4th Netherlands (Dutch) Mechanised Division (c.1984)

During the 1980s the Germans in north-west Germany were expected to be reinforced by forces from the Netherlands in the event of a Soviet invasion of West Germany, although in reality there was some doubt about the ability of the Dutch units to mobilise in time. In my continuing series of 1984 NORTHAG units, I present the Dutch 1st Corps. Immediately available and in Germany were the leading elements of the 4th Dutch Mechanised Division:

This article originally appeared in the SOTCW’s Journal No.43 (March 2002).

Quality: NATO 2
Morale: Regular

103rd Recce Battalion*:
BHQ: 1 x HQ M577, 2 x M106 SP Mortars (and 1 x M113 with GSR**).
3 Companies, each: 1 x Recon Leopard 1A1-V, 4 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R, 1 x Recon M113 Combat Team***.

41st Armoured Brigade:
Bde HQ: 1 x HQ M577.
41st AA Battery: 2 x Gepard SPAA.
41st Recce Company (only present up to 1984): 1 x Recon AMX-13/105mm, 4 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R, 1 x Recon M113 Combat Team***, 1 x M106 SP Mortar.
41st Engineer Company: 3 x M113 Engineer Combat Teams, 1 x Leopard AVLB, 1 x Leopard AEV, 1 x Recon Landrover with MG.
41st Artillery Battalion: 4 x M109A2 155mm SPG, 1 x FO (YPR-765C).
42nd Mechanised Battalion:
BHQ: 1 x HQ YPR-765C, 1 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R.
3 Mechanised Companies, each: 3 x YPR-765, Combat Teams****.
1 Weapons Company: 2 x YPR-765 with RT61 120mm Mortars, 1 x YPR-765PRAT (TOW).
41st & 43rd Tank Battalions, each:
BHQ: 1 x HQ Leopard 2A1, 1 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R.
3 Tank Companies, each: 4 x Leopard 2A1.

These two formations above are part of the 4th Mechanised Division, and are generally kept at high readiness (as far as that goes for Dutch forces) at their stations in Germany.

The remainder of the Division in Holland are the next available units to mobilise and head to Germany:

Quality: NATO 2
Morale: 1/3 Regular 2/3 Green

Divisional Headquarters: 1 x HQ M577.

42nd Mechanised Brigade:
Bde HQ: 1 x HQ M577.
42nd AA Battery: 2 x Gepard SPAA.
42nd Anti-Tank Company: 2 x AMX-13/105mm, 2 x VCI with TOW.
42nd Recce Company (only present up to 1984): 1 x Recon AMX-13/105mm, 4 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R, 1 x Recon M113 Combat Team***, 1 x M106 SP Mortar.
42nd Engineer Company: 3 x M113 Engineer Combat Teams, 1 x Centurion AVLB, 1 x Leopard AEV, 1 x Recon Landrover with MG.
55th Artillery Battalion: 4 x M109A1 155mm SPG, 1 x FO (YPR-765C).
43rd, 44th, 45th Mechanised Battalions, each:
BHQ: 1 x HQ YP-408 (and 1 x YP-408 with GSR**)
3 Mechanised Companies, each: 3 x YP-408 Combat Teams***.
1 Weapons Company: 1 x YP-408 with RT61 120mm Mortar, 1 x YP-408 with TOW.
57th Tank Battalion:
BHQ: 1 x HQ Centurion 5/2, 1 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R.
3 Tank Companies, each: 4 x Centurion Mk5/2.

43rd Mechanised Brigade
Bde HQ: 1 x HQ M577.
43rd AA Battery: 2 x Gepard SPAA.
43rd Anti-Tank Company: 4 x YPR-765PRAT (TOW).
43rd Recce Company (only present up to 1984): 1 x Recon AMX-13/105mm, 4 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R, 1 x Recon M113 Combat Team***, 1 x M106 SP Mortar.
43rd Engineer Company: 3 x M113 Engineer Combat Teams, 1 x Leopard AVLB, 1 x Leopard AEV, 1 x Recon Landrover with MG.
43rd Artillery Battalion: 4 x M109A2 155mm SPG, 1 x FO (YPR-765C).
41st & 47th Mechanised Battalions, each:
BHQ: 1 x HQ YPR-765 (and 1 x YPR-765 with GSR**)
3 Mechanised Companies, each: 3 x YPR-765 Combat Teams****.
1 Weapons Company: 1 x YPR-765 with RT61 120mm Mortar, 1 x YPR-765 with TOW.
42nd Tank Battalion:
BHQ: 1 x HQ Leopard 1A1-V, 1 x Recon Lynx M113 C&R.
3 Tank Companies, each: 4 x Leopard 1A1-V.

Air Force Assets stationed in Germany that could support 4th Dutch Mechanised Division:
3rd & 5th AA Regiments, each:
4 AA Squadrons, each: 1 Towed Improved HAWK, 1 Towed M55 Quad 0.5” AA HMG, 2 Trucks.

1st Corps Assets probably in Germany with (or able to deploy immediately to) 4th Dutch Mechanised Division:
1 Electronic Warfare Unit: Provides 1 Radio Detection EW Mission.
104th LRRP Company: 3 x Recon Infantry Stands in Landrovers (Elite*****).

Notes

* 103rd Recce is initially under command of 4th Dutch Mechanised Division but becomes a Corps Level Asset of 1st Dutch Corps once the Corps has assembled in Germany.

** GSR provides an EW Spotting Mission each turn – this is abstracted into the MSH rules so this stand does not need to be represented ‘on table’.

*** YP-408 & M113 Infantry have 84mm Carl Gustav S550 MAW as their integral ATGW along with LAW.

**** YPR-765 Infantry have Dragon as their integral ATGW weapon in addition to 84mm MAW & LAW above.

***** Elite Status – Treat as Veteran except only check Morale once 3/4 Casualties reached and due to high level of training Scenario Designers may like to add a special specific bonus depending on scenario, e.g. can use Combat Engineer combat bonus + Veteran one in Close Combat, have embedded observer so count as FO or FAC, if doing prepared stealth Recon only spotted at 1″ even in open until they move, or such like (Also see Mark Bevis’ Special Forces Suggestions in his Amendments & Suggestions article – Ed).

In practice units noted as Reserve Generally would not be available immediately, and relied on civilian transport for movement of called up reservists to depots within 72 hours. Forming up into their proper battalions would have taken longer again. All active (Regular Army) units also have one of their line companies on leave at any one time, thus even frontline units would require some three days notice to muster to their current full strength.