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KG Erwin -> USMC in long campaigns (5/5/2003 6:18:00 AM)
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I'm using my revised OOB, based on more historically correct info. The USMC has an adantage with Elite Rifle Companies if you start in August 1942. The problem is the Weapons Company D. My revised OOB has a Weapons Co with 4 81mm mortars, 4 37mm ATG, 2 50 cal HMG, and three Weps MG platoons, each with 8 .30 cal HMGs. This is the actual TOE. Now, this is a generous supply of weapons for a battalion, but it creates some problems when upgrading, as the battalion establishment changed each successive year of the Pacific War. I ended up attaching a Weps MG Plt to each company, which corresponds to how these were generally used in field ops. For a defend or delay mission this is good, but for a meeting engagement it's an unwieldy setup. Beginning in 1943, you have the new 12-man E squads, and the disbanding of the BAR squads. In my experience, I change the BAR squads to Assault Squads, and break down the MG Platoons to distribute them to the rifle platoons. Each company also has 2 30 cal MMGs , so the 9th platoon gets an MG, too. As an alternative, you could change some of these BAR squads to MGs, and the MG teams to Bazookas. This is more historical, but I'm starting to understand how this continual reorganization played havoc with the command structure, with the endless cross-attaching of units and new weapons being issued. The administration of all this must've been a nightmare for the staffs. The Battalion Landing Team also has three platoons of M2A4s, which are upgraded to M3s and then M4A2 Shermans. I also have 2 75mm pack howitzers, with transport, which I change to M3 GMC SP 75s as upgrade points permit. As the nature of the war changed, so did the composition of the forces to achieve the missions. Add to this the Recon Patrols, which can be converted to LRRPs, and the Raiders, which I keep throughout the war despite their being disbanded in 1944 and folded into line Rifle Regiments, and it's a fascinating but sometimes frustrating period of transition and growth. The good news is that by the end of the campaign, each of the 13-man F or G series USMC squads have become wrecking crews, and no other infantry in the game (IMO) can touch them for killing ability at close range. If you want to have fun in a long campaign , forget about the Germans and their armored toys. Command a battalion of Leathernecks, and get up close & personal in the Hell of the Pacific. Uncommon valor, indeed.
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