Fiction/Scenario Surviving 4th Guard Army

[mikeo80]

I have this story kinda buzzing around the old head. What I need your help with is as follows.

Character is a 1st. Lt. US. Army
Assigned to 5th ID
Commands a Mortar Platoon

Now, on the night that the 5th ID dies, my character steps away from his platoon to go into a nearby clump trees to answer natures call. Of course, he tells his leading Sgt. what he is doing. "Yo, Sarge. I gotta take a dump. I'll be right over here."

I know this is a combat zone. But per the books, it has been quiet the last few nights.

What would he bring with him?

This is how I see him equipped.

Uniform
Kevlar Vest
Kevlar Helmet
LBE
M1911 .45
6 clips
Holster w/pouches
Canteen
Bayonet
E-Tool

In his pockets, the following

Compass
Bar of soap ( in a baggie)
atropine injector
Sealed Tetracycline (He did some scrounging)
Water Purification tabs
2 Packs of cigarettes
lighter
1 20$ Gold Eagle
2 1$ Silver Dollars
Personal First Aid Kit

All of the rest of his gear is in the truck.

What else would be logical? I am toying with the idea of 2 - 4 MRE in cargo pockets on pants

Comments would be most welcome.

My $0.02

Mike

[Trooper]

Officers’ don’t usually carry E-tools.

Personal equipment for mortar or artillery officer:

-map case (including maps, calculator and “handbook for Artillery officer”)
-Hand bearing compass (Plastimo Iris 50)
-image intensifier, binoculars and laser rangefinder
-radio communication chart

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Trooper

Officers’ don’t usually carry E-tools.

Personal equipment for mortar or artillery officer:

-map case (including maps, calculator and “handbook for Artillery officer”)
-Hand bearing compass (Plastimo Iris 50)
-image intensifier, binoculars and laser rangefinder
-radio communication chart

Trooper:

Thanks for your thoughts. I can see how an officer would not have an E-Tool as part of his/her gear. So my 1st Lt. could borrow one from someone when he goes off to have a BM.

Map case, Binoculars, radio chart: I agree all part of an officer's gear. I just do not see him having these things on the way to the woods.

Hand bearing compass. Now, I do not know the difference between this and a regular compass. I can see my character having something in his pocket like a Boy Scout compass. Small, but still useful.

Any other comments are most welcome.,

My $0.02

Mike

[B.T.]

Mike, I'm not quite shure, what the intend of the question is. Is this story meant as the "origin story" of a player character?

If it is: In a situation like the one discribed in the BYB, it would make perfect sense, if the officer had his/her binoclars just hanging around his neck. And two things would allways be in reach (espacially if a person leaves his fellows/comrades, even if it was just for some minutes!): His NBC Protective Mask Carrier with mask and personal decontaminatin kit, and his rifle. Additionally I could imagine, even an officer would have his ammo for his M16A2 on his LBE. So maybe less mags for his pistol, and 6 to 9 mags for his rifle.

Maybe add gloves, leather to his equipment, in one of the trouser pockets.

Hope that helps.

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by B.T.

Mike, I'm not quite shure, what the intend of the question is. Is this story meant as the "origin story" of a player character?

If it is: In a situation like the one discribed in the BYB, it would make perfect sense, if the officer had his/her binoclars just hanging around his neck. And two things would allways be in reach (espacially if a person leaves his fellows/comrades, even if it was just for some minutes!): His NBC Protective Mask Carrier with mask and personal decontaminatin kit, and his rifle. Additionally I could imagine, even an officer would have his ammo for his M16A2 on his LBE. So maybe less mags for his pistol, and 6 to 9 mags for his rifle.

Maybe add gloves, leather to his equipment, in one of the trouser pockets.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for your thoughts.

What I have in my mind is a survival story. Part of it will be his origin.

BYB? Not sure of the reference.

So you think that there would be more equipment? Even if the LT. is stepping away for a moment?

Yes, I can see having the NBC. That does make sense. I had not thought of that. Rifle mags. OK, that also does make sense. I chose 6 clips for the 1911. The people who have 9mm have 45 rounds. I wanted him to have about the same amount, 42 rounds of .45 APC.

I will look at my ideas and the V1 and v2.2 rule book again, to see what else he might have. In the story I have in mind, the LT is separated from most of his gear. No backpack, no sleeping bag, no cooking gear, no shelter half, no poncho, no thermal gear, etc. Kind of a Robinson Crusoe in T2K.

As always, all comments are welcome.

My $0.02

Mike

[B.T.]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

...

BYB? Not sure of the reference.

...

I will look at my ideas and the V1 and v2.2 rule book again, to see what else he might have. In the story I have in mind, the LT is separated from most of his gear. No backpack, no sleeping bag, no cooking gear, no shelter half, no poncho, no thermal gear, etc. Kind of a Robinson Crusoe in T2K.

My fault - BYB = Big Yellow Bible: The ver2.n rulebook

I think, that a personal weapon would always be in reach, maybe not in garrison or when the soldiers stay in some kind of safe place. AFAIK personal weapon and protective stuff (vest, NBC mask, helmet) had to be in reach/on the body all the time, when mlitary persons where not inside of shelters or barracks from the Kosovo engagement on. In a situation like the one, described in the background story, that would make sense.

Maybe you could add an angled flashlight, fixed/clipped to his LBE?

[Rainbow Six]

How about toilet paper? Or wet wipes?

Dog tags? Class ring (if USMA graduate)? Or is that going into too much detail?

Polish phrasebook in his pocket? (or maybe some laminated cards with key phrases in Polish)?

I think you are on the right track separating hm from most of his gear. If he's only intending to be away for a few moments he's only going to have the things that absolutely must be on his person at all times (or were on his person immediately before he went into the woods).

[CDAT]

When I joined the Army as a Tanker we were still issued M1911A1's, and for the rest of my time in the Army I saw very few non-Infantry officers with a rifle. One of the things not sure of your idea but we were taught in the field to NEVER go any place alone, and that included the rest room, if it is out of sight take a battle buddy. As he is not doing that I could see him leaving a lot of stuff (body armor, gas mask and the like) in his vehicle as he is only going to be gone for a second or two. I could see him get out of his vehicle grab his pistol belt/LBE, field sanitation kit (baggie with soap or wet wipes), and a shovel. If he is a (for lack of a better word) good officer he would have all his combat gear on and his battle buddy with him.

All the mortar platoons that I saw in my time were tracked or light foot mounted (Infantry) if not foot than he would spend most of his time in the track, and you find places to put stuff.

Hitting the woods to take a dump "What would he bring with him?"
Uniform - Yes
Kevlar Vest - possible, but not likely
Kevlar Helmet - yes
LBE - yes, but likely would just be a pistol belt
M1911 .45 - Yes
6 clips - probably would be two spares (that was our standard issue 21 rds.)
Holster w/pouches - yes
Canteen - yes
Bayonet - not likely, as if did not have a rifle does not probably have one.
E-Tool - possible, but if so with out case as is using it as a shovel, more likely a full shovel from BII.

In his pockets, the following

Compass - probably on belt
Bar of soap (in a baggie) - or wet wipes
Atropine injector - In mask case, and could see him leaving it.
Sealed Tetracycline (He did some scrounging) - as not issued ???
Water Purification tabs - probably on pistol belt (in pocket for them on canteen)
2 Packs of cigarettes - only if he is a smoker and then from what I have seen they mostly carry one at a time. But I am not a smoker, so if you are you probably know better than I.
Lighter - yes
1 20$ Gold Eagle - is this supposed to be before the end or after?
2 1$ Silver Dollars - see above?
Personal First Aid Kit - field dressing on belt, more in vehicle.

The gold and silver, plus scrounged items it looks to me like this is an attempted to give him some nice to have stuff, as my guess is that the antibiotics would be in his ruck, and why gold and silver as it is not something you pick up in a combat zone, unless you are a pilot or special forces with there emergency “buy you way back to US” money the government gives you. Just my thought do with as you want.