"West German Army 1970's-1980's" Topic

I never worked with the West Germans so I can't give an opinion on their capabilities so I know some here on TMP did work with them, what are your thoughts: Did they perform well in the field, were they good troops, what did you think of their weapons, if the ballon did go up would they be better then the Warsaw Pact. Thanks.

Everything I have ever read rates the Germans highly. They were well trained and would be fighting on their own soil.

Jekinder is correct, one of the most motivated and well equipped armies in NATO, fighting in many cases for their very homes. Would rate them above all the WarPac armies on a man to man and machine to machine basis. Their only weakness is the very fact they would be fighting for their very homes. I believe any necessary tactical or operational retreat would have been complicated by this fact.

The Canadian brigade group exercised with II German Corps every other year. The impression was that their exercises were highly scripted. When our commander did something that wasn't in their plan, they seemed to freeze up.

Top-notch equipment and doctrine, though, and great to work with.

The few enlisted I met seemed to be competent, but counting days until there requirement was ended (2 year draftees). What I gathered from others was the Officers and NCOs were competent and motivated.

They were good to work with, although on one exercise in 86 some snr German Officers were not too happy at having to withdraw,

Tally Ho!

I spent a lot of time with our partnership unit flying PAH-1s out of Celle. I found them to thoroughly professional and competent. They did have gun envy over the 20mm on our Cobras though.

Interestingly enough, they told me they were in contact with the NVA Mi-24 unit on the other side of the fence. They had a lot of respect for those guys too.

Damn good info please keep it up. I'm trying to have the cards fixed for Battlefront WW2 modified rules for the Cold War. They have Soviets and Warsaw Pact rated better I'm trying to change that.

I'm sure the West Germans would be every bit as competent, if not even more so, than their opponents.

I was with a Leopard 1A4 unit for 2 weeks in 1982. The German Tankers where of the opinion if the tank broke that's a job for the Mechanics. where as we broke out our tool bag and started working on it till the M88 showed up. Also when they refueled, this truck pulled up with 5 gallon gas cans and they had a little canvas collapsible funnel that held the can. it takes ALOT of gas cans to fuel a tank.

I was stationed at Wild Flecken from 75 to 78 IHAWK battery. We had a panzer training unit there and since it was a huge training area, had practically everyone in NATO goes thru, including REFORGER units from the States. It seemed the Bundeswehr were very confident, even the 2 year troops. The worse to see around, French or Dutch.

Other than crossing pontoon bridges and refueling from their 5 gallon jerry cans (and yes, it takes a LOT of them to fuel a tank), I never dealt with W. German units. But for a couple of beers, the old Bundeswere liaison Sergeant Major at Ft Knox in 1980 would regale us with stories when he drove a panzer in North Africa!

well trained Officers, really knew there craft. Good NCO's They had a night vision TV camera that was way better then out passive sight's. thou not as good as our Thermal sights. Should be rated above the Pact's conscripts.

I have a bud who was stationed in the old FRG in the late 1970's in an artillery transport unit(motor pool).