Re: [OT] Bye, Temporarily, and [SGII] Grenzers

Congratulations, you just re-discovered the thematic military
organization
of the Byzantine Empire.  I did a paper on it 11 years ago.  More
specifically why it failed in the period after the Bulgarslayer...

I played around with modernized TE&O's for a thematic military
organization
many years before that in Junior High...

ias

----- Original Message -----
From: John Atkinson <johnmatkinson@yahoo.com>
To: <gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu>
Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 2:07 PM
Subject: [OT] Bye, Temporarily, and [SGII] Grenzers

>
> I'll be departing the list for about a month starting
> Mon or Tues.	PLDC date is Wednesday.  Of course, like
> with all things Army I may be back Thursday because
> the schools NCO may have dinked up my paperwork.  But
> before I go, let me leave you with:
>
> The NSL Grenzer Platoon (Lit, Borderer)
>
> The NSL has had some difficulty maintaining adequate
> garrisons on all of its colony planets, especially in
> those regions where a planet has multiple colonies on
> it and a large and well-dispersed garrison is
> necessary to prevent raiding and small-scale disputes.
>  This problem is exacerbated by the NSL's focus on
> high-tech and well-trained troops.  An alternate
> source of manpower was required, and an Austrian
> colonel proposed taking a leaf from the old Hapsburg
> manual.
>
> The Grenzers are military colonists, offered tax-free
> status and equipped with weapons and some agricultural
> and light manufacturing equipment.  They settle in
> designated zones and are required to defend their
> district and support NSL main force units operating in
> or near their district.  They are not obligated to
> partake in offensive military actions, though some do
> in return for pay and loot.  They are rapidly gaining
> a reputation as good skirmishers, yet without the
> ability or desire to stand in the line against regular
> units.
>
> Grenzer Platoon (1/49)
> Platoon Headquarters: Platoon Leader, Platoon
> Sergeant, Medic, EW/Commo Tech (1/3)
> Weapons Squad: (0/7)
>    Squad Leader
>    3xWeapons Teams: Gunner, Assistant Gunner
> 3xGrenzer Squad: (0/13)
>    Squad Leader
>    2xRifle Teams: 1xCorporal, 2xGrenzers, 1xSAW Gunner
>    Weapon Team: Gunner, AG
>    Sniper Team: Sniper, Spotter
>
> Usual armament is the SG 58, but with the older MG53
> as the SAW (FP d8, Imp d10).	The weapon team in the
> squads tends to be armed with the MG53 with extra
> ammo, spare barrels, and a tripod.  In this
> configuration, and with an AG, the FP goes up to d10.
> The sniper teams typically are not formally trained,
> but have good woodcraft.  Depending on scenario,
> either treat them as proper snipers, or use Tom
> Barclay's marksman rules.
>
> The weapons squad frequently is equipped only with
> IAVRs, 2-3 to a man.	On occasion they have a GMS/P or
> GMS/L launcher.  The EW Tech's electronics are
> typically basic.
>
> Grenzer are considered to be veterans for purposes of
> firing, spotting, taking cover, and all other
> purposes, EXCEPT morale.  When making confidence
> checks, they roll a d8 until they have lost 25% of the
> original squad strength, when they begin using a d6.
> This counts troops lost to the fatigue dice.	All TLs
> for checks due to indirect fire or inflicted by
> armored vehicles (size 2+) are counted as 1 higher.
>
> The squads may fight in their component teams or may
> combine.  In either case, the squad leader may not
> pass activations to the teams, and the Platoon Leader
> or Assistant Platoon Leader's passing of actions only
> affects 1 unit, be it a team or a squad operating
> together.
>
> The intent of a Grenzer unit is to engage light units
> and fight delaying actions when outnumbered, not to
> slug it out with mechanized infantry or tanks, nor to
> stand and take punishing artillery barrages.
>
> John
>
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