Lance Tactics: Recon

Greetings, fellow mechwarriors!

Today in the briefing room, we're going to be talking about improving team play through lance designation.  We've already went over basic formations as well as individual recon mechs, so today we're going to talk about lance tasking and what the basic roles of an entire recon lance in the game.

This entry is a tad long, but most of these tactica entries will be as we have a lot of ground to cover in each.  We are going to assume that the lance in question has been designed according to the guidelines set forth previously, so that saves us a lot of time.  This article assumes a 12-man drop, so team tactics will be primarily discussed, with solo tactics as an aside.

When we load a company level map (12-man), we'll already have a basic strategy.  The company commander will alert you to the play, but there are only one or two for each map (for each side).  Though we will always follow one of those basic strategies (which will be discussed further in another entry), the company commander will assign your lance one of the following missions.

What do I mean by mission?  What a high-faluting word that is.  For our purposes, a mission is simply an objective in the game, one that dictates the tactical and strategic maneuvers that a lance will execute during the drop.  You do all of this already...but there's a lot of deliberation, and articulating a plan has become tiresome.  Learning these designations will make it much easier to coordinate the company (or lance) on the fly.

If you've been piloting a scout mech, you know a lot about their capabilities and weaknesses.  The new information we're dealing with today is what the specific goals and tasks that a recon lance will perform when conducting their given mission.

Since these are the most common tasks a recon unit will be assigned to perform, these code-words can serve us well in the teamspeak.  If the order to the recon lance is to run a Capture mission, the recon pilots who have studied here at our compound will know exactly what that means, what is expected of them and what maneuvers they are to execute.  There won't be much discussion of overarching strategy every drop, just a consideration of the art of war, and a pronouncement of the method of our foes' demise.

The three basic missions we're going to discuss for recon lances are Capture, Disruption and Vulture.  The descriptions below describe the basic objective, and then exact maneuvers are delineated.  However, the need to deviate from the plan might arise, especially for recon lances which are the most maneuverable formation available.  Be prepared to alter the steps of a plan on the fly, or perhaps change missions mid-battle at a moment's notice.  Such is the life of the recon pilot.

Recon Lance Missions

• Capture  (Battlemech Designation: Captors)
• This is the most common mission by far for recon lances to perform.  For Assault maps, the objective is to take the enemy base.  For Conquest maps, capturing 3 bases and denying the others to the enemy is the objective.
1. Recon lance is to advance ahead of the company as stealthily as possible to locate the enemy.  
2. After the enemy is engaged by the company, recon lance is to disengage and capture objectives.
3. In Conquest maps, the recon lance should capture 3 bases for our team and deny the others to the enemy by stealing behind their lines and knocking their control off.  That means if we have 3 and the map timer allows it, don't waste the time it takes to capture a base fully if the lance has taken casualties or if the remaining lances are in need of support.
4. In Assault maps, consider the initial attack on the enemy base to be a feint.  If the enemy return in force, the recon lance is to fall back to a safe zone and support the company until the threat is passed and the lance can return to the enemy base.  This is to be expected, but the threat of a base capture is usually enough to disrupt the enemy's concentration and, in the best cases, draws them completely out of formation.
• Disruption  (Battlemech Designation: Disruptors)
• This mission is not for the faint of heart.  The objective is to support the other lances by hiding nearby the intended assault until the other lances have well engaged the enemy advance, and then disrupting the enemy formations by moving into their midst.  The expected casualty rate is high, but also is the chance for glory.
1. Recon lance is to advance ahead of the company as stealthily as possible to locate the enemy.
2. After the enemy is located, the rest of the company will maneuver to engage.
3. Recon lance infiltrates along the enemy flank until a weak point is found.
4. The entire lance swarms the target, drawing their attention but avoiding defensive fire from enemy units with speed and agility.  The idea is to disrupt the enemy's formations and coordination by making them choose target priority.
5. If outmatched, recon lance is to withdraw to a safe location and begin again with step 3.
• Vulture  (Battlemech Designation: Vultures)
• This mission is focused on destroying weak enemies and providing combat assistance to front line and engagement lances.  The recon lance prepares an ambuscade to spring on the enemy's front line after they have engaged ours.  The company commander will give the order to spring the ambuscade, because conditions have to be just right.  
1. Recon lance is to advance ahead of the company as stealthily as possible to locate the enemy.
2. After the enemy is located, the rest of the company will maneuver to engage.
3. While preparing the ambuscade, the recon lance is encouraged not to engage or reveal itself unless enemy recon units encounter them.  Destruction of enemy recon units is a top priority for this lance for this reason.  If enemy mechs attack your ambuscade's position, break from the ambuscade and engage them.  Hunter-Killer mechs will be directed to assist you if they are present in the company.
4. Once there is a weak point in the battle line, the task of the vultures is to rush forth from concealment and finish damage enemy mechs.  Before assaulting from your position, the lance commander should identify a map area and create a vector for the attack, so that the attack run begins and ends in cover - ideally in a spot where another ambuscade could be performed on enemy units.
5. Vulture lances should focus on light or medium mechs during attack runs to the total exclusion of other targets, unless the target is less than 60% armor.
6. Unlike disruption lances, the focus of the attack is to destroy a single mech in the strike.  All members of the lance will ideally be able to form a pass vector and attack.
7. Do not engage enemy units directly, except enemy light mechs.  Vulture units hit and run.  If your attack run fails to destroy an enemy, don't look back.  Just move to the next ambuscade point.

Other Considerations

It's important to note that no matter what the individual mission, the first task a recon lance has to perform is locating and reporting the initial enemy movements.  This is critical to the rest of the plan - every plan, no matter the map, game mode or other circumstances.  Once the enemy has been located and the other lances are in position, the company commander will let you know he's ready for you to capture and will be able to support you by engaging the enemy at the proper location.

Also, every recon lance is responsible for objective defense.  This isn't a big deal in Conquest games, during which your lance will probably be on the move for the entire game.  On those maps, making sure we have 3 and the enemy have 0 is the mission priority.  However, for Assault maps we must take a more direct approach.  We may station units at the base, but if they are overwhelmed it's the task of the recon lance to divert resources to assessing the situation and repelling the enemy from the base if that is possible.  If not, the company commander will direct reinforcements to the base to assist you.

ECM units are highly recommended, and a lance could do worse than have two or more.  For capture lances, this isn't as critical to the plan as for disruption lances.  However, disruption lances can get away with not having ECM if they are swift.  UAV's are also indespensible, as they can do the job of spotting the enemy while you continue your mission.

Sorry if that was basic to you guys, or "duh!".  However, by codifying and clarifying these missions we are forming a battle-cant that will allow us to coordinate maneuvers easily at the company level.  Learn them, live them.  Please use this thread's Comments section for discussion of these missions, suggestions for additional missions or just plain tactical or strategic banter.  See you on the battlefield!