Combat Mission Units: USMC Rifle Company in CMSF2

A quick guide to the USMC Rifle Company as modelled in Combat Mission Shock Force 2.

Mods-wise I'm running the ubiquitous HQS sound mod, Vin's Geometric icons and Vein's effects.

#CombatMission

[usuallyhapless]

It's very barebones for now- until I can work out how to do fancier things- but all you awesome people who have asked about Patreon now have the option ;)

No videos are going to be stuck behind paywalls or anything like that, this is simply about giving those who have expressed a desire to support me beyond Youtube the ability to do so, with a few bonuses thrown in.

[d.c.]

Good video! I especially like the part where you explained how they fit into the larger organization of the Marine Corps, wrt their operational and strategic ability. In a tactical simulation like Combat Mission, the choices that dictate the terms of the engagement are often abstracted or left out entirely and it's nice to have them explained.

[Prederick]

Also, if this game was truly realistic, any map that features Army and Marines working together, they should spend most of their time insulting each other. XD

[Spectre]

Caveat w/ regards to Assault Teams @ 9:50; the blast command does in fact work, but only after you select the move order and then select “Blast”.

For some reason, selecting “Blast” and then placing the move marker will tell them to move quickly, per the video.

A frustrating bug, but not one without a workaround, thankfully.

That being said, glad to see the Marines finally got some love, and I’m looking forward to their Black Sea debut… eventually.

[pyrrhusinvictus]

Not game-related.

The M32 was an organic weapon per rifle platoon, and we usually gave it to a rifleman, not the team leader. That allowed us to bring 9 M203s and the M32 into a fight. The M32 can be reloaded quickly with enough practice, allowing you to saturate choke points, like the entrance to a compound, with 40mm.

[Bedbug]

The amount of ass the Marines have at the squad level is really unmatched, as soon as contact is taken the overwhelming amount of fire power that is used really makes you think twice before getting into a engagement with these guys.

[CCOOKE]

Added note: It's cool that the CLU (command launch unit) on the jav in this game helps for spotting at night. In syria we brought our CLUs to our night OPs. We didn't ever engage armor and we knew we weren't going to, the FLIR imaging and eye piece on the clu are just great for recon and observation.

Also Bradley's are air transportable as well

[breandank]

Really love these unit break downs, they’re so helpful. Hope you keep up with them!

[Ryan-lxoh]

Playing through the Rolling Thunder Campaign currently & am loven this game! Appreciate your commentary Usually Hapless! Keep em coming!

[Euan_Miller]

Those 13 man sections really are lethal in CMSF2

[timothysmith]

I've never thought of their differences between the Army and the Marines in the way that you have described in this video. Such an excellent analysis :)

[Brille_Zwo]

Hey hapless ! Good video as always. But you should mention that there is a workaround about the breach-order problem with the SMAW-team. And it is a rather simple one too: Selecting the command individually ("quick" in this case) and give it the blast command again. Sometimes you need that extra charges and it would be a shame if they go to waste in their pockets. :D

[userequaltoNull]

I'd honestly like to see a PVP battle with a Volksturm-heavy force. I think it could be cool to see irregulars in action in a WW2 setting.

[EvilTwinn]

Personally, I'm a bit unsatisfied with just company level formations. There's little bits and pieces here, but the big pieces that make a lot of these formations stand out is at the battalion level, which I think merits a lot of discussion. In this case, a MEU provides an interesting combined arms unit which you can plop the rifle company in to see where a lot of the critical enablers come in, many of which would be available in normal usage of the company with only moderate reinforcement.
I get that it's a lot more ground to cover, but still, I think it's a critical gap.

[jamesscott]

I know this is for a video game, but this is some serious @BattleOrder quality video!
Disregarding the recent past the game's time frame is in, I've heard the modern Marine Squad is replacing those SMAWS with Carl Gustav's, but adding them organically 1 per Squad (so 3 per Platoon, 9 per Company...idk how much ammo, but I'd wager 5-6 rounds like the SMAW) In turn that Co Assault Section I believe they're discussing pushing the Bn Javelins down to them (although I guess the Assaultman MOS itself is going bye bye?) So that would be something like 3-6 Javs per Company (depending on if it is a true 1 for 1 replacement at the Co Weapons Plt), which would definitely help their AT Firepower
(Not to mention all the M16s/M4/M249 have been replaced by the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, a version of the HK416, though 6 M249 are still help by the Co to push out when/if needed... I guess if they do a more modern/near future campaign those changes would be reflected)

[nicholasshaler]

Have you considered doing a playthrough of the USMC campaign? It is my favorite of all the combat mission campaigns that I have played.

[ccccccc]

I’m commenting just to plug your channel into the algorithm. Keep up that great content

[jakf]

Always enjoy watching your unit videos. You always go above standard and create a really detailed visual scene with the in game shots, and as always provide some great tactics and real life comparisons.

Wish you could make them more often they are fun to watch.

[glennhighcoveexploresstuff]

As someone who does similar content for another sim, as well as someone who did a small youtube and podcast until recently, thank you for great content like this, and great work. Your shots and graphics integration, as well as editing, are superb and a model for others doing similar content. I hope you get positive feedback in a way that makes you want to continue covering Combat Mission like this. I think it serves its niche/battleground size well, and the improvements make it a very entertaining but hard sim. Showing the nuances being modeled really does our industry a service. Thank you for this.

[maschinenmensch]

Great video as always. Tactical mobility really is the soft spot for the marines. I once put my whole squad into an Amtrac and drove on a mine with it...