"Jack steps up in Iraq" Topic

Finally got a game in using my marine platoon in Iraq. Been reading a great book called One Bullet Away by Fick.
Found here:
link

Enjoy

Joe

On the one hand, you are killing me… On the other, I always enjoy your battle reports (despite your half-ass "Cobra" and LVTP-5!), and I'm happy to see you gaming again, old man.

Regarding the fight itself, it goes without saying that the Platoon Sergeant was running things, though I was a bit dismayed at how the Gyrenes got themselves into such a $&@# sandwich, even with all that support. I suppose they should have known better than to drive Tracks straight up to buildings without clearing them first. Almost like an Army-run mission; having said that, I've got some stories I could share about Tracks getting shot up in Iraq…

Two personnel points: unlike previous wars, where casualties could see NCOs leading platoons on a pretty regular basis, that really wasn't the case in OIF or OEF, at least in the Corps. It seems there was no shortage of Lieutenants, and those guys were regularly jockeyed around from battalion and RCT HQ (sometimes even MARCENT or CONUS) down to the line companies, when needed. The other is, beware of Sergeants coming from Company HQ, there's a reason they were there (handing out MREs, or FAPP'ed out to hand out basketballs at the gym) in the first place! ;)

As always, I eagerly await more.

V/R,
Jack

Jack
good to hear from you. I have decided helo models at my tactical level aren't critical so no cobras coming. I do need another tuna boat and 1 or 2 Lav -25s.
good to know about the plethora of LTs. didnt know that. so in my scenario would they still fleet up DeClines to company CO then bring in another LT to the platoon?

thanks

Joe

Joe,

And you as well, glad to know you're still kicking, both in terms of wargaming and in general.

Of course, I'm just playing around about the helos and amtrac, I've never been one to be hung up on any of that, it's the story that counts, everything else is just gravy.

Regarding the good Lieutenant, you could play it either way. In my experience you don't lose nearly as many company commanders as you do platoon commanders, but I've seen company commanders be replaced by pulling a Captain out of the battalion staff (I.e., the S-3 is a Major and his number two, the "Three Alpha," is a Captain, so they pull him and gap his billet until they can steal someone from RCT or Division), and I've also seen them grab a senior 1st Lt from one of the platoons, usually the senior one in the battalion, so you actually tend to get one coming from a different company.

Along those lines, my experience was that the senior 1st Lieutenants tended to be in command of the company's Weapons Platoon, while the butter bars were sent to the rifle platoons. Having said that, Wpns Platoon's Platoon Sergeant is a Gunny (the Plt Sgt for the rifle platoons are Staff Sergeants), so when there was a a shortage of Lieutenants (in a rifle platoon) they'd usually pull the PC from Wpns to fill in, leaving the Gunny to run Weapons, which was essentially just running the mortars as the machine guns and SMAWs were typically tasked out to the rifle platoons.

So it's a game, supposed to be fun, so do whatever you want. The platoon is certain to be better off with a Staff NCO running it anyway ;) But in real life Lt Decline would probably not be the senior Lieutenant in the battalion, so probably some other Lieutenant would be taking over CO of the company, and even if he was, some other Lieutenant would be swooping in quickly to get his ticket punched (command time in a combat zone). I feel compelled to say that I don't really feel that way, that is simply an NCO joke about the gentleman we regularly referred to as "strap-hangers" or "cake eaters" ;)

Man, I'm just full of all kinds of useless knowledge! Hard to believe I can still remember all that, despite leaving it sixteen (16!) years ago… Hope all is well.

V/R,
Jack

jack, you are familiar with platoon forward, I rolled the LT as the character then rolled "transfers out/sick". I really didnt want him to leave the story so put him in the company slot. will bring in. a cherry LT for the platoon just to bug you. ; ) Jack will still be running things
thanks

Joe

Indeed I am, Sir ;) And gotcha on the ‘after battle' rolls. If you wanted Declines to be able to come back at some point, he could have received a Red Cross message to go home because of an ill family member, or maybe his pregnant wife is having a baby. That'll really pull the heartstrings when he comes back and gets whacked. Or maybe he's just out to get treatment for syphilis because, being a Lieutenant, he put the condom on inside out (yes, that was a joke we used to use on boots)! ;)

We eagerly await the arrival of our shiny new ‘Lootenat,' squeaky clean and factory fresh, ready to take on the world all by his lonesome. I'm really enjoying the story, pleas hurry to play and post some more.

V/R,
Jack