Mountain Div

[goodwoodrw]

G'day, just been reading Markshot's CotA mini guide,
What's the difference between a Wermacht mountain Div and a standard inf div

[Arjuna]

The Mtn Div was lightly equipped to facilitate movement trough difficult terrain. They had pack howitzers and recoilles rifles instead of the standard field howitzers. They used motor-cycles to haul their heavy weapons and man-packs for shunting supplies.

[Golf33]

There were also quite a few differences in organisation as you'll see from the game OB. These happened at pretty much all levels right down to company internal structure.

[JeffroK]

From S&T 182, an article by Joseph Miranda

Mountain Divisions were specially trained to fight in rough terrain. They usually only had 2 Rgts instead of the Infantry Divs three, because of the conditions in which they had to operate. Six manouver Bns were considered easier to control in mountainous conditions where communications were difficult.

The Mtn Divs(Gebirgsdivisionen) used the independent Bn concept in which each Bn could operate on its own. The increased initiative and general sense of being part of an elite unit made the mountain units very effective, although when fighting in the open they were at a disadvantage against more heavily armed foes. Some Divisions had "high mountain" companies or Bns assigned to them. These were composed of men who had specialized civilian experience in difficult mountain terrain. they were used as guides and to lead special recce & assault missions.

The Mountain Divisions equipment was lighter than that of a standard infantry division, and much use was made of pack transportable weapons such as the 75mm MOuntain Gun.

TOE of a 1941 Mountain Division

2 (or 3) Gebirgsjaeger Rgts each with 3 Gebirgs Bns, 1 Hvy Weapons Coy & 1 Engineer Coy

1 x Auflakurungs (Recce) Bn

1 x Gebirgs Pioneer (Engineer) Bn

1 x Gebirgs Pz Jaeger Abteilung (AT Bn)

1 x "High Mountain" Bn (Maybe not with every Division)

1 x Artillery Rgt with 2 x 75mm Bns, 1 x 105mm Bn & 1 x 150mm Bn

Total strength was
15,800 men
7,000 Infantry
514 Machine Guns
105 Mortars
78 Artillery pieces
45 x 20mm Flak
60 x AT Guns (37/50 or 75mm)
850 Motor Vehicles.

For the Crete assault 5th Gebirgs Div had 141 Gebirgs Rgt attached from 6th Gebirgs Div