Jim Seggie said:
3VP attempted to place Cbt Sp types in all Rifle coys in Croatia, and would gather them periodically for training. Not ideal, in fact IMO it could have been disasterous. When 2VP took over, 1 VP sent its AAP and Mor Pl over, as we had none...we were told they weren't needed.
Disclaimer: Everything I mention here is for 3VP. It does not reflect 1VP, 2VP, or any other Bn as I have no idea how they are organised. We are not LAV'd up.
Well, as of right now, in the 3rd, we *puts on OpSec glasses* Cbt Sup (hereafter referred to as CS) used to have under it:
CS CQ
-Sigs Pl
-Recce Pl (which included the snipers)
-DFS Pl
This was the model before I was posted away in early 08. Upon returning, it's a tad different but still the same at the roots.
Can .50s goto the Coys?
Sure they can in theory. Working in RQ right now, I know I have X .50s. We'll take 20-40% of that X down for repairs and we are left with a few. I suppose, due to being a larger weapon that needs transport somehow you can give 1 per coy for the HQ element and give the CSM a bigger punch for his Sup Element. Awesome, good thinking. We still need transport for it (and no, we aren't all hard anymore where we can manpack the .50 like the old stories of the CAR). With current gear and not thinking with our heads in dreamland, we have LSVWs and LUVWs. The .50 could be pulled be either or on a trailer. Could the OC/CSM's LUVW pull a trailer with the .50Cal on it? Sure. It's reasonable. The .50 Cal comes in a nice and neat plastic box while adding a tripod and toolbox. So we come into the problem of manning it. Coy HQ contains the Coy's sigs and tpt elements. I don't know if they Coy TO&E has room to dedicate 2 pers to be dedicated .50 gunners. The gunner cmdr would be the CSM or maybe you could add a 2IC of wpns as a MCpl for when the CSM is worrying about the Coy?
Could you goto the M3?
Sure, whynot? But be ready to pack much much more ammo so the M2 is more viable in that regard since you need to truck much less ammo around with you.
Having a .50 with the Coy wpns det could be a good thing (thinking aloud here) since it would be in the rear with the HQ element and has the range to tough that which the front Pl's are engaging (in the defensive). You could place it definitely in defilade but prioving enfilade fire may be a problem since I am envisioning it in the middle-rear of a defensive position. On an offensive, it would be a large, obese Bertha to maneuver around.
Maneuverability on the Offensive
The .50 on the offensive, I'd forsee a 4-man det for the weapon (barrels, body, tripod, ammo) but is that too much for 1 weapon system? On another note, this is what makes the 60mm mortar in the light role very effective since it's 1 man for the weapon and 1-25 men for the ammo. Throw it with the heavier baseplate and you just add one man to carry the plate and sight. I am very interested to see how the CASW/AGLS is employed on the offensive w/o vehicle transport.
Other thoughts
Is the TLAV used outside of Afghanistan right now. I'm told by those that were directly supported by them, that they rocked overthere and blew through the furrows.
My 2 rubles