- losses Inf turn 47.jpg (574.5 KiB) Viewed 25 times
The marked squad types constitute our main infantry combat elements. These squads constitute the infantry divisions' infantry battalions*. The "Rifle Squad w/ le.MG" is used by the Security Divisions and other rear area troops, the "Rifle Squad w/ 2x MG34" is used by the motorized and mechanized infantry battalions of the Panzer-Divisions.
For our main combat element, the "Rifle Squad w/ MG34", we as of now have an attrition rate of 2596 / 47 = 55,23 squads per turn. With a replacement rate of 28 squads per turn we thus can only replace 50% of losses.
I have identified the Oranienbaum offensive as one of the main causes for this. I had pressed this too hard as I felt I was under time pressure and needed to have some of the participating divisions to be ready for other tasks again as soon as possible. I certainly could have used a more systematic, slow approach. In the first five turns, we had an attrition of 28,4 "Rifle Squads w/ MG34" per turn. While the major battle for the Oranienbaum bridgehead lasted, from turns 6 - 21 we suffered an attrition rate of 61,68 of these squads / turn. In the mopping up phase, which latest from turn 22 to 28, we suffered an attrition of 71,29 squads per turn (!). Of course there were other major combat operations going ob during this time, but from turn 29 to the current turn (47), the attrition rate for this type of squad was "only" 53,77 per turn.
As units, or most of them, do reconstitute in the scenario, these units do eat up replacments too, thus adding to the replacements crisis on the map. While it is nice to have a fully equipped infantry battalion back in mid-game, on-map units struggle heavily with getting enough replacements. For most German divisions, the III. battalion of the infantry regiments does not reconstitute and receives only minimal replacements (this simulates the German army transitioning the structure of their infantry divisions down from 3 regiments á 3 battalions to 3 regiments of only 2 battalions). I already disbanded two worn-down ones of these III. battalions into the pool, but for the rest of these units I would rather keep them on map until they are an empty shell.
*The MG-squad w/ MG-34 (tripod) represents the heavy MGs of the German infantry battlions, interestingly Snefens has made them active defender equipment and treats them basically like a squad (consisting of 2 MGs and 6 men) instead of a single equipment piece as the standard equipment base does:
- MG Squad.jpg (129.63 KiB) Viewed 25 times
As for tank losses, including SP AT, a similarily bleak picture presents itself. Red rectangle: Up-to-date, main combat tanks. Also note the amount of captured Soviet equipment.
- Losses Armor Turn 47.jpg (566.39 KiB) Viewed 25 times
And the air losses so far:
- Losses AF 47.jpg (257.24 KiB) Viewed 25 times