Delaying the execution - A Polish AAR

[Longinus]

Good work Kasperus respect mate, I waiting for Polish AAR starting in 1936

as to Polish Cavalery units I expect that someone will do some editing and add Poland some cavs in 1939 scenario

 

[unmerged(1609)]

Originally posted by Kasperus
@Mijk
as for tanks I don`t know how much they had, but I guess some cavalry could have been there... would have made the AAR more heroic perhaps

Polish army had about 900 tanks at the start of 1939 campaign. Germany used about 2600 tanks in that campaign.

Of those 900 Polish tanks, about 570 were light, turretless tankettes TK-3 and TKS armed with 1 heavy machine gun or 1 20-mm automatic cannon. Those were Polish constructions based on famous British Carden-Loyd Mk VI tankettes. Additional 100 tanks were completely outdated Renault FT-17 tanks.

On the other hand Polish army also had 130 modern 7TP tanks with 37-mm antitank cannon (from Bofors) and respectable armor. They were vastly superior to Pz-I's and Pz-II's that constituted vast majority of German force.

Apart from being vastly outnumbered Polish armored forces suffered from the fact that Polish Supreme Command relied on outdated tactics for using armored forces as a support for infantry or cavalry units. Thus majority of Polish tanks were used in small detachments (15 companies * 13 tankettes each were assigned to infantry divisions and 11 squadrons * 13 tankettes each were assigned to cavalry brigades). There were also 3 independent tank batallions (50 tanks each - 2 with 7TP tanks and 1 with french R-35 tanks) assigned as Army HQ reserves.

Finally there were 2 large size armored units: 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade and Warsaw Armored-Mechanized Brigade. Both were in fact mechanized infantry brigades with some tanks (2 tankettes companies each with 13 tankettes and 1 tank company with 17 Vickers-E light tanks).

So surprise, surprise, Armored Cavalry Brigade had smaller number of tanks of inferior quality than independent tank batallion.

 

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If you are interested in Polish armoured forces in 1939 here is a link to a very good web page (it is in English):

http://derela.republika.pl/armcarpl.htm

 

[Longinus]

Originally posted by Jan Zamojski
Finally there were 2 large size armored units: 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade and Warsaw Armored-Mechanized Brigade. Both were in fact mechanized infantry brigades with some tanks (2 tankettes companies each with 13 tankettes and 1 tank company with 17 Vickers-E light tanks).

So surprise, surprise, Armored Cavalry Brigade had smaller number of tanks of inferior quality than independent tank batallion.

hmmm strange, I could have swear that Maczek and his 10th Armoured Cavalery Birgade had at least company of 7TP. Hmmm, also I read once that those brigades were bulit on the basis of Cavalery Brigade where horses were replaced by trucks. (perhaps the source wasn't so reliable after all, I am sure you know those little books of "Pantera" series? )

Nevertheless, it was long time ago when I was rather young

 

[Kasperus]

@Longinus
Well, start one yourself I would say

@Longinus/Jan Zamojski
if you can provide info, we can see if something can be implemented...

 

[unmerged(1609)]

Originally posted by Longinus
hmmm strange, I could have swear that Maczek and his 10th Armoured Cavalery Birgade had at least company of 7TP. Hmmm, also I read once that those brigades were bulit on the basis of Cavalery Brigade where horses were replaced by trucks. (perhaps the source wasn't so reliable after all, I am sure you know those little books of "Pantera" series? )

Nevertheless, it was long time ago when I was rather young

Yes you are right. 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade was organized on he basis of the Cavalry Brigade - thus the name Armoured Cavalry brigade (some officers actually demanded that they were allowed to keep their horses). Warsaw Brigade (commanded by Rowecki) was completely new unit but with the same organisational structure.

And no neither 10th nor Warsaw Brigade had any 7TP's. Thier light tank companies used british-based Vickers-E tanks.

 

[unmerged(1609)]

Originally posted by Kasperus
[B

@Longinus/Jan Zamojski
if you can provide info, we can see if something can be implemented... [/B]

The page whose address I provided earlier as well as this one

http://derela.republika.pl/form.htm

provide detailed information not only about technical data of tanks, armoured cars etc. but also about organisation of every armoured unit used by the Polish Army in 1939.

 

[Longinus]

@Kasperus

nah, I don't have that much time, perhaps one day when I will get HoI? but not now. Currently I found myself involved in EU RPG and I am thinking should Pommeranian Greifs (Gryfici Pomorscy) should accept Swedish crown

@panie Janie

yup, you are right. btw, Great site!

 

[juv95hrn]

All I can say Im glad a human Poland cant defeat the German AI in 39. I tried the same thing but on max diff/max aggr setting and lasted about 45 days.