German Jager division

[kevini1000]

I was just wondering what is the history of these so called jager divisions. I get the impression that they are weaker than an ordinary German Infantry division with no real advantage. In the game they have no mobility advantage over other infantry division.

In general should I be thinking differently about how to use them.

[Baron von Beer]

Originally intended to serve as a middle ground between mountain and regular infantry divisions. They were more suited to broken terrain than a regular infantry division, but mostly lacked the specialized equipment of the mountain division. Their TO&E also had some extra motorized transport.

In a situation where you still had basic road networks but rough ground (Greece, Yugoslavia, etc) they were better off than the regular divisions.

In game terms, they are more or less a lighter organization infantry division. By and large their mobility advantage was on a tactical level. Eg: Using it to create local QRFs in hilly terrain vs having to send reinforcement on foot.

[vinnie71]

They are also the prime targets for additional SUs. I normally give them the 2 MG battalions, 1 recce battalion in support to boost their firepower. Incidentally in the game, they do seem to have a starting high morale (higher than ususal around 80).

[DivePac88]

Hi Offworlder, I have a question please... Where does one find these MG and recce battalions, as in my Pbem game against JAMiAM. I only have 3x Ge MG battalions and 1x Ge bicycle recce battalion on the map, and the re-enforcement screen doesn't show any as re-enforcement throughout the entire game?

[KenchiSulla]

Maybe he modded the game?

[JAMiAM]

I don't think that Offworlder meant that he gave *each* of the Jager divisions that many SU attachments. I think he meant that the Jager divisions were first in line to receive the limited number of those type attachments that the Axis do possess.

[DivePac88]

Ooops, sorry Offworlder, methinks I have read your post wrong.

[Klydon]

The game simplified Jaeger and Mountain units for the Germans and to a point, the motorized infantry divisions as well. All these were basically 2 regiment divisions (as opposed to 3 for a normal infantry division). They are all weaker than a regular infantry division and the game will break them down into 3 regiments. (Programing fudge which I don't blame them for because there are only a handful of divisions like this).

The only terrain movement costs the game really looks at differently for units is mountain units in mountains and blizzard/snow.

FITE/Scorched earth featured Jaeger divisions as moving 8 instead of 6 compared to normal infantry. They also had lower movement costs for woods, heavy woods, and swamp.

[vinnie71]

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

Ooops, sorry Offworlder, methinks I have read your post wrong.

Sorry my bad. Reading my post again, I do seem to have actually given that impression that there were multiple SU's available - which there aren't.

An interesting thing about Jager divisions seems to be that even in real life, they were bolstered by additional forces, especially on the offensive. If I remember well, the 100 Jager division actually took the 369 (Croation) regiment with it to Stalingrad (and its doom), and interestingly several Jager divisions that were used to relieve either Demyansk or Ryshev in early '42 also had several additional specialist battalions.

In the game I use them as a kind of short legged PG divisions - they are usually concentrated in one infantry corps with a Panzer army and basically follow in the wake of the Pz Corps. Additional Stug or PzJg units really give them some punch or even better, turn them into excellent 'shoulders' for German pockets.

Actually, its a great pity we do not have the option to motiorise some divisions (with consequent reduction in the vehicle pool) because they would make excellent Mot/PzG divisions due to their high morale.

[Schmart]

I generally use the JG Divs alongside the Mtn Divs for mountain operations. Other times I will use them to hold a quiet sector of the front, releasing full (stronger) Inf Divs for operations elsewhere.