Equipment for a Unified Germany

[Abbott Shaull]

As for weapons, the East German units would fight with what they had. Of course, as the fighting continued and MRD and TDs of the NVA were moved from the line for refit and much needed re-organization, this is why by 2000 they are called Panzer and Panzergrendier units. This could be done by several ways, pulling an entire Division from the line which I can see happening to a couple of them. While others would find themselves sending a Regiment here and Regiment there while they receive fresh Brigades that themselves had been refitted for duty since I am sure West German Divisions needed to be pulled from the line too. In general the MRR and TR would be converted to PzG Brigades and Pz Brigades with little effort to consolidate them, as equipment losses mount up.

New troops entering their ranks would be issue standard West German Equipment.

The overall changing of equipment wouldn't be much of a problem. The former NVA units would use up their supplies, and all capture supplies would be turned over to them for their use. This would work fairly well since the NVA units would be spread along the front. By late 1998 and early 1999 is when the snags of this would show as units that capture equipment/arms would want to keep to use for it own purposes.

[Raellus]

The BMP1A1 "Ost" version of the BMP-1:

I posted an image of a Unified Germany BMP-1 (I can't figure out to post it here) on the FB group and a member responded,

"The BMP-1A1 Ost is even more of an abomination than the standard BMP. The Bundeswehr modified them to be road regulation compliant, took the ATGM off, limited the speed to 50/40 kph (roadd/offroad), ruled the speed in training down to 20 kph to minimize wear and tear, deleted the gas tanks in the back doors and put steps on the side to climb the beast easily and without chances of self-inflicted injuries."

I wonder if the Bundeswehr would have the time or resources to make those mods post v1 reunification.

Apparently, IRL, unified Germany eventually sold most of its former-DDR BMP-1s to Sweden, which refurbished them before selling them on to the Czech Republic. Someone (Paul M?) mentioned in another thread that DDR BMP-1s required asbestos abatement before acceptance for post-Cold War service. Yikes! In a v1 timeline, they all probably stay put in Germany, and are used throughout the Twilight War in Unified Germany service.

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[Tegyrius]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I wonder if the Bundeswehr would have the time or resources to make those mods post v1 reunification.

Almost certainly not. The East German military went straight from sitting out the West German invasion to the late November 1996 coup, and from there into combat against the Warsaw Pact forces already fighting the Bundeswehr in East Germany. Taking motor rifle regiments offline to make those mods would almost literally have been a case of changing the tire while the truck was in motion...

- C.

[shrike6]

Originally Posted by Tegyrius

Almost certainly not. The East German military went straight from sitting out the West German invasion to the late November 1996 coup, and from there into combat against the Warsaw Pact forces already fighting the Bundeswehr in East Germany. Taking motor rifle regiments offline to make those mods would almost literally have been a case of changing the tire while the truck was in motion...

- C.

Tegyrius is right in my opinion. I don't see how the Ost is possible any sort of quantity in the v1 timeline. Doing it would take time that you just dont have when the war is on your doorstep. “You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.” - Donald Rumsfeld