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Colin P said:In a perfect world a Reserve Squadron would have 4 troops. One in open top and partly mine-protected G-wagons. A Troop in the armoured G-wagons to provide support. A HQ troop in enclosed G-wagons with the radios and bits required and a Support troop in a larger 1 1/2 ton (Unimog) to provide POL, Rations, Ammo and support weapons.
Colin,
I'd be interested as to where you found that TO&E for Reserve Recce. BTW, in a perfect world, we would also have an Assault troop.
In fact, the Sabre troops would all be mounted in the same equipment configuration, as all are required to fill in, and perform, all our main tasks according to the BTS. Mainly, AtoC, OPs, Retrograde Ops (RAS, Convoys Escort, etc). The SHQ portion is required to maintain comms with higher (and lower), supply, and security. All C\S, with the exception of the SSM replen group, require two radios and amps. One to speak on Sqn and Troop frequency and the other to speak directly to Div\ Brigade CP, the people we are actually working for and conducting the recce for. We've fallen into the trap of reporting to Regt\Sqn, then they pass up to Brigade\Div because we lack the range without the proper equipment. We typically only operate on one frequency because of lack of equipment and the fact we can, normally, only get two frequencies assigned.
As to the amount of troops and vehicles, the Regiment here, when in Iltis could field 3-4 full troops with an SHQ on a given weekend. We had the pers and vehicles to do it. Nowadays, we still have the pers, but nowhere near the vehicles, and equipment, to fill out. We went from 28 Iltis, to IIRC, 14 G-Wagons. Only two have dual installations and one amp. The rest have one radio and no amp. SHQ has gone from one LSVW CP, one SSM's LSVW, two MLs and two HLs to one SSM Milcot, and two MSVS (you can't mix POL with other cargo). We also have the problem of having to send most of our fleet to Meaford or Gagetown on a regular basis. Taskings that are CFTPO are normally one - two months. This stretches to approx. 4-5 including turning them in and receiving the back. That's providing Meaford or Gagetown haven't broke them, then it could take up to a year to get them back.