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[edit]
The following refers to the organization of Marlheim ground forces:
Section[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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.