Realistic core force
 

Hi I am new in this forum.I have played this game a lot recently and enjoyed it very much.

I want to play a long campaign with relatively small core force and as realistic as possible. If I buy one leg infantry coy for backbone of my kampfgruppe ( yes I play with germans)how much panzers, arty, at-guns and others can I add to have realistic force?

Re: Realistic core force
 

Depends on your start date, if its 9/39 , i'd go for 2 leg inf coys, and 1 panzer coy(pz I or II as these were the backbone of the germans in poland), 1 battery of arty(your choice, but i pick 75's due to higher ROF), if your inf coys dont have MG's attached, buy 2 mg's and attach them to each inf company, at guns aren't a must until norway or france(you need 88's in france), also get some trucks for your 50mm mortars and MG's, also get some scouts ( a sec per company is ok, a platoon of armored cars for panzer kompanie), this way you'll have a balanced force i think, but DON'T FORGET THE FOO's, as for support get a few recon units, and maybe a mortar battery

Re: Realistic core force
 

Realisticly with just one company you would be lucky to get much of anything.
Add 2 scouts MMG if not alreay attached maybe ATRs or ATGs. 1 or 2 max mortars for arty.
As Germans the chances of any armour is really remote but if want to add 2 or 3 vehicles you could. These would not normally be tanks best bet when available Stugs
As a general guide 3 companies is a good size as for most nations tends to be smallest size extras are allocated to. 3 companies would give you an offboard battery for instance in most armies.

Re: Realistic core force
 

For a rifle company-based core I would suggest:

- HQ. You - do not risk. Use to call fires as he is an 'almost' FOO and his arty experience will rise, thus giving you 2 channels of quick arty calling with the primary FOO.

- FOO (foot or vehicle). FOO will gain experience and so call fires faster, worth his weight in gold. Do not risk him!.

- The leg rifle company itself
I would take the rifle sections with AT grenades (gebalt ladung) as German early war infantry is otherwise weak in AT capabilities. Take the version with direct-fire 50mm mortars, not the indirect mini-mortars as those tiddly mortars are somewhat useless as indirect assets with only 10 hex range, but the direct mode heavy infantry sections are useful in the early war.


Supports for the company:
*1 or 2 mortar section (2-3 tubes each)

*1 Tank platoon (5) - you really need the AT capability the tanks provide, so P3/37mm and upgrade to 50mm ASAP.

1 or 2 75mm Infantry gun section (towed or SIG or Stugs/P4 75L24) OR 1 4-gun arty 75/105 bty (on or off map to taste)

*1 FLAK platoon (towed or SP), in 44+ maybe 2

*1 ATG platoon (towed, may become SP later (e.g. JPZ1, marders, Stug)), may become SP-FLAK in 44 as Allied air gets to be a pest.

1 Recce unit (leg scouts, Pz2, M/Cycle or A/Car to taste )

1 or 2 sections of ammo carriers to service mortars/IG if needed

Engineers: either buy as needed in assaults, or as a platoon to replace the recce above.

Support units marked * - are highly advised, others optional (you can add as the campaign progresses if you want to start smaller)

Also - for such a small core that is going to walk, I would advise a smaller map set in preferences. Suggest 60 by 60 for a single leg rifle coy based campaign?.

Cheers
Andy

Re: Realistic core force
 

Ok thanks for answers. I ended up to buy two leg rifle companies. For both coys I attached one patrol section, one group of 37mm-AT, one 75mm inf gun section and section of pzIV. For other inf coy I attached also one platoon of engineers. I would like to have experienced engineers of my own.

Under HQ I have one sniper and section of 88´ss and of course FOO. I also bought one panzer platoon including 5 pz-38t. For artillery support I have one battery of 105mm´s. For all guns I got horses or trucs to move them. As gampaign gets to France I will buy one bat of stugs and perhaps one group of panzer jaegers for support them.

Practically with this core force I have had a battalion sized fights. For support forces I tend to buy third inf coy to make the dirty work. I find this force maybe too large but battles have been very enjoyable and balanced.