COBRA "BATTLE CORPS" VIPER

(The Vipers work as a team, two to launch grappling hooks, two to provide covering fire.  Area of operations: Undisclosed area of midwest United States)

CODE NAME:

Viper

BRANCH:

Cobra Battle Corps

PRIMARY MILITARY SPECIALTY:

Infantry

SECONDARY MILITARY SPECIALTY:

None

SPECIAL TRAINING:

Cobra Vipers

EXPECTED ARMAMENT:

Vipers are deployed with a customized "Lightning" dagger, leg-strapped, Cobra commando knife, LL-66 long pistol with sight, and standard issue, backup laser pistol.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:

Cobra Infantry Trooper

FIRST DEPLOYMENT:

1986

AREA OF OPERATIONS:

Any non-arctic or non-desert

     Vipers are the grunts of the Cobra Legions.  If there is an especially dirty job that needs to be carried out, aren't asked to do it, they volunteer.  They are highly motivated, superbly trained, and formidably equipped.  The Battle Corps Vipers were equipped with multi-layer body armor with reinforced bio-hinges and armor plated, blast resistant helmets with built-in night vision visors and oxygen filters.  This was the most radical and short-lived alteration to the basic Viper uniform and gear.

     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.  In 1994, the "Battle Corps" Viper type was deployed shortly before Cobra was temporarily disbanded.  Given the success of prevalence of later Viper uniforms over the "Battle Corps" Viper, it is presumed that this uniform will not be redeployed.

     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.  The "Battle Corps" Viper uniform was then upgraded and re-engineered by M.A.R.S. (Military Armaments Research Systems) in 2005 and Destro has deployed it with his Iron Anvil troopers.

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

OTHER LINKS:

Cobra Infantry Trooper

Cobra Vipers

Code Names: Vipers

Viper