6 replies to this topic

[healey36]

I've recently been building a few battalion-sized infantry units for upcoming Mein Panzer sessions, and I'm wondering what to use for a "Command Stand". The question came up when we were reading through the TO&E for a Finnish battalion headquarters. These would be used for both at the battalion and company HQ, even some platoons call for them (although we tend to leave them out at the platoon level and just designate one stand to include the command).

 

I'm guessing just a few figures to represent the commander, signals officer, supply officer, exec, etc., with maybe a jeep or something included?

 

Looking for opinions, or if it's spelled out in the rules somewhere, point me. Thanks!

 

[Kenny Noe]

Paul,

 

I've seen various styles of "Command Stand" basing.  Everything from a General Monty standing next to a field desk w/ map, radio op, one or two staff and Jeep to just a couple figs on a base.   I typically go with just 2 figs.  But that's personal pref.   I don't think the rules mention anything specific about basing Command Stand, but will look when I get home this evening.

[healey36]

Thanks for taking a look, Kenny. In the past we have, for example, simply designated one rifle squad in each platoon to include the CO, thereby eliminating the need for a separate stand for "command". Making these shortcuts to the TO&E greatly reduces the number of stand-alone command stands, but we wonder what the game impact might be. 

 

For a British Infantry Battalion, MP's TO&E calls for 18-19 command stands...that's a lot of stands. GHQ's TO&E eliminates command stands at the rifle platoon level and for a number of the support platoons. That seems reasonable, but we don't want to ball up the command structure since we lean into that extensively in the scenarios we write.

 

All thoughts welcome!

 

Paul R.

[Kenny Noe]

I was also going to mention that too.   Just pull a rifle stand and designate it as command.   JD always made great use of the color dot stickers on a stand to designate a "special purpose".  Like engineers, command, etc...

[healey36]

I was also going to mention that too.   Just pull a rifle stand and designate it as command.   JD always made great use of the color dot stickers on a stand to designate a "special purpose".  Like engineers, command, etc...

That's a great idea if we go down that route. I was also thinking of painting a marker on the rim of the squad's base to designate inclusion of the command staff.

 

Here's a 1/300-scale German command stand we made a while back:

 

 

A couple officers, a radioman, and a Schwimmwagen, all by Heroics & Ros.

[Kenny Noe]

OK I've taken a quick brush thru the rules.  There are a couple references for "Command Stand" size that I came across.

 

Infantry Drop-In Chapter p. 11.1

COMMAND STANDS

A command stand is generally a 2-figure stand that represents a unit’s commanding officer. Command Stands have only one hit, and can ride in a transport without affecting its personnel class.

 

FORWARD OBSERVERS

These are typically single-figure stands used for artillery spotters. They have only one hit, and like Command stands, can be transported without cost. FO stands have no combat value.

 

Transport Drop-In chapter p. 14.1

Command Stands

Command and Staff Stands are usually made up of an officer and one other soldier. Due to their size, they do not count toward the carrying capacity of transport vehicles. The only criterion is no more than one stand can ride in the same transport

 

 

 

I still think that the Gamer has the final say in what represents a command (or other special) stand.  One, two, or four figures on a stand is fine as long as there is some kind of visual designation. 

 

As for the transport verbiage, to keep things simple in my games a 2 figure stand is always counted as a half stand (0.5) while a 4 figure stand is counted as a full stand (1.0).  That's how I roll.  <grin>

[Peter M. Skaar]

I have used 3 figure stands in the past for platoon HQs and 2 figure stands for Company HQs.  So far I have not created any Battalion HQs but lean toward more figures to represent the staff.  Not sure how many though.  I will probably do 2 figure command stands for the platoon HQ in the future.