The Commander Series Forum

Posted a few pics of some Challies and Chieftains for Septembers game.

More pictures on my blog http://littleleadarmsrace.blogspot.co.uk/
Cheers
Steve

Meaty

Wheres the smoke on them ?

IanS

No smoke, the engines packed up yesterday so they've stopped by now

where's the tankies having a brew??

Those look nice!

How are you organizing your Brits? I've got a big box of painted Brits I need to sort and base into meaningful unit! Trying to have a clear out and see what can be used and what got rid of!

A

Brits easy -

Tanks - HQ + 2 ic, Recce plt - 4 Scimitar 3 or 4 Sqdn of 3-4 troops.

Mech inf - Hq as above, 3 Rifle coy of 3 platoon, in 432 or Warrior,
1 Mtr plt 3 FV432M, ATGW Plt 2 Spartan MTC, 1 Pioneer plt
in APC,
Lt inf - as mech inf btn but no APC, Mtrs and Recce use landrovers, as do Milan, may only have 1

IanS

ps - for 85/6 the tanks DO NOT HAVE TI.

They could have done- see thread here, about halfway down -

"Out of iterest on this subject in 1984 the decsion to equip Chieftain with a form of TOGS had not been fully proven, the fianl trial in connection with this was Ex dragons Eye carried out by 4th Troop C Squadron 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards working in conjunction with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and various attached arms. A lash up TOGS system was fitted to the tanks including a VHS player in the turret, (what fun we had) a hot glue gun was a vital piece of kit for this trial as most of the cabeling was glued to the outside of the turret. Commercial VHS video eyepieces were used in place of monitors, and the compressed air was provided by the use of a single removable bottle.

Amazingly the system worked a treat and proved that TOGS was a viable option, we then had to wait till 88/89 to get our TOGS Chieftains. "

Okay, so it would literally be lashed to the turret with cable ties and hot glue, but hey

I think at least one regiment of the Chally 1 had TOGS on delivery by 85, so that's a very likely possibility? More informed comment on the above thread, from deeply passionate (obsessional?!) tankies

Hi Andy,
the organisation I use for my Brits is based on the one given in the "Encyclopaedia of the Modern British Army, 3rd edition" by Terry Gander. Published in 1986 it sits quite well with other orbats I've seen for the British Army in 1985. When working out the number of units, I use 1 model equals 4 or 5 vehicles or guns/ATGWs, which seems to work ok.

Type57 Armoured Regiment( Chieftain or Challenger)
2xHQ (for added flexibility)
2x Scorpion(Recce Troop)
12 MBTs( 4 Armoured Squadrons)*
2 FV438( Guided Weapons Troop)
1 Chieftain ARV(LAD Section)
*Drop 1 squadron for Type 43 Regiments

Mechanised Infantry Battalion.
1or2x HQ
2x Scimitar(Recce Platoon)
9x Infantry in FV432 with Carl Gustav(3 Platoons)
2x 81mm Mortars in FV432(Mortar Platoon)
4x Milan ATGW in 2 or 4 FV432( Anti tank platoon)
1x Milan ATGW in Spartan(Mobile section).
For both formations you can add air defence and engineers as you see fit, depending on points or what you have available figure wise. This is also a good site;http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/modcwbri...
We've found these units play well in the games we've played.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve

I've given each squadron four platoons in the Type 57 and my LADs are in Samsons. My mech infantry have 6 Milan stands in 3 FV432s in their AT platoon and I've given each company a SFMG stand in FV432. I also have a Blowpipe stand in Spartan per company. Otherwise the same as yours. I am also experimenting with HQs at squadron/company level and creating ad hoc battlegroups from the basic units, which seems to be SOP at least for the Brits.

I too used the Fire and Fury orbats, and the OMG rule book and supplements by Bruce Rea-Taylor and successors.

Hi Andy C,
found this site useful as well, lots of British info on here;
http://coldwargamer.blogspot.co.uk/
Cheers
Steve

Thanks for that info. Gives me a good starting point. I may dig them out tomorrow as I'm off work. Assuming I don't get given a list of chores!

The LAD for 85 was 1 Cent or more likely Cheify ARV, and a 436. Think they were normally concentrated at RHQ.

Hear that the Eport contingent got a few reinforcements.

IanS

Just realised I somehow failed to include the link on my quote above -

http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?s...

Shows three squadrons (one full Type 57 Regt.) of Chally 1 in service with TOGS in '85, two Regts. without - so a one in three chance of your Regt. having it

Hi Ian

Yes, several bargains to be had at Phalanx Bring n Buy. A box file with at least a regiment, poss two of Chiefies, and two of Chally 2's (too recent for 1985). Also enough mechanised transport, infantry and recce for a ludicrous number of battalions. Most too modern for our game in September.

Also picked up and even bigger bundle of US armour and infantry (M60s, M1s, M2s, M3s, M113s, plus all the supports you could dream of. I suspect easily enough to equip a division, plus lend some additional assets to my US marines.

I suspect Mikes purchase was even better value as he picked up a box file full of helos and another of nicely painted aircraft. Even Dennis picked up a box file full of Soviets.

Well worth the scrum and Mike's eagle eyes.

Cheers, Andy

Thanks for the link Steve - I was looking at how he resizes units for his modern version of Rapid Fire as I'm looking at different ways of using my modern 15s and 20s. His orbats are useful and his post on ad hoc formations is what I was going to base some of my battlegroups on. I'm also following his Bush Wars posts with interest.

Cheers, Andy

Seen Mikes stuff, Denis got at least a Tank Division as well.

IanS

We are going to need enough tables to fill the whole hall by the sound of it, oh and we all need to take 3 weeks off work to play.

Cheers

Richard P

only thing wrong with your challies at least half should be on blocks with engines out and track and wheels gone.
this is what UK had to do to keep the tanks supplied in gulf 1. so at the start of '85 when they had just entered service there wasn't enough spares to keep the whole fleet mobile. maybe get a few Chiefie recovery to help tow trhem into position.
good news about Phalanx.
look forward to brewing them up for you in September maybe make half burnt out.

regards
Sean

Err, sorry to be the one to point this out - but aren't the miniatures pictured Challenger 2s?

The Challenger 1 turret is completely different.

Damn, you found me out! Yes they are Challenger 2s but they will stand in as 1s for the game.