In the rules, Arty suggests that each base have a couple of numbers written on it; one number would denote company membership, the other platoon membership. He also suggests the use of prone figures, wounded figures and rubble to mark whether a unit is Pinned, “No Fire”, Suppressed or Ground Hugging. I like the latter because it does not involve a nasty number or word written on a card, which would spoil the look of my battlefield. I dislike the former for the same reasons.
I have marked one company of 1940 French as follows:
- 1st Company, 1st Platoon: each base has a little bush made out of artificial pond weed made for putting in fish tanks.
- 1st Company, 2nd Platoon: each base has a patch of “wheat flock” on it.
- 1st Company, 3rd Platoon: each base has a small twig, cut to look like a log.
- 1st Company, Mortar and FO: both have a small twig, cut to look like a log.
- 1st Company Commander: base has two figures on it, plus a small bush, a patch of wheat flock, and a log.
So one can tell at a glance which stands belong to the same platoon, and by looking at the symbolic bits of terrain on the company commander, it is possible to see which platoons belong to him. One battalion of three companies of three platoons needs nine different symbolic bits of terrain.
Mine were: the above three, lumps of cat litter resembling rocks, green foam for another kind of small bush, three different colours (green, yellow, red) of artificial lichen, and tall reeds (made from old fashioned string).
For ground hugging squads I use a prone figure lying behind the stand. For pinned units I use a prone figure in front of the stand. For suppressed squads I use the same prone figure as before but turned belly-up (and I have painted gory glossy crimson on his belly – very clear to the eye). For “No Fire” I use an ammunition crate.
Nikolas Lloyd
that’s a great idea, going to do the same. 🙂