BULGARIAN ARMY TO&E
BULGARIAN ARMY TO&E
Hi, did the bulgarian army use the same TO&E as the french and did they use the same tactics when on the attack and defence and had very similar artillery doctrines ?. Thanx Yan.
OK, an Infantry Drujina (i.e. Battalion) by late 1944 should have 635 men, 158 horses, 69 carts, 440 rifles and carbines, 30 SMGs, 27 LMGs, 12 HMGs, 6-9 mortars, 9 rifle grenade launchers - HQ (12), 1 communication platoon (28), 3 infantry companies (121 each with 9 LMGs; 3 platoons with 3 squads each per company), 1 machine gun company (116 with 12 HMG), 1 mortar company (83 with 6 mortars), 1 ammunition depot (16), 1 supply depot (17). The armament consists of 8mm Manlicher Rifles and Carbines, 8mm Bren, 7,92 mm MG 34, MG 42 (rare) or Zbrojovka LMGs, 9mm Zbrojovka or MP 40 SMGs, 8mm Maxim, ScwarzLose, MG 34 and MG 42 (rare) HMGs, 81mm or 81,4 mm Brandt or M34 and probably some 20mm Solthurn ATRs.
Hi again Dibo, So would it be true to say that each infantry platoon had a HQ of Lieutenant, platoon Sergeant and 3 men plus a grenade launcher and had 3 sections of 9 men with 1 LMG and 1 NCO armed with a SMG, or would they have a light mortar of say 50mm instead of the grenade launcher. Thanks and a merry christmas if I dont hear from you before the 25th Yan.
More likely a 2nd Lieutenant (Podporuchik) or even an "Ensign"? (Oficerski Kandidat). No Light Mortars. The NCO commanding the section is Podoficer i.e. Sergeant. He may or may not have an SMG, but has pistol (could be anything from venerable Parabellums to Walter-s PP or PPK, Bereta-s, etc). Late in the war captured German equipment is used, mostly MPs, MGs, German ATRs (Mauser) and sometimes even Panzerschreks. Soviet ATRs (PTRD and PTRS) and SMGs appear in early 1945. Later more of the standard Soviet gear is provided - Mosins, DPs, Maxims, but mostly SMGs.
Bulgarian infantry company
Dibo Iam sorry to add a new post but the sight would not let me submit on the same page, thanks for your reply, would the officer or ensign in charge of the platoon have a second in command ? and am I not far off with the 10 men per section with 1 LMG. Thanks Yan.
Re: Bulgarian infantry company
No, there should be only one officer per platoon, so the command would go to a new officer, if the present one is killed, but until he is appointed the Platoon Sergeant or one of the Squad Sergeants would assume command.YAN wrote:Dibo Iam sorry to add a new post but the sight would not let me submit on the same page, thanks for your reply, would the officer or ensign in charge of the platoon have a second in command ?