My 10mm US Army Battlegroup
Introduction
The primary combat maneuver element for the US Army in Vietnam was the Rifle Company. Whilst large-scale multi-battalion search and destroy missions took place, the majority of operations were carried out at Company level. Therefore, my battlegroups are based around the the organisation of a Rifle Company and its attendent supporting elements. The organisation of a basic Company can be seen on the right. Note that whilst the official TO&E includes three mortars in the weapons platoon, it was rare for more than a single tube to be carried in the field. The official TO&E also includes Recoiless Rifles at the company level but these were rarely, if ever, carried and were left in position at base-camps.
Goooooooood morning, Vietnam! Hey, this is not a test! This is rock and roll! Time to rock it from the Delta to the D.M.Z.!
- Adrian Cronauer, Armed Forces Radio Service
Charlie Company (1000pts)
| Command | ||
| 1 x Company HQ | ||
| 1 x Forward Artillery Officer | ||
| Rifle Platoon (x3) | ||
| 1 x HQ | ||
| 3 x Rifle | ||
| 1 x Support, MG | ||
| Weapons Platoon | ||
| 1 x Support, 81mm Mortar | ||
| Artillery Support (off-table) | ||
| 6 x 105mm | ||
Notes
Charlie Company represents a standard Rifle Company operating within the artillery fan of a supporting battery of 105s. The FAO attached to Company HQ is responsible for directing the supporting fires of the artillery.
Three rifle platoons with their supporting machine-guns are the maneuver elements of the Company and the weapons platoon, commanded by the Company HQ, provides additional fire support.
Total Stands = 24 (18 on-table)
Expansion of the Battlegroup
Armoured Cavalry Platoon 770pts
The Armoured Cavalry Platoon represents the armoured punch of the Divisional Armoured Cavalry. On operations an Infantry unit would often accompany, or be accompanied by, a Cavalry Platoon (there were three such platoons plus headquarters vehicles in a Troop which is the armoured name for the equivalent of a Company. Three such Troops were organised as a Squadron, or the equivalent of a Battalion).
As the war progressed the M551 Sheridan became the standard tank in divisional armoured cavalry. Note also, that in 11th ACR, the Armored Cavalry Troop does not have a tank section. Instead, the Troop consists of nine vehicles; an HQ Track, three Scout Sections each of two vehicles, an Infantry track and a support track. In this instance you will have to field two extra ACAVs and drop the M48s. However, after 1969 one Scout Section in the 11th ACR Armored Cavalry platoon was replaced by a section of three M551 Sheridans.
In Cold War Commander terms this unit has some awesome fire-power. It can bring to bear just short of 50 attack dice out to a range of 50cms. This is only a couple of attack dice less than a full infantry company!