> From: [email removed] (David Johnson)
> Subject: TNE: *Shall Not Perish* Regency Military Forces
> What is the compostion of a `typical' Regency naval squadron and a `typical'
> army battalion/regiment/division/corps/whatever-you-think-the-`basic'-unit-
> ought-to-be?
Here's one crack at it...
Regency Military Forces -- Basic Structure.
The basic organizational unit of the Regency armed forces is
the Regiment. Paradoxically, the Regiment is a unit which
will never be encountered on the battlefield.
Instead, the Regiment is composed of two or more battalions.
The base battalion remains fixed to a recruiting territory --
a fixed area of a given world. It is responsible for
administration, recruiting and basic training of individuals
who will then serve with the Regiment's 1-2 active service
battalions. In addition, the battalion may maintain one or
more reserve battalions -- part time soldiers and veterans
using out-of-date equipment.
All Battalions of a Regiment are of the same troop type.
Thus the Battalion is the building block of other formations.
Regiments are recruited based on the society and capabilities
of the home world -- for instance, low tech worlds produce
light infantry regiment, while armored troops are recruited
on worlds where advanced technology is more familiar. In
particular, space EVA units are be recruited as much as
possible in asteroid belts.
Special Service Regiments (SAS, Drop Troops, whatever) are a
detached assignment of the best troops from line regiments.
Members retain their regimental assignments, and return to
their regiments (probably to a promotion) on the completion
of their tour.
Higher level formations are built up of Brigades, a formation
made up of 2-4 Battalions. Although Brigades have no
"permanent" structure, the value of established team
relationships is recognized, and long term partnerships
between complementary battalions (say, lift infantry and grav
tank) is commonplace.
In a combat situation, Battalion and Company combat teams
will be formed by the brigade commander as required for the
mission at hand out of the component companies of his
brigade.
Officers also remain members of their regiment for their
whole careers, but may be detached to various staff commands
for extended periods. Above field grades, regimental
membership has more to do with club membership than command
structure.
I hope this is helpful. It is, of course, the British /
Commonwealth regimental system; but I think that it is an
approach with real virtues in military terms, and good
adventuring flavor.
I will put some thought into higher formations, to troop
types, and "how large should a battalion be, anyway?"
Les Howie
Prograph International