The march doctrines of several armies reveal that we should expect greater mobility than is currently possible in Europa. U.S. Army doctrine calls for foot marches of up to 20 miles (1.25 hexes) per day on a sustained basis. [1]
German army doctrine called for infantry divisions to march 15.6-18.8 miles per day (0.99-1.18 hexes). [2] US Army experience fighting against the Germans confirms German doctrine. [3]
The Soviets consider infantry to be able to march from 7.4-14.8 miles per day in snow up to
12 inches deep in extreme cold. [4] Under less severe conditions, Soviet Army doctrine conforms to US and German expectations.
The daily march of 16-20 miles found in the doctrine of most armies is not considered a particularly fast march for infantry. It is considered a measured, sustainable rate of march. When
urgent conditions on the battlefield require maximum effort, faster, though less sustainable, march rates may be achieved through forced marching. Suggested limits for forced marches are: 35 miles (2.2 hexes) in 24 hours, 60 miles (3.8 hexes) in 48 hours, 80 miles (5 hexes) in 72 hours.
[5]
Lest anyone think that these march distances represent the limits of infantry foot mobility, they don't. Japanese and German infantry both trained to cover as much as 55-60 miles (3.75 hexes) per day on foot. [6]
Comparing doctrinal march rates to historical data provides few surprises. The mobility of the man on foot has changed little through history. It is therefore well known, and reflected in
doctrine. Napoleon's armies marched an average of 15 miles per day for 26 days in their march to Bavaria in the Ulm-Austerlitz campaign of 1805. At the Second Battle of Manassas, it was typical for both Union and Confederate armies to march from 20 to 26 miles per day in maneuvering
prior to the battle's commencement. [7]
During the early days of WW 1, the 35th Fusiliers of German II Corps marched an average of 15.1 miles per day over 27 days, during which they had 11 battle days and no rest days. [8]
The average rate of march for German units during the Polish campaign was from 15-18 miles per day. [9] In the fighting on the Eastern Front, it was considered standard for German infantry units to march 25 miles (1.6 hexes)per day. [10]
Even those German soldiers who were sick enough to warrant admittance to a hospital were forced to march as much as 25 miles per day during Operation Barbarossa. [11] To escape from the enciielements in the border Military Districts, many Soviet units marched 30 miles per day for 10 days straight (18 hexes in 2/3 the length of a turn).
[12]
The leading elements of the German 121st Infantry Division were 25 miles east of Daugavpils on 28 June 1941. [13] This represents a march rate of 35 miles per day for six days. During the first month of Operation Barbarossa, the German 12th Infantry Division marched an average of more than 15 miles per day. This does not include the marching that it did as part of combat. [14]
From 20 to 21 July 1943, the 3rd Battalion 30th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, marched 54
miles (3.4 hexes) in 33 hours. Its route took it cross-country, through mountainous terrain, from Aragona to San Stefano. Two hours after arriving, it participated in the successful attack which resulted in the capture of San Stefano. [15]
The march doctrine of most armies holds that infantry units are able to march 15-20 miles per day. Experience and history confirm that this expectation is correct. Indeed, it is not uncommon to find historical examples of march rates well beyond what doctrine leads us to expect.
Comparing Europa infantry march rates with those of doctrine and history reveals them to be understated (Table 1, columns A-D). During a standard 15 day turn, the average infantry unit in Europa is only able to march 10.6 miles per day against the enemy, or 12.8 miles per
day when administrative marching in friendly territory. In both cases this is well below what doctrine tells us to expect and history shows is possible.
It is revealing that many of the units in the examples given engaged in combat although they were marching at rates which exceed Europa administrative march rates. Indeed, the distance that units can march in Europa under the best of conditions is only equal to the distance that Soviet soldiers expected to march in snow a foot deep, in subzero temperatures. The movement
potential of infantry units must clearly be raised for Europa to become a more accurate representation of operational-level combat in WWII.
To begin aligning the movement rates in Europa closer to what history and doctrine tell us is, and was, practicable, lets start by defining a standard day's march. When not in contact with the enemy, in clear terrain, a non-motorized unit should be able to march 16 miles per day.
This is a moderate, sustainable rate of march. It is well under the 20 mile figure established in doctrine, and the somewhat higher figure established as being possible by history. This distance also fits well with the scale of the game.
An infantry unit which does not light should be able to march at the standard rate of 16 miles per day for the length of the turn. This produces a total distance of 15 hexes. There are two situations when this should occur: when administratively marching in friendly territory, and when
advancing into enemy territory without opposition significant at Europa scale.
When administratively marching, the current movement system only allows for 12 hexes for the average 6 MP unit. The current rate of administrative march is thus at least 48 miles (3 hexes) low per turn. This is 50% of the base movement rating for the average infantry unit.
When marching into enemy territory, the current movement system only allows a unit to march equal to its base movement rating. The current march into enemy territory is approximately
96-144 miles (6-9 hexes) low per turn. This is from 100-150% of the movement rating for the average infantry unit.
In addition, armored units should also have their mobility adjusted. German doctrine stated that marching cross-country, on bad roads, or in poor weather, armored units should be able to march 25 miles by day or 12 miles by night. [16]
This performance was confirmed by U.S. Army intelligence. [17] Sustaining this rate of march over 15 days produces a total distance of 23.4 hexes. Allowing for minimal road movement, the total march distance becomes 25 hexes per turn without combat. Therefore, movement by armored units marching into enemy territory is approximately 25% low when not engaging in combat.
To find a solution to this problem, we need to recognize that there are three types of movement rather than the two types represented in the game. These movement types are: opposed movement, unopposed movement, and administrative movement.
The introduction of unopposed movement will help to resolve the understatement of movement. By
allowing the functional equivalent of continued movement instead of combat, movement rates for units that do not fight will be boosted to levels that approach those of doctrine and history. The general provisions of unopposed movement should restrict the unit in the following ways: The
unit must be in general supply and it should not move adjacent to any enemy unit which could force it into significant combat. Units use the following multipliers for movement rates: combat-motorized 1.5, non-motorized 2. The unit may march into enemy territory.
After this change, march rates are still below what units were able to march. However, they are now in the general range of their doctrinal and historical values. (See Table 1, column F.) Although it may seem awkward to treat motorized and non-motorized units differently, for the present I am only establishing the actual march rates that should be used in the game. Later I will present a more refined, consistent, and useful mechanic for achieving the same march rates.
More Forward...March! A Re-evaluation of March Rates
Astell's Rebuttal to Forward March
March Rates in History
March Rates in Europa
Defining a Day's March
TABLE 1 - MARCH RATES Type A
CombatB
AdminC
Doctrine
D
HistoryE
OpposedF
Unopp.G
Admin.Combat Days 6 0 - - 6 0 0
March days 9 15 9/15 15 9 15
15 Movement pts 6 (12) - - 9 12
(15) March dist/day
miles10.6 12.8 20 15-30
16 12.8 16 March dist/day
hexes0.6 0.8 1.25 0.9-1.8
1 0.8 1 March dist/turn
miles96 192 180/300 225-300
144 192 240 March dist/turn
hexes6 12 11/19 14-18+
9 12 15 Marching without Fighting
The Three Types ot Movement
Opposed movement occurs when units march into contact with the enemy and/or engage in combat.
Unopposed movement occurs when units move into enemy territory, do not engage in combat,
and do not move adjacent to units which would potentially require them to ennane in combat significant at Europa level.
Administrative movement is movement which occurs totally within friendly territory and allows units to sacrifice security for speed.Introduction
Doctrinal March Rates
How Much Time Does Combat Take?
The Solution to Understated Movement
Final Results and Footnotes
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