Blog Post - Armored Trains and the Poland '39 Campaign

[rahamy]

As we move closer to the release date (yet to be set in stone) of Panzer Campaigns: Poland '39 we bring you a new article focused on armored trains, their history and their used in that campaign. You can check it out in todays blog post:

https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/armore ... nd-in-1939

[ComradeP]

A very interesting blog post. I knew armoured trains were used in an anti-partisan role and during the invasion of the Netherlands, but didn't know anything about their use in Poland. I didn't know the Wehrmacht had no "true" armoured trains at the beginning of the war either.

In game terms, their impact is likely to be limited, like turrets on fortifications and coastal batteries, but they're nice to have around for recon or as rearguards.

Will armoured trains become a new unit type, or will they continue to use Armor with Rail movement?

[Strela]

A very interesting blog post. I knew armoured trains were used in an anti-partisan role and during the invasion of the Netherlands, but didn't know anything about their use in Poland. I didn't know the Wehrmacht had no "true" armoured trains at the beginning of the war either.

In game terms, their impact is likely to be limited, like turrets on fortifications and coastal batteries, but they're nice to have around for recon or as rearguards.

Will armoured trains become a new unit type, or will they continue to use Armor with Rail movement?

They will be similar to what you have seen to date in France '40 (armor with rail movement) with the additional 2.5x for adjacent hex fire as mentioned by Mike.

[All_American]

I love the depth and research that go into Mike's designs - an essay of 8k words on just armored trains! Will be purchasing on release day as with any other PzC title.

If it's no secret, are there any Panzer Campaigns titles planned for 2025 other than Poland '39?

[Strela]

I love the depth and research that go into Mike's designs - an essay of 8k words on just armored trains! Will be purchasing on release day as with any other PzC title.

If it's no secret, are there any Panzer Campaigns titles planned for 2025 other than Poland '39?

Yes, there are. We have a very full development schedule for the series! We will officially announce these new titles as they complete our applicable internal milestones.

As far as Mike's work, there are other very interesting inclusions that I hope he will share with all before release.

Finally, Mike is not alone on the depth of research. Both Dani (Rumyantsev '43, Smolensk '43 & Orel '43) and Cesar/Indragnir (Spring Awakening '45) are just as pedantic and precise with their sources and inclusions.

It is exciting times!

[M_T]

Hi, out of curiosity, why in screenshots there are 12 vehicles in Polish recon tanks squadron and recon tanks company? Not including tankettes of a squadron/company commander is a design feature?
https://wp39.struktury.net/dywizjon-pan ... -etat-nr-4

Also, in lt tank batalions also commander vehicle not included?
https://wp39.struktury.net/batalion-czolgow-lekkich-7tp

[Llaird]

Maybe I am blind, but to which screenshots do you refer? In the article there are only unitboxes with armored trains (mostly Polish, some German) but I cannot find any tanks or tankettes..

[M_T]

Ah, sorry, my mistake. Seem that I was referring to earlier post, where Poland 39 was announced. Probably wrong thread.

[Strela]

Ah, sorry, my mistake. Seem that I was referring to earlier post, where Poland 39 was announced. Probably wrong thread.

I am guessing you are suggesting to include the single tankette that was the commanders vehicle, while the other twelve tanks are a diferent type. We usually have to make a decision on whether there is a material impact on combat performance of inclusion of different types of vehicles. As these are single vehicles we would not include them as a separate unit and combining them to have 13 vehicle units with lower combat values would only have a negative impact on the unit.

These type of vehicles would usually be excluded for the above reasons and the only potential series we would add this level of detail would be in Squad Battles where individual tanks are modelled. Any scale higher (Panzer Battles or Panzer Campaigns) usually sees these vehicles excluded. We do, have mixed units (there are some in Poland) and we average the values based upon the mix of the tank types.

[M_T]

I am guessing you are suggesting to include the single tankette that was the commanders vehicle, while the other twelve tanks are a diferent type.

Oh, you got me curious. What different type? Maybe you confused Polish with German units? Germans had special command tanks without guns. That wasn't the case in Poland. As it is now, one (exact same vehicle like others) is missing from each company/squadron in entire oob.

https://wp39.struktury.net/dywizjon-pancerny-1939
https://wp39.struktury.net/samodzielna- ... czych-1939