7/25/2019 Gz Sg2 Group Size

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/gz-sg2-group-size 1/2

Basic Platoon Structure(Wednesday, 25 October 2006) - Contributed by Administrator - Last Updated ()

Basic Platoon Structure By Chris "Laserlight" DeBoeTaken from www.Stargrunt.ca How Do I Organize My Stargrunt Unit -For BeginnersIntroduction

The objective of this article is to give a brief background to novice Stargrunt II players who would like to get a bit ofadvice on how to set up their first units. The following discussion is aimed at showing you basic organizations for yourStargrunt II force.Squads

One aspect to consider is whether you want to have a few tough units, or a larger number of brittle units. Every squadshould have at least one support weapon—a SAW, auto-grenade launcher, plasma gun, or similar — so themost efficient squad TO&E (in game terms) for maximum firepower is 4 riflemen with FP3 weapons, plus the supportweapon, for a total of five men. Once this squad starts taking casualties, however, it loses effectiveness quickly. An eight-man squad, by contrast, can operate effectively while under strength and can also afford to carry around an extra supportweapon. Of course, if you’re building power armor squads you can discount this by a man or two per squad; ifyou’re including MICV drivers and gunners, then add a couple.

In the "real world", if the troops have organic transport, unit sizes will have to take into account the carrying capacity oftheir vehicles — there’s not much sense to have nine man squads if you can only fit eight into the APC.Real squads also have a maximum size based on the number of soldiers a squad leader can control on the battlefield,and a minimum size based on the number of leaders available. Historical squads have ranged in size from three to

thirteen soldiers. High quality troops such as SAS usually seem to use smaller units, so my own unofficial rule of thumbis: elites work in 4-5 man teams; regulars have 6-8 men; and greens have 10-12 troops to a squad. Platoon

A platoon will normally have three line squads, possibly four, plus the command squad. There’s no point in puttingmore line squads in a platoon, as it’s unrealistic and also dilutes the value of the commander’s reactivationactions. When laying out the platoon TO&E, keep in mind the possibility of mixing squad types. Instead of having all unitsbe rifle squads with machineguns, you may want to have an anti-bunker/anti-armor squad or a close-assault squadhandy.

The command squad TO will depend on what you want it to do. If you feel the lieutenant’s job is to stay out oftrouble and direct his troops (transfer actions), then just give the HQ squad the platoon leader, a medic, an electronicwarfare tech, and a couple of riflemen or shotgunners as bodyguards. If you envision the Old Man adding extra firepowerat the crucial point, then include a SAW and a GMS/L or a single light mortar team; you should also consider making the

platoon leader an individual (per the Leaders as individuals rules on www.stargrunt.ca) so the heavy weapons can keepfiring while the leader transfers his actions elsewhere.Just tell me, how many figures should I get?

Assuming you’re using normal infantry rather than PA, a bare minimum for a single platoon is going to be around24 figures, with 30-36 more common. You will probably also want a few extras to provide for reinforcements, engineers,snipers, or other mission specialists—and perhaps as a start towards getting your second platoon!Sample UnitOrganization

Here are two different organizations for basic Stargrunt II platoons. The first is a true "bare bones" formation - it will notbe too much fun if you make your platoon smaller or less-equipped than this. The second adds a bit of "meat", includingmore flexability and durability.

Assumptions: For the first, that you want to buy the minimal number of figures necessary to have a force for a decentbasic game. For both, that you are playing them as "leg" infantry, and not bothering with vehicles.Basic PlatoonOrganization

HQ Squad (1 Officer, 5 Other Ranks)Includes the Platoon Commander (a Lieutenant, usually - use a rifleman figuredistinguished in some way, like different colour headgear); the Platoon Senior NCO (a rifleman figure), a Signaller (soyou can try the EW rules), a medic (regular rifleman figure, or one with a case or bigger pack), so you can try the medicrules; and two Riflemen, who act as security for the Platoon Commander (regular riflemen figures).

3 x Rifle Squads (6 ORs each)Includes a Squad Leader (an NCO figure - usually armed with a standard rifle); a SAWGunner (use a figure carrying a SAW); and 4 Riflemen (4 riflemen figures).

This gives you a platoon with a command squad and three line rifle squads. Each of the rifle squads has a support

weapon, and the platoon has a signaller and a medic so you can test out those rules. This is a basic organization,suitable for a game against other infantry. The unit has no anti-armour capability, but you can add this without purchasingany more figures, by "issuing" the troops with IAVRs. You should consider issuing no more than two or three IAVRs perline rifle squad, and none for the command squad. In a basic game, more IAVRs than that will prove unbalancing.

To summarize your figure purchase, you need 24 in total: 1 officer, 4 NCOs, 1 signaller, 1 medic, 3 SAW gunners, and 14http://www.groundzerogames.net - Ground Zero Games Powered by Mambo Generated: 16 March, 2009, 23:53

7/25/2019 Gz Sg2 Group Size

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/gz-sg2-group-size 2/2

riflemen. The officer, NCOs, signaller and medic could all be regular riflemen that you designate separately in some way,although most of the Stargrunt II miniature lines have at least one NCO figure and many have Signallers and figurescarrying something or looking a little different, that you could use for a medic.

As a point of interest, GZG sells their 25mm Stargrunt II figures in "Platoon Packs". These platoon packs consist of 24figures, and you usually get a good selection of different types of riflemen, support weapon gunners (SAW, and oftensome kind of rocket launcher), officer/sergeant figures, and sometimes a signaller. There are enough figures in one ofthese platoon packs that you could set up the platoon organization shown above without having to buy anything else

(you will usually get 3 SAWs for example). Jon Tuffley at GZG organizes the platoon packs as 3 squads of 8 figures, soyou'll have enough stuff for 3 rifle squads (with SAW and special weapon) and then extras left over to make up yourcommand squad. I would suggest playing this organization using two figures as a medic and medic assistant, and usingthem as a separate squad. See below for further details. ~Ed."Intermediate" Platoon Organization

HQ Squad (1 Officer, 5 ORs)Includes the Platoon Commander; the Platoon Senior NCO, a Signaller (so you can try theEW rules); a SAW gunner (to provide security for the HQ); and a Medic and assistant medic (2 figures).

1 x Weapons Squad (6 ORs)Includes the Squad Leader; 2 GMS/P Gunners; 3 regular riflemen. This gives you a "proper"anti-armour capability, and a bit more tactical flexibility.

3 x Rifle Squads (8 ORs each)Includes a Squad Leader; a SAW Gunner (use a figure carrying a SAW); a "PIG" Gunner(trooper with a Plasma gun); and 5 Riflemen. These line rifle squads can dish out more firepower, and can absorb more

damage before becoming less effective.

This gives you a platoon with a command squad, an anti-tank squad, and three stronger rifle squads. You might tryadding the medic as a separate two-model unit that you play as an actual seperate "squad" during games - this makesmedics more effective than if they are stationed with the Platoon Commander. Options here could include eliminating theanti-tank squad alltogether if you do not plan on using vehicles. You could also replace the PIG in the rifle squads with aGMS/P and eliminate the Anti-Tank squad, if you wanted to purchase less figures. Finally, you could replace one of therifle squads, or the anti-tank squad, with an "assault" squad, by replacing the other "special weapons" (SAW, GMS/P,PIG) with Flame Throwers. Some of the Stargrunt II figure lines (the Islamics and the FSE Legionnaires spring to mind)have "Flamer" carrying figures.

This organization requires the purchase of more figures - 36 total, but you will find it more tactically flexible, and moresatisfying and interesting in game terms.

http://www.groundzerogames.net - Ground Zero Games Powered by Mambo Generated: 16 March, 2009, 23:53