Canada (Imagi-Nation)

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 2:59 am

Enter "mission of the battalion mortar platoon" in your searchbar. This will result in a varied selection of articles on employment of mortars. It is very simple to find a few rudimentary facts about this essential combat support operation. No intellectual curiosity?

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 4:07 am

Yes that's how a New Canadian Artillery battery will look, as seen in the army's doctrines regarding artillery.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:12 am

Now you're talking crazy, Mech! Don't give up your light infantry's support weapons. And certainly don't replace them with LAWs. Remember that you're trying to reform your military - don't take a giant leap backward!

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:29 am

Ok the Mortars will stay with the light infantry.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:39 pm

One COULD download FM 7-90, The Tactical Employment of Mortars... if one wanted to bother to learn about them...

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:49 pm

I think that keeping the mortars with the light infantry is a good call. They are already lacking in firepower so the mortars will be key.

Looking at the field manual as PG suggested is a great idea. You don't need to read it cover to cover, just go through the first chapter that outlines the role of mortars, how they are organized, and how they are employed. I have a pdf copy if you can't find it online.

So now that the SP artillery batteries are settled, the next question is how many batteries in a regiment? 3 batteries seems to be the standard.

Also,do you want forward observers and fire support guys as part of the howitzer regiment? If the regiment is going to be a part of a maneuver brigade the fire support teams are typically part of the artillery regiment. If the howitzer regiment is an independent regiment, or part of an artillery brigade, then they usually don't have fire support teams.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:16 pm

3 Batteries, and the Artillery Regiments are independent.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 1:25 am

OK so 3 batteries, plus the regimental HQ and a combat service support battery. You can probably maintain the same size regimental HQ of 55 dudes. You will need a regimental FDC for tactical fire direction, but the other staff sections can be a little smaller than in the infantry and armor HQs.

Do you have any idea where you want to put the fire support teams? You can go back to the infantry and armor battalions and add them there, or maybe a fire support battery that is part of a brigade HQ. I am assuming that you will be combining battalions and regiments into brigades.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 3:35 am

RCN Pacific fleet Headquarters, Esquimult.

A man from the Signals staff from CFS Aldergrove, runs up to the office of the Commander of the Pacific fleet Admiral Carson

(Knock on the Door)

(Admiral Carson): "Come"

(the Signals staffer walks in)

(Signals Staffer): "Admiral, our Station just intercepted a message coming out of Karma-naskis, heres the Transcript."

(Admiral Carson): (Reads the Transcript) "Karma-Naskis would welcome a port O'call by the RODS Fenris and the RODS Wolverine. The Navy has ships at sea off our Western coast, arrangements will be made for an escort to port. Details will be worked out in the coming days. Perhaps we should get some joint naval patrols or exercises going. We're always looking to learn from other professional navies!".

"What could those spotted dogs be doing working with the Reefer people? send this transcript to the Chief of the Defense staff in Ottawa, this is a rather..unexpected thing to happen."

(Signals Staffer): "Yes Sir."

(Admiral Carson): "In the meantime, I'll order a RCN aircraft squadron to send a Sunderland Recon aircraft to monitor the situation in the west coast, along with any vessels that are currently out on patrol in that area. But keep their distance, we do not want any problems."

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 5:42 am

Here is the Spotted Dogsâ€™ recommendation for the SP Howitzer Regimentâ€™s Combat Service Support Battery:

Battery Headquarters (8 Personnel)

Supply Troop (55 Personnel) trucks for moving food, fuel, general supplies, etc. Also field feeding.

Maintenance Troop (40 Personnel) recovery section with heavy tracked recovery vehicles and a maintenance section to perform maintenance and repairs. Also responsible for spare parts.

Medical Troop (34 Personnel) 6 ambulances and combat medics plus an aid station to treat patients.

Ammunition Troop (40 Personnel) 20 M35 trucks for moving artillery and mortar ammunition.

Survey Troop (12 Personnel) 4 survey teams to establish location and direction control that is necessary for firing artillery and mortars accurately.

A total of 189 dudes with this organization.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 6:19 am

Sounds good enough.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 7:14 am

Ah, yes. "Good enough.". Probably not the best usage of the Russian saying, " 'Perfect' is the enemy of Good enough.'"

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:17 am

OK so here is what I have for a New Canadian Army SP Howitzer Regiment.

613 personnel total in three firing batteries, a service support battery, and a regimental HQ. Each firing battery has 8 M109A3 SP howitzers and 8 L16 81mm mortars.

I would encourage you to read up a bit on the employment of howitzers and the employment of mortars as they are very different. You will need to manage your ammunition very carefully. The guns and mortars will go through ammo very quickly and you will need to make sure that you have the right type of projectile with the correct propellant and the right fuze at the same time. Also remember to use your survey troop because if you donâ€™t have spot-on location and directional control you will be off. Artillery and mortars use mils instead of degrees â€“ 6,400 mils in a circle instead of 360 degrees.

Your SP Howitzer regiment does not include fire support teams, nor does it include counter-battery radars.

Now that weâ€™ve been through an infantry battalion, an armor regiment, and an artillery regiment, the ROD is turning the development and documentation of other units over to you. We are here as a resource for you if you have any questions or need any assistance, but the ball is now in your court.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:37 am

I see a vulgar brawl in the future.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:47 am

So the ROD are Leaving Canada now, well you've been a great help to the Canadian Army, will get to work on documenting the rest of the army units, Then we will go with the Airforce, then finally the Navy.