German 20. Armee in Finland Beutepanzer- kompanie By David Green and Josh Kegerries GEBIRGSJAGER SPECIAL RULES A Gebirgsjägerkompanie and a Gebirspionierkompanie use all the German special rules on pages 241 to 245 of the rulebook. In addition, they use the Mountaineers and Pack Mule special rules below. MOUNTAINEERS PACK MULES Gebirgsjäger are trained to fight over the high mountains A Gerbirgsdivision had specific requirements for logistical of Europe. They are equipped to scale any slope or rocky supply and transportation. Trucks were part of the Valley mountain pass. echelon (Talstaffel) and a Pack Mule train formed the Mountain echelon (Bergstaffel). Mountain troops were issued Gebirgsjäger Infantry teams and Man-packed Gun teams with light guns that could be broken into smaller loads and are all Mountaineers. carried on pack horses or mules to move on the narrow mountain trails and terrain they are trained to fight on. Gun teams carried by Pack Mule teams are Mountaineers, see page 61 of the rulebook. Pack Mule teams are Transport teams. Pack Mule teams carry Gun teams as Passengers and the Gun team is removed from the table while it is carried by the Pack Mule team. Heer pattern Edelweiss arm patch worn on the Waffen-SS pattern Edelweiss arm patch worn on BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE right upper sleeve of Gebirgsjäger. the right upper sleeve of SS-Gebirgsjäger. Heer pattern Edelweiss cap badge worn on Waffen-SS pattern cloth Edelweiss cap badge the left side of the Bergmütze (mountain cap). worn on the left side of the Bergmütze. GRENADIER SPECIAL RULES A Grenadierkompanie, a Pionierkompanie, and a Beutepanzerkompanie use all the German special rules on pages 241 to 245 of the rulebook. In addition, they use the Pack Mule special rules above. WAFFEN-SS SPECIAL RULES SS-Gebirgsgrenadierkompanie, SS-Gebirgspionierkompanie, SS-Schützenkompanie, SS-Aufklärungsschwadron, and SS- Skijägerkompanie use all the German special rules on pages 241 to 245 of the rulebook, as well as the Pack Mule special rules above. In addition, some platoons use the Waldjäger special rule below as indicated under the platoon. WALDJÄGER When SS-Division ‘Nord’ was converted into a Gebirgsdivision their experience fighting alongside the Finns in the frozen north had already shaped their training. With high mountains few and far between in Finland they con- centrated on improving their mobility through the forests and snow of northern Finland. Experience and training soon made them almost as adept at Wald, or forest, fighting as the native Finns. Waldjäger Infantry and Man-packed Gun teams may move At the Double through Woods, Snow and Deep snow (see page 30 of the rulebook). 2 BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE CAPTURED TANK COMPANY TANK COMPANY HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each box shaded grey. 4 HEADQUARTERS SUPPORT PLATOONS ARMOUR ANTI-TANK ARMOUR ARTILLERY 4 5 6 9 COMBAT PLATOONS PLATOONS COMBAT 7 10 ARMOUR PLATOONS WEAPONS BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE 15 10 ALLIED PLATOONS 4 ARMOUR ROCKET ARTILLERY ARMOUR Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Platoons in your force are 11 Allies and follow the Allies 6 4 rules in the rulebook on 7 11 page 70. 12 ARMOUR INFANTRY 12 14 5 ANTI-AIRCRAFT 14 8 13 8 16 15 INFANTRY ANTI-AIRCRAFT 14 14 15 8 8 AIRCRAFT 9 16 3 MOTIVATION AND SKILL PANZERABTEILUNG 211 Despite Panzerabteilung 211 having seen limited fighting in 1941, the lack of action in Lapland has seen them lose their best personnel for less experienced officers and other ranks RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT from other units. As such, their troops are rated Confident Trained. CONFIDENT TRAINED FEARLESS VETERAN HEADQUARTERS BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE HQ hAUPTMANN HEADQUARTERS 2 Panzer 35-S 739(f) 60 points 1 Panzer 35-S 739(f) 30 points Company Command 2iC Command OPTION Panzer 35-S 739(f) Panzer 35-S 739(f) • Add Sd Kfz 9 (18t) recovery half-track for +5 points. Beutepanzerkompanie HQ Issued with captured French armour, Panzerabteilung 211 it was formed. Sadly by 1944, the unit was no longer able was the classic example of a Beutepanzer (looted or captured to match modern armour. Thankfully due to the poor tank BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE tank) unit. Formed using the best of the captured French terrain in Lapland, they generally faced infantry. armour, the unit was a reasonably potent force in 1941 when COMBAT PLATOONS BEUTEPANZER PLATOON Leutnant PLATOON Leutnant HQ Section with 1 Command Panzer 35-S 739(f) &: 4 Panzer 38-H 735(f) 140 points Command Panzer 35-S 739(f) 3 Panzer 38-H 735(f) 110 points HQ Section Unteroffizier Unteroffizier The bulk of the tanks in Panzerabteilung 211 were Hotchkiss H38 (Panzer 38-H 735(f)) tanks with the long gun. The were also a substantial number of SOMUA S35 (Panzer Panzer 38-H 735(f) Panzer 38-H 735(f) 35-S 739(f)), which due to their larger size, were used as command tanks. Designed for the start of the war they are now obsolete in the face of more modern armour like the Panzer 38-H 735(f) Panzer 38-H 735(f) T-34. Despite this they were the only substantial armoured Panzer Section Panzer Section unit deployed in Finland in 1944, due to the poor terrain for tank use. They are still useful against infantry and some of Beutepanzer Platoon the Finnish armour such as the T-26. 4 PANZER PLATOON Leutnant PLATOON Leutnant 3 Panzer III N 145 points 2 Panzer III N 95 points Command tank Recognising the weakness of the French armour, more modern tanks were requested, and six Panzer III ausf N were eventually issued to Panzerabteilung 211. These were issued as an additional platoon of three per company. Only one made it back to Norway during the German retreat from Tank Tank Finland. panzer Platoon WEAPONS PLATOONS PANZER SCOUT PLATOON PLATOON HQ Section with: BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE Command Motorcycle MG team 2 Scout Squads 130 points 3 Scout Squads 195 points OPTIONS • Replace the Command Motorcycle MG team with a Command Motorcycle Panzerknacker SMG team for Motorcycle MG team Motorcycle MG team +5 points. Scout Squad Scout Squad Panzer Scout Platoons use the Motorcycle Reconnaissance rules on page 196 of the rulebook and are Reconnaissance Motorcycle MG team Platoons while mounted. Scout Squad Panzer Scout Platoon Panzerabteilung 211 formed a unit of motorcycle scouts in 1943. They spent a lot of time patrolling and provided reconnaissance for the tanks. 5 HEER SUPPORT PLATOONS MOTIVATION AND SKILL CORPS SUppORT PLATOONS 20. Gebirgsarmee (20th Mountain Army) has been fighting in Finland for nearly four years, and their troops are well motivated and seasoned Veterans. As such, their troops are rated RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT Confident Veteran, unless otherwise noted. CONFIDENT TRAINED FEARLESS VETERAN LIGHT PANZER PLATOON Leutnant PLATOON Leutnant 5 Panzer I B 120 points 4 Panzer I B 95 points Command Panzer I B 3 Panzer I B 70 points HQ Section Unteroffizier Unteroffizier Despite being in Finland for a considerable amount of time, the crews of the Panzer Is are unfamiliar with their BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE Panzer I B Panzer I B Panzer I B Panzer I B vehicles and haven’t seen much combat in them. Light Panzer Section Panzer Section Panzer Platoons are rated Confident Trained. Light Panzer Platoon CONFIDENT TRAINED They were formed into a rear area security company (Panzer- These tanks where originally part of Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. Sicherungskompanie 40), which was eventually disbanded in 40 which originally invaded Norway before being deployed 1943. The 15 Panzer I tanks were dispersed to act as bunkers, to Finland. When withdrawn, the 15 Panzer I light tanks but the five working tanks were kept going and seven more (together with two Panzer III E medium tank) were left were restored to working order by July 1944. Five were part behind as being no longer suitable for frontline combat. of Panzer-Abteilung 211 in Norway, presumably collected during the retreat from Finland. TANK-HUNTER PLATOON Leutnant PLATOON Leutnant 3 7.5cm PaK40 auf 38-H 155 points 3 7.5cm PaK40 auf 38-H 105 points Command 7.5cm PaK40 auf 38-H HQ Tank-hunter Despite being in Finland for a considerable amount of time, Unteroffizier Unteroffizier the crews of the Tank-hunters have had limited training opportunities and haven’t seen much combat. Light Panzer Platoons are rated Confident Trained. 7.5cm PaK40 auf 38-H 7.5cm PaK40 auf 38-H CONFIDENT TRAINED Tank-hunter Tank-hunter tank-hunter Platoon By the time they reached Norway, Panzer-Abteilung 211 had gained three 7.5cm self-propelled, tracked anti-tank guns Hotchkiss H38 tanks from Panzer-Abteilung 211, which had on their strength. Information on these is limited, but it been fitted with a 7.5cm anti-tank gun in place of the turret. is believed that these were field modification of obsolete 6 PANZERSPÄH PATROL PLATOON 1 Sd Kfz 223 (radio) & 1 Sd Kfz 221 (MG) 155 points Command Sd Kfz 221 (MG) Sd Kfz 223 (radio) Panzerspäh Patrol Panzerspäh Patrols are Reconnaissance Platoons. Panzerspäh Patrol The 20th Mountain Army’s Panzerspäh Zug (Armoured Car The platoon was equipped with three Sd Kfz 221 and three Platoon) proved valuable for reconnaissance and keeping Sd Kfz 223 armoured cars. They were very lightly armed, the roads clear from partisans. More were requested from only being fitted with an MG34. As such they tried to avoid Germany in July 1944, but they were not received before the combat unless forced to engage. German retreat to Norway. The platoon managed to escape by October. ANTI-TANK GUN PLATOON Leutnant PLATOON Leutnant HQ Section with: 4 3.7cm PaK 36 105 points Command SMG team BEUTEPANZERKOMPANIE 3 3.7cm PaK 36 80 points HQ Section 2 3.7cm PaK 36 55 points Unteroffizier Unteroffizier • All 3.7cm PaK36 guns are equipped with Stielgranate at no cost.