Service Battery: 1 medium ammo truck with AAMG and trailer

Transcription

1 3rd Armored Division [Experienced/8] Division Troops: Division (MG Maurice Rose) Division Headquarters Company: 1 M5 light tank 1 recon jeep with MG 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 M3 halftrack with MG Division Armored Signal Company: 2 staff radio M3 halftracks with AAMG (integral bazooka) Attached FAC team: 1 FAC radio truck Division Artillery (Colonel Frederic Brown) 1 staff radio light truck (integral bazooka) 58th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (attached) [Veteran/8] Headquarters Battery: 1 halftrack with MG 1 staff radio halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 FO M4/75 medium tank 1 M32 ARV 3 Batteries A, B & C), each with: 1 M7 HMC 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG with ammo trailer 991st Field Artillery Battalion: (attached) Headquarters Battery: 1 halftrack with MG 1 staff radio halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka)

2 1 M32 ARV 3 Batteries (A, B & C), each with: 1 M12 GMC 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG with ammo trailer Combat Command A (CCA) Headquarters/CCA: (BG Doyle Hickey) 1 staff radio M3 halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M5 light tank 1 recon jeep with MG 32nd Armored Regiment: (Colonel Leander Doan) 1 staff radio M3 halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M5 light tank 1 recon jeep with MG Service Company/32nd Armored Regiment: 2 medium ammo trucks with AAMG with trailers 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 M32 ARV Recon Company/32nd Armored Regiment: 1 command M8 armored car 3 recon M8 armored cars 3 recon jeeps with MG 1 (integral bazooka) A/703rd Tank Destroyer Company: 1 command M20 armored car 1 recon M20 armored car (integral bazooka) 3 M10 GMC C/23rd Armored Engineer Company: 3 engineer stands (integral bazooka) 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG 1 medium dump truck 1 medium engineer supply truck with trailer 1 if dismounted may form a weapons stand (each platoon had 4 x.30 LMG from jeeps and 2 60mm mortars)

3 A/486th AAA Auto-Weapons Battery: 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG 2 M16 MGMC 2 M15 MGMC 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion Headquarters Battery: 1 halftrack with MG 1 staff radio halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 FO M4/75 medium tank 1 M32 ARV 3 Batteries (A, B & C), each with: 1 M7 HMC 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG with ammo trailer 1st/32nd Tank Battalion: 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HMTC (integral bazooka) A/32nd Light Tank Company: 1 command M5 light tank 2 M5 light tanks D/32nd Medium Tank Company: G/32nd Medium Tank Company: 2nd/32nd Tank Battalion:

4 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HMTC (integral bazooka) B/32nd Light Tank Company: 1 command M5 light tank 2 M5 light tanks E/32nd Medium Tank Company: F/32nd Medium Tank Company: 1st/36th Armored Infantry Battalion: 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HTMC (integral bazooka) 1 MMG stand (integral bazooka) 1 halftrack with MG Service Company: 1 medium ammo truck with AAMG with trailer 3 Armored Infantry Companies (A, B & C), each with: 2 (3) armored infantry/bazooka stands 1 weapons/bazooka stand 1 (0) 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 2 M3 halftracks with AAMG 2 M3 halftracks with MG Combat Command B (CCB) Headquarters/CCB: (BG Truman Boudinot) 1 staff radio M3 halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M5 light tank 1 recon jeep with MG 33rd Armored Regiment:

5 (Colonel John Welborn) 1 staff radio M3 halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M5 light tank 1 recon jeep with MG Service Company/33rd Armored Regiment: 2 medium ammo trucks with AAMG with trailers 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 M32 ARV Recon Company/33rd Armored Regiment: 1 command M8 armored car 3 recon M8 armored cars 3 recon jeeps with MG 2 (integral bazooka) B/703rd Tank Destroyer Company: 1 command M20 armored car 1 recon M20 armored car (integral bazooka) 3 M10 GMC B/23rd Armored Engineer Company: 3 engineer stands (integral bazooka) 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG 1 medium dump truck 1 medium engineer supply truck with trailer B/486th AAA Auto Weapons Battery: 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG 2 M16 MGMC 2 M15 MGMC 391st Armored Field Artillery Battalion Headquarters Battery: 1 halftrack with MG 1 staff radio halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 FO M4/75 medium tank 1 M32 ARV 3 Batteries (A, B & C), each with: 2 if dismounted may form a weapons stand (each platoon had 4 x.30 LMG from jeeps and 2 60mm mortars)

6 1 M7 HMC 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG with ammo trailer 1st/33rd Tank Battalion: 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HMTC (integral bazooka) A/33rd Light Tank Company: 1 command M5 light tank 2 M5 light tanks F/33rd Medium Tank Company: I/33rd Medium Tank Company: 2nd/33rd Tank Battalion 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HMTC (integral bazooka) B/33rd Light Tank Company: 1 M5 light tank 2 M5 light tanks D/33rd Medium Tank Company: E/33rd Medium Tank Company:

7 2nd/36th Armored Infantry Battalion: 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HTMC (integral bazooka) 1 MMG stand (integral bazooka) 1 halftrack with MG Service Company: 1 medium ammo truck with AAMG with trailer 3 Armored Infantry Companies (D, E & F), each with: 2 (3) armored infantry/bazooka stands 1 weapons/bazooka stand 1 (0) 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 2 M3 halftracks with AAMG 2 M3 halftracks with MG Reserve Combat Command (CCR): Headquarters/36th Armored Infantry Regiment: (Colonel C.J. Rosenberger) 1 staff radio M3 halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 recon jeep with MG Service Company/36th Armored Infantry Regiment: 2 medium ammo trucks with AAMG with trailers 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 M32 ARV 3rd/33rd Tank Battalion: 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HMTC (integral bazooka) C/33rd Light Tank Company: 1 command M5 light tank 2 M5 light tanks G/33rd Medium Tank Company:

8 H/33rd Medium Tank Company: 3rd/32nd Tank Battalion: 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HMTC (integral bazooka) C/32nd Light Tank Company: 1 command M5 light tank 2 M5 light tanks H/32nd Medium Tank Company: I/32nd Medium Tank Company: 3rd/36th Armored Infantry Battalion: 1 recon jeep with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 M4 HTMC (integral bazooka) 1 MMG stand (integral bazooka) 1 halftrack with MG Service Company: 1 medium ammo truck with AAMG with trailer 3 Armored Infantry Companies (G, H & I), each with: 2 (3) armored infantry/bazooka stands 1 weapons/bazooka stand 1 (0) 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 2 M3 halftracks with AAMG 2 M3 halftracks with MG 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion (-A&B cos):

9 1 M20 armored car 1 M32 ARV Recon Company/703rd: 1 command M20 armored car 1 recon M8 armored car 3 recon jeeps with MG (integral bazooka) 1 engineer stand (integral bazooka) 1 light truck with AAMG C/703rd Tank Destroyer Company: 1 command M20 armored car 1 recon M20 armored car (integral bazooka) 3 M10 GMC 23rd Armored Engineer Battalion (- B & C company): 1 staff radio light truck Headquarters and Service Company: 1 recon jeep with MG 1 medium engineer supply truck with trailer 1 engineer stand 1 medium truck with class IV bridge 1 heavy truck with bulldozer trailer A/23rd Armored Engineer Company: 3 engineer stands (integral bazooka) 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG 1 medium dump truck 1 medium engineer supply truck with trailer 486th AAA Auto Weapons Battalion (-A&B batteries): 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 2 batteries (C & D), each with: 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG 2 M16 MGMC 2 M15 MGMC 67th Armored Field Artillery Battalion

10 Headquarters Battery: 1 halftrack with MG 1 staff radio halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 FO M4/75 medium tank 1 M32 ARV 3 Firing Batteries (A, B & C), each with: 1 M7 HMC 1 M3 halftrack with AAMG with ammo trailer 83rd Armored Recon Battalion: 1 staff radio halftrack with AAMG (integral bazooka) 1 T5 ARV/wrecker C (light tank) Company: 1 command M5 light tank 2 M5 light tanks 3 recon companies (A, B & D), each with: 1 command M8 armored car 3 recon M8 armored cars 3 recon jeeps with MG 3 (integral bazooka) 1st/26th Infantry Battalion (attached) [Veteran/9] (Major Francis Adams) 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 light truck 3 Rifle Companies (A, B & C), each with: 3 infantry stands (integral bazooka) 1 weapons stand (integral bazooka) Weapons Company (D): 3 if dismounted may form a weapons stand (each platoon had 4 x.30 LMG from jeeps and 2 60mm mortars)

11 2 ammo jeeps with light ammo trailers 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) (integral bazooka) 2 MMG stands (integral bazooka) 16th Regimental Combat Team (1st ID) [Veteran/9] (Colonel Frederick Gibb) 1 staff radio light truck 1 recon jeep with MG Service Company: Cannon Company/16th Infantry Regiment: 1 105L16 howitzer with crew (ds) (integral bazooka) 1 medium truck 1 medium ammo truck with AAMG with trailer Antitank Company/16th Infantry Regiment: 2 57L52 AT guns and crews (integral bazooka) 2 light trucks 1 light truck with ammo trailer 1st/16th Infantry Battalion: 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 light truck 3 Rifle Companies (A, B & C), each with: 3 infantry stands (integral bazooka) 1 weapons stand (integral bazooka) Weapons Company (D): 2 ammo jeeps with light ammo trailers 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) (integral bazooka) 2 MMG stands (integral bazooka) 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion:

12 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 light truck 3 Rifle Companies (E, F & G), each with: 3 infantry stands (integral bazooka) 1 weapons stand (integral bazooka) Weapons Company (H): 2 ammo jeeps with light ammo trailers 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) (integral bazooka) 2 MMG stands (integral bazooka) 3rd/16th Infantry Battalion: 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 light truck 3 Rifle Companies (I, K & L), each with: 3 infantry stands (integral bazooka) 1 weapons stand (integral bazooka) Weapons Company (M): 2 ammo jeeps with light ammo trailers 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) (integral bazooka) 2 MMG stands (integral bazooka) 7th Field Artillery Battalion: 1 staff radio light truck Headquarters and 1 FO stand 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 3 Batteries (A, B & C), each with: 1 105L23 howitzer and crew (ds) (integral bazooka) 1 medium truck with AAMG

13 1 light truck A/1st Combat Engineer Company: 3 engineer stands (integral bazooka) 2 medium dump trucks 1 medium engineer supply truck with trailer B/745th Tank Company: 2 M4/75 tanks A/635th Tank Destroyer Company (T): 3 3" AT guns and crews (ds) (integral bazooka) 3 M3 halftracks with AAMG B/103rd AAA Auto Weapons Battery (mobile): 2 40L56 AA guns and crews (ds) 2 medium trucks 2 M16 MGMC A/87th Chemical Mortar Company: 3 4.2" mortar stands (ds) (integral bazooka) 3 medium trucks with AAMG B/87th Chemical Mortar Company: 3 4.2" mortar stands (ds) (integral bazooka) 3 medium trucks with AAMG 47th Regimental Combat Team (9th ID) [Veteran/9] (Colonel George Smythe) 1 staff radio light truck 1 recon jeep with MG Service Company:

14 Cannon Company/47th Infantry Regiment: 1 105L16 howitzer with crew (ds) (integral bazooka) 1 medium truck 1 medium ammo truck with AAMG with trailer Antitank Company/47th Infantry Regiment: 2 57L52 AT guns and crews (integral bazooka) 2 light trucks 1 light truck with ammo trailer 1st/47th Infantry Battalion: 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 light truck 3 Rifle Companies (A, B & C), each with: 3 infantry stands (integral bazooka) 1 weapons stand (integral bazooka) Weapons Company (D): 2 ammo jeeps with light ammo trailers 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) (integral bazooka) 2 MMG stands (integral bazooka) 2nd/47th Infantry Battalion: 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 light truck 3 Rifle Companies (E, F & G), each with: 3 infantry stands (integral bazooka) 1 weapons stand (integral bazooka) Weapons Company (H): 2 ammo jeeps with light ammo trailers

15 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) (integral bazooka) 2 MMG stands (integral bazooka) 3rd/47th Infantry Battalion: 1 57L52 AT gun and crew (integral bazooka) 1 light truck 3 Rifle Companies (I, K & L), each with: 3 infantry stands (integral bazooka) 1 weapons stand (integral bazooka) Weapons Company (M): 2 ammo jeeps with light ammo trailers 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) (integral bazooka) 2 MMG stands (integral bazooka) 84th Field Artillery Battalion: 1 staff radio light truck Headquarters and 1 FO stand 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 3 Batteries (A, B & C), each with: 1 105L23 howitzer and crew (ds) (integral bazooka) 1 medium truck with AAMG 1 light truck B/15th Combat Engineer Company: 3 engineer stands (integral bazooka) 2 medium dump trucks 1 medium engineer supply truck with trailer A/746th Tank Company: 2 M4/75 tanks D/376th AAA Auto Weapon Battery (mobile):

16 2 40L56 AA guns and crews (ds) 2 medium trucks 2 M16 MGMC C/87th Chemical Mortar Company: 3 4.2" mortar stands (ds) (integral bazooka) 3 medium trucks with AAMG American Order of Appearance: Initial Troops (September 13 Morning): 1st Battalion/16th Infantry Regiment: B24. *The 1st/16th Infantry Battalion has one battery of the 7th Field Artillery in direct support for the September 13 Morning turn. Combat Command A: In E24/F24/G24 Combat Command B: In H24/I24/J24 and/or enter the west side of N20/N21 *The 58th Armored Field Artillery Battalion and the 991st Field Artillery Battalion can be attached to either CCA, CCB or CCR on the September 13 Morning turn. Reinforcements: September 13 Afternoon: 3rd Armored Division Headquarters and division Troops: F24 Combat Command R: F24 *The 83rd Armored Recon Battalion can also enter on the southeast side of N20/N21 16th Infantry Regimental Combat Team (-1st Battalion): A24/B24/C24 September 14 Morning: 47th Regimental Combat Team southeast side of N20/N21 September 18th Morning (Withdraw): A Company/87th Chemical Mortar Battalion September 20th Morning (Withdraw): 991st Field Artillery Battalion Notes: 1. The above organizations differ a bit from those presented in Armies of the Second World War. They represent a bit more detailed research on these specific units as well as some different interpretations about how units should be represented. 2. How many operational tanks the 3rd Armored Division had on September 13, 1944 is unclear. Anecdotal evidence from secondary sources varies from 75 M4s available to the division as well

17 as one that notes the division had about half of its tanks. There are some strength reports that have been reproduced for us to examine. From the Niehorster order of battle web page ( there are listed the following tanks ready on August 31, 1944: 159 M4/75 and 68 M4/76 (out of an authorized total of 232 M4 series tanks) and 157 M5 light tanks (out of an authorized 158 M5 tanks). In US Armored Divisions: The European Theater of Operations, 1944, Steven J Zaloga reproduced the M4 strength reports for September 1, 1944 as 159 M4/75 and 65 M4/76 (but no listing for M5s). These numbers pretty much match those provided on the Niehorster primary sourced strength report for one day earlier. The 3rd Armored Division history, Spearhead in the West, only notes that on September 18, 1944 there were 153 M4s and 148 M5s operational. The next strength report for the 3rd Armored Division I could find also comes from Zaloga, who states that on October 1, 1944, the 3rd Armored division had 115 M4/75 and 60 M4/76 tanks. Further complicating this is that American strength reports include damaged or broken down tanks operational within 6 hours along with the tanks that were fully operational. The 3rd Armored Division had been driving across France for the previous two months, and many of their tanks were pretty worn out, and thus probably prone to breakdown, which leads me to suspect that there were a number of tanks down for short term (under 6 hours) repair. How many tanks were ready on September 13 is unclear. It looks like the division was fairly close to full strength of fully operational tanks if we include those in short term repair (6 hours or less). There were 224 M4s (out of 232 authorized) on September 1. It should be noted that each of the four M4 tank battalions held an extra 4 M4s in reserve so the division needed only 216 M4s to fill all of its platoons, which it clearly had. The division had 157 M5 light tanks ready, which was more than enough to fill all of its platoons as each M5 tank battalion also had 4 extra M5s in reserve to fill shortages. Between September 1 and 12, I could find in the division's after action reports that the division lost 3 M4s in combat (September 9), but again that still leaves 221 M4s ready or in short term repair (6 hours or less) out of 216 needed to fill its platoons. I could not find any M5 losses between September 1 and 12 in the divisions after action reports; generally between September 1 and 12, the division faced limited opposition and was engaged in capturing hundreds of German prisoners. I would therefore start the 3rd Armored Division with a full strength of tanks, but there probably need to be some rules for tank mechanical breakdowns. Between September 13 and September 18, it looks like the division lost 68 M4s, probably 50% were due to enemy action (I can find 11 M4s lost by the 33rd Armored Regiment and 12 from 2nd/32nd Tank Battalion; plus possibly a few more from 1st/32nd Tank Battalion), but the rest appear to have broken down. Thus we have a broken down loss rate for 5 days of at least 40 tanks, which is 8 stands out of 28 M4 stands in CCA & CCB, or about 28-29%, which is a 5-6% mechanical breakdown per day. Likewise, the M5 light tanks dropped from 157 on August 31 to 148 on September 18. One was lost from the 33rd Armored Regiment on September 15 and I don't know if any were lost by the 32nd Armored Regiment, probably 0-4 at most. That means there were probably 6-9 mechanical breakdowns for M5s. If we just use the September 13 to 18 period, then the M5s suffered a 5% lost or only a 1% mechanical breakdown rate per day. So figure out your own rules for mechanical breakdown. I'd estimate that as many as 10% of the M4s were suffering from

18 mechanical breakdown on September 13, but those could be repaired by the next day. So figure out your own rules for mechanical breakdown. I'd estimate that as many as 10-30% of the M4s were suffering from mechanical breakdown on September 13, but those could be repaired by the next day if there were parts and mechanics available to fix them. One source described how the mechanics worked all night to repair broken down tanks in the division ( 3. Armored Infantry Strengths are another question. According to Zaloga, US Armored Units in the North African and Italian Campaigns, , an armored infantry regiment under the TO&E, 17 March, 1941 organization had 2424 total men. An after action report by the regiment listed 2661 officers and enlisted present for duty, which is oddly 237 extra men. I don't know where they came from, probably an attached unit. Still that seems like the armored infantry battalions were relatively close to full strength. In contrast, the 36th Armored Infantry Regiment had only 2214 officers and enlisted present on September 30, meaning the regiment lost 447 men in September, which is further complicated by the division receiving 953 replacements between September 15 and 23 (Spearhead in the West), so the losses of the 36th AIR could have been as high as 600 men or more. Given this information, I would start out the division's armored infantry battalions at full strength. 4. Finally, the division is listed as having 16 dozer blades for M4 tanks on August 31, None are reported lost or damaged before September 13. I would give the division up to 4 M4s with dozer blades at the start of the campaign. There were also a small number of flails for the M4s. Give Combat Command A 1 flail for any M4 Sherman tank (see rule 19.36) th & 47th RCT Movement Restrictions: The 16th Infantry Regimental Combat Team can only operate in hex columns A, B, C, D and E. The 47th Infantry Regimental Combat Team can only operate in hex columns K, L, M and N. No American unit may enter hex columns A16-A20 and B15-B19 due to the presence of the 116th Panzer Division in Aachen. German units from the Aachen Local Area Command can retreat through the restricted Aachen hexes, but may not fire out of them, except for the 3/I/76th Artillery Battery which can remain in Aachen and fire in support of German units. American artillery can be used to counter battery fire missions to suppress the 3/I/76th Artillery Battery. 6. Armored Infantry Companies were smaller in the Heavy Armored Division organizations as they lacked extra men to man the platoon's 57mm antitank gun. So effectively one squad in the platoon had to man the antitank gun. Allow the American player to field either the 57mm antitank gun in the armored infantry company or field a third armored infantry stand in the company.