Re: [DS] Detatched HQ elements

At 1:31 PM -0700 8/9/01, Jakim Friant wrote:
>
>
>Detached?  How do you work that?  Are they seperate
>units for game purposes and you just have a mental
>note that they're usually attached to the HQ?	I don't
>remember anything in DS about detaching units.

Well, I say detached. It all occurs prior to the start of the game so 
it doesn't really matter game terms wise.

Generally you have a fire support team allocated to a company or 
battalion commander. Procedures allow for that FIST[1]track to be 
attached to the company or Btn HQ, or to be flexible and on its own. 
Sometimes I add the FIST to the command platoon (usually its a FO 
team attached to the Command Platoon in mechanized infantry units). 
Sometimes its a separate track that is independent (its own platoon 
level command element) and will move to the best observation position 
for support of the fire elements of the company.

The same is true for the Mortar platoons associated with armoured and 
mechanized units. Sometimes its attached, usually detached and one of 
the stands is nominated as the "command" element for that platoon. 
Often times if there is a CBR element attached, that functions as the 
platoon cmd element.

I've been running the Tank company command platoon as a three vehicle 
platoon. One is the Company Commander, and one is the XO and PSG in 
other tanks. Since the XO usually rides around in a TOC I've 
rationalized that the additional gear isn't necessary and he can ride 
around like the Coy CO does. I think I may start breaking them up or 
detaching individuals as a means of executing the various jobs those 
units typically perform. Say if a tank is damaged and the rest of 
that platoon has moved forwards, then the PSG or XO would move to 
cover that tank while the recovery track moves up to take it under 
tow or to repair the damage.

Other units that I typically run as separate elements or as small 
teams are recovery engineers and scout teams. Usually the 
organization of the Division scout company (for the NAC Scottish 
Hussars, tank division) is 10 wheeled Armoured cars (size 2) and 5 
more larger armoured cars (size 3) with two infantry stands within. 
They operate in trebles, 2 of the size 2s and 1 size 3. As a unit 
they do pretty well in the assigned role of scouting and 
anti-scouting. The dismounts provide a good means of moving to the 
front of a tree line before the vehicles move up. When main elements 
of enemy forces are identified the scout platoon commander (one of 
the dismounts) calls fire (attempts to) and then will break contact 
if possible. If they find other scouts, they attempt to destroy them. 
Usually a tank or Mech platoon will advance to contact and assist. 
(You'd be surprised how smoothly that process can go once you've 
worked the procedures out to game terms. One of the gamers in the 
Atlanta group is an ex light infantryman and liked the way I scouted 
and shifted to combat smoothly. "A good example of an advance to 
contact and fire drill"...is what he called it I think...

1. FIST, Fire Support Team, typically a Forward observer team 
attached from Division or Battalion levels that either coordinates 
fire support or acts as a forward observer. Typically it is comprised 
of an APC/MICV's worth of personnel. Some of those personnel are 
attached to the Company HQ unit, with the vehicle being allocated to 
act as an additional command post for the artillery coordination or 
to act as a FO team in support of fire units (combat platoons). The 
arrangement is dependant upon tactical needs and dispositions of 
vehicles and space available (sometimes the CO and a second of the 
FIST will ride with the CO of the unit, in armoured units this is 
difficult as the Coy CO rides in a tank and can't take additional 
personnel without compromising the tank's ability to fight, in that 
case the 2 additional people ride with the XO or stay in their own 
track.)

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