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iirc more like 12. SS but with more mechanized stuff
They didn't have ran mainly Panthers and Panzer IVs like the 12. as they were rebuilding at the time, same thing with Das Reich (though I think they had less Panthers and more StuGs). As both were pretty much destroyed earlier that year.
Edit: http://niehorster.org/011_germany/44-oob/44-06-01_neptune/OB_WEST/corps_01-ss.html says the only diff between the 1. and 12. SS was that the 1. had an Assault gun company instead of an SP-AT and another training company or something.
http://www.niehorster.org/011_germany/44-oob/44-06-01_neptune/divisons/div_ss-02.html <- Das Reich meanwhile doesn't have rocket artillery actually. That's surprising.
Actually this also says the 12. shouldn't have had Tigers... Hm maybe in game they are including the ones from the 101?
Yes.
Leibstandarte & Das Reich would like 12. SS, with a bit fewer tanks but StuGs to compensate. And contrary to the myth, they weren't that good at the time: 1. SS-Panzer's performance in Normandy was sub-par at best, and 2. SS-Panzer showed more ferocity than skill, especially at Mortain.
Dreadful losses on the Eastern Front and the influx of too many recruits, especially Volksdeuschten with no fighting spirit are to blame ...
Therefore, both these divisions wouldn't bring much to the game, and can easily be modded by the community.
9. & 10. SS-Panzer would actually be more interesting, with no Panther and an almost parity between Panzer IV & StuGs, plus some whole battalions were missing while they were reinforced with corps assets, especially a lot of artillery & Nebelwerfers, plus some Tigers at some point.
They can also be modded with what we already have ingame, but at least they'll have a clearly different flavor than 1., 2. & 12. SS-Panzer.
But 2. Panzer Division will be in by dlc right ;P (i guess together with the 7th AD the "Desert Rats" and maybe 50th Northumbrian ID ???)
greetings
greetings
The problem is that there aren't any functioning mods for divisoins right now. Your game is not paticularly modder friendly. Every patch seems to require a mod patch as well.
Well, on this note have you ever considered introducing a (fair and well thought out and optional
Division Editor? People could test new strategies and games would be more thrilling because you wouldn't konw what the others have up their sleves. With the editor in place you could also throw in some historical but 'nothing new' divisons as little extra for people, who don't like artficial divisions.
The problem is that there aren't any functioning mods for divisoins right now. Your game is not paticularly modder friendly. Every patch seems to require a mod patch as well.
Well, on this note have you ever considered introducing a (fair and well thought out and optional
So, the divisions are pretty easy to mod, btw, probably one of the easiest things to do. Patching them for a mod isn't that hard. The hitch is, if you activate a mod that does anything with divisions, it will kill all the saved battlegroups you have so you have to backup your profile.
From my experience the games often doesn't even start , if you have an outdated mods.
Further, at the steam workshop there is only one decent divisions mod, which doesn't work anymore for several weeks (or months?). So going the modder route for divisions might be a nice idea in theory but nobody bothers. Except maybe for someone who seems to be a great modder and says that modding divisions is a peace of cacke ?
From my research, it was the 352nd Infantry of the Germans which was at Omaha initially. Composed of typically well trained soldiers, it fought at Omaha and St. Lo and I believe else where.
It could be a division focusing on cheap but decently vetted infantry (other infantry divisions lack vet)
It could be a division focusing on cheap but decently vetted infantry (other infantry divisions lack vet)
You know the 352nd Infanterie is actually ingame, as one of the division playable in multiplayer?
And yes, it was selected for its role at Omaha, and because it was the most solid German infantry division in the area, with many East Front veteran.
Yet, there were also some 716. Infanterie elements in the area too.
Now I feel like an idiot. Looking at the 352nd their emblem doesn't match the one in game, so it didn't click in my head they were the same.
Festung Cherbourg
With the release of Festung Groß-Paris allow me to propose a similar division, Festung Cherbourg. Like the more famous Festung Paris it included a motley collection of retreating frontline units and local forces, defending the area around Cherbourg and especially the harbour.
The infantry would be composed of second line troops, Kriegsmarine personnel (some of them were trained infantry though), Osttruppen and the remnants of the regular infantry divisions retreating to Cherbourg (709., 243., 77., and 91. LL). The greatest weakness was the lack of infantry officers, also the actual infantry units were severely weakened by previous battles with the Allies.
Curiously the Kriegsmarine actually offered the fiercest resistance, holding out even after the (army) commander of the Festung, von Schlieben, had officially surrendered.
It would have much weaker tanks than Paris – merely the remnants of the PzAbt 100, PzAbt 206, and StuG-Brig 902 – but stronger AA and especially artillery thanks to the presence of numerous coastal batteries of the HKAR 1261, 1262, and MAA 260.
A number of coastal guns were made mobile and used against the Allied land forces, and some of those improvised solutions are quite interesting. Also the sStWfRgt 101 provided rocket artillery. Their combined firepower almost matched the Allied artillery for once. This mass of off-map, heavy field guns and rockets would be quite good in game too, but susceptible to counter battery fire, especially since Festung Cherbourg lacked true SPGs.
The division could be done using existing units only, but there are possibilities for new units too.
New Infantry:
Fs-Ausbilder: a company of paratrooper instructors was trapped in Cherbourg and used in combat. This could be either represented by standard Fallschirmjäger, or used for a new Fallschirmjäger-unit with more standard weapons like the MP40 and K98k.
Hafenschutz or: MAA-Sicherung: on January 19 1943 the Kriegsmarine was ordered to raise infantry companies for the defence of the Channel harbours (Hafenschutzkompanien) and Marine Artillerie-Abteilungen (coastal batteries). Since they had infantry training and a year and half of service when the Allies landed they would not be disheartened. And since they were deployed in urban and fortified environment they could be geared to close quarter combat in game. [Other MAA-infantry also performed anti-partisan duties against the France resistance and reprisals against civilians]
Further reading: https://books.google.de/books?id=-4PGCgAAQBAJ&dq
The main downside would be the equipment. Naturally the Kriegsmarine had no priority when it came to infantry weapons. The batteries in France were expected to be attacked by enemy infantry and thus supply with weapons was relatively good by KM-standards; still they usually used outdated and captured weapons. The Gewehr 242 (f) for example – the French MAS 36 – was a common sight.
Just a last note regarding their looks: they wore field grey uniforms; their golden insignia however set them apart.
Festungsstamm: second line troops for static defense; basically Landesschützen.
New AT
PAK 112 (f) / PAK 113 (f): 25mm Hotchkiss AT gun from France, used to defend Atlantikwall fortifications. Obviously outdated and ineffective against real tanks, its very high rate of fire (28 rpm according to German manuals; see image) might be useful against halftrack pushes.
Using them to defend fortifications made some sense as tanks could be engaged with the bigger gns of the AA and artillery if necessary, while the PAK 112 (f) offered mobility and ease of use even in confined space. The gun itself is already in game, used on the P 204 (f), albeit with a lower rate of fire.
New Support
KM-Flammenwerfer: the navy was to get many flamethrowers to defend its fortifications because Hitler was huge fan of the concept. The navy even got some remote-controlled flamethrowers, but there was also training with the regular flamethrowers. Could be used for a new unit if you have some idea.
New AA
5cm Flak 41: a 50mm AA well suited to close the gap between the 37mm and 88mm AA; only few were produced but some ended up near Cherbourg, in Valognes. I do not know if any of the self-propelled variants served in Cherbourg. It is quite possible since many of the rare Flak 41 were used in the battle.
The discontinuation of the Flak 41 is still one of the bigger controversies of German AA developments. Some stress the excessive recoil and cumbersome reload mechanisms; others praise its firepower especially in ground combat. There was dedicated AT ammunition for this gun, too.
The documentation on the Flak 41 is very poor, so it is hard to tell how it did perform in combat. Less than 24 were in service by 1945; many of them on the Channel Islands.
http://www.ww2technik.de/sites/dflak/5 cm flak 41.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/Bilderseitenneu/5-cmFlak41.htm
4cm Flak 28: a 40mm Bofors AA used like the 37mm Flak 43 but very much superior. Some were used to defend MAA260 positions. [An ironic twist of fate is that this AA gun was chosen to be the Bundeswehr’s first AA].
http://www.ww2technik.de/sites/dflak/4 cm flak 28.htm
New Artillery
FK K390/1 (r) drawn by Panzer 35R (f)-Fahrgestell: now this strange. Having access to R35 chassis, for whatever reason, 5./HKAR 1262 used them to mobilize their Soviet 122mm M1931s, aka K390/1 (r). The battery had good success east of Valognes. Unfortunately the report does not state what kind of R35 modification they used. On the Eastern front turretless R35 served as artillery tractor, but the Cherbourg case might be a little different. It is quite likely the R35 had no turret either (if they had had a turret, they would have been used by the Panzer units), but perhaps they had an MG? Who knows... some strange modifications of captured vehicles are not exactly uncommon in Normandy 44.
The artillery piece itself was rather common but rarely used in a mobile role due to the weight. That is why the R35 had to be used.
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=121720&start=15#p1887319
It might be too heavy for the scope of SD.
New Ace
Walter Ohmsen (KM-Führer)
To say Oberleutnant der Marine-Artillerie Ohmsen had an eventful June of 1944 is a great understatement. He was not only the first German officer to report the Invasion (notwithstanding the claims of Pluskat), he also fought tooth and nails to defend his coastal battery, MKB Marcouf of MAA260, earning the Iron Cross and the Knight’s Cross within a few days of combat.
In the night of June 6 more than a hundred heavy bombers dropped 598 tons of bombs on the battery. Ohmsen also realized American paratroopers had landed, and he led a squad of 22 men to secure the vicinity, capturing 20 paratroopers. When the scale of the invasion became apparent he again led his men into battle against the landing infantry. He was wounded and retreated to his battery.
Soon enough, MKB Marcouf was totally surrounded and subjected to intense naval bombardment by the battleships Arkansas, Nevada and Texas, plus their support, but continued returning fire. The battery managed to sink a destroyer, the Corry, and survived although it lost some of its guns. The sinking of the Corry was the largest success any coastal battery achieved against the Allied fleet on D-Day. The fact that Ohmsen was an experienced artillery instructor might have something to do with it.
On his birthday, June 7, Ohmsen was awarded the Iron Cross, but the worst was yet to come. The Allies began a ground assault, carried out by the 22nd IR (4th ID). The attack was repelled with the help of the battery’s Flak units.
On June 8 a company of Grenadiers from GR 919 managed to break through to the battery and helped defending it against further assaults. By that time continued bombardment from air, land and sea had rendered most of the Flak inoperable. American infantry slowly drove the defenders back into their shelters and defeat seemed inevitable. Thus Ohmsen ordered the neighbouring HKB Azeville to fire on his position. Although this resulted in casualties on both sides naturally the sheltered Germans were in a better shape after the smoke had cleared. They launched a counterattack and drove the Allies back, capturing a number of their infantry.
Though successful, Ohmsen had lost most of his men. Continued bombardment further reduced the combat effectiveness of MKB Marcouf. By June 11, he had barely any ammunition left, all his heavy guns were destroyed, and he had to care for many wounded in addition to guarding 126 Allied POWs.
With his superior’s permission, Ohmsen and 77 men evacuated and slipped through the enemy lines. In the morning of June 12, the Allies captured the ruins of MKB Marcouf and 21 heavily wounded Germans, freeing the POWs. Ohmsen and his troops reached the battery of Morsalines on June 14. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross.
In the battle of Cherbourg he was given command of an infantry unit and fought until Cherbourg fell. This time there was no escape; he was taken prisoner.
The battle for MKB Marcouf is a testament to what even naval artillerymen could do in combat if they had competent leadership. However, Ohmsen was far from a people’s person. He was respected and trusted but he was also ruthless and aloof. After the war he first became a politician, but was not very successful and soon joined the Bundesmarine, serving until 1965. When he retired from the navy he returned to local politics, this time somewhat more successful. His most notable activity was organizing the sailing events of the Summer Olympics 1972. He died in 1988.
With the release of Festung Groß-Paris allow me to propose a similar division, Festung Cherbourg. Like the more famous Festung Paris it included a motley collection of retreating frontline units and local forces, defending the area around Cherbourg and especially the harbour.
The infantry would be composed of second line troops, Kriegsmarine personnel (some of them were trained infantry though), Osttruppen and the remnants of the regular infantry divisions retreating to Cherbourg (709., 243., 77., and 91. LL). The greatest weakness was the lack of infantry officers, also the actual infantry units were severely weakened by previous battles with the Allies.
Curiously the Kriegsmarine actually offered the fiercest resistance, holding out even after the (army) commander of the Festung, von Schlieben, had officially surrendered.
It would have much weaker tanks than Paris – merely the remnants of the PzAbt 100, PzAbt 206, and StuG-Brig 902 – but stronger AA and especially artillery thanks to the presence of numerous coastal batteries of the HKAR 1261, 1262, and MAA 260.
A number of coastal guns were made mobile and used against the Allied land forces, and some of those improvised solutions are quite interesting. Also the sStWfRgt 101 provided rocket artillery. Their combined firepower almost matched the Allied artillery for once. This mass of off-map, heavy field guns and rockets would be quite good in game too, but susceptible to counter battery fire, especially since Festung Cherbourg lacked true SPGs.
The division could be done using existing units only, but there are possibilities for new units too.
New Infantry:
Fs-Ausbilder: a company of paratrooper instructors was trapped in Cherbourg and used in combat. This could be either represented by standard Fallschirmjäger, or used for a new Fallschirmjäger-unit with more standard weapons like the MP40 and K98k.
Hafenschutz or: MAA-Sicherung: on January 19 1943 the Kriegsmarine was ordered to raise infantry companies for the defence of the Channel harbours (Hafenschutzkompanien) and Marine Artillerie-Abteilungen (coastal batteries). Since they had infantry training and a year and half of service when the Allies landed they would not be disheartened. And since they were deployed in urban and fortified environment they could be geared to close quarter combat in game. [Other MAA-infantry also performed anti-partisan duties against the France resistance and reprisals against civilians]
Further reading: https://books.google.de/books?id=-4PGCgAAQBAJ&dq
The main downside would be the equipment. Naturally the Kriegsmarine had no priority when it came to infantry weapons. The batteries in France were expected to be attacked by enemy infantry and thus supply with weapons was relatively good by KM-standards; still they usually used outdated and captured weapons. The Gewehr 242 (f) for example – the French MAS 36 – was a common sight.
Just a last note regarding their looks: they wore field grey uniforms; their golden insignia however set them apart.
Festungsstamm: second line troops for static defense; basically Landesschützen.
New AT
PAK 112 (f) / PAK 113 (f): 25mm Hotchkiss AT gun from France, used to defend Atlantikwall fortifications. Obviously outdated and ineffective against real tanks, its very high rate of fire (28 rpm according to German manuals; see image) might be useful against halftrack pushes.
Using them to defend fortifications made some sense as tanks could be engaged with the bigger gns of the AA and artillery if necessary, while the PAK 112 (f) offered mobility and ease of use even in confined space. The gun itself is already in game, used on the P 204 (f), albeit with a lower rate of fire.
New Support
KM-Flammenwerfer: the navy was to get many flamethrowers to defend its fortifications because Hitler was huge fan of the concept. The navy even got some remote-controlled flamethrowers, but there was also training with the regular flamethrowers. Could be used for a new unit if you have some idea.
New AA
5cm Flak 41: a 50mm AA well suited to close the gap between the 37mm and 88mm AA; only few were produced but some ended up near Cherbourg, in Valognes. I do not know if any of the self-propelled variants served in Cherbourg. It is quite possible since many of the rare Flak 41 were used in the battle.
The discontinuation of the Flak 41 is still one of the bigger controversies of German AA developments. Some stress the excessive recoil and cumbersome reload mechanisms; others praise its firepower especially in ground combat. There was dedicated AT ammunition for this gun, too.
The documentation on the Flak 41 is very poor, so it is hard to tell how it did perform in combat. Less than 24 were in service by 1945; many of them on the Channel Islands.
http://www.ww2technik.de/sites/dflak/5 cm flak 41.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/Bilderseitenneu/5-cmFlak41.htm
4cm Flak 28: a 40mm Bofors AA used like the 37mm Flak 43 but very much superior. Some were used to defend MAA260 positions. [An ironic twist of fate is that this AA gun was chosen to be the Bundeswehr’s first AA].
http://www.ww2technik.de/sites/dflak/4 cm flak 28.htm
New Artillery
FK K390/1 (r) drawn by Panzer 35R (f)-Fahrgestell: now this strange. Having access to R35 chassis, for whatever reason, 5./HKAR 1262 used them to mobilize their Soviet 122mm M1931s, aka K390/1 (r). The battery had good success east of Valognes. Unfortunately the report does not state what kind of R35 modification they used. On the Eastern front turretless R35 served as artillery tractor, but the Cherbourg case might be a little different. It is quite likely the R35 had no turret either (if they had had a turret, they would have been used by the Panzer units), but perhaps they had an MG? Who knows... some strange modifications of captured vehicles are not exactly uncommon in Normandy 44.
The artillery piece itself was rather common but rarely used in a mobile role due to the weight. That is why the R35 had to be used.
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=121720&start=15#p1887319
It might be too heavy for the scope of SD.
New Ace
Walter Ohmsen (KM-Führer)
To say Oberleutnant der Marine-Artillerie Ohmsen had an eventful June of 1944 is a great understatement. He was not only the first German officer to report the Invasion (notwithstanding the claims of Pluskat), he also fought tooth and nails to defend his coastal battery, MKB Marcouf of MAA260, earning the Iron Cross and the Knight’s Cross within a few days of combat.
In the night of June 6 more than a hundred heavy bombers dropped 598 tons of bombs on the battery. Ohmsen also realized American paratroopers had landed, and he led a squad of 22 men to secure the vicinity, capturing 20 paratroopers. When the scale of the invasion became apparent he again led his men into battle against the landing infantry. He was wounded and retreated to his battery.
Soon enough, MKB Marcouf was totally surrounded and subjected to intense naval bombardment by the battleships Arkansas, Nevada and Texas, plus their support, but continued returning fire. The battery managed to sink a destroyer, the Corry, and survived although it lost some of its guns. The sinking of the Corry was the largest success any coastal battery achieved against the Allied fleet on D-Day. The fact that Ohmsen was an experienced artillery instructor might have something to do with it.
On his birthday, June 7, Ohmsen was awarded the Iron Cross, but the worst was yet to come. The Allies began a ground assault, carried out by the 22nd IR (4th ID). The attack was repelled with the help of the battery’s Flak units.
On June 8 a company of Grenadiers from GR 919 managed to break through to the battery and helped defending it against further assaults. By that time continued bombardment from air, land and sea had rendered most of the Flak inoperable. American infantry slowly drove the defenders back into their shelters and defeat seemed inevitable. Thus Ohmsen ordered the neighbouring HKB Azeville to fire on his position. Although this resulted in casualties on both sides naturally the sheltered Germans were in a better shape after the smoke had cleared. They launched a counterattack and drove the Allies back, capturing a number of their infantry.
Though successful, Ohmsen had lost most of his men. Continued bombardment further reduced the combat effectiveness of MKB Marcouf. By June 11, he had barely any ammunition left, all his heavy guns were destroyed, and he had to care for many wounded in addition to guarding 126 Allied POWs.
With his superior’s permission, Ohmsen and 77 men evacuated and slipped through the enemy lines. In the morning of June 12, the Allies captured the ruins of MKB Marcouf and 21 heavily wounded Germans, freeing the POWs. Ohmsen and his troops reached the battery of Morsalines on June 14. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross.
In the battle of Cherbourg he was given command of an infantry unit and fought until Cherbourg fell. This time there was no escape; he was taken prisoner.
The battle for MKB Marcouf is a testament to what even naval artillerymen could do in combat if they had competent leadership. However, Ohmsen was far from a people’s person. He was respected and trusted but he was also ruthless and aloof. After the war he first became a politician, but was not very successful and soon joined the Bundesmarine, serving until 1965. When he retired from the navy he returned to local politics, this time somewhat more successful. His most notable activity was organizing the sailing events of the Summer Olympics 1972. He died in 1988.
Interesting read.
I didn't know turretless R-35 were used as prime movers.
Do you have any pictures?
I didn't know turretless R-35 were used as prime movers.
Do you have any pictures?
Actually yes, there was various munition, gun tractor or prime mover conversions based on captured R-35. Mainly included removal of turret and ammunition rack.
I knew of captured Soviet light tanks which had been "jalopied" by the German to use as tractors, but never heard about R-35 ones before.
One learns new things every day ... Thanks.
One learns new things every day ... Thanks.
It makes some sense if you think about it. The R35 was less than stellar in mid/late war, mainly due to the turret, but the chassis is perfectly fine and well suited to draw guns in the Russian mud. Even better, you could use the turret to reinforce fortifications.
Interesting. I could see this being an effective infantry-based divison, although I'm not sure how much fun they would be to play against with such a strong artillery focus.
I am not much of an artillery fan myself, and I am not even sure if Eugen would be willing to put in a heavy field gun like the M1931. It could be argued that most of the coastal batteries were neutralized when the Allies reached Cherbourg (although many guns were moved to the city). So the artillery could be toned down if it needs to be. On the other hand, the number of guns and rockets on the German side was quite unusual and noteworthy.
Anyway, I am mostly interested in the infantry, the PAK 112 (f), and the 5cm Flak 41. Both the new Flak and PAK would be highly situational, I guess. And the infantry is mostly about flavour, but Eugen could create some nice new and different units. I could think of some.
Given the importance of Cherbourg and generally the French habours, I think representing the efforts to defend them makes sense for this game. It's also one of the very few possibilities to add a meaningful new division (even if not technically a division) on the German side.
But what about the Allies? I do not know enough about them to make a sensible suggestion. I would love to see the Dutch and Belgian brigades ("Piron" and "Prinses Irene") rolled into a new division for SD, because I want more nations represented, but I am not sure if that is a good idea gameplay-wise...
Well we could have Task Force A. Basically the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion (equipped with Hellcats by the way) were paired up with the 15th Cavalry group to form a mobile unit to harass retreating Germans in Brittany peninsula.
Hellcat was a footnote in the battle of Normandy. To the point that we didn't included it at first.
The 4th Armored was added to showcase it, out of community request, but it shall definitively not be a common sight in Normandy ...
Well in that case, Task Force A might be a bad idea, even though they apparently replaced their Hellcat losses with Shermans.
Speaking of Brittany though, Festung St.-Nazaire might be a suitable alternative to Cherbourg. It is very similar, just a bit less artillery and no air force to speak of, but stronger infantry. They had a full paratrooper-regiment and Italian infantry for example. But the majority of the troops were Kriegsmarine. In later 1944 they even formed Marine-Grenadiere (which sounds quite nice imo).
Also, since they decommissioned two flotillas to use sailors in ground combat, they also took the guns of the ships and used them as artillery and AT. Perhaps some new guns...? They too had the Flak 28 and probably the PAK 112(f).
... and, they surrendered on May 11 1945, making Saint-Nazaire, I believe, the last French city to be liberated. It might be even more interesting than Cherbourg.
I know I am stressing the role of the navy a lot but you have to keep in mind that Hitler trusted the navy more than he trusted the army, and allowed his navy special treatment. This frustrated the army commanders and naturally led to frictions. But the Kriegsmarine was very determined in holding the fortresses, indeed. Anyway, I think the Atlantikfestungen are an interesting subject.
The question is just what Allied combat formation could be used for a new division. It almost seems like all the possibilities are exhausted. Perhaps some mixed siege force of US and FFI to oppose Festung St.-Nazaire?
Speaking of Brittany though, Festung St.-Nazaire might be a suitable alternative to Cherbourg. It is very similar, just a bit less artillery and no air force to speak of, but stronger infantry. They had a full paratrooper-regiment and Italian infantry for example. But the majority of the troops were Kriegsmarine. In later 1944 they even formed Marine-Grenadiere (which sounds quite nice imo).
Also, since they decommissioned two flotillas to use sailors in ground combat, they also took the guns of the ships and used them as artillery and AT. Perhaps some new guns...? They too had the Flak 28 and probably the PAK 112(f).
... and, they surrendered on May 11 1945, making Saint-Nazaire, I believe, the last French city to be liberated. It might be even more interesting than Cherbourg.
I know I am stressing the role of the navy a lot but you have to keep in mind that Hitler trusted the navy more than he trusted the army, and allowed his navy special treatment. This frustrated the army commanders and naturally led to frictions. But the Kriegsmarine was very determined in holding the fortresses, indeed. Anyway, I think the Atlantikfestungen are an interesting subject.
The question is just what Allied combat formation could be used for a new division. It almost seems like all the possibilities are exhausted. Perhaps some mixed siege force of US and FFI to oppose Festung St.-Nazaire?