To tendentiously tangentially riff off this (😜) what do you think of the Soviet Machine Gun/Artillery Division and it’s Machine Gun/Artillery Battalions?
Sorry Im last to the parade- What if the units moved laterally, and forward as well as communication? Like a chicken foot, lying on its side. I drew a picture that I can't upload in comments so... ----|---<=
The | is the "center", hq also the divergent point of heavy artillery who will fire outward like a V. Following, the three chicken toes, light fire infantry will employ all towards the center, while laterally moving to the side (in this case, right) and forward. (in and up, I always say) with the left most flank of the formation covering what used to be the center point as everything else goes in and up.
The "in and up" keeps the "center" heavy fire at the center for better flank V coverage, but also is a moving target for enemy defenses. Technically everything, including information is flowing left to right
This formation seems to be focused on firepower. Each of my Storm Regiments has an impressive array of heavier systems (although, oddly, less HMGs than a line division). My concern would be protected mobility - I am assuming that at best, by Storm Regiments are motorized with trucks. So in considering how to fight the Division, I need to figure out how to take advantage of the holes the Division is capable of creating with the limited manoeuvre elements that I have.
I would consider grouping the Mortar Bn, Artillery Bn, and AA Bn under the Artillery Regiment HQ. This would be the Divisional Commander's resource to weight the main effort. One or two Storm Regiments, supported by the Artillery Regiment, should be able to fight a break-in battle.
The AT Bn and Assault Gun Bn would be provided to the depth Storm Regiment to create a KG. This KG would have enough protected mobility to push through the hole created by the lead Storm Regiments and conduct the breakthrough battle. This either leaders to exploitation (with storm troops and assault guns pushing into the enemy depths) or passage of lines of a Panzer formation to conduct break-out.
In the defence, the default organization would look the same. Two Storm Regiments take the lead in defence, deployed in depth with their own substantial weapons and supported by the Artillery Regiment, to act as the breakwater. The KG (Storm Regiment with AT/Aslt Gun Bns) is the countermoves element that counterattacks any penetration to restore the line.
Of course, different situations would mean different configurations, but this is what I could see being a good "default" to have in the playbook.
The Field Artillery Regiment's HQ would be conjoined to the Divisional HQ, the Autonomous Battalions used to shape schwerpunkt, and the Assault Regiments used for ordinary operations. This would apply whether in attacking or defending positions.
The "infantry" / "artillery" distinction of the five Autonomous Battalions seems administrative. All five battalions will be used similarly, and so the Field Artillery Regiment headquarters will be conjoined to the Divisional headquarters. This mirrors the organization within the Assault Regiments, where the Grenadier Battalion and Field Artillery Batallion are equally part of the Regiment. I'd like to eliminate the Field Artillery Regiment echelon, but that seems a required part of the exercise. Keeping them close at hand to shorten the time for commands to be issued is the next best option.
Two of the Assault Regiments will be used at a time, with a third in reserve. This is primarily to cycle frontline units (presumably an assault regiment will suffer higher casualties than normal), though filling gaps and supporting Schwerpunkt are also purposes of this. The fragments of other units will be incorporated into the reserve regiment; this way it can be done in a (relatively) calmer environment than the the frontline.
Schwerpunkt will be shaped at the Divisional level. As each Assault Regiment already has quite a bit of artillery on their own, the five Automous Battalions will be used to soften enemy positions where we would like to be able to focus the assault. Once softened, the reserve Assault Regiment (augmented with unit fragments), the Assault Gun Battalion, and optionally the Anti-Tank and Mortar Battalions will be used to press the attack.
On the defensive, the Division's assault nature would still drive defensive maneuver. The two active Assault Regiments would instead seek to hold the enemy back, with Divisional assets used as shaping tools to funnel the enemy into a desired position, at which point the reserve regiment and unit fragments would strike at the enemy forces to destroy them.
The 78th Assault Division has a large amount of combat power, but lacks enough infantrymen to conduct sustained close assaults of enemy forces in deliberate defensive positions or to conduct defensive operations in restricted terrain. Mobility, very good reconnaissance, mutual support and timely resupply of ammunition and fuel are critical to its survival. It would function best in more open terrain with good sight lines and fields of fire.
The Assault Regiments should always be employed in mutually supporting positions. In the offense, they would move in traveling or bounding overwatch, as a mobile flank guard force. In the defense they would ideally become part of the fixing force in a higher level (Corps or Army) mobile defense operation to retain key terrain, so the Corps or Army striking force can conduct the counterattack (think of division level fire sacks to borrow a Soviet term).
The other units support the Assault Regiments as follows:
As the 78th lacks a dedicated reconnaissance unit (which is very strange), the Anti-Tank Battalion will fill this role under control of the Division HQ. In the offense, one company, or company plus, is forward as a screen and the other company and Battalion HQ travel with the lead Assault Regiment, gathering intelligence and prepared to attack or counterattack enemy units that are encountered or that threaten the main body. In the defense, both companies could be used as a screening force initially and would reinforce the anti-tank units of the Assault Regiments as enemy forces approach the main battle area (and they conduct rearward passage of lines). If a reconnaissance unit is provided to the division, then the Anti-Tank Battalion will operate in a similar way, but will directly support the reconnaissance unit. In all cases, they will always take care to maximize their mobility and conduct ambushes and hit and run attacks or counterattacks.
The Heavy Mortar Battalion will also work under the control of the Division HQ. In the offense, a battery, or battery minus, will move with the forward anti-tank unit to provide immediate indirect fire support to the division reconnaissance element. Another company, or company plus, will move with the lead assault regiment and the other company, and Battalion HQ, will move with the next assault regiment in line. All units will move by bounds to ensure a firing unit, of at least 3 tubes, is in position and ready to fire. In the defense, the Heavy Mortar Battalion provides Reinforcing fires to the assault regiment given the mission of the main effort or as otherwise directed.
The Artillery Regiment serves as the controlling HQ for the the Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Heavy Artillery Battalion and Assault Gun Battalion. It must closely monitor Division operations and reports, particularly those from reconnaissance units, to ensure coverage and support of the Division during all phases of any operation. It also manages resupply and support of its subordinate units.
The Anti-Aircraft Battalion provides air defense support to the Division, with the light battery supporting the lead or main effort Assault Regiment and the heavy batteries protecting the Assault Gun and Heavy Artillery Battalions with additional support as required. Otherwise all units would be in a General Support role placed along the air avenues of approach. In extreme cases, all batteries provide anti-tank to defeat enemy armored attacks or interdiction fires as required.
The Heavy Artillery Battalion provides General Support Reinforcing fires to the Division as a whole and to the lead Assault Regiment in the offense and main effort in the defense. Much like the Heavy Mortar Battalion, it moves by bounds to ensure at least one battery is always in position to provide fire support, but moves with the Assault Regiments and not the screening force.
The Assault Gun Battalion is the Division’s counterattack force and is used to defeat enemy attacks that penetrate, or threaten to penetrate, Assault Regiment positions in the offense or defense. During the offense, one battery moves with the lead Assault Regiment and the Battalion minus with the next in line.
These are my ideas. If you don’t like them, well, I have others.
To tendentiously tangentially riff off this (😜) what do you think of the Soviet Machine Gun/Artillery Division and it’s Machine Gun/Artillery Battalions?
Said units began as Fortifications units, were heavy on weapons but in particular in rank.
Higher pay.
Little mobility, no retreat, defense and economy of force.
Excellent on defense.
Firepower greater than regiment in Battalion size.
Because the essence of the concept could be applied to any function, like logistics. *Especially in a military too fat on rank officers and enlisted*.
Because we 🇺🇸 solve the problem of up or out and over promotion by creating staffs of staffs and commissars for butt hurt.
Skipping right on over "growing pains" to "childhood illness" 😏 very comforting. Either it works, or it get the German Measles and perishes?
Sorry Im last to the parade- What if the units moved laterally, and forward as well as communication? Like a chicken foot, lying on its side. I drew a picture that I can't upload in comments so... ----|---<=
The | is the "center", hq also the divergent point of heavy artillery who will fire outward like a V. Following, the three chicken toes, light fire infantry will employ all towards the center, while laterally moving to the side (in this case, right) and forward. (in and up, I always say) with the left most flank of the formation covering what used to be the center point as everything else goes in and up.
The "in and up" keeps the "center" heavy fire at the center for better flank V coverage, but also is a moving target for enemy defenses. Technically everything, including information is flowing left to right
This formation seems to be focused on firepower. Each of my Storm Regiments has an impressive array of heavier systems (although, oddly, less HMGs than a line division). My concern would be protected mobility - I am assuming that at best, by Storm Regiments are motorized with trucks. So in considering how to fight the Division, I need to figure out how to take advantage of the holes the Division is capable of creating with the limited manoeuvre elements that I have.
I would consider grouping the Mortar Bn, Artillery Bn, and AA Bn under the Artillery Regiment HQ. This would be the Divisional Commander's resource to weight the main effort. One or two Storm Regiments, supported by the Artillery Regiment, should be able to fight a break-in battle.
The AT Bn and Assault Gun Bn would be provided to the depth Storm Regiment to create a KG. This KG would have enough protected mobility to push through the hole created by the lead Storm Regiments and conduct the breakthrough battle. This either leaders to exploitation (with storm troops and assault guns pushing into the enemy depths) or passage of lines of a Panzer formation to conduct break-out.
In the defence, the default organization would look the same. Two Storm Regiments take the lead in defence, deployed in depth with their own substantial weapons and supported by the Artillery Regiment, to act as the breakwater. The KG (Storm Regiment with AT/Aslt Gun Bns) is the countermoves element that counterattacks any penetration to restore the line.
Of course, different situations would mean different configurations, but this is what I could see being a good "default" to have in the playbook.
The Field Artillery Regiment's HQ would be conjoined to the Divisional HQ, the Autonomous Battalions used to shape schwerpunkt, and the Assault Regiments used for ordinary operations. This would apply whether in attacking or defending positions.
The "infantry" / "artillery" distinction of the five Autonomous Battalions seems administrative. All five battalions will be used similarly, and so the Field Artillery Regiment headquarters will be conjoined to the Divisional headquarters. This mirrors the organization within the Assault Regiments, where the Grenadier Battalion and Field Artillery Batallion are equally part of the Regiment. I'd like to eliminate the Field Artillery Regiment echelon, but that seems a required part of the exercise. Keeping them close at hand to shorten the time for commands to be issued is the next best option.
Two of the Assault Regiments will be used at a time, with a third in reserve. This is primarily to cycle frontline units (presumably an assault regiment will suffer higher casualties than normal), though filling gaps and supporting Schwerpunkt are also purposes of this. The fragments of other units will be incorporated into the reserve regiment; this way it can be done in a (relatively) calmer environment than the the frontline.
Schwerpunkt will be shaped at the Divisional level. As each Assault Regiment already has quite a bit of artillery on their own, the five Automous Battalions will be used to soften enemy positions where we would like to be able to focus the assault. Once softened, the reserve Assault Regiment (augmented with unit fragments), the Assault Gun Battalion, and optionally the Anti-Tank and Mortar Battalions will be used to press the attack.
On the defensive, the Division's assault nature would still drive defensive maneuver. The two active Assault Regiments would instead seek to hold the enemy back, with Divisional assets used as shaping tools to funnel the enemy into a desired position, at which point the reserve regiment and unit fragments would strike at the enemy forces to destroy them.
The 78th Assault Division has a large amount of combat power, but lacks enough infantrymen to conduct sustained close assaults of enemy forces in deliberate defensive positions or to conduct defensive operations in restricted terrain. Mobility, very good reconnaissance, mutual support and timely resupply of ammunition and fuel are critical to its survival. It would function best in more open terrain with good sight lines and fields of fire.
The Assault Regiments should always be employed in mutually supporting positions. In the offense, they would move in traveling or bounding overwatch, as a mobile flank guard force. In the defense they would ideally become part of the fixing force in a higher level (Corps or Army) mobile defense operation to retain key terrain, so the Corps or Army striking force can conduct the counterattack (think of division level fire sacks to borrow a Soviet term).
The other units support the Assault Regiments as follows:
As the 78th lacks a dedicated reconnaissance unit (which is very strange), the Anti-Tank Battalion will fill this role under control of the Division HQ. In the offense, one company, or company plus, is forward as a screen and the other company and Battalion HQ travel with the lead Assault Regiment, gathering intelligence and prepared to attack or counterattack enemy units that are encountered or that threaten the main body. In the defense, both companies could be used as a screening force initially and would reinforce the anti-tank units of the Assault Regiments as enemy forces approach the main battle area (and they conduct rearward passage of lines). If a reconnaissance unit is provided to the division, then the Anti-Tank Battalion will operate in a similar way, but will directly support the reconnaissance unit. In all cases, they will always take care to maximize their mobility and conduct ambushes and hit and run attacks or counterattacks.
The Heavy Mortar Battalion will also work under the control of the Division HQ. In the offense, a battery, or battery minus, will move with the forward anti-tank unit to provide immediate indirect fire support to the division reconnaissance element. Another company, or company plus, will move with the lead assault regiment and the other company, and Battalion HQ, will move with the next assault regiment in line. All units will move by bounds to ensure a firing unit, of at least 3 tubes, is in position and ready to fire. In the defense, the Heavy Mortar Battalion provides Reinforcing fires to the assault regiment given the mission of the main effort or as otherwise directed.
The Artillery Regiment serves as the controlling HQ for the the Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Heavy Artillery Battalion and Assault Gun Battalion. It must closely monitor Division operations and reports, particularly those from reconnaissance units, to ensure coverage and support of the Division during all phases of any operation. It also manages resupply and support of its subordinate units.
The Anti-Aircraft Battalion provides air defense support to the Division, with the light battery supporting the lead or main effort Assault Regiment and the heavy batteries protecting the Assault Gun and Heavy Artillery Battalions with additional support as required. Otherwise all units would be in a General Support role placed along the air avenues of approach. In extreme cases, all batteries provide anti-tank to defeat enemy armored attacks or interdiction fires as required.
The Heavy Artillery Battalion provides General Support Reinforcing fires to the Division as a whole and to the lead Assault Regiment in the offense and main effort in the defense. Much like the Heavy Mortar Battalion, it moves by bounds to ensure at least one battery is always in position to provide fire support, but moves with the Assault Regiments and not the screening force.
The Assault Gun Battalion is the Division’s counterattack force and is used to defeat enemy attacks that penetrate, or threaten to penetrate, Assault Regiment positions in the offense or defense. During the offense, one battery moves with the lead Assault Regiment and the Battalion minus with the next in line.
These are my ideas. If you don’t like them, well, I have others.