Dutch mobilisation
For those interested, here's more detailed info on the dutch (fast) mobilisation scheme. While in peace time only 1 brigade and 1 heavy recon battallion were stationed in germany, this system allowed the rest of the active troops to be ready for deployment in no more than 24 to 48 hours (in theory only 24, I'm assuming an additional 24 hours to allow for 'mix ups' etc).
The system; conscripts served a term of 14 - 16 months, all which were normally spend within the same company or specialist platoon. A new intake of recruits is formed into a training company (one of a combat battallions three line battallions). That training company is promoted to ready status after about 4 months of training. The other two companies are already at ready status by virtue of experience. Bringing in a new training company coincides with the release of the most senior company. That senior company is placed on 'short leave' being immediately available for recall in times of tension. They would take over the equipment of the training company. This way the battallion would have three 'experienced' companies to work with. And those companies would consist of personnel who had trained and worked together all along. It provides for a very high degree of cohesion but (and that's the big drawback of this sytem) in peacetime would give the battallion commander only 2 experienced companies to work and excercise with.
After handing over the equipment to the short leavers the training company would form the battallions replacement pool. This pool could if need be, be called upon immediately to fill any gaps in the three line companies (due to sickness, late arrival, etc) decreasing the time needed for the battalion to be combat ready. Likewise, the battallion had some degree of redundancy in the equipment pool so that vehicles under maintenance or awaiting repair would not slow down deployment. Once repaired and ready these would also be available as replacements.
Out of the 10 brigades in the dutch army corps 6 were at ready status as described above (including the one permanently stationed in germany) as were most of the corps troops. The other four brigades and remaining corps troosp were at reserve status, meaning they were to be filled out by companies that had recently (no more than 2 years earlier) completed short leave status. These would take a bit longer to be ready for deployment but not by much as the equipment etc was kept at ready status.
Then there were troops available for 'regular' mobilisation, those who signed off more than 2 years earlier. These would form security formations (including 2 brigades not included in the 10 above) and replacement pools.
So while the dutch had few forces permanently in germany, they had a further 5 brigades, 3 heavy recon battallions and support troops at ready status just across the border from germany. Part of the agreement within NATO to allow the dutch to station these on their own soil was that they be ready for deployment at very short notice (from peace time conditions). And they were. Note that these were not considered 'mobilisation' troops as all their personnel was on active duty. A mobilisation order would only be needed for the reserve status units.
Narwan
|
Linear Mode
