British TO&Es and the recce regiment

[marais]

Just purchased the British module and am fascinated. I'm wondering about a few features of British organization:

1. I've noticed that British units tend to have HQs made up of two or three separate teams, with the commander, 2ic, and (presumably) another senior NCO, often carrying a laser designator. This is even down to the platoon level, at times. I'm curious about the doctrine behind this? And what are you doing with them in-game?

2. The Recce Regiment contains a C (Surveillance) Squadron, with one Surveillance Troop, made up of the usual three-part HQ and three teams of three troopers mounted in Spartans. I'm guessing that in real life, these would be three ground surveillance radar teams, and that there are other elements like UAV or electronic warfare teams that aren't represented in CMSF2? Am I right to think that these little teams have no particular value in the game? (I wish that the masts on the Coyote, Fennek, and British OP vehicles could extend, and that GSR was modeled, though I do recognize the technical challenges.)

3. How do the Support Troops work? Split up between Scimitar patrols, as needed?

4. Any recommendations for good sources on modern-day British organization?

Edited November 12, 2020 by marais

[The Steppenwulf]

8 minutes ago, marais said:

4. Any recommendations for good sources on modern-day British organization?

The game is set in 2008 and things have changed quite a lot since then due to two subsequent defence reviews. So what applies now to British formation and doctrine does not apply to 2008. Since there wasn't as much information on the web in 2008 as now, this makes it harder to pin accurate info down and discern it from the situation either after or before the reviews, and in other cases, whether the reviews had a change in regard to some things (not everything has changed).

In short it's a bit of minefield! Because of reasons above, I reckon UK Army personnel serving 2006- 2008 will have a better idea than anyone trying to research it from the internet, but obviously their knowledge will likely be limited to their regiment and specialism.   

[ncc1701e]

3 hours ago, marais said:

4. Any recommendations for good sources on modern-day British organization?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_British_Army

https://ospreypublishing.com/the-british-army-since-2000

https://ospreypublishing.com/the-british-army-in-afghanistan-2006-14

[Combatintman]

I did the TO&Es for the British units which were derived from the official publications and manuals for the 2008 timeframe.  The implementation of the TO&E to fit CMSF structures inevitably means that there are compromises with groupings here and there but, apart from the NBC element which Steve did not want included because it was too specialist, the recce regiment is as accurate a representation of this unit.

Ground surveillance radars, UAVs and EW teams were not widely deployed in the British Army at the time and, possibly with the exception of Ground Surveillance Radars (I'm working from memory here), not part of the establishment tables for this formation.  The teams you see in the surveillance squadron were primarily trained and equipped to conduct dismounted reconnaissance, be that close target recce or sitting in OPs mostly employing the mark 1 eyeball, binos and a radio.

[marais]

Thanks for the background and clarification! I appreciate the depth and precision of the organizations that made their way in to CMSF.

On 11/13/2020 at 5:31 AM, Combatintman said:

I did the TO&Es for the British units which were derived from the official publications and manuals for the 2008 timeframe.  The implementation of the TO&E to fit CMSF structures inevitably means that there are compromises with groupings here and there but, apart from the NBC element which Steve did not want included because it was too specialist, the recce regiment is as accurate a representation of this unit.

Ground surveillance radars, UAVs and EW teams were not widely deployed in the British Army at the time and, possibly with the exception of Ground Surveillance Radars (I'm working from memory here), not part of the establishment tables for this formation.  The teams you see in the surveillance squadron were primarily trained and equipped to conduct dismounted reconnaissance, be that close target recce or sitting in OPs mostly employing the mark 1 eyeball, binos and a radio.

 

[Combatintman]

1 hour ago, marais said:

Thanks for the background and clarification! I appreciate the depth and precision of the organizations that made their way in to CMSF.

 

No dramas - although it did remind me of an old Army adage "don't volunteer" - it turned out to be quite an epic undertaking but it also gave me an appreciation of the level of detail and research expected by Battlefront, which I guess is why serious wargamers love CM titles.