Scenario: Rifle Squads Based on Fire Teams

[shahadi]

I have not yet found a satisfactory solution to building platoons based on Fire Teams. Currently, we can build rifle platoons with the 13-member squad, because the current 13-member squads are units. While the Fire Team Squad is built upon three FTs, that is three separate units and the platoon formation is limited to only units or sections.

If I make the platoon a company, I can then accommodate the FT based Rifle Squad, but then the platoon won't fit in the Company formation, only platoons, units, and sections in a Company formation.

I proceeded to build a platoon as a company, then in the ScenHack I changed it in the Formations to a platoon. In the Editor, I cross-attached it to the Company formation. All the units appear, but I am not sure how the company will fight. In Deploy, when I click on the Company HQ, say B0, all units in the company and the platoon formation highlight. Upon clicking on a Platoon HQ, say C0, only units in the platoon formation highlight. So, it seems that it may work, but I am not confident.

Has anyone resolved and game tested a rifle squad based on fire teams?

[Suhiir]

There's no way to create a default formations USMC Rifle Company formation at the Fire Team level because WinSPMBTs command structure doesn't allow it.
As you said, a Rifle Platoon (Fire Teams) exists however.
If you get a little creative with the editor you can create a "proper" formation.

Buy a normal Rifle Company.
Delete all formations/units except the headquarters unit.
Buy three (3) Platoon (Fire Team).
Buy a light mortar section.
Use the editor to change the three Platoon (Fire Team) from "Formation Type 3 (Combat Group) to Formation Type 1 (Platoon).
Attach the three Platoon (Fire Team) and light mortars to the HQ from the Rifle Company.
Walla!

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Buy a normal Rifle Company.
Delete all formations/units except the headquarters unit.
Buy three (3) Platoon (Fire Team).
Buy a light mortar section.
Use the editor to change the three Platoon (Fire Team) from "Formation Type 3 (Combat Group) to Formation Type 1 (Platoon).
Attach the three Platoon (Fire Team) and light mortars to the HQ from the Rifle Company.
Walla!

Thanks Suhiir. Our solutions are remarkably similar, instead of buying the light mortar section, I created a Company formation inserting a light mortar section in the CO Hq:

B0 Scout Team

• CO
• XO
• 1Sgt
• GySgt

B1 USMC Sniper Hv
B2 60mm Mort Sec

As for the three platoons, I could not change formation type in the Editor, so I used ScenHack as I mentioned earlier. Save the scenario in ScenHack and reload the scenario in the Editor where in Deploy > H key cross-attach the platoons to the company formation.

As I said, it looks nice but has anyone play tested this setup, as looks can be deceiving, as the "woman in the red dress," in the Matrix agent training program designed by Mouse illustrates.

[Suhiir]

Oops ... you're correct, you need to use ScenHack NOT the editor to alter formation types.

Typically the XO and 1st Sgt are not out in the field, they're in the rear insuring ammo, food, mail, and replacements get to wherever the company happens to be physically located in the field.

I tend to use a 6 man Co HQ section, CO, Co Gy, 2x Radioman (1 to the platoons the other to battalion), and a couple miscellaneous types (corpsman, runners, whatever).

You might want to look at the number of sniper teams you're giving them. In 1993 the Sniper Platoon was changed to be 9 teams, thus three would theoretically be available to each line company (two would be more realistic however as the do have missions other then infantry support to contend with).

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Oops ... you're correct, you need to use ScenHack NOT the editor to alter formation types.

Typically the XO and 1st Sgt are not out in the field, they're in the rear insuring ammo, food, mail, and replacements get to wherever the company happens to be physically located in the field.

I tend to use a 6 man Co HQ section, CO, Co Gy, 2x Radioman (1 to the platoons the other to battalion), and a couple miscellaneous types (corpsman, runners, whatever).

You might want to look at the number of sniper teams you're giving them. In 1993 the Sniper Platoon was changed to be 9 teams, thus three would theoretically be available to each line company (two would be more realistic however as the do have missions other then infantry support to contend with).

Snipers: It is similar to what we do with Weapons Platoon. I don't make a weapons platoon formation then let the player cross-attach to the platoons, so I put them right in with the platoons the MMG's, AT's and assault teams. It is easier to keep the formations together when they share the same letter (K0, K1, K2, etc.) and easier for the player as well. I've put 1 Sniper with the CO at Hq with 2 others or 1 per platoon depending.

Also, now after around 2008 or so, I put a mpads section at the Company HQ level along with the light mortar section.

[Suhiir]

Yeah I usually put the MPAD and mortars together because neither needs to be on the front line.

I generally prefer to keep the Co HQ as an independent unit rather then attaching stuff directly to it, but that's really a matter of preference.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by shahadi

Thanks Suhiir. Our solutions are remarkably similar, instead of buying the light mortar section, I created a Company formation inserting a light mortar section in the CO Hq:

B0 Scout Team

• CO
• XO
• 1Sgt
• GySgt

B1 USMC Sniper Hv
B2 60mm Mort Sec

So, I purchase a Rifle Co Hq formation that I created in MobHack, above slot 900. Then I purchase 3 platoons (they were built as companies in MobHack.) Then I purchase another Rifle Co Hq and three platoons, and continue until I have at least three companies and nine platoons. That's three platoons purchased immediately after each Rife Co Hq formation. Open ScenHack to change the platoons (they're still companies) to platoons. Then in the Editor cross-attach three platoons to their preceding Rifle Company.

Follow this link for my earlier discussion on this topic. You can use the process described in this thread to build companies and platoons built upon infantry fire teams.

-------