RE: The Deutsches Afrikakorps in Heroes and Leaders mod

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RE: The Deutsches Afrikakorps in Heroes and Leaders mod

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Lock ‘n Load: Heroes of Stalingrad >> RE: The Deutsches Afrikakorps in Heroes and Leaders mod

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RE: The Deutsches Afrikakorps in Heroes and Leaders mod - 11/11/2021 5:47:47 PM

asl3d

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Afrikakorps First line Fusiliers

The German infantry received basic training in centers such as Göttingen. Later, the soldiers were taken to specialized facilities to complete their training, such as that of Truppenübungslager Munster. The best prepared troops that were destined to form part of the Afrikakorps were sent to cities like Potsdam where they were grouped in a Sonderverband (special unit).
The Sonderverband was not organized like a typical battalion, that used to have 3 or 4 companies, but had 7 companies. The first company was made up of foreigners, who had grown up in the Middle East and, in total, could speak 20 different Arabic dialects. The second company was GebirgsJäger. The third company was First Line Infantry. The fourth company was reconnaissance and the fifth was an assault weapons company, with light and heavy mortars. The sixth company was a FlaK company and the seventh was an anti-tank rifle company. There was also a water supply and treatment unit, as well as a printing troop, and all the companies were fully motorized.
In the Afrikakorps, many casualties were expected in small combat units, especially elite and First Line troops, so that soldiers were trained in all company roles, so that when there were casualties, any man could take the place. The infantrymen, who have basically been trained to handle rifles, machine guns, and other small arms unique to infantry, were also trained to use light and heavy mortars, anti-tank rifles, and FlaK guns. At the end of the training, all members of a First Line company and the Sonderverband were trained in the use of all handguns.
Finally, the Afrikakorps units were embarked on trains bound for Naples or Letche, on the Adriatic, to be sent to North Africa, either by boat or by plane. The troops that were transferred to Africa by air did so in small Italian planes, old and primitive, lined with canvas, with open entrances and equipped with machine guns for air defense. To avoid British fighters, Italian troop-transport planes flew 200 feet above the sea and, thanks to this, could reach airfields like Derna safely. The unloading of the troops had to be done very quickly, as British intelligence and reconnaissance were very good and they knew when Axis planes or ships were arriving, so that British aviation soon made an appearance at the Afrikakorps airfields in the North Africa and, Italian planes still had to carry the wounded for the journey back to the continent.
In terms of gameplay in Heroes and Leaders mode, Afrikakorps First Line Rifle units have the same characteristics as Wehrmacht First Line Rifle units, except that Africakorps First Line Rifle soldiers have the property Extended Range Bonus (1/2 FP).

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< Message edited by asl3d -- 11/11/2021 5:48:08 PM >

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RE: The Deutsches Afrikakorps in Heroes and Leaders mod - 11/12/2021 5:40:26 PM

asl3d

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Afrikakorps Second Line Rifles

Second Line Rifles soldiers represent an important part of the Afrikakorps. These troops were worse or insufficiently trained, their equipment (and therefore their firepower) was somewhat lower than the First Line troops, and their combat morale was generally weaker.
From early 1942 on, all infantry units were also assigned antitank guns, since tank warfare is the deciding factor in desert warfare, where the antitank gun becomes of even greater importance to the infantry than the machine gun. The aim of furnishing each battalion with eighteen 76.2-mm antitank guns was never achieved.
Many of the Second Line Rifles troops used olive-drab caps with wide visors were excellent; the visor, in particular, was indispensable for the infantryman and for the gunner as protection against the intense glare of the sun. The tropical helmets could be used only in the rear areas and were entirely useless in combat. The German troops wore no steel helmets, in contrast to the British troops, whose steel helmets were more appropriate both in shape and weight, being lighter than the German helmets.
The tropical coats, commonly used by most Second Line Rifles troops, which were made from a thick woolen material, were good, but the English ones, which were fur-lined and reached only to the knees, were better.
Owing to the stiff material from which it was made, the Second Line Rifles troops tropical shirts were inferior to the British ones, which were made of so-called "Tropic" material. To protect the abdominal area of the body against the cold, the wearing of belly bands was obligatory.
Second Line Rifles soldiers were also furnished wall tents, which had a special sun apron. With the exception of footwear, no leather was used in any article of apparel; it was replaced everywhere by thick linen.
Although the war slowed down into infantry and position warfare from time to time, its most important phases-the British winter offensive of 1941-42 and the German summer offensive of 1942-demonstrated the principles of full mobility. In desert warfare, against a motorized or armored opponent, nonmotorized troops can only hold their own in elaborately prepared positions. If such a position is breached or outflanked, a retreat means delivering up such troops to the enemy. The most troops can do is to resist in their positions to the last cartridge. During the withdrawal from Cyrenaica in the winter of 1941-42, many Second Line Rifles soldiers had to be moved out by shuttle traffic of a few truck columns or else march on foot. Only sacrifices by the motorized units made it possible to cover the retreat of the German infantry units.
In terms of gameplay in Heroes and Leaders mod, Afrikakorps Second Line Rifles units have the same characteristics as Second Line Rifles units of Wehrmacht except that Africakorps' Second Line Rifles soldiers have the property Extended Range Bonus (1/2 FP).

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RE: The Deutsches Afrikakorps in Heroes and Leaders mod - 11/13/2021 7:00:11 PM

asl3d

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Afrikakorps Conscripts

The Conscripts soldiers of the Afrikakorps represent the units that were part of the Feldersatz Bataillon (Field Replacement Battalion) of the different divisions that were part of the Afrikakorps. Many of these troops had not yet received specific training for combat in the special conditions of North Africa. Regarding its armament, although it complied with the standard equipment of the German army, most of the soldiers had not yet used it in real combat fire and were not sufficiently familiar with its handling. All these inconveniences had an impact on the morale of the troops, which were the lowest in the Afrikakorps.
As early as 1 May 1941 the Afrikakorps had ordered the creation of a Feldersatz Bataillon, which was aimed at gathering together the replacements coming from Germany and giving them specific further training, as well as getting them acquainted with both the environment and the new units they would be assigned to working for all divisions, and it was made up of three companies. Actual training of replacements in Germany during 1941 seems to have been adequate, but lacking the required emphasis on living and fighting in the desert.
Specific training included ground exercises, weapons and fire exercises, theoretical lessons and training with armoured cars. Finally the new soldiers proceeded with training with the specific training with AFVs (armoured fighting vehicles), which required each crew member to be able to fulfil every duty aboard. Training companies were immediately dispatched to join its parent unit without any kind of acclimatization or further training. As a matter of fact it was only in early 1942 that a widespread training programme was started amongst Afrikakorps units, which consisted of training with heavy weapons, training of infantry units in defensive positions, training of reconnaissance units (now required to work alongside anti-tank guns) to improve their initiative, training for anti-tank gunners to improve their skills and capabilities, training for field artillery in mobility and observation, training of anti-aircraft guns to fight every kind of ground target (not only tanks) and, for all units, specific training in night marches and in the care and maintenance of weapons.
For example, the Field Replacement Battalion 200 was established in Africa in the spring of 1941. Initially, the battalion was established with four companies and was only known as the 5th Light Division Field Replacement Battalion. After formation, the battalion was subordinated to the 5th Light Division. From August 1, 1941, the battalion was subordinate to the 21st Panzer Division. After, the battalion was also known as the 21st Panzer Division Field Replacement Battalion. The battalion then expanded to include a fifth company and a convalescent company. It was not until the end of 1941 that the name of the Field Replacement Battalion 200 was finally determined. The battalion was destroyed in May 1943 in the Tunis area, in Africa. Another example was the Field Replacement Battalion 599 that was created on July 15, 1941 by the XII Military District for the German Africa Corps. The battalion was divided into personnel and four companies, ready for use on July 25, 1941.
In terms of gameplay in Heroes and Leaders mod, Afrikakorps Conscripts units have the same characteristics as Conscripts units of Wehrmacht except that Africakorps' Conscripts soldiers have the property Extended Range Bonus (1/2 FP).

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