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• There are some significant changes in the composition of the armoured units, as is shown in the two tables below; changes are displayed in blue. In the eighties the Netherlands tank force went through a huge modernisation programme: the Centurion, in service since the fifties, was being replaced, while the Leopard 1 was being extensively upgraded to Leopard 1-V, the “V” standing for “verbeterd” (improved). Further the brand new Leopard 2 entered service from 1983 on. The modernisation came with reorganisations, one of which was the enlarging of the Tkbats in the Painfbrigs with a fourth squadron (D), raising the number from 52 to 61 tanks per battalion. In December 1985 42 Tkbat was the first battalion with an operational D-squadron. Regimental names have been added in the form of abbreviations which can be viewed in the unit box. 1 (NL) Corps: Tank Battalions (Tkbats) 1 Divisie Tkbat Original NGP85 NN Winter War Regiment Abrv 11 Painfbrig 101 Centurion Leopard 1-V Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander RHPA 12 Painfbrig 59 Centurion Leopard 1-V Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje RHPO 13 Pabrig 49 Leopard 2 Leopard 1-V 11 Leopard 2 Leopard 1-V Regiment Huzaren van Sytzama RHS 4 Divisie Tkbat Original NGP85 NN Winter War Regiment Abrv 41 Pabrig 41 Leopard 2 Leopard 2 Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander RHPA 43 Leopard 2 Leopard 2 Regiment Huzaren van Sytzama RHS 42 Painfbrig 57 Centurion Centurion 43 Painfbrig 42 Leopard 1 Leopard 2* Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander RHPA 5 Divisie Tkbat Original NGP85 NN Winter War 51 Pabrig 12 Leopard 1 Leopard 2 54 Leopard 1 Leopard 2 52 Painfbrig 52 Centurion Centurion 53 painfbrig 58 Centurion Centurion *with D-squadron • As the next table shows the Verkbats have also been updated, sporting a mixture of M113’s and Leopards, the first roughly composing 2/3rd and the latter 1/3rd of their strength, which has been increased from 36 to 54 vehicles. The AMX13 went out of service in the late seventies. 1 (NL) Corps: Tanks in the Reconnaissance Battalions (Verkbats) Verkbat Original NGP85 NN Winter War Regiment Abrv 1 Divisie 104 AMX13 Leopard 1-V Regiment Huzaren van Boreel RHB 4 Divisie 103 AMX13 Leopard 2 Regiment Huzaren van Boreel RHB 5 Divisie 102 AMX13 Leopard 1-V Regiment Huzaren van Boreel RHB 1 (NL) Corps 105 AMX13 Leopard 2 Regiment Huzaren van Boreel RHB • There are no further changes in the Painfbats; the table below completes the picture with their regimental names. 1 (NL) Corps: Mechanized Infantry (Painfbats), Regiments 1 Divisie Painfbat Regiment Abrv 11 Painfbrig 12 Garderegiment Jagers GRJ 48 Regiment Van Heutsz RVH 12 Painfbrig 11 Garderegiment Grenadiers GRGR 13 Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene GRFPI 13 Pabrig 17 Regiment Infanterie Chassé RICH 4 Divisie Painfbat Regiment Abrv 41 Pabrig 42 Regiment Limburgse Jagers RLJ 44 Painfbat moved to 5 Divisie 42 Painfbrig 43 Regiment Infanterie Chassé RICH 45 Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland RIOG 43 Painfbrig 41 Regiment Stoottroepen RST 47 Regiment Infanterie Menno van Coehoorn RIMVC
2.1.2 German 1. Korps 1 (NL) Corps: Mechanized Infantry (Painfbats), Regiments 5 Divisie Painfbat Regiment Abrv 51 Pabrig 16 Regiment Limburgse Jagers RLJ 52 Painfbrig 15 Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene GRFPI 44 Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso RIJWF 53 painfbrig 14 46 As I added Dutch territorial troops it only seemed logical to do the same for the Germans, as most of the fighting took place on their soil. For this I used the OOB file produced by Peter Dietrich and added four Heimatschutz Brigades from NTK (Nordliches Territorialkommando). 3. General Remarks 3.1 Strength I have made the Netherlands OOB as complete as possible — within the format of the game. This meant exercising some restraint and having a closer look at the other NATO armies and the way they are represented in the game. The Paostcie’s for example add substantial anti-armour power to the Painfbats, but it should be noted that the actual numbers of TOW systems were even higher, with up to 24 systems per Painfbat. For the OOB I therefore took the game’s US mechanised infantry as guideline, with one company of 12 systems per battalion. As has been noted above, the Verkbats (reconnaissance battalions) have been upgraded both in material as in numbers — from 36 to 54 vehicles; the actual number of vehicles however was 81 (63 M113’s, 18 Leopards), not counting command and staff vehicles. As a final example, the relatively large Lka (Corps Artillery): I added 9 units, where I could have added 12 (for comparison: in the OOB West German I. Korps has 10 artillery units on Divisional and Corps level). The diagram below shows the additions to the Netherlands forces are nonetheless extensive: Men Guns Vehicles Units Planes Original NGP85 9140 0 756 129 48 NN Winter War 17826 90 1329 251 162 These numbers make it clear that any scenario makers should use this Netherlands OOB with some prudence; on Corps level it is probably more expanded than any other in the game, especially in territorial troops and Corps engineers. I have made these additions to improve accuracy and to add choice, flavour and variety; not to create a misbalanced game. All in all, the combat power of 1 (NL) Corps has been increased considerably. The enlargement of the tkbats from 39 to 51 tanks adds no less than 144 tanks in total, while the upgrading of the Verkbats adds yet more armour and fire power. The correction of the Centurion tanks from Mk3 to Mk5/2 will also have a noticeable effect; they retain however a lower speed and defence value to reflect their mechanical unreliability, as well as the “low reliability” rating. 3.2 The Netherlands Army, Unit Quality 3.2.1 Overview In the seventies both national and international (NATO) expectations about the wartime effectiveness of 1 (NL) Corps were gloomy: a conscript army, unionised, for a large part depending on reserves, composed of long-haired soldiers with a very casual military attitude — hardly the picture of a model army. In the late seventies and early eighties however it became clear that at least in manoeuvres the Dutch performed just as good as any of their NATO allies; the American Soldiers magazine even concluded that the Dutch conscript was a “first class soldier” — and “tough as nails” was a qualification heard after joint US-Dutch manoeuvres. Moreover, Dutch units often scored high in NATO competitions like the Canadian Army Trophy. In June 1985 the Dutch conscripts of 43 Tkbat (Leopard 2) scored the highest hit percentage (96%) at the CAT. While all this might lead us to a general B quality rating, the fighting in December 1985 and January 1986 also showed the Dutch weren’t in all cases as enduring as, for instance, German or British troops. Generally however they fought with spirit, and the inhabitants of Bad Bevensen or Bremen will certainly remember the bloody fights they put up in defence of their cities.
Page 1 and 2: NORTHAG-NORTH WINTER WAR EXPANSION
Page 3: English Abbrevations In Full, Dutch
Page 7 and 8: 3.3 Parameter Data The Dutch conscr
Page 9 and 10: 5 The Scenarios 5.1 Forward Defence
Page 11 and 12: 5.7 Winter Kills [NN7 Winter Kills.
Page 13 and 14: 6.4 A Mechanized Infantry Battalion
Page 15 and 16: 6.5.1 Notes The anti-tank company (
Page 17: http://www.armouredacorn.com/ http:

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