How do you interpret these four configurations?
a) sounds too armour-rich to be true. Without infantry, they are liable to get into trouble.
b) sounds very balanced, but very conventional, Presumably by mech regt, you are referring to an infantry brigade of three battalions. If not, if this is a new composite IBG kind of formation, it is interesting. Depends on if whoever puts this together can find the leadership for it, and can give them enough exercises so that every part knows its role and the line of command is well understood; also if there is a good enough planning staff to think through roles and actions.
c) sounds like the ace in the sleeve, some larger formation commander's surprise package, either parked very close to the probable location of engagements, or enabled to cover long distances at very high speed. But at least it has supporting assets, so it is probably hidden away somewhere close to the foreseeable battleground.
d) is what c) above would have been, without the supporting assets.
Why don't you share your thinking?
I forgot to mention that all IABGs/IMBGs have organic AD/Arty assets- my bad.
- Each bde in Mech and Armd divs have an SP regt, minimum.
-IABGs of mech divs can get additional AD/Arty support from Div HQs.
sounds too armour-rich to be true. Without infantry, they are liable to get into trouble
The Indp Armoured bdes with each corps on eastern front that are directly under the Corps commander have this config. They are called Corps Commander's Trump Card.
sounds very balanced, but very conventional, Presumably by mech regt, you are referring to an infantry brigade of three battalions. If not, if this is a new composite IBG kind of formation, it is interesting. Depends on if whoever puts this together can find the leadership for it, and can give them enough exercises so that every part knows its role and the line of command is well understood; also if there is a good enough planning staff to think through roles and actions
No, mech regt= battalion (this old regimental system is long gone)
- While it may seem to be peculiar to you;
a) 2/3 Bdes in a Mech div have this config.
b) 3/3 Bdes in an armoured div have this config.
This ks one of the most common type of (I)bde.
The bde commander is mostly of Armoured corps.
Staff work is done by BMs; the cream of the officer corps, like our very own manstein.
sounds like the ace in the sleeve, some larger formation commander's surprise package, either parked very close to the probable location of engagements, or enabled to cover long distances at very high speed. But at least it has supporting assets, so it is probably hidden away somewhere close to the foreseeable battleground.
Originally most of the Indp bdes had 2× Armd and 1×MIB. But then by taking one Armd regt out of a bde we were able to double the number of IBGS. And MIB was added in most cases.
what c) above would have been, without the supporting assets
All IBGs have integral supporting elements.
some larger formation commander's surprise package, either parked very close to the probable location of engagements, or enabled to cover long distances at very high speed. But at least it has supporting assets, so it is probably hidden away somewhere close to the foreseeable battleground.
These are precisely the roles for which IBGs have been raised, especially those in Strike corps and supporting holding corps (like Gujranwala and Bahawalpur corps).
Adding weight to the offence, gaining time or preserving forces, surprise etc.
Btw should I ask the mods to shift this discussion to the relevant thread- Mech divs of Pakistan?
