tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post110469552197508744..comments2024-02-05T00:15:55.638-08:00Comments on New Byzantium: Cold War Byzantium - the early Post War yearsfreecloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02733549306046954628noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post-23947828332042504282015-10-11T19:14:25.849-07:002015-10-11T19:14:25.849-07:00Canberras are a very good example of that! I agree...Canberras are a very good example of that! I agree with the elite Mourtatoi/Gianitzaroi <br />as your airborne unit.Don Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07230631364253238804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post-27858869171018243672015-10-11T16:03:26.949-07:002015-10-11T16:03:26.949-07:00Original reply above went off before finished, no ...Original reply above went off before finished, no editing allowed, so here is the improved version: <br /><br />Agree re aircraft in 60's, and that generation starts being replaced in mid-late 70's, so will only appear.probably as reservist/last gasp air power unless the type had extraordinary staying power (or was continually modified to keep it useful - Canberras are good examples). <br /><br />IMO the various Mercenary units are still essential to get skilled extra manpower, and heaven knows there will be enough ex soldiers floating round to join them esp if they can "lose" themselves cf Foreign Legion.<br /><br />Fwiw I've cast the Vardariots as the newly designated Airborne unit, the elite Mourtatoi/Gianitzaroi are designated as special forces.<br /><br />Akritoi are I guess the "first line" of reservists, mobilising very quickly (maybe within days or even hours) to a threat. <br /><br />I had a lot to say so have started writing a whole further post outlining a possible structure and why :)freecloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02733549306046954628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post-48201244615158333162015-10-11T11:19:36.276-07:002015-10-11T11:19:36.276-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.freecloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02733549306046954628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post-69017656235389979202015-10-11T03:57:02.758-07:002015-10-11T03:57:02.758-07:00Yeah from my read on it the Akritai were about 50/...Yeah from my read on it the Akritai were about 50/50 full/part time troops this was probably due to age of the troops.<br /><br />The Vardariots would be to my mind held at army level as sort of the Delta Force/SAS type and<br />Regimental Trapezitoi Troops at divisional level. All light cav becomes attack coppers and some light infantry becomes airmobile, all heavy cav becomes tank units.<br /><br />Saw that in the 1980s in Korea dug in old tanks used as bunkers.<br /><br />I'm working in 15mm with 1/144th scale aircraft. For what your doing here I'd have to say the WWII stuff would solider on till the late 50s. The first jets going into service in 1960, these would be second<br />hand Migs and their first truly modern jets in about 1967 to 70, SABs from Sweden would be a good bet as well as trainers from were ever.Don Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07230631364253238804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post-48084636714383449152015-10-10T23:59:22.829-07:002015-10-10T23:59:22.829-07:00That's a good thought re Akritai - weren't...That's a good thought re Akritai - weren't many Akritai also part time, so that could be a sort of fast reaction reservist/militia element as well. They would just swap RR with Milan/TOW as the period continued<br /><br />There could also be a similar "fast response" element in every standing Thematic unit as well as the Light infantry. I was planning that these Thematic regiments should evolve into self supporting mechanised brigades as the older armour became available to them, a light mobile component would play well to that notion. Their reservist elements would definitely be truck mounted, or at best have very old APCs.<br /><br />(I am the basing discrete Light Infantry battalions on the Greek Evzones up to this period, but was thinking of then evolving them into a sort of Rapid Reaction force for the 80's era).<br /><br />I was thinking that one of the Elite light regiments (Gianitzaroi infantry, maybe the ex-cavalry Vardariots) could become a dedicated air mobile unit, but infantry + jeeps are easily portable by most medium size helos so you could easily move these sorts of units around. <br /><br />Re: Kleisourae, Austria bought old Centurion tanks from the Dutch and mounted their turrets in at various strategic points.<br /><br />BTW did you have any preferences for aircraft? I'm gaming in 1/300 so will have some on table, certainly helos and ground support. The Soviets put a limit on "real" fightig aitcraft on Austria & Finland, so the get-around was to use "trainers" with a dual strike role.freecloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02733549306046954628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post-62863685703942575272015-10-10T18:42:20.387-07:002015-10-10T18:42:20.387-07:00Also the Akritai can be the genesis of your air ...Also the Akritai can be the genesis of your air mobile units as you acquire helicopters . Don Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07230631364253238804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6591743244346895259.post-45234533850060744912015-10-10T16:58:19.675-07:002015-10-10T16:58:19.675-07:00Excellent write up! Akritai was a nickname for bor...Excellent write up! Akritai was a nickname for border thematics.......put them in SAS style jeeps with lots of MGs and Recoilless Rifles, a fast reaction /boarder guard force.Militia comes in two distinct categories. One is mobile, the other Kleisourai, or fortified zones. Mobile militia is equipped with scouts cars and tank destroyers, and also truck mounted-mobile infantry battalions. These with little modification can serve throughout this period.Don Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07230631364253238804noreply@blogger.com