Feldersatz Battalions

Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive is the fourth wargame in the Decisive Campaign series. Covering the battles in the Ardennes between December 1944 and January 1945, it brings to life Operational wargaming by lowering the scale to just above tactical level.

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warnevada
Posts: 1464
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 4:00 pm

Feldersatz Battalions

Post by warnevada »

The German feldersatz battalions were replacement training battalions. After completing regular army training elements assigned to a given division reported to the feldersatz battalion. There they received training under combat conditions in the various weapon systems found in that division. So in an infantry division they would receive infantry combat training, then training with MGs both in an LMG and HMG role, mortar training and anti-tank gun training. Essentially, every man had to be able to to step in and be able to crew every weapon found in the division except for artillery. They stayed in the feldersatz until they were needed to replace losses in the division.

The feldersatz in the game reflect this role by the variety of troop types found in it.

I have a few problems with it from a realism perspective.

First, they contain Staff and Engineers which wasn't true in reality. Staff, engineer and artillery had separate specialized training regimes.

Second, the various scratch units which can be produced by HQ units are feldersatz. It would be more accurate to make them the KG type consisting of the more basic types of random sizes to reflect the ad hoc nature of grabbing whoever happened to be available.

Third, when using the feldersatz in their intended role of replacing losses in regular units, the 50 power point limit should not apply. As it stands, the only way to release the final 50 points is to disband the unit, and where they go I have no idea.
warnevada
Posts: 1464
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 4:00 pm

Re: Feldersatz Battalions

Post by warnevada »

An additional issue - when these units are created by an SS HQ they are still populated by Wehrmacht elements rather than SS which means they can't be used to replace losses in SS units.

If, as the card description states, these are scratch troops rounded up by the HQ, then an SS HQ would be rounding up SS troops.
Oberst_Klink
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Re: Feldersatz Battalions

Post by Oberst_Klink »

warnevada wrote: Mon Jul 18, 2022 6:17 pm An additional issue - when these units are created by an SS HQ they are still populated by Wehrmacht elements rather than SS which means they can't be used to replace losses in SS units.

If, as the card description states, these are scratch troops rounded up by the HQ, then an SS HQ would be rounding up SS troops.
I think that's an easy fix, I hope. One need to create a OOB for a SS FEB and adjust the card which OOB to use for. Sorry guy for my relatively long absence. Reserves and been job hunting. The latter was successful and I'll start my new job on the 1st August. Also, the summer heat here tempts you to visit the Biergarten etc. I am going to get back up to speed with my playtesting, OOB and TO&E updates and PBEM (Audie).

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