"Left Out of Battle system" Topic

I've recently been reading regarding the British LOB system, in which some men were left out of combat so that a unit which was destroyed in combat would have an experienced core on which to rebuild. Most references seem to indicate that around 6 men (other than the leader) in a section actually went into any one fight.

This lead me to a couple of questions:

1) Were men rotated as to who was in the LOB group each fight? I would tend to assume so, but I figured I'd ask.

2) I've seen a phrase in one reference that seemed to indicate that the LOB men for an entire battalion were kept in a camp or depot of one sort or another typically. Was this the case? If a unit suffered heavy casualties, would it typically rotate LOB men back into the line to bolster it, or disband and consolidate the field elements until the LOB elements could receive and train replacements and the reconstitute the disbanded formations?

3) Did any other armies follow this practice, or was it uniquely a British/Commonwealth idea?

4) When building forces for small-scale games, do you field the War Establishment on the table, or utilize the LOB system for authenticity?

1) Before each major action some (random) men were left at the HQ.

2) LOB men were kept at the battalion's HQ, or farther back. I'm not sure whether the LOBs would become in-field replacements. However, it is likely that the men would not become replacements unless the casualties were light.

3) Not that I'm aware of.

4) I mainly use under-strength units. For me, the system is 2-3 men LOB and 0-3 more casualties. It is important to note that the LOB did not apply to small arms actions. In theory, a newly-arrived unit could be on the defensive with a full 38 man platoon.

P.S. Some of the information you're looking for can be found at TMP link and link

I've seen references to LOB for Canadian, Australian and New Zealand units. I think each had their own particular take on how to apply it.

My understanding is that if British units did it, it was unofficial.

There is a balancing act as to how many personnel you may want to hold back without disabling the units you're sending in. This link mentions its use by the Irish Guards –

link

It suggests that where there was a leader and assistant (such as platoon officer and platoon sergeant), one was kept back for a particular action. That's different than holding a substantial portion of men back from platoons, which may not be viable if you're already understrength.

I've got a feeling this is one of those subjects where there is no single answer…

Gary

LOB example – On the 29th of July, 1942 the Australian 2/28h Battalion was wiped out at a placed called Ruin Ridge during the first battle of El Alamein. The only men left were the LOB, one was my grandfather. Which is lucky for him, and for me!

When the 2/28th rebuilt it was around these LOB men. Also all the other Australian battalions had to donate officers, NCO's and riflemen. The bulk of the replacements came from training/holding camps in Palestine.

A five minute google with "Left out of Battle" will answer all your queries with general overviews of the system, specific examples from battalion diaries, accounts of battles and veteran interviews.

1) yes. It was done on a rotational system but was often used to give those who were on the verge of exhaustion (mental/physical) a break. Whole companies could be LOB,

2) They were most often taken to brigade or divisional 'B' echelon. This might be termed a 'rest area' but could still be under enemy fire on occasion. Re: casualties and absorbing new men – it simply depended upon the situation, especially in late 1944. Units that suffered severe casualties were broken up and incorporated in whole or part into other units. One battalion of the 15th Scottish received 2 companies from a Northern Irish battalion as replacements during the Normandy campaign.

3) Can't answer without guessing at this time.

4) I deliberately make all small units weaker than establishment. LOB is only one small factor when considering actual strength vs paper establishment – absent on authorised leave, absent without leave (could be more than all the rest combined), wounded, sick (in Sicily STD caused more 'casualties' than all the rest of the factors), attachment to HQ, heavy weapons etc, commandeered for work or specialist parties.

Mark

I have seen combat after action reports – they are up at our regimental website at calgaryhighlanders.com actually, under DETAILED HISTORY – that reports the normal section size in action for at least one Canadian battalion in NW Europe was 5 to 6 riflemen. This was due to shortages but also LOBs. The actual combat reports seem to indicate going into action with 10 man sections was simply not done.

Canadian doctrine in NW Europe was heavily influenced by British experiences in the desert, by the way, so there may be a conclusion to be drawn there.

I generally remove 1D6 from each squad to reflect "current" disposition.

If the unit has been through heavier recent fighting then I increase the #D6 or add an additional point or two per D6 rolled.