Squad symbols in Enlisted serve both aesthetic and utility functions. Utility-wise, squad symbols are a key reference for players to quickly identify and differentiate squads from each other. Aesthetic-wise, distinct squad symbols can be very visually appealing, encouraging players to collect more squads to add to their reserve. The main topic of this post is to identify to the issue that some nations have a great variety in squad symbols while other nations have almost no variety, and how it could be addressed.
Example: Assault squads for the Soviet Union are all very similar in appearance, making it difficult for a player to distinguish which squad is which.
The main nations with this issue are the Soviet Union, Japan, and Italy.
Below I have included examples of potential sources of inspiration for the creation of new squad symbols for future squads and hopefully some existing squads:
Soviet Union
As shown at the start of the post, Soviet squads all follow a very similar design scheme. The following section will show soviet patches and collar tabs that could help differentiate squad symbols and colors. Simple color variation might be a good place to start.
Soviet collar tabs.
Soviet branch insignias, some present in current squad emblems.
NKVD badges (could be incorporated into the Moscow NKVD assault squads)
Artillery Patch
Pilots sleeve patch
Tank Symbols
Soviet tank squad symbols could potentially incorporate some of the real decals found on soviet tanks. This would not restrict these decals in the tank customization system in any way.
Japan
Though Japan doesn’t have many squads compared to other nations, the existing squad symbols are very similar. Japanese squad symbols could be differentiated with the inclusion of symbols present on air force and navy patches.
Two paratrooper patches
Japanese Imperial Army Collar Tabs (collar colors could be used to create color variations in the squad symbols)
Aviation arm band
Air force squad patch
Navy special forces armband
Navy engineer patch
Air force squad patch
Air force squad patch
Potential inspiration for tank squad symbols
Italy
At the moment, Italian infantry squads pretty much all have the same either red or blue symbol. While these symbols are accurate, I think other symbols could be substituted.
The colors and symbols present on the collar patches of Italian infantry could be used for inspiration. Similar to how the venetian lion is used on the Italian rifle premium squad symbol.
Parachute Divisions used this symbol.
Paratrooper collar tabs
Future squads could come from alpine divisions, which instead used a green shield.
I was unable to find the collar tabs used by this paratrooper
Hat Badges/Rosettes
Some italian headwear included badges that showcased the soldiers role and sometimes regiment. The following section showcases examples of those badges, which I think could be used to make interesting and more distinct squad symbols.
The Rosette found on Italian sun helmets signify soldier role and in some cases regiment.
Rosette of a sapper.
These are Italian hat badges.
THIS LIST HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED
1)Maresciallo d’Italia, Generale d’Armata, Comandante designato d’Armata, Generale di Corpo d’Armata (fregio dorato) - Generale di Divisione, Generale di Brigata (fregio argentato, spesso con sfondo di color robbio) - Ufficiali di Stato Maggiore (fregio nero)
2) FANTERIA - Nel tondo andava il numero del Reggimento o la croce per le Scuole.
3) CARABINIERI REALI
4) CARABINIERI REALI - Fregio adottato dal 9 marzo 1938. Fregio dipinto di argento su elmetto nero.
5) GRANATIERI
6) BERSAGLIERI
7) ALPINI
8) PARACADUTISTI
9) CAVALLERIA - Nizza, Piemonte Reale, Savoia, Genova.
10) CAVALLERIA - Variante adottata in data 20 Agosto 1935
11) CAVALLERIA - Novara, Aosta, Firenze, Vittorio Emanuele II.
12) CAVALLERIA - Saluzzo, Monferrato, Alessandria, Guide.
13) CAVALLERIA - Scuole, Centri rifornimento, Depositi cavalli stalloni, Palafrenieri.
14) ARTIGLIERIA DA CAMPAGNA
15) REGGIMENTO MISTO ARTIGLIERIA SARDEGNA
16) ARTIGLIERIA A CAVALLO
17) ARTIGLIERIA LEGGERA
18) ARTIGLIERIA DA MONTAGNA
19) ARTIGLIERIA PESANTE CAMPALE
20) ARTIGLIERIA PESANTE
21) ARTIGLIERIA DA COSTA
22) ARTIGLIERIA CONTRAEREI
23) GENIO DI CORPO D’ARMATA
24) GENIO ALPINO
25) GENIO MINATORI
26) GENIO FERROVIERI
27) GENIO PONTIERI
28) GENIO TELEGRAFISTI
29) GENIO RADIO TELEGRAFISTI
30) SERVIZIO CHIMICO
31) AUTOMOBILISTI
32) AUTOMOBILISTI - Variante adottata il 10 Giugno 1936
33) CARRISTI
34) BATTAGLIONI CARRI D’ASSALTO DELLE DIVISIONI MOTORIZZATE - Lo stesso (senza croce) per la FANTERIA CARRISTA. 7.4.37.
35) BATTAGLIONI CARRI D’ASSALTO DI C. d’A. Adottato il 25.09.35
36) CARRI VELOCI DELLA BRIGATA MOTOMECCANIZZATA. 20.01.1937
37) GRUPPI CARRI VELOCI DIVISIONE CELERE. Adottato 11 Aprile 1935
38) ARTIGLIERIA MOTORIZZATA DELLA BRIGATA MOTOMECCANIZZATA. 7. Aprile 1937. Lo stesso fregio, ma senza raggiera nel tondo, per l’ARTIGLIERIA DELLE DIVISIONI MOTORIZZATE
39) COMPAGNIE MOTOCICLISTI delle divisioni celeri e motorizzate
40) SERVIZI TRASPORTI E TRAINO ANIMALE
41) COMPAGNIE MILITARI DI PENA
42) REGIA GUARDIA DI FINANZA
43) MAESTRI DI SCHERMA - UFFICIALI
44) UFFICIALI MEDICI (croce rossa nel tondino) e UFFICIALI VETERINARI (croce azzurra nel tondino)
45) UFFICIALI CHIMICI FARMACISTI
46) SANITA’ (con croce rossa), UFFICIALI DI AMMINISTRAZIONE (senza croce), SUSSISTENZA (con croce).
47) COMMISSARIATO – UFFICIALI
48) ARDITI
Here are some crude examples I made to illustrate what my suggestion could look like for the Soviet Union (numbers are meaningless):
Engineer squad (recolored based on soviet engineer collar insignia color). The black helps it stand out from the red of the other squads.
Here is another quick low resolution example I made that could be applied to the Soviet sherman premium squad based on decals used by Soviet forces on sherman tanks.
It is possible to also alter the symbol of the squad logos to differentiate squads, for example:
Assaulter 2 squad symbol
Assaulter 3 squad symbol
The assaulter 3 squad symbol has altered so that it can more quickly distinguished from assaulters 2s.
Potential Issue: Historical Accuracy
Giving unique squad symbols to squads that did not have one in real life is not a problem as the current symbols assigned to them are not real historical symbols either (with the exception of Italy).