1st Inter-Allied Commando

[Raellus]

Here's an idea for a campaign setting for a group of elite PCs. Although I prefer "regular Joe" characters and campaigns, I sometimes get the hankering for an all-special forces type game. I wanted to come up with an an excuse to allow the players to play pretty much whatever kind of special operator they would like to. This is what I came up with.

Constructive feedback is welcome.

If you like it, please feel free to use it or modify it to your liking.


1st Inter-Allied Commando


Background and Mission

When the Military Government of the United States decided to pull its units out of Europe and bring them back to the CONUS in the autumn of 2000, there were a few seasoned special forces operators among those units who, for one reason or another, wished to stay and continue the fight in central Europe. Many of these men made their way to northwestern Poland and the U.S. XI Corps which had elected, en toto, to stay put there. Similarly, other NATO special operations personnel expressed a desire to remain behind when their parent countries decided to withdraw their respective forces from Poland.

With their special skills and unorthodox operating practices, these highly trained and experienced warriors were not particularly well suited for distribution as replacements among the rifle companies of the XI U.S. Corps' constituent units. At the same time, the XI U.S. Corps required a long-range operational/strategic reconnaissance and direct action capability. Building on the success of the joint NATO special operations raid on Soviet Baltic Front headquarters in Malbork castle on the eve of German III Army's Summer 2000 offensive in northern Poland, a British SAS officer, Major Alan Spencer-Pratt*, proposed the creation of a company-sized unit made up of NATO personnel with special operations experience. This all-volunteer unit would report directly to XI Corps HQ and would be granted a good deal of flexibility and autonomy when it came to planning and executing its operations. Its primary missions would be long-range reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and raiding. Major Spencer-Pratt was given the green light to begin recruiting for the unit which would become known as the 1st Inter-Allied Commando.

Within a month, Spencer-Pratt had assembled just over 200 volunteers. Each applicant was carefully vetted in order to verify his bona fides and weed out any potential trouble-makers.

The new 1st Inter-Allied Commando was made up of operators from throughout NATO, as well as former Soviet and Warsaw Pact special forces personnel. These men were motivated by a variety of factors. Some were idealists, committed to combating communism in Europe, some were adrenaline junkies, addicted to the extreme highs of combat, and some were borderline sociopaths who knew that they would never be able to fit in "back home". Whatever their motivations, these men were bonded together by their professionalism, high level of training, and elite status.

The 1st Inter-Allied Commando was a truly multinational force. On its rolls were American Green Berets, SEALs, Rangers, Recon Marines and Pararescuemen, Canadian recon paratroopers, German Fernspaher and KSK commandos, British SAS, SBS, and Royal Marine Commandos, Danish Jaegerkorpset and Frogman Corps commandos, a handful of Polish paratroopers, Soviet Spetznaz commandos, and a smattering of special operators from several other NATO, allied, and neutral nations. All 1st Inter-Allied Commando personnel were required to speak English fluently.

TOE

1st Inter-Allied commando's organization and operational parameters were modeled, to a large degree on the British Long-Range Desert Group of WWII. Long-range mobility was to be provided primarily by a fleet of heavily armed, custom-modified light trucks, including HUMVEEs, Land Rovers, Unimogs, Pinzgauers, Tarpan-Honkers, and UAZ-69s. When operating along the Baltic coast, similarly outfitted small motorized watercraft were used instead.
The 1st Inter-Allied Commando was organized as an over-strength infantry company, with a headquarters and support platoon and four field platoons/squadrons. The headquarters and support platoon included a headquarters section, a medical section, a communications section, and a maintenance and logistics section. Each field platoon/squadron consisted of around 30 men divided into three squads. Each squad was divided into three sections and each section was assigned its own vehicle.

In the company, nationalities and special operations branches were mixed in order to foster whole-unit cohesiveness and camaraderie. Command arrangements at the platoon, squad, and section level were rather flexible, with the operator whose experience and temperament was most suited to the mission being given primacy, regardless of rank.

A variety of combat uniforms, LBE, and weaponry were used, depending on the operation.

The official unit logo was a swooping owl in white or light grey on a circular, midnight blue background with the latin motto Volatilis, Silens, Mortifer beneath the lower rim. Subdued shoulder patches in black and olive drab were worn on field uniforms. These patches were produced by local seamstresses.


*This is a "working title" as it were, and a bit of a joke for my pop-culture saavy compatriots and British friends. I intend to change it for the final copy.

[Mahatatain]

Sounds good to me and it would allow you to create a justification for the high number of SF characters who turn up in T2k games.

I've always loved the idea of the LRDG and I think that a unit operating in a similar fashion would work well.

Here's a suggestion for you though - how about setting up a unit that operates in a similar fashion in your prospective Africa campaign setting?

[copeab]

Worth noting the No. 10 Inter-Allied Commando (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._10_(Inter-Allied)_Commando) of WWII, but it didn't mix troops from different nations (which made sense given it's missions)

[headquarters]

The campaign can still have these kind of PCs or NPCs ,people attached to the unitdue to personal knowledge -language,terrain knowledge,contacts in the area of operations,technical knowledge etc etc .

For instance someone who has spent a lot of summers sailing the Adriatic coast or working it as a fisherman and speaks the language due to his family ties to the area - could be useful for the unit although he hasnt the level of deadliness as his patrol .

For instance a former army colleague of mine acted as a driver for a Norwegian SF unit in Kosovo and Macedonia due to him being available and having previous knowledge of the region and the fact that he just fit in with the regular members of the patrol.He was a former trooper from our now defunct Coastal Battery branch .Not exactly what we here call a snake eater.

[Abbott Shaull]

As side note, I can see any operations that happen in the future would require troops in several nation being thrown together to form complete Brigade and Divisions. More so than the temporary basis that were seen at times in the game.

[Raellus]

Here's a suggestion for you though - how about setting up a unit that operates in a similar fashion in your prospective Africa campaign setting?

I'm not sure that would work. There are a couple of reasons. First off, the 173 BCT is a much smaller unit than V Corps and it already has an organic LRRP company. Second, for a smaller parent unit, my inter-allied commando (in Kenya) would need to be much smaller- probably platoon strength. And lastly, there are fewer nationalities present in Kenya and I'm not sure how far the PMC personnel angle could realistically go. I could see UK and French personnel (in addition to Americans and Kenyans) but beyond that, I'd have to come up with some pretty convoluted backstories.

[HorseSoldier]

Possibly refugees from South Africa. If that country goes pear shaped in a big way during the Twilight War, it's not unreasonable to hypothesize the South African military trying to evacuate white civilians, and military personnel, to the nearest patch of stability with a First World military force on the ground.

Plus you can't hardly have anything military set in Africa without having a Rhodesian ex-pat or two in the frame -- circa 2000 you could still have some veterans of the war there who'd be young enough to still keep up with younger guys.

[Mahatatain]

I'm not sure that would work. There are a couple of reasons. First off, the 173 BCT is a much smaller unit than V Corps and it already has an organic LRRP company. Second, for a smaller parent unit, my inter-allied commando (in Kenya) would need to be much smaller- probably platoon strength. And lastly, there are fewer nationalities present in Kenya and I'm not sure how far the PMC personnel angle could realistically go. I could see UK and French personnel (in addition to Americans and Kenyans) but beyond that, I'd have to come up with some pretty convoluted backstories.

Sorry - I was really meaning a long range recon unit operating like a modern version of the LRDG, not necessarily one that was multi national in composition.

I think it could be an interesting set up in Kenya, though most of the LRDG actually did would actually be quite dull for a RPG. "Road Watch" would be a little repetitive!

[HorseSoldier]

But that's just about everything in the military -- the proverbial 95% boredom and 5% terror or whatever.

[Raellus]

Sorry - I was really meaning a long range recon unit operating like a modern version of the LRDG, not necessarily one that was multi national in composition.

I think it could be an interesting set up in Kenya, though most of the LRDG actually did would actually be quite dull for a RPG. "Road Watch" would be a little repetitive!

I'll continue to mull it over. It could still work in that setting. I'm looking for some books on the war in Rhodesia for information about that type of low-intensity, anti-guerilla warfare.

[headquarters]

I'm not sure that would work. There are a couple of reasons. First off, the 173 BCT is a much smaller unit than V Corps and it already has an organic LRRP company. Second, for a smaller parent unit, my inter-allied commando (in Kenya) would need to be much smaller- probably platoon strength. And lastly, there are fewer nationalities present in Kenya and I'm not sure how far the PMC personnel angle could realistically go. I could see UK and French personnel (in addition to Americans and Kenyans) but beyond that, I'd have to come up with some pretty convoluted backstories.

Kenya has a lot of different ethnicities ,asians,africans ,europeans,americans .The groups sizes are dwarfed by the locals of course .

Many are there just temporary , but some have long lasting communities-Indians,Chinese,Europeans.

If a war and a situation on the scale of T2K happens ,many would be left without livelyhoods and way to get home.Could it be percieved that they would " band together " and try to establish a platform to gain influence and resources to better look out for themselves -as a minority in an African country ? They cannot compete in the jobmarket otherwise as labourers ,but if a military unit is hiring many might join up .Especially if they could be convinced that they are fighting on the side of their allies as far as the war in Europe and Asia is concerned.

Think of emigree families from Asia and Africa and the Americas .I have met people -alot of people - that have a branch in the old country,another in Americas,one in Africa .They emigrate to work for a period or permanently .
etc etc .They also sometimes migrate back and forth for visits and work .

DeCorbas ( board member) grand uncle was a famous Danish war hero .he fought as a Chindit in Burma ,taking part in the famous Wingate (?) expedition and beyond .He was jokingly referred to as the "Free Dane " ( Denmark was occupied by the Reich ) .

He had no way of returning ,but he could join his allies in the British forces and help against a common enemy-the empire of Japan.
He was a foreman at a rubber plantation or some such before the war .

there could be a lot of men in his position in a Kenyan T2K scenario .

[Rainbow Six]

Sorry - I was really meaning a long range recon unit operating like a modern version of the LRDG, not necessarily one that was multi national in composition.

I think it could be an interesting set up in Kenya, though most of the LRDG actually did would actually be quite dull for a RPG. "Road Watch" would be a little repetitive!

I think it's a really good concept, whether multi national or not...could be a mixture of UK, US, and Kenyan personnel, with a few others thrown in...(perhaps the majority would be Kenyan, given they would know the country best?) HorseSoldier, love the idea of having a few Rhodesians in there...add some of HQ's ex pats...(there's a few colonial stereotypes that spring to mind, but I'd imagine some of the white farmers would be a useful addition to such a group - for those who watch Ultimate Force did anyone ever see the episode set in Zimbabwe where Red Troop helped defend a farm against rebels?). You could also include a few Aussie and Kiwi troops by saying they were on an exchange posting with the UK forces...maybe a couple of US Marines who had previously been Embassy Security Guards...?

Could call it something like "The Kahawa Scouts"...?

Cheers

[Raellus]

Added to the original write-up under Background and Mission (new material is indicated by bold text):

Building on the success of the joint NATO special operations raid on Soviet Baltic Front headquarters in Malbork castle on the eve of German III Army's Summer 2000 offensive in northern Poland, a British SAS officer, Major Alan Spencer-Pratt*, proposed the creation of a company-sized unit made up of NATO personnel with special operations experience.

[Cdnwolf]

How about a unit from the other end of the scale.... the mail clerks, cooks, and back office people given a gun and told to point it that way and shoot!

[Raellus]

How about a unit from the other end of the scale.... the mail clerks, cooks, and back office people given a gun and told to point it that way and shoot!

That would be the 1st Inter-Office Commando.

[Medic]

That would be the 1st Inter-Office Commando.

I actually know a conscript cook who, in the final exercise prior to being released from service, heard a helicopter landing somewhere not too far away and guessed, it was the Finnish Paratroopers, who were on the other side in the exercise. He hid himself in to the bush along a path to the battalion command post and once he saw a strike team of paratroopers walk past him, he fired the whole clip of blanks to simulate taking them out. From what I heard, the paratroopers were a bit pisses off...:rolleyes:

[Legbreaker]

During my recent work on the 2nd Marines, I've grown to believe the HQ wasn't located in Malbork originally but moved there after the Marines withdrew from the area - there's just too much risk for them of the marines staging a raid from their positions just a dozen miles or so away when they've only got some cavalry as protection. They could have started out there, but on hearing of the Marine landing, it would seem logical for them to move away until the area became safe again.
As for the marines themselves, how tempting a target would the Baltic Front HQ be!?

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Malbork is a massive castle complex with extensive underground sections, (even WW2 didn't destroy it).
It could very easily be a target worthy of a Division or a target for special forces (particularly if the special forces unit could access the river side of the complex).

[Cdnwolf]

http://www.castlestudiesgroup.org.uk/Malbork%20-%20Anthony%20Emery.pdf

Floor plans and history

[Raellus]

During my recent work on the 2nd Marines, I've grown to believe the HQ wasn't located in Malbork originally but moved there after the Marines withdrew from the area - there's just too much risk for them of the marines staging a raid from their positions just a dozen miles or so away when they've only got some cavalry as protection. They could have started out there, but on hearing of the Marine landing, it would seem logical for them to move away until the area became safe again.
As for the marines themselves, how tempting a target would the Baltic Front HQ be!?

Right. But chances are good that the HQ was there before III German army's offensive. Malbork is a great location for a major HQ- there's the castle, of course, decent lines of communications (by road and by river/canal), it's not too close to the front lines yet it's not too far from Gdansk, Elblag, and Kaliningrad, and its far enough from the coast not to have to worry about naval gunfire or frogmen raiders.

Maybe they packed up and moved when the Marines showed up. Maybe they were counting on units from a different Soviet Army to show up and save the day (they must have known about the planned Soviet summer offensive/counteroffensive). Maybe they thought the Polish 19th CD could provide enough security until stronger forces arrived.

To me it's moot. All of the canon maps show it there and my raid takes place right before German III Army/U.S. XI Corps launches it's offensive.

[Olefin]

My Kenya scenario, while with bigger forces than Raellus has in his scenario, follows seperate commando commands with the US, Kenyans and British having seperate forces.

However that is an area with a clear chain of command and intact militaries still there.

Europe is different and I love the the idea of a mixed Commando force being formed from Special Forces men who either wanted to stay because the war is not over or who have ties to the area. And there is a canon precedent - i.e. the Royal Guards Brigade in Norway which is composed of US, British and other forces that stayed behind including Special Forces (mentioned in both the NATO vehicle guide and the Boomer module)

However there is another opportunity in Kenya which could be a mixed mercenary unit - i.e. a group of men from various countries who form their own unit that is available for hire. You could have a mix of a lot of groups that way - and even some very unsavory characters

[Targan]

Is the 1st Inter-Allied Commando the sort of formation that would have its own flash and/or patch? If so I'd like to volunteer to mock one up and submit it for consideration. I love the idea of this unit, it fits in really well with what was happening in my last campaign.

[Raellus]

Is the 1st Inter-Allied Commando the sort of formation that would have its own flash and/or patch? If so I'd like to volunteer to mock one up and submit it for consideration. I love the idea of this unit, it fits in really well with what was happening in my last campaign.

Here's what I've imagined for the unit insignia.

The official unit logo was a swooping owl in white or light grey on a circular, midnight blue background with the latin motto Volatilis, Silens, Mortifer beneath the lower rim. Subdued shoulder patches in black and olive drab were worn on field uniforms. These patches were produced by local seamstresses.

There are some whopping Great Horned Owls around my neck of the woods. They're really impressive- swift, silent, and deadly, especially at night. I kind of copped the idea for the logo from the cover of the Rush album "Fly By Night".

I'd still really like to see what you come up with, Targan.

[Targan]

The official unit logo was a swooping owl in white or light grey on a circular, midnight blue background with the latin motto Volatilis, Silens, Mortifer beneath the lower rim. Subdued shoulder patches in black and olive drab were worn on field uniforms. These patches were produced by local seamstresses.

I'm a twit, I'd read that already! Probably why I asked the question, it must have been sitting in my subconscious. I've done some personalised heraldry art for characters in fantasy RPGs before, I'd like to try my hand at the modern version of heraldry a la unit patches.

[rcaf_777]

Canadian recon paratroopers

Did you not know they are called Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2) or is this something in your TW world?

Mind you the Airborne Regiment did have the Pathfinders which I would consider the closest thing to a recon paratroopers, they would the normal infantry qual plus the basic and advance para, then the pathfinder course, and possible the the US Ranger Course as well

[Raellus]

Did you not know they are called Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2) or is this something in your TW world?

I did the research for this unit over a year ago so I don't recall how I came up with the "recon paratrooper" title. I know I based it on something reliable. I clearly need to do a little more research and correct the improper designation. Thanks for pointing out my mistake (?) and pointing me in the right direction.

[rcaf_777]

In 1992, Deputy Minister of Defence Robert Fowler announced he was recommending to Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn that he disband the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and create a new military counter-terrorism group. The decision was made largely because the Canadian Forces offered better-trained recruits for the program than civilian police forces, and it stemmed the public uproar about police being taught to use primarily lethal means. The Military also dose it cheaper since we paid by salary vs by hour as with the RCMP

In early 1993, the unit was activated with just over 100 members, primarily drawn from the Canadian Airborne Regiment and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. They were given the SERT facility on Dwyer Hill Road near Ottawa as their own base of operations.

[Raellus]

In 1992, Deputy Minister of Defence Robert Fowler announced he was recommending to Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn that he disband the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and create a new military counter-terrorism group. The decision was made largely because the Canadian Forces offered better-trained recruits for the program than civilian police forces, and it stemmed the public uproar about police being taught to use primarily lethal means. The Military also dose it cheaper since we paid by salary vs by hour as with the RCMP

In early 1993, the unit was activated with just over 100 members, primarily drawn from the Canadian Airborne Regiment and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. They were given the SERT facility on Dwyer Hill Road near Ottawa as their own base of operations.

In your professional opinion, would this have occured if the Cold War had continued? I think my source was probably pre-'93, and that may account for the odd designation I used.

[rcaf_777]

I would say so just wondering would it a part of the Airborne Regt like orginal advocated my the then CO and it's time of disbandment or would been it's own unit