Imperial Tank Formations

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Imperial Tank Formations

Author: Sith;Saltaeon

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A small holorecording would play once the file was downloaded. The voice of Sith Saltaeon accompanied images and on-screen text.

"What follows after this is a series of combat formations to be used by Imperial tank squadrons on the battlefield. These are designed to be used with turreted tanks, such as the IB-CT or ID-TD. A squadron is made up of three tanks, usually of the same class, with one tank designated Command usually by seniority of the crew. Where posistions are marked they are accompanied by a numerical value, with 1 designating the command tank. The command tank is almost always seen at the center of the squadron formation so that it has both flanks protected. On larger formations the command tank will usually be seen at the center but not directly at the front, this is to protect the valuable commander. However a commander may still change the formation to suit his or her needs. Several squadrons can sometimes be deployed together into a Platoon formation, or even larger. However such large formations are rarely seen on the battlefield due to the Empire's combined arms approach. The theory here can also roughly be translated for the Crawler tank or even the IM-IT, with suitable changes made due to the lack of a turret or difference in combat roles. On formation diagrams, lines of fire show where the tank in question should be focusing, they are still able to fire beyond that arc, but squadrons are designed that if tank crews are watching their respective zone they should not be caught surprised by the enemy."

And as soon as it had started, the brief recording was done. Following, the file would go into detail concerning different formations of tank units.

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Spoiler: The OOC Bit

I don't believe this will ever be seen ICly thanks to the rarity of player character tanks. But I wanted to do something like this, so I have.

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Spoiler: Squadron advancing, line abreast

A standard formation for advancing to contact with an enemy, giving excellent firepower forwards whilst providing some flank protections against unexpected enemy moves or unidentified posistions.

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Spoiler: Squadron stationary, in firing line

Formation used for prolonged bombardments or providing covering fire to another squadron advancing. Provides maximum firepower forwards but no flank cover.

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Spoiler: Squadron advancing, in column

Formation used for road marches or movement through dense terrain. Provides cover to forwards, left and right flanks, and allows for best speed, but is not a combat formation. Contact with the enemy will usually mean the column 'shakes out' into a line, if the terrain permits.
Notes: The lead and rear posistions are interchangable. Crews will usually take turns leading the column. Many squadron leaders will also take their turn on point, although standard doctrine maintains that the best posistion for the squadron commander is always in the center of the formations.
Cover left and right posistions are also interchangable, depending upon which direction the main enemy threat is perceived to be from.

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Spoiler: Squadron in echelon right

Invert for echelon left. Provides excellent firepower to the flanks, but poor firepower forwards.
Echelon formations are commonly used if the squadron is providing flank protection to a wider formation movement, such as a platoon or entire company.
Typically, a platoon on the move in open ground might move as a squadron echelon right, a squadron line abreast or wedge, and a squadron echelon left. The commander would join the center squadron.
In the case of a company formation, only the extreme left and right squadrons of the formation would move in echelon.

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Spoiler: Squadron advancing in wedge

This is the classice aggressive attack formation, providing excellent firepower for the lead tank.
Usually used as the center squadron for a larger formation, with the left and right squadrons in echelon formations to extend the sides of the wedge.

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Spoiler: Platoon advancing, in wedge

Basic squadron formations are combined to create platoon formations. Shown here is the standard platoon attack formation of a wedge, with the commander in the center. Many aggressive commanders prefer to join the center squadron at the point of the attack.
The precise location of attached support (such as the Mauler or Crawler tank) vehicles varies, some commanders place them on the flanks, some protect them in the center of the wedge, others leave them out altogether, posistioning them to give covering fire as the wedge advances.

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Spoiler: Squadron in staggered line right

This a rarely used formation, but provides better forward firepower than a column whilst allowing the squadron to maintain good speed and all round protection.
Used often during breakthrough operations when enemy units have been bypassed in favour of a quick advance and exploitation.

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