Name: Marcus Cohen
Age: 32
Hair: Brown, Short
Eyes: Brown
Skin: Pale
Height: 6'2
Weight: 230lbs

Faction: The American Union
Division: American Union Ground Self-Defense Force
Unit: Type 61
Crew: 3, (Driver, Gunner, Commander)
Position: Commander
Standard Deployment Equipment (on person): Man portable laser rangefinder, pistol, ballistic armor, ultralight communications unit, submachine gun, binoculars.
Note: Marcus wears heavier armor than those under his command and has his communications hardwired directly into his helmet. The unique helmet he wears helps keep him noticable when compared to other squadmates and has limited optical zoom and video recording features. The addition of extra-armor is also there to help protect him if he needs to provide support or logistical information from outside the tanks sealed canopy.

Strategy: Even with all the interference various generators can cause, Marcus has proven than long range artillery strikes can be effective. He usually strikes first from a hidden positions and attempts to quickly decimate any enemies with volleys of fire. Then, the tanks move to another location of strafe and fire.
If ambushed or brought into close range, he will circle the enemy, randomly change directions, and aim to bring their legs or weapons under fire, therefore opening the cockpit or torso for strikes.

Brief History:
Cohen is a former artillery gunner and believes that outgunning the enemy is more essential than the development of close combat weapons. This view has remained with him for his nearly 15 years of service in the American armed forces.

Originally trained as a field recon medic, he was soon transferred to an armored division as tensions with foreign powers became even more problematic. Over the years, he engaged in a number of operations meant at taking out enemy convoys and lightly armored bases, usually attacking soft targets of various nations and focusing on destroying ammunition dumps and factories on the surface.

During the covert siege of an Japanese supply base, his unit was ambushed by a squad of Zaku's. The tanks and heavy ordinance were completely undefended from the rear and Zaku units armed with Bazookas and heavy cannons destroyed the only weapons that could have scored critical hits on the mobile suits, and left Marcus with permanent nerve damage in his left arm. The squad was all but annihalted and then the Zaku force marched on and assaulted the advancing American's, catching them completely in their ambush.

After a breief stint in an American recovery ward and some write-off therapy, he was charged with serving in the defense of a North American base, often spending his day wedged into the cramped gunner station on Type 61 tanks and their even more primitive ancestors. During this period of time, he became heavily involved in troop training and actively participated in drills meant to increase the survivability of traditional armor versus mobile suits. He also spent weeks training himself in various systems of attempting to bypass radar jamming and other means that limit the range of traditional tanks.

In CE 79, when things were at their peak, he was reassigned as a Tank Commander and given charge of his own Type 61, along with whatever assisting vehicles he could procure. This level of autonomity would be respected and demand a higher rank if not for the fact being in charge of older vehicles in this day and age is suicidal.


Tank Driver:
Roy "Rusty" Parma
Age: 27
Brief: An often ridiculed ginger with good driving instincts. He's damn good at getting things moving and keeps quiet. This works well because Marcus tends to keep him busy with various objectives and complex routes, which they both view as a neccessity in keeping tanks alive these days.


Tank Gunner:
Steven "Einstein" O'Mally
Age: 24
Brief: Einstein is a dick, he comes from money and loves to talk. Marcus tolerates him only because he's very capable of getting things done quickly. His progression with being a gunner and his hardworking attitude on the field really shines because outside of the battlefield, he's lazy, unmotivated, and doesn't really seem to grasp the basics of anything more complicated than drinking lots of alcohol.