Or you could use a variant/modification on what is known of the Late Roman Imperial Army ranks (4th Century +) - (Note that some of these associations are speculative):
CT Only: Military unit structure
- Thread starter jaz0nj4ckal
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Or you could use a variant/modification on what is known of the Late Roman Imperial Army ranks (4th Century +) - (Note that some of these associations are speculative):
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Comes tends to come from companion, so maybe general staff officer with the authority to take command.
Cohors speculatorum are ranger units.
Cohors amicorum is the staff of a general officer.
Cohors palatina is an (Imperial) Guards unit.
Cohors praetoria is the bodyguard unit of a general officer.
Cohors togata are plainclothes security, possibly detectives.
Cohors vigilum are first responders.
Cohortes urbanae are paramilitarized riot control law enforcement.
Cohors germanorum are Oktoberfest revellers.
Primus Pilus - senior legio non commissioned officer
Tesserarius - senior centuria non commissioned officer
Cohors speculatorum are ranger units.
Cohors amicorum is the staff of a general officer.
Cohors palatina is an (Imperial) Guards unit.
Cohors praetoria is the bodyguard unit of a general officer.
Cohors togata are plainclothes security, possibly detectives.
Cohors vigilum are first responders.
Cohortes urbanae are paramilitarized riot control law enforcement.
Cohors germanorum are Oktoberfest revellers.
Primus Pilus - senior legio non commissioned officer
Tesserarius - senior centuria non commissioned officer
Actually Comes was used in a number of different ways, both military & civilian. In its military usage, it was often the senior military command of a Roman Diocese (= "Comes rei militaris", equivalent to or just below the Magister Militum), and by itself was also the title given to the overall Field Army Commander (i.e. the entire "Corps" of Legions) within a Diocese (and was generally senior to the Dux, the commander of the stationary Border defenses of the Diocese). The ranks of Dux ("Duke") and Comes ("Count") would later swap seniority in the Dark Ages/Early Middle Ages.
In Late Roman Brittania, for example, the Comes Brittaniorum was the overall Diocesan Field-Army Commander in Brittania, and under him were the Dux Brittania (the static Border Commander) and the Comes Littoris Saxonici ("Count of the Saxon Shore" - the mobile Field Army tasked with defending the southern/southeastern coast).
This seems to have been replaced by the Primicerius in the Late Roman period, but the actual functions and/or command responsibilities of the Primicerius remain obscure. He may have evolved into a senior staff-officer.
IIRC, the Tesserarius functioned as a centuria ("company") level adjutant as well as a watch-commander for the centuria, ranking beneath the Optio.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Contubernium - squad.
Maniple - Falkenberg has them as fire teams, though for the Romans it's closer to a very reinforced company combat team.
Velites - skirmishers, or very light infantry, jaegers or (Napoleonic) Rifles.
Cohors sagittaria - self propelled artillery.
Cohors equitata - (US) cavalry.
Cohors classica - landing party.
Cohors tumultuaria - irregulars.
Cohors torquata - red ones go faster.
Maniple - Falkenberg has them as fire teams, though for the Romans it's closer to a very reinforced company combat team.
Velites - skirmishers, or very light infantry, jaegers or (Napoleonic) Rifles.
Cohors sagittaria - self propelled artillery.
Cohors equitata - (US) cavalry.
Cohors classica - landing party.
Cohors tumultuaria - irregulars.
Cohors torquata - red ones go faster.
Of course, should you choose to use these, no one will really have any idea what you're talking about.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
That's why I mentioned it being a Latin twist, not drew up a TO&E for an interstellar Roman Empire military
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Functions tend to be the same, technology allows them to perform them more efficiently.
As long as commanders and military staff understand how to best utilize such developments.
Traveller Lift units would be air cavalry, air mobile or air assault, depending on firepower and protection, since the mobility part is inherent in the manipulation of gravity.
As long as commanders and military staff understand how to best utilize such developments.
Traveller Lift units would be air cavalry, air mobile or air assault, depending on firepower and protection, since the mobility part is inherent in the manipulation of gravity.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
I tend to think that the smallest permanent unit of manoeuvre is the squad.
You have an experienced non commissioned officer, a sergeant, leading a small enough number of people he can personally supervise, but is large enough to divide into teams that can act semi-autonomously, and can survive normal attrition, and still accomplish a given mission.
You have an experienced non commissioned officer, a sergeant, leading a small enough number of people he can personally supervise, but is large enough to divide into teams that can act semi-autonomously, and can survive normal attrition, and still accomplish a given mission.
in a highly industrialized built up urban/ship/habitat enclosed environment - such as might be found in traveller - the engagement space will consist primarily of two-man-wide corridors, entryways, and limited spaces. the smallest unit of maneuver will be the fire team. two men up, two men back. everyone else will be outside of line-of-sight.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Permanent.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Cavalry Regiment - Age of Enlightenment
Now, I can't figure out if aristocracy got the idea from reading the classics, but the minimum size for the British appears to be:
Cavalry regiment
. two squadrons
.. two troops
... thirty men
It varies, since some have a stated establishment for two squadrons and one hundred eighty men, perhaps if they get assigned to Ireland.
As anyone familiar with austerity measures is, the British redesignated all their standing cavalry units to Dragoons, since their pay would be less.
Some regiments get a company of light dragoons added retroactively, who I assume, are better at reconnaissance.
Optimistically, you could assign five armoured fighting vehicles per troop, two at squadron and another two at command, and you'll end up with twenty six, just short of a battalion's worth, and one hundred and four men, not counting the usual support staff.
Now, I can't figure out if aristocracy got the idea from reading the classics, but the minimum size for the British appears to be:
Cavalry regiment
. two squadrons
.. two troops
... thirty men
It varies, since some have a stated establishment for two squadrons and one hundred eighty men, perhaps if they get assigned to Ireland.
As anyone familiar with austerity measures is, the British redesignated all their standing cavalry units to Dragoons, since their pay would be less.
Some regiments get a company of light dragoons added retroactively, who I assume, are better at reconnaissance.
Optimistically, you could assign five armoured fighting vehicles per troop, two at squadron and another two at command, and you'll end up with twenty six, just short of a battalion's worth, and one hundred and four men, not counting the usual support staff.
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
For those interested in a better understanding of how units larger than a battalion are structured, I would recommend going to the Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library website, and searching under Obsolete Military Manuals.
http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm/landingpage/collection/p4013coll9
FM 101-10 for 1959 covers the Pentomic Divisions organization, with manning, equipment in terms of weapons and vehicles, and logistic factors. There is also FM 101-10 for 1987 which covers more current unit organization and structure. Then you have Tables of Organization and Equipment for the Marines and Army during the Korean War period, which is close to World War 2. I would also highly recommend the US Marine Corps Small Wars Manual 1940 for how to build a small unit from scratch, including necessary logistic support.
Then if you go to HyperWar, which is a site covering World War 2 on the Internet, http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/.
There you can get the Organization of the German and Japanese Armies during World War 2. The manual covering the Italian army in World War 2 can be found at archive.org, https://archive.org/details/TME30-420
Then, if you want to really get into unit organization, I would recommend going to the US Army Center for Military History and looking at the Green Book Series, one volume in particular.
The Organization of Ground Combat Troops
http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/002/2-1/index.html
Then for some idea of Air Force organization, that can be checked at the US Air Force Historical Studies Division website covering publications. http://www.afhso.af.mil/booksandpublications/titleindex.asp
Once there, go to the Army Air Force in World War 2 series, and check out Volume 6, Men ad Planes.
There is a lot of information out there on military organization, and if need information in a given area, I probably know where to find it.
http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm/landingpage/collection/p4013coll9
FM 101-10 for 1959 covers the Pentomic Divisions organization, with manning, equipment in terms of weapons and vehicles, and logistic factors. There is also FM 101-10 for 1987 which covers more current unit organization and structure. Then you have Tables of Organization and Equipment for the Marines and Army during the Korean War period, which is close to World War 2. I would also highly recommend the US Marine Corps Small Wars Manual 1940 for how to build a small unit from scratch, including necessary logistic support.
Then if you go to HyperWar, which is a site covering World War 2 on the Internet, http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/.
There you can get the Organization of the German and Japanese Armies during World War 2. The manual covering the Italian army in World War 2 can be found at archive.org, https://archive.org/details/TME30-420
Then, if you want to really get into unit organization, I would recommend going to the US Army Center for Military History and looking at the Green Book Series, one volume in particular.
The Organization of Ground Combat Troops
http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/002/2-1/index.html
Then for some idea of Air Force organization, that can be checked at the US Air Force Historical Studies Division website covering publications. http://www.afhso.af.mil/booksandpublications/titleindex.asp
Once there, go to the Army Air Force in World War 2 series, and check out Volume 6, Men ad Planes.
There is a lot of information out there on military organization, and if need information in a given area, I probably know where to find it.
Rereading the thread, this image sparked the thought that a robot would be quite the aide for an officer and perhaps that should be extended to logistical and firepower robots as integral parts of the units, more regularly then Zhodani warbots.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
The dichotomy is that the technology represented is sixteen considering it's autonomy.
Seems more appropriate.
Seems more appropriate.
I think more interesting would be a summary of the doctrines that drive the discrepancies between the different methods of organization.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
The basics remain the same.
It's how you utilize the available technology and resources that tends to differ.
It's how you utilize the available technology and resources that tends to differ.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
GURPS Star Mercs describes several mercenary outfits, with the 102nd Lift Battalion probably the most technologically advanced and powerful.
I always found Rifles Incorporated the most fascinating, since it did spark an interest of trying to figure out what would be the smallest viable size for an infantry battalion.
Organization:
Headquarters Company, with:
Headquarters Platoon. with:
Command Section. with:
Major Dyle Tarshkavik
Executive Officer
2 NCOs
4 Commo Techs
4 Riflemen
Medical Section, with:
Medical Officer
3 Medics
Battalion Artillery. with:
2 Grav APCs with 8Omm RF Howitzer
(TL1O). each with:
1 Vehicle Commander
1 Driver
1 Gunner
3 Rifle Platoons, each with:
1 Platoon Leader
1 Assistant Platoon Leader
1 LMG Team, with:
1 LMG Gunner (M60)
1 Loader
2 Rifle Sections. each with:
1 Corporal
1 LAG Gunner
10 Riflemen
3 Rifle Companies, each with:
Command Platoon. with:
1 Company Commander
1 NCO
1 Weapons Section, with:
1 Section Leader
1 Forward Observer
1 Corporal
2 Mortar Teams. each with:
81mm mortar
1 Gunner
2 Loaders
4 Rifle Platoons, each with:
1 Platoon Leader
1 Assistant Platoon Leader
1 LMG Team, with:
1 LMG Gunner (M60)
1 Loader
2 Rifle Sections, each with:
1 Corporal
1 LAG Gunner
12 Riflemen
Vehicles: only self propelled grav howitzers
Infantry: are organized in large squads with very light body armor and cheap TL8 assault rifles
Support weapons: limited to a few rifle grenades, a squad level LAG and a few mortars and machine guns; no air defense, nor much in the way of anti-armour equipment other than AT rifle grenades; the command company is
a little better armed, with about half the troops still retaining the combat armor and ACRs
In my opinion, the differences between a reinforced company combat team and a weak battalion, besides the combined arms, is having that extra level of supervision, and being, or needing, to call for fire support, so less initiative all down the line, which should work out better for levies and conscripts.
As for the above Rifles, they should contract to one headquarters and two line companies of a hundred men each (thus the magic three hundred), with the headquarters supporting the line companies and acting as a reserve.
Keep the general structure and shrink the line rifle sections to eight riflemen each.
I always found Rifles Incorporated the most fascinating, since it did spark an interest of trying to figure out what would be the smallest viable size for an infantry battalion.
Organization:
Headquarters Company, with:
Headquarters Platoon. with:
Command Section. with:
Major Dyle Tarshkavik
Executive Officer
2 NCOs
4 Commo Techs
4 Riflemen
Medical Section, with:
Medical Officer
3 Medics
Battalion Artillery. with:
2 Grav APCs with 8Omm RF Howitzer
(TL1O). each with:
1 Vehicle Commander
1 Driver
1 Gunner
3 Rifle Platoons, each with:
1 Platoon Leader
1 Assistant Platoon Leader
1 LMG Team, with:
1 LMG Gunner (M60)
1 Loader
2 Rifle Sections. each with:
1 Corporal
1 LAG Gunner
10 Riflemen
3 Rifle Companies, each with:
Command Platoon. with:
1 Company Commander
1 NCO
1 Weapons Section, with:
1 Section Leader
1 Forward Observer
1 Corporal
2 Mortar Teams. each with:
81mm mortar
1 Gunner
2 Loaders
4 Rifle Platoons, each with:
1 Platoon Leader
1 Assistant Platoon Leader
1 LMG Team, with:
1 LMG Gunner (M60)
1 Loader
2 Rifle Sections, each with:
1 Corporal
1 LAG Gunner
12 Riflemen
Vehicles: only self propelled grav howitzers
Infantry: are organized in large squads with very light body armor and cheap TL8 assault rifles
Support weapons: limited to a few rifle grenades, a squad level LAG and a few mortars and machine guns; no air defense, nor much in the way of anti-armour equipment other than AT rifle grenades; the command company is
a little better armed, with about half the troops still retaining the combat armor and ACRs
In my opinion, the differences between a reinforced company combat team and a weak battalion, besides the combined arms, is having that extra level of supervision, and being, or needing, to call for fire support, so less initiative all down the line, which should work out better for levies and conscripts.
As for the above Rifles, they should contract to one headquarters and two line companies of a hundred men each (thus the magic three hundred), with the headquarters supporting the line companies and acting as a reserve.
Keep the general structure and shrink the line rifle sections to eight riflemen each.
As did I, mostly because the unit was "dysfunctional" instead of "perfect".
The Danaari(?) cadre outfit was also fascinating. IIRC, there was a planning/analysis section, a recruiting/training section, and a combat leadership section. They're hired to create local military forces where none exist or to improve existing forces.
I thought such an outfit would be perfect for a "multiple PC" campaign although I'd have little idea about how to actually run one.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
The anarchic nature of the company sized Free Troopers might be more fun and suitable.
For Danarii's Platoon, you would need a head's up and lead time, because they'd have to do opposition research on prospective contractors (to avoid any surprises), and then you're looking at three to nine months to train new recruits, and to impose their authority on the existing (or non existing) military hierarchy.
For Danarii's Platoon, you would need a head's up and lead time, because they'd have to do opposition research on prospective contractors (to avoid any surprises), and then you're looking at three to nine months to train new recruits, and to impose their authority on the existing (or non existing) military hierarchy.
