Armor Unit organization?

[nashorn88]

Since all my tanks are mixed up.
Time to organize them into units.

So what’s should I just do standard CO and BATT?
Or into battle groups?
Any non combatants vehicles I used a 1 to 2 ratio that way I didn’t have to buy as many but still lots of them.

[redleg]

One of the things I enjoy so much about the hobby is organizing all my stuff into units. I picked 2003 as the baseline for my modern US gear and I try to stick to the actual MTO&E from that period, though I do have some M60s that I want to organize based on the 80s and 90s. My biggest unit is an ACR that is true (to the best of my ability) to the MTO&E, but I have given it a fictional designation. I do have dreams of building other units over the next 20-30 years based on units I served in and those will have the actual unit designations up to brigade level.

Some people are just into the gaming part, and if that’s the case I would say just organize them by vehicle type, but if you like the organizing part I think it’s cool to pick a real unit and start building, whether you give it a real unit designation or a fictional one.

[panzergator]

Sorry. I get a little pedantic.

[panzergator]

I have 1 US H series tank battalion with all vehicles and I H series mech infantry bn the same. I've done the same for two J series - one each. The remaining bns have all tracked vehicles plus other combat vehicles, such as the Redeye section jeeps. With 25 or so battalions, the cost of the secondary vehicles is prohibitive.

[redleg]

I would like to represent every vehicle in my units, but like PG I find all the support vehicles to be too expensive to do too many units like that. I tried to do my ACR with every vehicle in the ground squadrons, but the new units that i am building now will just be the combat vehicles, scouts, mortars, and some other key vehicles.

Here is one of my ACR squadrons - and it still isn't 100% to the correct MTO&E for all the support vehicles.

[chrisswim]

Redleg, excellent layout of your CAV.
Really enjoy your parade formation. Love the flags.

[Brigade Commander]

I build, as well as I can, to units. I started with a mech company then an armor company. After that I decided a lone company was just not right and went out and bought six combat commands (3 mech & 3 armor) to get the full battalions' line companies. Added a full engineer company then went back and built the full HHC for the mech and armor battalions. Finally said I am in too deep and just ordered the entire second armor battalion. Paid for that decision (sigh)! Realizing I did not have a single artillery piece (DO NOT TELL REDLEG!!) I built up the three DS batteries (24 tubes) and then the three GS batteries (12 tubes) plus an MLRS battery (9 launchers) so I could field them as all three 8" batteries or as the transition two 8" batteries and one MLRS battery. The HHB and service battery for both battalions are just really getting started but are not forgotten. Also building, as I find info, is the FSB. This has been in blocks over the last about twelve years. NOT overnight. Have taken some time off to build all of the ships that served from Coral Sea through the Battle of Rennell Island in WW-II. Need a hobby break from my hobby! Also, have some odds & ends like six M-93A1 for the 22nd Chemical company and some vulcan and HMMWV Stinger vehicles. One day, soon maybe(?), Chaparral. More appropriate for my time period than the HMMWV Stinger vehicle. The 143rd Signal battalion also has some vehicles present. May even do some of the 503rd MP company so I can have some armored cars on convoy escort duty. Last, but not least, is a ground troop and an air troop for the 11th ACR. Need someone out front.When I tell her I am busy she knows on what.

Painted in base green are 1146 vehicles with another 181 in either bare metal or primer. Spreadsheets are our friend! Nothing in camouflage yet. I have not been happy with any of the four previous attempts. Some day. When I have most of the units finished. So: 2-67 ARM (231), 4-67 ARM (231), 1-36 Mech (262), 2-82 FA (139), 1-40 FA (41), 23rd Eng (Cbt) (52), 54th FSB (66) mostly the tractor-trailers so far. 11th ACR Troop K (39) and Troop N (10).

After all of this I still cannot believe I have not even gotten to the end of one brigade. No wonder it takes so many ships to move one heavy division. Panzergator, you earned your pay just in the short period that you were a BMO! Keeping track at the division level must take a sizeable staff all its own. I cannot fathom it.

[redleg]

LOL Brigade Commander, you would have earned some demerits, but you made up for it by adding 57 artillery pieces to support your brigade! I love that you have each unit identified - great job! Sometimes figuring out where everything goes takes longer than the painting.

[redleg]

Thanks, Chris! I did a bunch of the troop guidons up front and it has motivated me to get the vehicles to rally around the flags! I just need to get some more helicopters now to finish 4th squadron!

[panzergator]

I'm right with you, Brigade Commander, although my unit designations are a decade earlier. I have my 6 tank and 5 mech battalions designated as they were in the 1970s - 32nd and 33 Armor battalions, 36th and 48th mech bns, along with the 3/12 CAV squadron, DIVARTY, engineers, ADA, Signal. I'm not sure I will go into the trans and supply, other support. I have 2/11 ACR, and, potentially, 3rd ACR. The separate brigade is 194th. I have to work out designations for the E series units in me early 50s bns. The battalions in the Armor group may get designations from 3rd ID, since, at least at present, they include a tank bn with 2 M60A1 companies and 1 M60A2 company, which is the way that division arranged their tanks.

Remember, you might have a divisional cavalry troop out front of your brigade, although, if I recall correctly, the divisional cavalry squadron was deployed to screen on the right between 3AD and 3ID for the GDP. Mike Robel can clarify that. He would be more familiar with the order of the '80s than I.

I haven't done the guidons or bn colors for them. My intent is to get these things on wood slabs by battalion that might be positioned side by side on a large table, with unit designations painted on each slab. At the moment, they are in battalion boxes.

[nashorn88]

Sounds like most are making historical actual US units.I can’t decide if I want to use historical formations or not.
What you guys think of FOW formations? Or the old panzer blitz ? I like the graphics but are units 1-1 or missing support units. I guess I rather not make cannon fodder units even though they look nice to have.

[Brigade Commander]

I will model every vehicle I know to have and can find or scratch build. I first learned about the importance of Logistics in junior high school from reading about the US Navy in the Pacific in WW-II and what it took for them to sustain the tempo they needed over the vast distances. Then I discovered what it took the ground forces to maintain their operations. North Africa. NW Europe. So many operations negatively affected by supply shortages. Just ask Gorgeous George! Truly "Amateurs talk Tactics and Professionals talk Logistics". Okay, technically I am an amateur!

Besides convoys of tractor-trailers, 2 1/2 & 5 ton trucks, HEMMT'S and resupply points are just too cool! I cannot pass them up. I want to one day look over all the company storage boxes and realize I put together an entire brigade. My forum name was selected to be my goal. I find it interesting to understand how everything works together to make a formidable whole.

[panzergator]

Brigade Commander,

My secondary MOS was logistics.

If you really want some interesting reading, try Rick Atkinson as trilogy of WWII (ETO) "Army at Dawn," "Day of Battle," and "The Guns at Last Light.". Further, his first book of his American Revolution trilogy, " The British Are Coming," is a real eyed opener, as well.

[Brigade Commander]

Brigade Commander,

My secondary MOS was logistics.

If you really want some interesting reading, try Rick Atkinson as trilogy of WWII (ETO) "Army at Dawn," "Day of Battle," and "The Guns at Last Light.". Further, his first book of his American Revolution trilogy, " The British Are Coming," is a real eyed opener, as well.

Impatiently awaited books two and three of his ETO series after being given his first volume. Well worthwhile series.

[Gripen]

All,

I am virgin forum member, but long time GHQ collector. Enjoy following the forum so thought it was time to join.

My interest is SADF 1980s and Swedish Military. So, with that being said my current project is to organize modern
armoured battalion of the Svenska Armen. Norbotten Armoured Battalion, so tank companies x 2 and mech companies x 2 , battery of Archer 155mm SPG's.

LEO's and CV90s in winter camo. Should be fun.