German Squad Layout and Loadout

[Kipper]

So I'm doing some research for my Company of Heroes mod. My first goal is to change squad sizes and loadouts to be historically correct. I have found some information but I figured I'd ask here because y'all know everything. So, my questions are as follows:

1: How large was the average German squad equivalent? Did this vary for the Volksgrenadiers, Grenadiers, Panzergrenadiers, and SS units?
2: What was the typical loadout for the units listed above? Was it rifles, smg for the NCO and an LMG? What about AT weapons teams? How was the Panzerschreck and Panzerfaust integrated?
3: Should Strosstruppen be given their own squad? Should a Panzerschreck be in a typical squad of men or would it have a smaller team dedicated to its use?
4: Pioniers? How are they armed and organized at the squad level?

 

[Lt_Kettch]

http://www.redorchestragame.com/downloads/manuals/Hist_and_Tac_Guide.pdf

Have a look at this

 

[Kipper]

That's much too basic. I need more in-depth info. Thank you though.

 

[Heinz]

CMBB is a great source for accurate info on this. no time now, but if I can, I'll post your answers later.

 

[wokelly]

http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/General/site_map.htm

Scroll down for the German information. Here is an sample about the early war german squads:

Each Squad was comprised of an NCO, a six man rifle element and a three man light machine gun team. The NCO was originally armed with a rifle, but as sufficient stocks became available adopted the MP40 machine pistol. ... The men of the rifle group were all armed with the Mauser bolt action rifle, an amended model of the 1898 weapon fielded during the Great War. One of the riflemen served as assistant leader. Like the British, the Germans based the firepower of the squad around a single light machine gun. The MG34 was served by a gunner and loader, each man armed with a pistol; a third ammunition bearer carried a rifle...

If you scroll down more, as in the scroll bar will be 2/3 of the way down, you will find pages with squad breakdowns and their weapons such as this:

http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/toe/armoured/panzer_grenadier_company.htm

 

[Feldwebel Crin]

Also, here's something else to note: German squads became more heavily armed near the end of the war. This was due to the mistaken belief held by the German command that a slight increase in firepower can make up for a decrease in soldiers and quality training.

Panzergrenadiers were also sometimes armed with two mg-34's or 42's, at least later in the war. At least one of these was taken from the halftrack when the infantry dismounted.

Volksgrenadier were armed with...well...anything. They could have STG-44s or French WWI rifles. German supply was a complete mess then anyway.

Oh, with AT weapons, Panzershrek teams were specialized and separate. They were actually part of a division's AT battalion. Panzerfausts were given to individual soldiers in a squad.

 

[Kipper]

Ah, excellent information. I am however left with questions regarding the Panzerschreck teams and AT gun crews. Would a 'schreck team be a six man team like the HMG and Mortar squads? Or was it just added to a standard 9 man squad? Compant of Heroes has a PaK38 modeled in game. Would that crew be a 5 man team?

 

[Oldih]

http://www.dererstezug.com/1944Gruppe.htm

http://www.dererstezug.com/TacticalPhilosophies.htm

I hope those might help.

And also this: http://www.dererstezug.com/CommandsTactics.htm

2: What was the typical loadout for the units listed above? Was it rifles, smg for the NCO and an LMG? What about AT weapons teams? How was the Panzerschreck and Panzerfaust integrated?

I guess this has been answered already, but generally a Grenadier squad was 9-man unit, usually consisting of 5-man rifle-element, 3-man MG squad and NCO. Total it's about 8x rifles, 1x (L)MG and 1x SMG, unless it was so-called 'heavy' grenadier with one rifle traded to another SMG.

Panzerfausts were usually given to squad to some riflemen invidually AFAIK, while Panzerschreks were deployed in teams. Team consisted of two guys, the 'gunner' and the assistant 'gunner' (aka loader or whatever you wish to call them). I guess the other guy carried the tube while other carried the rockets. I doubt they had any other firearms, while it might be plausible to have a pistol or such with them.

So if you want to have Pzshrek unit, it should be 2-man independent team and not integrated with squad(s).

Compant of Heroes has a PaK38 modeled in game. Would that crew be a 5 man team?

Aye.

 

[Kipper]

Ok great! Let the modding begin.

 

[{Cap-Down}]

Can't rifles harm tanks in Company of Heroes?

 

[Kipper]

Thankfully no, you need AT weaponry to harm anything with more armor than a Half-track.