Volksgrenadier Battalion 1944-45 or what to do with some old Airfix Germans

Years ago I created a two battalion regiment and regimental assets using basing and TOE from Command Decision in order to use up some old Airfix Germans.  What I now want is something I can use for multiple rule sets and different representations of organisation levels: battalion, company, platoon etc.  I did a little research and came up with the following organisation from bayonetstrength:

Battalion HQ

                Communications Platoon

                Supply Platoon

Heavy Company

                Mortar Platoon

                Infantry Gun Platoon

                Two Machine Gun Platoons

Three Rifle Companies

                Rifle Platoon

                Two Sturm Platoons (SMG)

What I want is something I can use for multiple rule sets and different scales.  As a result I came up with the following table:

Unit	Company Level	Platoon Level	Squad Level
Battalion HQ	HQ Stand	HQ Stand
-Communications Platoon		Signals Stand
-Supply Platoon		Supply Stand
Heavy Company	Heavy Weapons Stand
-Mortar Platoon		Mortar Stand	3xMortar
-Infantry Gun Platoon		IG Stand+Limber	2xIG
-Machine Gun Platoon		Machine Gun Stand	2xHMG
-Machine Gun Platoon		Machine Gun Stand	2xHMG
Rifle Company HQ	Rifle Stand		Coy HQ
-Rifle Platoon		Rifle Cmd Stand	Plt HQ, 3xRifle
-Sturm Platoon		SMG Stand	Plt HQ, 3xSMG
-Sturm Platoon		SMG Stand	Plt HQ, 3xSMG
Rifle Company HQ	Rifle Stand		Coy HQ
-Rifle Platoon		Rifle Cmd Stand	Plt HQ, 3xRifle
-Sturm Platoon		SMG Stand	Plt HQ, 3xSMG
-Sturm Platoon		SMG Stand	Plt HQ, 3xSMG
Rifle Company HQ	Rifle Stand		Coy HQ
-Rifle Platoon		Rifle Cmd Stand	Plt HQ, 3xRifle
-Sturm Platoon		SMG Stand	Plt HQ, 3xSMG
-Sturm Platoon		SMG Stand	Plt HQ, 3xSMG
	5	17	13 (Coy)

Of course just one stand is required to represent the unit at the Battalion Level.

The above picture is the first Battalion.  Mainly Airfix’s original WW2 German Infantry, but with scratch built IG 75, mortar and machine guns.  Each stand represents a Platoon sized unit more or less.

The above picture is the second Battalion, identical to the first, but with a few ring-ins (mainly Matchbox) to make up the numbers.  I’m still working out how to get the best out of my camera when it comes to photographing miniatures.

This picture is the Regimental assets.  Airfix again, but with more odds and sods (even a guy from the Airfix German Mountain Troops making part of the engineer platoon).

The last picture is a generic Volksgrenadier unit.  I particularly like that it is out of focus.  It wasn’t intentional, but it reminds me of the “Vaseline on the lens” technique used to get a soft, romantic image; perfect for these old figures that are full of nostalgia.

The only thing I am not happy with is the very small two figure basing.  I would much prefer something like the one and a quarter inch (32mm or so) square Crossfire bases, but this is a much bigger subject for another day.