History LIterature / HammersSlammers

In this particular story, the interrogated person comes from a heavily defended town, [[spoiler: a "red-pill target"]]. When the authorization [[spoiler: to nuke the town]] is given, the interrogator shares one last vision with the interrogated person - as he envisions [[spoiler: his baby girl's eyeballs melted by the nuclear blast]]. Both the interrogator and the interrogated individual were disconnected from the machine when it happened. DavidDrake does not write ''nice'' stories - perhaps because he WAS a interrogator assigned to the 11th Cavalry during Vietnam.

* ShoutOut: In the story "Cultural Conflict", the position initially set up by the Slammers contingent is named Firebase Literature/{{Bolo}}.

* BFG: The main gun of a tank is said to be powerful enough to flash-fry a mountainside.

* FightingForAHomeland: The Slammers are from many worlds, but the goal is to eventually have a place of their own. They were originally formed as a unit similar to the French Foreign Legion but their client reigned on his end of the bargain and they ended up freelance mercenaries. [[spoiler: Eventually, they come back and pull off a coup.]]

* HandCannon: Pistols have 2 centimeter bores. This works out to having a 20 millimeter pistol. 20mm and up are ''grenade calibers''. Justified in that they're shooting the "powergun" energy beams, so there's no bullet and significantly less recoil than the barrel diameter would indicate for a typical firearm. Powergun technology is closer to lasers than explosive propellant ballistic technology.
** Actually, pistols and submachineguns used by the Slammers have 1cm bores, so that's 10mm, not 20mm. The shoulder arms used by the Slammers are 2cm or 20mm, and use the same ammunition as the tribarrels - that's actually a plot point in the stories where a local rebel steals a Panzer. While 10mm is not a light caliber for a pistol, technically it's smaller than a .45 (which is 11mm).

** Powerguns, when tied into a computer, are extremely accurate. This, and the sheer destructive power, range, and speed of the weapon, renders ordinary aircraft obsolete. Artillery can also be interdicted, but remain effective.

** In another story happens to a mixed tank and combat car (IFV) unit moving to support their employer's besieged capitol. The unit is made up of people mostly on light duty for medical or admin reasons, and supported by a firebase of the same. This leads to the unit getting hit by smart munitions from their own side killing off a protagonist.

* FakingTheDead: While not stated outright, the character of Johann Vierziger from ''The Sharp End" is strongly hinted to be [[spoiler: Joachim Steuben]] despite taking place over 7 years after his supposed death. He has the same mannerisms and personality, same build and "pretty" appearance, same tastes in both sexual partners and weapons(the description of his custom pistol and holster and [[spoiler: Steuben's]] are identical) same incredible skill at quick draw and marksmanship, and multiple times appears to know more about the unit and Hammer himself than a relatively new recruit would be expected to know. More than one character notes that Vierziger reminds them of what they knew about [[spoiler: Steuben]], with one character even questioning if he might be related.

The Slammers are a futuristic mercenary group under the command of Colonel Alois Hammer, who leads the toughest mercs who ever killed for a dollar. According to WordOfGod, partly based on the French Foreign Legion in the 1950s, when that service had a large proportion of former [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany SS]] in its ranks, but also loosely based on the Vietnam-Era [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_ACR 11th Armored Cavalry regiment]] (with whom Drake served in Vietnam and Cambodia), with [[HoverTank fusion-powered hovercraft "panzers" replacing tanks]] and smaller combat cars replacing M113 cavalry vehicles.

** Obviously, frequent use of Overkill and WMDs (nuclear and chemical) on civilian populations, too. And a specific story about destruction of a historical shrine due to it being abused as a shield for military forces by one side.

* CoversAlwaysLie: A minor case, but the Slammers' {{Hover Tank}}s are depicted as having only four drive fans when in reality they have roughly a dozen (partially for redundancy in case some are disabled by battle damage).

* FightingForAHomeland: The Slammers are from many worlds, but the goal is to eventually have a place of their own.

* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: Averted, mostly. Powerguns (a form of energy beam weapon) are by far the most common high tech weapons. Some armies use railgun rifles instead of powerguns because they have better armor peircing capabilities. However, railguns don't [[{{BFG}} scale up like powerguns do]], are no cheaper since, while their workings are much simpler, their barrels have to be [[BlingBlingBang made from diamond]], and are energy-intensive. [[FrickinLaserBeams Lasers]] are a no-go because they require a 400-lbs. fusion reactor to reach killing power, and explosive bullets are "just as likely to vaporize a leaf as an enemy".

* TankGoodness: Most of the Slammers stories revolve around their panzers and combat cars. Other mercenaries also use blower tanks, although wheeled and tracked vehicles are common for low-end units.

''Hammer's Slammers'' is a series of MilitaryScienceFiction short stories and novellas written by DavidDrake, based loosely off of various historical models and his time in the 11th Armored Cavalry during the UsefulNotes/VietnamWar.

The Slammers are a futuristic mercenary group under the command of Colonel Alois Hammer, who leads the toughest mercs who ever killed for a dollar. According to WordOfGod, partly based on the French Foreign Legion in the 1950s, when that service had a large proportion of former [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany SS]] in its ranks, but also loosely based on the Vietnam-Era [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_ACR 11th Armored Cavalry regiment]], with fusion-powered hovercraft "panzers" replacing tanks and smaller combat cars replacing M113 cavalry vehicles.

The entire series (excepting ''Cross the Stars'' and ''The Voyage'') were repackaged (again!) by Nightshade Books (and again by Creator/BaenBooks) as The Complete Hammer's Slammers, in three volumes. This included several novellas not included in the previous collections.

There is also a {{Traveller}}-compatible world guide, available [[http://paizo.com/products/btpy86ef?Hammers-Slammers-Hardcover here]].

* AcePilot: Slick Des Grieux and Luke Broglie from ''The Warrior'' definitely qualify. Broglie is also TheAce, while Des Grieux is [[BloodKnight is not]]. WordOfGod says that their rivalry is based on [[TheTrojanWar Hector and Achilles]].

* AgentPeacock: Major von Steuben is almost CampGay in regards to his attention to personal appearance and behavior most of the time, but woe betide anyone who crosses him or Alois Hammer.

''Hammer's Slammers'' is a series of MilitaryScienceFiction short stories and novellas written by DavidDrake, based loosely off of various historical models and his time in the 11th Armored Cavalry during the VietnamWar.

** WMDs are shown as rare, but definitely used, particularly chemical weapons.

* HandCannon: Pistols have 2 centimeter bores. This works out to having a 20 millimeter pistol. 20mm and up are ''grenade caliburs''.
* HollywoodTactics: {{Averted}}. Weapons and tactics are (usually) intelligently used by both sides, to the point that an intelligence operative recommends nuking a rebel stronghold rather than trying to dig them out.

* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: ZigZagged. Some armies use railgun rifles instead of powerguns because they have better armor peircing capabilities. However, railguns don't [[{{BFG}} scale up like powerguns do]], are no cheaper since, while their workings are much simpler, their barrels have to be [[BlingBlingBang made from diamond]], and are energy-intensive. [[FrickinLaserBeams Lasers]] are a no-go because they require a 400-lbs. fusion reactor to reach killing power, and explosive bullets are "just as likely to vaporize a leaf as an enemy".
* TheMetricSystemIsHereToStay: Powergun caliburs are measured in centimeters.

* ObligatoryWarCrimeScene: Usually by way of [[IDidWhatIHadToDo doing whatever victory required]].

* PlasmaCannon: Powerguns use precisely arranged copper atoms stored in a plastic matrix. The atoms are pulled down the mirror-smooth barrel of the weapon by electromagnets. The barrels are cooled by liquid nitrogen and air, as most use a rotary assembly.

* WarfareRegression: Technological developments have changed the face of combat:
** Powerguns, when tied into a computer, are extremely accurate. This, and the sheer destructive power and speed of the weapon, renders aircraft obsolete. Artillery can also be interdicted, but remain effective.

The Slammers are a futuristic mercenary group under the command of Colonel Alois Hammer, who leads the toughest mercs who ever killed for a dollar. According to WordOfGod, partly based on the French Foreign Legion in the 1950s, when that service had a large proportion of former [=SS=] in its ranks, but also loosely based on the Vietnam-Era [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_ACR 11th Armored Cavalry regiment]], with fusion-powered hovercraft "panzers" replacing tanks and smaller combat cars replacing M113 cavalry vehicles.

The entire series (excepting ''Cross the Stars'' and ''The Voyage'') were repackaged (again!) by Nightshade Books (and again by Baen Books) as The Complete Hammer's Slammers, in three volumes. This included several novellas not included in the previous collections.

* AllThereInTheManual: Drake provides several essays on the technology and setting of the Slammerverse, most of which tend to get included in the first volumes of most collections.

* WarfareRegression: Technological developments have changed the face of combat:
** Powerguns, when tied into a computer, are extremely accurate. This, and the sheer destructive power and speed of the weapon, renders aircraft obsolete. Artillery can also be interdicted, but remain effective.
** Thanks to "nuclear suppression fields", nuclear weapons are rarely deployed.
** Tanks almost disappear from the battlefield, but make a comeback thanks to practical fusion power and improved weapons.

* ShurFineGuns: When powerguns work, they work great. However, when they jam, it's usually because the copper-containing plastic matrix they use has melted into the workings so they need to be replaced.