jason Petho

[Hawk Kriegsman]

Hello All, 

I did a quick tour through the unit viewer. 

The Russian SMG units fall into 3 flavors. 

FP of 6/3 
FP of 4/2 
FP of 2/1 

The reason the assault factor is so much higher than the FP is the SMG is much more effective within a hex (where an assault is taking place) than to an adject hex (which the unit is shooting up to 250 meters).  Additionally, SMG units carried a lot of grenades.  The effective range of the PPsh41 was 150 to 200 meters which is less than 1 full hex.

Units with the 6/3 FP are Guards, SMG 39, Guards SMG 44 and Marine SMG.  In the write ups for these units there is text stating they also had some LMGs and 50mm mortars issued to them. This would be an increase of firepower. 

Units with the 4/2 FP are SMG 41, Ski SMG.  This makes sense to me SMG 41 units are the replacements for the 39 SMG units that have been wiped out earlier in 1941.  These units would have less training, less equipment and possibly fewer men.  They would just not be as effective as their prewar counterparts. Ski SMG may not have the integral LMG and 50 mortar within the unit so less firepower. 

Leaves us with the 2/1 FP SMG units, which are Guards SMG and NKVD SMG.  

The NKVD makes some sense to me as it is more a political unit verses a combat unit.  I assume the Guards SMG is a played-out unit or lacking in manpower. 

Not all the units have descriptions.   Just because these units were all issued SMGs does not mean they should have the same combat values. Training (or lack thereof) is something that has to be factored in.  It is also seen on the Russian Rifle platoons. There are values all over the place for 38 Rifle, 41 Rifle, 42 Rifle, 43 Rifle etc.

I would say leave the SMG units be as they are.  You have currently have 3 tiers of SMG troops.  Let the scenario designers decide which they want to use. 

They definitely should not all be the same.