Correct german infantry squad organisation (update : first figs painted)

[sundayhero]

Hi,

I recently received my first WW2 figures, including a 15mm german complete rifle infantry platoon.

There's something strange with my figures current organization :

NCO with SMG
junior NCO with rifle
6 riflemen...with rifle
machine gun mg42 (I believe) with 2 servants

I often readed that the junior NCO was using a smg too ? SHould I buy a few SMG figures to replace the junior NOC with rifles ?


My other question is about grenadiers. IN my platoon pack, I've got about half dozen of grenadiers. Should I put them in "normal" squads (how many ? 1 ? 2?), or should they fight in a separate group ?


thank you for your help. It's obvious I'm a WW2 total beginner, I'm afraid  

[Phil Robinson]

Which rules are you planning to use?

[sundayhero]

For now, NUTS! from two hour wargames, but it may be not the only ruleset I'll use (see my other topic here http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=75849.0).

thanks

[Phil Robinson]

I not familiar with Nuts. I do have Chain of Command which is one of the sets suggested to you, but I think these are not really suitable for the table area you have, the smallest table I have used is 4'x4'

Anyway going back to your question, this is the platoon organisation based on using CoC which is nigh on what a historical platoons would be

Senior NCO with SMG plus a 2 man panzerschreck team if late war.

Three squads each with a Junior NCO with SMG,  a 3man LMG team and a 6 man rifle team. Add a panzerfaust for a late war force.

This appears, sans the anti-tank weapons is what you appear to have?

[von Lucky]

What period and theatre are you planning to have these for?

And you're basing each singularly?

[sundayhero]

thanks for the help. I'm basing them individually, and I plan to play them mostly after 1942.

I've got enough figures for 3 10men squads, with this organization :

NCO with SMG
junior NCO with rifle (edit : in fact, just normal riflemen, I don't think there is a specific junior nco figure in my set)
6 riflemen...with rifle
LMG with 2 servants

Plus an half dozen riflemen with "german" typical grenades, an officer with SMG (and his assistant with rifle), and a 2men "small" mortar team, and an extra smg guy.

I'd like to build a "credible" rifle platoon, if a few extra figures are needed, so be it



edit : problem solved, apparently I have everything needed, and assistant squad leaders with rifles are not a problem. I'm still searching for infos on grenades figures, but maybe eveyr german trooper can carry hand grenades, and the ones I have are just some nice new poses to add some variety in the squads, nothing related to organisation.

[julesav]

The German naming of some units as Grenadiers or Panzer Grenadiers implies specialist grenade usage - but actually these historical titles hark back to the 18th century.

By WW2 I'm sure that every German infantryman could carry grenades - with the possible exception of the heavily loaded Mg gunner. Basically your miniatures of guys chucking grenades are simply alternate versions of riflemen or whatever other weapon the figure has.

Chain of Command has a special rule covering the Germans showering grenades at people in a volley - the only rules I know of that specifically cover that German habit/tactic.

There are differences in German platoon organisations during WW2, but the one you're using above is fine for troops from Infantry Divisions for most of the war.

[sundayhero]

Here's the first german squad almost completed (I still have to varnish and add some modelling flock)

I post definitive pics this week end.

[moiterei_1984]

Very nice! The Feldgrau looks superb.

[MartinR]

As noted above, organisations varied but the basic ten man section is fine for most things. The section deputy leader (truppenfuhrer) had a rifle earlier in the war but was authorised an SMG later on.

Cheers
Martin