inspire-indiana Chapter 498: Class A Motorized Infantry Division
Chapter 498: Class A Motorized Infantry Division
As for armored divisions, they are divided into light and heavy types.
The heavy armored division continued the original style, with armored forces and motorized artillery as the main force.
The light armored division was upgraded from the original mechanized brigade and incorporated more light tanks (amphibious tanks in the future) and mobile infantry.
In fact, given the fragmented terrain of Southeast Asia, converting divisions into brigades with greater flexibility would be a better choice, but Zhang Chi was well aware that after the end of World War II, the Cold War followed.
The world will have to remain in turmoil for another three or four decades before it can completely stabilize. In terms of national defense construction, large-scale divisions are obviously more deterrent.
The location of Nanyang is too important. If we want peace, we must first have the courage to fight a national war.
Zhang Chi initially planned to reorganize six army groups, including two armored army groups and four infantry army groups, each army group containing four to six divisions.
The two main armored armies and two infantry armies are mainly used to capture Borneo and Sumatra, while the remaining two infantry armies, border defense forces and construction corps are used to guard the homeland.
Although Sumatra and Borneo are covered with rainforests, Zhang Chi still insisted on having armored forces carry out the main attack in order to reduce casualties.
After all, if mechanical equipment is damaged due to complicated road conditions, there is still a chance to repair it, but if a person dies, he is truly dead.
Every Chinese in Southeast Asia is a valuable base.
Among the six newly established reserve armies, the most elite one is naturally the 1st Army, which is composed of one heavy armored division, one light armored division, two first-class motorized infantry divisions, plus supporting artillery divisions, self-propelled rocket artillery brigades (Katyushas), logistics, medical and other units.
The elite Class A Infantry Division is fully motorized and has a total strength of over 16,000 men.
The division directly controls five battalions: the communications battalion, the engineering battalion, the mechanized reconnaissance battalion, the armored battalion, the motorized logistics battalion, and one field hospital.
其中机械化侦察营下辖1个装备8辆M8灰狗装甲车的装甲侦察连，2个分别装备24辆自产仿哈雷WLA摩托车和12辆山猫车的摩托化侦察连。这些侦察兵装备的轻武器以M1卡宾枪和狙击步枪为主。
装甲营则下辖1个装备12辆M4A3中型坦克的中型装甲连，1个装备12辆M24霞飞坦克的轻型装甲连，1个装备2辆装甲抢修车，2辆大马力拖拉机的抢修排。
The motorized logistics battalion is under the command of 120 GMC CCKW trucks and 40 fuel trucks, and is responsible for the logistics transportation and fuel supply of the entire division.
The field hospital has also been motorized. It has 200 beds, 12 jeep-modified field ambulances, and a large number of trucks.
全师的火力精华则在于炮兵团。其3个105mm榴弹炮营，装备有36门白鹰制105榴。1个155mm重型榴弹炮营，装备有12门白鹰制155榴。
此外防空营也被编入炮兵团进行统一管理，装备有拖曳式40mm博福斯高炮12门，4联装.50机枪卡车12辆。
The entire artillery regiment is motorized and equipped with a separate motorized ammunition transport company.
The main force of the Class A Motorized Infantry Division is three motorized infantry regiments, each with 3,200 people. The regimental headquarters is equipped with six heavy Bobcat vehicles, six light trucks, and two M8 Greyhound armored vehicles.
每团下辖3个步兵营加1个火力支援营。其中火力支援营装备车载75mm火炮（M3自行火炮车）9门，拖曳式仿白鹰57mm反坦克炮6门。
每个步兵营下属3个步兵连，1个重武器连。其中重武器连装备最新产的NTG44型通用机枪（使用7.62X51弹的自产仿MG42，类似MG3）8挺，105mm车载无后坐力炮4门，60mm车载迫击炮4门。
All weapons of this heavy weapons company are transported by Lynx assault vehicles, which can be used to reinforce the companies under the infantry battalion at any time during wartime.
Each infantry company consists of three infantry platoons and one fire platoon. The fire platoon is equipped with two 88mm recoilless rifles, two NTG44 general-purpose machine guns on tripods, and two 60mm mortars. These heavy weapons, like the infantry, are usually transported on trucks and deployed on the battlefield to support infantry operations.
每个步兵排下辖3个步兵班。每个摩托化步兵班12人，平时卡车机动，战时下车步兵作战，每个步兵班装备2把冲锋枪，8把NTB44乙型战斗步枪（带折叠拖的G3步枪，同样使用7.62X51弹）1把带两脚架的NTG3型通用机枪。
In addition, each infantryman will carry 6 magazines of ammunition, 4 fragmentation grenades, 1 smoke grenade, and an optional disposable RPG. The remaining spare ammunition is stored in trucks or Lynx vehicles.
Such a force with all its members on wheels can advance 80km a day if there is a road. Its heavy firepower is 2.5 times that of a single Japanese A-class division, and its armored strength is 5 times that of the Japanese.
Even compared with Hans' elite Armored Grenadier Division, the Nanyang Motorized Infantry Division's artillery firepower and mobility were far superior to those of the Armored Grenadier Division.
It was just slightly weaker in terms of armored strength. After all, the Hans Armored Grenadier Division in 44 generally had more than 15 long-barreled Panzer IV tanks and more than 10 Panzer III tanks.
As for the firepower at the infantry squad level, the firepower projection of the domestically produced combat rifles and general-purpose machine guns equipped by all personnel is far beyond the reach of the major countries that are still mainly using semi-automatic or bolt-action rifles.
With everyone armed with an RPG, Zhang Chi could even proudly declare that Nanyang's infantry squad had the best firepower in the world.
Of course, despite the huge advantage, the fuel consumption of the Class A motorized division is also huge. Once it leaves its base, it will use up 20 tons of fuel per day just for mobility. If it engages in combat, it will need even more fuel.
弹药消耗更是离谱，NTB44型战斗步枪的理论射速超过500RPM，NTG44型通用机枪作为改用7.62X51弹的自产仿MG42，理论射速更是超过1000RPM。
This meant that whether it was a machine gunner or an ordinary infantryman, a single pull of the trigger would fire more than a dozen rounds. If it weren't for motorized transport, the ammunition the infantrymen carried with them would quickly run out.
由于目前新型的NTG44型通用机枪和NTB44型战斗步枪，以及最新7.62X51弹产量并不充足。因此初期只有第 1 、第 3 两个师被换装为44年制甲等摩托化步兵师。
In order to adapt to this batch of new weapons, the 1st and 3rd divisions had to withdraw to the vicinity of Yangon to change equipment and train at the same time.
However, the 2nd, 4th and 5th divisions were still organized as Class A infantry divisions and were placed in the queue for equipment replacement.
只是先继续使用M1加兰德、M1919A6机枪等使用7.62X63弹，（.30-06弹）的武器，并预计在45年初进行换装。
As for the Class B Infantry Division, it is a traditional infantry division with a total strength of over 14,000 men. It has four battalions under its direct command: the Communications Battalion, the Engineer Battalion, the Reconnaissance Battalion, and the Logistics Battalion, plus a field hospital.
As a reduced-equipment version of the Class A motorized division, the Class B infantry division, except for logistics units and reconnaissance units, is almost entirely composed of personnel marching on foot, making it suitable for deployment in complex terrain such as mountains and rainforests.