Auftragstaktik: Bundeswehr, 1980s

Mike J.
The J-8 Shop

THE BUNDESWEHR, 1980s

Introduction

Throughout its existence the Bundeswehr viewed battlefield agility as the only way to combat the more numerous, but far less responsive, Soviet divisions. Its battlefield doctrine was animated by the concept of Auftragstaktik, or mission-dbased orders that permitted (indeed, expected) considerable initiative on the part of junior commanders. This approach ensured the German forces in the two World Wars tended to display greater aggressiveness and initiative than their foes, and offered the outnumbered Bundeswehr a chance to withstand the Soviet onslaught. In addition, the Bundeswehr benefitted from realistic training for defending its homeland, and from modern equipment comparable to the best fielded by its NATO allies and usually superior to its Soviet equivalents.

Doctrine and Troop Quality
Veteran, Decentralized Doctrine, High Morale. Fallschirmjaeger units: Very High morale.
HQ Command Radius 12 (Battalion and Regiment), 24 (Division)
HQ Rating: 5

Cross-attachments:
Battalions may exchange companies. Companies within a battalion may exchange platoons, or platoon(s) from one company in a battalion may be attached to other company(s) in the same battalion. Brigades do not exchange or transfer battalions.

Unit Organization

Size codes: s=small, m=medium, l=large; p=platoon, c=company, b=battery

Battalions:

Panzer Battalion: 3 Panzer Companies (mc)

Mixed Panzer Battalion: 2 Panzer Companies (mc), 1 Marder IFV Company (mc), 1 Panzergrenadier Infantry Company (mc)

Panzergrenadier Battalion: 3 Panzergrenadier Infantry Companies (mc), 3 Marder IFV Companies (mc), 1 120mm Mortar Battery (mb)

Mixed Panzergrenadier Battalion: 2 Panzergrenadier Infantry Companies (mc), 2 Marder IFV Companies (mc), 1 Tank Company, 1 120mm Mortar Battery (mb)

Jaeger Battalion: 3 Jaeger Infantry Companies (mc), 3 Luchs APC Companies (mc), 1 120mm Mortar Battery (mb), 2 JgdPz Kanone Platoons (mp)

Fallschirmjaeger Battalion: 3 Fallschirmjaeger Companies (mc), 1 120mm Mortar Battery (sb), 2 Kraka 20mm Platoons (sp), 2 Kraka Milan Platoons (lp)

Fallschirmjaeger Anti-Tank Battalion: 3 AT Companies, each with: 2 Kraka 20mm Platoons (sp), 2 Kraka TOW Platoons (lp)

SP Artillery Battalion: 3 Batteries (mb)

Divisional Reconnaissance Battalion: 10 Tank Platoons (sp), 10 Luchs Platoons (sp)

Brigades:

Panzer Brigade: 2 Panzer Battalions, 1 Mixed Panzer Battalion, 1 Panzergrenadier Battalion, 1 SP Artillery Battalion (M-109), 1 Reconnaissance Company [4 Luchs Platoons (sp)], 1 AT Company [4 Jagdpanzer Platoons (mp)]

Panzergrenadier Brigade: 2 Panzergrenadier Battalions, 1 Mixed Panzergrenadier Battalion, 1 Panzer Battalion, 1 SP Artillery Battalion (M-109), 1 Reconnaissance Company, 1 AT Company [4 Jagdpanzer Jaguar 1/2 Platoons (mp)]

Divisional Artillery Regiment: 1 Howitzer Battalions [2 FH-70 Batteries (mb), 1 M110 Battery (mb)], 1 MRL Battalion [2 LARS Batteries (lb)]

Divisions:

Panzer Division: 2 Panzer Brigades, 1 Panzergrenadier Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade, 1 Reconnaissance Battalion, 1-2 Jaeger Battalions, 1 Air Defense Battalion [6 Roland SAM Batteries (lp)]

Panzergrenadier Division: 1 Panzer Brigade, 2 Panzergrenadier Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, 1 Reconnaissance Battalion, 1-2 Jaeger Battalions, 1 Air Defense Battalion [6 Roland SAM Batteries (lp)]

Corps-Level Units:

Fallschirmjaeger Brigade: 2-3 Fallschirmjaeger Battalions, 1-2 AT Battalions.

Attack Helicopter Regiment: 2 Squadrons, each with 4 Attack Helicopter Flights (lp)

Light Aviation Transport Regiment: 2 Squadrons, each with 4 UH-1 Helicopter Flights (sc)

Medium Aviation Transport Regiment: 2 Squadrons, each with 2 CH-53 Helicopter Flights (lc)

Artillery Brigade: 2 Howitzer Battalions, each with 3 M110 Batteries (mb)

Air Defense Regiment:

Unit Data

HQ

Brigade or Division HQ.
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mc	8t	1	CC: 2	HW: 2 [6] SA: 2 CC: 3	--	II

Main Battle Tanks

Leopard 2 Tank Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mc	10t	12**	G (a/a): 12	HE (a/a): H HW: 2 [4]	--	TI

Leopard 1 Tank Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mc	8t	7*	G (a/a): 10	HE (a/a): M HW: 2 [4]	--	II or TI

IFVs and APCs

Marder IFV Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mc	10t	6	G (b/g): 3 M (g) (sp): 12* [6]	HW: 2 [6]	--	II. Transports infantry up to mc size. ATGM dismountable.

“War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory.”
Georges Clemenceau

Luchs APC Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mc	8w	1	--	HW: 2 [4]	--	Transports infantry up to mc size.

Panzergrenadier Infantry Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mc	2f	0	CC: 4 M (g) (sp): 12* [6]	SA: 2 HW (mc): 2 [4] CC: 3	--	ATGM dismounted from Marder IFVs. II

Jaeger and Fallschirmjaeger Infantry Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mc	2f	0	CC: 4 *M (g) (lp): 12 [6]**	SA: 2 HW (lc): 2 [4] CC: 3	--	II

Milan ATGM Platoon
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mp	2f	0	*M (g): 12 [6]**	--	--	TI

Luchs Reconnaissance Platoon
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mp	8w	4	G (b/g): 3	HW: 2 [6]	--	II

Jagdpanzer Kanone Assault Gun Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
lp	8t	4	G (g/b): 10*	HE (g): L HW: 2 [4]	--	II

Jagdpanzer Jaguar 1/2 Tank Destroyer Platoon
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mp	8t	4	*M (g): 14 [10]**	HW: 2 [4]	--	TI

Kraka TOW Tank Destroyer Platoon
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mp	8w	0	*M (g): 14 [10]**	--	--	TI

Kraka 20mm Platoon
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mp	8w	0	G (b/b): 3	HW: 2 [6]	--	II

Kraka Milan Tank Destroyer Platoon
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
lp	8w	0	*M (g): 12 [6]**	--	--	TI

M110 203mm SP Howitzer Battery
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mb	6t	0	G (b/b): 10*	HE (b): VH	HE: VH [40]

FH-77 155mm Towed Howitzer Battery
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mb	8lw	0/-2	G (g/b): 10*	HE (b): H	HE: H [48]

LARS Rocket Launcher Battery
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mb	8w	-2	--	HE (b): H	HE: M [32] (0)

120mm Towed Mortar Battery
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mb	8lw	0/-2	--	HE (b): M	HE: H [18]

M109 155mm SP Howitzer Battery
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mb	6t	1	G (b/b): 10*	HE (b): H HW: 2 [4]	HE: H [36]

Flakpanzer Roland AA Missile Platoon (each battery consists of two platoons)
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
sp	8t	2	--	--	--	AA Missile: (g) [14]

Flakpanzer Gepard AA Gun Platoon (each battery consists of two platoons)
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
sp	8t	2	G (a/a): 2	HW: 5 [8]	--	AA Gun (a/a): 5 [8]

PAH-1 Anti-tank Helicopter Flight
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
lp	H	0/0	*M (g): 14 [10]**	--	--	II

UH-1 Transport Helicopter Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
lc	H	0/0	--	--	--	Lift: troops x1 own size

CH-53 Transport Helicopter Company
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
	H	0/1	--	--	--	Lift: troops x4 size, light vehicles x2 size

Tornado IDS Attack Aircraft
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mp	A	1/2	G: 3	HW: 2	HE: VH (+2)

Alpha-Jet Attack Aircraft Flight
Size	Move	Protection	AT	AP	Indirect	Special
mp	A	0/1	G: 3	HW: 2	HE: VH (-4)