UCM Battalion Organization

For this organization, my primary influence was the combat load of the UCMS Avenger given in
the Dropfleet Commander Rulebook. Using that as my base, I drew on prior knowledge of modern day
US organization and Cold war soviet organization to create a sort of hybrid. Furthermore, in this
organization, I have tried as much as possible to adhere to every organizational hint I could find strewn
throughout the rulebooks and the army deals previously available in the online store.

My intent here is to offer up a possible organization and employment for a UCM battalion in the
hopes that I might be able to contribute to his fantastic new universe. Whether this document, or any
part of it, is given an official seal of approval is the highest possible accolade I could hope to achieve by
its submission to you. It was my greatest pleasure merely to grapple with this question, and I consider
that reward enough even if no part of this effort is inducted.

Battalion

The battalion is the primary operational ground unit of the UCM. It is designed to be employed
in an area of ground in which every unit is under the command of the battalion commander who has full
responsibility for the control of this area and the persecution of all enemies within it. The battalion
commander will control all units within his area while they are in his area. Therefore, his jurisdiction
applies to those troops directly under his command, but also to all dropships, marines, aircraft, and
special forces operating in the area of his battalion.

Battalions are primarily intended to be self-sufficient and have integrally, all units necessary for
seizing enemy territory and going toe to toe with anything and everything that enemy can employ.
Therefore, while many battalions will operate alongside other battalions of the same regiment in
adjacent areas, the units of each battalion will remain within their own areas and will not offer mutual
support to other battalions.

Headquarters Company

This company includes the Colonel and his staff. Included in this formation is a
Kodiak, a Phoenix, 4 wolverines, and 2 longbows. While not technically part of the
Battalion, the Commander can rely on the support of 3 Eagles, 2 Falcons. The Ground
forces will also be supported by 4 Archangels and 3 Seraphim under the commander of
their accompanying Strike Carrier. Usually the 3 Eagles are assigned to the Company
Commanders but the Battalion CO has overall command and can recall them if a priority
target presents itself.

3 Legionnaire Companies
 Each legionnaire Company consists of 3 Legionnaire Platoons, a Headquarters
Platoon, a Heavy Tank Platoon, and a Flak Platoon. The legionnaire company is the
primary tactical ground unit of the UCM.

Support Tank Company

This Company includes all of the specialized vehicles assigned to the Battalion
and includes 18 Fireblades, and 3 Ferrum. These units are usually parceled out to the
Company Commanders or else kept unified as a reserve force.

Independent Armored Squadron

This formation acts as a reserve armor force directly under the COs command.
Composed of the best crews assigned to the battalion, this formation is most often
employed as a last-ditch addition to a losing battle, to cover the retreat of other sub
units, or otherwise to act as the personal guard of the commander should he take to the
frontlines himself. This squadron is equipped with 6 Sabers, 6 Rapiers, and 6 Katanas.

Flak Company

This company consists of 2 flak platoons each of 24 Legionnaires mounted in 4

bears. The task of this unit is the guard the Battalions HQ company and the battalions
staging and supply areas against enemy air assault.

Independent Airborne company

This formation acts as a quick response reserve under the direct command of
the Battalion CO. This unit can be employed at the behest of the Battalion commander
to seize ground ahead of the Battalions advance, to extricate high value targets, and
long range scouting and security missions. This company is composed of legionnaires
but is also supplemented by the onboard praetorians in their own ravens.

Most usually, this formation is divided into platoons which are then assigned to
the battalions constituent infantry companies to seize small targets ahead of their
advances. In certain cases, however, the entire company can be employed to seize a
large objective ahead of the battalion advance and hold it until the battalion can
reinforce.

Company

Headquarters Platoon
 This platoon is commanded directly by a Captain and his staff. This platoon
includes a Kodiak, 2 longbows, and 4 falcons.

3 Infantry Platoons

Heavy Tank platoon

This platoon consists of 4 Gladius and either a Broadsword or 2 Scimitar. The

heavy tank platoon is engaged at the behest of the company commander but once
committed, is under the operational control of the company or platoon commander to
which this platoon, or one of its units, is assigned.

Flak Platoon

Consisting of 2 squads of Flak gunners, this formation protects the Company

Headquarters.

Independent Tank platoon

This platoon of 3 Katanas acts as the Company commanders own personal

bodyguards and as a small armored reserve that he can send forward to support one of
his platoons. This platoon usually consists of the best tank crewman in the company.

Platoon

Main body

The Main body forms the core of each platoon with 3 Katana, 3 Sabers, 3 Rapier,
2 sections of legionnaires and a mortar squad. Each section consists of 2 squads each of
3 fire teams of 5 men. The platoon is commanded by a lieutenant who replaces a man
in any one of the platoons under his command.

Vanguard

The platoon vanguard forms the scouting and security element for the platoon.
This consists of 3 Sabers, 3 Katanas, and a section of Infantry of 2 squads.

Tactics
 Although the entire battalion is air mobile, actual ground operations tend to be conventional
advances into contact with entire units being retrieved and airdropped in between engagements.
Dropship usage in combat is usually limited to transport into or near the region of contact or extrication
therefrom.

The battalion advances with 2 companies forward and 1 in reserve. Each company advances
with all 3 platoons abreast and support units behind. Each platoon sends its vanguard forward followed
by its main body. The vanguards are equipped to engage and hold in place any similarly size enemy
force until the main body can move forward to engage.

As long as possible, the accompanying strike carrier or troopship will remain in theatre for
refueling, resupply, medevac, and air support. While it is preferred to only begin combat drops after air
and space superiority have been achieved, battalions are often required to engage on the ground as the
fleet is engaging in the air above it. Limited field bases can be assembled on the ground to provide
limited support for the battalion in case the strike carrier is lost through enemy action or withdrawal.
Battalions will almost always attempt to withdraw with the carrier if possible. However, if this is not
possible the battalion will try to fortify and defend from its drop point assembly areas or from any seized
strongholds.

Objectives

Each battalion is usually assigned a primary objective in its avenue of advance. Each company is
assigned a secondary objective in their respective avenues and the platoons are similarly assigned
tertiary objectives. Primary objectives usually consist of seizing control of a location such as a city
sector, or a small base such as a depot or supply point. Secondary objectives usually take the form of
locations or strongpoints whose control are integral to control of the primary objective. These include
artillery positions, high ground, observation points, missile silos, radar installations and the like. Tertiary
objectives are targets of opportunity that are to be seized by the advancing forces such as downed
pilots, enemy leaders, listening posts, possible drop zones or locations for staging areas.

Implementation in Game

Ive organized all of the units in the Battalion into multiple legal army lists. Each platoon
vanguard is a small skirmish game. Every platoon main body is a large skirmish of around 950 points.
The units of the company HQs can be employed in Battle sized units of about 2000 points while the
battalion HQs can be organized as a large 3000 points force.