H&Lmod Carentan

[asl3d]

Following with the "Heroes and Leaders mod", here we have the first prototype of a building, with a smaller dimension compared to the originals of Heroes of Stalingrad and most of the published mods.

[asl3d]

It is the well-known Levi Serafino distillery, located near Carentan during 1944. Its strategic importance is obvious for all the contenders.

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US M4A1 platoon near Carentan

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US M4A1 platoon near Carentan

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KAMPFGRUPPE OSTENDORFF

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H&L Waffen SS near Carentan

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Start Screen of Heroes and Leaders mod

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New Graphics to the Skill Cards from Heroes and Leaders mod

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New German infantry units for Heroes and Leaders mod.

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German IeFH howitzer battery deployed near Carentan

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New German vehicle for the Heroes and Leders mod

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Jäger is a German military term that originally referred to light infantry, but has come to have wider usage. While it may be literally translated as "hunter", in German-speaking states during the early modern era, the term Jäger was used to describe skirmishers, scouts, sharpshooters and runners. Jäger came to denote light infantrymen whose civilian occupations made them well-suited to patrolling and skirmishing, on an individual and independent basis, rather than as part of military unit. Jäger, in its original sense of light infantry, is usually translated into English as "Ranger".
The Germans fought World War II initially with light, mostly motorized reconnaissance battalions. Although no reconnaissance units were above the division echelon, when necessary, commanders of larger units detached the reconnaissance battalions and placed them directly under their own control. As the war progressed, the Germans gradually decreased the motorized component. Their scout units, replacing motorcycles with half-tracked armored personnel carriers, upgrading armored cars and using obsolete light tanks, then standard medium tanks in armored regimental and battalion reconnaissance platoons.
Germany began World War II with its first-line infantry divisions containing a hybrid horse-motorized reconnaissance battalion that had a squadron each of horses and motorcycles and a heavy support squadron containing an armored car platoon. From the start, a shortage of horse units meant that units formed later did not contain the cavalry squadron. Third-and fourth-wave divisions formed in August 1939 contained an extra motorcycle squadron instead of the cavalry one. Higher numbered waves formed in 1939 sometimes had only a single company-sized motorcycle squadron as the reconnaissance unit. By 1941, almost all divisions had replaced horses with motorcycles or with infantry on bicycles."
As the war continued, the need for a dedicated reconnaissance unit for the infantry became less compelling than the need for a mobile reserve force. With the pressing needs of the war, some newer divisions did not even field a reconnaissance unit. Given the overall defensive posture and equipment and personnel shortages, coupled with the perceived vulnerability of motorcycle troops, in late 1943, the German Army began replacing the reconnaissance battalions in its infantry divisions with a new type of unit, the fusilier battalion (Fusilier-Battalion). The fusilier battalion was organized like a typical 1944 German infantry battalion. At least on paper, the new unit, unlike its specialized predecessor, provided the division commander with a small semi mobile general-purpose reserve unit under his direct control. By design, the battalion contained one company mounted on bicycles and enough trucks to move the remaining companies, although in practice, this was usually not the case.
Even after the adoption of the fluffier battalion, the Germans did not have enough equipment and troops to maintain the new organization across the board. Many divisions, particularly those considered static units or those converted from static divisions, did not contain a fusilier battalion. During the 1944 Normandy campaign, of the 28 non-mechanized German divisions that participated in the campaign, 13 contained fusilier battalions, while an additional 3 divisions created fusilier battalions from regular infantry battalions. When new tables of organization were drawn up for lower grade infantry units called Volksgrenadier (VGA) divisions created in late 1944, they included only a single fusilier company mounted on bicycles, although most Volksgrenadier divisions already organized retained fusilier battalions with four companies.
As the Allies pressed the German Armed Forces from all sides, armored reconnaissance battalions were used in defensive operations as mobile reserves and flank protection. When the Germans launched their last great offensive in the same Ardennes terrain fought over in 1914 and 1940, in December 1944, panzer divisions spearheaded the attacks. As in 1940, the tight confines of the hilly and forested Ardennes forced the attackers to advance in narrow columns. In general, the German attackers reinforced these reconnaissance battalions with infantry, antitank, and armored assets and made them a separate column.

[zakblood]

thanks for the work and share

[asl3d]

Your wellcome, Zakblood.

The Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t (Sd.Kfz.7) was a medium halftrack tractor of the German Army. It was designed by Krauss-Maffei AG of Muenchen-Allach and was produced by Krauss-Maffei of Munich, Borgward of Bremen, Buessing-NAG of Berlin, Daimler-Benz of Berlin, and later by Saurer Werke AG of Vienna and Italian Breda. Production started in 1933 but it was not until 1939, when full-scale production started. From 1939 to March of 1945, some 12187 were produced. Sd.Kfz.7 was used throughout the war on all fronts with almost all units of the German Army and there were 3602 in service as of March 1st of 1945.
The Sd.Kfz. 7 was used to tow the famous 88mm Flak guns, 105mm sK 18 heavy field artillery, heavy 150mm sFH 18 howitzers and other heavy artillery pieces.
The standard tractor version of the Sd.Kfz. 7 could carry 12 men, including the driver, with their equipment and ammunition or supplies. The vehicle could tow up to 8,000 kg and was fitted with a winch able to pull 3,450 kg. The vehicle itself weighed 9,700 kg. It had a maximum speed of 50 km/h on the road. The range of the vehicle was 250 km on the road and 120 km cross-country. The fuel capacity was 215 liters, while fuel consumption was 80 liters per 100 km on the road and 160 liters per 100 km cross-country. The Sd.Kfz. 7 was powered by a 6-cylinder Maybach gasoline engine with a five-speed gearbox (four forward and reverse) that allowed it to go from 3.5 km/h to 50 km/h. The basic vehicle was 6.85 m long, 2.35 m wide and 2.60 m high.
There was no armor protection for the crew and passengers and the only protection provided against the elements such as rain or snow was a tarp roof that could be place up or packed up for summer conditions. Additionally, the frontal windshield folded down.
A number of Sd.Kfz. 7 was also delivered to the Bulgarian Army between 1941-1944. Tito’s partisans in Yugoslavia used several of these vehicles that were captured from German units. Interestingly 32 Sd.Kfz. 7 halftracks were sold to the Brazilian Army in 1939, but only five were delivered in late 1941. They were only used between 1942 and 1945 because the defeat of Germany in May 1945 cut off the possible supply of vehicles and parts.
Italian Breda produced its own version of Sd.Kfz.7 designated as Semincingolato Breda Tipo 61 (Type 61) and some 250 were made. Italian FIAT also tried to develop similar vehicles based on the Sd.Kfz.7 but they remained in the prototype form.
Captured in North Africa, Sd.Kfz.7 impressed the British so much that the British Ministry of Supply ordered Vauxhall Motors Limited of Luton to build a copy of the German 8t prime mover.

[asl3d]

SdKfz 233 (8 rad).
Artillery support version: This late model, called by the Waffenamt the Panzerspähwagen mit 7.5cm StuK L/24, and nicknamed “Stumpy”, was closely based on the 231/232 series, but the turret was now replaced by a fixed, open-top barbette, housing a short-barreled 75 mm gun of the early PzKpfw IV, KwK 37 L/24, based on the open-topped superstructure of the Sd. Kfz. 263 (8-Rad) radio vehicle.
This howitzer version, firing HE shells, was devised in late 1942 by Büssing-Nag, after recce units of the Wehrmacht complained about the lack of self-propelled heavy support in many engagements.
One hundred and nine of these vehicles were built at the Büssing-NAG plant, between December 1942 and October 1943. A further 10 were converted from 263 chassis in October 1942. This variant of the Sd.Kfz. series entered service during 1942 and remained in use throughout the war. They were issued as a platoon of six vehicles in support of reconnaissance battalions. After 1943 the SdKfz 233 was employed in the same manner as the SdKfz 234/3.
Tactically, they were fast enough to keep the pace of well-advanced reconnaissance columns and provided efficient and fast artillery support when and where it was most needed. Although the gun had a very limited traverse, the complex steering was used at its best by the driver to aim the hull itself quickly and precisely, making this variant a much more capable SPG than the usual tracked vehicles.

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New Graphics to the Skill Cards from Heroes and Leaders mod

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New German Armor Leaders:

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Sorry, "New US Armor Leaders", obviously not?

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New US Heroes & Crew units

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PSW 231(8 rad)
At the time of their design these AC, known as Achtrads, were the most advanced cross-country wheeled vehicles in the world, having 8-wheel drive and steering, fully independent suspension, and a rear driver. Achtrads were used in support of the light AC and were highly valued in Russia for their excellent off-road characteristics. Through 1943, six PSW 231/232 formed the 4th (Heavy Weapons) platoon of the PSW 221/222-equipped Pz. Spaehwagen Kompanie (armored car companies).
The poor performances of the first, “6-rad” (six wheeled) model led to a complete redesign by Bussing-NAG, with a eight-wheeled vehicle with fully independent steering wheels and a much more powerful engine. The Büssing-NAG 8×8 truck chassis was relatively complex and costly to build, each independent wheel being independently steered and suspended. In fact, when it was first produced in 1937, this was the most advanced armored car in the world. Although some features of the former chassis and sloped bodywork were loosely kept, the biggest change was swapping the positions of the driver and engine. This allowed better visibility and control for the driver, better protection for the engine in a roomier, fully separate compartment, and more fuel was carried. The seats for the commander and gunner were attached to the hand traversed turret, which was of hexagonal shape for added internal space, but the armament was identical. There was still a reverse driver/radio operator, but the extra pair of wheels made for a far better grip and the all-independent steering wheels gave an unprecedented level of maneuverability on all kinds of terrains. In all, the 8 rad was well received by the army reconnaissance units and began to replace its predecessor in some units.
The tactical role of these machines was to provide additional firepower, a squadron of these being attached to each motorized recce unit (Aufklärung Kompanie) attached to the Panzerdivisions. Later on, it became evident that heavier armament was needed inside each recce unit, and an artillery version was produced, the Sd.Kfz.233. Real antitank capabilities were also needed, which took the shape of the Sd.Kfz.234 and its own variants (1943-45).
The 231 were introduced before the campaign of Poland and soldiered until the end of the war. They were seen on nearly every front, from the Mediterranean to Russia, North Africa and most of Europe. With the DAK (Deutsche Afrika Korps), they proved invaluable, fitting perfectly with Rommel’s combined arms tactic and unique vision of desert warfare. The flat ground of the wide desert expenses allowed this armored car to achieve its full potential, although it wasn’t prepared for the hot environment and never properly “tropicalized. The same success story unfolded during the early part of the offensive in Russia, especially in the Ukrainian steppes during the spring/summer 1942 advance. Since the original armor was never intended to sustain more than small arms fire and shrapnel fragments, the platoons tried to evade clashes with other AFVs when possible. However, in many cases, these machines were seen providing infantry support and destroying light tanks and enemy armored cars alike. Speed, combined with surprise, could bring very efficient results thanks to the rapid-fire and devastating HE rounds of the 20 mm (0.79 in) at short range. Their superior agility also helped them to steer backwards and quickly evade superior forces if needed. In other cases, many served as ad hoc police patrol vehicles, dealing with partisans in the Balkans and Russia.
The first series differed by having the early vision hull-turret slots, the front and rear fenders extended down over the steering armored covers, and other details, as well as the early KwK 30 of 20 mm (0.79 in) autocannon and Mauser MG 13 machine-gun (replaced with the MG 34 after 1938). The original KwK 30 was also replaced by a KwK L/55 autocannon, which had a muzzle velocity of 899 m/s. Besides this, these machines remained globally unchanged and formed the bulk of any reconnaissance unit attached to each Panzer Division in terms of firepower. A total of 1235 were built by the time the production stopped in late 1942.