Central Front - BAOR Variant (West German Update)

Following in this four parter (Warsaw Pact will be part 4) is the update for the West Germans.  This update is needed because:

• The game concept allows WG forces from both I Ge Korps and III Ge Korps to commit troops into the 1st British Corps area rather than make them occupy their own "historical" deployment areas.
• Unit designations for Heerstruktur4 formations need updating as does start locations.

The update is as follows:

• Change the Covering force screen assignments as for the British.  This then places 1st Pz and 11th Pz in roughly the correct place.  As the detail is on the British page it isn't updated here.

I (Ge) Corps
16	Attack Helicopter	Hex 3640	12	New
130	Engineer	Hex 3620 (1)	12
1. PanzerDivision
11/1	Artillery Battalion	Hex 3334 (2)	12
12/1	Rocket Artillery	GT1 : 3931	9
1. PanzerGrenadierBrigade
11/1	Mech Inf (Mixed)	Hex 2336	12	Change
12/1	Mech Inf	Hex 0935	12
13/1	Mech Inf	Hex 3248	12	Change
14/1	Armour	Hex 2336	12	Change
15/1	SP Arty	Hex 1826	12
2. PanzerBrigade
21/1	Armour (Mixed)	Hex 2345 (2)	12	Change
22/1	Mech Inf	Hex 2345 (2)	12	Change
23/1	Armour	Hex 2345 (2)	12	Change
24/1	Armour	Hex 2345 (2)	12	Change
25/1	SP Arty	Hex 2345 (2)	12	Change
11. PanzerGrenadierDivision
331/11	Armour (Mixed)	Hex 3943 (1)	12	Change
332/11	Mech Inf	Hex 3248	12	Change
333/11	Armour	Hex 3943 (1)	12	Change
334/11	Armour	Hex 3943 (1)	12	Change
335/11	SP Arty	Hex 3648 (1)	12	Change
7. PanzerDivision (NORTHAG RESERVE)
211/7	Armour (Mixed)	Hex 2612 (1)	12	Change
212/7	Mech Inf	Hex 2612 (1)	12
213/7	Armour	Hex 2612 (1)	12
214/7	Armour	Hex 2612 (1)	12
215/7	SP Arty	Hex 2612 (1)	12
AufKl/7	Armd Cav	Hex 2612 (1)	12
2. PanzerGrenadierDivision (III (Ge) Corps
21/2	Artillery Battalion	GT 1 : 0116	6
22/2	Rocket Artillery	GT 1 : 0116	6
4. PanzerGrenadierBrigade
41/2	Mech Inf (Mixed)	Hex 0627 (1)	12	Change
42/2	Mech Inf	Hex 0119	12	Change
43/2	Mech Inf	Hex 0627 (1)	12
44/2	Armour	Hex 0627 (1)	12
45/2	SP Arty	Hex 0627 (1)	12
6. PanzerBrigade
61/2	Armour (Mixed)	Hex 0911 (1)	12	Change
62/2	Mech Inf	Hex 0513 (1)	12	Change
63/2	Armour	Hex 0911 (1)	12	Change
64/2	Armour	Hex 0513 (1)	12	Change
65/2	SP Arty	Hex 0911 (1)	12	Change

• What is still to do:

• Work out how any other element of 1st Panzer Division will need to be handled
• Add the Jaeger Bns (if required) there are two on the map in the North
• Finalise the GT1 entry locations

Central Front - BAOR Variant (Belgian Update)

Following on from the update for the 1st British Corps units, I did the same for the Belgian forces assigned in the game.  The update includes:

• Changes to the Covering forces structure to align with more feasible boundaries but as this has been covered on the British page is not replicated here)
• Units located around Soest in the FRG now arrive on GT1 along with their UK counterparts.
• General update on the other Belgian units.

Belgian Update:

1 (Be) Corps
6 FA/Be	SP Artillery	GT 1 : 2101	12
17 FA/Be	SP Artillery	GT 3 : 0101	9
20 FA/Be	Artillery Battalion	GT 1 : 2101	12
3 LANCERS/Be	Armour	Hex 0911 (1)	12
1st Infantry Division
1st Mechanised Brigade
2 LANCERS/1	Armour	GT 4 : 2101	9
1 KAR/1	Mech Inf	GT 4 : 2101	9
1 BEV/1	Mech Inf	GT 4 : 2101	9
18 FA/1	SP Arty	GT 4 : 2101	9
7th Mechanised Brigade
1 LANCERS/1	Armour	GT 5 : 0101	9
1 ARDENNES/1	Mech Inf	GT 5 : 0101	9
12 LINE/1	Mech Inf	GT 5 : 0101	9
1 FA/1	SP Arty	GT 4 : 0101	9
16th Infantry Division
4th Mechanised Brigade
4 LANCERS/16	Armour	GT 1 : 2101	9
1 GREN/16	Mech Inf	GT 1 : 2101	9
5 LINE/16	Mech Inf	GT 1 : 2101	9
2 FA/1	SP Arty	GT 1 : 2101	9
17th Armoured Brigade
1 GUIDES/16	Armour	GT 2 : 0101	9
2 GUIDES/16	Armour	GT 2 : 0101	9
1 CY/16	Mech Inf	GT 2 : 0101	9
2 CY/16	Mech Inf	GT 2 : 0101	9
19 FA/16	SP Arty	GT 2 : 0101	9

What is still to do:

• Finalise the unit designations.
• Add more info as and when it arrives.
• Finalise the GT entry locations

Central Front - BAOR Variant (British Update)

I have had BAOR since 1981 and in fact it was the first proper board game I ever purchased.  It is however dated and definitely didn't reflect the BAOR I joined in 1983.

This is the Variant for 1984/85 period games. It has the following updates:

• Removal of the Task Force structure and reorganisation into 3 Armoured Divisions. 
• The original game has five major battalion sized units in each division and the pre 1981 force structures for those units.
• 2nd Armoured Division becomes 2nd Infantry Division (2 INFDIV) and has the job of providing security for the Rear Comms Zone (RCZ).
• 3rd Armoured Division (3 ARMDDIV) has an experimental organisation and has the role of securing the Corps Rear Area. It has one Armoured Brigade, one Infantry Brigade and the last brigade is testing out the Airmobile Concept with 2 Airmobile infantry battalions with an increased establishment (Trial) of 40 Milan Firing Posts
• Elements of the Belgian army were located in the area around Soest in close proximity with 3 ARMDDIV and as such should be available as reinforcements irrespective of WP Air Assault options.
• The West German structures should reflect Heerstruktur 4 of which more information is now available.  Subordination and starting locations require to be updated.
• The Soviet forces require some changes to reflect what we now know about the intent of GSFG and also the structure of the follow on forces.  In addition the East German Army (NVA) doesn't feature.
• 1st Armoured Division.  The original game didn't have 1st Armoured Division (1 ARMDDIV) in it at all.  The assumption I think was that North German Plain (NGP) would cover this formation. However, the 1st Br Corps area should have been where 1 ARMDDIV would have been expected to operate. 
• 1 ARMDDIV & 4 ARMDDIV each have 3 Armoured Brigades each with a mix of 3 Armoured units or Mechanized Infantry.

So with those minor changes to be incorporated this is my take on things
By 1984 BAOR restructuring:

• NATO Covering Force has been removed completely and is replaced with the following divisional assignments:
• 1st Armoured Division Tracked Reconnaissance Regiment (13/18H) moved to 1746, 1649, 1543 & 1546.
• 4th Armoured Division Tracked Reconnaissance Regiment (9/12L) moved to 1940, 1942, 1139 & 1141.
• Other Changes are shown for completeness but will be included in their nationality section
• 2nd Panzer Division Panzeraufklarungsabteilung units in 0225, 0229 & 0124
• 11th Panzer Division Panzeraufklarungsabteilung added with Company sized Screen Units in 3849, 3649 & 3150
• 1st Panzer Division Panzeraufklarungsabteilung moved to 2650, 2449 & 2049.
• Belgian Forces (1st Jagers te Paard) 0739, 0540, 0436 & 0338.
• Belgian Forces (4th Chasseurs a Cheval) 0434, 0429, 0328 & 0232.

1 (Br) Corps
5 Hvy	SP Arty	GT1 : 2901	12	Change
32 Hvy	SP Arty	GT1 : 2901	9	New
39 Hvy	SP Arty	GT1 : 2901	9	New
1st Armoured Division
1 RHA/1	SP Arty	GT1: 3942	6	Change
4/1	SP Arty	GT1: 3937	6	Change
45/1	SP Arty	GT1: 3942	6	Change
1 AAC/1	Attack Heli	Hex 2433 (1)	12	Change
7th Armoured Brigade
RH/1	Armour	GT1 : 3937	6	Change
2 RTR/1	Armour	GT1 : 3937	6	Change
3 QUEENS/1	Mech Inf	GT1 : 3937	6	Change
12th Armoured Brigade
4 RTR/1	Armour	GT 1 : 3903	6	Change
GH/1	Mech Inf	GT 1 : 3903	6	Change
1 I RANG/1	Mech Inf	GT 1 : 3903	6
22nd Armoured Brigade
QOH/1	Armour	GT 1 : 3942	6	Change
1 RTR/1	Armour	Hex 2433 (1)	12	Change
1 WG/1	Mech Inf	GT 1 : 3942	6	Change
3 RGJ/1	Mech Inf	Hex 3742	12	Change
4th Armoured Division
3 RHA/4	SP Arty	Hex 2211 (1)	12	Change
27/4	SP Arty	Hex 2304	12	Change
47/4	SP Arty	Hex 3006	12	Change
4 AAC/4	Attack Heli	Hex 2516 (1)	12	Change
11th Armoured Brigade
3 RTR/4	Armour	Hex 2020 (1)	12	Change
3 R ANG/4	Mech Inf	Hex 3620 (1)	12	Change
2 RGJ/4	Mech Inf	Hex 3620 (1)	12	Change
20th Armoured Brigade
RHG/D/4	Armour	Hex 2615	12	Change
4/7 DG/4	Armour	Hex 2715	12	Change
1 RRW/4	Mech Inf	Hex 2917	12	Change
33rd Armoured Brigade
SCOTS DG/4	Armour	Hex 2212 (1)	12	Change
1 R SCOTS/4	Mech Inf	Hex 2016	12	Change
1 QLR/4	Mech Inf	Hex 2210 (1)	12	Change
3rd Armoured Division
2/3	SP Arty	GT1 : 3909	6	Change
19/3	SP Arty	GT1 : 3909	6	Change
3 AAC/3	Attack Heli	GT1 : 2201	6	Change
4th Armoured Brigade
17/21L/3	Armour	GT1 : 3909	6	Change
QRIH/3	Armour	GT1 : 3909	6	Change
1 IG/3	Mech Inf	GT1 : 3909	6	Change
1 AAC/1	Attack Heli	Hex 2433 (1)	12	Change
6th Airmobile Brigade
2 LI/3	Airmobile Inf	GT1 : 1801	6	Change
GORDONS/3	Airmobile Inf	GT1 : 1801	6	Change
19th Infantry Brigade
2 R ANG/3	Type A Inf	GT 2 : 2901	6	Change
1 KOSB/3	Type A Inf	GT 2 : 2901	6	Change
1 STAFFS/3	Type A Inf	GT 2 : 2901	6	Change
40/3	Artillery Battalion	GT 2 : 2901	6	Change

So what haven't I included (yet):

• The BAOR reinforcements from both the TA and the Regular Army.
• 2 INFDIV other than mentioning that their sector is the Comms Zone.  As they were UK based I might try them as an optional unit later.
• The twelfth Armoured Regiment.  There are 11 accounted for above therefore I am missing one somewhere. And also unsure about 1 RTR which would have been part of 6th Armoured Brigade before the trial.  Might see about assigning it to 19 INFBDE later.
• A Tracked Reconnaissance Regiment for 3 ARMDDIV which would have to been mobilised from the UK as a GT4 reinforcement
• Chinook and Puma units to enable 6th Airmobile Brigade (6 AIRMOBBDE) to operate