Ground Forces of the Grand Duchy of Marlheim

Marlheim's Army Ground Forces are organized in a form that makes little tactical sense to outsiders. It's focused on maintaining control over the armed force; the organization from top to bottom sacrifices tactical flexibility in favor of preventing coups d'etat, mutiny and insurrection.

Ground Forces

The following refers to the organization of Marlheim ground forces:

Section

A "section" is between 13-16 troops, nominally led by a "Leader" (E3), but in fact closely supervised by a "Lieutenant 3rd Class" (O1). It's analogous to a large Squad or a small Platoon.

Lance

A "Lance" is commanded by a "Lieutenant Second Class", and consists of:

• Headquarters section, which includes
  • The commander and his aide
  • The Lance's political officer (A Lieutenant 3/c)
• Weapons Section (Heavy weapons at tech level)
• Security Section (13-16 MINITOL troops led by a Senior Patrolman. These troops will normally be better-trained than the rest of the Lance).
• Four "Rifle" Sections.

A Lance has a nominal strength of around 100, although that number varies.

A Mechanized or Armored Lance consists of the HQ and Security sections, and ten combat vehicles (two per section). It's more or less analogous to a Company.

Standard

A "Standard" is commanded by a "Junior Colonel", and contains the following:

• A Headquarters Lance, consisting of:
  • The Junior Colonel and his Staff Section
  • The Standard's GRYMOV Political Section, led by a GRYMOV Lieutenant 1/c.
  • Communications, Technical, Transportation and Reconaissance sections
• A Security Lance, commanded by a MINITOL/MINIMIL Lieutenant 1/c.
• A "Support" Lance, consisting of maintenance troops for the type of equipment the Standard employs.
• Two "Fire Support" Lances
• Five "Line" Lances - Infantry lances if it's an infantry unit, tank or vehicle lances if it's a Mech or Armored Standard.

A "Standard" is about 1,000 troops, give or take. It's very roughly analogous to a Battalion.

Field Force

A "Field Force", commanded by a Senior Colonel, consists of:

• A Headquarters Standard, with:
  • An HQ Lance
  • Communications, Technical, Transportation and Reconaissance Lances
  • A Political Lance manned by GRYMOV troops and commanded by a GRYMOV Junior Colonel
• A Security Standard(MINITOL/MINIMIL)
• A "Support" Standard - maintenance, medical, transport, engineering and logistics troops
• Two "Fire Support" Standards - artillery
• Five "Line" Standards.
  • In Infantry Field forces, all five standards will be infantry.
  • In Mech or Armored Field Forces, three standards will be mech/tank and two will be infantry.

A Field Force is approximately 10,000 troops. It's analogous to a very large Brigade or small Division.

Army

An "Army", commanded by a Major General, consists of:

• A Headquarters Force, including:
  • Headquarters Standard
  • A Political Standard
  • A Military Police Standard (for dealing with prisoners; enemy or Marlheim, it makes no difference)
  • A Political Standard (GRYMOV)
• A Security Field Force (MINITOL/MINIMIL)
• A "Support" Force, with maintenance, logistics, Medical and Engineering Standards
• Two "Fire Support" Forces
• Five "Line" Forces. These can be infantry, mechanized, or other as needed.

An "Army" is about 100,000 troops.

Front

A "Front", commanded by a Colonel General, has a more fluid organization. Its broad outlines are:

• A Headquarters Field Force
• A Political Standard
• A Security Field Force
• A Maintenance/Support Field Force
• A Transportation Field Force
• One or more Fire Support Field Forces - often more, depending on strategic situation.
• 2-5 Armies.

A "Front" is between 250,000 and 500,000 troops.

Direction

A "Direction" is a grouping of "Fronts" detailed to a particular campaign (and, usually, part of a system). It's a collection of Fronts; it has a headquarters, a Security Force, a Political Force, and a collection of Engineering, Fire Support and other Field Forces.