WINTER WAR - HiWAAY Information Services

More documents

Recommendations

Info

3.2.2 Changes The overall unit quality of the Netherlands units is originally C (“average”), which is probably fair if one would have to rate the Netherlands forces as a whole. I felt however that a bit more profile is possible, and, in some cases, needed. 3.2.2.1 D Quality: 5 Divisie; the Netherlands Army Reserve System 5 Divisie was composed entirely of reserve units. First it should be noted that in the Netherlands “reserves” meant something different than in most other countries, where reserve forces tend to be composed of parttime volunteers (in the Netherlands Army personnel of this sort was to be found in Natres [National Reserve]). Conscripts who had completed their military service automatically became reservists who could be called back into active service up to the age of 40 in case of a general mobilization. Personnel that had been in active service less than two and a half years before would go straight back into operational units (a quite ingenious system called RIM), the others had to go through a limited period of training again before they were considered deployable. In terms of pure reaction speed the Netherlands reserve system was perhaps the most effective in the world. During yearly mobilisation drills (“Donderslag”) sceptical NATO officials were time and again convinced and impressed by the speed with which reserve units could be made combat-ready; indeed the Dutch claim that each of the three reserve brigades could be geared up for departure to its war destination within 24 hours proved to be a credible one. In the late seventies 5 Divisie was mechanized, which gave it the same organization and armament as 1 and 4 Divisie. But while on paper 5 Divisie might seem a force equal to the other two divisions, the reality was a different one; there were to major problems that effected its deployability. Firstly it still needed a considerable amount of professional NCO’s, and these were simply not available in sufficient numbers. Secondly, and more importantly, the reserve units lacked recent training, especially in operating on brigade level. Periodically groups of reservists were called back into service for a short period to keep their training up to a certain standard, but due to budget restrictions this happened to few and on too small a scale to be really effective. This meant that after mobilization the division would need at least several weeks of training to be able to operate on the same level as 1 and 4 Divisie. Reservists were generally highly motivated but it simply needed time to form them into solid units and to make these units function in the evermore complex combat operations of larger army formations. We know that in December 1985 the division only got a few days to prepare itself, and although it performed relatively well in the area north of Cloppenburg the results could have been much better, especially against the 2nd echelon Polish Divisions. The only exception to the downgrading from C to D quality is 44 Painfbat; this was an active battalion of 4 Divisie that in wartime was placed under 5 Divisie’s operational command. 3.2.2.2 B Quality: 41 Pabrig, 41 Gnbat, 103 Verkbat On the other hand there were the active units permanently stationed in West Germany: an armoured brigade enforced with a reconnaissance and an engineer battalion. These could be combat-ready in six hours, were well prepared for their task and knew both the terrain and the forces opposing them. Furthermore it were mostly these units that scored highest during national and NATO contests like the Bult Francis Cup and the Canadian Army Trophy. Indeed 41 Pabrig proved to be a tough nut to crack; it took heavy losses during the campaign but remained an active and effective combat outfit throughout. 3.2.2.3 A Quality Units These are elite units originally not present in the game: 104 Wrnverkcie (Commandos) and Kmarns (Marines). Reserve components of these units (305 Cotrbat and 3 Marnsbat respectively) are rated B. 3.2.2.4 C Quality units The remaining units retain their C rating, while Dutch supply units have been downgraded from B to C. Units of the National Territorial Command (NTC), although composed almost exclusively of reservists, have not been downgraded to D. In securing rear areas they had a task very different from 5 Divisie; the Infbats mostly operated in a straightforward infantry role, and their operations essentially took place on company level.
3.3 Parameter Data The Dutch conscript: loose in attitude and appearance — but “tough as nails” according to some; on average higher educated than their professional colleagues, inventive and inclined to take initiative I used the Germany.pdt file made by Mark Breed, with the following changes: • As dikes in Northern Europe generally do not form impassable obstacles they are now passable for any moving unit type (9MP for all) • NATO now has the same deception values as Warsaw Pact • From scenario NN5 Pressure Point on, NATO air power gradually grows stronger • The Netherlands Army had no electronic warfare units in 1985, therefore NATO EWF values are lowered; generally more so when there are less non-Netherlands NATO units on the map 3.4 Graphics With the new units I added several new unit pictures, and in one or two instances errors were corrected. I tried to keep the new unit pictures in style with the original ones. MP units (Maresk) and territorial or home guard units are identified by their emblem on the right side of the unit box: Unit icons: Dutch MP and Dutch and German territorial troops
Page 1 and 2: NORTHAG-NORTH WINTER WAR EXPANSION
Page 3 and 4: English Abbrevations In Full, Dutch
Page 5: 2.1.2 German 1. Korps 1 (NL) Corps:
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:

WINTER WAR - HiWAAY Information Services

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?