Moving Troops, etc.

Guinness · May 11, 2009, 09:06:34 AM

I found these tables, detailing troop and supply movements for the US American Expeditionary Force to England and France during WW1. Included is a month to month breakdown. This, I think, is useful for determining what the maximum possible effort in such endevours might be.

http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/seatable.htm

Kaiser Kirk · May 11, 2009, 07:05:40 PM

I have some info on troop march rates, supply needs, rail requirements, loading times and requirements, etc. from the WWII US War dept. Handbook on German Military Forces if that would be useful. Not sure how to package the info...

Guinness · May 11, 2009, 07:17:01 PM

That would be great. If you need help or don't have time, but can scan it, feel free to send it to me and I can try to digest it down to some tables.

Kaiser Kirk · May 11, 2009, 07:34:22 PM

Scannings pretty easy, large flatbed at work I can use afterhours, I can probably manage something tomorrow night.

Kaiser Kirk · May 12, 2009, 08:42:27 PM

I recalled the copier could convert to pdf.
Here are some tables, while I'll send the chapters they are in to Guinness when I can figure out how to send him a PDF...
edit : hmm perhaps if I put the links in the right format.

The first is train size and track capacity :
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/Lithocarpus/TRAINS.jpg

Second is march rates by transport mode. Theres is another division level that gives day/night.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/Lithocarpus/MARCH.jpg

This is the average estimated supply consumption in pounds (2.2lbs= 1kg) per man in the unit. Generic, but if you multiply by remaning corps size you get an idea of how large that corps supply demand is. If transport infrastructure is limited, it can limit how many folks you can effectively field.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/Lithocarpus/SUPPLY.jpg

The last is ship loading rates and the GRT requirement per item- a spatial or volume limit, not a mass based one. This was based on 2000GRT vessels, fairly small, so larger might get some efficiencies (more gangways for loading, or more clear spaces, etc).
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/Lithocarpus/LOADING.jpg

Anyhow the handbook has tons of tables and stuff, including fortifications, TOEs, equipment details, etc. Originally printed 1944, so lacks the advantages of post war assessments and fact finding.

miketr · May 12, 2009, 10:28:47 PM

That is very usefull...

Michael

Guinness · May 13, 2009, 08:29:50 AM

Indeed, this is fantastic. It's going to take me a couple of days to digest it, but I intend to boil it all down to a set of guidelines for how much stuff can normally be moved how far, etc. etc.

I don't intend this to be a "rule" per-se, but rather a document that we can use as a general guideline when writing orders or planning a campaign, etc.

Blooded · May 13, 2009, 11:27:51 AM

Nice info,

I have similar stuff but it is scattered about. I shall try to pull it together.

miketr · May 19, 2009, 10:00:12 PM

The generic rule of thumb it appears is 2 tons per man; personal weapons, etc with another 3 to 4 tons for the rest of the units equipement and supply. So you would need 2 tons of transports and 4 tons of freighters per man. Also you need to consider that this is WW2 when there would have been a great deal of motor and mechanization especially in US formations.

Michael