Foot infantry units instead of garrison units
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:29 pm
Should we change the more abstract name of garrison units by other more specific name of foot infantry units? Foot infantry units would be corps sized units only integrated by infantry units with mostly defensive roles. Many french, italian, german and russian infantry units were mainly integrated by foot infantry divisions in which horses were the only mode of transport artillery guns. This way, foot infantry units would be representing a corps sized unit with only defensive roles integrated by only foot infantry units whilst infantry corps unit would be representing a corps sized mainly integrated by infantry units in which there would be also attached mobile forces that would increase significantly the offensive capabilities and mobility of those units. We can see this with some examples took from german Barbarossa OOB for better understanding what I mean:
VI (06) Armeekorps: --> FOOT INFANTRY CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.Pioneers Foerster
6 Inf.Div.
26 Inf.Div
XXXXIII (43) Armeekorps: --> INFANTRY CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.Inf. Heinrici
Stab 697 Artillerie-Regt. (mot.)
Stab 786 Artillerie-Regt. (mot.)
611 H-Fla.Btl. (lei.)
131 Inf.Div.
134 Inf.Div.
252 Inf.Div.
LVI (56) Armeekorps (mot.): --> MOTORISED INFANTRY CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.Inf. von Manstein
559 PzJag.Abt. (Sfl.)
(Lw) gem.Flak-Abt. II./23
8 Pz.Div. + (Lw) lei.Flak-Abt. 92
3 Mot.Inf.Div.
290 Inf.Div.
LVII (57) Armeekorps (mot.): --> ARMOURED CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.PzTrps. Kuntzen
(Lw) gem.Flak-Abt. I./29
12 Pz.Div. + (Lw) lei.Flak-Abt. 75
19 Pz.Div. + (Lw) lei.Flak-Abt. 85
18 Mot.Inf.Div.
As you see in the example a foot infantry corps unit (actually a garrison unit) would be a weak unit not only because it would be only integrated by foot infantry units but also because it would be integrated by only 2 infantry divisions instead of 3. Many infantry corps units with defensive roles in WW2 were integrated by only 2 divisions so their offensive capabilities and territorial range were lower than a 3 divisions corps unit.
I think this change in the name of the units would remove the excessive abstraction that supposes to use the term "garrison".
VI (06) Armeekorps: --> FOOT INFANTRY CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.Pioneers Foerster
6 Inf.Div.
26 Inf.Div
XXXXIII (43) Armeekorps: --> INFANTRY CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.Inf. Heinrici
Stab 697 Artillerie-Regt. (mot.)
Stab 786 Artillerie-Regt. (mot.)
611 H-Fla.Btl. (lei.)
131 Inf.Div.
134 Inf.Div.
252 Inf.Div.
LVI (56) Armeekorps (mot.): --> MOTORISED INFANTRY CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.Inf. von Manstein
559 PzJag.Abt. (Sfl.)
(Lw) gem.Flak-Abt. II./23
8 Pz.Div. + (Lw) lei.Flak-Abt. 92
3 Mot.Inf.Div.
290 Inf.Div.
LVII (57) Armeekorps (mot.): --> ARMOURED CORPS UNIT
CO: Gen.d.PzTrps. Kuntzen
(Lw) gem.Flak-Abt. I./29
12 Pz.Div. + (Lw) lei.Flak-Abt. 75
19 Pz.Div. + (Lw) lei.Flak-Abt. 85
18 Mot.Inf.Div.
As you see in the example a foot infantry corps unit (actually a garrison unit) would be a weak unit not only because it would be only integrated by foot infantry units but also because it would be integrated by only 2 infantry divisions instead of 3. Many infantry corps units with defensive roles in WW2 were integrated by only 2 divisions so their offensive capabilities and territorial range were lower than a 3 divisions corps unit.
I think this change in the name of the units would remove the excessive abstraction that supposes to use the term "garrison".