Nemesis #6.3 - School’s Out!
Welcome back, commanders!
We have returned with the third - and final - Nemesis #6 preview. In today’s DevBlog, school’s out with two opposing special training formations: the West German Verfügungstruppenkommando 42, or Reserve Troops Command 42, and the Soviet 71-ya Zapasnaya Tankovaya Diviziya or the 71st Reserve Tank Division.
Let’s go!
[h2]WARNO’s School’s Out![/h2]
This Nemesis option is a little special: it not only provides two new divisions, but also a new way to play with the proposed introduction of the new Instructor trait. Both divisions will be built around units with this specific trait: seasoned soldiers leading less-trained reservists into battle (removing some penalties and boosting nearby units’ combat performance).
The Instructor trait, as we are proposing it, will likely have the following effects:
Replacing Leader units in the TANK and INF categories, these Instructors will turn a horde of raw conscripts into a regular fighting force, for much cheaper. However, the only units to keep on capturing Command zones will be the Leader units left in the LOG tab. Prepare to organize your battlegroup well.
[h2]The West German Verfügungstruppenkommando 42[/h2]
First up is NATO’s West German Verfügungstruppenkommando 42 (gesundheit!), which stands for Reserve Troops Command 42 and is abbreviated to VfgTrKdo 42 (you can’t really do anything with this mumble of letters). Instead, we’ll call it VTK 42 for easyness sake.
This particular formation would have been a divisional command nestled within Territorialkommando Nord, to be activated in case of World War III. Its role would have been to consolidate, organize, and provide leadership to the most combat-ready elements of the Bundeswehr’s territorial troops in NORTHAG, aiming to turn them into a light yet cohesive fighting force.
The cadre of this new division was the Kampftruppenschule 2 (Combat Troop School 2) at Munster. Hoarding some 130-plus Leopard 1s and 2s, 66x Marder, 20x Luchs and 28x Jaguar 1 and 2, it was to form the Panzerlehrbrigade 9 (administratively part of 3. Panzerdivision) and Panzeraufklärungslehrbataillon 11 (administratively part of 11. Panzergrenadierdivision).
While the latter formation would have quickly joined its parent division, the former would have been held back to form the VfgTrKdo 42 instead. The 3. Panzerdivision, now missing a substantial part of its forces, would temporarily have taken over a Dutch brigade until 1 (NL Corps) could complete its deployment.
VTK 42 would have stood up as a fire brigade, with the following components.
The division will be built around the new Instructor unit, much like its Soviet counterparts below. While the Warsaw Pact formation is a full-fledged division with low-quality conscripts, the VTK 42 is a regular armored brigade beefed-up with a decent-enough level of reservists. However, no divisional assets will be present, meaning one-third will be Panzerbrigade and the remaining two-thirds will be territorial troops, with only a limited amount of supporting arms (this will also result in a more uneven slot allocation across categories).
[h2]The Verfügungstruppenkommando 42 in WARNO[/h2]
How will the VTK 42 look like in WARNO? New units are marked in both italic and bold. As always, units and categories might be subject to change.
LOG
INF
ART
TANK
REC
AA
HEL
AIR
We have returned with the third - and final - Nemesis #6 preview. In today’s DevBlog, school’s out with two opposing special training formations: the West German Verfügungstruppenkommando 42, or Reserve Troops Command 42, and the Soviet 71-ya Zapasnaya Tankovaya Diviziya or the 71st Reserve Tank Division.
Let’s go!
[h2]WARNO’s School’s Out![/h2]
This Nemesis option is a little special: it not only provides two new divisions, but also a new way to play with the proposed introduction of the new Instructor trait. Both divisions will be built around units with this specific trait: seasoned soldiers leading less-trained reservists into battle (removing some penalties and boosting nearby units’ combat performance).
The Instructor trait, as we are proposing it, will likely have the following effects:
- Instructor-traited units will remove nearby Reservist trait penalties (same as the Military Police already does).
- They will also boost nearby units’ performance (as Leader units currently do).
- They will not be able to capture Command zones.
- And, they will only affect units in their specific category (a tank Instructor will only affect other tank units, an infantry Instructor only infantry, etc.).
Replacing Leader units in the TANK and INF categories, these Instructors will turn a horde of raw conscripts into a regular fighting force, for much cheaper. However, the only units to keep on capturing Command zones will be the Leader units left in the LOG tab. Prepare to organize your battlegroup well.
[h2]The West German Verfügungstruppenkommando 42[/h2]
First up is NATO’s West German Verfügungstruppenkommando 42 (gesundheit!), which stands for Reserve Troops Command 42 and is abbreviated to VfgTrKdo 42 (you can’t really do anything with this mumble of letters). Instead, we’ll call it VTK 42 for easyness sake.
This particular formation would have been a divisional command nestled within Territorialkommando Nord, to be activated in case of World War III. Its role would have been to consolidate, organize, and provide leadership to the most combat-ready elements of the Bundeswehr’s territorial troops in NORTHAG, aiming to turn them into a light yet cohesive fighting force.
The cadre of this new division was the Kampftruppenschule 2 (Combat Troop School 2) at Munster. Hoarding some 130-plus Leopard 1s and 2s, 66x Marder, 20x Luchs and 28x Jaguar 1 and 2, it was to form the Panzerlehrbrigade 9 (administratively part of 3. Panzerdivision) and Panzeraufklärungslehrbataillon 11 (administratively part of 11. Panzergrenadierdivision).
While the latter formation would have quickly joined its parent division, the former would have been held back to form the VfgTrKdo 42 instead. The 3. Panzerdivision, now missing a substantial part of its forces, would temporarily have taken over a Dutch brigade until 1 (NL Corps) could complete its deployment.
VTK 42 would have stood up as a fire brigade, with the following components.
- The Panzerlehrbrigade 9.
- The Heimatschutzbrigade 62.
- Heimatschutregimenten 72 and 82.
- Combat engineer elements from (territorial) Pionierregiment 72.
- Anti-air detachments from Flugabwehrkommando 1.
- SAMs from FlaRakRgt. 4.
- Elements from Heeresfliegerversuchsstaffel 910, the helicopter test squadron at Celles.
The division will be built around the new Instructor unit, much like its Soviet counterparts below. While the Warsaw Pact formation is a full-fledged division with low-quality conscripts, the VTK 42 is a regular armored brigade beefed-up with a decent-enough level of reservists. However, no divisional assets will be present, meaning one-third will be Panzerbrigade and the remaining two-thirds will be territorial troops, with only a limited amount of supporting arms (this will also result in a more uneven slot allocation across categories).
[h2]The Verfügungstruppenkommando 42 in WARNO[/h2]
How will the VTK 42 look like in WARNO? New units are marked in both italic and bold. As always, units and categories might be subject to change.
LOG
- Pretty good, with supply units being an FOB, light UNIMOG S404, and new heavy MAN KAT 8X8 MUN. supply trucks.
- Command units include ILTIS FÜH. & M577GA2.
INF
- Once again, solid, with a large quantity of infantry stemming from territorial Heimatschutztruppen featuring the Reservist trait:
- This includes HEIMAT-JÄGER and the new HEIMAT-JÄGER (PzF) with 2x Uzi, 6x G3A4, 1x MG-3 and PzF 44, with both squads deploying in UNIMOG trucks.
- A few 10-man HEIMAT-JAGDKOMMANDO with G3A4, 1x MG-3, PzF 44, smoke grenades and the Security trait, tasked with hunting down enemy infiltrators.
- RESERVE-PIONIER in UNIMOG trucks will also be present.
- PALR MILAN 1 ATGM teams are not Reservist, but veterancy locked, and will deploy in ILTIS jeeps.
- This includes HEIMAT-JÄGER and the new HEIMAT-JÄGER (PzF) with 2x Uzi, 6x G3A4, 1x MG-3 and PzF 44, with both squads deploying in UNIMOG trucks.
- The Panzerlehrbrigade 9 will provide a small core of regulars.
- To lead the weekend warriors into full-blown combat, the new FACHLEHRERGRUPPE can deploy. A 6-man squad with G3A4, 1x MG-3, 1x G3A3ZF, PzF 44 and the Instructor trait, being deployable in MARDER 1A3.
- Further backed by a few PZ.GRENADIER in MARDER 1A3 and MARDER 1A3 MILAN.
- Plus MG-3 7,62mm and PALR MILAN 2 weapon teams.
- To lead the weekend warriors into full-blown combat, the new FACHLEHRERGRUPPE can deploy. A 6-man squad with G3A4, 1x MG-3, 1x G3A3ZF, PzF 44 and the Instructor trait, being deployable in MARDER 1A3.
ART
- Pretty mediocre. Instead of the regular allocation of 4x Panzerartillerie and 1x MLRS battalions, the VTK 42 can only count on one 1x Panzerartillerie and 1x Heimatartillerie battalion, plus two companies of heavy mortars.
- This means a handful of PANZERMÖRSER, M109A3GA1, and LARS-2 from Panzerlehrbrigade 9.
- While Heimatschutzbrigade 62 provides a number of M1A2(A2) 105mm howitzers.
- The two Heimatschutregimenten can bring some towed MRS. TAMPELLA 120mm mortars.
TANK
- Pretty good with the Panzerlehrbrigade 9 providing a sizable amount of LEOPARD 2A4(B) (as used by the Dutch in WARNO), as well as a card each of both JAGUAR 1 and JAGUAR 2.
- The Kampftruppeschule 2 brings a number of LEHRLEOPARD 1A3A1, which for all intents and purposes, are only slightly different visually from the standard LEOPARD 1A1A1 model, featuring the same stats but coming with the Instructor trait.
- The same training formation also held the two models - at the time, and perhaps to this day - of the Leopard 1A6, a planned 120mm upgrade. In real life, the project was canceled at the end of the Cold War. In WARNO, however, they will be put to use as a single card of LEHRLEOPARD 1A6, once again with the Instructor trait.
- Lastly, a few experimental LEOPARD 2A4(D) will be available. These specimens were actually used at the time to test C-type armor and a new muzzle reference sensor, which in real life were to be featured on the 8th batch of Leopard 2A4s in 1991.
- The Heimatschutzbrigade 62 deploys several HEIMAT M48A2GA2 and HEIMAT. KANJPZ (the former already used in TKS), all with the Reservist trait.
REC
- Pretty mediocre. No dedicated recon battalion, since that part of the Kampftruppeschule 2 would have left to join the 11. Panzergrenadier-Division.
- This means a basic complement of AUFKLÄRER in ILTIS and JÄGER-AUFKLÄRER in UNIMOG and UH-1H helicopters.
- Plus some recon ALOUETTE III.
- A few vehicles left behind at the training grounds by AufkPzAbt. 11 could provide one card each of LUCHS and AUFK.MARDER 1A3, the latter with MILAN, but no dismounted scouts.
AA
- Once again, a pretty average category, with Heimatschutztruppen bringing large quantities of single-barreled 20mm AA guns of all sorts.
- While the nearby FlaRakRgt. 4 delivers some heavier cover with I-HAWK and double-barelled 20mm guns.
- The PzLehrBrig. 9 brings a single card of GEPARD 1A1 and some FLIEGERFAUST MANPAD teams.
- While the Heeresfliegerversuchsstaffel 910 deploys a card of the new BO-105 BSH-1 with ATAS Stinger (under test in our timeframe).
HEL
- Average, with only a handful of BO-105 PAH-1 helicopters flying in support from the nearby Celles air base.
- Although piloted by Bundeswehr pilots, the new UH-1D HES actually belonged to the BND, the Bundesnachrichtendienst, West Germany's foreign intelligence service. Only two such SIGINT UH-1 had been modified, and were stationed in Ahlhorn, near Bremen, and will be pressed into combat duty with this battlegroup.
AIR