1st Inter-Allied Commando

[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.

[Medic]

Originally Posted by Raellus

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...

[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...ny%20Emery.pdf

Floor plans and history

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by 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!?

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Originally Posted by Raellus

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.