Forum wargame. WW2 action. Interest?

Mogger said:
"Sir, do we expect contact tonight, or is this more precautionary?"
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I have asked HQ for the most recent intelligence. So far, we have no reports, but that might not mean much. We need to be prepared either way, but I don't actively expect any enemy contact during the night. So watchfulness, but don't keep everyone awake in combat-readiness after today's march.
 
@Ivan NWG , will you hand out the platoon commands, or should we sort it out (OOC) in the team?

Apart from me and the captain, I don't know who's who. :)
 
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“Now then, men, listen carefully. HQ reports no contact expected tonight, but that is no excuse for slackness. We are to be vigilant, not somnolent. Understood?”

“First Section: you will take point and locate the path up to the overlook. Keep the Bren ready.
Second Section: you will follow and secure the flanks.
Third Section: you remain one hundred yards back until I signal. That is depth, not dawdling.”

To the specialists.
“Corporal Evans, the Vickers is to be sited with a clear field across the road. I expect precision.
Sergeant Green, detail two of your steadiest men to the Boys rifles. they will stand ready beside the Vickers.

He folded his hands behind his back, voice firmer now.
“There will be two watches until dawn. Rotate properly, see that all men get rest. Tea is permitted, chatter is not. And I will remind you: a sentry who smokes is a beacon to the enemy.”

“We do this correctly, and we shall see the morning through together.”
 
(If we want to be technical about it, the Vickers MG probably belongs to the company weapons team and is commanded by me or the captain.)
 
Mogger said:
“Now then, men, listen carefully. HQ reports no contact expected tonight, but that is no excuse for slackness. We are to be vigilant, not somnolent. Understood?”

“First Section: you will take point and locate the path up to the overlook. Keep the Bren ready.
Second Section: you will follow and secure the flanks.
Third Section: you remain one hundred yards back until I signal. That is depth, not dawdling.”

To the specialists.
“Corporal Evans, the Vickers is to be sited with a clear field across the road. I expect precision.
Sergeant Green, detail two of your steadiest men to the Boys rifles. they will stand ready beside the Vickers.

He folded his hands behind his back, voice firmer now.
“There will be two watches until dawn. Rotate properly, see that all men get rest. Tea is permitted, chatter is not. And I will remind you: a sentry who smokes is a beacon to the enemy.”

“We do this correctly, and we shall see the morning through together.”
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The lads grumble and shake out as directed, a couple of the corporals repeat the prohibition against smoking to considerable griping. The clatter of weapons and kit subsides into the dark as they find their positions.
 
JohanL said:
(If we want to be technical about it, the Vickers MG probably belongs to the company weapons team and is commanded by me or the captain.)
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<though in your depleted case the Vickers IS the company weapons team :) . Its been detached out to you for the time being>
 
GM Question: What are the designated jobs of the 2+10 company HQ team? Sergeant-Major, crew for the Vickers (how many? Grok says 6-8, but Wikipedia says 3), radio carrier, radio operator (or is that an officer job?), my batman, a few dispatch runners...?
 
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(BTW, this is my third Kriegspiel in Norway (the others were 1808 and 1945), and man, anywhere you go, the terrain looks the same - hill/road/lake (or river). :-) )
 
I tell the Sgt Major to make sure the Vickers is positioned properly, and tell Captain Whitmore to get a couple hours of sleep after which I will I wake him to do the same. I inform battalion HQ of our positions.
 
JohanL said:
GM Question: What are the designated jobs of the 2+10 company HQ team? Sergeant-Major, crew for the Vickers (how many? Grok says 6-8, but Wikipedia says 3), radio carrier, radio operator (or is that an officer job?), my batman, a few dispatch runners...?
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<Bayonetstrength suggests 2 warrant officers, 3 orderlies, 2 batmen and a couple of other positions (driver, clerk etc) which for the purpose of this scenario will just add up to "available bodies as the company commander declares".>

<The Vickers comes with its own crew of 6 - Gunner, assistant, 2 ammo carriers, range finder, spare bloke - Okay thats WW1 organisation but It'll do for here. The pair of Boys anti tank rifles do NOT come with their own crew, when in combat men need to be allocated from somewhere>
 
JohanL said:
GM question: Is the ground frozen? Things being snowy, I would imagine so?
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Your orderly pokes at the ground with a bayonet, trying to find a spot to set up some piece of equipment
"You can dig a bit sir, but its pretty solid. Hell of a place this is"
 
Bifur said:
GM: So the Vickers is now with 1st platoon commanded by @Mogger?
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My HQ is going to the same position at the overview point, so it doesn't really matter, and we'll see about further dispositions tomorrow. But sure, that way I can move off, and I doubt that Vickers is going anywhere tonight.

(Unless I'm mistaken, it can put fire support in the direction of 2nd Platoon as well, either from its current position or with just minor repositioning.)
 
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Right men. We're to set up a picket line here, directed south. 1st section on the western flank, 2nd in the middle and 3rd on the east, up against the ridge where 1st platoon is stationed. Sentries 20 yards up ahead of the line. Get your bearings of the small roads and tracks, that's the way gerry will be coming if they send out scouts.

So settle in properly and take positions that cover the entryways. Once you're set, we maintain light discipline. No smoking! But be sure to have tea ready, it'll be cold tonight. Set up two shifts for the night, we need to stay alert and vigilant.

Now, if there's contact with the enemy and they're coming on strong, fall back. The rally point is up on the ridge by 1st platoon.
 
You are met with the usual litany of acknowledgements, sideways grumblings and sighs, but the men seem happy enough to be doing something, even if they would rather be back in one of those houses behind you. They fall into the designated positions.
 
(Anecdote about the reliability of the Vickers: "The weapon had a reputation for great solidity and reliability. Ian V. Hogg, in Weapons & War Machines, describes an action that took place in August 1916, during which the British 100th Company of the Machine Gun Corps fired their ten Vickers guns to deliver sustained fire for twelve hours. Using 100 barrels, they fired a million rounds without breakdowns. 'It was this absolute foolproof reliability which endeared the Vickers to every British soldier who ever fired one. It never broke down; it just kept on firing and came back for more.'")
 
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