The Commander Series Forum

Hello,

I am building my first bck (or WW2 for that matter) army, and have decided to focus on the 1940 Narvik campaign.

To start I've looked at a Infantry battalion, which consist of three Rifle companies and one MG company.

Each rifle squad was issued with one Madsen machine gun. I have bought the Pithead morwegian miniatures so I have some Madsen miniatures.

The MG company consisted of 12 Colt HMGs.

The question is how to model this, how many bases per Company? I have seen other using three bases per company, but I do not know if the sizes of the comanies in the different countries (was it Hungary?)

Any thoughts will be appriciated!

Mark Bevis does a Norwegian infantry division TOE in his Micromark range, which might give details at the level you want? I'd guess they're triangular in set up but never actually checked

Some info here at the bottom of the page

http://www.nuav.net/Nouniforms.html

Cheers

Richard

Try this site:

http://hem.fyristorg.com/robertm/norge/

http://hem.fyristorg.com/robertm/norge/norway_r...

Hi Lazypapa

I can thoroughly recommend Mark Bevis' TO&E charts. He trades under the name 'Micromark'.

I've just finished reading Henrik O. Lunde's book 'Hitler's pre-emptive war' it's the first good account of the land fighting in Norway I've been able to read in English.

He continually stresses Norwegian lack of 'automatic weapons' and hand-grenades. I think that the 2 Madsen LMGs per platoon and 9 supporting Colt MMGs TO&E is therefore more likely? However, for all I know, units in Narvik region may have had a better allocation although Lunde doesn't mention it. However I believe that their mobilisation centre was captured by the Germans (when they initially took Narvik) which must've affected weapon distribution!

I've always wanted to game the Norway campaign - please keep us posted on your progress!

This is the organisation to Command Decision which is at the same level as BKC (just treat command infantry stands as infantry) Seems a bit light on MG's though if there were 12 in a company

http://www.testofbattle.com/files/IV-1%20Norway...

I'll check that book out Jules as it sounds good.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

I theory it appears that my battalion would then consist of

CO
2 x 81mm mortar
1 x 75mm Artillery Support Unit
1 x pioneer company (ENG)
1 x Recce Unit

1 x HQ
3 rifle companies (each 4 platoons)
1 MG company (3 platoons)


In practice I might want to adjust to 3 platoons for each Rife company.

My plan for now is to have one LMG and 4 riflemen on each rifle stand, does that sound right for the rifle companies? Also, having one HQ for 12 platoons, Would that be OK?

If anyone knows where I can find Colt M/29 (Browning M1917?)HMG models that might be appropriate, I would be delighted. Maybe the PitHead A5 (American Browning WC Machine gun) witha head swap will do?

atSteveJ: The Lunde book is really great!

atLazypapa: Remember the 'dragoons' are the Norwegian ski units in winter! Personally I'd go for more command stands, one per 12 fighting stands is a bit minimal from my experience of CWC/BKC gaming! I'd go for a command stand per company, or at worst per 2 companies! The figures per stand sounds fine to me.

I had thought maybe head swaps on French MMGs for the Colts? however having seen the pic on the above link I think maybe WW1 Germans with headswap would be better?

Keep us posted on your progress!

WWI Austrians?

http://www.pendraken.co.uk/AH2-p3901/

Just ordered Jules as a treat to myself.

Thoght about one hq per company as well, but that would take me ver the limit in he army list. Which i could ignore ofcoarse.

I purchased the Lunde book myself as well, so I have my kindle all filled up. Now to get some spare time available...