-fighting force. Immediately setting to work, ARAS conducted a series of midnight raids on Mafia establishments, systematically removing key players from the world of organized crime and putting them behind bars. The failure of large “Mafia” syndicates to take hold of Lithuania in its early days is directly attributed to the actions of the ARAS, something that sets it apart from other Eastern European countries.
The ARAS unit is placed under the Ministry of Interior and is a 250-strong force. Operators are spread out throughout major cities of the country in 30-man “companies” – and the elite within the elite, the “Special Team”- is located in the capital, Vilnius. From its inception, ARAS has performed a variety of tasks, acting as border guards in its early days. Indeed, the unit suffered two casualties in 1991, while manning a checkpoint on the border with Belarus when two officers were shot dead by Soviet Special Forces. Since then, ARAS has expanded its mandate to include hostage rescue, internal security, investigation of organized crime and armed robbery.
Before becoming an ARAS operator, one must have at least five years prior experience in the police or military, must be at least 23 years of age in excellent mental and physical condition and must pass through a rigorous training course, designed to test his intelligence, physical capabilities and resourcefulness. The course lasts three months where the trainee is taught rudimentary skills, including detailed instruction on procedures for armed confrontations. If accepted, the trainee learns skills as CQB, sharp-shooting, EOD, operation planning, field medicine and hostage negotiation. ARAS operators are also trained in rappelling and climbing ropes, and Lithuania has its share of high-rise buildings where these skills may be required.
The ARAS “Special Team” is a 32-man company of hand-picked operators who have served for at least two years in ARAS. If picked for the Special Team and if they are willing to join, the operators are subjected to a 7 day around the clock selection course. Usually, five operators are selected from around 15, and they go on to Special Team training. ARAS has trained with American counter-terrorist units such as the FBI HRT and Delta Force, and with New Zealand’s SAS.
ARAS uses many of the “standard” counter-terrorist gear that can be found in the majority of special forces units today. The preferred firearm is the H&K MP5 submachine gun, although the AK-74 and its variants are also in the team’s armory. Czech-made CZ75 pistols are carried by most operators. Layered Kevlar body armor is worn for protection from small arms fire, along with Russian-made ballistic helmets. For transportation, ARAS has access to three Kamov Ka-26 helicopters, which were replaced in 2003 by Eurocopter models EC120 and EC135.
Without further ado, here is the template for ARAS members!
ARAS (Eagle) Quick Response Team 125 Points
An agent serving in Aras must take the Basic Skills below and choose a unit of assignment.
Attributes: ST 11 [10], DX 13 [30], IQ 13 [30], HT 11 [10].
Advantages: Fit [5], Legal Enforcement Powers [10], Police Rank 1 [5]; and 5 points in additional ST or HT, Desirable Advantages (p. SO51 or SW42), Police Rank (p. C54) or Patrons (p. C55).
Disadvantages: Extremely Hazardous Duty [-20], and -20 points selected from the Desirable Disadvantages list (p. SO56).
Basic Skills: Acting (M/A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Administration (M/A) IQ-2 [1/2]-11; Armoury (Small Arms) (M/A) IQ-2 [1/2]-11; Boating (P/A) DX-2 [1/2]-11; Brawling (P/E) DX [1]-13; Camouflage (M/E) IQ [1]-13; Climbing (P/A) DX [2]-13; Criminology (M/A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Demolition (M/A) IQ-2 [1/2]-11; Driving (Automobile) (P/A) DX [2]-13; Electronics Operation (Communications) (M/A) IQ [2]-13; Escape (P/H) DX-1 [2]-12; Explosive Ordnance Disposal (M/H) IQ-3 [1/2]-10; First Aid (M/E) IQ-1 [1/2]-12; Guns (Grenade Launcher) (P/E) DX+1 [1/2]-14*; Guns (Light Auto) (P/E) DX+2 [1]-15*; Guns (Pistol) (P/E) DX+2 [1]-15*; Guns (Rifle) (P/E) DX+2 [1]-15*; Guns (Shotgun) (P/E) DX+1 [1/2]-14*; Hiking (P/A) HT+1 [4]-12; Intelligence Analysis (M/H) IQ-2 [1]-11; Interrogation (M/A) IQ-2 [1/2]-11; Jumping (P/E) DX [1]-13; Language (English, Russian, or Polish) (M/A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Leadership (M/A) IQ [2]-13; Lockpicking (M/A) IQ-1 [1]-12; NBC Warfare (M/A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Orienteering (M/A) IQ [2]-13; Photography (M/A) IQ-2 [1/2]-11; Professional Skill: Law Enforcement (M/A) IQ [2]-13; Scrounging (M/E) IQ [1]-13; Shadowing (M/A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Shield (P/E) DX-1 [1/2]-12; Skiing (P/H) DX-3 [1/2]-10; Stealth (P/A) DX-1 [1]-12; Streetwise (M/A) IQ [2]-13; Survival (Woodlands) (M/A) IQ-2 [1/2]-11; Swimming (P/E) DX [1]-13; Tactics (Counterterrorist) (M/H) IQ+1 [6]-14; Throwing (P/H) DX [4]-13; Tonfa (P/H) DX-1 [2]-12; Traps (M/A) IQ-2 [1/2]-11.
* Includes +2 for IQ.
1. Unit of Assignment:
- Demolitions: Increase Demolition, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Traps. Add Architecture (M/A).
- Special Team: Increase Climbing, Demolition, Guns (Light Auto), Guns (Pistol), Guns (Rifle), NBC Warfare; and Tactics (Counterterrorist) (M/H).
Customization Notes: In a 125-point campaign, there will be 9 points left after purchasing this template.
Weapons of Choice: Pistols used include the Česká CZ75; Glock 17 (p. HT123); Glock 19; SIG-Sauer P226 (p. SO114); SIG-Sauer P229 (p. HT109). Aras uses the following SMG’s: MP5A5 (p. SO117); and Steyr AUG 9mm (p. SO115). They use the following Rifles: Izhmash AKS-74U (p. SO115); Tulamash SVD (p. SO114); H&K G36K (p. SO120). Aras also uses the Winchester 1300 Defender 12g. shotgun. If I can get some additional information, I will try and stat up the weapons that currently don’t have stats.
Equipment: Equipment typically used includes the Maska-1 titanium steel helmet (PD 4, DR 15 for areas 3-5); Fv M/92 kevlar vest (PD 2, DR 12 for areas 9-10, 17-18, 5 lbs.) with optional ceramic insert (PD 4, DR 35 for areas 9-10, 17-18 from the front only, 12 lbs.).
Photos above courtesy the Lithuanian Police.
GURPS Special Ops 
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