Help with 3060s DCMS Kurita regiment (v1.1, now with conventional support)

[Kidd]

v1.1 - replaced some Mechs with 1 Akuma and 4 Dragons, added Aerospace and Armour attachments

I'm trying to build a 3060s-era Draconis Combine Mech regiment for a long campaign. This is my draft TOE, do please contemplate it and comment/critique/curse vehemently etc.

Background
The regiment is supposed to be a second-line unit that has seen some action against the Clans and is fully rearmed and reorganised for more. Therefore the unit has received some replacements and a little attention in the form of quite a few of the DCMS's new OmniMechs. However it started off as a dumping ground for old hardware and is not strongly politically connected. Hence although equipped with a full complement of 108 Mechs some of the models assigned to it are dated or less popular castoffs from other units.

The regiment is rated Regular, Reliable, Heavy and has three battalions. 2nd and 3rd Battalions are independent manoeuvre units, while 1st Battalion comprises the command lance and a collection of mismatched 'reserve' units. This is partly because there is a lack of capable officers and the Mechs needed to form a really autonomous third manoeuvre unit. Because many lance leaders are also not highly experienced, the unit is accustomed to fighting in no smaller than company strength.

The regiment currently has 108 Mechs consisting of 16 Light Mechs, 33 Medium, 37 Heavy and 22 Assault. The average Mech weight is 60 tons, reflecting the unit's classification as a Heavy regiment but just barely, due to its low priority for supply. Likewise it lacks Light Mechs and has an overabundance of Mediums, because more prestigious units also damaged in the Clan invasion would have sucked up most of the available replacements.

Please note: This was mainly generated from Field Manual Draconis Combine. I haven't decided on individual models, just the chasses. Hatamoto-Chis could also be Mizus, etc. Any tweaks to Mech chasses picks or lance composition are most welcome.

Alpha Battalion
First Company - reserve
Recon Lance: Grand Dragon, Wolf Trap, Jenner, Thorn
Strike Lance: Dragon, Kintaro, Crab, Daimyo
Battle Lance: Hunchback, Catapult, Panther, Panther

Second Company - reserve
Recon Lance: Bishamon, Grand Dragon, Spider, Thorn
Strike Lance: Griffin, Dragon, Crab, Daimyo
Battle Lance: Dragon, Kintaro, Panther, Panther

Third Company - HQ and support
Force Lance: No Dachi, Black Hawk KU, Wolverine, Kintaro
Support Lance: O-Bakemono, Hitman, Komodo, Komodo
Regimental Command Lance: Atlas, Katana, Gunslinger, Mauler

Beta Battalion
Fourth Company - front-line battle
Recon Lance: Grand Dragon, Firestarter-O, Grand Dragon, Jenner
Force Lance: No Dachi, Quickdraw, Dragon, Daimyo
Battle Lance: Avatar, Marauder, Grasshopper, Marauder

Fifth Company - front-line battle, Omni specialists
Recon Lance: Firestarter-O, Strider, Raptor, Raptor
Force Lance: Avatar, Black Hawk KU, Black Hawk KU, Blackjack-O
Battle Lance: Sunder, Avatar, Avatar, Blackjack-O

Sixth Company - assault and support
Assault Lance: Sunder, Hatamoto Chi, Hatamoto Chi, Charger
Support Lance: Griffin, Daikyu, Catapult, Komodo
Battalion Command Lance: Highlander, Akuma, Mauler, Katana

Gamma Battalion
Seventh Company - front-line battle
Recon Lance: Phoenix Hawk, Firestarter-O, Jenner, Raptor
Force Lance: Maelstrom, Griffin, Wolverine, Grand Dragon
Battle Lance: Avatar, Marauder, Marauder, Blackjack-O

Eighth Company - front-line battle
Recon Lance: Phoenix Hawk, Wolf Trap, Jenner, Owens
Force Lance: No Dachi, Quickdraw, Wolverine, Grand Dragon
Battle Lance: Avatar, Marauder, Grasshopper, Blackjack-O

Ninth Company - assault and support
Assault Lance: Sunder, Hatamoto Chi, Hatamoto Chi, Charger
Support Lance: Wolverine, Daikyu, Catapult, Komodo
Battalion Command Lance: Atlas, Naginata, Mauler, Gunslinger (C3-networked)

Mech chasses totals: 42 different types,
LIGHT
Spider x1
Owens x1
Raptor x3
Hitman x1
Jenner x4
Thorn x2
Panther x4

MEDIUM
Bishamon x1
Strider x1
Firestarter x3
Phoenix Hawk x2
Wolf Trap x2
Daimyo x3
Crab x2
Griffin x3
Kintaro x3
Wolverine x4
Komodo x4
Blackjack x4
Hunchback x1

HEAVY
Dragon x4
Grand Dragon x6
Black Hawk KU x3
Quickdraw x2
Daikyu x2
No Dachi x3
Maelstrom x1
Catapult x3
Grasshopper x2
Avatar x6
Marauder x5

ASSAULT
Charger x2
Hatamoto Chi x4
O-Bakemono x1
Sunder x3
Gunslinger x2
Katana x2
Highlander x1
Mauler x3
Naginata x1
Akuma x1
Atlas x2

AEROSPACE FIGHTERS
Slightly better structured than the Mech regiment in general, though quite dated by 3060.

Interceptors: S-3 Sai x2, SB-27 Sabre x4, SL-21 Sholagar x2
Multirole: SL-17 Shilone x12
Attack: SL-15 Slayer x2, F-100b Riever x2

Set up in 2 companies of 4 interceptors, 6 multirole and 2 attack ASFs each.

ARMOUR
HQ Lance: Maxim (Infantry), Partisan x2, LRM Carrier

Strike Company (Hover)
Scout Lance: Pegasus x2, Scimitar x2
Battle Lance: Saladin x2, Saracen x2
Support Lance: Saracen x3, Scimitar

Battle Company (Tracked)
Scout Lance: Bulldog, Scorpion x3
Battle Lance: Myrmidon x2, Bulldog x2
Assault Lance: Manticore x4

Assault Company
Urban Combat Lance: Demolisher, Hetzer x3
Battle Lance: Zhukov x2, Von Luckner x2
Fire Support Lance: Schrek PPC Carrier x2, Heavy LRM Carrier x2

[Tai Dai Cultist]

A full strength DCMS mech regiment is 124 mechs, not 108.  You still have 4 more lances to fill out: regimental command, and 3x batallion command.


Some other observations:  You have a Naginata, which means you have a C3 Master (maybe even 2, depending on the variant).  Now you don't have to build a C3 network out of an organic lance; you can configure a C3 network on a battle-by-battle basis without regards to which unit in the network is part of what lance.  But still, my opinion is you don't want to have your C3 slaves beyond the company if they're not going to be in the same lance proper.  You may want to look for some C3S variants in those mechs in the Naginata's company, or move a few more omnis in there so they can swap in C3 slaves as needed.  I'd certainly find a way to put the Owens in the same company as the Naginata.

Atlai: 3 Atlases is a lot, even if it's not implausible for an assault-type regiment.  If you're happy with that kind of mass, you might change things up a bit by trading an Atlas for a Cerberus.  They're available in your timeframe, and as a bonus they're a domestically produced model in the Combine (under license).

another thought:  Is your campaign including Aero?  If your regiment is meant to be a Clanbuster unit, you'll certainly want ASF support from the Admiralty.  That's the one domain that IS powers are near parity to the Clans in.

[worktroll]

Kidd, while it's your unit, it's also worth mentioning that the DCMS isn't keen on medium designs as a whole, and you've got more mediums there than anything else.

Also, it's worth digging out which of your designs have C3 versions available to the DCMS in the Clan Invasion period, and having some C3 lances, and even a C3 company, if possible.

The other thing to think about is clustering your omni chasses together - a lance of omnis can carry a platoon of BA into battle.

W.

[Liam's Ghost]

Not nearly enough Panthers.  :P

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Kidd, while it's your unit, it's also worth mentioning that the DCMS isn't keen on medium designs as a whole, and you've got more mediums there than anything else.

I dunno about that.  I feel the "Kuritans don't use mediums" is more of a meme than in-universe reality... basically it's as true as the "Steiner Scout Lance" made up of assaults.  We're talking about the 3060s... this is when Daimyos and Komodos are being rolled off the assembly lines as a reaction to the Clans.  He's got both of those... I would have said 4 Komodos is usually too many, but right in that timeframe, it seems about right.  They're new and "just the thing" for fighting the Clans... still too new for their shortcomings in doing so curtail their deployment :D

Also, it's worth digging out which of your designs have C3 versions available to the DCMS in the Clan Invasion period, and having some C3 lances, and even a C3 company, if possible.

The other thing to think about is clustering your omni chasses together - a lance of omnis can carry a platoon of BA into battle.

W.

Yeah, Kurita is already beginning to trip over C3 variants.  Should be easy to include enough for as big (or small) a C3 commitment as you like.

[Kidd]

MORE NOTES
in Mech generation I used RATs then tweaked a few units here and there to strike the right balance between the following categories:

Standard-issue DCMS models:
Jenner, Panther, Daimyo, Wolverine, Grand Dragon, Daikyu, No Dachi, Catapult, Grasshopper, Marauder, Hatamoto, Katana, Mauler, Atlas

'Legacy' models; and odd stuff no-one else wants:
Spider, Phoenix Hawk, Griffin, Quickdraw, Charger, Highlander; Thorn, Wolf Trap, Crab, Kintaro, Hunchback

New-toy syndrome; and new-production Omnis:
Hitman, Bishamon, Komodo, Maelstrom, Gunslinger, Naginata; Owens, Raptor, Strider, Firestarter-O, Blackjack-O, Black Hawk KU, O-Bakemono, Avatar-O, Sunder

In the run-up preparing the unit for combat, the unit has received a below-par allotment of the first category, is saddled with several worn examples of the second category, and has a selection of the third category, but noticeably not in quantity, mainly "take these and go".

CONVENTIONAL ASSETS - preliminary note
The unit's Forward ARC will be assigned 12 to 18 aerospace fighters, 1/3rd Veteran-rated, 2/3rds Green-rated; 1 Armour battalion, and 1 regiment of infantry, the latter two Regular-rated. Again, the Orbat is to be a mix of legacy, standard-issue and a handful of 3060-new toys.

A full strength DCMS mech regiment is 124 mechs, not 108.  You still have 4 more lances to fill out: regimental command, and 3x batallion command.

Okay, then they're under-strength for a regular DCMS unit. That's okay, it plays into the fluff of the unit.

I'd certainly find a way to put the Owens in the same company as the Naginata.

Sorry, it's not properly noted, that Naginata is in the Regimental Command Lance, which will be all-C3 variants. The Owens is an odd duck I know, I'll try to move it when I figure out how many C3 variants the unit will have been allotted.

Atlai: 3 Atlases is a lot, even if it's not implausible for an assault-type regiment.

Good point; though the DC is one of the few producers of the Atlas, it can be said this unit won't be so high up on the priority list for one. I'll consider swapping it for either a Cyclops or Victor.

another thought:  Is your campaign including Aero?  If your regiment is meant to be a Clanbuster unit, you'll certainly want ASF support from the Admiralty.  That's the one domain that IS powers are near parity to the Clans in.

That'll come soon, and I'll welcome your comments then too!  O0

Kidd, while it's your unit, it's also worth mentioning that the DCMS isn't keen on medium designs as a whole, and you've got more mediums there than anything else.

Yeah, but force generation systems don't really reflect that. Now I know this unit has around 20-23 Assaults and its Heavy rating means I can't pack many more than 16 Lights, so I'll consider cutting some Mediums and adding Grand Dragons. Stay tuned!  O0

Also, it's worth digging out which of your designs have C3 versions available to the DCMS in the Clan Invasion period, and having some C3 lances, and even a C3 company, if possible.

Coming, but there won't be many... this is supposed to be a 2nd-line Clan-fodder unit.

The other thing to think about is clustering your omni chasses together - a lance of omnis can carry a platoon of BA into battle.

Yup. I also know this unit is assigned 24 OmniMechs, so I've grouped 12 of them in a 'special-ops' company designed to work closely with the (few) BA this regiment will receive.

I would have said 4 Komodos is usually too many, but right in that timeframe, it seems about right.  They're new and "just the thing" for fighting the Clans... still too new for their shortcomings in doing so curtail their deployment :D

Exactly the idea behind those things; Procurement just said "This is the newfangled anti-BA Mech, you get One Lance of them, now go kill Clanners". Notice they're put in Support Lances? The idea is for each battalion commander to have a 'roving Elemental (trouble)shooter' on hand, plus one spare at Regimental level.

Not nearly enough Panthers.  :P

YOU'RE RIGHT, and not enough Grand Dragons either. But I can't cut any more Light Mechs of other models. I can ADD a few but then the Regiment starts going underweight, its rated Heavy in the FM and just touching 60 tons average. Hmmm...

[worktroll]

As a "second-line", don't forget plain old Dragons. I can see the "name brand" units swapping out their 1Ns, 1Cs, and 5Ns for fancier Grand Dragons.

And lash out - replace an Atlas with an Akuma, which was after all the "budget Atlas" for the DCMS. The Catapult K2 also screams "Kurita!", for a cheaper, jumpy Warhammer.

[CrazyGrasshopper]

Sorry, it's not properly noted, that Naginata is in the Regimental Command Lance, which will be all-C3 variants. The Owens is an odd duck I know, I'll try to move it when I figure out how many C3 variants the unit will have been allotted.

Are you sure you want to spend C3 variants on the command lance, not to mention a regimental one. Fluff-wise, such lance is not going to see too much combat, C3 will be wasted on them. Something iconic or totem for the commander and some suitable bodyguard units for his lance would be more reasonable.

[Kidd]

Are you sure you want to spend C3 variants on the command lance, not to mention a regimental one. Fluff-wise, such lance is not going to see too much combat, C3 will be wasted on them. Something iconic or totem for the commander and some suitable bodyguard units for his lance would be more reasonable.

Good point. I've moved it to a Battalion Command Lance - which is actually the Slow Assault lance, and likely to see action.

[DOC_Agren]

Not nearly enough Panthers.  :P

Really can you every have too many shrunk in the wash Heavy Mechs?  :D :D :D