A quick word on how casualties will be handled for Infantry units in this campaign:
As an example, will use a Russian SMG Company from a Guards Tank Brigade (more or less as will appear in the battles)
The three black blocks indicate the strength level of the unit -- 3 blocks full, 2 blocks two-thirds and 1 block one-third. (the white number on right in black circle is the movement rate and it is a mechanised unit)
The
FULL STRENGTH unit consists of:
1x SMG Company (Mot)
HQ
3x SMG platoons
AT rifle squad with HQ + 3x ATR teams
Attached:
3x Heavy MG's
3x 57mm AtT guns
3x medium mortar teams
The full strength headcount: 141 men
If the unit loses 47+
(47 or more) casualties, it loses 1 strength point
If it loses 94+ casualties, it loses 2 strength points
If it loses 118+ casualties, it is eliminated.
At TWO strength points, the unit looks like this:
1x SMG Company (Mot)
HQ
2x SMG platoons
AT rifle squdd with HQ + 2x ATR teams
Attached:
2x Heavy MG's
2x 57mm AtT guns
2x medium mortar teams
The HQ's are always reconstituted.
So TWO SP headcount is: 95 men
If the unit then loses 48+ casualties, it loses 1 strength point
If it loses 72+ casualties, it is eliminated.
At ONE strength points, the unit looks like this:
1x SMG Company (Mot)
HQ
1x SMG platoons
AT rifle squdd with HQ + 1x ATR teams
Attached:
1x Heavy MG's
1x 57mm AtT guns
1x medium mortar teams
Headcount: 49 men
25+ casualties will eliminate it.
So this is basically a rounding off/up of overall casualties suffered by a formation without going into detailed bean counting of each MG, ATG, mortar and somehow having to keep track of it on counters and/or the map.
PS: Trucks and crews are disregarded for casualty count purposes, even if they might get involved in a ME battle, but mostly are sent to rear once enemy contact is made.
More later on how casualties are handled with mixed mechanised units, ie: that have infantry and combat vehicle assets like armoured PzGren companies or armoured recon units.
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Tank and assault gun units are quite simple.
The number next to the NATO unit type symbol is the number of vehicles in the unit (all units will be restricted to one type of vehicle).
After every battle, we track individual tanks and SP guns lost -- the winner of a battle that holds a region will get a die roll to see how many friendly damaged/abandoned vehicles can be recovered (not too many within the scope of this campaign covering only a few days)
NOTE on rebuilding units and replacements:
Within the scope of this campaign covering a few days of fluid battle situation, there aren't any replacements fed in -- units fight with what they have as they arrive.
If a unit is destroyed or damaged it cannot be rebuilt. The German units are being hastily fed in from their rail heads and the Russians advancing as fast as possible ...
Only units being built will be German Alarm Companies hastily being made up of kampfgruppen of stragglers netted in by the Kommando Rikonovo HQ from retreating troops, and sent out to plug gaps in the front.