1942 USMC BAR Squads
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 2:12 am
Ok, I've noticed that these 8-man squads (USMC unit no 137 in the ENH database), tend not to be very useful as they are presently armed. Since these squads had two BARs, I made slot no 3 weapon 248 (BARx2) with 50 rounds and slot no 4 weapon 242 (Reising SMG) with 40 rounds. Note that the unit cost remains at 19. This change should make these squads a bit more powerful in combat. Please also note that these units are classed as 108 - medium infantry.
As a historical aside, the US Army grabbed up all of the 45 cal Thompson SMGs, so the USMC had to resort to using the Reisings in 1942. These weapons were removed from frontline service in 1943-44.
I usually use these squads as a platoon reserve, and are inserted into the front line whenever one of the line rifle squads gets too beat up. In real life, men from these squads were generally parceled out to shore up depleted rifle squads, as in the Guadalcanal campaign many men were sick with malaria.
Note that the BAR squads were removed from the platoon TOE in the 1943 reorganization, as the three rifle squads were increased from 9 to 12 men.
(Note that is an UNOFFICIAL OOB update, but since I was one of the primary authors of the enhanced USMC OOB, it's fine by me. )
Since the Enhanced team has released its final version of the OOBs, you guys can easily make this change on your own using the SPWaW OOB Editor.
As a historical aside, the US Army grabbed up all of the 45 cal Thompson SMGs, so the USMC had to resort to using the Reisings in 1942. These weapons were removed from frontline service in 1943-44.
I usually use these squads as a platoon reserve, and are inserted into the front line whenever one of the line rifle squads gets too beat up. In real life, men from these squads were generally parceled out to shore up depleted rifle squads, as in the Guadalcanal campaign many men were sick with malaria.
Note that the BAR squads were removed from the platoon TOE in the 1943 reorganization, as the three rifle squads were increased from 9 to 12 men.
(Note that is an UNOFFICIAL OOB update, but since I was one of the primary authors of the enhanced USMC OOB, it's fine by me. )
Since the Enhanced team has released its final version of the OOBs, you guys can easily make this change on your own using the SPWaW OOB Editor.