Why the Emperor's shield formation wouldn't work in the fluf

[cracklingvoice]

Imagine being in a Krieg Infantry Platoon.

Nope.

[SickSix]

The American doctrine is fairly similar to the Britts.

 

American Army organization is genrally built around the Concept that one leader can only effectively lead 4 subordinates.

 

A Team leader has 4 soldiers under him. A Squad leader has two team leaders. A platoon leader has 4 squad leaders. A Captain will have 4 lieutenants.

 

A platoon is also 3 rifle squads and a weapons squad. A company is 3 rifle platoons, a weapons platoon and HQ section.

[Vel'Cona]

While I generally agree that the 50-man Formation in the upcoming codex is both unwieldy and impractical, I suppose I'm not getting overly caught up on it simply because the Cadian Detachment itself is fully optional.  Realistically, yes it's a bit silly, but honestly as others have said I usually cap my armies to around 30 man platoons (with another 5 for the obligatory Platoon HQ) anyway, so I suppose I've been following "realistic" doctrine inadvertently.  In either case, I'm actually notably more peeved that we are going to be obligated a Sentinel tax to take this Formation than anything else, though the prohibition on transports is worrying, too.

 

Actually, thinking about it, the 50-man Formation is even sillier based on modern doctrine since the majority of modern militaries wouldn't DREAM of deploying non-mechanized infantry.  I understand they're probably trying to do that for game balance, but it makes the entire Formation even more ridiculous in comparison.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

While I generally agree that the 50-man Formation in the upcoming codex is both unwieldy and impractical, I suppose I'm not getting overly caught up on it simply because the Cadian Detachment itself is fully optional.  Realistically, yes it's a bit silly, but honestly as others have said I usually cap my armies to around 30 man platoons (with another 5 for the obligatory Platoon HQ) anyway, so I suppose I've been following "realistic" doctrine inadvertently.  In either case, I'm actually notably more peeved that we are going to be obligated a Sentinel tax to take this Formation than anything else, though the prohibition on transports is worrying, too.

My platoons generally only have 3 IS, plus 2-3 HWS and a PCS. I usually mechanize my IS's, but I have to proxy my TP's as regular Tauroxes to do so. I mostly play stormtroopers, so my army does a lot of deep striking. 

 

Here's something I had thought about, now mind you it's expensive both in points and actual currency, but you do have the Emperor's spear formation. in which you can take up to 9 valkyries or vendettas in any combination (3 sqdns of 3). take 6 valks and bring in the whole infantry platoon, using sentinels for mobile auger arrays, or giving up the jink to deposit the boys right where you want them. 

 

The restrictions say you can't take dedicated transports, the valkyrie isn't.

 

 

 

Actually, thinking about it, the 50-man Formation is even sillier based on modern doctrine since the majority of modern militaries wouldn't DREAM of deploying non-mechanized infantry.  I understand they're probably trying to do that for game balance, but it makes the entire Formation even more ridiculous in comparison.

Technically, mechanized infantry means infantry in armored vehicles. We have plenty of non mechanized infantry in the modern military. We have the 82nd Airborne, the 101st Airborne (AASSLT), 173rd Airborne BCT, 10th Mountain, 25th Infantry (mixed doctrines, but is listed as a Light Infantry Division). The 82nd is a pure airborne (paratrooper) division, everything revolves around that tactic, the 101st Airborne is similar only they are air assault, and the 10th Mountain goes where vehicles really can't so they mostly use helicopters to get where they're needed. The 25ID uses strykers, airborne, and air assault to get people where they're needed, not purely mechanized, but not purely air assault, but they are highly mobile due to everything they have being able to either fly to the fight or get pushed out of a C-130.  

 

Just pointing out that bit of technicality, but in practice you're right. Everyone has a ride to the fight, and gone are the days of a 20k hump with a full pack, digging fighting positions and then fighting a battle for days, weeks, or months. We have more of the Blitzkreig mentality, of take ground quickly use follow-on troops to secure it, and then fortify. We use armored vehicles to advance our positions an get troops to the fight rather than marching them in. Troops dismount for foot patrols, and then mount up when they're done. While the vehicle provides cover and fire support for the dismounted troops. 

 

Not being able to take dedicated transports makes the Emperor's shield platoon vulnerable, and it denies them some much needed firepower, though one could argue that the sentinels can provide that punch for them.