My use of mathematics to improve my Bolt Action forces continues, so after my previous posts – the original post WW2 – Band of Brothers – squad Optimisation and the workings for the Germans WW2 – Band of Brothers – squad Optimisation Part 2 and then the rework of the Americans WW2 – Band of Brothers – List Optimisation.
After all of that I built the following forces from the available sprues-
- 1 LMG team – which with the addition of 1 extra can be an MMG
- 1 sniper team – which can also be used to represent 2 riflemen
- 4 NCO’s – all with rifles
- 2 officers – 1 with rifle, 1 with SMG
- 6 Troopers with SMG
- 2 Troopers with BAR
- 3 Troopers with Rifles
- 3 Troopers with Carbines
Now the starter set recommends you build
- 2nd Lieutenant with SMG and 2 attendants one with SMG and 1 with a rifle
- 1 MMG team of 3
- Squad 1 * 2
- 3 with SMG
- 1 with BAR
- 5 with Rifle
From my initial analysis I chose to build
- 2 squads of 4 SMG, 4 Rifles and 1 Bar
- A 2nd Lieutenant
- 1 MMG of 3 men
- 1 Sniper team of 2
I have now included a calculation for the IMPACTFULNESS of snipers so the above has a total IMPACTFULNESS score of
- 6.64+6.64+0.85+7.57+2.24 = 23.94
I still in my head have the query over whether multiple small teams are better than 2 large, so if I look to build 5 man squads what are my options and how will they score on the IMPACTFULNESS model?
- So if I keep the 2nd Lieutenant and MMG team – I will have 20 men left from which I can create the following squads.
- Using the US Paratrooper Squad (Late war) as outlined in the Band of Brothers box – the unit can consist of
- At least 6 men a max of 12 men
- upto 5 SMG’s
- Upto 1 Bar
- Upto 2 LMGs + Loader
- So we will be looking at 1 6 man squad and 2 7 men squads
- Using the US Paratrooper Squad (Late war) as outlined in the Band of Brothers box – the unit can consist of
| Squad make up | V3 Moving | V3 Static | V3 Score | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MMG | 5.44 | 9.71 | 7.57 | 65 |
| Sniper | 1.33 | 3.16 | 2.24 | 65 |
| Officer with Rifle | 0.66 | 1.03 | 0.85 | 65 |
| Officer with Pistol | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.44 | 65 |
| Officer with SMG | 1.33 | 1.33 | 1.33 | 65 |
| Officer + 1 assistant with Rifles | 1.09 | 1.70 | 1.40 | 79 |
| Officer + 1 assistant with SMGS | 2.18 | 2.18 | 2.18 | 79 |
| Officer with Rifle + 1 assistant with SMG | 1.64 | 1.94 | 1.79 | 79 |
| Officer with SMG+ 2 Assistants with Rifles | 1.21 | 1.55 | 1.38 | 93 |
| Officer with Rifle + 2 assistants with SMG | 1.51 | 1.68 | 1.60 | 93 |
| Officer + 2 Assistants with Rifles | 0.94 | 1.41 | 1.16 | 93 |
| Officer + 2 Assistants with SMGS | 1.81 | 1.81 | 1.81 | 93 |
| 4 SMG, 1 BAR, 2 LMG | 8.05 | 12.03 | 10.04 | 183 |
| 4 Rifles, 1 BAR, 2 LMG | 7.30 | 12.29 | 9.56 | 171 |
| 3 Rifles, 4 SMG, 1 LMG | 6.66 | 9.20 | 7.93 | 158 |
| 3 rifles, 5 SMG, 1 BAR | 6.09 | 7.48 | 6.79 | 146 |
| 4 Rifles, 4 SMG, 1 BAR | 5.82 | 7.46 | 6.64 | 143 |
| 5 Rifles, 3 SMG, 1 BAR | 7.08 | 9.29 | 8.19 | 140 |
| 7 Rifles, 1 LMG | 5.67 | 9.27 | 7.47 | 146 |
| 8 Rifles, 1 LMG | 5.53 | 9.01 | 7.27 | 160 |
| 5 SMG, 1 BAR | 5.38 | 6.27 | 5.83 | 104 |
| 1 Rifle, 5 SMG, 1 BAR | 5.11 | 6.09 | 5.60 | 118 |
| 5 Rifles, 1 SMG, 1 BAR | 4.06 | 6.06 | 5.06 | 106 |
| 5 Rifles, 1 BAR | 3.87 | 6.25 | 5.06 | 89 |
| 6 rifles , 1 BAR | 3.76 | 6.05 | 4.91 | 103 |
| 5 Rifles 1 SMG | 3.47 | 4.85 | 4.16 | 87 |
| 5 SMGs, 1 Rifle | 4.79 | 5.03 | 4.91 | 99 |
| 6 SMGs | 5.07 | 5.07 | 5.07 | 102 |
| 6 Rifles | 3.08 | 4.79 | 3.94 | 84 |
| 2 SMGs, 4 rifles, 1 Bar | 4.35 | 6.07 | 5.21 | 109 |
| 3 SMG, 3 Rifles, 1 Bar | 4.61 | 6.08 | 5.35 | 112 |
| 4 SMGs, 2 Rifles | 4.49 | 4.99 | 4.74 | 96 |
| 2 SMGs, 4 Rifles | 3.83 | 4.90 | 4.37 | 90 |
| 3 SMG, 1 Bar and 1 Rifle | 5.13 | 6.50 | 5.81 | 84 |
| 5 Rifles | 3.08 | 4.79 | 3.94 | 70 |
| 4 SMG and 1 BAR | 5.45 | 6.50 | 5.97 | 87 |
| 4 Rifles and 1 BAR | 4.02 | 6.52 | 5.27 | 75 |
| 4 Rifles and 1 SMG | 3.54 | 4.86 | 4.20 | 73 |
| 2 BAR and 3 SMG | 5.81 | 7.85 | 6.83 | 89 |
| 2 BAR and 3 Rifles | 4.85 | 8.01 | 6.43 | 80 |
| 3 SMG and 2 Rifles | 3.97 | 4.92 | 4.44 | 76 |
| 1 LMG, 2 SMG, 1 Rifle | 6.04 | 9.06 | 7.55 | 96 |
| 2 SMGs and 5 Rifles | 3.73 | 4.88 | 4.31 | 104 |
Lets look at some options –
- As stated before – assuming we keep the 2nd Lieutenant and MMG we start with an IMPACTFULNESS of – 0.85+7.57 = 8.42
- So lets look at some options
- 2 Units of 1 BAR, 3 SMG and 1 Rifle and 2 Unit of 5 Rifles
- 5.21+5.21+4.37= 14.79
- for a total of 14.79+8.42= 23.21 so slightly lower than the original
- 2 units of 1 Bar and 6 Rifles and a Unit of 6 SMGs
- 4.91+4.91+5.07=14.89
- for a total of 14.89+8.42= 23.31 so still lower than the original
- 2 Units of 1 BAR, 3 SMGs and 3 Rifles and 1 Unit of 6 Rifles
- 5.35+5.35+3.08=13.79
- for a total of 13.78+8.42= 22.2 so even lower than the original
- 2 Units of 1 BAR, 3 SMG and 1 Rifle and 2 Unit of 5 Rifles
Now if I use the Paratrooper Squad from the Core rule book I can makes squads that
- Have 5 to 12 men
- Upto 5 SMGs
- Upto 2 BARs
This will allow me to make 4 * 5 man squads so lets see if by increasing the number of squads further we get different results
- As stated before – assuming we keep the 2nd Lieutenant and MMG we start with an IMPACTFULNESS of – 0.85+7.57 = 8.42
- So lets look at some options
- 2 Units of 1 BAR, 3 SMG and 1 Rifles and 2 Units of 5 Rifles
- 5.81+5.81+3.94+3.94= 19.5
- for a total of 19.50+8.42= 27.92 that is a healthy increase
- 1 Unit of 1 BAR and 4 SMG, 1 Unit of 1 BAR and 4 Rifles and 2 Units of 1 SMG and 4 Rifles
- 4.20+4.20+5.27+5.97=19.64
- for a total of 19.64+8.42= 28.06 even higher
- 1 Unit of 2 BAR and 3 SMGs and 3 Units of 1 SMG and 4 Rifles
- 4.20+4.20+4.20+6.83=19.43
- for a total of 19.43+8.42= 27.85 higher but not as good as either of the other 2
- 1 Unit of 2 BAR and 3 Rifles and 3 Units of 2 SMG and 3 Rifles
- 6.43+4.44+4.44+4.44=19.75
- for a total of 19.75+8.42= 28.17 highest so far.
- 2 Units of 1 BAR, 3 SMG and 1 Rifles and 2 Units of 5 Rifles
Lets put all of this in a single easy to read table and add the Points Costs for the Lists
| List Make up | IMPACTFULNESS | Points Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Unit of 2 BAR and 3 Rifles 3 Units of 2 SMG and 3 Rifles 1 2nd Lieutenant 1 MMG | 28.17 | 438 |
| 1 Unit of 1 BAR and 4 SMG 1 Unit of 1 BAR and 4 Rifles 2 Units of 1 SMG and 4 Rifles 1 2nd Lieutenant 1 MMG | 28.06 | 438 |
| 2 Units of 1 BAR, 3 SMG and 1 Rifle 2 Units of 5 Rifles 1 2nd Lieutenant 1 MMG | 27.92 | 438 |
| 1 Unit of 2 BAR and 3 SMGs 3 Units of 1 SMG and 4 Rifles 1 2nd Lieutenant 1 MMG | 27.85 | 438 |
| 2 squads of 4 SMG, 4 Rifles and 1 Bar A 2nd Lieutenant 1 MMG of 3 men 1 Sniper team of 2 | 23.94 | 481 |
| 2 units of 1 Bar and 6 Rifles a Unit of 6 SMGs 1 2nd Lieutenant 1 MMG | 23.31 | 438 |
| 2 Units of 1 BAR, 3 SMGs and 3 Rifles 1 Unit of 6 Rifles 1 2nd Lieutenant 1 MMG | 22.20 | 438 |
| 2 Squads of 5 Rifles, 3 SMG and 1 Bar 1 1st Lieutenant + 2 assistants 1 with rifle 1 with SMG 1 MMG | 21.66 | 463 |
There is a further option – that is I turn the MMG into an LMG and 1 extra rifleman and beef up the squads – so taking the list with the highest IMPACTFULNESS and adding these in I get
- 1 Squad of 2 BAR and 3 Rifles – 6.43 IMPACTFULNESS for 80 pts
- 1 Unit of 1 LMG, 2 SMG and 1 Rifles – 7.55 IMPACTFULNESS for 96 pts
- 2 Units of 2 SMG and 5 Rifles – 4.31 IMPACTFULNESS for 104 pts each
- This gives me 6.43+7.55+4.31+4.31+0.85 = 23.45 IMPACTFULNESS for 447 pts
At the end of all of this – Smaller squads do offer greater impact, the MMG is worth its points , well at least with these figures. Unsurprisingly larger squads do have greater IMPACT and odd numbers of figures in a squad is better than even numbers.
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