WesWorld

Here's a bit of an idea for a Bulgarian division that I'm working through. Two cavalry regiments (from the 3rd Cavalry Division) will be converted to Mounted Rifle Regiments, and matched with Bulgaria's lone Armoured Regiment.

I have an additional TO&E for a Mechanized Regiment with halftracks, but the priority for the remainder of 1937 is to organize the Mounted Rifle Division...

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[SIZE=3]Armoured Regiment:[/SIZE]

Armoured Troop:
- 2 tank lances: 2 T-33/57 or T-34/25 tanks, 4 crew each
- 1 scout lance: 3 men, 1 SdkFz-231
- 1 messenger troop: 2 men, 2 motorcycles
- Total: 21 men, 4 tanks, 1 armoured car, 2 motorcycles

Armoured Squadron:
- 3 armoured troops: 21 men, 4 tanks, 1 armoured car, 2 motorcycles
- 1 command lance: 1 T-33/57 or T-34/25 command tank, 4 men
- 1 armoured car troop: 4 SdkFz-222, 12 men
- 1 support troop: 8 men, 4 motorcycles, 4 trucks
- Total: 87 men, 13 infantry tanks, 3 SdkFz-231, 4 SdkFz-222, 10 motorcycles, 4 trucks

Armoured Battalion:
- 3 armoured squadrons: 87 men, 13 infantry tanks, 3 SdkFz-231, 4 SdkFz-222, 10 motorcycles, 4 trucks
- 1 Command Armoured Car: 3 men, 1 SdkFz-231
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men
- 1 AT platoon: 36 men, 5x47mm AT guns, 5x20mm AT rifles
- 1 MG squad, 10 men, 2x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG
- Total: 346 men, 39 infantry tanks, 10 SdkFz-231, 12 SdkFz-222, 30 motorcycles

Armoured Regiment:
- 3 Armoured Battalions: 346 men, 39 tanks, 10 SdkFz-231, 12 SdkFz-222, 30 motorcycles
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 1 Scout company: 123 men, 2 SdkFz-222s, 12 LMGs
- 1 Mortar Gun Platoon: 76 men 8x81mm LR mortars, 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 8 trucks, 8 geeps
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen), 40 trucks
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men, 12 trucks, 12 construction vehicles, 6 geeps
- 1 Motorpool Company: 150 men, 78 trucks (spares), 44 geeps (spares), 12 maintenance vehicles
- 1 Signal Company: 58 men, 6 trucks, 6 geeps
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men, 20 field ambulances, 6 cars, 12 trucks
- Total: 1,737 men, 117 tanks, 30 SdkFz-231, 38 SdkFz-222, 90 motorcycles, 8 gun-mortars, 162 trucks, 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 64 geeps

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[SIZE=3]Mounted Rifle Regiment:[/SIZE]

Mounted Rifle Squad:
- 1 Corporal: SMG
- 9 privates: 1 LMG, 1 SMG, 7 rifles
- Total: 10 men, 2 SMGs, 1 LMG, 7 rifles, 1 truck

Mounted Rifle Platoon:
- 3 Rifle squads: 10 men, 2 SMGs, 1 LMG, 7 rifles, 1 truck
- 1 command squad: 1 lieutenant (SMG), 1 sergeant (carbine), 2 runners (2 carbines), 1 machinegunner and helper (1 LMG, 1 carbine), 2 geeps, 2 motorcycles, 1 truck
- Total: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs, 4 trucks, 2 geeps, 2 motorcycles

Mounted Rifle Company:
- 3 Rifle platoons: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs, 4 trucks, 2 geeps, 2 motorcycles
- 1 company commander: pistol, 1 geep
- 1 company NCO: carbine, 1 geep
- 1 company XO: SMG, 1 geep
- 1 command squad: 4 messengers (4 carbines, 4 motorcycles), sharpshooter squad (3 men, 3 rifles), 2 radiomen, 1 truck. 9 men, 2 geeps, 4 motorcycles total.
- 1 Machinegun squad: 6 men, 2 LMGs, 4 carbines, 1 truck
- Total: 126 men, 14 LMGs, 14 trucks, 10 motorcycles, 11 geeps.

Mounted Rifle Battalion:
- 3 Rifle companies: 126 men, 14 LMGs, 14 trucks, 10 motorcycles, 11 geeps.
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men, 18 trucks, 6 geeps
- 1 Mortar platoon: 36 men; 8x50mm and 4x81mm mortars, 12 trucks
- 1 AT platoon: 36 men, 5x47mm AT guns, 5x20mm AT rifles, 5 trucks, 5 geeps
- 1 MG squad, 10 men, 2x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG, 1 truck
- Total: 496 men, 42 LMGs, 2 MMGs, 1 HMG, 12 mortars, 78 trucks, 44 geeps, 30 motorcycles

Mounted Rifle Regiment:
- 3 Rifle battalions: 496 men, 42 LMGs, 2 MMGs, 1 HMG, 12 mortars, 78 trucks, 44 geeps, 30 motorcycles
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men, 4 command vehicles, 12 trucks, 6 geeps, 6 staff cars
- 1 Cavalry company: 123 men, 2 SdkFz-222s, 12 LMGs, 12 trucks, 3 geeps
- 1 Assault Gun Squadron: 87 men, 13 assault guns, 3 SdkFz-231, 4 SdkFz-222, 10 motorcycles, 4 trucks
- 1 Mortar Gun Platoon: 76 men 8x81mm LR mortars, 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 8 trucks, 8 geeps
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen), 40 trucks
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men, 12 trucks, 12 construction vehicles, 6 geeps,
- 1 Motorpool Company: 78 trucks (spares), 44 geeps (spares), 12 maintenance vehicles
- 1 Signal Company: 58 men, 6 trucks, 6 geeps
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men, 20 field ambulances, 6 cars, 12 trucks
- Total: 2,274 men, 13 assault guns, 36 mortars, 8 LR mortars, 138 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 3 HMGs, 2 SdkFz-222 armoured cars, 424 trucks, 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 199 geeps, 12 construction vehicles, 90 motorcycles, 6 staff cars

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Mounted Rifle Division:
- 1 Armoured Regiment: 1,737 men, 117 infantry tanks, 30 SdkFz-231, 38 SdkFz-222, 90 motorcycles, 8 gun-mortars, 162 trucks, 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 64 geeps
- 2 Mounted Rifle Regiments: 2,274 men, 13 assault guns, 36 mortars, 8 LR mortars, 138 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 3 HMGs, 2 SdkFz-222 armoured cars, 424 trucks, 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 199 geeps, 12 construction vehicles, 90 motorcycles, 6 staff cars
- 1 Division HQ: 42 men
- 1 Stormtroops Battalion: 464 men
- 1 AA Battery: 113 men, 8x3.7" AA guns
- 3 Howitzer Battalions: 490 men, 24x75mm howitzers, 24 tractors, 42 trucks
- 1 Supplies Company: 126 men
- 1 AAMG Platoon: 70 men, 12 AAMGs
- 1 Signal Company: 58 men
- 2 Field Hospitals: 150 men each
- Total strength: 8,928 men, 117 tanks, 1,010 trucks, 72x75mm howitzers

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My theoretical Mechanized Regiment substitutes halftracks for trucks where appropriate.

I'm not quite sure what the organization is trying to accomplish, so take these comments with a grain of salt.

I'd be very careful about mixing armored cars and tanks in small units, as at this period they have rather different on-road/off-road characteristics: armored cars are MUCH faster on-road than tanks, and tanks are, for the most part, a good bit faster off-road if the ground isn't a nice, solid, open plain. If a mixed battalion was planned, I'd tend to separate the tanks and armored cars by company, so the two types of vehicles can be used to their best advantage, with neither tied down by the other. If I had a mixed company, say a recon company, I'd try pretty hard to assign them to separate platoons for the same reason.

The mounted rifle organization seems a little bit vehicle heavy: each commander (officer or NCO) appears to have his own "geep", and the platoon LMG team (of only 2 men) gets its own truck. Similar patterns hold at higher levels, resulting in what seems like an excessive number of vehicles.

Wee, finally comments.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
I'm not quite sure what the organization is trying to accomplish, so take these comments with a grain of salt.

I'd be very careful about mixing armored cars and tanks in small units, as at this period they have rather different on-road/off-road characteristics: armored cars are MUCH faster on-road than tanks, and tanks are, for the most part, a good bit faster off-road if the ground isn't a nice, solid, open plain. If a mixed battalion was planned, I'd tend to separate the tanks and armored cars by company, so the two types of vehicles can be used to their best advantage, with neither tied down by the other. If I had a mixed company, say a recon company, I'd try pretty hard to assign them to separate platoons for the same reason.

I was thinking the armoured cars would serve as scouts for the tankers. Or do the tanks not need scouting forces at that level - is that better at, say, the battalion level?

Remember that this is Bulgaria's sole armoured unit. Another armoured battalion will be formed in 1938 to complete the fourth battalion outfitting in 1937, and by 1942 Bulgaria intends to have an armoured division.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
The mounted rifle organization seems a little bit vehicle heavy: each commander (officer or NCO) appears to have his own "geep", and the platoon LMG team (of only 2 men) gets its own truck. Similar patterns hold at higher levels, resulting in what seems like an excessive number of vehicles.

Battle losses?

Would slashing the number of geeps assigned to the COs be a significant enough change?

Tank platoons don't need an integral scout, certainly. Where I'd put scouts depends a bit on what the role of the unit is: is it an armored division, representing the mailed fist intended to bash open an enemy's front line, or is it a cavalry division, intended to exploit an opening in the enemy's front line and find open flanks for attacks? If the former, then I would tend to attach the majority of the scouts at division level if the expectation is that the division will be deployed as a unit and given a single task, or to the regiments if the division is likely to be split up and deployed as separate regiments. If the latter, then having more armored cars is OK, since the organization is more about scouting and finding the enemy than it is about destroying their will to resist and putting them to flight. A scout platoon/troop at battalion level is perfectly reasonable in addition to more at higher levels.


On the trucks/geeps: right now, the unit has enough trucks fit every man in the unit into a truck and have less than 6 men per truck, and that's including the men whose normal post is in another vehicle (a tank, an armored car, a motorcycle, etc). Certainly the trucks that are carrying mostly supplies or gear instead of men will reduce the ratio of men to trucks, but this looks …. excessively motorized. I wouldn't bother with platoon geeps, and you could probably get rid of at least 1 at company level as well (the company NCO could ride with the command or machinegun squad).

Also, no drivers appear to be assigned to the geeps, which seems off for the period.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Tank platoons don't need an integral scout, certainly. Where I'd put scouts depends a bit on what the role of the unit is: is it an armored division, representing the mailed fist intended to bash open an enemy's front line, or is it a cavalry division, intended to exploit an opening in the enemy's front line and find open flanks for attacks? If the former, then I would tend to attach the majority of the scouts at division level if the expectation is that the division will be deployed as a unit and given a single task, or to the regiments if the division is likely to be split up and deployed as separate regiments. If the latter, then having more armored cars is OK, since the organization is more about scouting and finding the enemy than it is about destroying their will to resist and putting them to flight. A scout platoon/troop at battalion level is perfectly reasonable in addition to more at higher levels.

I'd say it's more the latter than the former. When all your regional neighbors can deploy more tanks and more infantry than you, I figure maneuver is the best fallback.

Let me see about making an alternate OOB...

Let's try this instead for the Armoured Regiment:

Quoted

Armoured Lance:
- 2 T-33/57 or T-34/25 tanks, 4 crew each
- 1 NCO in lead tank (commander)
- Total: 8 men, 2 tanks.

Armoured Troop:
- 3 tank lances: 8 men, 2 tanks
- 1 troop commander
- 1 messenger troop: 2 men, 2 motorcycles
- Total: 27 men, 6 tanks, 2 motorcycles

Armoured Squadron:
- 3 armoured troops: 27 men, 6 tanks, 2 motorcycles
- 1 command lance: 1 command tank, 1 regular tank, 4 crew each (including squadron CO and NCO)
- 1 support troop: 8 men, 4 motorcycles, 4 trucks
- Total: 97 men, 20 tanks (1 command tank), 10 motorcycles, 4 trucks

Armoured Battalion:
- 3 armoured squadrons: 97 men, 20 tanks (1 command tank), 10 motorcycles, 4 trucks
- 1 command Car: 3 men, 1 command car
- 1 scout troop: 27 men, 6 SdkFz-231 or SdkFz-222s, 2 motorcycles
- 1 battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men, 18 trucks (or supply halftracks)
- 1 AT platoon: 36 men, 5x47mm AT guns, 5x20mm AT rifles, 5 truck-artillery-tractors
- 1 AAMG squad, 10 men, 3x.50cal HMG, 1 halftrack
- Total: 403 men, 60 tanks (3 command tanks), 32 motorcycles, 30 trucks, 1 command car, 5 AT guns, 5 AT rifles, 6 scout cars, 1 halftrack

Armoured Regiment:
- 3 armoured battalions: 403 men, 60 tanks (3 command tanks), 32 motorcycles, 30 trucks, 1 command car, 5 AT guns, 5 AT rifles, 6 scout cars, 1 halftrack
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 3 scout troops: 27 men, 6 SdkFz-231 or SdkFz-222s, 2 motorcycles
- 1 Mortar Gun Platoon: 76 men 8x81mm LR mortars
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen), 40 trucks
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men, 12 trucks, 12 construction vehicles, 6 geeps
- 1 Motorpool Company: 150 men, 12 maintenance vehicles
- 1 Signal Company: 58 men, 6 trucks, 6 geeps
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men, 20 field ambulances, 6 cars, 12 trucks
- Total: 2,016 men, 180 tanks (9 command tanks), 36 scout cars, 8 LR mortars, 15 ATGs

I doubt the battalion needs an AT platoon, you've got lots of tanks to take care of that job.

Also, the regimental Supplies Company includes a Signal platoon and you've got a Signal company at regiment level, you probably don't need both.

I'd probably combine the armored car units at regimental level into a company, just so the regimental CO isn't having to give orders to each individual platoon commander.

Quoted

Armoured Lance:
- 2 T-33/57 or T-34/25 tanks, 4 crew each
- 1 NCO in lead tank (commander)
- Total: 8 men, 2 tanks.

Armoured Troop:
- 3 tank lances: 8 men, 2 tanks
- 1 troop commander
- 1 messenger troop: 2 men, 2 motorcycles
- Total: 27 men, 6 tanks, 2 motorcycles

Armoured Squadron:
- 3 armoured troops: 27 men, 6 tanks, 2 motorcycles
- 1 command lance: 1 command tank, 1 regular tank, 4 crew each (including squadron CO and NCO)
- 1 support troop: 8 men, 4 motorcycles, 4 trucks
- Total: 97 men, 20 tanks (1 command tank), 10 motorcycles, 4 trucks

Armoured Battalion:
- 3 armoured squadrons: 97 men, 20 tanks (1 command tank), 10 motorcycles, 4 trucks
- 1 command Car: 3 men, 1 command car
- 1 scout troop: 27 men, 6 SdkFz-231 or SdkFz-222s, 2 motorcycles
- 1 battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men, 18 trucks (or supply halftracks)
- 1 AAMG squad, 10 men, 3x.50cal HMG, 1 halftrack
- Total: 367 men, 60 tanks (3 command tanks), 32 motorcycles, 30 trucks, 1 command car, 6 scout cars, 1 halftrack

Armoured Regiment:
- 3 armoured battalions: 367 men, 60 tanks (3 command tanks), 32 motorcycles, 30 trucks, 1 command car, 6 scout cars, 1 halftrack
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 1 scout company: 97 men, 20 SdkFz-231 or SdkFz-222s, 10 motorcycles
- 1 Mortar Gun Platoon: 76 men 8x81mm LR mortars
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen), 40 trucks
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men, 12 trucks, 12 construction vehicles, 6 geeps
- 1 Motorpool Company: 150 men, 12 maintenance vehicles
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men, 20 field ambulances, 6 cars, 12 trucks
- Total: 1,850 men, 180 tanks (9 command tanks), 36 scout cars, 8 LR mortars, 15 ATGs

Quoted

Mounted Rifle Squad:
- 1 Corporal: SMG
- 9 privates: 1 LMG, 1 SMG, 7 rifles
- Total: 10 men, 2 SMGs, 1 LMG, 7 rifles, 1 truck

Mounted Rifle Platoon:
- 3 Rifle squads: 10 men, 2 SMGs, 1 LMG, 7 rifles, 1 truck
- 1 command squad: 1 lieutenant (SMG), 1 sergeant (carbine), 2 runners (2 carbines), 1 machinegunner and helper (1 LMG, 1 carbine), 2 motorcycles, 1 truck
- Total: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs, 4 trucks, 2 motorcycles

Mounted Rifle Company:
- 3 Rifle platoons: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs, 4 trucks, 2 motorcycles
- 1 company commander: pistol, 1 geep
- 1 company NCO: carbine, 1 geep
- 1 company XO: SMG
- 1 command squad: 4 messengers (4 carbines, 4 motorcycles), sharpshooter squad (3 men, 3 rifles), 2 radiomen. 9 men, 3 geeps, 4 motorcycles total.
- 1 Machinegun squad: 6 men, 2 LMGs, 4 carbines, 1 truck
- Total: 126 men, 14 LMGs, 13 trucks, 10 motorcycles, 5 geeps

Mounted Rifle Battalion:
- 3 Rifle companies: 126 men, 14 LMGs, 13 trucks, 10 motorcycles, 5 geeps.
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men, 18 trucks, 6 geeps
- 1 Mortar platoon: 36 men; 8x50mm and 4x81mm mortars, 12 trucks
- 1 AT platoon: 36 men, 5x47mm AT guns, 5x20mm AT rifles, 5 trucks, 1 geep
- 1 MG squad, 10 men, 2x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG, 1 truck
- Total: 496 men, 42 LMGs, 2 MMGs, 1 HMG, 12 mortars, 75 trucks, 22 geeps, 30 motorcycles

Mounted Rifle Regiment:
- 3 Rifle battalions: 496 men, 42 LMGs, 2 MMGs, 1 HMG, 12 mortars, 75 trucks, 22 geeps, 30 motorcycles
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men, 4 command vehicles, 12 trucks, 6 geeps, 6 staff cars
- 1 Cavalry company: 123 men, 2 SdkFz-222s, 12 LMGs, 12 trucks, 3 geeps
- 1 Assault Gun Squadron: 52 men, 13 assault guns
- 1 Mortar Gun Platoon: 76 men 8x81mm LR mortars, 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 8 trucks, 8 geeps
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen), 40 trucks
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men, 12 trucks, 12 construction vehicles, 6 geeps,
- 1 Motorpool Company: 78 trucks (spares), 44 geeps (spares), 12 maintenance vehicles
- 1 Signal Company: 58 men, 6 trucks, 6 geeps
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men, 20 field ambulances, 6 cars, 12 trucks
- Total: 2,239 men, 13 assault guns, 36 mortars, 8 LR mortars, 138 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 3 HMGs, 2 SdkFz-222 armoured cars, 319 trucks (+80 spares), 8 Brossel TAL trucks, 95 geeps, 12 construction vehicles, 90 motorcycles, 6 staff cars

This better, then?

Edit: Fixed what I didn't change before.

These comments seem to have been missed...

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
I doubt the armored battalion needs an AT platoon, you've got lots of tanks to take care of that job.

Also, the regimental Supplies Company includes a Signal platoon and you've got a Signal company at regiment level, you probably don't need both.

I'd probably combine the armored car units at armored regimental level into a company, just so the regimental CO isn't having to give orders to each individual platoon commander.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
These comments seem to have been missed...

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
I doubt the armored battalion needs an AT platoon, you've got lots of tanks to take care of that job.

Also, the regimental Supplies Company includes a Signal platoon and you've got a Signal company at regiment level, you probably don't need both.

I'd probably combine the armored car units at armored regimental level into a company, just so the regimental CO isn't having to give orders to each individual platoon commander.

...oookay, I posted my older draft. Doh!