One common deviation from history that occurs in Scorched Earth is the Soviet player's treatment of his prewar tank, motorized, and mechanized divisions. Historically, by the end of 1941 most of these units were either destroyed by the Germans or disbanded by the Soviets themselves as a result of the divisions' inherent limitations. In the game, however, Soviet players generally tend to keep the divisions in play, since they still represent a significant combat potential even with their mobility and fragility restrictions. Given the weakness of the early Soviet tank corps, the pre-war divisions often play a significant role even through the 1942 campaign, often with a dozen or so still in play into 1943 or even 1944.

At this point, the game presents the unlikely situation where the division sized units are based on two significantly different TO&Es. Once the tank corps' organization had proven itself, it is reasonable to suppose the surviving pre-war divisional formations would have been either reorganized to the new standard or finally disbanded. Fortunately, Scorched Earth provides a vehicle for doing this within the existing countermix. To do so, make the OB additions below.

Oct I 41

Reorganize: 3x Tank XX (any) to: 3x 6-4-8 Tank XXX
Note: use the 6-4-8 units whose ID numbers correspond to the three 9-7-8 Tank XXX converted this turn to Mech XXX.

Nov I 41

Reorganize: 1x Tank XX (any) to: 1 x 6-4-8 Tank XXX
Note: use the 6-4-8 unit whose ID number corresponds to the three 9-7-8 Tank XXX converted this turn to Mech XXX.

Dec I 41

Reorganize: 3x Tank XX (any) to: 3x 6-4-8 Tank XXX
Note: use the 6-4-8 units whose ID numbers correspond to the three 9-7-8 Tank XXX converted this turn to Mech XXX

Jan I 42

Reorganize: 3x Tank XX (any) to: 3x 6-4-8 Tank XXX
Note: use the 6-4-8 units whose ID numbers correspond to the three 9-7-8 Tank XXX converted this turn to Guards Tank XXX

Reorganize: 2x Mech XX and / or Mot XX (any) to: 2x 11-8 Mech XXX
Note: use the 6-4-8 units whose ID numbers correspond to the three 9-7-8 Tank XXX converted this turn to Mech XXX

Disband: all remaining Tank XX, Mech XX, and Mot XX, except the remaining Guards Mot XX.

As in the reorganization of the German infantry divisions, RPs may be gained or spent to carry out the reorganizations. The difference in the printed offensive combat strengths between the division being reorganized and the corps into which it is reorganized is the number of armor RPs gained or required.

In a full campaign game, the Germans don't often have a Stalingrad in 1941 or 1942, and given the fact that armor tends to get priority on replacements, the German armor unit withdrawals in 1943 from the replacement pool often don't result in the units actually going away. 1943 campaigns with the Germans enjoying the use of a n extra 8 or 9 c/m divisions are quite possible. This option allows the Soviet player to also take advantage of "being smart", and balances the 1943 campaign season for games with relatively low losses.