"What does an RSTA Squadron do? What is it?" Topic

I am trying to put together a Stryker Brigade Combat Team for our modern warfare games that we play at our local club.

I have been using the TO&E on the GHQ models website to model my force after. It's available in the free rules section of the website. I don't know how to make a link here or I would.

My question is about the RSTA, or Recon, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition Squadron they have attached. I can't seem to find any different use for them from a "gaming" standpoint. 3 troops, mounted in Strykers, and a surveillance troop. To me that would be 3 squads in 3 Strykers and maybe a squad in a HMMWV?

GHQ has it listed as 3 troops, consisting of 3 squads with vehicles and 3 mortar vehicles per troop. That means 1 squadron consists of around 9 mortar platoons and 3 companies of troops. Is that excessive?

Back to my original question. What does an RSTA squadron do? Are they the snipers you see sneaking about in pairs or are they more like a flanking force or would they be the Napoleonic equivalent of light infantry/skirmishers?

I've never really studied moderm military history or tactics before so this is all new.

Come to think of it. That is probably why I lose at most of our modern games. You know, you can't just line up and surge forward…

Google it!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSTA

link

14cav.org/rsta.html

Excellent wikipedia article. It appears that Bde Units of Action are going to look like the old RCTs/ACRs. A Bde sized combined arms team. More flexible and deployable in the 4th Gen Warfare enviroment that we currently find ourselves.

I commanded the BSB of an Infantry BCT. Our RSTA Squadron, 2-183 CAV, had an HHC, 2 mounted troops and a dismounted Infantry company.

Basically it does the traditional Cavalry missions for the BCT.

Griveton, One of the more interesting aspects of leadership on the modern field of battle is the reality that you really need to spend a lot of time figuring out just what is over that next hill or on the street on the next block.

Check out link there is a good set of links at the bottom of the page.