DAR: USSR vs Germany

[RERomine]

Doing a touch of research to determine how I can realistically upgrade my force, it seems there is no way to really do it. Given the location that my last battle took place, Bialystok, USSR, the vast proportion of the Soviet forces didn't make it out. The 3rd Army was capture; the 10th Army was captured; the 4th Army survived, but units were starting to be transferred by the end of 7/41. I've also found that all Soviet mechanized corps were destroyed early in the war and none were created again until 8/42. My next battle is in 7/41.

Based on this information, I will have to deviate from reality sooner or later. First off, I'm generally defying history by surviving. This can't be helped, since I'm not going to lose to be realistic. For the most part, the parent units of all Soviet units in the Bialystok area ceased to exist shortly after the battle. There were survivors, but those were parceled out to other armies. I have no idea which ones did survive and where they went. This gives me something of a blank check as to where I want to be. From what I read, I won't get that blank check until after 7/41.

All that said, I'm going to compelled for sake of realism to stick with equipment similar to what I already have, at least with respect to armor and ATGs. My infantry, I can upgrade since it generally involves changes in small arms. While I don't have any integrated AT options until 10/41, I can incorporate SMG teams into each of my platoons. I'm also going to make sure all of my engineers have flame throwers and satchel charges.

The only thing I have left to decide is should I replace my lost armor. In the June-July time period, it is highly unlikely line units were receiving replacement tanks. More than likely, it was repair and get them back on the line. I'm going to leave my four destroyed armor units (two medium tanks, one light tank and one armored car) out of action during the next battle. If needed, I'll use support points for next battle. During the reassignment after 7/41, I'll replace based on my new parent unit.

[Brian61]

Your battalion is within a regiment/division/corps/army that is historically pretty much wiped out but, a surviving battalion out of a corps means the corps *is* pretty much wiped out from the operational perspective. So you're the surviving battalion

That line of thought opens up the question: What happened to survivors from sibling units? You could draw a parallel to what happened with the Black Brigade (Polish 10th mechanized) in that campaign; they replenished many of their losses by picking up strays along the way - that included some armor. (What finally killed their armor was lack of gas not direct enemy action.)

So it wouldn't be unrealistic I think to pick up a replacement tank or two (as well as personnel or crewed weapons such as an ATG) from otherwise wiped out units within the same regiment/division/corps. The tanks might be odd ducks, different than what they're replacing (BT's for example), and maybe, just maybe, that might give you an excuse to pick up one 57mm ATG which would make your life quite a bit easier vis-a-vis german armor.

While the late war German TOE's were the most blatant example of wishful thinking, it was rare for any unit in any army during WWII to have exactly the gear their TOE called for. They all picked up useful things along the way, accepted different equipment as replacements when there was little other choice, and discarded things that were useless (when no one was looking of course).

Just a thought
Brian

[Ts4EVER]

You could even make a little "scenario" out of that. Say you have a delay mission. In that case you could buy a heavy tank, but play it as if it was broken down and immobile, to simulate ad hoc defenses and units that were left behind etc.

[RERomine]

All valid thoughts, but I don't think I have to worry about it much. My next battle turns out to be an advance, so I can expect to run up against 25% of what I just saw.

After this battle, my battalion will find itself attached to a tank brigade This will allow me more realistic options and excuses during later battles.

I've attached one .PDF that I use as a guide for my TO&E. It helps, but I don't take it as gospel. I've got a whole bunch of these .PDFs for different nationalities and time periods. They are handy