Build Your Own Battalion: Hybrid Warfighter Edition

[Crowe]

We have done these in the past, they have been both fun and informative, and I thought it about time we did one again.

 

The Scenario:

 

You have been selected to form your own battalion and have been given unparallelled freedom in the organization, equipment, and training of said battalion to accomplish your mission.

 

The Mission: Hybrid Warfare

Your mission is to be able to competently perform battalion operations in several arenas:

1. Conventional Warfare - Fight a conventional battle against similarly sized conventional forces.

2. Operations Other Than War - Support, Security, Stabilization, and Sustainment after a conflict

3. Peacekeeping - Support, Security, Stabilization, and Sustainment prior a conflict in an unstable country

4. Disaster Relief - Support, Security, Stabilization, and Sustainment in either a stable or unstable country after a major natural disaster or terrorist attack.

 

You should be highly deployable and able to operate with good dispersion once deployed. You may be deployed rurally or in urban environments. You should be able to operate semi-independently from your Brigade Support.

 

Organize: What does the TOE of this battalion look like? What does it have that a conventional does not? Do you have integrated intelligence capabilities? Integrated Special Forces? Joint Operations at this level or save it for higher? Do you have a rapid reaction force? How do you support your subordinate companies in your missions? What force model, ie armored, light infantry, mechanized, motorized, etc supports your mission best? Do you tend to your own vehicles or drawn and support them from Brigade or Division assets?

 

Equip: Decide how to arm and equip your battalion. You can be as general (every rifleman needs an assault rifle) or specific (every rifleman needs a 6.8mm M4 with an ACOG and suppressor) as you feel necessary. Do you have your own vehicles or do you drawn from a higher echelon supply? What capabilities does your gear give you that a conventional company does not have? Try to keep your gear as off the shelf as possible, but if you feel there is a critical gear deficiency that can't be met, at least keep it reasonable and evolutionary as possible, revolutionary vaporware should be used (ie lighter trauma plates okay, liquid metal suits, rail guns not so much).

 

Train: Probably one of the biggest challenges of this exercise is how do you train these troops to perform this mission. Do you expand basic training? Send everyone to MP school? Riot Training? More hand to hand and subdual training? More Language Training? Have your base commander build you a plywood village? Hire locals to roleplay distressed civillians? Have visiting Opfor perform guerilla ops? What it take to do this kind of mission? Assume that you have a good budget for this but recognize personnel limitations and that you can't send all your people to Navy Seal school either. That said, don't coddle the lowest common denominator either, raise standards if you must but make it at least achievable by the majority of soldiers.

 

So, what are your thoughts?

 

Re,

 

C. Rowe

[R011]

A battalion HQ, three rifle copanies, a tank company, a combat support comany, and a administration company. Detailed breakdown for rifle PLATOON only

BATTALION HQ
2 IFV
2 CP VEHICLE

CO (LCOL)
2 I/C (MAJ)
ADJUTANT (CAPT)
REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR (OR9)
OPERATIONS OFFICER (CAPT)
3 RIFLE COMPANY
COMPANY HQ
2 IFV
1 APC
1 1/2 TON TRUCK
1 SPIKE-SR

OFFICER COMMANDING (MAJ)
BATTLE CAPT (CAPT)
LIAISON OFFICER

ATTACHED FROM BRIGADE ARTILLERY BATTALION
1 ARTILLERY OBSERVATION VEHICLE

ARTILLERY OBSERVATION OFFICER(CAPT)
3 RIFLE PLATOON
PLATOON HQ
1 IFV
1 SPIKE-SR
1 60 MM MORTAR
1 40 MM AGL
1 GPMG with SUSTAINED FIRE KIT
8 RIFLE

PLATOON COMMANDER (LT)
PLATOON 2 I/C (OR7)
SUPPORT GROUP LEADER (OR5)
3 RIFLEMEN (OR3/4)
DRIVER (OR4)
GUNNER (OR4)
3 SECTIONS
1 IFV
1 GPMG
1 CARL GUSTAV
2 LMG
2 DMR
2 UGL
5 RIFLE

SECTION COMMANDER (OR6)
SECTION 2 I/C (OR5)
4 RIFLEMEN (OR3/4)
DRIVER (OR4)
GUNNER (OR4)
ADM PLATOON
A1 ECHELON
COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR (APC) (OR8)
MAINTENANCE NCO (1 1/4 TON TRUCK)
RECOVERY (IFV-ARV)
MAINTENANCE SEC (APC)
RAD TECH (1 1/4 TON TRUCK)
AMBULANCE (APC)
POL (5 TON TRUCK)
AMMO (5 TON TRUCK)
STORES (2 1/2 TON TRUCK)
A2 ECHELON
ADM O 1 1/74 TON TRUCK)
MAINTENANCE SEC (APC)
AMBULANCE (APC)
POL (5 TON TRUCK)
AMMO (5 TON TRUCK)
B ECHELON
COMPANY QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT (1 1/4 TOM TRUCK) (OR7)
STORES (2 1/2 TON TRUCK)
KITCHEN (2 1/2 TON TRUCK)

TANK COMPANY

18 LEOPARD 2A6
1 LEOPARD 2A6 DOZER
1 LEOPARD 2 ARV
6 APC
4 1 1/4 TON TRUCK
3 2 1/2 TON TRUCK
4 5 TON TRUCK

COMPANY HQ
4 TANK PLATOON
ADMINISTRATION PLATOON

COMBAT SP COMPANY
COMPANY HQ
RECONNAISSANCE PLATOON
PLATOON HQ
3 SCOUT SECTIONS
2 ARMOURED RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLES
SNIPER SECTION
1 SECTION COMMANDER (OR6)
3 TEAM LEADER (OR5)
4 SNIPERS (OR4)
MORTAR PLATOON
8 SP 81 MM MORTAR
AT PLATOON
12 SPIKE-LR
PIONEER PLATOON
5 APC DOZER
UAV PLATOON
[TO BE DETERMINED]
ADMINISTRATION COMPANY
COMPANY HQ
MEDICAL PLATOON
ADMINISTRATION PLATOON
SUPPLY PLATOON
TRANSPORT PLATOON
MAINTENANCE PLATOON

Default training is as a mechanized battalion. If possible, light role training should be practiced on a regular basis. Essentially, this means stripping the IFV's out and having the IFV crews act as riflemen giving 8-man sections.

Deployment specific training should be given as appropriate. As time permits, some aid-to-civil-power training should be conducted including internal security and disaster relief.

IFV can either be a CV9040 or PATRIA AMV. APC's should be a version of the IFV. An all M113 organization would be just too completely awesome and no challenge at all.

Battalion UAV are small vehicles operable by infantry OR's with no more than a couple of weeks or so of training. I don't know much about them, so I'll leave the details to people who do. If there are suitable company or platoon level UAV available, by all means include them.

GPMG is a PK variant in 7.62 x 51mm. DMR is the same caliber. Rifles are Diemaco C7 variants in 5.56 mm though inch pattern FAL with modern rails and optics could be issued instead if conditions require. P226 in .40 cal are issued to all personnel who want them and personal purchase handguns may be carried with personnel responsible for ammunition and parts if not standard issue. Sniper rifles are .338 Lapua and .50 BMG.

Uniforms and equipment are IR resistant olive green.

[FALightFighter]

Short answer is BN HQ & HQ CO, 4 Rifle Companies, Armored Cavalry Troop, Combat Support Company, Logistics/Admin Company- equipment really doesn't matter, organization is only a common basis to start from, and training (the most important) will hopefully have some time for mission specific training, but if not, you can handle most of what you described from a common core of basics.

 

The details:

 

BN HHC

 

BN Tactical Command Group

BN CO (OF4)

BN SGM (OR9)

BN OPS O (OF2/3)

BN INTEL O (OF2)

BN Artillery Liaison (FSO) (OF2)

3 x Fighting Vehicles (Stryker/M113-stretch with RWS) with crews (driver, gunner, vehicle commander)- all have specialized comms (like Stryker C2V), one is specialized for control of joint fires (FW & RW air, arty and mortars)

~8 commo operators (OR4/5) to enable dismounted operations without taking from vehicle crews.

3-5 utility vehicles (with dedicated drivers OR3/4)

 

BN Main Command Post

BN 2IC/Chief of Staff (OF3)

NCOIC (OR8/9)

Asst Intel O (OF1/ or better yet US CWO2)

3 x Operations Officers (OF2)

3 x Operations NCOs (OR7)

6 x commo operators (OR3/4)

3 x Intel Watch NCO (OR6/7)

3 x Intel Watch Operator (OR3/4)

Asst BN Fires O (OF1/ or better yet US CWO2)

3 x Fires Watch NCO (OR6/7)

3 x Fires commo operators (OR3/4)

BN COMMO O (OF2)

BN COMMO NCO (OR7)

BN COMMO section (3-5 OR3/4)

 

3 x C2V (M577/Stryker based equivalent)

3 x cargo vehicles

4-6 x utility vehicles (HMMWV/jeep/etc) with dedicated drivers (OR3/4)

 

BN TRAINS Command Post

OIC (Also Commander of the HHC) (OF3)

BN Supply Officer (OF2)

6 x Admin/Log Watch NCO (OR6/7)

3 x Maintenance Managers (OR5/6)

6 x commo operators (OR3/4)

CO HQ (1SG OR8, Supply NCO OR5, 2 x Armorer/Supply Clerk OR3/4, Operations NCO OR5/6, 2 x RTO/runner OR3/4)

 

2 C2V

2-4 cargo vehicles

4-6 utility vehicles (with dedicated drivers)

 

Security Platoon (MP types)

Platoon Leader (OF2)

Platoon Sergeant (OR7)

4 x Section Leader (OR6)

8 x Squad Leaders (OR5)

36 x Vehicle Crew (Driver, Gunner, Dismount) (could be 48-60 if the vehicle will support 2-3 x dismounts)

 

Armored Security Vehicle (something like M1117 ASV- I'd like 2-3 dismounts though, and a common chassis would be nice- if we're going with Strykers, how much in common are the 4x4 Piranhas?)

 

 

Rifle Company

CO HQ

CO (OF3)

2IC (OF2)

CSM (OR8)

2-3 utility vehicles with dedicated drivers

CP Group (OIC, Ops NCO, Intel, Fires, Comms + vehicle crew for C2V with on-the-move voice/digital capability and RWS)

Admin Group (Supply NCO OR5, Commo OR4/5, 2 x Armorer/Supply Clerk OR3/4)

 

1 x cargo vehicle

2 x utility vehicle

 

3 x Rifle Platoon

Platoon HQ (PL, PSG, FO, 3 x RTO)

3 x Rifle Squad (SL OR6, 3 x 6-man fire teams)

 

Weapons Platoon

Platoon HQ (PL, PSG, FO, 3 x RTO)

MG Section (Section Leader OR6, 3 x MG team TL OR5, 6 x Gunner OR4, 12 x AG/Ammo Bearer OR3/4)

Mortar Section (Section Leader OR6, 3 x FDC, 4 x 60mm tubes with 4 x TL OR5, 4 x Gunner OR4, 12 x AG/Ammo Bearer OR3/4)

AT Section (Section Leader OR6, 3 x AT team TL OR5, 6 x Gunner OR4, 12 x Ammo Bearer OR3/4)

 

Armored Cavalry Troop

Troop HQ

CO (OF3)

2IC (OF2)

CSM (OR8)

2 x Fighting Vehicles with crew (driver, gunner, alternate vehicle commander)

2-3 utility vehicles with dedicated drivers

CP Group (OIC, Ops NCO, Intel, Fires, Comms + vehicle crew for C2V with on-the-move voice/digital capability and RWS)

Admin Group (Supply NCO OR5, Commo OR4/5, 2 x Armorer/Supply Clerk OR3/4)

1 x cargo vehicle

2 x utility vehicle

 

2 x Recon Platoons, each with

PL, PSG 2 x recon vehicle crews (driver, gunner, alt vehicle commander, 4 x dismounts)

4 x recon section (2 recon vehicles with driver, gunner, vehicle commander, 8 x dismounts)

 

5 x 6-tank platoons (PL, PSG, 1 x section leader, 3 x tank commander, 18 x tank crew)

 

Combat Support Company

CO (OF3)

2IC (OF2)

CSM (OR8)

2 x Fighting Vehicles with crew (driver, gunner, alternate vehicle commander)

2-3 utility vehicles with dedicated drivers

CP Group (OIC, Ops NCO, Intel, Fires, Comms + vehicle crew for C2V with on-the-move voice/digital capability and RWS)

Admin Group (Supply NCO OR5, Commo OR4/5, 2 x Armorer/Supply Clerk OR3/4)

1 x cargo vehicle

2 x utility vehicle

 

Sniper/Recon Platoon

PL, PSG, 2 x RTO, 2 x utility vehicles with drivers

4 x Sniper/Recon Squads, each with SL OR6, 3 x TL OR5, Sniper OR4, Sr Scout OR4, RTO OR4, 2 x Rifleman OR3

 

Mortar Platoon

PL, PSG, 2 x Security Vehicles with crew

2 x Section HQ (Section leader, 4-man FDC with C2V)

8 x Mortar Squads (Each with mounted 120mm mortar and crew)

 

AT Platoon

PL, PSG, 2 x Security Vehicles with crew

4 x AT section, each with Section Leader in AT Vehicle with Crew and 2 x AT vehicle with crew (8 total AT vehicles)

 

Pioneer Platoon

PL, PSG 2 x Security Vehicles with crew

4 x EN sections (each with dozer vehicle, AVLB equivalent, AVLM equivalent)

Route Clearance Section (1 3-4 vehicle team capable of independent operations to maintain a route)

 

UAS Platoon- TBC, but ideally large enough to operate out to 50+/-km from the control station, but small enough to launch/recover from austere, unprepared locations and ideally able to be controlled from a moving vehicle

 

ADMIN/LOG Company

CO HQ

Medical PLT (2 x level 1 aid station plus 5 x evac sections and appropriate platoon medics for the battalion)

Admin PLT

Supply PLT

Maintenance PLT

Transport PLT (Arms room concept to operate either cargo trucks or MRAP/stretch M113 to carry at least 2 rifle companies)

[Ivanhoe]

You should be highly deployable and able to operate with good dispersion once deployed. You may be deployed rurally or in urban environments. You should be able to operate semi-independently from your Brigade Support.

 

That's the crux of the matter, I would think. What services are guaranteed to be handled by corps, division, and brigade? Which services might be provided by both higher orgs and organic to the battalion?

 

Also, I don't think you can conclude that leg, motorized, or heliborne models would be best for the stated missions, as no mention of theater or terrain is given. Motorized would work great in rural Libya, maybe not so good in the Colombian highlands, terrible in say the Carribean after a hurricane.

[Archie Pellagio]

What are your operating environments and threat groups?

How many other battalions in your army are there?

Is your Bn the one an only manoeuvre unit in the army?

 

Without basic information and being limited to simply a battalion, I would go a very full strength battalion.

 

So the 2/24 Dolphin Training Regiment Is based around wheeled vehicles of some 8x8 LAV description, composing of:

 

3x Sqn of:

2x Tp APC

1x Tp Gun Cars (25mm-40mm)

 

Spt Sqn:

AT Tp

MSS Tp

RSS - APC variants with two recon patrols and three sniper pairs in vehicle #3

Mortars - 4x 81mm standard mortars, operate dismounted from APC variants.

 

RHQ:

Commander, 2IC and S2 cell each with vehicle fitted for comms.

Regi sig two vehicles.

Ambulance x2

ISR Tp (mast mounted GSR equipped vehicles)

 

A big variable would be to include a third troop of APCs into each sabre squadron, it would give more of a boots on the ground capability but you're starting to get unwieldy.

 

Other options would be depending on vehicle and turret, the option to have some form of auto cannon in RWS and potentially ATGM could restructure.

If there was an RWS with 25-30mm you could do away with the gun car troop in each Sqn, the ATGM capability would also do away with the LAV-AT troop.

Edited April 2, 2014 by Archie Pellagio

[baboon6]

MSS Troop?

[Crowe]

 

You should be highly deployable and able to operate with good dispersion once deployed. You may be deployed rurally or in urban environments. You should be able to operate semi-independently from your Brigade Support.

 

That's the crux of the matter, I would think. What services are guaranteed to be handled by corps, division, and brigade? Which services might be provided by both higher orgs and organic to the battalion?

 

Also, I don't think you can conclude that leg, motorized, or heliborne models would be best for the stated missions, as no mention of theater or terrain is given. Motorized would work great in rural Libya, maybe not so good in the Colombian highlands, terrible in say the Carribean after a hurricane.

 

It is up to you to identify areas of support that you wish to handle yourself, and those that you wish to leave to brigade. Too much support and the more you look like an understrength brigade losing agility dragging around an oversized headquarters, too lean on support and you will be too closely tied to brigades apron strings and you lose speed from an overloaded command structure.

 

Again, it is up to you to decide what is best to accomplish the mission as stated, whatever mode of transportation gives you the best mix of flexibility. Obviously, one size does not fit all, but is there a size/mix that fits most? If that is too general, assume that you are supported by a Theater Command that coordinates and specializes in the Military, Intelligence, Cultural, and Political elements of a particular region of the world. You are part of the military element of that Theater command and hopefully this will help you slim down the environments a bit although, always be prepared that just because you are part of the South American Command that you may be called to reinforce efforts in Central Asia.

[Crowe]

What are your operating environments and threat groups?

How many other battalions in your army are there?

Is your Bn the one an only manoeuvre unit in the army?

 

Without basic information and being limited to simply a battalion, I would go a very full strength battalion.

 

So the 2/24 Dolphin Training Regiment Is based around wheeled vehicles of some 8x8 LAV description, composing of:

 

3x Sqn of:

2x Tp APC

1x Tp Gun Cars (25mm-40mm)

 

Spt Sqn:

AT Tp

MSS Tp

RSS - APC variants with two recon patrols and three sniper pairs in vehicle #3

Mortars - 4x 81mm standard mortars, operate dismounted from APC variants.

 

RHQ:

Commander, 2IC and S2 cell each with vehicle fitted for comms.

Regi sig two vehicles.

Ambulance x2

ISR Tp (mast mounted GSR equipped vehicles)

 

A big variable would be to include a third troop of APCs into each sabre squadron, it would give more of a boots on the ground capability but you're starting to get unwieldy.

 

Other options would be depending on vehicle and turret, the option to have some form of auto cannon in RWS and potentially ATGM could restructure.

If there was an RWS with 25-30mm you could do away with the gun car troop in each Sqn, the ATGM capability would also do away with the LAV-AT troop.

For operating environments see my reply to Ivanhoe

For Threat Groups, I would assume you are part of the military of a NATO coalition partner and the threat groups to the friends of Sam are your frenemies too, though if you wish to change it up and go Russian or Iranian, those would be interesting indeed.

 

I would assume, that you are part of a larger Army, whether that army is US size, UK size or Liberia size is up to you. I would assume you are part of a brigade, the details of which are up to your imagination. I would assume you are under some sort of Theater Joint Operations Command that is really dialed into your region of responsibility. You will typically be on the tip of the spear for operations in your area of responsibility but may be loaned out to augment or relieve other Theaters as needs require. I would NOT think you are the only unit or type of unit in your army your military can contain all the types of specialist units you can imagine, but you will be most likely be the first one in and the last one out.

[Gerard35]

Ok, here's my attempt at a Battalion Task Force.

 

 

Bn TF HQ Co

 

HQ Pltn - 8 x CV90-HQ, 4 x CV9040.

Recon Pltn - 12 x LandRovers, with LRRP. Selection of mounted weapons - 0.5" HMG, 40mm GL, ATGWs.

C3IEW Pltn - 8 x CV90-EW, 4 x CV9040. ( May be possible to combine the CV90-HQ and CV90-EW into one ? )

UAV Pltn - 4 x RQ-7 Shadow or similar, on 8x8 trucks.

 

 

A Co - 3 x 4 = 12 x Leopard 2. Specific A5 or A6 vsn isn't that important. Co HQ is 2 x Leopard 2, 2 x CV90-HQ.

B Co - 3 x 4 = 12 x CV9040. Co HQ is 2 x CV9040, 2 x CV90-HQ.

C Co - 3 x 4 = 12 x CV9040. Co HQ is 2 x CV9040, 2 x CV90-HQ.

D Co - 2 x 6 = 12 x CV90 - 6 carry a 120mm mortar, 6 carry NLOS ( XM-501 / Spike LR / similar ) missiles.

Co HQ is 2 x CV9040, 2 x CV90-HQ. ( 12 or 15 / 16 per vehicle ? )

 

 

( Following 2 attachments are only needed for a major combat operation )

 

Artillery Battery - 8 x AS90 155mm SPG with 52 cal barrel. 4 x TPQ-36/37 on 8x8 trucks,

OR 8 x M-777 155m, on 6x6 or 8x8 heavy trucks - if going for a light option.

 

Air Def Battery - 8 x 2S6 / SA-19 but using SA-22 missiles ( or a NATO recreation of it ) on Leopard 2 chassis. 4 x Sentinel AD radars.

OR 4 on Leopard 2, 4 on 8x8 heavy trucks. 35mm cannon + AIM-132 / AIM-9X, or AIM-120 ?

( Like a modern vsn of the Gepard ? new radar, guns, ammo, missiles. )

 

 

E Co - Combat Eng Co - 4 x Leopard 2 CEV, 4 x Leopard 2 ARV - these are able to recover / support the CV90 family.

4 x CV9040 for Eng Recon Pltn. 4 x M3 mobile bridge / ferry. 2 x CV90 NBC recon.

 

F Co - Logistics / Support / Medical / other stuff. Whatever can be moved on 8x8 trucks, using DROPs for faster logistics. CV90-based armoured ambulances. Not sure exactly how much would be required.

 

EITHER the individual combat companies have their own logistics Pltns, OR F Co ends up as 2 Companies in effect, to carry out enough resupply / support.

 

 

CV90-HQ are similar to the US M2 Bradley command post version ( different number ? )

CV9040 attached to the HQ elements are for local security, so that the mech inf platoons don't need to be split off for it.

 

Options for the AFVs - slat armour cages, extra reactive armour blocks, Trophy-style self-defence systems, RWS turrets. What gets fitted depends on the mission / available transport to the operations area.

 

CV9040's can have twin packs / single tubes, fixed to their turret sides - BGM-71 TOW, perhaps a FGM-148 Javelin on the turret roof. Optional depending on if you expect to have to face a long range heavy armour threat. If it's only light AFVs, then just use the 40mm cannon, and then man-portable Javelins / M-72's. Potential for AGM-114 Hellfire instead of TOW if against an armour heavy OPFOR.

 

 

Ammo / small arms are NATO standard - cheaper, easier to get hold of, can be re-supplied from allied forces easily enough. Would be crazy to have to leave your force parked there, waiting for a C-17A to fly in pallets of unique ammo.

 

Following are a general pool of infantry weapons for my Battalion Task Force:

( What gets taken along depends on the mission. Can leave the ATGWs & SAMs at home for a disaster recovery / rescue / relief op. )

 

9mm pistols - any type is ok, just need to use standard 9mm ammo. Probably something from H+K or Beretta.

9mm SMGs - MP5 or a later version. More use for the LRRP Platoon than for the regular mech inf.

5.56mm assault rifles - M-16 / M-4 family, or one of the newer H+K.

5.56mm LMG / SAW - M-249 or something from H+K. ( Probably be cheaper / easier logistics if most guns are from H+K )

7.62mm GMPG - Not sure what the current standard is for these, most likely from H+K.

7.62mm or similar sniper rifle - not sure if these are required if we got the 0.5" ones.

0.5" HMG - Browning M2 - might as well use what we KNOW works just fine. Vehicle mounted, and on tripods.

0.5" sniper rifles - Barret M-82/107. Not sure if H+K do one yet or not.

40mm GL - M-203, or the H+K vsn if can't use the M-203.

40mm GL - Mk-19, or more likely the H+K vsn, ( assuming that there is one ) Vehicle mounted, and on tripods.

60mm mortars - small enough to carry one in a vehicle and some rounds easily. Useful for when the 120mm are busy elsewhere.

66mm M-72 LAW - whatever the latest version is. M-72A6 A7?

FGM-148 Javelin ATGW.

FIM-92 Stinger or Starstreak maportable SAMs. - The FGM-148 and SAMs can be spread around, don't need to be one per CV9040.

usual grenades / explosives / flares / mines, etc.

 

All troops have body armour / NVG / comms / GPS etc. All small arms may have nightsights / laser / suppressors / 40mm GL's, as appropriate. As troops are all vehicle transported, extra gear can be stored in the vehicles. Any $ saved from not having the latest fancy guns can be spent on soldiers individual equipment / training / extra logistics / spare parts / ammo. Training is NATO standard, as if about to deploy to Afghanistan, or for a NATO ex in Europe. Balance of heavy / light threats.

 

I'll assume that any helo / avn assets are from elsewhere.

 

 

Regards,

Gerard

Edited April 3, 2014 by Gerard35

[Mr King]

A battalion of original recipe Soldiers.

 

 

 

http://youtu.be/YJfEQQ_Tl_o

 

 

http://youtu.be/pvCWDd7rtPc

 

[Archie Pellagio]

MSS Troop?

 

Mobility Support.

Basically engineering tasks, route clearance, bridging, obstacle clearing/laying etc.

[DougRichards]

From the description given:

 

The battalion sounds like...................................

 

 

 

 

The entire NZ Army. ( http://www.army.mil.nz/ )

[BansheeOne]

Interesting exercise in identifying common requirements over a range of missions. Missions 2-4 typically demand lots of warm bodies for securing, patrolling, checkpoints, connecting with the locals, riot control, handing out aid, etc.; that calls for light or motorized infantry which, while having a place in conventional warfare, is not the best for Mission 1 if you can't chose the battlefield to fit your advantages. Mission 4 in particular adds a lot of humanitarian assistance requirements at the expense of combat power, particularly transport, medical aid and engineering.

 

However, I identified the last point as potentially valuable across all scenarios; if nothing else, engineers can usually double as effective assault infantery. One of the first conclusions I arrived at therefore was that my battalion would have exceptional engineer capabilities. As for the basic unit type, my first urge is typically to throw helicopters at a problem since they are independent of terrain and can be rather multi-role; so I initially thought of a heliborne unit using UH-60 - possibly Battlehawks - which could switch between general transport, air assault and gunship modes.

 

However, they are a high-value high-mobility high-requirements asset that scales badly to battalion level; you saddle yourselve with lots of support for the logistical footprint in fuel, maintenance etc., and really want them to be available for all troops under command of a higher echelon to optimize use. I then went to a modular ground vehicle as the basic means of transportation for troops and ideally materièl. Nationally present examples were the Boxer and the competing KMW Grizzly and Rheinmetall Wisent protected utility vehicles.

 

Of those, the Wisent is the most modular as a variety of loads can easily be switched out on its open rear deck; 6 x 6, 8 x 8 and 10 x 10 variants and even a semi-trailer type are planned. However, it's also the least combat vehicle-like as there is no direct access from the rear module (which would need it's own NBC protection system etc. for the battlefield troop carrier role). The Grizzly, which was eventually selected by the Bundeswehr in the GFF 4 competition, does not have that problem though supposedly switching modules is not as easy either.

 

Both the Wisent and Grizzly offer a relatively high payload of over four metric tons out of a 25-26 ton max weight. However, they have huge silhouettes at three meters height which just scream "target" on a conventional battlefield. Eventually I thus went back to Boxer as the basic troop carrier, though I find its modularity is not all it's cracked up to be either; I remember one of the possible variants was with an open cargo bed, but the cargo variant in use with the Dutch army is basically the APC with the seats stripped out and some sort of handling system for up to two one-ton pallets.

 

I might still stick with Boxer since it's certainly well-protected as wheeled APCs go, but add other transport vehicles. Have a rough idea of various other multi-mission capabilities, supplementary firepower for high-intensity combat and overall organization involving no more than six companies total, which I'm trying to arrange into a sensible scheme.

[Kiwi Gunner]

Give me the best light infantry battalion .. the RLI. Not much those three companies could not do.

 

Air mobile, light, mobile and able to operate separately from the rest makes the RLI the best...

[BansheeOne]

So let's see if I can organize my dispersed thoughts into a battalion. Unsurprisingly it's rather big at 1,032 all ranks in six companies, which reflects the extra capabilities for the battalion's semi-independent multi-mission role. However, the meat is in three large rifle companies, and I feel sufficiently justified about the organic additions for their value in all mission types.

 

As stated before, I stuck with Boxer as the basic combat transport platform, though it could just as well be replaced by the Patria AMV or Piranha IV. The other important choice turned out to be about the general light staff and liaison vehicle, which I wanted to be a protected type but not a little tank, in essence a more modern HMMWV. I looked at the Mowag Eagle and Mercedes Enok (successor to the up-armored Wolf), but eventually went with the Iveco LMV as the most flexible design, both with the short and long wheelbase.

 

Once that was decided it also informed the choice of the Iveco Trakker as the heavy protected truck rather than the German designs I originally had in mind. I ended up with the 8x8 variant throughout, though some of the missions might be more economically fulfilled by the 6x6 or 4x4. All vehicles will take a Rafael Samson Mini RWS to mount an MAG, CIS 50MG or Mk 47 Striker AGL as necessary. I also evaluated the Polish WKM-B for an alternative to the M2 .50 cal. better suited to dismounted use in the rifle platoons, but while it is even lighter than the CIS, it still uses the original NSV ammo boxes, and I liked the dual-feed feature of the CIS.

 

 

Motorized Infantry Battalion (53/316/663//1,032)

 

Battalion HQ (14/16/16//46)

- Command Section (2/2/2//6; 2 x Iveco LMV)

- S 1 Section (1/2/2//5; 1 x Iveco LMV Long)

- S 2 Section (2/2/2//6; 1 x Iveco LMV Long)

- S 3 Section (3/3/3//9; 2 x Iveco LMV)

- S 4 Section (3/3/3//9; 2 x Iveco LMV)

- S 5 Section (1/2/2//5; 1 x Iveco LMV Long)

- S 6 Section (2/2/2//6; 1 x Iveco LMV Long)

 

Command Support Company (7/61/71//139)

- HQ Squad (2/2/6//10; 2 x Boxer C2/Cargo, 1 x Iveco LMV)

- QM Squad (0/4/5//9; 1 x Iveco LMV Long, 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 [one fuel, one recovery])

- MP Section (1/7/7//15; 3 x dog, 4 x Iveco LMV)

 

Signals Platoon (1/13/19//33)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- Communications Squad (0/4/6//10; 2 x Boxer CP)

- ESM Squad (0/4/6//10; 2 x Boxer ESM)

- ELINT Squad (0/4/6//10; 2 x Boxer ELINT)

UAV Platoon (1/11/11//23)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- Control Squad (0/4/4//8; 2 x Iveco LMV Long)

- Maintenance Squad (0/6/6//12; 2 x Iveco LMV Long, 1 x Iveco Trakker 8x8, 4 x ScanEagle)

MI Platoon (1/11/16//28)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- Analyzing Section (0/4/9//13; 3 x Iveco LMV Long)

- 3 x Interrogation Team (0/2/2//4; 1 x Iveco LVM each)

Reconnaissance Platoon (1/13/14//28)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/2//4; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- 4 x Scout Team (0/2/2; 3 x HK 416, 1 x HK GLM, 1 x Minimi; 1 x Iveco LVM Long each)

- 4 x Sniper Team (0/1/1//2; 1 x AXMC/AX50, 1 x G 28 each)

 

The name of the command support company reflects that it fulfills only half the tasks of a traditional HSS company, in addition to additional capabilities. It is heavily geared towards intelligence generation with both human and technical means, which is useful in all mission types, though probably least in the disaster relief role. It also provides some organic EW capacities. For good measure I added an MP section to act as compentence source for law enforcement tasks in missions 2-4; they can always pull HQ security if there's nothing else to do, though the recon platoon can also fill that role.

 

 

3 x Rifle Company (6/51/141//198 each)

- HQ Squad (2/2/6//10; 2 x Boxer C2/Cargo, 1 x Iveco LMV)

- QM Squad (0/4/5//9; 1 x Iveco LMV Long, 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 [one fuel, one recovery])

 

3 x Rifle Platoon (1/11/31//43)

- HQ Squad (1/2/7//10; 6 x HK 416, 2 x G 28, 1 x M107A1, 2 x MP 7A1; 1 x Boxer w/ Samson Dual RWS [CIS 50MG/Spike-LR] + field mounts)

- 3 x Rifle Squad (0/3/8//11; 8 x HK 416, 2 x Minimi, 3 x MP 7A1, 1 x MGL-140, 1 x Shipon; 1 x Boxer w/ Samson Dual RWS [Mk 47 Striker/MAG] + field mounts each)

Heavy Platoon (1/12/37//50)

- HQ Squad (1/2/7//10; 6 x HK 416, 2 x G 28, 1 x M107A1, 2 x MP 7A1, 1 x Boxer w/ Samson Dual RWS [CIS 50MG/Spike-LR] + field mounts)

- 2 x Engineer Squad (0/2/7//9; 6 x HK 416, 1 x Minimi, 3 x MP 7A1, 1 x MGL-140, 1 x Shipon; 1 x Boxer w/ Samson Dual RWS [Mk 47 Striker/MAG] + field mounts each)

- 2 x Mortar Squad (0/3/8//11; 2 x TAM 18, 8 x HK 416, 4 x MP7A1; 1 x Boxer w/ Samson Dual RWS [Mk 47 Striker/MAG] + field mounts each)

The particular feature of the rifle companies is the heavy platoon which really only provides four 60 mm TAM 18 mortars in dedicated heavy weaponry, but also has two engineer squads as per previously mentioned thoughts about extra capabilities. They can be used for dismounted mine/IED sweeps, simple construction/demolition/recovery tasks or plain infantry depending upon mission.

 

Support weapons are mostly integral to the platoons, with a CIS 50MG and Spike-LR ATGM mounted to the Samson Dual RWS of the lead Boxer and the MAG/Mk 47 combo to the rest; tripods/firing posts are carried for dismounted use. Flexibility is further increased by an arms room approach to small arms allocation with the respective multi-weapon training.

 

The rifle squad consists of the leader/vehicle commander who will typically dismount with the troops, the driver and gunner who will stay on, and two fireteams of four who share eight rifles, two LMGs, a 40 mm MGL and an anti-tank weapon between them in addition to possible dismounted use of vehicle guns. For good measure I included three MP 7 for the only real PDW niche, vehicle crew and support weapon operators. Due to the heavy firepower already available I forewent 40 mm UGLs and my favorite support weapon, the Carl Gustaf M3, but did not detail possible extra ammunitions like rifle grenades or M72 LAWs.

 

The platoon HQ has the platoon leader, platoon sergeant and HQ squad leader with a forward observer, radio operator, medic and two designated marksmen who can use two 7.62 and one .50 cal. rifle (the latter mostly for anti-material use, particularly against UXO) in addition to dismounted vehicle weapons. Note that for commonality I based small arms mostly on the HK system, machineguns on FN's, and Israeli anti-tank weapons. I did not detail UAVs smaller than the CS company's ScanEagles, but at a minimum there will be free-flight model types at the company HQ, and possibly hexacopter drones at platoon level to let you look behind the next hill/street corner.

 

 

Weapons Company (5/27/57//89)

- HQ Squad (2/2/6//10; 1 x Boxer C2/Cargo, 1 x Boxer FCV, 1 x Iveco LMV)

- QM Squad (0/4/5//9; 1 x Iveco LMV Long, 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 [one fuel, one recovery])

 

Mortar Platoon (1/4/13//18)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/4//6; 1 x Boxer FCV)

- 3 x Mortar Squad (0/1/3//4; 1 x Boxer w/AMOS each)

Missile Platoon (1/4/13//18)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/4//6; 1 x Boxer C2/Cargo)

- 3 x Missile Squad (0/1/3; 1 x Boxer w/ Spike-NLOS each)

Anti-Air Platoon (1/5/12//18)

- Command Section (1/1/4//6; 2 x Boxer ASRAD-R)

- 2 x Gun Section (0/2/4//6; 2 x Boxer Skyranger each)

Ammunition Platoon (0/8/8//16)

- Platoon HQ (0/2/2//4; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- 3 x Ammunition Squad (0/2/2//4; 2 x Boxer Cargo each)

The weapons company adds the firepower to the motorized infantry concept that will be particularly necessary for type 1 missions, though I took care it would also be useful for types 2 and 3; I suspect its only use in disaster relief will be warm bodies and transport capacity, but it is really about much bang for little manpower. This is exemplified in the mortar platoon which can put out a lot of rounds from three two-barelled AMOS systems, including guided ammunition like STRIX. Spike-NLOS is a nice addition which lets you pinpoint most types of ground targets from tanks to insurgent strongpoints out to 25 km range with little fuss; Gerard already included that capability in his TO&E.

 

I thought long and hard about the advisability of an organic anti-air platoon, but if you field a lot of UAVs at the battalion, so will any peer competitor, you may be the target of stand-off ammunitions in high-intensity conflict, and at least for missions 2 and 3 there is C-RAM to think about (probably not realistic in mission 1). But you are not going to cover your entire AOR at any rate, and the capabilities of mobile C-RAM systems are a little vague at this point; both OTO's 76 mm Draco and Oerlikon/Rheinmetall's 35 mm Skyranger claim they can fulfill that role. Both also have an anti-ground capability which makes them useful even with no air threat.

 

I really like the Draco because it has a range similar to VSHORAD missile systems and in fact similar capabilities with the guided DART ammunition, plus you can even use it for indirect fire against ground targets like light artillery. But the turret is huge, particularly on already tall modern wheeled platforms like Boxer (though supposedly artillery modules will be set lower like in KMW's demonstrator for a wheeled DONAR), and ammunition stowage limited. In the end I went with Skyranger, search radars to be provided by two ASRAD-R vehicles which also carry the Bolide missile I already considered for a pure missile-based solution with no C-RAM capability.

 

I concentrated ammunition transport into a dedicated platoon of six Boxer Cargo variants which will provide protected supply to wherever the effectors go; the bulk will probably be 120 mm rounds, but they can also be shanghaied for other transport tasks, particularly in missions 3 and 4.

 

 

Service Company (9/59/96//164)

- HQ Squad (2/2/6//10; 2 x Boxer C2/Cargo, 1 x Iveco LMV)

- QM Squad (0/4/5//9; 1 x Iveco LMV Long, 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 [one fuel, one recovery])

 

Engineer Platoon (1/10/19//30)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- 2 x EOD Squad (0/2/4//6; 2 x Boxer EOD each)

- Armored Engineer Squad (0/2/4//6; 2 x Kodiak)

- Equipment Squad (0/3/6//9; 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8)

CBRN Platoon (1/9/19//29)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- Detection Squad (0/2/6//8; 2 x Boxer CBRN)

- Troop Decontamination Squad (0/3/6//9; 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 TEP 90)

- Area Decontamination Squad (0/3/6//9; 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 HEP)

Medical Platoon (3/9/17//29)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- Treatment Squad (2/2/4//8; 1 x Iveco LMV, 1 x Iveco Trakker 8x8)

- Ambulance Squad (0/3/6//9; 3 x Iveco LMV Ambulance)

- Armored Ambulance Squad (0/3/6//9; 3 x Boxer Ambulance)

 

Maintenance Platoon (1/12/23//36)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- 3 x Maintenance Squad (0/3/6//9; 1 x Iveco LMV Long, 1 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 each)

- Recovery Squad (0/2/4//6; 1 x Büffel, 1 x Iveco Trakker Crane)

Supply Platoon (1/13/17//31)

- Platoon HQ (1/1/1//3; 1 x Iveco LMV)

- 3 x Transport Squad (one fuel) (0/3/3//6; 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8 each)

- Kitchen Squad (0/3/6//9; 3 x Iveco Trakker 8x8)

The service company is where the "other than war" capabilities really are, though they are all just beefed up from normal military requirements. There is an engineer platoon which provides backup to the troops in the rifle companies with heavy equipment for all of their missions, particularly for mine/IED clearance; there are four Boxers equipped with jammers and manipulator arms carrying EOD robots in the back for route clearance packages, and two Kodiak AEVs.

 

The latter are a leftover from an earlier approach to a heavy company with a basic armor capability of a large Leopard 2 platoon with dozer blades, and a small one with Kodiaks and Büffel ARVs which could act either in construction and recovery or as poor man's armored support with their RWS in missions 2-4, plus the other support weapons. However, in the end I judged that armor was really a thing to be attached from brigade as necessary, like real artillery; so the Leopards went but the support vehicles remained, the surviving Büffel now in the maintenance platoon. It's an insular solution of three heavy tracked platforms though, and they could conceivably be replaced by Boxer variants, too.

 

The other military capability I found really useful for OTW missions was CBRN. In high-intensity warfare their task is obvious, though they might actually be more busy in other deployments. Mission 2 often seems to involve the search for WMD these days, imagined or real, and the terrorist attack listed as a possible scenario for mission 4 might include the same. Plus the branch has very useful secondary capabilities like water purification, hygiene control, firefighting and general rescue and recovery. They will probably work closely with both the engineer and medical platoon.

 

The latter is actually not too remarkable except that it has three officers which could all be surgeons. The extra capacity becomes only evident when you note that the companies have their own medical personnel listed, an NCO in each HQ squad plus the medics of the infantry platoons.

[Simon Tan]

The age of small interventions is over. If you mean to intervene, you need numbers, in both unit strength and also numbers of units. Big battalions good but expensive...... auxillia are the way to go.

[bojan]

Give DMR to every infantry squad.