This article describes the organization of the assault gun brigades as of June 1944. The term "brigade" was used to deceive enemy intelligence as to the proper size of the German assault gun forces; its true combat strength is more on line with a reinforced battalion, making it an ideal single player :ommand for CDII. What is unique about this organization is its supporting assets. There are two types of assault guns in the brigade. The standard StuG III was armed with a 75L48 gun, and with its low silhouette was a proven tank killer. The StuH 42 was a variant of the StuG III, but was armed with the 1051-28 howitzer. This gave it a weapon capable of defeating enemy infantry and emplacements, and when used with a shapedcharge projectile, it was very deadly against enemy armor. The most interesting part of this organization was the attachment of an "Escort Battery," in reality a reinforced infantry company. The infantry were used to , aunter enemy infantry, and were equipped with the Sturmgewehr StG 44, a wverful weapon (forerunner of the AK-47) which could use automatic fire. The infantry usually rode along on the assault guns, with one platoon attached to each battery. Also included in the escort battery was an engineer platoon (to detect and move mines), an antiaircraft battery, and on occasion a recon tank platoon equipped with Pz II light tanks. With these units attached, the assault gun brigade became a highly potent mixed arms force. Now, where does this force come into play? There were over 100 assault gun or assault artillery (the official name for these units) brigades organized at various times during the war. Several were organized by the SS, and three were organized by the Luftwaffe. Five of the SS Panzer divisions (excepting the 5th and the 12th) had organic assault gun brigades. In the Wehrmacht, these units could be found in GrossDeutschland, Fuhrer Grenadier, and the ad hoc Division "Schill." That would give gamers an idea of this unit's usefulness. Keep in mind, as with all German organizations during this period of the war that this is only a paper strength organization; there would be many variations at the combat level. Assault Gun Brigade Troops Quality: Experienced/Veteran, Morale: 8/9 Brigade Headquarters Company 1 command stand, 1 SdKfz 250/1, 1 staff radio SdKfz 251/1, 2 medium ammo trucks 3 Batteries, each with: 1 command StuG IIIg, 1 StuG IIIg, 1 StuH 42 Escort Battery 1 command infantry stand, 3 infantry stands, 1 engineer stand, 1 medium truck, 1 SP quad 2cm AA vehicle, 1 recon Pz II, 1 light tank Notes 1. Infantry stands are armed with the StG 44 assault rifle. They have a ROF of 2 at 5" and a ROF of 1 at 10". 2. The SP AA vehicle was typically a SdKfz 7/1 half-track with a quad 20L113 mounted on the rear. 3. The recon Pz II L was not always present. Sources Captured German Records, National Archives, Washington, DC. Chamberlain, Doyle, and Jentz: Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War II, ARCO Publishing, New York, 1978. Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly # 8 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by Greg Novak. 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