The premier arms of decision have always been the Combat arms, The Infantry ,Tanks and artillery.
The Global War on Terror in general and OIF/OEF specifically have changed the US Army forever.
That Army like these rules has had to become a living thing changing and adapting as called for.
One of the Major changes is the people and Job types now directly involved in Combat . In recognition the Marines and Army have had to implement a new award , the Combat action ribbon and Combat action badge respectively. these reflect that exposure. The Army also borrowed from the Marines the Every Marine a rifleman ethos , except we renamed it the warrior ethos . It meant No matter what MOS you had you where expected to be able to fight and win.
I have a love of combat vehicles just about any Tank ,APC,IFV,ICV or artillery piece. I have been living with a long held secret that I feel i can no longer hide . I love the Trucks ,Tankers and recovery vehicles too.
and I have struggled long and hard wanting to come up with a way to include them other then as targets.
Then in dawned on me ! In the Old Days when we had primitive equipment and had to use paper maps they where called LOG Packs.....IN today's parlance they are often referred to as Combat Logistics Patrols.
There are no behind the lines safe areas any more and that's not likely to change even with Full spectrum warfare. And the New Brigade Support Battalions are expected to control the Battle space assigned to them like any other Battalion. The BSB is modular it has a normal HHC and a Distribution co and a medical Co. The modularity is in its Forward support Companies.
They share in common the 3 companies above but the FSC for a HBCT would be drastically different from a IBCT or SBCT in equipment and Job types. A BSB is normally static of a FOB and only its components move about the Battle space. The FSC will usually co locate with the Battalions it is supporting. so it also the target tasked with providing Force protection and QRFs for the base its On. Out of necessity the BSBs have formed Provisional security Companies and Platoons to provide Escort for convoys it must dispatch out to the units it supports. I have tried to Keep my Platoons lists under 15 Vehicles as that is about right realistically...So Using a stryker BSB as an example I have come up with the following test list.
Combat Logistics patrol commander
Plt Ldr ,RTO,NCO and JFTC (Joint fires and tactical controller) may be one individual or a FO and AF JTAC.
Transport MRAP
ESCORT x 4 minimum
this is where it get majorly cool you get to use any stryker variant not normally seen in a normal Platoon list.
M1129 Mortar carrier ,M1131 Fire support Vehicle, M1132 engineer squad vehicle,M1134 tow Missile carrier,M1135 NBC recon all with slat armour IED ECM and GPKs the MGs are the primary weapons of these guys while conducting a CLP. you can also use about anything else you can think of as an escort like Hemmts with Hill billy armour as Gun Trucks..
your convoy will need 5 MTV Rs or LMTV/FMTV hemmets a tanker and a recovery vehicle (you will have to convert a LMTV or use the 900 series 5 ton) you will also have a platoon of infantry organised as normal carried in everything you roll out the gate with ...(your cooks clerks and medics). This list will give you fighting force with at least combat parity as any bad guys you run into...Keep in mind that some scenarios will class these troops as D6 regulars (I don't agree but we are free to rate them what we desire )...Now keep them doggies rolling and stay safe .....Mikey

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"All Men for the rights of Every man, every man for the rights of all Men"

I was just reading the chapter in Thunder Run last night about the support run to OP Curley. Amazing stuff. Glad to see some work on what sort of vehicles to build these things from. The details on many of these things are a bit vague in the book. I could also see something about driving and firing personal weapons at the same time, as the chapter points out. If you can only give them a D6, perhaps give one less die for the shot.

Tom Oxley

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Tom Oxley
OD Green Old Fart
FoF: RtB, EF, AV, CWGH, DotR, BW, DMA, Fal, C-SOM, SOG

Most reggular troops are D8 but many feel that since these kids are not Infantry or combat arms that they should be rated D6 . I have always disagreed because all soldiers go to basic which in itself is not a justification for a higher rating but after 10 years of warfare with almost everyone that leavs the wire comming under fire sooner or later that these folks should be a D8...But hey a D6 vs D6 fight would be fun and very bloody....In early OIF the escort could be any thing from hillbilly armoured HUmvs and hemets to the M117 ASV mid to late just replace the Humwvs with Mraps.....Just keep about 5 trucks a Tanker and a recovery vehicle and you are good to go....about the firing from vehicles The mechanics and rules cover that part rather nicely ..But the cool thing they are our rules and we can do what we want ....Mikey

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"All Men for the rights of Every man, every man for the rights of all Men"

Logistics isnt just for the US either.

US, UK, CAN, AUS, NZ and other western European nations
I think to state D6 would be only for the most poorly run unit on the US or other Western Armies side. US training is considerably better across the force, the troops know their weapons and many of the NCOs even if they are logistics have a very good understanding of how their weapons and other support systems work as good or better as most Combat Arms troops, (everything from vehicles, communications systems, etc...). Reserve units, National Guard, and Active Duty alike all have to go through a series of specialized training and must pass that training to standard to be signed off to go to theater. In game terms it means they are a solid D8 or better quality in most cases and only D6 in the rarest of circumstances.

Israel
See above.

South Korea and Japan
See Above

South Africa
See Above

Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Jordan, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, (North Africa and the Middle East etc...
Middle Eastern armies tend to have lower educated military forces. A good chunk of the Iraqis are illiterate and higher math is like black magic for example. Many of the Saudis and Kuwaitis pay other people to do their mundane logistics jobs for them. The officer corps are the educated, and often horde information to make sure they are indispensable. Thus the rank and file, even the smart ones, often do not have anywhere near the same familiarity with their weapons, and other support systems and are unable to act with initiative for fear of irritating the "boss".

Additionally most logistics isn't sexy and is not considered for any real training outside of pushing paper or turning the occasional wrench. Many logi in the middle east have no idea how to fire their weapons as doing so would cost money the countries dont want to spend.

There are pockets of excellence within all middle eastern armies, a few quality exceptions in units from Jordan and Egypt and even Iraq's SOF could even potentially qualify as D8. Overall Most Middle Eastern Forces especially their logistics forces should be D6 solidly and cannot be better.

Russia, Ukraine, (former Warsaw Pact states)
Many of these nations have a robust frame work and decent training and support logistics systems. While they can provide good working bodies to make the resupply and services necessary for logistics, many of the soldiers are often conscripts and are just doing their time. Supplies and training for combat are limited, but there. These troops can range from D6 to D8 reasonably and should be reasonably educated and trained.

China, North Korea/DPRK
China is definitely in a state of massive modernization and change, while North Korea's is experiencing a different reorganization reportedly because of regime change. Both run large armies. The logistics of both armies are could be considered disciplined, and while many things are still 1960s tech they are improving quickly and on a grand scale everything from weapons, vehicles, communications, and other support systems.

Most DPRK military are better fed and supported than the majority of the starving population and are going to stay highly motivated in their duties to retain their positions.
Chinese Military is experiencing its own renaissance in updating its tactics and response to the idea of a maneuver force. Forces from these nations could be considered D6 and in some well supported units D8 easily.

Sub Saharan Africa -Not including South Africa
Minimal training, poor eduction and support in many cases, and rarely is their spare ammunition for training. D6 not more.

Thoughts? ideas on other countries?

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The only thing required for Evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing.
http://www.covertintervention.com
We are the people your parents warned you about.

For well trained armies a D8 or D8-1could be an option for higher quality units such as USMarines, otherwise a D6.