Fallschirmjager Platoon make up

[Centurio Marcus T]

Gday all I need to ask the opinion of the WW2 buffs on here about the make up of a Fallschirmjager platoon from Normandy onwards and weapons distribution.The Rule set i will be using is Disposable heroes plus a few parts of Troops Weapons and tactics for blind set up of an opponent for Solo gaming.1   Would it be reasonable to reduce the platoon to 2 squads of 11 men plus platoon HQ. 2 Weapons distibution each squad was supposed to have 2  LMGs(MG42) Is this correct that would be a lot of ammunition required and the standard LMG group was 3 men. Gunner ,loader and gun group commander,thus leaving only 5 others including the Squad leader to do the Assualting. 3      FG 42 how many would be reasonable to have in each squad i was thinking maybe 2 and any other Assault rifles(STG 44) 4   What tactics where employed as with so many automatic weopons available this would be a very dangerous opponent to come across for as long as they had plenty of ammo. Thanks for any help you all can give me  Cheers Marcus T

[Cubster]

Foundation, mascara and lippy for a normal mission, but special assignments would see them add glitter eyeshadow, eyeliner and blusher.

[BigMike]

So Operation Mercury was like Croydon on a friday night?

[Centurio Marcus T]

Well maybe i should have worded my request differently the thought of paratroopers with makeup on  Cubster you Galah behave yourself

[Titus Flavius]

That's just the Herman Goering Division.

[Centurio Marcus T]

Well ive thought about it cant find a lot on Fallshirmjager platoons so have gone with the following  Platoon command1 Lieutenant          MP 401 Sergeant            MP  401 Radio operator    KAR 981 Rifle man            KAR  981  Medic                   ?????Squad  x 2 or 3  most likely 2Gun group                                  Rifle group( Assault Group)1 Corporal      KAR 98                  1 Sergeant  FG  42 or MP 401 Gunner        MG 42                    5  Rifle men  3 with KAR 98  2 with  FG  421 Gunners assistant    KAR  98       1 Gunner   MG 42                                                      1 Gunners assistant   KAR 98                                                      I know that a fallshirmjager squad had 2 machine guns and guess the second was part of the assault force   Can any one help?

[Evan]

http://www.bayonetstrength.150.....talion.htm

[NTM]

I've got it in my head that the German squads with 2 MG's basically split in 2 similar to modern fireteams lead by the squad leader and asst each with 1 MG and the rifleman split between them. They would operate with one gropu covering while the other moved to a new fire position then swap roles. Cannot for the life of me remember where I read this though! On the subject of the FG42 and MP44 I would not give many to FJ in NWE I don't recall seeing many pictures of the former in Normandy (as opposed to loads in Italy) and the Mp44 doesn't seem to have been issued to FJ units in anywhere near the quantities the Volksgrenadiers etc did and they only appeared in any really significant numbers post Normandy. I would not expect to see any more than 1 maybe 2 per squad and giving both to the same squad would be very unlikely IMHO.

[Centurio Marcus T]

Thanks both NTM and Evan for your input,very appreciated.10 man squads seem a better option broken into 2 fire groups 5 men each. FG-42 since there were only 10000 made numbers amongst platoons would i agree be scarce and from what ive read on the FG-42 it was a brute to control on fully auto and had seriuos recoil problems as it took the normal german 7.92 full length. So i will now work on my list and repost when i think it looks right.Cheers for yor help guys                                  Marcus T

[Evan]

The FG42 was produced in small numbers, around 1-2000 during 1943, and were used mainly as a field trial. The results of that allowed a redesign during early 1944 and another 1000 were made. No more were manufactured until the end of 1944 when another 5000 were produced. The upshot is they will always be a rare weapon no matter what part of the war but you could include the odd one or two from mid 1943 onwards.The MP/43/44 was also a rare beast until mid 1944 when the vast majority were manufactured. The name change to StG44 signals the ramp up in production. In Normandy there were a few MP43 but they weren't common by any means. The FJ were issued these weapons but not in large numbers, if anything the photos available show them to be an issue similar to the Heer Volksgrenadier formations - they will be widely issued within a small number of units within the division. "The German Assault Rifle, 1935 - 1945"  Peter Senich