In reply to Robert Mitchell (msg #937):

No problem. A belt has been added to the BTR-70.

Those AT weapons are fired under the Grenade Launcher skill. Tac Missile would be things like the TOW and other wire guided systems.

I didn't give the IB any mines or other weapons (except for the MG ammo) until there is a definite decision.

How about this? Note there is only 2 Bradley crew since whomever sits in the gunner's seat won't have a targeting/thermal monitor even if the turret is fixed. The commander's seat is doubled as gunner. Also, the mortar is left as NPC only which makes it easier on the GM and it'll probably in the (boring) rear anyways. Its basically a 2 squad platoon (8 men with each soldier pair with one of Anjo's) and a designated platoon HQ staff.

Anyways, its just a suggestion to get things moving.

Bradley Crew
JJM - Commander/Gunner
Marc - Diver

Bradley Dismounts (Platoon HQ)
Catchings (Corpsman)
Fox (Platoon Sniper)
Pearce (Comms/Coordination)
Kaminski (Translator/Guide)

M113 Crew
Mitch - Commander/Gunner
Jordan - Driver

M113 Dismounts 8
Ben (Dismount Commander)
Oskar (Asst. Commander)
Varis
Young
4x Anjo

BTR Crew
Kurt - Commander Gunner
George - Driver

BTR Dismounts 8
Frank (Dismount Commander)
Mitch (Asst. Commander)
Handley
Rooke
4x Anjo

Hummer / Mortar Team
Meyer
Otto
The Girl
This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Thu 26 Nov 2009.

In reply to Helmut Meyer (msg #939):

One problem I've spotted - Mitch is in two places at one time! <G>

How about the following:

Bradley Crew
JJM - Commander/Gunner
Marc - Diver

Bradley Dismounts (Platoon HQ)
Catchings (Corpsman)
Pearce (Comms/Coordination)
Kaminski (Translator/Guide)
The Girl (Security)

M113 Crew
Mitch - Commander/Gunner
Jordan - Driver

M113 Dismounts (1st Squad)
Ben (Dismount Commander)
Oskar (Asst. Commander)
Varis
Young
4x Anjo

BTR Crew
Kurt - Commander Gunner
George - Driver

BTR Dismounts (2nd Squad)
Frank (Dismount Commander)
Fox (Asst. Commander)
Handley
Rooke
4x Anjo

Hummer / Mortar Team
Meyer
Otto

The question this raises is whether speaking Polish will be an issue?  Does anyone amongst either dismount squads speak Polish to communicate with Anjo’s men?  Or do Anjo’s men speak sufficient English to follow orders?

Fusilier - thanks for the info about the Grenade Launcher skill - Mitch is still a liability with an AT weapon though! <G>

Do the IB have any KPVs already and if they do can they provide any ammo for the one we're lending them?  If they do then we could keep more than 1 out of the 3 belts we traded for?

Also with the Browning .30 that Kaminski has produced do the IB have any additional ammo for that?  With 1 belt it isn't much use but if the IB have spare ammo then I think that we should give it to them.

Varis' Polish is decent. I may spend some XP to bump it too. He's had quite a bit of practice lately. He also sees himself as the go-to squad leader for Anjo's crew given his recent success in that position.

The AT-4s are probably our most effective AT weapons (not including the M2's TOW II). The others will probably work OK against light armored or softskin vehicles. The LAWs and RPGs are probably best employed as bunker busters. I'm assuming we'll be doing most of our fighting in built up areas. The LAWs and RPGs will be good for softening up, if not clearing out, occupied buildings. Varis' GL is pretty good.

I think we should give the AT mines to the IB. I'd say keep 'em if we had a static defense position to man, but since we're mobile reserve, we probably won't have any use for them. The AP mines, on the other hand, will be good for booby trapping buildings we might have to abandon.

I definately want three crew in the Bradley. Although the thermal sight is damaged, everything else would be operational.  Also, historically when a commander must also act as gunner, etc, a vehicles combat performance drops dramatically. A commander must navigate, spot enemy threats, communicate with other units by radio or visual signal, and about a dozen other tasks - lets not overload him if we don't absolutely need to.

Therefore, Handley should be the Bradley driver and St Gil remain gunner.

Our liason will also be in the Bradley as a passenger and able to operate one of the M231's and assist with reloading the TOW (will need to rehearse that ASAP).

Anjo's wounded should stay with the Mortar as assistants/security with the rest split up as infantry (unless one or two show talent in some other area).

I should post final assignments in the next 8-10 hours.

The enemy have only 3 T-55 tanks which are even more obsolete than our oldest anti-armour weapon, and a number of APCs and light scout vehicles. Every one of our rockets and missiles is more than capable of dealing with these threats, although a number of them are rather short ranged (the M72 for example).

The BMP should definately go to the IB for their repair and use however we should only supply the KPV, one belt of 14.5mm (they're sure to have a little more somewhere), and perhaps the RPD and ammo. Any other machineguns they wish to mount can come from their own resources, however I'm not against throwing in 2x RPK-74, a dozen 40 rd mags, and an RPG-7 plus 3 rockets. Should they get it operational, they may wish to attach it to our unit rather than operate alone - concentration of force.

The remaining anti-armour weapons should be split up with three rounds each to the M113 and BTR and the rest carried by infantry. If the individual carrying it cannot use it effectively there's sure to be somebody very close by that can.

Finally working on a post for positions, etc. Some may not like what they've been assigned, but it is the best possible combination if we're to see another day.

I strongly suggest those with XPs available use them now.

Alright, I'm going with this tomorrow. This covers the points brought up as best I think they can be. It'll give you 2x six man squads with enough leadership to break into 4x three man fireteams (small teams well suited for FIBUA/urban combat.) There are enough NCOs with Polish/Russian skills and/or enough of the auxilliaries who speak English (like Volodya) that it can work.

Bradley Crew
JJM - Commander
Marc - Gunner
Handley - Driver

Bradley Dismounts (Platoon HQ)
Catchings (Corpsman)
Fox (Platoon Sniper)
Pearce (Comms/Coordination)
Kaminski (Translator/Guide)
Anna (Security / Corpsman Assistant)

M113 Crew
Mitch - Commander/Gunner
Jordan - Driver

M113 Dismounts 6
Ben (Dismount Commander)
Oskar (Asst. Commander)
Young
3x Anjo

BTR Crew
Kurt - Commander Gunner
George - Driver

BTR Dismounts 6
Frank (Dismount Commander)
Varis (Asst. Commander)
Rooke
3x Anjo

Hummer / Mortar Team
Meyer
Otto
2x Wounded Anjo

EDIT - I wrote this while you posted Ben. Post yours anyways.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Fri 27 Nov 2009.

It's a biggie and places everyone in the best possible positions (I hope) according to skills.

I felt it best to group all of Anjo's men together into one team and all the PCs into another two. IC it shows confidence in them I think.

All the PC infantry (HQ and 1 Section) will ride in the M113 while 2 Section (Anjo's men) will be in the BTR. Although I hadn't planned it that way, everyone besides Weiss in the BTR is able to speak Polish fluently, and Weiss still has some ability in that language.

I was unsure exactly what to do with "The Girl" Anna, so placed her back into the Bradley with Lt Pearce. At the very least she can operate one of the M231s and maybe help out with reloading the TOW if necessary.

I'm expecting that most deployments will be in a standard "two up" arrangement with 1 & 2 sections forward and the infantry HQ behind. The vehicles would likely be in a similar arrangement if it's a set defensive situation.

We have substantial quantities of ammunition and explosives. If a character has the load capacity available, I urge you to carry a few spare mags, an extra couple of grenades, etc for others - they might not be as strong. This is why I've directed some characters with very low applicable skills to carry RPGs, etc - they can always hand the weapon off to a teammate.

Regarding the BMP, I expect that the KPV + 1x100 belt, RPD+1 belt, and one of the RPG-7s + 3 rockets would have been handed to the IB.

All other anti-armour weapons should be split evenly between the BTR and M113 (the Bradley has it's TOW and 25mm). The other two 14.5mm belts are loaded immediately aboard the BTR along with 8 of out ten 7.62L belts. The PKM remains with the mortar team mounted on the UAZ while the M60 is dismounted from the Humvee (leaving it unarmed) and transfered to the M113.

So to be IC and help Anjo's team I suppose I'll be issue commands in Polish?

Also since theirs armor running and various IFV and improvised IFV's shouldn't Anjo's team have more than 1 dedicated RPG guy? Maybe a LAW or two?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Fri 27 Nov 2009.

See the last paragraph in msg #947

yes but how? what goes where? also is George an NPC? if yes, then would it be a good idea for Otto to drive the BTR? Since its the same skill set as Ground Vehicle Wheeled.. ? Would also make it an all Polish speaking vehicle.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Fri 27 Nov 2009.

Done + Done (20 40mmS HE)
VOG-25 (regular - no bouncing VOG-25Ps)
There are no 40mm CS or SMK though.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:06, Fri 27 Nov 2009.

So just to clarify, Catchings, Young, and Jagelis are going to be remaining at the billet, correct?

I don't think so.  I think that the following are all in the M113 and the intention is that when they dismount they split into two groups.

Plattoon Commander    Lieutenant Jagelis
Plattoon Sergeant/FO  Sergeant Young
Medic/Signalman       Corspman Catchings

1 Section
Section commander     Staff Sergeant Freidman
2IC                   Sergeant Benucci
No1 rifleman          Sergeant Fox
No2 rifleman          Corporal Rooke
Grenadier             Varis Babicevs

Ben - please can you clarify as I was also slightly confused where yourself, Doc and Young were.

How much 40mm is left for me to take or how many should I take?  My last count was 20 HEDP & 20 HE.  I know someone else was taking some as well.

Also, I'd like to have Frank draw [3] more 30 round mags for the M-16 and [3] WP grenades.

I would guess that Frank will be carrying the [2] M-72 LAW's again?  If so, that's kewl with me.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:45, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

In reply to Krzysztof Kaminski (msg #950):

I'll have vehicle loadouts complete in the next few hours but there is sure to be a couple of antiarmour weapons available to each vehicle in addition to those carried by the infantry. It is likely to be the infantry that uses them however as they can get into a better position than a rather large vehicle in a city.

If you feel Otto is the better driver for the BTR, I'm happy with that. George has Average wheeled skill so as long as Otto is better, there shouldn't be any issue (I haven't been happy with placing a priest behind the wheel of a combat vehicle from the beginning, but felt we didn't have a lot of choice).


In reply to Mike Catchings (msg #952):

Plt HQ and 1 Section will both ride in the M113 but, if the situation demands it, might temporarily relocate to the Bradley - don't count on that happening though.
Plt HQ will dismount along with 1 & 2 sections but will usually hang back a little - this is likely to be little more than a dozen metres or so, just far enough to be able to move around a little as a reserve if the other sections get pinned down (rather unlikely with the firepower we've got).

In reply to Francis 'Frank' Benucci (msg #954):

Feel free to load up on as much ammo as you can carry. Although we'll be operating with vehicle support, we don't want to have to run back to them every five minutes to reload or pick up a couple of extra grenades.

Are the two AT-4's the Russian wireguided "Spigot" or the Swedish AT-4W (M136)?

Re: Mike - inventory change confirmed, add it to your inventory.

AT4
M203
92FS
6 rounds 40mm HEDP
1 STANAG w/30 rounds 5.56mmN
3 15 round 9mmP mags w/45 rounds 9mmP
SEM-52 Radio


Swede.

Yes, whats is listed is up to date - 16x 40mmHEDP + 2x 40mmILLUM are available. Varis took 40mmS.

3x 30rd Mags (ok) + 3 WP Grenades (ok) - add them. The mags are EMPTY... so you'll need 5.56mmN loose to fill em. Add the M16A2 + M203 too!

Also add the 2x M72 to your inventory.

Keep your M4 in your inventory... it can be stuffed into you rucksack.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:01, Sat 28 Nov 2009.

In reply to Fusilier (msg #957):

Varis is going to have to hand some of the 40mm grenades to Anjo as he's been given the last BG-15.

How much of the 7.62S is belted for the RPD Anjo's section carries? I don't think we had any belts at the beginning so it'll only be what we've recovered along with weapons.

The soviet handheld radio Handley is carrying might want to be given to Anjo too althougj I'm assigning both the 77 set and R-159 manpacks to the BTR.

Young will need the AN/PRCU-70 secure manpack for his FO duties and it should allow him to tie into the IB artillery net.

- You'll have to mean Volodya getting the BG15, Anjo isn't staying on with us. But yes, I'll add the launcher and perhaps Varis can part with some of the ammo (I forgot to bring it up).

- They have 2x 100 round drums in total. I'll add their RPG-7, RPKs, and the small radio in a minute. They don't all have frag grenades though (QM ran out of them).

- I'll give the AN/PRCU-70 secure manpack to Young now.

Might as well give them two WP grenades each as well.
Volodya (Anjo was sooo much easier to spell) should get one of the two ILLUM rounds for the GL with either Varis or Oskar getting the other.

Done.

Also...
Young took an AT4 and his radio.
Rooke took the LAW80.
The gang took 1x RPG-7, 3x rounds, 2x RPK and mags
Fox unhappily took the MP5, 1x RPG-16, and 4x rounds

I planned on putting up the turn post today (the attack), but been busy doing game bookkeeping and updating things, so I'm putting it off until tomorrow. This way I can start fresh. A few of our American players have a holiday anyways so we'd be missing some final input.

I think I covered all of the PCs who wanted an inventory change. If I haven't mentioned you by name it was probably overlooked - let me know if that's the case.

Fox's L42 has no place on a high intensity battlefield. I know he's all about the rifles, but somebody has to carry (and use) the M60 or RPG and he worked out as best for the job.

:S