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Originally Posted by Raellus
Perhaps this has been dealt with before on the old forum, but I thought I'd bring it up anyway. Please note that this assumes the v1.0 timeline.
What kinds of uniforms and equipment would former DDR units assimilated into the Bundeswehr use? I'm wondering about uniforms and small arms in particular (big ticket items like Soviet model AFVs and arty would no doubt continue on in use and not be replaced). Would they continue to use their old issue DDR gear? Would they be issued new or cast-off West German gear?
By the mid to late 90's, the RL [unified] German Army was well on its way to replacing its old, 1957 pattern green combat fatigues and old, M1-style steel pot helmets with the current Flektarn [sic] camo pattern fatigues and balistic helmets. Also, the 7.62mm G3 was on its way out, to be replaced with the newer 5.56mm G36. I'm going to assume that this transition would have taken place even had the Cold War continued and reunification not taken place.
On the other side of The Wall, the DDR army, as of around '87, was still using a rather antiquated "Raindrop" pattern camo uni and odd-shaped steel pot helmet. They were equiped with DDR manufactured AKMs, RPKs, and PKMs.
Would the newly absorbed T2K DDR troops receive phased-out 1957 pattern green combat unis from reserve stocks? Would they transition to NATO weapons or keep their perfectly serviceable AKs?
What do ya'll make of the G11? I figure it still wouldn't have been adopted had the Cold War continued, for the same reasons it was passed over in the real time-line. It was still a pretty neat design. Caseless ammo, a 100-round mag, and no muzzle-rise on full auto until the last round left the barrel!
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For practical reasons in my view the Eastern half of the Bundeswehr/NVA would continue using East Bloc equipment until supplies and spare parts were exhausted. Armbands for individuals with recognition stripes plus turret/vehicle tops would be marked to minimize fratricide. Put another way, why not keep giving them what they're familiar with to use?
During the NATO offensives into Poland some equipment would be captured from Polish and Soviet forces to pass along to the Eastern half of the Bundeswehr/former NVA. Remember that the DDR had copious amounts of spares and redundancies stockpiled that could continue to be used even given combat attrition.
The militia/Combat Groups of the working class would in my mind use their sanitized (with Nazi markings removed) K98K's, MP44's and Lugers to protect factories, bridges and communications.
Once Operation Omega was complete perhaps it would be feasible to pass along all of the Eastern Bloc equipment to German militia and completely equip the Bundeswehr with German/US equipment-with East Bloc equipment going into storage caches and small amounts going to pro-Western Polish groups.
If you began an immediate transition to Western equipment for the former NVA what would you give them for tanks besides M48A5's? Not inconsequential but not ideal for engaging even semi-modern Soviet bloc tracks.
The G11-in reality parsimony and budget constraints were the main cause of the G11's demise. I'm told there were other problems (that could have been overcome in time) related to moisture in the caseless format. Have no idea if that is accurate-just what I was told. Just my .02.