[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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