OOBs way out of whack?

[Mobhack]

If that is your world view of tank riders, then limit yourself to the versions with SMG only, then. Your choice.

Of course, the Russians were just like any other army - and experienced troops would "aquire" non-establishment weapons, like the mass use of captured panzerfausts.

Since I have actually served in an army unit, I place very little value on any "official" TO&E chart. However, some "chartered accountant" type wargamers bow down and worship at the altar of the TO&E chart. Hint - the things are a guide to what some bureaucrats thought should apply, and not to the reality of actual units, especially those in combat.

Now, of course, you could always enter "soviet tank rider LMG" into the well-known search engine called "google" and get results like Kursk
where an SMG company is shown to have 9 LMG, which is 3 per platoon, and with 3 sections that is 1 per section. Which is, funnily enough - what we provide as one of the alternatives.

You have the Mobhack editor, so you can make your own OOBS to fit your particular views, should you feel the need. If you do not like the sections with LMG, do not buy them, and if you are obsessed by a Soviet AI using them against you and swinging the entire battle because 10 elements of 200 or so have these wonder-waffen, then by all means, use Mobhack (its not hard) - and give them an X3 code. Mobhack allows you to have it your way.

Andy

[chuckfourth]

Hi Mobhack.
Its not my world view its how these units were organised
have a look at
http://orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/012_...brig-tank.html
it shows one SMG coy, 2 rifle coys.
here it is again in text from
http://theeasternfront.co.uk/Infantr...rydivision.htm
"Of the three rifle Companies, one was a submachine gun Company which rode with the tanks and two were lorry borne rifle Companies." ie from my first reference and from your reference we can see that all the LMGs are in the two lorry bourne coys.
and
"The submachine gun Company was comprised of a Company HQ and three rifle Platoons, each formed from a Platoon HQ and three 8-man squads, all riflemen being equipped with the PPsh-41 sub machine gun. From 1943 onwards, the number of men in the rifle squad was increased to ten."
From
http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/..._battalion.htm
"There is no debate over their -SMG coy- transport. They were the Desant troops; they rode on the tanks.
Every man in the -SMG- Company carried the PPsh 41 SMG, there being no room for other support weapons;."
ie no room for weapons like LMGs antitank mines molotovs etc.

So we see that the tank desent squads are not the same thing as the SMG squads you mention. The SMG squads (with LMGs) travel in Lorries. The tank desant troops or tank rider coy (SMG only) travel on the tanks.
The two rifle coys operate just like the German truck bourne grenadiers ie independantly if need be. The tank desant troopps are different, they are tied directly to the tanks.

So in your OOB you have grouped both the lorrybourne rifle coy and the tank desant coy squads under the "tank desent coy". The Tank desant coy should actually have only one option, a squad of only SMGs. the other squads belong in your "Motor rifle coy" formation. The current SMG/LMG tank desant squad needs to be moved into the Motor rifle coy as a selection in the "infantry" section, post 43.
As for 'aquiring' LMGs a whole coy doesnt just suddenly aquire a LMG per squad, soemone has to find ammo for all these weapons and spare parts/barrels mags etc etc etc.
Best Regards Chuck.

[Mobhack]

Chuck

I may consider your input, should I ever feel the need to edit the Soviet OOBs.

Andy

[chuckfourth]

Hi Mobhack
As always happy to produce the altered OOBs for you, or do any other work that may be helpful. I know you are a busy man.
Best Regards Chuck