The Rotterdam Project Part 2

Update on the Dutch Marines for Chain of Command

ok so this took more than 5 days but the main platoon is now done (!) with plenty of time left before the Germans are due in May :-)

The platoon is a bit strange. It has a fairly standard three squad platoon, but then goes "a bit wrong". The Dutch never took an active part in WW1 so they never had a chance to learn first hand some of the low level lessons. One of these was the need to make the infantry squads more flexible. The Dutch don't have the ability to split a squad into teams, and instead operate as a single eleven man squad.

This has some advantages. It will take a lot more to pin a large squad than a small three or four man team, but it does impose a bit of a tactical straight jacket. Then again the lack of flexibility will be "interesting". The squads do have an LMG, but it is the distinctly WW1 issue Lewis gun, with a rather dodgy big drum mag that is prone to stoppages and cant fire on the move. Rather worryingly no anti tank rifle, indeed no integral support weapons at all. I suppose this is in part because the Marines were organised and equipped to act as landing parties and the like in far flung territories where tanks are not likely. Then again the Regular army dont have an ATR either. Or tanks for that matter. Oh and the officer has a sword - something of a first for my WW2 armies!

Next time - some supports