MC NATO national army doctrine design question

[Taffy6]

The Dutch did — have a look here (pdf). You might want to download the document and run it through a translator device; it is OCR'd.

Whether they would have been capable to fight in this fashion is another matter. The "older" companies probably would, for the "newer" companies I suspect this would require quite a bit more training (because of the Dutch unit filling system the three companies of a battalion were never at the same level of training/proficiency).

Hope this helps.

Hans

Hans, it helps quite a bit! Thanks!

Taffy

---

Well, as promised:

[another EXCELLENT Danish OOB treatise snipped]

The above is meant to elucidate some more on this old thread:

https://www.theblitz.club/message_boards...?tid=48741

At a later point: How was the 1970-80s vintage armored infantry brigade supposed to work.

JDR Dragoon, thank you VERY much, that was very helpful, as was the point to the old thread.

Thanks!

Taffy

[Mike Bowen]

Making company groups work- you have a tool that did not exist when the game came out - The quality modifier helps in particular if you up Nato by 1 level. I would also change the stacking so Pact can not in effect stack.

That may help a lot.

Mike

[JDR Dragoon]

Well, as promised: How it all is supposed to fit together:

First the Armored Infatry Battalion:

-It had a Stabskompagni/HQ Company w. the relevant command organs:

--Kommandosektion/Command Section, where all the officers and their command APCs reside.

--Stabsdeling/Staff Platoon, responsible for the administrative tasks.

--Overvågningsektion/Surveillance Section, the battalions reconnaisance unit, 3 jeep-type vehicles (Land Rover, Mercedes G, or M151 MUTT) w. 3 men w. small arms (1xLMG, Rifles, SMGs plus M72 LAW) per vehicle.

--Jordovervågningsradarsektion/Ground Survelliance Radar: 2xZB 298 radar transported by light trucks

--Pansret Panserværnsraketdeling/Armoured Antitank Platoon: 4xM113 w. TOW (M151) on telescopic mount in the cargo hatch and a jeep-type vehicle for the platoon commander plus a light truck for extra missiles.

--Motoriseret Panserværnsraketdeling/Motorized Antitank Platoon: 4xJeep-type vehicles (Land Rover or M151 MUTT) w. TOW (M151) and a jeep-type vehicle for the platoon commander plus a light truck for extra missiles.

--Tung Morterdeling/Heavy Mortar Platoon: 4x120mm Brandt mortars towed by light trucks plus Jeep type vehicles and supply trucks to match (for the forward observers, extra ammo, fire control etc.)

--Forsyningsdeling/Supply Platoon: 6 Trucks.

--Vedligeholdelsesdeling/Maintanence Platoon: Armorers, Electronics mechanics, engine mechanics. Lots of trucks and a single M113 w. a crane for forward repairs.

--Bjergningssektion/Recovery Section: 1xCenturion ARV, 1xM578 plus various light vehicles. In addition, this is where the battalions 3 earthmoving vehicles reside for administrative purposes.

--Sanitetsdeling/Medical Platoon: 3xM113 APCs, 1xLight Truck Ambulance.

--Sikringsgruppe/Security Squad: 1xInfantry Squads in light truck (Rifles, SMGs, 1xLMG 1x84mm RR).



-The two next companies (nr. 1-2) were Pansrede Infanterikompagnier/Armored Infantry Companies in M113s.

--Stabs og Forsyningsdeling/Staff and Supply Platoon. Consists of a small HQ w. 2 M113 APCs (1 for the Coy CO, 1 for the companys mechanics meant for forward repairs) plus supply, repair and administrative trucks and lots of Jeep-type vehicles.

--3xPanserinfanteridelinger/Armored Infantry Platoons. Each w. 34 men and 3xM113 w. 12.7mm MG. Split into platoon HQ (Plt. Ldr, Plt. Sgt, RATELO, Medic) and 2 squads of 10 (Squad Leader, 2nd in Command, 2 Riflemen, Machine gunner and ammo bearer, 84mm RR gunner and ammo bearer, M113 driver, M113 commander). The platoon HQ is split up between the 3 APCs. The platoon also has a 60mm mortar for firing WP smoke and illumination.

--Mortersektion/Mortar Section: 2xM125a1 81mm Mortar carriers.


-The third unit is the Kampvognseskadron/Tank Company

--Stabs og Forsyningsdeling/Staff and Supply Platoon: The company commanders Tank, plus an M113 meant to transport the companys mechanics for forward repairs. On top of this supply trucks and admin vehicles.

--3 Kampvognsdelinger/Tank Platoons: Each of 3 tanks. 1 tank in each platoon has a dozer blade.



-The fourth and last company is the Motoriserede Infanterikompagni/Motorized Infantry Company.

--Stabs og Forsyningsdeling/Staff and Supply Platoon. Consists of a small HQ w. supply, repair and administrative trucks plus lots of Jeep-type vehicles.

--3 Motoriserede Infanteridelinger/Motorized Infantry Platoons: Each w. 31 men and 2xlight truck. Split into platoon HQ (Plt. Ldr, Plt. Sgt, RATELO, Medic, heavy machinegunner w. 1x12.7mm HMG on tripod) and 3 squads of 9 men each Squad Ldr, 2nd in Command, 2xriflemen, machine gunner plus ammo bearer, 84mm RR gunner plus ammo bearer and a driver for the truck).

--Mortersektion/Mortar Section: 3x81mm mortars in light trucks/vehicles.



So how is all of this supposed to work together on the battlefield? Well, I have posted some examples i have scanned in from various (non-classified) publications. Some of this requires that you be fluent in the "NATO-Braille" of APP-6, but I have appended comments to elucidate

The first example is a principle sketch of the battalion in the static defense in relatively open terrain:



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-Two of the infantry companies are "Up", one of them in a reverse slope position, the other in a forest firing enfilading across the reverse slope. These might be the armored infantry companies, or one of them might be the motorized company (the one in the forest most likely, since the forest allows concealed dismounted movement).

-One of the TOW platoon is also in the forest behind the infantry company, set up to fire flanking into anybody cresting. This will most likely be the motorized platoon

-The other is set up on a hill further back, firing frontally. This will most likely be the armored platoon.

-In addition, the last infantry company is posted in the village on the hill as a backstop should the enemy break through. This is likely to be the motorized company, again because the urban terrain makes concealed movement feasible.

-At last, the tank company has a battle position on the rear hill as well.

-The idea is of course to hit the enemy with the fire of 18x84mm RRs, 8 TOWS and 10x105mm plus the mortars when they crest the hill. In addition, as shown in the next sketch, the tank company might have prepared counterattacks in support of the two forward deployed companies and the tank company plus one of the TOW platoons (likely the armored one) might actually start the battle by engaging the enemy from hull down positions on the forward hill on order to attrit them and draw them in.



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The next sketch shows the battalion in defense of a constricted area (urban, large forest etc.)




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-The battalion starts w. the two TOW platoons in hull down positions on the hill in front of the main defensive position in order to attrition the enemy.

-Behind them, in front of Phaseline Laila (which is the forward limit to the battalions main defence) is a mixed battale position, the core of which is an infantry company reinforced with a tank platoon. One of the infantry platoons plus the tanks will hit the enemy as they crest and then pull back. The main thoroughfares are blocked by battle positions in platoon strenght and the space in between covered by aggressive patrolling and security outposts.

-Once the enemy becomes serious, this gaggle falls back beind Phaseline Laila, where the battalions main defense is located, firing across open ground (a major road in the city, a firebreak in a forest etc.). This will be two infantry companies (positions Hotel 2-3 w. alternate positions at Hotel 1 and 4) which can be reinforced by the now freed up company that used to operate in front of them, alternatively platoons of the forward companies held back as a reserve might be used here instead (positions Lima 1-2-3). This might take the form of an actual counterattack into the enemys flank.

-If this fails. we fall back to the next defensive position (while covering the retreat with active patrolling), which consists of a company sized infantry force of 3 platoons, each blocking a major throughfare (Bravo 2-4-6). In addition, 3 tank platoons are set up to fire flanking fire into any enemies approaching the infantry platoons (Bravo 1-3-5-7).

-The final defence is 2 infantrycompanies up and 1 infantrycompany back, each sitting on top of a major throughfare or intersection, w. tanks or TOWs covering the flanks (Sierra 1-5). If they get through this, the enemy will have evicted the defenders from the locality.





The last sketch shows the battalion attacking the same piece of constricted real estate.



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-The attack is supported by the two TOW platoons and the heavy mortar platoon with the ground survelliance radar doing its thing (Sierra 1-2).

-The 4 attacking companies cross the Line of Departure (UL= Udgangslinie) and move into assembly area "Brun 1" (Brown 1). One of the TOW platoons and the radar displace to new positions (Sierra 3).

-The attack goes in w. 2 infantry companies in the lead supported by the fire of the rest of the force. They attack along a major road, aiming for the intermediate objectives "Lis" og "Lone". Tanks are brought up to support in platoon strenght or singly as applicable. Once reached, they prepare to defend them, including the preparation of alternative fighting positions against flanking attacks.

-After consolidating on the intermediate objective, the attack is launched across Phaseline Ane, aiming for the intermediate objectives "Helle" and "Laila". One of the infantry comoanies might have been replaced as lead company along its axis of advance. Meanwhile, the surveillance section covers the flanks or screens the major thoroughfare not used as an attack axis by the battalion. Consolidation in the intermediate objective takes place as before.

-The final phase of the attack crosses Phaseline Betty and aims for Brun 2-3, the final objectives. Once reached, the battalion will adopt a defensive 180 degree hedgehog along the edges of the constricting terrain, after having policed up or evicted the remnants of the enemy presence.

[Taffy6]

Thanks JDR, this is wonderful stuff! Very helpful and I am very grateful that you took the time to post all of this!

So based on your examples, I believe I understand that the lowest practical Danish combined arms (tank-mech inf) command level circa 1985 was the battalion?

Thus, inside the 1985-era Danish Jutland Division Heavy BN, the tank, mech infantry and infantry companies did not cross-attach platoons between them to create mixed arms "company teams" like the Americans and the British did. Rather, the component companies of the Danish heavy battalion fought "pure" in support of the Danish battalion commander's mission objective. There was no need to swap companies between BN's because each Heavy BN was already a mixed combined arms force of Tanks, Mech Inf and Wheeled Inf companies.

All of which means that for the Zapad 85 mod, there is no need for me to create four identical, combinable company teams to represent ad-hoc mixed arms combat teams for Danish heavy battalions to break down into or recombine from.

For NATO heavy battalions in first play test, I will likely leave the Dutch, Belgian and Danish units as they are, represented as companies rather than KG's. For the Americans and Brits, I will build cross-attached tank heavy and mech heavy company "teams" that combine and break down into battalion sized "task forces". I haven't researched 1985-era West German doctrine but intend to represent the mixed Leo-Marder Btl's as combinable mixed company sized units as well. All of these will be represented as "Coy" type units rather than "KG" type units, with the fatigue penalties etc.

The IDEA de jour is that where appropriate, Zapad 85 NATO heavy battalions will break down and recombine. About the only KG designated units will be the RECON forces in every army in both alliances. If this doesn't fly in testing, I will go back to using the KG as the basic NATO company designation and just accepting this as a limitation of this otherwise incredible game engine.

Thank you JDR!

[JDR Dragoon]

Panserbataljonen/The Armored Battalion will be built along the same lines, only it will not have a Motorized TOW Platoon, nor will it have a Heavy Mortar Platoon. It has a tank company instead of an armored infantry company. It is thus suitable for more mobile actions in more open terrain. In addition, the numbering is different (the tank companies are nr. 1-2 company, the armored infantry company nr. 3 and the motorized company nr. 4).

The first tactical example is the battalion in the mobile defense/delaying action:



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-The action starts with the armored battalion as the rearmost unit in the brigades sector, straddling two other battalions deployed in front.

-The battalion defends this large frontage with 2 infantry companies and a tank company deployed behind Phaseline Alma, which also constitutes the forward limit of the battalions defensive zone and the dividing line to the other battalions further forward (Sierra 1-3). Each of these companies has a platoon deployed forward of the dividing line in order to receive and channel the friendly units in front, as they fall back and pass through the battalion lines (Hotel 1-3). In addition the TOW platoon is in position (Sierra 4), and one tank company is in reserve, with two prepared counterattacks in support of the forward companies ("Kurt" and "Erik").

-So the forward battalions withdraw and make a passage of lines. The goal is now to buy time, so the initial positions around Phaseline Alma are maintained for as long as possible, evicting the enemy through counterattack if necessary. The forward deployed platoons fall back, possibly after having blunted the enemys forward units.

-But the spread out nature of the battalion coupled with the enemy pressure (if he has enough force to throw back the two battalions initially deployed in front, he will likely be able to generate enough force to overrun a spread out armor battalion) will likely mean we will have to fall back. So we do: The two tank companies and one of the infantry companies (likely the armored one) fall back to Lima 1-3, where we try to lure th enemy into a firesack (IKO=Ildkoncentrationsområde/Fire Concentration Area).

-Once the enemys presence becomes overwhelming here as well, the two tank companies fall slightly back to Golf 1-2 and the infantry hightails it, covered by the armor.

-The tank companies (plus TOW platoon) then bounds back to Victor 1-2.

-The final position before the rear limit of the battalions defensive zone (Bravo 1-3) is comprised of an infantry company (might be either, but likely the motorized one if the armored infantry company is the reserve slated for the planned counterattack) and the two tank companies. The TOW platoon is screening/guarding the flank (Bravo 4). Again the goal is to get the enemy to enter a firesack (presumably the terrain or engineering improvements serve to channel he enemy here) and then complete the destruction by using the battalion reserve (either an infantry company or one of the tank companies after it has relieved itself) to counterattack into the enemys flank. The enemy will now either have been stopped outright or at least delayed, hopefully without jeopardizing too much of the battalions combat strenght.





The last example is the armored battalion in a full blown (counter)attack:



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-The battalion crosses the Line of Departure w. a tank company and the armored infantry company in the lead, aiming for the next Phaseline and the objective "Sort 1" (Black 1). Presumably "Sort 1" will be in some kind of congested terrain, such as a small village or a forest, since the armored infantry company is in the lead and not the other tank company and because of the fact, that this location is supposed to house the battalion HQ later. The surveillance section screens one flank, while the TOW platoon screens the other (Golf 1).

-What happens between the next two phaselines is a bit unclear. Presumbaly the surveillance section and the motorized infantry company does a dismounted infiltration and thus secures the passage of the rest of the battalion to the next phaseline. Either that, or the magical wand of the exercise umpire appears and waves the entire caravan forwards ;)

-The next phase of the attack aims for Sort 2-3, again with two companies in the lead. Which companies depend on the terrain. If open, it will be the tank companies. If one or both axes is covered by congested terrain, it will be the infantry company(/ies). Again the surveillance section and the TOW platoon screen the flanks.

-The final attack, against "Sort 4" will be launched by the battalion reserve immediately following the taking of "Sort 2-3" and will be screened by the TOW platoon. Again, the type of company used will depend upon the terrain (and upon which units were in reserve).

[JDR Dragoon]

Tactical problems:

The armored infantry battalion has a total of 15 combat platoons (if we count the aggregate surveillance section and security squad in the battalion HQ company as the equivalent of a platoon), while the armor battalion has 14.

Out of these, 3 platoons (6 in the armor battalion) can both move and fight under the protection of armor (the tanks in other words).

7 platoons (4 in the armor battalion) can move under the protection of armor, but not fight effectively mounted while under fire (M113 infantry, armored TOW platoon).

5 platoons (4 in the armor battalion) can neither move nor fight under he protection of armor (motorized infantry platoons, motorized TOW platoon, and the battalion reconnaisance and security assets).

-The tactical problems presented by the lack of armor is worst with regards to the TOWs, which are the battalions only long range AT assets. They must thus constantly change firing position in order to avoid suppression or destruction by enemy artillery. This is of course worst for the motorized TOWs, who are dependent on engineer support if they want to establish a permanent position (a ramp dug into the earth w. overhead cover provided by logs, where the vehicle can be parked to ride out the enemy artillery preperation)

-The motorized infantry is less of a problem in the armored infantry battalion, where most of the combat power consists of dismounted infantry anyway. Usually there would be some form of terrain in the battalion sector that could mitigate the lack of armor and allow concealed movement by the motorized infantry. It was a much greater problem to meaningfully employ it in the armor battalion, whose tactical missions usually consisted of mobile delaying/defense missions or outright (counter)attacks. This was eventually solved during the 1990s by exchanging the motorized infantry company for another tank company (thus raising the brigades total tank strenght from 40 to 50 in the process). Eventually the motorized infantry in the brigades ended up getting wheeled APCs. A stopgap solution would often be, that the armor battalion "picked up" the tank company of the mechanized inantry battalion whose area it was passing through in order to deliver its (counter)attack, thus raising the number of tanks from 20 to 30, but this is of course the tactical equivalent of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

-The range of the infantrys antitank weapons also presents a problem. Both the 84mm recoilless rifle and the 12.7mm HMG has an effective range against armor around 500 meters (and then only if the range has acuurately been measured for the 84mm RR, using some kind of rangefinder or rangecard/map). The M72 LAW is even worse (around 150 under realistic circumstances). When the danish army went shopping for its medium range AT weapon in the late 1970s, 3 systems were trialled: DRAGON; MILAN and the 84mm RR. DRAGON was thought deficient in range and accuracy (the finicky guidance system using rockets firing in sequence being a factor here), the more so when seen in relation to the weight and price of the system. MILAN was what the army wanted (range in excess of 1.5 kilometer, good hitting power, accurate and quite fast missile), but was also the most expensive. The 84mm RR eventually won, when it was able to consistently hit targets out to 800 meters during the trials (I have no idea how they did this, possibly the gunner ate his wheaties or the trials were rigged, it might also just have been dumb luck). In addition, this system was the cheapest to both initially purchase and to maintain in service. Later it was of course discovered that your average soldier, be he conscript or enlisted, couldn´t hit consistently out to 800 meters...

-The lack of armored reconnaisance assets also means, that the battalion, be it armor or armored infantry, will have to commit its main force units much more quickly in order to force the desired outcome, since the battalions reconnaisance assets cannot fight in any meaningful way and are checked by even the lightest resistance.

-While not really a weak point per se, the number and quality of night vision devices also leaves the battalions at about parity w. their WAPA counterparts: each squad has an IR/White Light projector and sight, with an effective range of around 250 meters (using IR or white light) or around 50-100 (using the IR sight in passive mode, relying on ambient IR light). The sight can be mounted on an assault rifle or on the tripod for the squads machinegun. There is no night sight for the 84mm RR. The platoon has a 60mm mortar for illumination and the company mortar section also has illumination rounds plus a supply of 84mm starshells for the 84mm RR, held at company level. In addition each company has a large IR/White Light projector, which will illuminate targets w. white or IR light out to around 750-800 meters. The tanks have light amplification to enable the driver and commander to see at night, while the gunner has an IR Sight and an IR/White Light projector (effective range of around 1000 meters in active mode. Perhaps around 100 in passive mode, depending on the prevalence of "natural" IR Light). The TOWs have no night sights and were relying on illumination provided by others. By the late 1980s most of the long range anti-armor weapons would have had Thermal Sights (TOWs, Centurion MBT, M41 Light Tank, w. the Leopard 1 scheduled for upgrade), while the infantry was left lacking ntill the mid-late 1990s before receiving modern light amplification weapon sights.

-The total number of MBTs in the brigade is also quite modest (40). This is not so great a problem in the forward deployed brigades, who would usually have defensive missions where infantry could carry much more of the fight. But the brigade in divisional reserve would usually have to execute some kind of counterattack or mobile defense in order to save/extricate the forward brigades. By the late 1980s this had been somewhat rectified by the addition of a so called Tank Destroyer Battalion to the reserve brigade, which added 50 worn out 20pdr armed Centurions to that brigade and brought the total number of MBTs here up to 90. It was planned, but never realized, to eventually equip this unit with Leopards. Instead, it got 105mm Centurions with thermal sights, LRF and computerized fire control. The engine and running gear wasn´t overhauled or changed, so they remained mechanically unreliable due to age, but could shoot very credibly and accurately at long range, although not while moving.

[JDR Dragoon]

Thanks JDR, this is wonderful stuff! Very helpful and I am very grateful that you took the time to post all of this!

You are welcome. Since I am planning to make another 1985 timeframe scenario featuring COMLANDJUT against parts of WAPAs "Coastal Front", this is partially for my own benefit as well. The original scenario I made was mostly a revision of the stock DF85 one, in order to make it actually playable. The next one will be much more of an original work.

So based on your examples, I believe I understand that the lowest practical Danish combined arms (tank-mech inf) command level circa 1985 was the battalion?

Thus, inside the 1985-era Danish Jutland Division Heavy BN, the tank, mech infantry and infantry companies did not cross-attach platoons between them to create mixed arms "company teams" like the Americans and the British did. Rather, the component companies of the Danish heavy battalion fought "pure" in support of the Danish battalion commander's mission objective. There was no need to swap companies between BN's because each Heavy BN was already a mixed combined arms force of Tanks, Mech Inf and Wheeled Inf companies.

Basically yes. This was the whole point behind creating these kind of formations. The field manuals do mention the possibility of "trading" platoons between companies, but it is not my impression that this was done often or on a permanent basis. The main reason is obvious: the tank company only has 10 tanks. If you "trade" a platoon, this is reduced to seven, which impairs the offensive potential of the unit. In addition, there is the problem of the motorized company, whose leader is likely to be a reserve-officer kind of type. You don´t gain much extra combat power by overburdening him with the command of a platoon type he might not have much experience with. Much easier to tell him, that he should prepare a battle position for the tank company (or parts hereoff) within his own company sector, where the tank company commander can then take up positions in support (or execute a planned counterattack)

But in some of the tactical examples above (the armored infantry battalion in defense/attack of congested terrain), you have several cases where the tank company commander "lends" his platoons (or even single tanks) to the infantry companies. But this is temporary and driven by the terrain which dictates the need to flexibly direct the correct tactical "tool" needed for the task. This might also work the other way, if say a tank company is leading a battalion attack axis and need an infantry platoon in order to secure the passage or clear a small congested area, in which case one will be passed forward to them (if more than one platoon is needed, then it is a company task and an entire company will be sent)

I haven't researched 1985-era West German doctrine but intend to represent the mixed Leo-Marder Btl's as combinable mixed company sized units as well. All of these will be represented as "Coy" type units rather than "KG" type units, with the fatigue penalties etc.

The germans would trade companies as well, but still leave at least one armor battalion as "tank heavy" w. 28 tanks. For an example of task organization, see This video 2.35-8.15 (especially 5.18)It is in german, but the diagram should be readable.

The IDEA de jour is that where appropriate, Zapad 85 NATO heavy battalions will break down and recombine. About the only KG designated units will be the RECON forces in every army in both alliances. If this doesn't fly in testing, I will go back to using the KG as the basic NATO company designation and just accepting this as a limitation of this otherwise incredible game engine.

.
Ok. I can see some problems with this. The first is how to represent infantry in a tank company and vice versa. One solution would be to convert the infantry into an equivalent number of tanks and then simply add this number to the rest. But how many "M1 Abrams-equivalents" does an infantry platoon in M113s (or M2 Bradleys for that matter) constitute? The alternative would be to simply ad the extra number of vehicles to the ones in the tank company and then "average out" the values. The problem here is of course, that a company of MBTs becomes quite vulnerable, by having their defensive value "averaged out" with a bunch of APCs or IFVs, and are thus at a disadvantage. Which is probably not what you are trying to achieve. The same also goes for the infantry, but here each tank will need to be made into a number of "infantry equivalents" (but again, just how many infanry squads in M113s or M2s is an Abrams worth and under which tactical circumstances?) or just have the basic crew size added to the number of men already in the company (each tank thus adding 4 men typically). In addition,if using the latter method, the HA and SA of the infantry company will likely go up, thus ending up with the opposite outcome: the infantry gets additional HA and SA, without giving up much more than some men, thus becoming much stronger.

[Taffy6]

The IDEA de jour is that where appropriate, Zapad 85 NATO heavy battalions will break down and recombine. About the only KG designated units will be the RECON forces in every army in both alliances. If this doesn't fly in testing, I will go back to using the KG as the basic NATO company designation and just accepting this as a limitation of this otherwise incredible game engine.

Ok. I can see some problems with this. The first is how to represent infantry in a tank company and vice versa. One solution would be to convert the infantry into an equivalent number of tanks and then simply add this number to the rest. But how many "M1 Abrams-equivalents" does an infantry platoon in M113s (or M2 Bradleys for that matter) constitute? The alternative would be to simply ad the extra number of vehicles to the ones in the tank company and then "average out" the values. The problem here is of course, that a company of MBTs becomes quite vulnerable, by having their defensive value "averaged out" with a bunch of APCs or IFVs, and are thus at a disadvantage. Which is probably not what you are trying to achieve. The same also goes for the infantry, but here each tank will need to be made into a number of "infantry equivalents" (but again, just how many infanry squads in M113s or M2s is an Abrams worth and under which tactical circumstances?) or just have the basic crew size added to the number of men already in the company (each tank thus adding 4 men typically). In addition,if using the latter method, the HA and SA of the infantry company will likely go up, thus ending up with the opposite outcome: the infantry gets additional HA and SA, without giving up much more than some men, thus becoming much stronger.

Very good points. I see the same issues. I am hoping to overcome them by analyzing the original DF85 vanilla combat values for US mixed M1-M3 armored cavalry units and then carrying that concept over mathmatically to create mixed tank-mech or mech-tank Coy "Teams".

If I cannot get it worked out in a way that doesn't skew the game, I will return to using the KG to represent all NATO Tank and Inf companies like Tazaaron's Bolt masterpiece. I might also then simply cross attach company-sized Mech Inf KG's and Tank KG's between US and UK Heavy Bn's (within their parent Brigades), and leave the rest of the NATO armies as they are. In this way at least the US and UK Heavy Bn's will have SOME combined arms make-up even if the company KG's within the Bn's remain "pure" for play balance.

Thanks again for your time JDR! I am much obliged.

Regards,

Taffy