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Blackhorse -> RE: Late War Allied Tanks (12/28/2019 3:48:56 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Ian R
quote:
ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
The Pershings might be in the database for the Downfall scenario, which would go well into 1946 since the first landings are November 1945.
The M26 Pershing is present in stock scenario 1 (and therefore everywhere else, unless the modder nixed it). It is in device data slot 1189, available 04/45, build rate 28 per month.
The M4 Sherman in device data slot 1180 does not have an equipment upgrade at all, the Pershings arrive via a TOE change...
The final USA 1945 infantry division TOE is in location slot 2513, and the upgrade becomes available in 07/45 ("delay" setting on the 1942 TOE in slot 2512). It includes 27 x M26 Pershings, and 27 x M4 Sherman CS tanks (which have an arrival rate of 5 per month starting 05/44 - there are never enough to go around).
In theory, each division gets an integral battalion of tanks, half M26, half M4CS. In practice, given the numbers required, not enough arrive to equip every US infantry on the map division. However, from about October 1945, the last tranche of US Infantry division reinforcements (including 1st Army units) enter on TOE 2513 with full compliments of tanks.
Also, I just noticed the US 86th Infantry Division (#5348), which arrives 450917, arrives with TOE ID of 2352 - USA cavalry (Special) division.
You are correct. In stock WitP-AE, starting in October, 1945, the nine Infantry Divisions being redeployed from Europe to the Pacific arrive with a full complement of M26 Pershing and M4 Sherman Close Support (CS) tanks.
In June of 1945 a 'convoy unit' (6753) arrives and disbands to put a load of devices in the US pools, including 150 CS tanks and 100 Pershings. This is the surplus production slated for Europe that became available for the Pacific after the Third Reich surrendered. Combined with the monthly builds, the US ought to be able to outfit another half-dozen or more infantry divisions by early 1946, depending on losses.
US Armored divisions were equipped with a mix of light (M5 Stuart or M24 Chaffee) and Medium (M4 Sherman) tanks as 1945 rolled into 1946. They had no Pershings and only a handful (18) Close Support tanks in their TO&E. The Pershings and CSs were intended to be the assault guns and replace the anti-tank guns of the infantry.
FWIW, my favorite late-war US ground unit is the M4 'Zippo' flamethrower tank. There are only three battalions, IIRC, but each tank has triple the anti-soft rating of the other US tanks, so a single battalion has the firepower (literally, in this case) of a 150-tank brigade.
Your note about the 86th also appears to be correct. It should have the TO&E (2512) and strength of a standard infantry division.
I don't know if modders made changes to any of the above in their variants...
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