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Bayonet strength

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by Za Rodinu, Jul 30, 2008.

  1. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Aquila non capit muscas

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    From Index

    I learnt with JCFalkenberg to make long posts like this, so here goes :D
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    Bayonet Strength

    A while ago, I got into a debate on the www.feldgrau.net forum. I had been scrolling through, looking for a subject I hoped I could offer some insight on, only to find most were too eclectic even for my tastes, when I saw one that seemed right up my street.​

    Someone asked what was the rifle strength of a 1941 German Infantry Division. There were a couple of offers of around 17,000, based on the personnel strengths and the number of rifles issued. Both options are technically valid. I offered a slightly lower figure: 3240. My total was based on the number of men in the actual Rifle Squads of the Division, not simply the establishment strength. It lead to a couple more posts between myself and another contributor who I think reckoned my total was 'absurd'. Still, I had good reason to defend my position, and the Rag Bag seems an excellent place to argue my case more fully.​

    What makes a combatant?

    Every army, both today and during World War Two, divides its numbers between combat and service elements. The combat arms, infantry, armour, artillery, reconnaissance and engineer, are often referred to collectively as the 'teeth'. The service elements, transport, supply, medical, maintenance and training to name a few, are likewise referred to as the 'tail'. The number of men in the combat arms to those in the service elements is known as the 'tooth to tail' ratio. ​

    It is a particularly important calculation as it dictates the scope of operations the entire army involved will be able to carry out. World War Two was arguably the first major conflict in which the tail achieved greater proportions than the teeth, as more men were drawn into the service elements needed to sustain the increasing levels of mechanisation.
    This throws up the thorny issue of how many men could actually be described as combatants. It is difficult because it is entirely subjective. There are several ways to attempt to qualify a man as a combatant. He carried a rifle; he served in a unit which actively engaged the enemy; he served on the frontline; he actually saw the enemy. Any and all of these descriptions are valid. Yet the reality was that only a fraction of the men in an infantry division would normally be expected to engage the enemy directly.​

    But that cosy reality could disappear in an instant. If the enemy broke through into the rear areas the men in the supply and services units could not wait around for the infantry to turn up and repel them, they would have to do the job themselves. This was exemplified in actions such as the 'Admin Box' in Burma, where cut off rear echelon troops conducted their own defence. Likewise at Bastogne, all hands were needed to plug the gaps in the frontline. Still, these and other similar episodes were the exception to the norm. When a commander was forced to bolster his lines with rear echelon troops it was a sign of desperate times. Such men were not organised or armed for the task, and in some instances lacked the basic skills of field craft and marksmanship required. The German Army in particular made an attempt to address these problems mid-war, as the attrition of the Eastern Front thinned the ranks of their reliable infantrymen. ​

    Battalion Bayonet strengths

    Bayonet strength is an old fashioned description of the number of men found in the rifle squads and platoons. Foxhole strength is a more modern alternative, but I prefer the Napoleonic terminology. When attempting to offer comparisons between various armies it is important to be consistent, therefore the calculations below are based on the same formula.​

    Combat Infantry

    The leading edge of any unit was provided by the men of its Rifle Platoons. Every man among its ranks was in a position where he was likely to engage the enemy at anywhere from a couple of hundred yards to point blank. Uniquely, the German Army deployed both medics and wagon drivers in its Platoon HQs. The former carried a pistol for self defence but cannot be counted as combatants. The latter apparently were held back with the Company transport under a 'vehicle leader', so are excluded from this exercise.​

    Combat Support

    The increasing numbers of crew served weapons diverted further men from the rifle troops. While mortars were ideally held back, machine guns and anti-tank weapons needed to be pressed forward to engage. However, as their contribution was based on the weapons they served rather than their small arms, it seems reasonable to count them separately. All support platoons inevitably contained personnel who may be more properly counted in the following category, but for simplicities sake they are treated as complete entities here.​

    Command & Administration

    Every level of unit from Platoon up had some form of Headquarters, encompassing officers, signallers and messengers. While still drawn into the frontline, their role was more in directing the efforts of the combatants rather than adding to the fire.​

    Likewise, with anywhere from 500 to 1000 men found in various types of Battalion, specialists were needed to sustain the fighting groups. Clerks, mechanics, medics, repairmen and drivers were found along the length of a Battalion's lines of communication.​

    Comparisons

    The numerical figure shows the numbers of officers and men who fall into the categories described above, the percentage figure being given in brackets. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole. For a detailed description of the battalions examined here, please refer to the Index page and the Example TOE pages.​

    Infantry Btn...Combat Infantry...Combat Support...Command & Admin
    British (1944).........444 - (52%)........183 - (22%)..........218 - (26%)
    American (1944).....369 - (42%)........297 - (34%)..........205 - (24%)
    Russian (1943).......360 - (59%)........184 - (30%)............68 - (11%)
    German (1941).......432 - (50%)........150 - (17%)..........278 - (33%)
    German (1944).......270 - (38%)........222 - (32%)..........216 - (30%)

    Points of note

    There are some interesting points that emerge.

    The British Battalion placed half of its manpower directly into its twelve Rifle Platoons. Anyone who has read even a few accounts of British actions will know the riflemen carried the burden of the advance. The combat support elements served quite a number of weapons, six mortars, six anti-tank guns and a dozen carriers excluding numerous HQ vehicles. A full quarter strength deployed in command and admin seems excessive perhaps, but Battalions were self contained and had no Regimental service assets to call upon as did other nations.

    The United States Battalion had the lowest allied percentage in its nine Rifle Platoons, quite surprising really. The larger percentage in combat support is partly due to the inclusion of a Weapons Platoon in each Rifle Company. I was in two minds as to whether they should be counted as combat infantry given their proximity to the action. If so, the level is increased to 50%, perhaps a fairer indication? They served nine light and six medium mortars, six light and eight heavy machine guns and three antitank guns. The command and admin figures are swelled by the 'Basics', unallocated riflemen included in each Company HQ, seemingly to replace losses in the platoons. Their numbers were reduced mid 1944, as noted elsewhere on the site.

    The Russian Rifle Battalion is striking. Only around one in ten men not serving in a direct combat capacity and well over half the strength in the nine Rifle Platoons. The combat support served six light and nine medium mortars, twelve heavy machine guns and two antitank guns. These figures are based on the final modifications of the December 1942 tables. During mid 1943 the reduced strength savings detailed in The Red Army pages began to bite. Oddly, these reductions actually increased bayonet strength while reducing weapon crews. However, the subsequent reductions began to whittle away at the rifle squads while maintaining the lowered number of support weapons (six medium mortars, nine heavy machine guns and two AT Guns).

    The German Battalions are the most revealing. I thought it worthwhile showing both their versions to demonstrate how savage the mid-war reductions were. The 1941 model placed great emphasis on the men of the nine Rifle Platoons, with half the strength of the entire Battalion. Support weapons of twelve machine guns and six mortars had the lowest allocation of personnel in this amateur study. The command and admin group is by far the largest, and the Germans still held considerable service elements at Regimental level. The 1944 model shows dramatic changes. Rifle strength had fallen by over a third, an immense drop. Weapons crew had increased by half in comparison, but only served an additional four heavy mortars. The command and admin groups remained practically unaltered. The 150 man reduction between the 1941 and the 1944 models was borne entirely by the Rifle Platoons, the men released by pruning the Train elements all going to the crew served weapons.

    Divisional implications

    Infantry Divisions are notoriously elastic formations. I wanted to offer some more specific figures than those below, but given the variations, in German units in particular, opted for approximations instead.

    Infantry Div.........Combat Infantry.....Div total (approx)...Bayonet %
    British (1944)...........3996....................18,500.....................22%
    American (1944).......3321....................14,500.....................23%
    Russian (1943)...........3240....................9,500....................34%
    German (1941)..........3888...................17,000.....................23%
    German (1944)..........1890...................12,500.....................15%

    Accurate comparisons between divisions are particularly difficult.
    US Divisions operated with supporting arms such as Tank Destroyer and Anti Aircraft Battalions routinely attached, but they were not included in the establishment strength. A US Division was nearer the size of a British one when these men were counted.

    The German 1944 model is the only one not based on nine Infantry Battalions. Each Regiment had lost its third Battalion, but the Fusilier Battalion is included as this helped alleviate the reductions.

    Points of note

    Generally speaking, only one man in four was likely to be placed in a unit whose primary mission was to engage the enemy on foot and with small arms. Three quarters of the Division were tasked with the operation of crew served weapons or command, control and administration duties. The reformed Soviet Divisions increased their bayonet strength to one in three, the highest of any combatant in the European theatre.

    The real shocker is the 1944 German Grenadier Division. The much vaunted reforms of 1943 were supposedly aimed at reducing the tail to reinforce the weakened teeth arms. Instead, they reduced bayonet strength from one in four to just one in six. The numbers of crew served weapons were mostly maintained, and in some areas increased. The Germans plainly believed that superior firepower was the best defence against the allied onslaught. The intriguing thing is that the percentage is not too dissimilar from modern day units (a 1990's era US Army Heavy Division posted 16% foxhole strength).

    Exceptions to the rule

    Mention should be made of the infantry who served in two other important Divisions; the Armoured and the Airborne.

    Armoured Infantry commonly deployed fewer men in the foot assault role than walking units. A US Armored Infantry Battalion for example was 1001 all ranks in early 1944. Of that total 504 men were in the nine Rifle Platoons. But with just three Armored Infantry Battalions there were only some 1500 men from a strength of over 10,000 men.

    In the Airborne Divisions things were very different. While organised into fighting and admin groups, the propensity for parachute troops to be scattered upon landing meant every man in the Battalion had to be considered a frontline soldier. When drawn into the more traditional role of infantry later in the war for the allies, much earlier for the German, the distribution of troops took on a more usual appearance. However, Airborne troops still retained the ability to mobilise their tail units into effective teeth formations.

    Summary

    The figures above are by no means an attempt to exclude certain types of troops from their role in combat. The Reconnaissance Regiment of every British Infantry Division was always to be found leading the way, probing routes of advance and often undertaking 'reconnaissance by fire' - a terminological disguise for saying 'if anyone shoots at us we'll know there is someone there!'. The Reconnaissance units of all armies often operated on foot, fulfilling the same role as Infantry.

    Likewise, the Engineers were to be found at the front, repairing bridges or blowing them up as necessary. Anti-tank guns and machine gun crews, while able to engage at distance, could be found dug in among the rifle pits and trenches. Their contribution cannot be ignored.

    But if there is one thing this exercise has confirmed for my mind, it is this. I have been reading accounts of wars and battles since I was at school. Repeatedly, you come across the phrase 'the attack was repulsed with heavy losses inflicted' or such like. Very rarely does an author attribute an actual number to those losses. When they do, a total of say 150 men killed and wounded for a single Battalion during a contested offensive, it's easy to think those losses were incurred from a body of some 800 men. But when looking at the number of infantrymen usually committed, you are talking of those casualties being taken by perhaps 400 men, less if a company was held in reserve. In this imagined example that is a casualty rate of around one in three. It is quite a sobering thought.

    It was the responsibility of the men of the Rifle Platoons of an Infantry Division to maintain the integrity of the frontline and keep contact with the enemy. They required both mundane material support as well as cannon, guns and mortars. Practically all the other elements of the Division were geared to keeping the riflemen in combat. When Divisions were pulled back to rest and refit, make good their losses, it was primarily the infantrymen they needed to replace. A constant flow of men went into their ranks and came out normally only as casualties. If the infantry component of a unit was savaged, it compromised the ability of the whole to remain in the field. When you read about Divisions being pulled out to recuperate, it was rarely because of exceptional events such as artillery batteries being overrun, or Headquarters troops being captured. It was more due to the fact that their bayonet strength had been so depleted by constant exertions the basic squads and sections could no longer function.

    There is tremendous scope for argument as to what truly constituted bayonet strength, this is just my version and does not disagree too much with those of more accredited commentators. But it is no coincidence that offensives began to stutter and stall as the casualties in the frontline troops began to mount. Commanders could pour as much fire down as they wanted on the enemy positions, but as in every war before and since exploitation by foot soldiers was the deciding factor. It was all too easy for a reckless General to burn out his precious reserves of flesh and blood in a foolhardy attack, and then wonder why he could not hold onto the gains they had made.

    The riflemen were the lifeblood of every infantry division. Once drained, it was particularly hard to replenish. The Second World War was a true 'all arms' conflict, but the burden of attack and defence was carried by a relatively small proportion of the troops involved.
     
  2. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    Hey!!!!!! :eek: LOL. Good post. Though once again ,like logistics threads, some here will just ignore this as it doesn't have "cool" uniforms and "Freaking sweet" weapons :rolleyes: lol.
     
  3. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Aquila non capit muscas

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    Here! Is this German gun cool enough for you?

    [​IMG]
     
  4. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    LOL. Yeah its cool lookin. Think it might spark some interest? ;):rolleyes:.
     
  5. TheRedBaron

    TheRedBaron Ace

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    Excellent post Za... If only there was more like it.

    Sadly people fail to realise that the combat power of a division was relegated to so few men. My Granfather once commented that if he fell in combat there was atleast ten blokes behind him hoping he got up.

    Logistics and supply are dirty words in the hew 'cool' war history. These days its all everlasting Tigers and Peadot.

    I wonder if the info I posted on US Division losses is still here... Was some good info there that I really should update.
     
  6. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Aquila non capit muscas

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  7. macrusk

    macrusk Proud Daughter of a Canadian WWII Veteran

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    Thanks for the great post Za! (Too soon to give you more points:()


    The rate of loss compared to the available replacements is something that is frequently cited in the books I've read about the Canadian units in World War II. The lack of replacements and being understrength made it a necessity for men who had been injured to go back to the front - sometimes repeatedly. I would like to know what effect that had, i.e. a man who has been wounded and is back on the line - were they able to be as effective? Did they have a greater or lesser chance of survival? And if they had to go back more than once after being injured and treated? Also, if they survived the War, were they more likely to suffer the effects of PTSD? What were the long term ramifications - such as shortened lifespan in comparison to non-combatants, or those who if injured were shipped home to stay?

    Also, you have links to the descriptions of various units. Do you know of links similar regarding the British/Canadian/Commonwealth artillery units - particularly anti-aircraft?

    My stepdaughter is earning funds from me as I have her type up the regimental history of my Dad's regiment. I hope to start posting it here this autumn. In that history it tells how frequently from Belgium on the men of the 3 LAA were utilized as infantry instead of gunners. Which feeds into your points regarding the use of personnel in roles different than those for which they trained.
     
  8. macrusk

    macrusk Proud Daughter of a Canadian WWII Veteran

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    A quote from the Regimental History has service personnel acting as anti-aircraft gunners, in 1942. My Dad's regiment were the primary gunners at Dieppe. At the end of the description of the day's events on August 19, 1942 it states:

    "The reamainder of the Regiment which had stayed in England were busy too. Guns were deployed at Bognor Regis and Selsey as a precaution against enemy attacks on landing points for boats returning from Dieppe. Several Junkers 88's and Dornier 217's raided the Bognor and Selsey area at 1600 hours. Although the gun detachments were made up mainly of drivers and cooks they made a credible showing scoring ninetieen hits on the enemy aircraft and shooting three down into the sea, expending in all 214 rounds of ammunition."
     
  9. T. A. Gardner

    T. A. Gardner Genuine Chief

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    This is subject could fill a book in terms of discussion. Just a few notes to start with:

    One thing you need to look at in terms of company strength is how that strength is distributed. This was briefly discussed above. For example, the US company is largely self supporting in terms of logistics. Its headquarters is fairly large and has its own supply and maintenance sections available.

    The Germans stripped most of these services out of their infantry companies by mid war leaving just a bare bones supply section that really serves as little more than a manpower reserve for the company.

    The Soviets simply didn't provide such services below battalion, while the Japanese usually converted most or all of what service troops they had into combatants right off.

    The British took a middle road and provided logistical but not maintenance in their company.

    A very critical item to WW 2 is what sort of communications systems were available to infantry companies.

    For the US radios and field telephones were provided extensively. Companies had several walkie talkie radios in the headquarters and often one per platoon. The smaller Handi talkie was also distributed within the company. Several field telephones were generally made available and most veteran companies laid wire for these as they advanced.

    The British likewise, had assigned radios at company level along with field telephones. While not as extensive as the US, they still had a good level of communications.

    Both the US and British had assigned billets for a number of company and platoon runners as a backup. Of course, these usually ended up as reinforcements for casualties.

    The German infantry company normally did not have a radio or field telephone assigned. These were held at battalion and parcelled out on an as needed basis. Runners were the norm and most companies had a number of men assigned for this purpose.

    The Sovets and Japanese were likewise limited to runners. But, they had to pull troops from the line to serve this purpose. There were none intrinsically assigned.
     
  10. Mortman2004

    Mortman2004 Dishonorably Discharged

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    The tooth to tail ratio.... Some of those ratios depend on the unit type also... Airborne units ALmost everyone was a combatant
     
  11. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    Its always nice to see some here who appreciate the whole picture when it comes to the war :). Logistics played a whole lot larger part then some here realize.
     
  12. Mortman2004

    Mortman2004 Dishonorably Discharged

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    Logistics are critical to combat effectivness... ask rommel about his gas issues and ammo issues or george patton... Matter of fact I think it was General Eisenhower who said "THE DEADLIEST WEAPON IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR WAS THE 2 AND A HALF TON TRUCK"
     
  13. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    I agree. Unfortunately as I have pointed out quite a few times before to some it isn't "glamorous" enough and especially our "What If?" fans tend to not take it into account LOL.
     
  14. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Aquila non capit muscas

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    I'm glad this has raised interest, again I think this description of troop handling and weapon use at tactical level is an excellent primer for anyone here with less than professional contact with infantry affairs. I hope this isn't too booooooring for some, as it is a great 'how it works' ;)

    Michelle, I don't know of any study on this matter, but as the Luftwaffe's presence declined AAA troops were being more or less used as a replacement pool for infantry as a rule. This will be more evident on unit histories.
     
  15. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    That was true. There was the use later in the ETO and MTO of US Army AAA troops being used as replacements due to the lack of the need for them after the Luftwaffe became less of a threat. Quite a few US Army AAA units were disbanded.
     
  16. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    "By the end of 1943 equipment for training was more plentiful, the supply of antiaircraft units was coming into a more favorable ratio to overseas demand, and the number of new units to be trained declined. At the same time antiaircraft functions steadily increased and became more complex. For example, the role of antiaircraft artillery in a supplementary ground support role became a major doctrinal practice. As the antiaircraft artillery program was checked, and then slashed, other units such as infantry made up personnel shortages and large numbers of replacements were made available for overseas duty with depleted divisions. Many of the antiaircraft troops whose training caused such concern ended up in the infantry, and some regular antiaircraft units were also utilized in this capacity as well as with the diminished enemy air threat in certain theaters."
    Skylighters, The Web Site of the 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion: Coast Artillery and AA Artillery -- An Overview
     
  17. Miguel B.

    Miguel B. Member

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    Great post Za. Very educational. Too bad many people won't read this :(
    About logistics, there's a saying that iirc, says the following "Men win battles. Logistics wins the war!" or at least it's trying to say this. I don't recall where I've read it but I'll have to search it :)


    Cheers...
     
  18. german mauser k98k man

    german mauser k98k man Member

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    best picture of the fg42 ive ever seen.
     
  19. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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  20. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    [​IMG]

    Fallschirmjägergewehr 42
     

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