Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Pendraken Rules! => Blitzkrieg Commander IV => BKC-III => Topic started by: hobbittomm on 27 January 2019, 10:37:27 AM

Title: Commandos?
Post by: hobbittomm on 27 January 2019, 10:37:27 AM
Picked up BKC 2 (whilst waiting for 4), with a view to integrating foot raids/land and sea stuff with the 6mm Cruel Seas from Warlord. RM Commandos seem the obvious force for this, but no sign of them in the army list. Does one just use the Airborne army list for analagous experienced light infantry? Is there an official answer?
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Techno on 27 January 2019, 10:50:15 AM
Personally..... can't answer that 'Tom'.....Sorry. :(

But as that was your first post....A very warm welcome to the forum.  :-h

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 27 January 2019, 12:05:32 PM
Hi. WWII commandos are decidedly odd in organisation, so you will have to do some research here.  Off the top of my head there were 6 troops - ie compnaies, with 3 Sections - ie platoons with 3 Rifle groups and a weapons group. I've got more detail elsewhere, but beware taht in 40, 41, 42 and 43 the units tended to be task organised, so no two raids were the same.

IanS
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: hobbittomm on 27 January 2019, 12:16:21 PM
Ta, Ian. And thanks for the welcomes!

It was more what stats should they equate to? (Granted for some land/sea it'll be easy enough, as it'll be Paratroopers anyway- eg Bruneval raid)

Most of the integration of the 2 systems looks easy enough based on weapon type (eg, a 20mm firing from a ship onto the land portion will attack like a 20mm AA under BKC rules, an 88mm firing from land onto sea will attack like a ship based 88 under CS rules)
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Shedman on 27 January 2019, 12:29:08 PM
Have a look at the stats for other nations' foot sloggers

There are various traits you can use

Elite - no command penalty for close assault
Stubborn - one less suppression dice
Independent - no penalty for command distance

There are some other interesting ones in Cold War Commander & Future War Commander

Guerrilla - can go into Reserve as a command
Cyborg (i think)- no command penalty for having used opportunity fore / initiative

It all depends on how Uber you want you troops to be

Alan

ps  welcome to the forum


Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: hobbittomm on 27 January 2019, 12:43:16 PM
I'm pretty sure Cyborg Commandos are a post ww2 thing ;)
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: fsn on 27 January 2019, 01:52:04 PM
Army Commando, Normandy


Troop hq: (5)
Capt, Lt, SgtMaj, Medic, Radio (5) PIAT

1Section: (28)
Lt (1)

No 1 Assault Sub Section (11)
Rifle Group: Sgt (smg), Corporal (smg), 5 riflemen (7)
Bren Group: Cpl (rifle), Bren, 2 riflemen (4)

No 2 Assault Sub Section (11)

Support sub section (5)
Mortar: Cpl (smg) Lcpl (rifle)  mortarmen (2" mortar) (4)
Sniper: (1)

2Section (28)



From D-Day to VE day (Jean Bouchery)
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: fsn on 27 January 2019, 02:15:42 PM
Heavy Weapons Troop  From 1942
MG Section              2 x Vickers MMG
Mortar Section         2 x 3" mortar

4 crew per weapon, plus Lt, Sgt and Signaller HQ


British Commando 1940-45. Angus Konstam

Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Dr Dave on 27 January 2019, 03:08:31 PM
The Commando brigades generally operated as normal infantry from D-Day on. Their great advantage is that their orbat allowed a troop to fit nicely into two LCAs. It also means that they have no AT kit beyond a PIAT!
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: hobbittomm on 27 January 2019, 06:59:40 PM
Thanks Dave. Would you stat them as standard line infantry from the British/Commonwealth armylist, or as the somewhat tougher Paratroopers from the Airborne list?
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: fsn on 27 January 2019, 07:05:17 PM
Don't know the rule set, but I would rate Commandos as elite.

Paratroops would be a reasonable analogue. 
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Dr Dave on 27 January 2019, 08:03:04 PM
Elite, hard as nails. Tough tough tough bordering on hyper-veterans. Normal Jerry should be hopelessly outclassed by them. Plus they're quite good.
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: sultanbev on 28 January 2019, 12:29:04 AM
Not just tough as nails. but more importantly, able to use initiative to carry on the mission when things go wrong ie CV10
In BKC terms the organisation of a Commando for NW Europe 1944-45 is:
HQ Stand CV10 (Infantry)
5 Troops@ 1 infantry stand (with Brens and PIATs, demo charges and 2" mortars)
1 Troop: 1x 3" mortar stand, 1x Vickers MMG stand
1 attached Naval FC Team

In reality the 2x 3" mortars and 2x Vickers in real life aren't enough for a BKC stand, but hey-ho. Note BKC didn't have separate stats for 2" mortars and the like, they were considered incorporated into the existing firing D6s.

Mark

Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Dr Dave on 28 January 2019, 08:17:00 PM
...did we mention how tough they are?

Maj Dudley Coventry killed a Jerry with a single punch!
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Ben Waterhouse on 28 January 2019, 09:11:01 PM
and top wargamers and inventing ECW reenactment...  8)
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: fsn on 28 January 2019, 09:31:55 PM
Indeed ... Brigadier Young!

I'd almost forgotten about him and Charge!
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Dr Dave on 29 January 2019, 07:56:49 AM
I remember the Brig - DSO, 3x MC. Are there some SKers here?

So besides being really really hard and tough they are also bonkers.
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: hobbittomm on 29 January 2019, 09:05:15 PM
Thanks for the practical thoughts, chaps!
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Dave Fielder on 30 January 2019, 11:31:55 PM
The Green Beret makes all Commando forces bullet proof. Thus the armour save is "humongous". Plus any Commando playing a bagpipe is classed as Terrifying.  :o
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Sunray on 31 January 2019, 10:05:35 AM
Quote from: Dave Fielder on 30 January 2019, 11:31:55 PM
The Green Beret makes all Commando forces bullet proof. Thus the armour save is "humongous". Plus any Commando playing a bagpipe is classed as Terrifying.  :o

On the table perhaps. In the killing ground the Commandos (Army and RM)  of WW2 and the post war Royals were and are sadly mortal.

It was their reckless gallantry/skill at arms/mindset - all too often posthumous -that established their elan and reputation. 

For our tomorrow they gave their today.
Title: Re: Commandos?
Post by: Dave Fielder on 16 February 2019, 01:40:18 PM
... they keep shooting but they haven'