DMS

The only reason is that ruling class war tired of being communist leaders and dreamed to become real bourgeoisie, without limitations of socialistic country. "People of my rank have millions on the West". So, real war was possible only accidentally, because of misidentified rocket launch or something like this. In this case Soviet army wouldn't be well prepared, attacking only with the best units, with the best equipment.

1-st of may, Labour day!

Ukrainian MR platoon has correct organisation in CMBS, 1 of 3 BMPs has undismountable (sorry for my English ) commander. Like in Soviet TO&E. Russian and Syrian not for some reason... So player has to use snipers or scout teams. Syrian BMPs haven't radio communications with infantry. It's a nightmare, to properly organise "red" motor rifles, so units would share intel and stay in command chain.

BMP-1 is an "armoured taxi" and infantry cannon in 1 piece. In 1944-1945 Soviet infantry was supported by direct lay 76 infantry guns, 7,62 HMGs. BMP-1 was intended to replace infantry guns and heavy MGs. After dropping infantry they must stop and fire to supposed enemy positions. I use "target area" order, placing target on question marks or randomly. If BMP company randomly shoots ahead, suppression is usually enough to get closer. By the way, IRL PL assistant stayed in 1 of BMPs. So 1 BMP of 3 had a commander.

U.S. supporters of Ukrainian nationalists won the election, probably they will attack Donbas now.

In Poland or Germany?

They should be tough. ATGs had armor shield, that covered crew from bullets and shrapnel. In German manual was prohibited to fire mg at distant guns. Shooting in the question mark with on-map units is a gamey, I think. IRL gunner wouldn't know where exactly is the gun. He could only know that it is "2 hours, 1000m", for example. And using area target player can direct fire with accuracy +-2m.

And nationalism is not naphthalene ideology from 19 century. People should just follow their interests, not being agitated by media or anyone else. If RPK-74 exists, are there no machine guns and no assault rifles, is everything diverse and complicated? No, just an intermediate form.

"Healthy nation", OMG. There is no "nation", there are oligarchs and working people. They are not the same "nation" with common interests. Rent grows, salary drops, but you should carry on, we are in war with Russia! (Or with aggressive NATO block, here) Meanwhile Russian businessmen sell goods to Ukraine and Ukrainian to Russia. No Ukrainian companies were nationalised in Russia and no Russian companies were nationalised in Ukraine. Business goes as usual. But war should be continued to get new credits and to force people to obey.

So this warmonger rhetoric is still popular in the Ukraine. I hoped that Ukrainians have woken up after this 6 years. Bad...

I hoped that game will be released on 1-st of May... Did you know the legend that Stalin ordered to take Berlin by 1-st of May?

I would exchange Maus, IS-3, Jagdtiger and anything else for a horse! And German infantry carriage.

I found division's journal: https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=130019938 On page 4 is table with personell numbers. Division had 7500 men. (Note that it was reinforced division, that was moved from reserve.) That's why so narrow front. On 1.2.45 division had 6100 men. Page 25 - maps.

Battalions were deeply echeloned. If division attacks in 2,5km front, in 1-st line are 4 rifle battalions (each on 750m front), in 2-nd line 2 rifle battalions, then goes 3-rd regiment. Divisions had objectives deep in the rear and had to be deeply echeloned to achieve this objectives. During Vistula-Oder offensive each division transferred 1 battalion to "special echelone", to capture German positions by surprise, during pause in artillery preparation. So this "special echelone" battalions attacked on division frontage, 2-2,5 km (followed by other battalions, in usual formation).

“Cyborgs,” as the Russians came to call the Ukrainian defenders when referring to their perseverance and bravery" OMG. It's self-claimed nickname, of course. As Russian proverb says, if you don't compliment yourself, nobody compliments you.

Well, IRL Germans had solid trench line, occupied by minor forces. They tried to avoid massive artillery strike on their main forces and used to set them back. Soviets knew this and tried to assault 1-st trench line by surprise. In the game there is no solid trench line and player didn't get divisional artillery, looks like battle in the depth of defense. I would play like usual, slow advance, spot MG nests, call mortar fire on them. Attack on broad front, clear flanks, be aware of mines and AT guns. Assault guns should be 50m behind infantry line according to regulations.

Yes, and to 7 men after 44. http://community.battlefront.com/topic/137088-soviet-infantry-squad-organisation/ But each rifle company now has 1 smg platoon.

But what's wrong with old bullets? Corrosion? Yes, 7,92 bullets (actually 8,2) through 7,62 barrel were not good, I guess that rifles became smoothbore after some time. Well, NKVD could support them with something, but small weapons ammo in big quantities was not transportable by air. They couldn't drop enough so that every partisan would get at least 50 rounds to his rifle every month. That's why this extractor modifications were recommended officially, by instruktions. They also had to modify case, so Mauser round would lay in x54 chamber without resting by rim. There were enough abandoned Soviet weapons, dropped in 1941. So yes, they didn't need to attack Germans for weapons.

Once I dispersed platoon (1943) in 300-400m wide area. I splitted squads, set teams 50m from each other. Then my opponent attacked and teams on my far flank started to surrender without taking any losses. ) Really, they are "fragile" when splitted.

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In CM squad organization affect gameplay, unlike other games. You can't split Soviet squads, because they get morale penalty and start to panic after getting fire. The reason is absence of squad leader assistant. Soviet squad had only 1 NCO, while in German were 2. That is true... Until 27.09.1941. Below is Stalin's order №374. He states, that on machinegunners posts (Also ATR riflemen, mortar and artillery gunners) must be designated "most skillful and initiative" soldiers. They must be promoted to junior sergeants or gefreiters. In TO&E must be created new position - squad leader assistant. They got more salary, 12,5 rubles additionally. So, in Soviet squad of 1944-1945 were 2 NCOs, like in other armies. Another question - squad headcount. In 1941 TO&E squad headcount was 11 men. In 1943 in 4/550 TO&E headcount was reduced to 9-10 (including platoon HQ or not). In 1944 high command decided to stop reinforcing rifle divisions too full strength (according 4/550 TO&E), leaving maximum strength 6-7 thousands men. HQs of rifle divisions started to make calculations to define subunits headcount (As far as I know, there was no centralized TO&E like before) Some of them are published, I post them below (in next comment): for 141 men company (full strength 4/550: 4 squads, 9 men), 111 men (4 squads, 7 men) and 90 men (3 squads, 7 men). I think these schemes are most close to reality. 1-st variant (141 men) is in the game already, it is called "1943". I would suggest to replace game TO&E "1944" by one of these schemes: for 111 men company or 90 men company. With 4 (3) squads, 7 men and 1 lmg in each one. I think 111 men companies are best for the game, because you can delete 4th squad if you want. Note that these schemes are not "under strength". They are for full strength divisions of 44-45 (6000 or 7000 strength). No divisions were reinforced to 4/550 TO&E as far as I know. May be few, coming from rear, that didn't take part in battles of 1943-1944. 11 men - this is from 1941, not 1944. And if some very lucky division would get large reinforcement, they would rather add 4-th squad instead of making 3 11 men squads. So, Soviet squad had 2 NCOs and 7 men with 1 lmg. (And 2 or 6 SMGs) There were no official "teams", but according to regulations lmg could act separately, covering movement of the squad. So, I think that squad could be divided to 2 teams: lmg team leaded by machinegunner (SL assisnant), 3 men, and rest of the squad, 4 men. Actually, lmg team had 2 men, but it's hard to believe that 1 assistant could carry 6 DP disks, having weight 40kg. + his own rifle.

MG was heavier, DP had heavy disks instead of belts, in summary weight was nearly equal. But even regular army soldiers used to drop that DP disks. I guess partisans were carrying 2-3 in the best case. Soviet partisans remade extractors of DP and Mosins to used German ammo. (It's interesting that 7.92 bullets passed good through 7,62 barrels) I think any irregulars did some sort of modification or reloaded ammo. Probably the hugest storages of ammo were German, with their 1200-1400 rounds for every mg. I think that theese SMGs were rather PDW than combat weapons. For self defense.

Thank you! I had found some documents about TO&E, can post if needed (in separate thread)

BFCElvis, are 11 men squads in the final version of the game? I think it can be a mistake. I'd posted documents some time ago, in full strength Soviet division squads couldn't be more then 8 men. 8 men in squad - the best case, average number would be 5-6. 11 men squads were only in pre-war TO&E. In 1944-1945 red army had problems with manpower, units couldn't be reinforced by draft of locals. All divisions were transferred to so called "7 thousand TO&E", having only 6000-7000 men. And soviet squads have no squad leader assistant? Actually there were 2 NCOs in Soviet squad, squad leader (sergeant) and machinegunner (gefreiter=corporal).

Thank you for informative answer. Too heavy for partisans! So, major part - German weapons and may be some Soviet. (In 44-45, after the war weapons were replaced by soviet after some time, of course) But no huge German ammo loads with 1200+ rounds for a mg. How much did they carry? Some 50 round belts? It would be interesting too play battles partisans against partisans, with more important role of rifles. They had to rely on them as most ammo saving weapons, I guess.