The Mighty 4. Panzer-Division

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

Hi,
Here's the tale of the Mighty 4. Panzer-Division:

Turn 62: Still refitting near Rzhev, in preparation for another assault toward Moscow. Current TOE: 75. Panzers as follows:
- 2x 38(t)
- 3x T-70
- 39x IIIj
- 36x IIIh
- 25x IIIm
- 15x IVg
- 8x IVf2

Our commanding general thinks that this is a decent force, with medium tanks TOE at 112%. Now we just need some more infantry...

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

Turn 64: OKW issues orders for a belated Operation Blau. We are railed down south, together will the entire 2. Panzer-Armee. We did not expect to receive some more tanks. TOE is at 85%. Our tank regiments need to be reorganized:
- 2x 38(t)
- 7x T-70 =>+4
- 56x IIIj =>+17
- 51x IIIh =>+15
- 33x IIIm =>+8
- 19x IVg =>+4
- 9x IVf2 =>+1

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

XXIV. Panzer-Korps is committed, with 4. Panzer-Division making two strikes strikes. Opposing infantry is too weak. Four tanks of 9. Panzer-Division got lost. We are exhausted at the end of turn 64, but losses remain low.

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

End of turn 67: After several committments, we head northeast. But what has happened to the Panzers? New tanks were brought to the spearhead division:

- 1x 38(t)
- 3x IIf => where did 2. Panzer-Armee find these cans?
- 0x T-70 => they just broke down, without getting to the front line
- 50x IIIj
- 51x IIIh
- 27x IIIm
- 13x IVg
- 8x IVf2

Medium tank TOE at 186%.

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

XXIV. Panzer-Korps uses its tank divisions wisely: committment and priority replacements. Mud from turn 70 to 74 allows some training. The tank workshops don't stop flooding us with new and repaired tanks:

- 5x 38(t) =>+4
- 0x IIf => as expected
- 4x T-70
- 58x IIIj =>+8
- 63x IIIh =>+12
- 67x IIIm =>+40, wow!
- 17x IVg =>+4
- 13x IVf2 =>+5
- 14x IVf2 =>all new

Medium tank TOE at 203%.

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

At this point, the results of an internal review of all panzer division by OKH are reported informally to XXIV. Panzer-Korps. The officer in charge recommends to solve the "problem with 4. Panzer-Division" as soon as possible. Such an over-sized division would be by no means acceptable, considering the shape of most other tank divisions, in particular those of Heeresgruppe Mitte.

XXIV. Panzer-Korps decides to "spend" those excess tanks by more ambitous committments. The reason is that it is not willing to give them away to its higher echolon. Distributing them to a sister division is also not possible. (Lesson learned: WITE game mechanics restricts reorganizations of panzer formations to SU.)

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

We keep committing the mighty 4. Panzer-Division, allowing only little rest during blizzard (turn 78-86, 88-90). As a result, our tank regiments got mauled gradually:

turn 76: 225 tanks
turn 77: 215 tanks
turn 78: 215 tanks
turn 79: 197 tanks
turn 84: 120 tanks, 7015 men, 69 guns.

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

Turn 94: Our division has lost most of its fighting power, though morale remains good. We rank in the lower third of all panzer divisions. Medium tank TOE has dropped to 29%.

Let's have a look at our roster:
- our Sturmartillerie (Wespe, Hummel) is all gone
- halftracks? 19
- 5x 38(t), fine
- 28x IIIm, fine
- 13x IVg, good
- but where are all those IIIj, IIIh, IVf/f2 ?

Panzer-Armee orders an extensive rebuilding phase, and we become the Armee's reserve.

[ErsteKavallerieDivision]

WITE lessons learned so far:

a) Panzer divisions can grow way beyond their ordered TOE, in terms of number of tanks (see medium tanks TOE of 203%).

b) Getting rid of excess tanks is only possible by committment, thus combat losses (or movement losses).

c) The actual TOE of turn 94 suggests that the missing IIIj, IIIh, and IVf/f2 are due to a substantial reorganization (TOE upgrade, or replacement by new tank models)

[Helpless]

a) Panzer divisions can grow way beyond their ordered TOE, in terms of number of tanks (see medium tanks TOE of 203%).

This is more an exception. Usually it is not possible. Handling was changed in 1.04. Edit: just saw combat report of 1.03

b) Getting rid of excess tanks is only possible by committment, thus combat losses (or movement losses).

No. Tanks can get sent back to the pool during the logistical phase.