WesWorld

With Brockpaine's help, I have began developing a army organization chart. What you see here is the organization of a infantry division. There will be 2 of these in the army, with a half of one forming a special forces unit.

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

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

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

Rifle Battalion:
- 3 Rifle companies: 126 men, 14 LMGs, 1 MMG
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men
- 1 Mortar platoon: 30 men; 10x50mm and 2x80mm mortars
- 1 AT platoon: 36 men, 5x50mm AT guns, 5x25mm AT rifles
- 1 MG squad, 10 men, 2x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG,

- Total: 490 men, 42 LMGs, 5 MMGs, 1 HMG, 12 mortars

Rifle Regiment:
- 3 Rifle battalions: 490 men, 42 LMGs, 5 MMGs, 1 HMG, 12 mortars
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 1 Cavalry company: 125 men, 2 Armoured Cars, 12 LMGs; 1 light tank
- 1 Gun Platoon: 105 men 10x75mm howitzer-guns
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen)
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men
- 1 Signal Company: 58 men
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men
- Total: 2,200 men, 36 mortars, 12 howitzer-guns, 138 LMGs, 15 MMGs, 3 HMGs, 2 armoured cars, 1 light tank

Rifle Division:
- 3 Rifle Regiments: 2,200 men, 36 mortars, 8 LR mortars, 138 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 3 HMGs, 2 armoured cars; 1 light tank
- 1 Division HQ: 40 men
- 1 Latvian Guard Battalion: 450men; 1 medium tank
- 1 AA Battery: 185 men, 8x75mm AA guns; includes AAMG Platoon, 70 men, 12 AAMGs
- 2 Howitzer Battalions: 500 men, 25x75mm howitzer-guns; 25 tractors, 44 trucks
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men
- 1 AAMG Platoon: 70 men, 12 AAMGs
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 2 Field Hospitals: 150 men each
- 2 Medium Armour Squad: 50 men, 4 medium tanks
- 1 Heavy Armour Squad: 60 men, 4 heavy tanks
- Total: 8,925 men, 80 howitzers-guns, 108 regular mortars, 6 armoured cars, 3 light tanks, 9 medium tanks, 4 heavy tanks

Some oddities and small

About the same size as his, give or take 200 men. The tanks were my insistance, just trying to make Latvia different. Anything else?

Talking of tanks it says 13 medium for the Division but only two squads of 4 are listed and 1 light tank and 2 Armored cars with the regimental Cavalry, why? Complicates supply and no real combat multiplier. Three battalions per regiement is ofcourse also rather unusual.

Oh, forgot to ask about the 25 gun battalions, 5/battery?

Yeah. Typo, thanks for catching it. It should be 9, 2 squads and one attached to the Latvian Guards. This is based on the Bulgarian tree. They have 3, I have three. As for the cars, same reason. Light tank uses the same ammo, just more of it and larger.

Dont take this the wrong way, what I am trying to say is that 2 AC and light tank isnt going to add that much to the combat capability to the Cav coy and adds the headache of spare parts, ammunition, maintainance. Why not have a pure cav or AC company? Or organize your Division level armor into a company (3 medium, 1 heavy Platoon or even better an entire battalion)

That is a company, just didn't put it on like that. As for the calvary, mobile machine guns are very effective in shooting down calvary.

My comments:

1 - Given the size of the army, half of a division for "special forces" is WAY too many for the period. That's 20% of your total army. What sort of special forces roles would Latvia need, or want?

2 - I'd have the Latvian Guard be a separate unit (battalion or regiment), not buried as component battalions in 2 divisions that may be deployed well apart from one another.

3 - For reasons of mobility, I'd move the MMG that's currently part of the infantry company up to battalion and double the number of MG squads. I'm not sold on the .50 here, but as an AA weapon, it can be useful.

4 - Probably too many AT guns at battalion and not enough at regiment. I'd suggest moving the 5 50mm guns (where are those coming from, by the way?) up to a regimental AT platoon.

5 - Your battalion mortar platoon has too many weapons and not enough men. I'd be tempted to send 2-3 50mm mortars down to company level (3-4 men per mortar), while keeping maybe 4 at battalion with the 2 80mm weapons. The 80mm mortars will need larger crews to carry ammunition and the weapon, say 6-8 men each.

6 - 10 guns is not a gun platoon, that's a battery or company. The regiment is also confused as to whether it has 10 or 12 gun-howitzers.

7 - For maintenance reasons, the small allocations of armored cars and light tanks to the regiments will be a problem. I'd replace it with an armored car company and tank company or battalion at division, which would give the division CO the option of assigning platoons or companies to support his regiments or to keep them together in reserve. An alternative would be to keep the armored units separate form the infantry entirely, as independent units, assigned by Latvian Army headquarters to support the divisions as needed.

8 - In armor units, the squad is a single vehicle, so your current divisional armor units should be platoons. 15 men per heavy tank? That's a REAL land battleship.....

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
My comments:

1 - Given the size of the army, half of a division for "special forces" is WAY too many for the period. That's 20% of your total army. What sort of special forces roles would Latvia need, or want?

Seconded.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
4 - Probably too many AT guns at battalion and not enough at regiment. I'd suggest moving the 5 50mm guns (where are those coming from, by the way?) up to a regimental AT platoon.

Where are your 25mm AT rifles coming from, too? I know of no historical AT rifles above 20mm (Bulgaria uses one of the largest in the world, the Solothurn.)

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Your battalion mortar platoon has too many weapons and not enough men. I'd be tempted to send 2-3 50mm mortars down to company level (3-4 men per mortar), while keeping maybe 4 at battalion with the 2 80mm weapons. The 80mm mortars will need larger crews to carry ammunition and the weapon, say 6-8 men each.

That would be a fault of the Bulgarian Orbat he started with. I had 36 men with 8x50mm and 4x81mm mortars, so if that needs to go up, then I need to raise Bulgaria's numbers.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
For maintenance reasons, the small allocations of armored cars and light tanks to the regiments will be a problem. I'd replace it with an armored car company and tank company or battalion at division, which would give the division CO the option of assigning platoons or companies to support his regiments or to keep them together in reserve. An alternative would be to keep the armored units separate form the infantry entirely, as independent units, assigned by Latvian Army headquarters to support the divisions as needed.

Agreed 100%.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Your battalion mortar platoon has too many weapons and not enough men. I'd be tempted to send 2-3 50mm mortars down to company level (3-4 men per mortar), while keeping maybe 4 at battalion with the 2 80mm weapons. The 80mm mortars will need larger crews to carry ammunition and the weapon, say 6-8 men each.

That would be a fault of the Bulgarian Orbat he started with. I had 36 men with 8x50mm and 4x81mm mortars, so if that needs to go up, then I need to raise Bulgaria's numbers..

A 50mm needs AT LEAST 3 men to operate it and carry ammunition, 4 would be better. An 81mm, whose rounds and weapons weigh a lot more, needs 6-8 men. Now, if you're never going to be moving the mortars without a truck or a wagon, you might shave a man or two off those numbers, but otherwise......

Fair enough. I'll make that change and recalculate my totals.

Revised addition below. The tank's include the basic infantry support that is needed. It is actually 5 men per tank, with 10 infantry support. On the special assitance. I'm not sure on how to describe it. It would be similar in concept to Bulgaria's Artillery Reserve. In effect, it would be when the stragetic reserves of tanks and artillery to the army are attacted, with more specialized units. This is where the regiment of Latvian Guards would be attached to, the specilized sniper company, and stuff like that. It wouldn't even operate as a division, just be accouted for as one in the roles. Marines would be attached to the Navy. With the smaller size of the divisions, I may do 3. The total armed forces in a active state should be somewhere along the lines of 30,000-40,000, including airforce and navy. Reserves with one week of training every year would number 30,000-40,000 as well.

Differences: Size of the division continues to shrink, as companies and regiments are made bigger, while the Latvian Guard is removed. Light tanks and armoured cars are removed from the calvary.

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

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

Rifle Company:
- 3 Rifle platoons: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs
- 1 company commander: pistol
- 1 company NCO: carbine
- 1 company XO: SMG
- 1 command squad: 4 messengers (4 carbines), sharpshooter squad (3 men, 3 rifles), 2 radiomen. 9 men total.
- 1 mortar squad: 12 men, 3x50mm mortars
- 1 Machinegun squad: 6 men, 3 LMGs, 3 carbines
- Total: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 4 mortars

Rifle Battalion:
- 3 Rifle companies: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 3 mortars
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men
- 1 Mortar platoon: 20 men; 2x50mm and 2x80mm mortars
- 1 AT platoon: 12 men, 5x50mm AT guns, 5x20mm AT rifles
- 2 MG squads, 12 men, 3x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG,

- Total: 506 men, 42 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars

Rifle Regiment:
- 3 Rifle battalions: 506 men, 45 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 1 Cavalry company: 125 men, 12 LMGs
- 1 Howitzer-Gun Battery: 105 men, 10x75mm howitzer-guns
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen)
- 1 AT Company: 50 men, 15x50mm AT guns, 15x20mm AT rifles
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men
- Total: 2,300 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs

Rifle Division:
- 3 Rifle Regiments: 2,300 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs
- 1 Division HQ: 40 men
- 1 AA Battery: 185 men, 8x75mm AA guns; includes AAMG Platoon, 70 men, 12 AAMGs
- 2 Howitzer-Gun Battalions: 500 men, 25x75mm howitzer-guns; 25 tractors, 50 trucks
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 2 Field Hospitals: 150 men each
- 1 Tank Squadron; 210 men, 15 medium tanks, 5 heavy tanks
- Total: 8,825 men, 80 howitzers-guns, 108 regular mortars, 15 medium tanks, 5 heavy tanks

May I suggest that you add a Maintenance Company for tanks and trucks and your AT Company is way to small you have 30 weapons and only 50 men, you would probably need at least the same size as the rifle company and perhaps motorize it.

Perhaps have a MP platoon as well

I'll see what I can do.

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

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

Rifle Company:
- 3 Rifle platoons: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs
- 1 company commander: pistol
- 1 company NCO: carbine
- 1 company XO: SMG
- 1 command squad: 4 messengers (4 carbines), sharpshooter squad (3 men, 3 rifles), 2 radiomen. 9 men total.
- 1 mortar squad: 12 men, 3x50mm mortars
- 1 Machinegun squad: 6 men, 3 LMGs, 3 carbines
- Total: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 4 mortars

Rifle Battalion:
- 3 Rifle companies: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 3 mortars
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men
- 1 Mortar platoon: 20 men; 2x50mm and 2x80mm mortars
- 1 AT platoon: 12 men, 5x20mm AT rifles
- 2 MG squads, 12 men, 3x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG,

- Total: 506 men, 42 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars

Rifle Regiment:
- 3 Rifle battalions: 506 men, 45 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 1 Cavalry company: 125 men, 12 LMGs
- 1 Howitzer-Gun Battery: 105 men, 10x75mm howitzer-guns
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen)
- 1 AT Company: 100 men, 12x50mm AT guns, 12x20mm AT rifles
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men
- Total: 2,350 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs

Rifle Division:
- 3 Rifle Regiments: 2,350 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs
- 1 Division HQ: 40 men
- 1 AA Battery: 185 men, 8x75mm AA guns; includes AAMG Platoon, 70 men, 12 AAMGs
- 2 Howitzer-Gun Battalions: 500 men, 25x75mm howitzer-guns; 25 tractors, 50 trucks
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 2 Field Hospitals: 150 men each
- 1 Tank Squadron; 90 men, 15 medium tanks, 5 heavy tanks
- 1 Tank Maintanace squad; 50 men
- 1 MP company; 95 men
- Total: 9,000 men, 80 howitzers-guns, 108 regular mortars, 15 medium tanks, 5 heavy tanks

Tank squadron needs 10 more men to crew those 20 tanks.

At regimental level, you've got a supplies company that seems to be then duplicated by separate supplies, signals, etc, companies.

Changed.

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

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

Rifle Company:
- 3 Rifle platoons: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs
- 1 company commander: pistol
- 1 company NCO: carbine
- 1 company XO: SMG
- 1 command squad: 4 messengers (4 carbines), sharpshooter squad (3 men, 3 rifles), 2 radiomen. 9 men total.
- 1 mortar squad: 12 men, 3x50mm mortars
- 1 Machinegun squad: 6 men, 3 LMGs, 3 carbines
- Total: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 4 mortars

Rifle Battalion:
- 3 Rifle companies: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 3 mortars
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men
- 1 Mortar platoon: 20 men; 2x50mm and 2x80mm mortars
- 1 AT platoon: 12 men, 5x20mm AT rifles
- 2 MG squads, 12 men, 3x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG,

- Total: 506 men, 42 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars

Rifle Regiment:
- 3 Rifle battalions: 506 men, 45 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 1 Cavalry company: 125 men, 12 LMGs
- 1 Howitzer-Gun Battery: 105 men, 10x75mm howitzer-guns
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon, and Field Kitchen)
- 1 AT Company: 100 men, 12x50mm AT guns, 12x20mm AT rifles
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men
- Total: 2,350 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs

Rifle Division:
- 3 Rifle Regiments: 2,350 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs
- 1 Division HQ: 40 men
- 1 AA Battery: 185 men, 8x75mm AA guns; includes AAMG Platoon, 70 men, 12 AAMGs
- 2 Howitzer-Gun Battalions: 500 men, 25x75mm howitzer-guns; 25 tractors, 50 trucks
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 2 Field Hospitals: 150 men each
- 1 Tank Squadron; 100 men, 15 medium tanks, 5 heavy tanks
- 1 Tank Maintenance Platoon; 50 men
- 1 MP company; 85 men

- Total: 9,000 men, 80 howitzers-guns, 108 regular mortars, 15 medium tanks, 5 heavy tanks

At regimental level, you've got a supplies company that contains signals and engineering platoons that seems to be then duplicated by separate signals and engineering, companies.

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

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

Rifle Company:
- 3 Rifle platoons: 36 men, 4 LMGs, 7 SMGs
- 1 company commander: pistol
- 1 company NCO: carbine
- 1 company XO: SMG
- 1 command squad: 4 messengers (4 carbines), sharpshooter squad (3 men, 3 rifles), 2 radiomen. 9 men total.
- 1 mortar squad: 12 men, 3x50mm mortars
- 1 Machinegun squad: 6 men, 3 LMGs, 3 carbines
- Total: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 4 mortars

Rifle Battalion:
- 3 Rifle companies: 138 men, 15 LMGs, 3 mortars
- 1 Battalion HQ/Supply Platoon: 36 men
- 1 Mortar platoon: 20 men; 2x50mm and 2x80mm mortars
- 1 AT platoon: 12 men, 5x20mm AT rifles
- 2 MG squads, 12 men, 3x.30cal MMGs, 1x.50cal HMG,

- Total: 506 men, 42 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars

Rifle Regiment:
- 3 Rifle battalions: 506 men, 45 LMGs, 6 MMGs, 2 HMG, 12 mortars
- 1 Regimental HQ: 36 men
- 1 Cavalry company: 125 men, 12 LMGs
- 1 Howitzer-Gun Battery: 105 men, 10x75mm howitzer-guns
- 1 Supplies Company: 100 men (includes Supplies Platoon, Signal Platoon, and Field Kitchen)
- 1 AT Company: 100 men, 12x50mm AT guns, 12x20mm AT rifles
- 1 Regimental Column
- 1 Sapper/Engineering Company: 126 men
- 1 Field Hospital: 150 men
- Total: 2,260 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs

Rifle Division:
- 3 Rifle Regiments: 2,260 men, 36 mortars, 10 howitzer-guns, 147 LMGs, 18 MMGs, 6 HMGs
- 1 Division HQ: 40 men
- 1 AA Battery: 185 men, 8x75mm AA guns; includes AAMG Platoon, 70 men, 12 AAMGs
- 2 Howitzer-Gun Battalions: 500 men, 25x75mm howitzer-guns; 25 tractors, 50 trucks
- 1 Supplies Company: 130 men
- 1 Signal Company: 60 men
- 2 Field Hospitals: 150 men each
- 1 MP company; 85 men

- Total: 8,070 men, 80 howitzers-guns, 108 regular mortars

By comparison to the German infantry division, the main differences appear to be:

1 - the German infantry platoon is 4 squads plus command team, not 3 squads.
2 - the German battalion weapons company includes an infantry gun section.
3 - German regimantal support companies are a bit larger.
4 - German infantry division includes a full artillery regiment, plus a light infantry and an assault infantry battalion. Also, where the Lithuanian support units (supply, signals, etc) are companies, the German equivalents are battalions.

Are these difference enough to severly impair the military? I could be persauded to add guns to mine. As for 4, I could, but the tank squad/company takes up the excess room. I could if I was shown how that is more effective then scattering the third battalion across the regiments.