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Rinaldi

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Posts posted by Rinaldi

    Passage At Wilcox SOP

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 2

    Posted · Edited by Rinaldi

    21 hours ago, Erwin said:

    You misunderstand.  Have no aversions to anything that is done in RL.  I simply am not familiar with current SOP's for these teams' roles and am trying to (admittedly very belatedly) trying to learn them so I can use these teams in as realistic as possible manner in the CM2 game.

    All am doing is seeking accurate info.

    My understanding was that the Co HQ the one who needs to have eyes on the attack so he can issue appropriate orders, and is therefore put in more danger.  My assumption was that the XO has to stay relatively safe back at a command HQ location so he is available to take over if the Co HQ goes down.  You are saying that this is not correct?

    So, what are the roles for the XO and 2IC?  Medics?  FO?  Recon?  Reserve for assault force?   Anything else?  (Are the US XO and UK 2IC roles different?)  Am simply looking for clarification.  

     

    Others have already commented generally on the differences, or the typical roles. You'll see the recurring theme: XOs, Platoon Sergeants (or Platoon Warrant Officers depending on the nation) tend to have overlap in roles regarding cas evac, combat service support and first echelon supply (e.g.: scooting around with a jeep full of ammo). If you want to get lost in the sauce and split hairs over branches, different countries whatever, then that's your prerogative but I think it's an exercise in futility. The bottom line of all these points is that there's more similarities than differences in how Western countries operate their armies.

    Now to confuse you: If you're looking for clarification, let me make something perfectly clear, none of this is perfectly clear.  

    Seriously, 'SOPs' are all well and good but the best commander will think on his feet. SOPs are only there for the most general of general situations. Ultimately: the goal of an XO, a 2IC, PSG, PWO or whatever meaningless acronym to say "Number 2" you wish to use, is to help ease the burden of command on his Number 1. This can, and often is, done through the aforementioned means of policing up the rear of a unit or helping evac losses, etc. Now as @Combatintman has already mentioned some limitations in the game (especially regarding platoon NCOs), as well as the fact that CM's mission-oriented scale means you rarely have to deal with Combat Service Support I'll use another example of how a 2IC/XO/Yadda yadda can help ease command.

    What CM does get right is the information aspect of battles. A commander, as you said, needs to be up front and aware of the situation to effectively command. The flipside of this is he is only seeing a small slice of the pie. Use your Number 2 to help paint a complete picture rapidly. Lets say this: If the Company leader is with say, Platoons 2 and 3, which is making the main effort, keep the XO with Platoon 1 and its attachments. You accomplish several of your desired goals at once: You are putting your XO to use and not putting your entire command network in the same place to die at once. It also means the XO can keep the Commander 'in the loop' about happenings elsewhere on the tactical battlefield, and exert some authority. 

    You're looking for clear answers where there are none, is the gist of what I'm saying. Exert a bit of common sense and do not let an asset as useful as a second in command go to waste sitting on its thumbs.

    21 hours ago, Erwin said:

     

    ...

    If you are a platoon or Co CO:

    1)  When deciding which units of a platoon do what, would one lead with the Crack units and have the lesser experienced troops follow as support?  Or, send in the lesser experienced units first to assault and keep the Crack units back in reserve to reinforce a successful assault?  

    2)  In equipping one's inf units from their Bradleys, what considerations determine who gets what?  My thinking has been that units that are expected to assault buildings do not want to be weighed down by Javelins. So, the assault units would be given an extra 1K rounds plus extra 40mm grenades plus extra AT4's for use vs buildings, but no Javelins.  The Javelins would be given to only one (or at max) two of the platoon's squads who would be used in more of a supporting/overwatch role.

    3)  In this case, would the Crack units be given the Javelins - since one wants those to function at optimal capability?  Or, would one give the Javelins to the Regular chaps, so they can hang back and be used in a support role rather than as assault units, while the more highly experienced units make the assault?  

    Thanks again - your tactical recommendations are very useful.

    Again you're asking for clear answers where there are none. For the sake of brevity I'll just tell you to look at @Howler's posts again because all I'd do is repeat what he had to say.

    There is no cut-out answer you can simply paste on to a situation. Identify the problem you need to solve and plan accordingly. If I am absolutely forced to give you a few spitball examples, I might make the best/best lead platoon the main effort in a situation where C2 is likely to be dodgy, such as in built-up terrain. I may be less picky if I'm attacking in open terrain and the virtual CO can exert his influence with greater ease. I'm not even going to address the minutiae of 'which weapon goes into which hands' because it is, to me, trite. Such decisions like that rarely make a meaningful impact past the smallest of unit scenarios, a coherent plan is much more important than which nineteen year old has the HAT. 

    Otherwise, if you are still starving for a general rule you want that is most applicable, refer to @Combatintman 's post: Put your best foot forward for the toughest issues. 

    5

    Montelimar H2H Scenario

    in Combat Mission Battle for Normandy

    Posted

    On 12/10/2018 at 4:00 PM, IanL said:

    Interesting. I looked it up and at theBlitz this has only been played twice - both a win for the Germans: http://www.theblitz.org/scenarios/combat-mission-battle-for-normandy/montelimar-operation-dragoon-h2h/b-15.htm?action=scenario&id=3705

    Clearly not a large enough sample size but could give you some hope :)

    Makes me feel better about my performance then. Way back when I was a greenhorn at the game I made an AAR of a H2H against it and got a sloppy, sloppy victory as the Americans.

    The scenario was a bit janky but played out very well, I thought.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U042G71tyEo

    1

    Passage At Wilcox SOP

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 2

    Posted · Edited by Rinaldi

    22 minutes ago, Erwin said:

     

    When I play CM2 I try my best to have units act using SOP's from RL... For example, I try to avoid using XO's and 2IC's as medics or recon units - but keep them relatively safe in a rear command area....

     

     

    Y I K E S.

    I'm not exactly sure you know what that acronym means. XOs are usually tasked with dealing with casualty clearance and policing up straggling units. Also, how is an Executive Officer going to exert command or aid his CO if he is 'safe in the rear.' "Hey Joe, can you take x platoon (+) and help ease burden of command?" "Tosh sah, I'll be sitting here waiting in the wings in case you buy the farm."

    For someone who wants to use real standard operating procedures, you show a remarkable aversion to them. 

    3

    Any reference that Milan-3 can top-down attack?

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 2

    Posted

    I'm familiar with the mission. It's a tabletop-flat terrain for the Syrians to attack over. You have to remember that skilled operators of an ATGMs are constantly making micro-adjustments to the missile's flight line. Couple that with them firing from roofs or raised berms and its completely plausible they're hitting turret-tops rather than glacis. Its not a bug or the game giving MILAN systems more capability than they would normally have.

    0

    Video editing software

    in Combat Mission - General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Rinaldi

    Sony Vegas Pro 13 is my go-to when I can't use Windows moviemaker (you can still download it from legacy sites). Vegas allows you to crop out the UI without having to tinker with recording software and is quite easy to overlay text. Don't waste your time with Hitfilm, you're better off sticking with DaVinci in that case. 

    Vegas is expensive though, and I'm not going to encourage you to use extralegal means of acquiring it. 

    1

    Battle Type Preference in Quick Battles?

    in Combat Mission - General Discussion

    Posted

    6 hours ago, Josey Wales said:

    I go through phases. I feel as if I understand reasonably well how to put together an attack so at the moment I prefer defensive battles. I find mounting a good defense to be technically very challenging. With a defensive battle you pretty much play the game before the first turn, especially if you lack mobility. I would argue that as a defender you need to be more thorough in your METT-T and OCOKA analysis than when attacking as you will typically lack flexibility after the game starts.

    Same boat as you presently,. Asides from my current PBEM with @BrotherSurplice I'm defending in all my other games - namely because I want some damn practice in it. 

    1

    CMSF 2 – US-SYRIA BETA AAR

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 2

    Posted · Edited by Rinaldi

    58 minutes ago, Bud Backer said:

    While I understand your point, and agree with it, my struggle has been to find where to move to. Just shifting about carries its own risks, so I’m wondering what your thought process is on managing that. Sometimes, where on is is where one wanted to be for tactical reasons, and displacing may not offer as good a position, or in fact, the other reachable locations are worse. 

    How do you deal with that? 

    Edit: Ninja'd. Better you hear it from the horses' mouth.

    Not Bil but - you don't necessarily have to move to an entirely new position to avoid this. Baneman's armor presumably had at least tentative contacts in the area; and he had at least one of them positioned on pieces of high ground that would have allowed him to simply roll back a few meters to break line of sight. A combination of rolling forward with target arcs and a pause command, rolling backwards, rinse and repeat may have been enough in this case to keep the majority of threats frustrated. In the modern titles too when info is disseminated so much faster horizontally and vertically, "?" markers from OPs and other units would come pouring in to the tanks relatively quickly, often a matter of seconds, not minutes, making this much more viable. A MBT doesn't need to stare at a piece of terrain for minutes on end to spot targets.

    If contact isn't imminent even moving a few meters left or right of the position you've currently taken every few turns could help, sometimes even within the same battle position. Again: Baneman had a few armored vehicles positioned on terrain that could have easily masked his shift. Namely reverse slopes, as shown or in foilage which is better than nothing. Finally, try to remember you have instant blooming IR-blocking smoke on most APCs and IFVs in game - when in doubt, have the TC pop some and displace. 

    2

    CMSF 2 – US-SYRIA BETA AAR

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 2

    Posted · Edited by Rinaldi

    Pretty decisive shift in advantage, at least at first glance - but you're right to not take anything for granted. He has Javelins too, after all. An advantage can be squandered fairly quickly that way. Preaching to the choir, obviously...

    That does make me want to ask though: Are you going to maintain your position at BP1 for a bit and develop things or are you planning on closing in and destroying before he can get some sort of response set up? You've noted quite a few dismounts moving alongside, or in front of, his IFVs. Makes me wonder if he's had the wherewithal to grab Javelins or leave a few behind in overwatch from his Warrior platoon. Based on his movements, my gut says no. Really does look like he was planning to get into objectives/built-up terrain with infantry while the tanks dominated the open space - even if it meant going about it in a pell-mell manner. 

    2
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