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Using HQ units for Command & Control


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Apologies for cross-posting, but this might be of interest: full details from the thread of the same name on the CMAK forum.

This is a 'work around' that I have been using to make much better use of the Battalion and Company HQ units - to give them a command and control function in CM that is otherwise missing from the game. It may seem awkward at first, but it has a logical structure that, with practice, you can soon get the hang of it. It can, however, slow down attacks and meeting engagements, so allow double or triple the amount of time for these.The effect of using this 'work around' is to force the player to keep Platoon and Company formations together, within Line of Sight (LoS) or Lines of Command (LoC) of their Platoon or Company HQ, and to keep the higher level (Company and Battalion HQ units) back out of the line of fire to prevent them becoming 'degraded' or 'non-functional'. Failure to keep the higher level HQ units within LoS of their subordinate HQ units, or exposing these higher level HQ units to enemy fire, will severely restrict the player's ability to control the battle. Operating in 'close' country or poor visibility will do the same.

Basic Rules

The basic principle is this: that there should be an unbroken chain of command between a Battalion or a Company HQ unit and its subordinate units, to transmit orders in a chain that will extend from a Battalion HQ to a Company HQ (by Line of Sight LoS); from a Company HQ to a Platoon HQ (by LoS); and from a Platoon HQ to its individual Sections and teams (by Lines of Control LoC). Sections that are unable to trace an unbroken chain of command by LoC or LoS at the start of the 'orders' phase cannot be given any new orders, or have existing orders amended or cancelled.

A Battalion HQ can command as many Company HQs as it has LoS to; or one Platoon HQ that it has LoS to; or all those sections that it has a LoC to; or one section that it has LoS to.

A Company HQ can command as many of its own company Platoon HQs as it has a LoS to; or one non-subordinate Platoon HQ that it has LoS to (i.e. an independent Platoon HQ, or a Platoon HQ from another company); or all those sections that it has a LoC to; or one section that it has LoS to.

A Platoon HQ can command all those sections that it has a LoC to; or one section that it has LoS to.

Optional Refinements

1. An HQ unit can be either 'Functional', 'Degraded' or 'Non-functional' depending on its morale and movement status. A 'Functional' HQ unit is one that is 'OK' or 'Alerted', whilst a 'Degraded' HQ unit is one that is 'Catious', 'Shaken' or 'Pinned', is 'hiding', or is moving by foot (vehicle HQ units and embarked units are not degraded by movement), and a 'Non-functional' HQ unit is one that is 'Panicked', 'Broken' or 'Routed'. An HQ unit that is 'Degraded' at the beginning of the orders phase can command only those sections that it has a LoC to (i.e. a degraded HQ unit can no longer transmit, amend or cancel orders using LoS). An HQ unit that has become 'Non-functional' cannot transmit, amend or cancel any orders at all.

2. In the absence of a Battalion or Company HQ unit, or if a Battalion or Company HQ is elliminated or captured, the next most senior HQ unit can become the 'acting' Battalion or Company HQ.

In the absence of, or in the ellimination or capture of a Battalion HQ the most senior Company HQ will become the 'acting' Battalion HQ. The most senior Company HQ will be 'A' Company, followed by 'B' Company, and so on. An 'acting' Battalion HQ that is not 'Degraded' can command only one company (either its own, or a Company HQ to which it has a LoS); or one Platoon HQ that it has LoS to; or all those sections that it has a LoC to; or one section that it has LoS to. The difference between a Battalion HQ and an 'acting' Battalion HQ is, therefore, that an 'acting' Battalion HQ can command only one company at a time, not several. In the absence of a Company HQ, the most senior Platoon HQ can become the 'acting' Battalion HQ, but can command only one Platoon at a time (either its own, or a Platoon HQ to which it has a LoS). The most senior Platoon HQ will be No.1 Platoon from 'A' Company, followed by No.1 Platoon from 'B' Company, and so on down to No.2 Platoon from 'A' Company, and so on down to an 'independent' Platoon HQ and then a vehicle Platoon HQ.

In the absence, ellimination or capture of a Company HQ the most senior Platoon HQ in that company will become the 'acting' Company HQ. The most senior Platoon HQ will be No.1 Platoon, followed by No.2 Platoon, and so on, but it can command only one Platoon at a time (either its own, or a Platoon HQ to which it has a LoS). The difference between a Company HQ and an 'acting' Company HQ is, therefore, that an 'acting' Company HQ can command only one Platoon at a time, not several.

3. HQ units (and for movement purpose only, this also includes Forward Observation Officers) are always considered to be in command of themselves. i.e. the player can add, amend or cancel orders to the HQ section itself, even if it does not have LoS to a superior HQ. Also, a vehicle (including tanks) that has a unit 'embarked' on it is regarded as an extension of the embarked unit for command and control purposes. i.e. that vehicle can receive commands from the embarked section or team's HQ unit (or the HQ unit itself if it is embarked), so long as the embarked section or team is itself able to receive commands from that HQ unit (and this regardless of whether the vehicle is itself buttoned or unbuttoned).

4. A vehicle or vehicle HQ unit within LoS of a superior HQ unit can only receive commands from that HQ if it is unbuttoned at the start of the orders phase (unless, as above, the command is received via an embarked unit). Otherwise, the only command that a buttoned vehicle can receive from a superior HQ unit within LoS is the command to unbutton. A vehicle can, however, receive orders from its own Platoon HQ by LoC whilst buttoned, so long as the vehicle Platoon HQ in question is itself unbuttoned and receiving orders by LoS from a superior HQ.

5. All units can be receive orders in the first orders phase of an engagement, regardless of the above restrictions.

Feedback, and sugestions for improvement welcome [smile]

Bletchley

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