From: John Atkinson <johnmatkinson@y...>
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 11:07:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [OT] Bye, Temporarily, and [SGII] Grenzers
I'll be departing the list for about a month starting Mon or Tues. PLDC date is Wednesday. Of course, like with all things Army I may be back Thursday because the schools NCO may have dinked up my paperwork. But before I go, let me leave you with: The NSL Grenzer Platoon (Lit, Borderer) The NSL has had some difficulty maintaining adequate garrisons on all of its colony planets, especially in those regions where a planet has multiple colonies on it and a large and well-dispersed garrison is necessary to prevent raiding and small-scale disputes. This problem is exacerbated by the NSL's focus on high-tech and well-trained troops. An alternate source of manpower was required, and an Austrian colonel proposed taking a leaf from the old Hapsburg manual. The Grenzers are military colonists, offered tax-free status and equipped with weapons and some agricultural and light manufacturing equipment. They settle in designated zones and are required to defend their district and support NSL main force units operating in or near their district. They are not obligated to partake in offensive military actions, though some do in return for pay and loot. They are rapidly gaining a reputation as good skirmishers, yet without the ability or desire to stand in the line against regular units. Grenzer Platoon (1/49) Platoon Headquarters: Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Medic, EW/Commo Tech (1/3) Weapons Squad: (0/7) Squad Leader 3xWeapons Teams: Gunner, Assistant Gunner 3xGrenzer Squad: (0/13) Squad Leader 2xRifle Teams: 1xCorporal, 2xGrenzers, 1xSAW Gunner Weapon Team: Gunner, AG Sniper Team: Sniper, Spotter Usual armament is the SG 58, but with the older MG53 as the SAW (FP d8, Imp d10). The weapon team in the squads tends to be armed with the MG53 with extra ammo, spare barrels, and a tripod. In this configuration, and with an AG, the FP goes up to d10. The sniper teams typically are not formally trained, but have good woodcraft. Depending on scenario, either treat them as proper snipers, or use Tom Barclay's marksman rules. The weapons squad frequently is equipped only with IAVRs, 2-3 to a man. On occasion they have a GMS/P or GMS/L launcher. The EW Tech's electronics are typically basic. Grenzer are considered to be veterans for purposes of firing, spotting, taking cover, and all other purposes, EXCEPT morale. When making confidence checks, they roll a d8 until they have lost 25% of the original squad strength, when they begin using a d6. This counts troops lost to the fatigue dice. All TLs for checks due to indirect fire or inflicted by armored vehicles (size 2+) are counted as 1 higher. The squads may fight in their component teams or may combine. In either case, the squad leader may not pass activations to the teams, and the Platoon Leader or Assistant Platoon Leader's passing of actions only affects 1 unit, be it a team or a squad operating together. The intent of a Grenzer unit is to engage light units and fight delaying actions when outnumbered, not to slug it out with mechanized infantry or tanks, nor to stand and take punishing artillery barrages.