Small Unit Tactics for Light Weapons

Small Unit Tactics for Light Weapons

The Blue Company

Tristan Grey Randal the Malcontent Alexandre Bernajoux

Robert de Marchet Constance de Marchet

Regan Davis Iain MacGhilleMhuir Arcadia de Medina

Valeria Davis Natalia Vasilkovna Riazan

Scola Metallorum The Outlands

January 30, 1999 2nd Edition (Updated, November 2002)

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Small Unit Tactics for Light Weapons

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2

Introduction......................................................................................................................................5 1st Edition, 1996... .................................................................................................................5 2nd Edition, 1999... ................................................................................................................5 Today: Web Update, 2002... ..................................................................................................6

Chapter 1: Before You Melee..........................................................................................................7 Fighters...................................................................................................................................7 Armor .....................................................................................................................................8 Weapons .................................................................................................................................8 Terrain ....................................................................................................................................9 Miscellaneous.......................................................................................................................10

Chapter 2: Basic Terminology.......................................................................................................12 The Parts of a Unit ...............................................................................................................12 People ...................................................................................................................................13 Units .....................................................................................................................................14

Chapter 3: Being a Solider.............................................................................................................16 Identification ........................................................................................................................16 Movement ............................................................................................................................17 Following Orders .................................................................................................................22 Communication ....................................................................................................................22

Chapter 4: Being a Commander ....................................................................................................25 Planning ...............................................................................................................................25

Chapter 5: The Pair........................................................................................................................40 Positioning ...........................................................................................................................40 Offense .................................................................................................................................42 Defense.................................................................................................................................45 Command .............................................................................................................................46

Chapter 6: The Team .....................................................................................................................47 Positioning ...........................................................................................................................47 Offense .................................................................................................................................47 Defense.................................................................................................................................50 The Team As A Training Unit .............................................................................................51

Chapter 7: Flankers........................................................................................................................52 Selection of Flankers............................................................................................................52 Command .............................................................................................................................53 Offense .................................................................................................................................53

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Small Unit Tactics for Light Weapons

Table of Contents

Chapter 8: Theory of Combat ....................................................................................................... 61 A Linear Combat Model...................................................................................................... 61 A Differential Equation Combat Model .............................................................................. 64 Theoretical Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 70 Advanced Models................................................................................................................ 70 Runge-Kutta Fourth Order Algorithm................................................................................. 71 Reference............................................................................................................................. 73

Chapter 9: Missile Weapons ......................................................................................................... 74 Types of Missile Weapons .................................................................................................. 74

Chapter 10: Marshaling Melees .................................................................................................... 77 Setting Up a Melee .............................................................................................................. 77

Chapter 11: Teaching Melee Skills ............................................................................................... 85 Training Drills For Beginners ............................................................................................. 85 Intermediate Drills............................................................................................................... 86 Advanced Drills................................................................................................................... 88 Melee Drills ......................................................................................................................... 90

Chapter 12: Melee Scenarios ........................................................................................................ 91 Format.................................................................................................................................. 91 Basic Rules .......................................................................................................................... 91 The Open Field Battle ......................................................................................................... 93 The Gate Battle.................................................................................................................... 93 The Double Gate Battle ....................................................................................................... 94 The Bridge Battle ................................................................................................................ 94 The Flared Bridge Battle ..................................................................................................... 95 The Double Bridge Battle.................................................................................................... 95 Campaign Design ................................................................................................................ 95

Chapter 13: Fighter Analysis ........................................................................................................ 97 Types of Fighters................................................................................................................. 97 Watch and Learn.................................................................................................................. 99 The Truth Tells .................................................................................................................. 102 How You Can Train to Become a Shifty Bastard/Bitch.................................................... 103 Training ............................................................................................................................. 104 The Downed Fighter (DF) ................................................................................................. 105 In Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 109

Chapter 14: On Formations......................................................................................................... 110 The Line............................................................................................................................. 110 The Funnel......................................................................................................................... 111 The Circle .......................................................................................................................... 113 Conclusion......................................................................................................................... 114

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Small Unit Tactics for Light Weapons

Table of Contents

Chapter 15: Death From Behind..................................................................................................115 Terminology .......................................................................................................................115 Performing DFB Safely .....................................................................................................115 Response to Various DFB Attacks.....................................................................................116 A Philosophical Statement/Argument Against The Use OF Death From Behind In SCA

Light Weapons Fighting .........................................................................................................119 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................121

Chapter 16: Weapons Design And Attributes .............................................................................122 The Functional Weapon .....................................................................................................122

Appendix A: Tales from the Tavern............................................................................................125 Barkeep, Another Tankard of Ale! ....................................................................................125 Damn Students ...................................................................................................................125 Never Talk to a Pirate ........................................................................................................125 Death From Below .............................................................................................................126 Good Shot?.........................................................................................................................127 Why Fighters Train ............................................................................................................127 Don't Underestimate the Dead! ..........................................................................................127 Running Away ...................................................................................................................128 Too Slow Out Of The Blocks ............................................................................................128 It's always Marshal, Marshal, Marshal! .............................................................................129 Behind You! .......................................................................................................................129 Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Randal Right Over!.............................................................129 Sir, No Sir! .........................................................................................................................130 A Deer In The Headlights ..................................................................................................130 P l a n A h e a d ..................................................................................................................130 BEHIND US...HELLO! .....................................................................................................131 A Mooving Experience At A Cattle Raid ..........................................................................131 A Mooving Experience At A Cattle Raid II.......................................................................132 Man in Trouble...................................................................................................................132 Did You Lose Something? .................................................................................................133 Leg 'em and Leave 'em.......................................................................................................133 Can You Do That? .............................................................................................................134

Appendix B: Recommend Bibliography .....................................................................................135 Small Unit Leadership........................................................................................................135 Martial Arts Philosophy .....................................................................................................136

Appendix C: Contact Information ...............................................................................................137

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Small Unit Tactics for Light Weapons

Introduction

Introduction

1st Edition, 1996...

After playing SCA light weapons for several years, my friends and I gradually became frustrated and bored with the usual tournament scenarios. After all, once you've done one double elimination, you've done them all. This led to an increased interest in melees. After all, a melee represents the ultimate in combat -- multiple fighters, multiple weapons, terrain, goals, tactics, and strategy. This is not to say that a formal duel over a matter of honor cannot be exciting and fun. However, in comparison to running through a mock village with five of your friends looking for bags of treasure and fending off city guards, the duel is somewhat lacking. This manual is meant to extend the melee within SCA light weapons above and beyond the usual open field battle. Within this handbook are the basic tools for creating units and scenarios for light weapons melees. In addition, the manual extends the basic melee to include missile weapons, an aspect of combat usually not seen in light weapons. This manual is not meant to be the final word in melee tactics and strategy -- instead, the manual is meant to explore some of the possibilities inherent to light weapons melee combat.

2nd Edition, 1999...

Now after almost three years of working on the manual, my friends and I have come to realize that this document is constantly evolving. In reviewing tapes of old fighter practices, events, and melees, we noticed that much of the 1st edition manual was quickly becoming outdated. Some changes occurred in response to increasing importance of light weapons melee combat in the kingdom (as seen at the Estrella War). Other changes occurred as counter-tactics rendered existing techniques for offense and defense ineffective. Some changes even occurred as several of the Blue Company instructors modified our existing training programs for new fighters into include basic melee skills. Finally, we decide to make the extra push and completely convert the manual over to HTML as the paper copies were becoming cumbersome and expensive to create and distribute. We hope you enjoy the second edition and find it a valuable resource in your light weapons fighting.

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