Fiddle's Green

[Panther Al]

Probably the Worlds Best Ice Cream. Hands down. Without a doubt. Pricey, but worth every penny.

[Targan]

Ah, thanks. Good to know!

[Panther Al]

In honor of my 500th post, and that wee little game in Auckland not all that long ago:

[ArmySGT.]

These are the only motorcycles I can really get excited about.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by panther al

in honor of my 500th post, and that wee little game in auckland not all that long ago:

Excellent!

[Panther Al]

Of course, you do have to accept that the Blacks are going to do it again in the UK right?

After all, it wouldn't by rugby if we didn't have the French whining about something!

















(Granted, while the better team did win in the end, we was rather outplayed the whole game)

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

Of course, you do have to accept that the Blacks are going to do it again in the UK right?

Of course!

Originally Posted by Panther Al

(Granted, while the better team did win in the end, we was rather outplayed the whole game)

Blasphemer! The All Blacks were just lulling the French into a false sense of security.

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

Of course, you do have to accept that the Blacks are going to do it again in the UK right?

After all, it wouldn't by rugby if we didn't have the French whining about something!

(Granted, while the better team did win in the end, we was rather outplayed the whole game)

Heck, if they had racked up points then you would really hear the whine.. don't you know this is the age of let everyone win or make them feel good in loosing.. they fail to realize they are not number two, rather hold first place... first looser.

And the whine... there's plenty of stinky cheese that goes good with a whine. Go Blacks~~ FB

[dragoon500ly]

This thread has been way too quite for way too long!

The Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was part of every armored division in the WWII Army, its organization is intresting...

Squadron HQ Troop
HQ Section: 2 jeeps, 2 halftracks
Communications Section: 4 2.5-ton trucks, 3 M8 armd cars, 1 halftrack
Squadron Admin and Personnel Section:1 jeep, 1 2.5-ton truck w/trailer
HQ Service Troop
HQ Platoon
HQ Section:1 jeep
AM&S Section: 1 2.5-ton truck w/trailer
Maintenance Section:1 halftrack w/trailer
Transportation Section:1 jeep, 6 2.5-ton trucks w/6 trailers
Maintenance Platoon:1 jeep, 1 M8 armd car, 1 M32 ARV, 1 halftrack, 1
6-ton wrecker, 2 2.5-ton trucks w/trailers
Supply Section:3 2.5-ton trucks w/trailers
3 Recon Troops, each with
HQ Section: 3 jeeps, 2 M8 armd cars
AM&S Section: 3 halftracks w/trailers, 1 2.5-ton truck w/trailer
Maintenance Section: 1 jeep, 1 M8 armd car, 1 halftrack w/trailer
3 Recon Platoons, each with
Armored Car Section:3 M8 armd cars
Scout Section: 6 jeeps
Light Tank Company
Company Headquarters
HQ Section: 1 jeep, 2 M5 Stuart light tanks
AM&S Section: 1 2.5-ton truck w/trailer
Maintenance Section: 1 jeep, 1 halftrack, 1 ARV
3 Light Tank Platoons, each with:5 M5 Stuart light tanks
Assault Gun Troop
HQ Section: 1 jeep, 1 halftrack
AM&S Section:1 2.5-ton truck w/trailer
Maintenance Section: 1 jeep, 1 halftrack, 1 ARV
4 Assault Gun Platoons, each with
HQ Section: 1 halftrack, 1 halftrack w/trailer
Gun Section: 2 M-8 HMC w/trailers
Ammo Section: 1 halftrack w/trailer

Hmmmmmm, 1944-1989....pretty much the same config!

[dragoon500ly]

Punishment was severe even for minor offenses and many officers believed that every violation committed deserved some infliction of bodily pain. It was also believed by hardcore, veteran officers that such brutality would instill fear into the men, and by this fear, they would be more controllable. However, this was not always the case. As the pattern of harsh punishments continued, a higher rate of desertions followed. Gambling, insubordination, absence from garrison without a pass, being unruly after taps, drunkenness, theft and tardiness at roll call were all considered to be serious violations of military discipline.

If a soldier was caught stealing government selling or destroying government property, he was certain to be “bucked and gagged.” The man would be seated on the ground, fleet flat and knees up. His wrists were bound in front, somewhat hugging his knees. A short pole was then thrust across the bend of his arms and beneath the knees, rendering him helpless. Finally he was gagged with a piece of soap or scrap wood and then left for a period of from four to six hours.

A soldier might be condemned to be “on the chimes.” This required the man to balance on the edge of a wooden barrel for half a day. One false move and the soldier might find himself sprawling on the ground with damage to leg or knee, or heaped within the barrel, wedged like a sardine. Close by, a guard would be posted to insure that the condemned soldier would fully serve out his sentence.

Wearing a “wooden overcoat” was another method of punishment. The bottom of a barrel was knocked out and hole was cut into the top, just large enough to slip over a man’s head. The victim would then be paraded around post in this manner for the duration of the day.

Another common method of punishment in the infantry was “knapsack drill,” in which the soldier carried heavy stones in his backpack, marching to the beat of a guard for several hours. In the cavalry, the helpless trooper would be forces to carry his saddle, with full field equipment, strapped to his back. In the artillery, the gunner would endure “isolation on a platform,” where he would be ties spread-eagled to a wagon wheel for twenty-four hours.

Carrying a twenty-five or thirty-pound log on one’s shoulder and “walking the ring” for the day was a common punishment for minor offenses. All of these punishments would carried out on the parade ground, regardless of heavy rains, scorching sun or subfreezing weather.

For leaving post without proper authorization, failure to salute an officer, being seated while on duty, or reporting without proper equipment, a man might be committed to “double guard”. Instead of the customary two hours on guard and four hours off, it was reversed to four hour on guard and two hours off.

Policing the camp, cleaning about the picket lines where the horses were tied, or digging new latrines were punishments assessed for the least offenses. If a soldier could keep off the black-list in his company, he would often be exempt from these less agreeable jobs due to a lengthy list of sentenced offenders.

Company punishment for being drunk and disorderly generally meant being bucked and gagged, but this only gave the solider a bad taste and sore arms and legs. Further punishment involved digging a hole ten feet square and ten feet deep would restore the drunk to sobriety by the time the hole had been dug and then filled back in. If a soldier was found with a bottle in his possession, he would dug such a hole, and then bury the bottle in it. If the soldier had managed to truly enrage his first sergeant, he would often be sentenced to digging and filling such a hole, with a spoon.

If a soldier was punish for stealing, he was often punished by having one-half of his hair, mustache and beard being shaved off, being stripped to the waist and had to wear a large board tied to his back marked in large letters, “I AM A THIEF,” he would be paraded around the garrison for the day without any food or drink. At the end of the day, he would report to his company commander for a harsh lecture and then would be sent back to his quarters to face his comrades, who had been waiting for his return to welcome him back with a sound thrashing.

Once a soldier was caught and branded a thief, the shame was endured by the whole company. In many cases, the accused would desert within a few months, mainly because of the humiliation heaped on him by his officers or by the severity of the punishment for a small offense. Many veterans who had witnessed severe punishments handed out for incidental offenses urged for the formation of a “Company Q,” where a offender might serve and after a period of time of good behavior, reinstate himself. Many punishments were often handled out in violation of existing orders, but in only a few cases were any steps taken to cause their discontinuance.

Flogging was abolished in 1861 by the Army, although some officers continued to use this method of punishment for some time, the last known occurrence being in 1867.

Discharging a soldier for desertion was not a punishment at all. To the individual, it meant a little humiliation and embarrassment, being drummed out of camp before his comrades, but with his dishonorable discharge, he was finally free and rid of the Army for good. Forfeiture of all pay and allowances, except for the just dues of the company’s laundress and the sutler, were the only things that seemed to concern him. Having his head shaved and his left hip branded with a two-inch letter “D” (later replaced by an indelible ink stamping that took many washings to erase), only hurt his pride.
Punishments given out by courts did not seem to have the slightly effect in preventing desertions. The number of desertions were so high that it was almost impossible to make the soldiers look upon desertion as a serious crime.

[dragoon500ly]

The Soviet Union deploys a Regimental Reconnaissance Company with every tank and motor rifle regiment, its make up is as follows:

Total Strength is 4-5 officers and 43-57 enlisted.
Equipment: 3 BMP-2/PT-76/or MBT, 9 BRDM-2s, 3-5 motorcycles, 1 GS-12 radar. Each BRDM has 1 LMG and 1 RPG-7 for dismounted use.

The Division Reconnaissance Battalion is organic to the tank and motor rifle divisions, is made of as follows:

Headquarters and Support Company: 9 officers, 40 enlisted men; 2 BRDM-2, 16 trucks, 1 motorcycle.

Tank Company: 4 officers, 31 enlisted men; one HQ IFV/tank, and two platoons of three BMP-2/PT-76/MBT

Reconnaissance Company: 5 officers, 63 enlisted men; with
HQ Section with 1 BRDM-2
2 or 3 Scout Car platoons, 6 BRDM-2 each
NBC Recon Platoon with 4 BRDM-rkh
Motorcycle platoon with 32 motorcycles

Long Range Reconnaissance Company: 6 officers, 27 enlisted men,

Radio Interception Company

The Long Range Reconnaissance Company typically operates from 50-350km in advance of the main body. They may be carried forward by BRDMs of the Reconnaissance Company or inserted via helicopter/parachute. Thye may operate in company strength or be dispersed into 5-man patrols. They are equipped with standard infantry firearms (fitted with noise suppressors), as well additional camouflage equipment and pioneer tools for constructing patrol hiding places.

Because the patrols are lightly armed, they seek to avoid direct contact with the enemy by dispersing and regrouping of by concealment. They are also equipped with long-range radios equipped for burst transmisson to avoid enemy ELINT.

The LRRPs are used to locate enemy nuclear weapons and delivery systems and then call-in air/artillery strikes. They may also conduct raids on headquarters or communications facilities or stage ambushes to capture prisoners/equipment. They may also kink up with airborne desants, in-place KGB agents or GRU intelligence troops to increase their striking power and report back information. But their primary mission is reconnaissance.

LRRPs are elite troops, their personnel receive better and more indepth training and conditioning than the average soldier.

The remaining units of the Division Recon Battalion operate roughly a day's march (35-50km) in front of the division, usually in small patrols of 2-4 scout cars and motorcycles, often reinforced by 1-2 BMPs/tanks. Patrols operate throughout the divisional sector, along the main axis of advance, on parallel routes and along the flanks.

Patrols will often move in pairs of vehicles, with one pair remaining in overwatch while the other pair moves forward and reporting back on enemy forces, terrain, road conditions and NBC contamination. Engineer squads are often attached to the patrol to recon and clear any obstacles discovered along the patrol's route. The battalion is often reinforced with a motor rifle company (and an attached platoon of tanks) from the advance guard battalion.

The Regimental Recon Company operates in a similar manner, roughly a half-day's march ahead of the regiment's main body.

On the defense, the recon patrols stay forward of the main defense line to report on the enemy axis of advance, but make no effort to engage. Screening and security duties are performed by detached motor rifle/tank companies

Unlike NATO, Soviet recon units are intended purely for scouting. THey do not have a screening/security mission. NATO units are strong, combined-arms force, able to fight their way forward for information, in strong contrast to the Soviet approach. This is reflected by Soviet recon vehicles, light, mobile and designed to cover long distances, quickly, and to depend on their speed and concealment for thier protection.

When a Soviet recon patrol discovers the enemy, it will return fire and then attempt to break contact, aided by the fire of any overwatching vehicles. It noramlly retires to the nearest cover and then report the encounter by visual signal, radio or by courier. The patrol will then attempt to infiltrate around the enemy forces and resume its mission. It only engges the enemy if they also appear to be a recon patrol of the if Soviets have the advantage.