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« on: August 08, 2013, 05:27:32 AM »
I'll like to suggest an alternative solution to the Royal Marine Commando issue. Create a new faction modeled after 1st Canadian Army and make the Royal Marines one of their 3 optional supports. There are a number of advantages to this approach:
1) Historically 1st Canadian Army was responsible to clearing the North-West European coast (Northern France, West Belgium, Netherlands) and frequently fought with the support of the real Royal Marines (cf. Battle of the Scheldt on Wikipedia).
2) 1st Canadian Army used predominantly British equipment (which players want to use in a more aggressive manner), but were responsible for the creation of some interesting equipment of their own (eg Wasp IIC, Ram Kangaroo, Sexton) which could be highlighted in the Canadian Faction.
3) It doesn't involve modifying the existing British Army (which the mod creators have no interest in doing)
4) 1st Canadian Army included Canadian, British and Polish units (as well as American, Belgian, Dutch and Czech units at different times) giving it a multinational feel similar to the Ostheer faction
5) It avoids the issue of having a "Commando Faction" which would seem imbalanced compared to the other factions.
Ideas for Canadian units could include:
2-inch mortars (A common piece among British infantry: lighter and handier than other mortars, but with less range and less power)
Bren carrier with Wasp IIC upgrade (This flamethrower equiped Bren carrier had a fuel tank on the rear allowing the vehicle to still be used as a troop carrier)
Ram Kangaroo (Heavy infantry transport)
Humber Armoured Car (Humber II had a HMG and a LMG, upgrade to Humber IV for a 37mm gun)
Sherman V (Upgrade to Sherman IC [more commonly called the Firefly]
Archer (A defensive AT vehicle that featured a 17pdr firing over the rear of the vehicle)
Sexton (A SP 25pdr on a modified Ram tank chassis)
Royal Marines could function as a form of elite infantry for the Canadian base faction, with the option for more Royal Marine equipment if one chooses Royal Marine Support.
Obviously this would all be a ton of work, but I hope the idea of a Canadian Army might give some inspiration.
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That wasn't exactly the approach taken during the Battle of the Scheldt, but the 25 pdr was an important piece of equipment for Commonwealth forces. Artillery was generally the only area in which German soldiers thought that the Allies had an edge on a piece for piece basis. I've read a lot of accounts from both perspectives concerning the devastating nature of 25 pdr artillery fire.