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 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 command for Command Decision. What is unique about this organization is the supporting assets it has. There are two types of assault guns in the brigade; the standard StuG III was armed with a 75mm L/48 and with it's low silhouette was a proven tank killer. The other assault gun was StuH 42 a variant off the StuG III but armed with the 105mm L/28 gun, a weapon capable of defeating enemy infantry, and emplacements, and when using a shaped charge projectile very deadly against enemy armor.

The most interesting part of this organization is the attachment of an "Escort Battery", in reality an infantry company. The infantry was used to counter enemy infantry, and were equipped with the Sturmgewehr StG 44, a powerful weapon (the forerunner of the AK47) which could use automatic fire. The infantry rode on the assault guns themselves, usually one platoon for each gun battery. Also included in the escort battery was an engineer platoon (used to detect and remove mines), an anti-aircraft battery, and sometimes a recon tank platoon using Mk II 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 are over 100 assault gun or assault artillery (the official term for these units) brigades organized at various times during the war. Several were organized by the SS, and three more Luftwaffe. Five of the SS Panzer divisions (excepting the 5th and 12th) had organic assault gun brigades. In the Wehrmacht these units could be found in the Grossdeutschland Fuhrer Grenadier, and the ad hoc Division "Schill". That should give gamers an idea of this units usefulness.

Keep in mind, as with all German organizations during this period of the war, this is only a paper-strength organization; there would be many variations at the combat level.

Assault Gun Brigade with:

Brigade Headquarters Company, with:
1 command stand 1 SdKfz 250/1 1 staff SdKfz 251/1 2 medium ammo trucks

Three Batteries, each with:

1 command StuG IIIG 1Stug IIIG 1 StuH 42

One Escort Battery, with:

1 command infantry stand 1 car 3 infantry stands 1 engineer stand 1 medium truck 1 SP Quad 2cm AA vehicle 1 recon Pz II L tank

Notes:

1. The infantry are armed with the Sturmgewehr StG 44. Use the Assault rifle listing on the Small Arms Characteristics Chart.

2. The SP AA vehicle was typically a SdKfz 7/1 half-track with the quad 20mm L/113 mounted on the rear.

3. The recon Pz II L was not found in the majority of the assault brigades.

Sources:

Captured German Records, National Archives, Washington D.C.
Chamberlain, Doyle, and Jentz: Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War II. ARCO Publishing, New York, 1978

A pair of StuG IIIGs prepare to surprise allied armor.