RE: [DS] Infantry Base Question

Tony,

	I was thinking in game rules and play reasons. In real life the 
Platoon Leader does remain with the IFV and is part of the crew, well 
at least in the US army. Based on the US Army Field Manual "MECHANIZED
INFANTRY PLATOON AND SQUAD (BRADLEY), FM7-7J" The Platoon Lt is in the 
A Sections first Bradley. I have the web address if you are interested. 
The document is quite an interesting read. It outlines tactics etc.

	Just to add a sci-fi view to the mix, the "The Aliens: Colonial 
Marines Technical Manual" has a Platoon TO&E in the book. In looking 
at the TO&E a Squad is made up of two 4-men elements and an APC with 
the Squad Sgt. and APC Driver inside. So the Unit Leader is in the APC 
with the Driver while the eight grunts are on the ground.

	If we assume (yes I know... :-) that the squad is a single unit 
in Dirtside terms then the APC could be marked as the Unit leader and 
the troop elements could be just that, grunts on the ground. 

	Even the Movie followed the same set up roughly. The grunts 
dismounted but the brave Lt Gorman stayed in the APC. 

	So I was thinking, in my Platoon, I could say the Platoon 
Leader remains in one of the APCs for example, dismounting the Unit's
Rifle Teams and GMS/L Teams etc. but I did not want to make a mistake
because I am new to the game. As we all know game rules and real life 
are not the same thing in any way.

	 
Just a Thought...

	Daniel

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Francis [mailto:tony.francis@kuju.com]
> Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 8:32 AM
> To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
> Subject: Re: [DS] Infantry Base Question
> 
> 
> Thinking logically about it, the platoon leader is going to be a grunt
> rather than one of the vehicle crew, so therefore he should be one of
> the infantry elements. I suppose it could be one of the 
> GMS/Ls but this
> is unlikely - the GMS/L team is only two men, and your 
> platoon commander
> is unlikely to want to be distracted by having to load or fire a
> missile.
> 
> So, IMO it should be one of the rifle teams, although AFAIK there's
> nothing in the rules to stop you nominating one of the other elements.
> 
> "Casquilho, Daniel" wrote:
> > 
> > Hello All,
> > 
> >	    Another Question. I have started to base my Dirtside Troops.
> > I am using Jon's troop stands my troops. I was going to use the four
> > men stand for "Rifle Elements", three men stands for my PA elements,
> > and the two man stands for "special" elements like GMS/L or 
> Artillery
> > Observers etc.
> >	    As I was working out my scheme I realized I was 
> unsure of one
> > thing, can the Squad/Platoon Leader be any element within that unit?
> > 
> > Example Platoon:
> > 
> > 2 GMS/L Teams (2 Elements)
> > 6 Rifle Teams (6 Elements)
> > 4 APCs (4 Vehicles)
> > 
> >	    Could the Platoon Leader be one of the APCs? Or could it be
> > one of the GMS/L teams? Does it have to be one of the Rifle Teams?
> > 
> >	    I ask because as I paint up the stands I was 
> thinking of painting
> > a mark on the bottom to ID them. Let me know what you all think.
> > 
> >		    Daniel
> 
> -- 
> -----------------------------
> Tony Francis
> Senior Software Engineer
> Kuju Entertainment
>