Germanic Empire: Please call me Wilhelm III

“Your Majesty, whether it is a grenade canister or a mortar, it is a very good weapon that can greatly improve the firepower of our grassroots troops. In the event of a future war, our infantry can be supported by strong firepower. Whether on the offensive or defensive, there is more powerful firepower. The combat effectiveness of the troops can also be greatly improved, which is very good! General Schlieffen said.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Listen to the people of the Krupp company that both the grenade canister and the mortar were designed by His Majesty himself? I really didn’t expect that His Majesty actually has talent in this area! Von Falkenhein also marveled.

“Your Majesty, I think the Army should immediately place an order with Krupp. Every infantry squad, infantry platoon, infantry company and infantry battalion of the Imperial Army was equipped with these grenade canisters and mortars. Lieutenant General Moltke Jr. also said.

“Gentlemen, I designed these grenade canisters and mortars for only one purpose, and that is to make the Imperial Army more powerful. Let the Imperial Army break out more powerful in future wars and win the final victory of the war for the Empire. Liu Chuan said.

The army bosses all nodded repeatedly.

Although the relationship between the emperor and the military was complicated, the army was loyal to the emperor. However, the army also has its own will.

However, everyone’s goal is the same, both to be able to win in the future.

Under such circumstances, everyone hopes to strengthen the military as much as possible.

“Gentlemen, I hope to reform the establishment of the Imperial Army. The existing establishment is already somewhat unsuitable. We need new formations and new weapons to make our army more powerful! Liu Chuan said.

Many army generals couldn’t help frowning, and most of the generals of the Germanic Imperial Army were a little old-fashioned.

“First of all, each infantry squad consists of 14 soldiers, including the chief and deputy squad leaders. The chief and deputy squad leaders are equipped with Mauser 98 rifles and a pistol. In addition, a two-man machine gun group and a two-man grenade thrower group were established. Thus, an infantry squad is armed with a light machine gun, a grenade canister, 13 rifles and two pistols.

Three infantry squads are an infantry platoon. In addition to the chief and deputy platoon commanders, the platoon headquarters is equipped with a hygienist and a herald. In addition, there was a four-man heavy machine gun crew and a four-person 60-mm light mortar crew. The entire infantry platoon, the total number was 54 people.

Three infantry platoons form an infantry company. In addition to this, there was a company headquarters, as well as a heavy fire group, armed with two heavy machine guns and two 80-mm medium mortars. Each infantry company was about two hundred men.

Four infantry companies form an infantry battalion, plus battalion headquarters, heavy mortar platoons, reconnaissance platoons, revolleys, etc. The heavy mortar platoon was armed with 4 120-mm heavy mortars. The number of each infantry company was a thousand people.

Three infantry battalions form an infantry regiment. In addition to the regimental headquarters, there were artillery companies, reconnaissance companies, heavy companies and other units. The artillery battery is armed with six field guns or mountain guns. The total number of the regiment was 3,800 people.

Three infantry regiments, plus an artillery regiment, formed an infantry division. In addition, the division headquarters also directly administered a reconnaissance battalion, an engineer battalion, a heavy battalion and other units, with a total strength of more than 18,500 troops. The artillery regiment was armed with 24 150-mm heavy howitzers and 48 105-mm light howitzers. ”

After listening to Liu Chuan’s words, the army bosses and generals were silent one by one.

Obviously, Liu Chuan’s call for direct reform of the army’s establishment shocked them.

But I have to admit that these organizational reforms planned by Liu Chuan seem very reasonable. At the same time, it can also allow the troops to exert a very strong combat effectiveness. In particular, the troops are equipped with a large number of machine guns, grenade canisters, mortars and artillery, so that the troops can be described as armed to the teeth!

However, there are many problems.

“Your Majesty, if we reorganize in this way, the strength of each of our infantry divisions will increase by more than two thousand people compared to the current one. Artillery will also increase a lot. Combat effectiveness will naturally increase a lot. But at the same time, the pressure on logistics will be great. The artillery was too heavy and required a large number of mules and horses to drag. General Schlieffen said.

According to Liu Chuan’s organization, each infantry division would be equipped with 24 150mm howitzers, 48 105mm light howitzers, and 18 mountain field guns, even if not counting grenades and mortars.

Such an artillery configuration can be called very luxurious.

You know, in this era, most of the army in the field, still dominated by artillery under 100 millimeters.

For example, the 75mm field gun of the Gallic Army, the 76.2mm field gun of Lao Maozi, the 3-inch field gun of the Imperial Army of the Sun Never Sets, and the 77mm field gun of the German Imperial Army.

Artillery of more than 100 mm caliber is not equipped with many troops at the division level, and most of them can be regarded as artillery at the army level. As for the 150mm heavy howitzer, it is more often artillery at the corps or army group level.