Task Forces

[II/JG7_Warg]

G'day all,

Following recent conversation regarding map front markers and such, have given some thought on this, with a view to improving the simulation of "command and control" for SE ground operations. As it stands, there are various merrits or options on what generates good front markers. Some use units, some base it on control of physical locations, such as airfields. Each have their pros and cons.

Some of you may recall the movie "A Bridge too Far". What type of vehicle was the fat arse of the commander, actor Michael Cainne sitting in? What was the vehicles function? Later, when the highway path through Holland to relieve the paratroopers was blocked by German anti-tank guns, from what source did the call go out for fighter bomber support? At any rate, I'd like to suggest as an option, that the marker be generated near the location of this specific type of unit, nominally a designated radio truck, armoured car or observation post tanks, dependant on nationalities usage and battlefield communications abilities of the time period involved. These particular units are the headquarters, OP and radio vehicles, which would normally be monitored by the opposing enemy for wireless traffic, the frequency of which, would give a general indicator of units in the area. Henceforth, I'll refer to these as "Command Vehicles"

Further to this and touching upon "command and control". Would it be possibile to put an option into the SE mission planner, where task forces can only be formed with the inclusion and designation as task force leader of one of these command vehicles? Without these vehicles, only a single platoon of units can move. Historically, part of the reason for German sucess in the early part of WW2 was communications. The ability to organise and move large bodies of armour in a cohesive manner was in no small part due to having radios in each tank and a supporting radio communications network. Checkout Heinz Guderian's bio and you'll see that he served in this area during WW1. Generally, opposing French and Russian forces did not have this ability and had to rely on platoon movement, flags and messages within earshot. Think of the poor french tank commander in 1940. In an AFV with a one man turret, he had search for targets, load, aim and fire the gun and issue commands to his own crew, let alone trying to coordinate the actions of a company of tanks. Just his platoon would stretch the limit of his abilities.

Normally in the mission planner, red and blue sides are each assigned a set number of "platoons" that can be moved each turn. By changing this to "platoons and task forces", we could duplicate the flexibility which made some combatants very dangerous and others impractical, despite their numbers. A task force can have an unlimited amount of units and can somewhat negate the unit number handicap. The command vehicle, gives an opportunity to mass numbers at a critical point of attack and is often difficult for others to counter without this flexibility.

Additionally, it will place great value on what vehicles you will target when launching ground attacks on enemy positions. i.e. you'll be seeking the radio trucks in attacks. The command vehicle is a key asset, because without it a task force must be disolved and mobility of the of the units in the former task force restricted to single platoon movements. Thus reducing overall mobility of all your forces. Naturally this will create some rethink of template composition and creation of new modded vehicles. For OP tanks that I readily know of:

German:
Pzkw III OP: From June, 43 - 45, were using old Pzkw IIIJ & M's. Main armament does not fire, dummy gun there to conceal its true nature. Pzkw IV OP: From Sept, 44 - 45, used Pzkw IVJ in a similar manner to above.

American & British:
Sherman OP: From Jan, 44 - 45
Cromwell OP: From Jan, 44 - 45
Ram OP (Canadian built equivalent to the Sherman): Jan, 44 - 45

Please note that there are other tanks used in this role. For instance, in a German Panzer Division, there were "Panzerbefehlswagen" tanks in the HQ sections of the division. Usually a Pzkw I with modified superstructure that readily marked it for what it was and as such, more vulnerable.

Regards,

Warg