Ground Branch Tactics
Ground Branch is the in-between sim: bigger maps than Ready or Not, more open ground than Zero Hour, looser than Arma. It's the best place to drill the layer that connects CQB to small-unit tactics — buddy-team bounding, sector discipline, and compact element ops.
Element ops, not lone wolf
GB punishes solo runners. The teams that win run buddy-team bounding into objectives, with one element always covering.
Real distances change calls
Engagements are often 50–200m. Direction-of-contact calls matter. 'Two o'clock, 80, behind the truck' beats 'enemy somewhere right.'
Slow comms, not fast
On open maps, the squad lead needs *one* clean report per contact, not five overlapping shouts. Discipline beats reaction speed.
What GB is good for
Buddy-team bounding (real distances), small-element ops (4–8), mixed indoor/outdoor problem-solving, and the comms layer between fireteam and squad. CQB is workable but RoN does it better.
The element-ops mindset
Two elements (Alpha and Bravo, 2–4 each). One bounds, one covers. Always. Element leaders pass one consolidated call up to squad lead. Riflemen don't talk to squad lead directly. This is the structure that holds under pressure.
Sector and direction discipline
On approach, sectors are assigned: Alpha covers 9–12 o'clock, Bravo covers 12–3 o'clock, depth man covers rear. When contact happens, the call leads with direction: 'contact 2 o'clock, 100, two infantry behind the wall.' Squad lead now has a clean picture.
Where TGH fits
GB nights run as element-ops drill: 30 minutes of bounding/sector warm-up, then a contested objective. Every contact gets debriefed: was the call clean, did the element react correctly, did the squad lead get a usable picture?
Common questions
Is GB beginner-friendly?
Mechanically yes. Tactically, less so — the open maps punish bad movement. Expect to be the slow learner for a few sessions; that's how everyone starts.
Co-op vs PvP?
Both work for drills. Co-op is more controllable for warm-ups. PvP exposes weaknesses faster.
Where to find a serious GB squad?
TGH's GB voice channel. Mic on, drills run nightly.