7.2.5.1 Detachment Orders
To move a group of federations as one organised force you must build a 'detachment of federations' using the orders below.
| Order | Position of Follower around Leader |
| 41 | in front of |
| 42 | ahead and left of |
| 43 | right of |
| 44 | behind and right of |
| 45 | behind of |
| 46 | behind and left of |
| 47 | left of |
| 48 | ahead and right of |
Each detachment of federations has a single ‘leading federation' that all others will follow exactly. The ‘following federations’ will copy exactly the orders given to the leading federation. Each ‘following federations’ order describes its position around this leader. The number of the leading federation is written as the 'Additional Order' for each of the following federations.
Example:
| Batt | Start | Addit | Dest 1 | Dest 2 | Alternative | Addit | Dest 1 | Dest 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fd | Group | x/y | Attack | Order | Order | Form | x/y | x/y | Condition | Order | Order | Formation | x/y | x/y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 12 | 19/33 | 0 | 33 | 30 | 1 | 10/25 | 8/11 | 41 | 22 | 6 | 2 | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 13 | 18/33 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 1 | / | / | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 14 | 20/33 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 1 | / | / | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federation 1 (battalion group 12) is the leading federation and has order 33 (selective fire upon enemy see 7.2.5. , p74), with an additional order 30 (no reaction to any troop types see 7.2.5.2.1. , p77). It is in column and is moving from round one towards dest 1. When dest 1 is reached, it moves towards dest 2. When dest 2 is reached it is given alternative condition 41 (see 7.2.5.5., p79) and order 22 (attack unguarded enemy strategic points), and in the additional order the sequence of strategic points to attack (see 7.2.5.2.2., p77). It is also changing its formation to line. Federation 2 (battalion group 13) is positioned to the left of federation 1, federation 3 (battalion group 14) is positioned to the right of federation 1. Both these federations are following the leader, fed 1(see additional order on example) and are copying all of its orders exactly.
Notes:
When setting up detachments, to the left and right of the leader, it is always assumed that the army is facing the enemy. So, if you are army A, set up at the top of the page, you must read the placements by looking down the field (i.e. turning the page upside down) to find the true left and right.
The exact battlefield position of each following federation depends on the direction the leading federation is marching in. As the leader changes direction during a march the detachment will change around it.
If the leader is killed or flees the battlefield the ‘following federations’ continue with the leaders original orders, the next consecutive federation number in the detachment will become leader.
The following orders also form detachments, but in this case the ‘following federations’ will change positions with the leader if the leading federation is involved in a hand-to-hand combat (see 7.2.8., p83).
| Order | Position of Follower around Leader |
| 51 | in front of |
| 52 | ahead and left of |
| 53 | right of |
| 54 | behind and right of |
| 55 | behind of |
| 56 | behind and left of |
| 57 | left of |
| 58 | ahead and right of |
Example:
| Batt | Start | Addit | Dest 1 | Dest 2 | Alternative | Addit | Dest 1 | Dest 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fd | Group | x/y | Attack | Order | Order | Formation | x/y | x/y | Condition | Order | Order | Formation | x/y | x/y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 12 | 19/33 | 0 | 33 | 30 | 1 | 10/25 | 8/11 | 41 | 22 | 2 | / | / | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 16 | 19/34 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 1 | / | / | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 13 | 18/33 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 1 | / | / | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 14 | 20/33 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 1 | / | / | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 15 | 18/34 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 1 | / | / | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 17 | 20/34 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 1 | / | / | / | / | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federation 1 is the leader, federations 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are following federation 1 at the positions described in the orders.
| 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | 2 | 6 |
If fed 1 meets an enemy federation, it will change positions with fed 2 until the enemy is destroyed or flees. If fed 1 is destroyed or flees then fed 2 will become the leader and will follow fed 1’s original orders. If fed 2 is destroyed or flees, fed 3 becomes the leader etc.
| EN | ||
| 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | 1 | 6 |
EN = Enemy Federation
Notes:
This is a particularly good tactic if the leading federation is superior at long range combat (see 7.2.7., p81), and the federation that it will change position with is better at hand to hand combat (see 7.2.8., p83).
This is also a good tactic if the leading federation contains the simulated battle commander and you don’t want to risk him being killed (see 7.2.10., p86).
The leaders federation number, not the battalion group number that must be entered as the additional order for the following federations.
Next Topic:7.2.5.2 Additional Orders