In a Dark Wood - NATO Order of Battle

We have almost completed the Order of Battle for the upcoming In a Dark Wood.

NATO OOB for this sector had several unique features and assignments, requiring additional research and, guess what, more discussions than usual.

In this post, I will describe some of the NATO formations committed to the defense of US VII Corps sector and adjoining areas. 

You will also find a snapshot of some documents we used to define the details, they should help to give an idea of how deep the rabbit's hole goes.

And remember the drill! Volunteer now for OPERATION APEX PREDATOR by writing to info@TRLGames.com, or have Gunnery Sergeant Hartman unhappy and stomping your guts out. 

WG 12. Panzer Division Structure and Fire Support - Please note the US units in it.

A General Defense Plan for US VII Corps Sector

A plan for WG 36.Pz Brigade

A local counterattack plan for WG 36.Pz Brigade

In the end, the most probable NATO General Defense Plan for the area covered by the map had the following formations assigned, from North to South:

• 2x brigades from WG 12.Pz Division (US VII Corps, more on this later)
• 1x brigade from US 1st Infantry Division (WG 12.Pz Division, more on this later)
• US 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (US VII Corps)
• US 1st Armored Division (US VII Corps)
• 2x brigades from WG 4.PG Division (WG II Corps)

NATO also had consistent reserves, already in West Germany or arriving as reinforcement:

• CA 4th Mechanised Brigade Group
• US 3rd Infantry Division 
• FR II Corps, with two armored "divisions" (actually, large brigades)
• FR Force d'Action Rapide, with one airmobile "division", one airborne division, one light armored "division"
• 2x brigades from US 1st Infantry Division (REFORGER)

In 1985 US 3ID was the first and probably only division having completed the conversion to the  heavier and mostly aborted "Division 86" structure. Therefore, it fielded three brigades fully equipped with M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley, plus a fourth Combat Aviation Brigade with a cavalry battalion and attack helicopters, activated in March, 1985.

All considering, a dangerous beast.

An anomaly in NATO deployment, WG 12.Pz was in theory subordinated to WG III Corps, but actually deployed far from it. As a consequence, its 34.Panzer Brigade was assigned as WG III Corps operational reserve, while its remaining two brigades (35.PG and 36.Pz) were under US VII Corps command. 

To compensate for the loss of 34.Pz Brigade, the US 1ID (Fwd) Brigade was attached to WG 12.Pz until the arrival of the rest of the division via REFORGER.

Well trained and heavily equipped, the Canadian brigade could hold its ground in a more than satisfactory manner, and could be assigned to US VII Corps or WG II Corps. We opted for the former.
EDIT: the two mech Bn here have the wrong icon, it should be M113.

Stationed in West Germany, the French II Corps consisted of two Divisions Blindée (armoured divisions, actually the size of a large brigade) of good quality, equipped with AMX-30 tanks and AMX-10 AFVs. Corps-level fire support included attack helicopters and Pluton nuclear missiles.

French Force d'Action Rapide (FAR)

The French FAR (Rapid Deployment Force) consisted of several divisions, covering all possible types of force projection. Some of them would have probably been used in West Germany in case of a full-scale conflict against the Warsaw Pact.

The 4e Division Aeromobile was conceptually similar to the experimental US 9th Infantry Division: lightly equipped infantry, with a strong support of attack helicopters. The French Army pushed this concept to its limit, as the division had only one infantry battalion supported by three AH squadrons.
EDIT: The Attack Helicopter squadrons were actually able to support the whole FAR, and should have FAR as Parent HQ, 

The 11e Division Parachutiste was a classical airborne division. No matter how badass, its battalions were composed of four infantry companies and one heavy weapons company, making them only slightly better than a WG Jagerbattalion.
EDIT: The 11e Division Parachutiste TO&E is still under review.

The 6e Division Légère Blindée was a light armoured division, in this case too more the size a large brigade.
EDIT: The 68e Regiment Artillerie had older 155mm Bf-50 tubes, the icon and range will change.