Great, so they did. Yes, these are functionally clearly SP-ART.
Now, the question is, how were they used, functionally, at division-level and below?
I think you're correct about this. Batallion-sized, for sure. Brigade-sized; never. That could make the choice of the brigade as the building block quite constricting. (Arguably worse than in HOI2 when one could rationalise a TD 'brigade' as beign a battalion-szed unit...)
Well, I guess one needs to look at the functional effects of a brigade, and in what way different sorts of armoured vehicles fulfill their roles in a division.
Looking at the following, things become a bit more complex:
*Presumably* the Western Allies had enough tank density that this was less of a problem for them.
Also, I suspect doctrine mattered. British/American troops were rarely expected to carry out the assault without waiting for their regimental/division artillery to be brought up, so there was very little need for mobile unit which would provide direct support fire.
Exactly. So, doctrine influences the way you use your armoured vehicles on a divisional level. Therefore, doctrine also influences the available choices in 'brigade' (I will use the term brigade for the building blocks of a division. Call them what you like, regiment or whatever --- it's the building-block concept that matters, and that concept is not being discussed).
So, the need for mobile fire support, as evidently born from mobility-based doctrines as opposed to firepower-based ones, creates the need for assault guns. Hence the Soviet and Nazi development of those. Now, how would that translate in a brigade-model?
One could choose to differentiate infantry brigade types. For example, a 'heavy infantry' or 'assault gun supported infantry' with intrinsic assault gun elements. It would consume oil, be as mobile as infantry, have a decent hard attack (assault guns were notoriously effective at ambushing armour), boosted soft attack and a hardness rating. This way, we directly capture the functional use of assault guns, dependent on doctrine.
On the other hand, we could abstract it to divisional level, thereby varying the amount of support. For example: a division with two infantry brigades, and one 'armoured support' brigade, consisting of assault guns and perhaps other specialised armoured infantry support vehicles (mortar halftracks, flame tanks). Varying the amount of support brigades changes the amount of support-per-unit.
Varying the doctrine could change the usefulness / effectiveness of different brigades. For instance, a mobility-based doctrine would benefit greatly from direct fire support brigades, while a firepower-based one would benefit more from different types of (self-propelled?) artillery brigades.
Inventing different vehicles would also benefit / enable the different
functional types of brigades. For instance, improving assault guns would improve the armoured infantry support, as would specialised support halftracks (but in a different way, say, by improving hard attack).
Still, brigades would have to be built
functionally. Concerning armoured vehicles, including tanks, I suggest the following:
- Armoured Infantry Support (tank based) [this would be like early Allied armies. Infantry speed, relatively low cost. Think Matildas (infantry-speed tanks) and armoured cars. Emphasis on soft attack.]
- Armoured Infantry Support (assault gun based) [like later German and Soviet units: assault guns, specialised infantry support vehicles. Emphasis on soft attack.]
- Armoured Infantry Support (TD based) [like the above, but with emphasis on antitank capability. M10, antitank assault guns.]
- Armoured Infantry Support (AA based) [like the above, but with emphasis on antiair capability. 88s, M16s, Wirbelwinds.]
(As an aside, there should also be non-armoured, truck-and-car / halftrack based infantry support brigades, granting soft attack, AT, supply and perhaps mobility bonuses, but not hardness. Perhaps in combination with a 'motorize' brigade attachment.)
- Tank Brigade [medium-tank based basic division component]
- Mobile Support (TD based) [basically armoured infantry support, but fully motorised and geared to mobile support. TD-like vehicles,and various support - boosts hard attack]
- Mobile Support (AA based) [as above, but emphasis on AA]
- Mobile Artillery [it would be a more mobile variant of ordinary artillery, suited for mobile units.]
So, researching vehicles would improve the relevant brigades. SP-ART would improve most of the above, as armoured infantry support would also include some ART. Mobile Artillery would benefit greatly, the rest a little. SP-AA? Big boost to very relevant brigades, small boost to less relevant ones.
Doctrines would also make different brigades more or less effective.
In short,
functional brigade typing.
(edited for readability)
