Command Decision (CD) is a fast moving set of WWII miniatures rules that gains much of its success by its portrayal of the player as a battalion, regiment, or brigade commander through its use of a 1:5 figure scale. Most of the other rules on the market, using a 1:1 figure scale, focus on platoon or company level command and begin to break down in their portrayal of battle when (as is usual) players try to run larger formations. Conspicuously absent from CD are the armies and equipment of the Blitzkrieg Era. This was, to me, a very interesting campaign and with the increasing number of 1/285-1/300 scale vehicles of the period on the market was one I wanted to game. Following, then, are organization tables and equipment statistics for several of the combatants of this era. GERMANY The 1941-42 German Panzer Division organization is somewhat that of the Blitzkrieg Era; changes are noted below. An additional organization is noted that saw service in Poland in 1939, the Light Division. The four Light Divisions were not very successful and were reorganized into the 6th through 9th Panzer Divisions in time for the campaign for France. The Infantry Division organization from the 1941 list appears to need no change for use in 1940. There were several Panzer Division organizations, but the basic one saw all of the armor assets of the division grouped into a single Panzer Brigade of two regiments, each of two battalions: Panzer Brigade BdHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck 2 Panzer Regts: HQ Coy: 1 Comd Pz IIIe, 1 PzBw 1, 1 band (?), 1 Lt Truck, 1 Recce Pz Ilb 2 Bns: HQ Coy: 1 Comd Pz IIIe, 1 Recce Pz Ilb 2 Coys: 1 Comd Pz IIIe, 1 Pz IIb or Pz I** 1 Coy: 1 Comd Pz IVd, 2 Pz IVd, 1 Pz IIb ** One or both of the Pz Ille's maybe replaced with Pz Ilb's. In 6th PD substitute Pz 35(t)'s and in 7th PD substitute Pz 38(t)'s for the Pz IIIe. The 6th through 9th Panzer Divisions each had one Panzer Regiment, organized as above, but with three battalions each. Other changes to the PD include: 1. Each PD had a single Rifle Regiment, which was brigaded with the Motorcycle Battalion. Both organizations are per the 1941 list, except that the Rifle regiment contained three battalions, not two. The Brigade HQ would be similar to that of the Panzer Brigade. In Poland, halftrack infantry transport was just about unknown. In France, the limitations on halftrack use would be as for the 1941 PD list. 2. The 1941 Antitank Battalion list should be latered to give the following firing battery strength: three each 37L45 At guns, gun crew stands, and light trucks. 3. The 1941 Recce Battalion list should include two Armored Car Companies, each containing: 1 Command SdKfz 222,2 Recce SdKfz 333, and 1 Recce SdKfz 231. 4. The 1941 Engineer Battalion list should have the bridging company organized as follows: 1 Command SdKfz 251, 3 Pz I or Pz Ilb, 1 Engineer Stand, and 1 Pz IV Bridgelayer (PDs 1, 2, 3, 5, 10) or 1 medium truck and trailer with medium bridge (PDs 4, 6-9). 5. The Light Divisions differed from normal PDs during the Polish campaign in that they had only two battalions in their Rifle Regiments and (so far as I've been able to determine) had a non-motorized Artillery Regiment like that used in the 1941 Infantry Division's list. Their conversion to full- fledged Panzer Divisions would appear to have been a matter of upgrading their mobility and strengthening their infantry component. 6. Some equipment, as well, needs to be backdated to be used in the campaigns of the Blitzkrieg, including some noted above: 1941/42 VEHICLE replace with 1939/40 VEHICLE Pz IVf1 Pz IVd Pz IIIg Pz IIIe, Pz IIb Pz IIf Pz IIb, Pz I Radio SdKfz 251/1 PzBw I* *The PzBwI was a turretless command version ofthe Pz I and is manufactured by several companies in miniature. BRITAIN The 1941 British organizations given in CD are close to those of the 1940 campaign, but need some minor modifications: the Armored Division organization should have only one artillery regiment. The antitank battalion should have three batteries, not four. Each motor (infantry) company should have three scout carriers, not two. The Infantry Division is basically ok, except for the antitank gun component: the antitank battalion (as above) should have only three batteries, not four, and the brigade antitank batteries should have only one antitank gun and tow vehicle, not two. Some of the equipment, as well, needs to be backdated as follows: 1941+ EQUIPMENT replace with 1939/40 EQUIPMENT Portee Truck 15cwt Towing Truck Armored Cars Only Morris or Rolls Royce used Al 3 Mk IV Cruiser Tank Al 3 Mk 1, Al 0, A9 Matilda II Infantry Tank Matilda II or Matilda I* Daimler Scout Car MK VI Lt Tank Universal Carrier Recon Carrier# Command Inf Stand Cmd Weapons Stand@ Cmd Stand (Inf Bn) Cmd Weapons Stand@ *There were only 20orso Matilda IIs in France in 1940 - the balance of infantry tanks comprising the Tank Brigade were about 80 Matilda Is Skytrex make the only model of the latter tank that I know of; it is quite serviceable. #This vehicle is properly called the Scout Carrier. It has the same statistics as the Recon Carrier in the game, except that it does not have recon self ordering capabilities. @ I altered these because, in game scale, the company's (and battalion's) heavy weapons wind up concentrated in these command stands. ED NOTE: Though not listed, each Howitzer, Field Gun & Antitank Gun listed below has a separate crew stand. FRANCE The 1939-40 French Army is not addressed by CD. The basic field formations included the Division Cuirassee De Reserve (DCR), the Division Legere Mecanique (DLM), and the infantry division. The DCR was a somewhat heavy, slow and smallish tank division, best equating to a British Army Tank Brigade equipped with infantry tanks. It was, however, the only French Army formation to possess organic armored personnel carriers. There were four such divisions. The DLM, of which there were three, was probably the best of the French formations, consisting of a good mix of armor, artillery and infantry. The ubiquitous infantry divisions (a few of which were motorized and called Divisions d'Infanterie Mecanique, or DIM), making up the bulk of the French Army, didn't differ markedly from their German and British counterparts. One further division type, forw hich I've been unable to unearth any organizational data is the Division Legere de Cavalerie (DLC) - there were five of these, eac~ containing about 44 AFVs of various types. In addition, numerous independent tank battalions existed and were parcelled out, penny- packet, to the infantry divisions. These formations are listed below, in CD format, along with the statistics of the equipment needed to field them. Please note that a copy of COMMAND DECISION is useful in order to fully understand these lists. I've been unable to locate any information regarding antiaircraft artillery assets at the division level. Statistics for some equipment are given; when gaming, I include one or two elements at division level as 'Corps Assets', but this is conjectural. FRANCE 1940 FRENCH DIVISIONAL LISTS Division Cuirassee De Reserve (DCR): [Troop Quality: Experienced Morale: 8] DHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio ChL37, 1 SMC Recce m/c 1 Heavy Tank Elde: BdHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio ChL37 1 Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd H35/H39 and 2 Bns: 1 Comd H35/H39, 9 H35/H39 1 Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd Char B2 and 2 Bns: 1 Comd Char B2, 6 Char B2 1 Mechanized Infantry Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd Wpns, 1 ChL37, 1 Recce SMG m/c 3 Coys: 1 Comd Inf, 3 Inf, 4 ChL37 1 Coy: 1 81mm Mtr, 3 25mmATG,4 LtTrucks 1 Coy: 1 Comd P1 78, 1 Recce SMG m/c 1 Artillery Bde: BdHQ: 1 Comd, 1 FO, 2 Car 2 Bns: 3 105mm How, 3 Med Trucks, 1 Med Supply Truck 1 Coy: 2 47mm ATG, 2 Lt Trucks Division Legere Mecanique (DLM): [Troop Quality: Experienced Morale: 8] DHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck, 1 Recce SMG m/c, 1 Recce P178 1 Armor Bde: BdHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck 2 Regts: RHQ: I Comd S35 1 Bn: 1 Comd H35/H39,9 H35/H39 Independent Bn 1 Bn: 1 Comd S35, 9 S35organization similar) 1 Engineer Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd Wpns, 1 Med Truck 3 Coys: 1 Comd Engr, 3 Engr, 2 Med Truck 1 Coy: 1 25mm ATC, 1 81 mm Mtr, 4 MMGs, 2 Med Trucks 1 Artillery Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 FO, 2 Cars 2 Bns: 3 751-28 Field Guns, 3 Lt Trucks, 1 Med Supply Truck 1 Bn: 3 105mm How, 3 Med Truck, 1 Med Supply Truck 1 Antitank Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car 1 Coy: 3 47mm ATG, 3 Lt Trucks 2 Coys: 3 25mm ATG, 3 Lt Trucks 1 Motorized Infantry Bde: BdHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck 1 Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Recce SMG m/c 3 Bns: BnHQ: 1 Comd Wpns, 1 Med Truck 2 Coys: 1 Inf Comd, 2 Inf, 2 Med Trucks 1 Coy: 1 25mm ATC, 1 81 mm Mtr, 1 MMC, 3 Lt Trucks 1 Coy: 4 Recce SMG m/c 1 Coy: 2 AMR 35 1 Cavalry Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd P178 2 Bns: 1 Comd P1 78 1 Coy: 3 Recce P1 78s 1 Coy: 4 Recce SMG m/c Infantry Division: NOTE: DIM includes parenthetical trucks and substitutes Recon Regt for Recon Bn. [Troop Quality: Green or Experienced Morale: 7 (Green) or 8 (Exp.)] DHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck, 1 Recon SMG m/c 1 Motorcycle Coy: 4 Recon SMG m/c 3 Infantry Regts: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Recon SMG m/c 1 Coy: 1 25mm ATG, 1 81 mm Mtr, 2 Lt Trucks 3 Inf Bns: BnHQ: 1 Comd Wpns (1 Med Truck) 4 Coys: 1 Inf Comd, 3 Inf (2 Med Trucks) 1 Coy: 1 25mm ATG, 1 81 mm Mtr, 4 MMGs, 2 Lt Trucks Artillery Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 FO, 2 Cars 3 Bns: 3 751-28 Ad Guns, 3 Limbers, 1 Supply Wagon Artillery Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 FO, 2 Cars 1 Bn: 3 105mm How, 3 Limbers, 1 Supply Wagon 1 Bn: 3 155mm How, 3 Limbres, 1 Supply Wagon 2 Engineer Coys: 1 Comd Engr, 3 Engr (2 Med Trucks) 1 Antitank Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car 1 Coy: 3 25mm ATG, 3 Lt Trucks 1 Coy: 2 47mm ATG, 2 Lt. Trucks (75L28 AT guns be substituted) 1 Recon Eln: BnHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car (Inf Div only!!!) 1 Coy: 4 Recon SMG m/c 1 Coy: 1 Comd Wpns, 3 Recon Inf, 2 Med Trucks 1 Coy: 2 MMGs, 1 25mm ATC, 2 Lt Trucks or 1 Recon Rgt: RHQ: 1 Comd P178 (DIM only!!!) 1 Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd P178 1 Coy: 3 Recon P178 1 Coy: 4 Recon SMG m/c 1 Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd AMR35, 1 MMG, 1 Lt Truck 1 Coy: 4 recon AMR35 1 Coy: 4 Recon SMC m/c POLAND The Polish Army is also not addressed by CD; their basic field formations included the infantry division, the cavalry brigade, and the mechanized brigade. There were 28 infantry divisions - these were fairly standard in organization and capabilities. Eleven cavalry brigades were in the process of being replaced by mechanized brigades - at the time of the German invasion, two mechanized brigades were in service. Armor typically was organized into independent companies attached to the infantry divisions, or in independent tank battalions attached to formations as needed. Note that about 11% of the Polish armored force was made up of French FT17 and R35 types. These formations, in CD format, and their equipment statistics follow. POLISH FORMATIONS (1939) Infantry Division: [Troop Quality: Experienced Morale: 8] DHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck 3 Infantry Regts: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 75mm How, 1 Car, 1 Limber 1 Coy: 2 HMG, 1 81mm Mtr 1 Coy: 2 25mm ATG 3 Bns: BnHQ: 1 Comd Wpns 3 Coys: 1 Comd Inf, 2 Inf 1 Artillery Regt: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck 1 Coy: 2 40mm AA, 2 Lt Trucks 2 Bns: 1 Comd, 1 FC, 2 Cars, 3 75mm How, 3 Limbers 1 Bn: 1 Comd, 1 FO, 2 Cars, 3 100mm Guns, 3 Limbers 1 Engineer Coy: 1 Comd Engr, 2 Engr 1 Cavalry Coy: 2 Recon WZ34 1 Independent Tank Coy: 1 Comd TKS, 2 TKS Mechanized Bde: [Troop Quality: Experienced Morale: 8] BdHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Truck 2 Mechanized Regts: RHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 75mm How, 1 Lt Truck 1 Coy: 2 HMG, 1 81 mm Mtr, 2 Lt Trucks 1 Coy: 2 25mm ATG, 2 Lt Trucks 3 Bns: BnHQ: 1 Comd Wpns, 1 Lt Truck 3 Coys: 1 Comd Inf, 2 Inf, 2 Med Trucks 1 Artillery Bn: 1 Comd, 1 FC, 2 Cars, 1 40mm AA, 4 Lt Trucks, 3 Tractors, 3 75mm How, 3 100mm Guns 1 Cavalry Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd WZ34 1 Coy: 2 Recon WZ34 1 Coy: 1 Comd TKS, 2 TKS 1 Tank Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd 7TP 1 Coy: 1 Comd TKS, 2 TKS 1 Coy: 1 Comd 7TP, 2 7TP Antitank Bn: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 6 25mm ATG, 6 Lt Trucks 1 Engineer Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car 3 Coys: 1 Comd Engr, 2 Eng, 2 Med Trucks 1 Independent Tank Bn (attached): BnHQ: 1 Comd 7TP 3 Coys: 1 Comd 7TP, 2 7TP Cavalry Brigade: [Troop Quality: Experienced Morale: 8] BHQ: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 1 Staff Radio Wagon, 1 Recon Cav SMG Stand 3 or 4 Cavalry Regts: RHQ: 1 Comd Cav, 1 Recon Cav, 1 25mm ATC, 1 Limber 1 MG Sqdn: 2 HMG, 2 Carts 4 Sqdns: 1 Comd Cav, 2 Cav 1 Horse Artillery Bty: 1 Comd, 1 Car, 4 75mm How, 4 Limbers 1 Bicycle Sqdn: 1 Comd Recon B/C, 2 Recon B/C 1 Tank Sqdn: 1 Comd TKS, 2 TKS 1 Armored Car Sqdn: 1 Comd Recon WZ34, 2 Recon WZ34 1 Engineer Sqdn: 1 Comd Engr, 2 Engr, 1 Wagon 1 Rifle Bn: BnHQ: 1 Comd Wpns 1 MG Coy: 2 HMC 3 Coys: 1 Comd Inf, 2 Inf A word about references Early on, I discovered that many of the statistics in jagdpanzer ran parallel to those in CD. As a result, particularly for armor thicknesses, I was able to extrapolate CD values from those gjven in JP when other data was unavailable to me (primarily with the Polish equipment). The Bovington booklet contained a wealth of data for the French vehicles. Zaloga and Home provided basic background for orders of battle. Zaloga went so far as to provide armored orders of battle for all of the players. Shaw and Myers provided organization information which was checked against the Bovington Booklet. Bellis' books are a labor of love for the British Army that gave specific order of battle information for almost all of its formations. Mollo provided the only TO of a Polish Cavalry brigade that I could find! BIBLIOGRAPHY Cabai, K. Jagdpanzer (Rules for WWI I Micro Armor), Greenfield Hobbies, Ferndale, Mi. Chadwick, F. Command Deci5ion, GDW, Normal, IL, 1986. Chamberlain and Gander, Anti-Aircraft Guns, Arco, NY, 1975. Horne, A., To Lose A Battle, Penguin Books, UK, 1982. Mollo, A., The Armed Forces of wwli, Crown Pub. Inc., NYC, 1981. Myers, D., Unit Organizations of World War 11, Z&M Ent., Milwaukee, WI, 1977. Shaw, I., V~Wil Army Organisations and Equipment TTG, Notts., UK, 1986. Zaloga, S., Blitzkrieg, Squadron/signal, Carrollton, TX, 1980. Tanks of Other Nations - Fran ce, Bovington Tank Museum, Bovington, UK. Bellis, M., British Tanks and Formations 1939-45, M.A. Bellis, Cheshire, UK. Bellis, M., Divisions of the British Army 1939-45, M.A. Bellis, Cheshire, UK. Bellis, M., Brigades of the British Army 1939-45, M.A. Bellis, Cheshire, UK. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. IX No. 1 Back to Courier List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1989 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com