Q4/22 Addendum to Axis Berlin instructional pamphlets
1.Weapons
MG15-Converted Luftwaffe MG15 machine guns are now in service and available for requisition. In terms of raw killing potential this is the deadliest machine gun available to an infantryman. This is due to the extremely high rate of fire of between 1200-1320 rounds per minute. It also possesses a very clean and open anti air sight which make target acquisition incredibly easy compared to other machine guns.
However the experience of this officer and this unit has been that the excessive rate of fire is more a hinderance than an advantage. Even with a 75 round drum the ammo expenditure results in constant reloading and wasted ammunition. Bluntly more time was spent in combat servicing the weapon than firing. It also weighs a couple kilograms more than the MG34 with the same drum magazine and 3 kilos more than an MG42 which hampers its users mobility. Whilst certainly a potent weapon it severely lacks in battlefield endurance and this officer recommends issuing MG42 or MG34s with patronentrommel magazines in its place.
MKB-42W-Functionally and operationally identical to current MP43/1 assault rifles. Using it is more a status symbol of the users political connections than an advantage. Aside from the status and style of using a prototype weapon it holds no advantage or disadvantage to the MP43, issue at your discretion.
2.Equipment
Ammo pouches-A surplus of magazines for self loading rifles has doubled the amount of available magazines. Beforehand ammo pouches were required to give riflemen an adequate amount of ammunition. With the acquisition of these extra magazines the ammo our riflemen with semi automatic rifles can carry without ammo pouches is perfectly adequate and the extra ammo from an ammo pouch likely will last longer than the soldier’s expected survival. As such this officer recommends that for all soldiers issued semi automatic rifles, backpacks with medkits or grenade pouches be issued. For submachine guns, assault rifles, machine guns, and bolt action rifles ammo pouches are still recommended to provide soldiers with said weapons with an effective amount of ammunition.
Mines & Grenades-Demolition charges have become available for requisition, their effectiveness against tanks has caused a shift in doctrine for this unit. Beforehand AT grenades were issued to all soldiers to be able to counter any and all infantry and armored threats, now standard M24 fragmentation grenades are issued alongside TNT charges. TNT charges have been found to be much more consistent in destroying Soviet tanks than AT grenades and given the lack of awareness common for tanks placement of TNT charges on a tank is no more difficult than throwing an AT grenade. Given the versatility and effectiveness of the M24 and TNT combination it has become the standard equipment combination for this unit, however engineers are still issued AT grenades as unlike M24 grenades they can destroy emplaced positions such as barbed wire, sandbags, machine gun nests, and light structures from a safer range than using a TNT charge.
When engaging a tank with a TNT charge climbing atop the tank and placing the charge atop the turret or engine block results in vehicle destruction or disablement with a high kill rate, T-34s and IS tanks also have sloped engine decks so if approached from behind a charge can be place on the engine block without climbing the vehicle and when detonated will either destroy the vehicle or set a fire causing the crew to bail out.
3.Vehicles
Jagdpanther-This vehicle has proved highly effective in condensed urban environments, the lack of a turret is negated with streets and alleys funneling the enemy and helping cover its flanks. The 88mm Pak43 is similar to the 88mm Kwk43 mounted on the Tiger II, it is highly effective against any Soviet tank. Additionally unlike the Jagdpanzer IV the hull mounted machine gun possesses a healthy surplus of ammunition of 3000 rounds. Mobility is good though like the Panther it is based on the reverse gear is pathetic and slow. What is stellar about this vehicle however is its armor, the most common Soviet anti tank guns of 85mm cannot penetrate the frontal armor of the Jagdpanther unless shot in the machine gun port, this endurance is enhanced by the narrow confines of the city allowing the Jagdpanther to keep its armor facing facing the enemy. However Soviet 100mm and 122mm guns can penetrate the frontal armor of the Jagdpanther so attention must be paid to the tanks it is engaging. Its lack of a turret exposes it to infantry despite the confines of the city and it requires infantry support more so than other tanks. Overall it is a highly effective tank when used appropriately.
Currently it is only available to officers with proper political connections, for officers of prestige and experience this political maneuvering is unnecessary and the vehicle can be done without as the Tiger II does the same job well enough, however for officers with little prestige the use of a party equipment such as the Jagdpanther helps gain that prestige and as such this officer recommends the Jagdpanther to green officers and veteran officers with a preference to utilize armored units.
4.Customization
Classes-A lack of ammunition for artillery units has hampered the utility of our radiomen, fire missions are available half as often now. In addition Soviet troops have captured some of our radios and as such receive warning of incoming artillery which Soviet infantry tend to heed. Soviet troops were also issued pamphlets on not clustering and now spread out over a wider area hampering the effectiveness of our artillery.
That said radiomen can now call in level bombers loaded with 100kg bombs, these airstrikes are highly effective though the Luftwaffe can only sparingly offer said strikes. Radiomen outside of dedicated signal units are now much less effective and as such this officer recommends rotating out radiomen in units for other classes. Signal units are still effective with airstrikes and smoke barrages and are still recommended to be used at the officer’s discretion.
Given the hampering of our artillery units mortarmen now have more utility. Unlike our field guns Soviet infantry cannot receive adequate warning of a mortar strike to avoid the area. As such mortars are capable of catching Soviet infantry clustered more often than our field guns. Now a mortar unit with 8cm mortars and engineers providing ammo is more reliable at clearing a point than artillery usually is. As such for officers who were fond of calling constant artillery mortar units are now recommended.
Visuals-Various uniforms are now available for requisition, color of the uniform must be kept in mind to assist in the concealment of the soldier. Dark colors tend to blend into the environment we find ourselves in better than lighter colors, autumn and woodland camouflage also blend into the rubble of the city and woods of the suburbs and Seelow Heights. Currently all uniforms available for requisition blend into our current environment in various situations adequately, issue at your discretion.
