No matter whether by land or by sea, operational readiness always must
be maintained: ready for action! My patrol can operate
as motorised reconnaissance unit both on paved ways and by water,
so amphibian missions do not pose a problem.
High mobility and high flexibility are the key words.
One of the main problems encountered during the missions is the shortcoming of the supply. For one, this concerns the equipment: What has not been carried along just is missing. Due to the limited transport capacity, not much can be taken apart, so that there will be shortages during virtually all missions, concerning both provisions and material. Therefore, also improvisation skill and endurance are required. Hunger, thirst, wetness, coldness and heat are often critical even without contact with the enemy.
Besides, the recon patrol mostly will be isolated from communication in order not to reveal its presence. The preliminary information is scarce, elsewise there would not be the need to reconnoitre. Hence, the patrol must take its decisions autonomously and locally.
The normal mission consists of exploring
unknown territory which may be under the control of neutral
or hostile forces. Information of interest is first, the number of
people, second, what they are doing (farmers? merchants? warriors?
outlaws?), third, their armament, fourth, their attitude
(friendly/neutral/hostile?), fifth, if they are ready for combat.
Overmore, strategically important points must be reconnoitred,
like passes, bridges, fords, places suitable for an ambush,
but also water sources. Reconnaissance by combat shall be avoided
(raids excepted); but it is preferred to operate in neutral guise.
Neutral forces possibly shall be motivated into cooperation.
Therefore, knowledge of local customs and of several languages
will reveal important.
No heavy weaponry can be carried along, so as staed above,
reconnaissance by combat shall be avoided. The fighting power
come second. The general strategy is that a patrol which is not
spotted has no need to fight. Until now, there was not more
than nearly one fight with an opposing guard of the swan-class.
But already preparing the weapon system "Paddle 1A2" (paddle version 1,
with augmented combat effectivity through a velcro-attached rope
against loss) stopped the attack, and the enemy withdrew.
Update 01/2010: the watercraft was discharged because the mission profile
had changed. Instead, some easily loadable wheel vehicles were commissioned.
A standard PC can carry them, and they are useful for silent and fast
recon if need be. Some handheld PMR 446 transceivers provide communication
means.
Modern equipment like a Tasco 8×21mm monocular
telescope, an image intensifier from some Russian army inventory
enable reconnaissance from beyond the range of hostile fire.
As the boat consists of non-magnetic material and has only minimal draught,
mine fields and shallow waters use to be rather tactically useful. They
keep superior inimical forces from accessing the patrol.
Concerning my name: Daelach is Sindarin and is made up from dae = shadow and lach = flame. You pronounce the D like in dark, the ae is one syllable nearly like aye, the l nearly like in spell, the second a like in far (but short and not long), the ch like in the Scottish loch. The name thus has two syllables whereof the first one is stressed. Besides, Daelach also is a Celtic name and is mentioned in The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters [Annála Ríoghachta Éireann], Vol. 1, ed. John O'Donovan (Dublin, 1848-51), cf. online at CELT.
So it means "shadow flame" and is rather
close to my former name "Seelenfeuer" (soul flame); translating this
to Sindarin would yield Feanor, but this is one of Tolkien's most
important elves throughout the whole Silmarillion. I wanted something
of my own. Shadowflame has at least three meanings: first, it points
to my preferred element fire, second a reference to the
shadow world (can be interpreted as night world as well as otherworld),
and third to the dark flame Xeper. Well, and besides, it sounds
a bit "gothic" (-;
Some facts about me:
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