06-28-2022, 10:21 AM,
(This post was last modified: 06-28-2022, 10:59 AM by Blackcloud6.)
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Blackcloud6
Sergeant Major
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Posts: 628
Threads: 146
Joined: May 2012
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RE: Series two rules in hand
(03-29-2022, 11:13 PM)plloyd1010 Wrote: (03-29-2022, 03:10 PM)Greyfox Wrote:
For my Vassal graphics I've been marking the artillery & mortars as platoon size, and the MGs sections. I think the MGs are generally platoon sized units, but in literature they are usually referred to as sections. Wagons I left as companies, though I think the unit size is indistinct. I see transport as not so much 12-15 wagons, but better defined as enough to do the job. You might want to reconsider that. First the symbol is correct to indicate a battery. Second, and more importantly, a WWI Artillery battery was a good-sized unit in terms of personnel and footprint. For example, "A wartime-strength German battery included six guns or howitzers, 5 OFF, 188 EM and 139 horses, the battery commander’s observation wagon, two supply wagons, a ration wagon and a wagon for fodder." (From German Artillery 1914 | Weapons and Warfare). Compared to a rifle company which was at a peacetime strength of 150 and up to 270 men after mobilization, which was likely never met. (Source: German Infantry Division 1914/18 - Visualization - Organization & Structure (militaryhistoryvisualized.com))
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06-29-2022, 12:37 AM,
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plloyd1010
First Sergeant
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Posts: 3,498
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Joined: Jun 2012
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RE: Series two rules in hand
200ish men is about the right size for a battery at this time. I'm not interested in quibbling about the total size. What I will quibble about is that 200 men includes the limbers and haulers, as well as the firing battery and caissons. The portion on the field is half to less of the total personnel in the battery. The remaining personnel are a wagon piece and assumed to be running around the board (between wherever the firing battery is and the depot). It is similar to what you find in the U.S. Army once you take out the trucks/tractors, battery detail and maintenance section.
When it comes to column modifiers, one is talking about altering probabilities. While the DF & BF shifts are not as severe as AT fire, one should still be careful column modifiers. Generally the severity of results on the tables doubles (or halves) with a modifier of 2. With the constrains on the DF table, you can see how the limits could get slammed quite quickly.
Fred is quite correct in his understanding of when the +1 company modifier should be applied. My problem comes in as how sloppy APL has become with unit size designation. This is particularly important as it relates to game function. Marking artillery as companies, then not having the company modifier applied is confusing to players. This also creates a stacking problem as only 2 company sized units are allowed in hex. I contend that all artillery onboard should be considered platoon/battery sized to avoid those issues. Generally MGs should be sections (first one doesn't stack), except for perhaps Gatling guns.
... More and more, people around the world are coming to realize that the world is flat!
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