Classical squad was made of 10 man (all had K98 except commander (MP 38/40),MG gunner , and 2nd MG gunner)
When Wehrmach attacked USSR they made contact with new type of squad ''Submachine squad''
How was Wehrmacht reaction to this ?
How composition changed against classical squad?
And how was composition of late War Volksgrenadier squad against classical one ?
Thanks for answers
Doslamibaterka
Composition of Heer ''Submachine''/Volksgrenadier squad
- Doslamibaterka
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Re: Composition of Heer ''Submachine''/Volksgrenadier squad
The official 1941 organisation as outlined 10-men, with an NCO with MP40, six riflemen, then gunner (pistol + LMG), assistant (pistol) and ammunition bearer (rifle). The next official Squad (the 'neu Art' from late 1943 onwards) made a number of changes, deleting one rifleman (I've always assumed this was the ammn bearer, but can't be sure now where I gained that impression) and swapping one rifle for a second SMG among the riflemen. The Rifle Company was also slated to receive a number self-loading rifles, some of these also being fitted with a x4 telescopic sight. Roughly speaking there were supposed to be enough for two self-loading rifles per Squad, one with a x4 sight. There was also an allocation of one rifle grenade launcher per Squad.
The Volks Grenadier squad had a number of variants. In the first version the MP Platoon model had two Squads, each nine strong, all with MPs, while the third Squad retained an LMG team and also included three rifle grenadiers. The third Platoon in the Company was essentially the same as the nA type from 1943, but again kept the rifle grenades in the third Squad. The KStN for this Company type doesn't distinguish between MPs and assault rifles. The second KStN changed the MP Squad to eight men, all with assault rifles, while the third Squad (also eight men) switched to two LMGs and the rifle grenadiers were carried as part of Platoon HQ. The third Platoon was again pretty much like the nA version.
If you click on the link for WW2 day by day in the forum header, then from there click on Kriegsstärkenachweise and select infanterie you'll see the relevant KStN tables, all under variations of reference 131.
Gary
The Volks Grenadier squad had a number of variants. In the first version the MP Platoon model had two Squads, each nine strong, all with MPs, while the third Squad retained an LMG team and also included three rifle grenadiers. The third Platoon in the Company was essentially the same as the nA type from 1943, but again kept the rifle grenades in the third Squad. The KStN for this Company type doesn't distinguish between MPs and assault rifles. The second KStN changed the MP Squad to eight men, all with assault rifles, while the third Squad (also eight men) switched to two LMGs and the rifle grenadiers were carried as part of Platoon HQ. The third Platoon was again pretty much like the nA version.
If you click on the link for WW2 day by day in the forum header, then from there click on Kriegsstärkenachweise and select infanterie you'll see the relevant KStN tables, all under variations of reference 131.
Gary
- Doslamibaterka
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Re: Composition of Heer ''Submachine''/Volksgrenadier squad
thank you very muchGary Kennedy wrote:The official 1941 organisation as outlined 10-men, with an NCO with MP40, six riflemen, then gunner (pistol + LMG), assistant (pistol) and ammunition bearer (rifle). The next official Squad (the 'neu Art' from late 1943 onwards) made a number of changes, deleting one rifleman (I've always assumed this was the ammn bearer, but can't be sure now where I gained that impression) and swapping one rifle for a second SMG among the riflemen. The Rifle Company was also slated to receive a number self-loading rifles, some of these also being fitted with a x4 telescopic sight. Roughly speaking there were supposed to be enough for two self-loading rifles per Squad, one with a x4 sight. There was also an allocation of one rifle grenade launcher per Squad.
The Volks Grenadier squad had a number of variants. In the first version the MP Platoon model had two Squads, each nine strong, all with MPs, while the third Squad retained an LMG team and also included three rifle grenadiers. The third Platoon in the Company was essentially the same as the nA type from 1943, but again kept the rifle grenades in the third Squad. The KStN for this Company type doesn't distinguish between MPs and assault rifles. The second KStN changed the MP Squad to eight men, all with assault rifles, while the third Squad (also eight men) switched to two LMGs and the rifle grenadiers were carried as part of Platoon HQ. The third Platoon was again pretty much like the nA version.
If you click on the link for WW2 day by day in the forum header, then from there click on Kriegsstärkenachweise and select infanterie you'll see the relevant KStN tables, all under variations of reference 131.
Gary