Matrix Games Forums

Anyone has some good ww2 source about average speed of infantry division movement, not fighting just movement, when they are equipped with trucks or with horses. Artillery tracked with horses and soldiers on foot.

Let’s say in open terrain.

Thanks

I found these tables, not specific of WW2, but useful I guess, feet and horses did not change too much . I understand it is the best speed of advance you may do.

Article published by Captain Thomas T. Smith in 1990, Blitzkrieg: The myth of blitz.

They are hidden in a collection of Infantry magazine, digitised by Google.

The diffrance is not that great because just rushing foward at full speed is a great way to get yourself ambushed and killed.

Thanks, this is very true but surprising as well. So, if this is not speed, what is the difference between a motorized infantry division and an infantry division on foot using horses to track its artillery? A less possible movement range then?

I am trying to figure out the impact of removing, a motorized division, its trucks and give it horses instead.

A comparison of WW2 horsedrawn vs motorized units would be more useful. If I am not mistaken, the WW2 advances happened against regular opposition, while the civil war advances did not. WW2 unit densities were higher, defence in depth existed and air power/long range artillery disrupted movement.

In addition, it is more meaningful to compare 2-3 day average advance rates since this measures the actual unit speed. If ypu take longer term averages, the unit speed is more a function of the supply network than anything else. This isn't that much the case for 19th century warfare, since the armies back them were far less dependent on supply routes, living more off the land. This being said, the average speed given here is impressive, especially for the cavalry.

If you look at German WW2 operations, the motorized formations regularly outran the infantry. Have a look at this map atlas (compulsary reading for any WitE player!), Especially during the first days of Barbarossa, when all units were rested and had sufficient respurces to advance at full speed. Note the advanced Panzer Divisions have to both clear the way and find the way, while the following infantry doesn't (although it has to deal with traffic priority conflicts due to resupply operations).
https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2019/12/the-n ... arbarossa/

I can tell you the standard rate of march for 'foot-mobile' infantry in the USMC is calculated at 4 mph. I would imagine it would have been the same in WW II. There are plenty of pics out there showing German infantry conducting route marches during Barbarossa. The 'catch', however, is how long a foot-mobile unit would be able to continue such movement before the need for rest or enemy action comes into play?