"# of players to represent an MEU???" Topic

Okay …so let's say that I am um…running an MEU….in um…15mm…and they are coming ashore…Using just the base combat forces, (the armor, AAV's, etc), and NOT the myriad of support forces, etc…how many people do you think could I get to play the MEU and let them each have an effective little fighting force and not feel "left out"?…

2-3?

Just curious…and may be related to a little project that I am working on…

It would depend partially upon how the support assets are allocated, and the rules being used. I'd suggest 3-5 players. At a minimum, three players are in charge of an infantry company with attachments. A fourth player could control supporting armor and other assets that are not attached to the rifle companies and/or be the overall commander. The fifth player would be the overall commander if required but he may not have much to do. Depending on the rules, the overall commander player may also act as coordinator of air and artillery support.

I would expect each player to control a Company if each stand is a vehicle or fire team. Maybe 2 players for an Infantry company.

Rule of 12: No player should control more than 12 "things"

You might want to add one more player to handle the aviation elements of the MEU -- You have the CIFS AH-1s and possibly AV-8s to handle, as well as the entire compliment of CH-46 and CH-53s to manage. They're not attached to the infantry, but they can play a major part in any operation.

Well, let's consider the forces you have available:

* Infantry (3 companies)
* Heavy weapons – mortars, MG's, AT-4's, Stingers
* Scout/sniper teams and SEAL team, with FAV's
* LAV's, LAV-AT, LAV-Recovery, LAV-Cmd
* AAVP7's, AAVC7, AAVR7
* M1A1 Abrams (only four of them)
* 105mm howitzers
* Humvee's, HMMWV-TOW, Avenger SAM
* Attack aviation – AV-8B, AH-1
* Transport aviation – CH46, CH53
* Landing craft – LCAC's, LCU's, Zodiac boats
* Other assets – engineers, Medical, unarmed UH-1 helicopters
* The ships – one each LHA/LHD, LPD, LSD, with surface escorts and possibly a carrier battle group over the horizon.

If you have no limit on number of players, you could easily break it up 8 ways (or more). But that would be unwieldy and time-consuming to play, and it would definitely require an overall commander.

Are you planning to do this as a convention game, or at a gaming club? The former would require more organization, which means fewer players.

(as ever, please excuse my english)

I think that it depends of the scale of game…. if you use a "modern" IABSM, each player can play easy a company.

With command decision or spear head, a complete meu would be handled by only a player very easily

This is a very late response to the above.

I've gamed MEU operations a few times.

My recommendations is to have one player act as the BLT commander (but give him command or the MEU and Amphibious Ready Group assets (such as MEU aircraft, a SEAL plt and naval gunfire) then you can have three other players game the three (reinforced) rifle companies. One company is often mechanized in AAVP-7 and reinforced with a Tank Platoon to create a Mechanized Company. The other two companies are normally employed by helicopter or boats. They would normally be reinforced by antiarmor weapons systems. A different option would be to use the Combined AntiArmor Platoons and LAR platoons as a motorized company (some BLTs did this in the open desert since it made sense.
The artillery battery should be in general support, but it is not unknown for them to be given provisional infantry missions if the ROE makes the use of artillery unlikely.

IIRC, the three infantry companies are each delivered by a different method: One company by air, one company by AAVs, and the third by boats.

Agree with Apache 6 on putting the Abrams platoon with the AAVs to make an ad-hoc Mechanized company.

Heliborne company gets the Cobras for arty and anti-tank support.