Re: Loss of platoon/company leaders, was Re: SG2 Rules and such,

Andy spake thusly upon matters weighty: 

> In message <199803172338.SAA00096@icx.net>, Thomas Barclay writes:
> > Andy spake thusly upon matters weighty: 
> > 
> > > Historically, would another unit take over this spot?  I don't
know, I'm
> > 
> > In real life, I'd guess your Platoon Sgt would step up to the mike. 
> > If he was DOA, your senior surviving Sgt. Failing that, your senior 
> > corporal. 
> 
> Would these typically be in different squads?

PSM (Platoon Sgt Maj) may well be with the Cmd unit. Each section or 
squad (depends on sizes) in the platoon will have a squad leader who 
would either be a senior corporal, master corporal, or a sergeant. So 
basically another squad would take over command function. 

If you know who in the command group is the LT, you can designate 
another one as the PSM to take over the command group and the unit if 
the LT drops. (unless he's dead too, then it would fall upon the 
senior squad commander).  

> > > Maybe something like this: After loss of a leader unit (Routed or
worse),
> > > all units  under that command take a Conf Test at TL 3.  No unit
may
> > 
> > How would such a unit react to close assault, IYO?
> 
> How about this:
> When a command squad for a unit is routed or destroyed, that unit must
> make an immediate Confidence Test at TL 3.
> 
> When a command squad is routed or destroyed, the units it commanded
> are considered leaderless.  Leaderless units are considered to be at
> broken morale (if they were not routed) for all purposes until command
> is reestablished.  A unit may attempt to move normally without command
> being established by passing a reaction test at TL 2; if the reaction
> test is failed, the unit may not do anything else that activation.

Not consistent with other rules. How about this? Test at TL 3. If you 
fail, you suffer normal failure effects (morale drops as normal, and 
you pull back 6"). A leaderless unit may thereafter not move or 
conduct a fire action without passing a reaction test (TL 2? maybe) 
which represents the individual initiative of the squad leader. If it 
fails, it does not move or do anything for that turn.  

> Leadership may be reestablished by the next unit in command taking a
> reorganize action.  Once leadership is reestablished, units under that
> command may move normally after passing a normal reaction test.

If the PSM is alive, let him take a reorg on the command unit and if 
he succeeds, then he's back in command. He may have to comm his 
troops to get actions happening, if they've beat feet. After this 
reorg is succesful, He may activate the squads as the normal LT did 
once they know he's back in command - those within 6" know 
immediately when he performs his reorg on the command section and 
others will require a successful comms roll.. (Then unless you 
preasign the leader level of the PSM, use the rules from either the 
rulebook or from the SG2 webpage to determine his level). 

If the PSM is croaked too, the senior squad leader must  reorg his 
unit and follow the same process - leader level assignment, reorg to 
get the platoon ready, comms to locate out of contact units. 

Any unit of a reorged platoon not commed and out of contact with 
command is still considered leaderless as above. 

> > Next comment: If you're doing this, use the rules on the unofficial 
> > SG2 web page for leader replacement. They make good sense. 
> 
> Yeah, I really like those,
> http://nemesis.com.au/fastjax/stargrun/rules/leader.html

Of course, this begs the question: The commander is smoked. Your 200m 
left advancing through trees. Do you have any idea? Maybe, maybe not. 
You wouldn't get command from him (he's dead) hence you don't get 
reactivated, but otherwise you might just assume radio silence and 
plow ahead with your own activations and orders without any reason to 
suspect otherwise. Of course, I can't think of a rules based approach 
to this, so maybe its convenient to assume that someone always yells 
"They've got the LT!" over the radio.... 

Tom. 
/************************************************
Thomas Barclay
Software Specialist
Police Communications Systems
Software Kinetics Ltd.
66 Iber Road, Stittsville
Ontario, Canada, K2S 1E7
Reception: (613) 831-0888
PBX: (613) 831-2018
My Extension: 2034
Fax: (613) 831-8255
Our Web Page: http://www.sofkin.ca
**************************************************/