Hans Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 One of the most unique units in the Red Army armored and mechanized force structure was the aerosleigh [aerosanyi] battalions, 62 of which were formed beginning in January 1942. Considered by the Stavka to be a type of mechanized force, there were 48 aerosleigh battalions in the February 1943 force structure and 57 in July 1943. The aerosleigh battalion consisted of a headquarters and supply company with 10 cargo sleds and 3 combat companies with 10 aerosleighs each. The company consisted of three platoons with three sleighs each and a tenth command sled. The overall strength of the battalion was about 100 men with about 45 NKL-16 or NKL-26 aerosleighs. The NKL-16 aerosleigh consisted of an armor-plated turret with a 7.62mm machine gun mounted on four skis. It was propelled by a rear-mounted aircraft type engine and propeller and could transport 4-5 men. The NKL-26 had the same armament but was more powerful and more heavily armored. Aerosleigh battalions were employed in winter raids, to combat enemy ski troops, to transport supplies, and in operations across difficult terrain in snow conditions, often in conjunction with ski battalions and brigades. How about it Battlefront ;} Hey I never heard of them before either...but they sound interesting. Any grog have a picture on these things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrullenhaft Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 You missed it. It was brought up before CMBB was released, but the idea was eventually nixed. I think it ended up being a bit too complex to program up (actual aerosans have problems with almost any incline/decline in real life). On top of that their combat value and potential 'gamey' abuse lead to them being excluded (like motorcycles, etc.). Maybe in some future version of CM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 Is this anything like a Finnish pullka (stated with dread, knowing full well Weiss will have an accordian joke laying in wait)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Posted December 25, 2002 Author Share Posted December 25, 2002 I figured someone might have seen them before, they would have limited appeal but are interesting as a side line. Heck if you were going to bring in a new vehicle I'd like the Panhards the Germans used! That or coastal craft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbertles Posted December 25, 2002 Share Posted December 25, 2002 Or River Monitors - liberally used by both sides in riverine warfare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaTyR Posted December 26, 2002 Share Posted December 26, 2002 Originally posted by Michael Dorosh: Is this anything like a Finnish pullka (stated with dread, knowing full well Weiss will have an accordian joke laying in wait)?That kind of sleigh Hans described translates to PANSSARIREKI in finnish. PULKKA is something even a single man can drag when skiing. Still used by skiers in winter (wandering treks in Lapland) and little children for toboggan downhill "skiing". There are no skis on PULKKA, REKI is the correct translation. Finns used (and still do) a larger kind of pulkka, AHKIO during the winter months of both wars (winter war and the continuation war). Same desing as pulkka, but larger and heavier (I know, dragged AAMGs, tents and other jääkäri platoon equipment on those horrid things while on ski marches). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Posted December 26, 2002 Author Share Posted December 26, 2002 Jbertles Yep the CMBB engine would actually be nice for small scale naval battles, coastal convoys and such Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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