COBRA VIPER

(A Viper makes his way through light jungle trees.  Area of operations: Brazilian rain forests)

CODE NAME:

Viper

BRANCH:

Cobra Ground-Viper operative

PRIMARY MILITARY SPECIALTY:

Infantry

SECONDARY MILITARY SPECIALTY:

None

SPECIAL TRAINING:

Cobra Vipers

EXPECTED ARMAMENT:

Cobra Vipers carry Heckler & Koch G-36 assault rifle with grenade launcher and a combat knife.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:

Cobra Infantryman

FIRST DEPLOYMENT:

1986

AREA OF OPERATIONS:

Any non-arctic or non-desert

     Cobra Viper forces are the most recent wave of basic Cobra infantry.  Chosen for independent thinking, initiative, and daring, they are expected to carry the fight deep inside enemy territory.  They are equipped with armored climate-controlled suits that enable them to function efficiently in extreme environments, and are given advanced training in deep battle tactics, survival procedures, and high-tech weapon-systems management.  They are aggressive, yet wary; attentive to detail, yet practical; sneaky, yet trustworthy; ferocious in combat, yet willing to retreat tactically.  This combination of traits makes them formidable soldiers.

     Since Cobra deployed its first specialized Viper (the Tele-Viper) with Cobra battalions in 1985, it's most likely that Cobra conceived of the basic Viper training in 1984 before implementing the Crimson Guard program, rushed new recruits through to fill needed Tele-Viper roles, and finally properly trained the first Viper corps to be deployed in 1986.  Despite the initial rushed introduction of the Viper regiments, the Viper training program has served Cobra well and remained active over the last two decades.  Outside of the ever-increasing number of specialized Viper types, the basic Viper trooper was not upgraded until 1989, when Python Vipers were needed to round out Python Patrol squads.  Whether the Python Viper was actually a specialized Viper or just an upgraded designation is unclear.  Cobra again upgraded the basic Viper trooper in 1990 when the semi-experimental "Sonic" Viper was deployed with the same uniform in burnt orange and gold trim, but carrying "sonic" versions of firearms.  The most radical and short-lived alteration to the basic Viper uniform and gear was in 1994 with the "Battle Corps" Viper.

     In 1997, Cobra returned to the steadfast and field-proven multi-layer body armor with wraparound helmet for its Viper Team deployments, but with a less rugged boots and trousers.  This same uniform with built-in features was carried forward, with only the deployment colors changing, through the Cobra Troopers and Officers of 1998 and through every Viper deployment until 2003.  In 2004, Cobra upgraded the Viper trooper for its Venom operations.

     Vipers have been deployed internationally in the Canada, Europe, and the United States.

OTHER LINKS:

Cobra Infantryman

Cobra Viper

Viper