WINTER WAR - HiWAAY Information Services

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.