Gunners

The Gunners are a hostile free company and mercenary faction operating in the Commonwealth in 2287.

Background
The Gunners are a well organized paramilitary mercenary band. They are the largest single unaligned force in the Commonwealth, acting independently of any government or governing power. They regularly make a living by plundering when not employed. They are well equipped killers-for-hire with their own customs and signage, who control numerous strongholds both in and around the Boston area. They were responsible for the destruction of the Commonwealth Minutemen as a combat effective force at the Quincy Massacre. In 2287, Quincy remains one of their key bases of operations.

Like raiders and the Capital Wasteland's Talon Company, Gunners attack strangers on sight. They differ from raiders in their lack of drug dependency, use of superior equipment (they often come equipped with military-grade armor and rifles), extensive use of laser or plasma weaponry and employing other heavy duty military gear, including assaultrons, sentry bots or Mister Gutsies. Their commanders are even known to make use of power armor. Their patterns of speech and terminal entries also indicate they are relatively disciplined and well-trained. They place great emphasis on loyalty and do not tolerate insubordination. Raiders who join the Gunners may have difficulty adjusting to the strict environment and regimentation of being a Gunner, e.g. Tessa.

The Gunners possess functional Vertibirds, which permits them to employ vertical envelopment and air assault tactics, transporting two to four man strike teams with one or two attack dogs. However, these are a rare sight and appear to only be deployed south of the Boston ruins. Near the edges of the Glowing Sea, a Vertibird sighting is a harbinger of the BOS or a Gunner attack.

Many Gunners also get their blood types tattooed onto their foreheads by their medics. This is both a practical measure and a rite of passage. This can be seen on some, but not all Gunners.

Gunner
The lowest of the Gunners, the generic Gunner is generally pretty weak when compared with their counterparts. Armed with low-mid level weapons like 10mm pistols and laser rifles, these enemies should not be automatically dismissed.

Gunner conscript
Those who were conscripted into fighting for the Gunners. They are slightly better equipped and stronger than their basic counterparts.

Gunner private
A slight step up from the Gunner conscripts, some can even be found armed with plasma guns.

Gunner corporal
Gunner corporals are a high ranked variant of the low-ranking Gunners. They are usually seen in groups of other Gunners, mainly with other lowing ranking Gunners. While armed with automatic 10mm pistols and laser rifles, these Gunners shouldn't be messed with at a low level.

Gunner sergeant
Gunner sergeants will generally be found in the company of privates and conscripts, at moderate levels. Plasma, laser or combat rifles and fragmentation grenades are the tools of these enemies.

Gunner commander
Armored head to toe these enemies usually act as the final engagement for areas under Gunner control. Not only strong, these opponents rarely go anywhere without at least several strong gunner sub-types besides them. Found inside the HalluciGen, Inc. building.

Gunner lieutenant
While not in the upper echelons of the Gunners, these mercenaries act as aids for those in command.

Gunner colonel
Utilizes Stealth Boys

Gunner brigadier
Strongest of the Gunners. Encountered at a high level(96+). Turns invisible when combat is initiated by using stealth boys. They wear highly modified heavy combat armor and wield powerful modifications of laser weapons.

Bases

 * Bradberton overpass
 * Gunners plaza - Regional HQ
 * Greenetech Genetics
 * HalluciGen, Inc.
 * Mass Bay Medical Center
 * Mass Fusion building (before Mass Fusion or Spoils of War)
 * Mass Pike Interchange
 * Postal Square
 * Quincy
 * Vault 75
 * Vault 95
 * Hub City Auto Wreckers
 * Several unmarked bases on top of highway system, easily spotted by the windmill.
 * Just northeast of Skylanes Flight 1981
 * Just east of Parsons Creamery

Appearances
The Gunners appear only in Fallout 4.

Behind the scenes

 * In combat, they will occasionally shout, "get some!" This is a nod to the helicopter gunner scene from the 1987 war drama, Full Metal Jacket.
 * Having tattoos of their respective blood type seems to be a nod to the Schutzstaffel from Nazi-Germany, who also had such tattoos on the underside of the left arm.