US Cavalry (mech)

[21Z5M]

What do you think of dismounted being 5-4-6. Not issued a BAR so fire power is not on the level of regular infantry and no in-depth infantry training. The jeep crews could be half squads of the 5-4-6. Deploy and combine without a SMC due to training.

 

[von Marwitz]

What do you think of dismounted being 5-4-6. Not issued a BAR so fire power is not on the level of regular infantry and no in-depth infantry training. The jeep crews could be half squads of the 5-4-6. Deploy and combine without a SMC due to training.

Hm. I think the Americans "appropriated" extra BARs and MGs whenever there was a chance. Might have even been more true if you have a halftrack to lug the stuff around.

My gut feeling tells me - leave as is in order not to complicate things (who'd to that in ASL after all??).

If a scenario warrants it, then you might include "dismount to 546" as an SSR maybe.

von Marwitz

 

[21Z5M]

Hm. I think the Americans "appropriated" extra BARs and MGs whenever there was a chance. Might have even been more true if you have a halftrack to lug the stuff around.

My gut feeling tells me - leave as is in order not to complicate things (who'd to that in ASL after all??).

If a scenario warrants it, then you might include "dismount to 546" as an SSR maybe.

von Marwitz

The platoon was made up of 6 jeeps and 3 M8 armored cars. The half tracks were in Squadron HQ. 29 Soldiers in each platoon.

 

[sswann]

Yes, Americans appropriated any weapon set alone even in Viet Nam. That is how my squad got a M60 mg from the US Army.

 

[21Z5M]

I was looking at the 14th Cavalry Group in the opening days of the bulge. First couple of days dismounted holding villages against high olds with pressure from the 3rd Fallschirmjager and 18th Volksgrenadier Divisions. A lot of MMGs dismounted from their jeeps.

 

[wrongway149]

Hm. I think the Americans "appropriated" extra BARs and MGs whenever there was a chance. Might have even been more true if you have a halftrack to lug the stuff around.

My gut feeling tells me - leave as is in order not to complicate things (who'd to that in ASL after all??).

If a scenario warrants it, then you might include "dismount to 546" as an SSR maybe.

von Marwitz

And Armored Cav were/are especially adept at 'finding' stuff they need.

 

[wrongway149]

The platoon was made up of 6 jeeps and 3 M8 armored cars. The half tracks were in Squadron HQ. 29 Soldiers in each platoon.

ASL scenarios should represent what they really had in the field at any given time and place. Not some on-paper TO&E

 

[21Z5M]

ASL scenarios should represent what they really had in the field at any given time and place. Not some on-paper TO&E

So far I haven’t found a BAR in the squad. There a lot of MMGs along with one .50 cal HMG.

 

[dlazov]

As a old cavalry soldier they should be:

5-4-7 squads

They are cav after all

Our motto was if you ain't Cav you ain't Shiz

 

[21Z5M]

As a old cavalry soldier they should be:

5-4-7 squads

They are cav after all

Our motto was if you ain't Cav you ain't Shiz

The doctrine was they weren’t trained for infantry action. In a cavalry scouting action yes I can see that. I was thinking 546 deploy to two 236 which in turn can deploy to two 126 crews. The crews deployed is due to how many crew served support weapons they used in defensive positions.

 

[von Marwitz]

I was thinking 546 deploy to two 236 which in turn can deploy to two 126 crews. The crews deployed is due to how many crew served support weapons they used in defensive positions.

Without doubt you do realize that four 126 Crews with Self Rally capability and able to fully man twice as many SW are waaaay more valuable than a single 546?

And in ASL, always "things" can happen: Let's say the 546 breaks before it can repeatedly deploy and require time to get back to Good Order, this alone might suffice to bust a scenario balance.

If you want 126 Crews, then provide the given number you deem necessary but scratch the idea of "exponential deployment" 546s, I'd propose.

von Marwitz

 

[21Z5M]

Please look at the website 14th Cavalry Group. Maps are laid out for the defensive actions on the first few days of the Bulge. So many support weapons to man per village defense.

 

[pensatl1962]

The doctrine was they weren’t trained for infantry action. In a cavalry scouting action yes I can see that. I was thinking 546 deploy to two 236 which in turn can deploy to two 126 crews. The crews deployed is due to how many crew served support weapons they used in defensive positions.

As an alternative to possibly consider, Chapter W footnote 16 for KW USMC allow deployment of a squad into three HS (representing fire teams). Not sure if this would work for you.

 

[gorkowskij]

ASL crews can really distort an OB. Keep in mind, they were intended to man guns and occasionally pop out of vehicles. When used as infantry, thanks to self rally, they become “infiltration commandos.” Thus, for the mass dismounting of crews, better to just use regular infantry, 2nd line if you like. See attached scenario for the same situation raised in this thread.

 

[21Z5M]

ASL crews can really distort an OB. Keep in mind, they were intended to man guns and occasionally pop out of vehicles. When used as infantry, thanks to self rally, they become “infiltration commandos.” Thus, for the mass dismounting of crews, better to just use regular infantry, 2nd line if you like. See attached scenario for the same situation raised in this thread.

This is one of the actions. I was thinking too many half squads. The Platoon breaks down to 29 effectives. 12 in the M8 armored cars leaving 17 on the ground.

 

[gorkowskij]

This is one of the actions. I was thinking too many half squads. The Platoon breaks down to 29 effectives. 12 in the M8 armored cars leaving 17 on the ground.

Right, too many half squads for just the CAV but there was also a towed TD Battalion present (the 76 mm guns) and playtest revealed that we needed two more half squads to make it balance. So, we "recruited" some of the TD Battalion's personnel for the half squads in this action.