1st Inter-Allied Commando

[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 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]

Originally Posted by Mahatatain

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]

Originally Posted by Raellus

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]

Originally Posted by Mahatatain

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.

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by Mahatatain

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

That would be the 1st Inter-Office Commando.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Raellus

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 .