When the Germans are reporting fighting strength by company...for a standard (1942/43 -- 3 bn per rgt, 3 rgt) German infantry division, would the fighting strength of the regiment be estimated by mulitiplying the average company strength by 9 or by 12? (understand that there are some additional "fighters" in the regiment that may be used in calculating a correct regimental fighting strength figure).

Of to pose the question in a different way, is the average fighting strength of the companies based on taking the average of 9 companies in the regiment...or of 12.

Or to put this in real figures:

.............Unit........Average
.............Fighting....Company
.............Strength....Strength
106th ID.....8/18/43.....8/20/43
239th Rgt...451...........43
240th Rgt...404...........35
241st Rgt...552...........48
Recon Bn....239...........86

In the case of the 239th Rgt, they report a feeding strength of 1,419. Recorded losses during this time appear low (26 on the 18th, 80 on the 19th, no report for the 20th).

[This message has been edited by Chris Lawrence (edited 03-20-2003).]

..............Unit.......Average
..............Strength...Company
..............Report.....Strength
239th Rgt.....821........68
240th Rgt.....755........50
241st Rgt.....795........60
Eng Bn...................82
Recon Bn......238........100
AT Co....................73
FEB...........651