Balkan wars squad tactics

[valerio81]

Dear all,

I finally took the plunge and bought some Greeks and Turks fromTiger, witht the ideas of expanding them and also go with Bulgarians etc.

I was thinking either pure skirmish (i.e. figures moving individually) with Fivecore, or more squad-oriented gaming such as Mud & Blood for TFL. This would really be my first choice, but doesn't sound too good if the squads you need to manouver with are 15 rifle-armed guys only, no specialists, no fireteams etc..).

 Can anybody points me toward a good source for Balkan wars armies platoon and squad level tactics, so I can assess which way to go? Which approach sounds more interesting and doable?
Tha ks and best valerio

[Sunjester]

Large rifle squads are pretty much what they used! Fire teams and specialists (lmg/bombers etc, were really a later development a few years into the Great War). I've actually had some really good games for the Balkans Wars using Lardie's Chain of Command rather than Mud and Blood, with my Turks and Greeks (also from Tiger).

[huevans]

I would question whether they had squad tactics at all. Squad tactics came in with the assignment of lmg's to infantry sections in the mid 1930's. Before that you had company tactics and platoon level assault tactics for trench warfare in the 1916-1918 period.

[valerio81]

Thanks guys. Disappointing but this is what I was expecting. Savage clashes between individuals it is, then...

[armchairgeneral]

I use Bolt Action for my Great War Eastern Front games with the Russians being 12 figure rifle squad supported by HMGs and field guns and that gives a good game.