BATTLEGROUP CWWP-01 Soviet TO&Es 1980-89 V.1.9 Soviet

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-07Soviet Motor Rifle Regiment (BTR) (a)HQBATTLEGROUP CWWP-08Soviet Independent Tank Brigade (e)Commandx1 CommanderCWWP-103Commandx1 T-64 AK 125mm Command MBT (af) CWWP-06Transportx1 BTR-60 PU Command VehicleCWWP-62Forward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverCWWP-115Forward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverCWWP-115Transport/Reccex1 BTR-60 TACPCWWP-64Transport/Reccex1 BTR-60 TACPCWWP-64BATTLEGROUPSBG CWWP-15x3 Motor Rifle Battalion (BTR)MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-03x3 Independent Tank Battalion (bc)ME CWWP-15x1 Reconnaissance CompanyMANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-02x1 Tank Battalion (Motor Rifle Regt)ME CWWP-15x1 Reconnaissance CompanyME-CWWP-13x1 Antiaircraft CompanyME CWWP-25x1 Engineer Company (MRR)ME CWWP-12x1 Antitank CompanyFIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTSFSE CWWP-03x1 Field Artillery Battalion(a) Some divisions, particularly in the early 1980s, were equippedwith tracked BTR-50 APC variants, rather than wheeled BTR60/70/80. A few regiments were equipped with MTLB carriers.However, all divisions in the Soviet Western Group of Forces hadtheir full allocation of BMPs.ME-CWWP-13x1 Antiaircraft CompanyME CWWP-24x1 Engineer Company (TR)FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTSFSE CWWP-01x1 Self-Propelled Field Artillery Battalion(a) May replace command tank with:T-64 BK 125mm Command MBT (d)Or in the mid 1980s in some Tank Divisions with:T-80 BK 125mm Command MBT (d)Or in some formations outside Europe:T-72 K 125mm Command MBTT-72 AK/BK 125mm Command MBT (d)T-54/55 K 100mm Command MBTT-62 K 115mm Command MBTCWWP-07CWWP-12CWWP-09CWWP-10CWWP-03CWWP-05(b) The Tank Battalions of Independent Tank Brigades wereorganised as per the Independent Tank Battalions of Motor RifleDivisions. These were very strong, each having five companies.(c) Soviet Tank Battalions operate as single MEs. However, onecompany may be detached from each Tank Battalion as a separateME (see ME-01).(d) From 1985: T-64 B, T-64 B1, T-72 B and T-80 B tanks and theircommand variants may be fitted with Kontact 1 Explosive ReactiveArmour (ERA).(e) The Independent Tank Brigades were reserve armouredbreakthrough formations, to be held back until a penetration wasachieved and then thrown into the breach (or alternatively as acounter-penetration ‘fire brigade’). There was usually one such TankBrigade in each of the Soviet Groups of Forces in Europe (called‘Fronts’ in wartime), as well as some of the Military Districts in thewestern USSR (again called ‘Fronts’ in wartime). One or twoindividual Armies also had a Tank Brigade. The Ukrainian andBelorussian Military Districts each had a powerful ‘Unified Corps’ (BGCWWP-04, known to NATO as ‘Operational Manoeuvre Groups’),each of x3 Tank Brigades. These were the operational armourreserves for applying the coup de grace to NATO in Europe.(f) Soviet Regimental and Battalion Command Tank (‘K’) variants donot have AAMGs or tube-launched ATGMs.

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-09Soviet Independent Naval Infantry Brigade (c)(3 in the west and others throughout USSR)HQCommandx1 CommanderCWWP-103Transportx1 BTR-60 PU Command VehicleCWWP-62Forward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverCWWP-115Transport/Reccex1 BTR-60 TACPCWWP-64BATTLEGROUPSBG CWWP-17x3 to x5 Naval Infantry Battalion (e)MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-04x1 Naval Amphibious Tank Battalion (a)ME CWWP-05x1 Naval Tank Battalion (a)(a) The tank organisation of Naval Infantry Brigades is somewhatconfusing, as sources differ wildly. Some sources do not list tanks atall, while others list just a PT-76 battalion or just a T-55 battalion, orboth, or mixed battalions with x3 T-55 Companies and x1 PT-76Company, or simply one or two tank battalions (type unspecified)! Itis possible that all of these organisations were used somewhere atsome time, but the simplest and most likely solution is to onebattalion each of T-55 and PT-76.(b) The Naval Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Companies were ofan obsolete type, employing BRDM and PT-76 (no BMP variants).(c) The Soviets had two Naval Infantry Brigades in Europe, as part ofthe Baltic and Leningrad Military Districts, serving alongside thePolish 7th Naval Assault Division. Note however that the LeningradBrigade was at least partly based around the northern naval bases ofMurmansk and Polyarnyy, so may have been used for operations inthe Arctic or Atlantic Oceans rather than the Baltic Sea. There wereother such Naval Infantry Brigades across the USSR (including oneon the Black Sea) and in the Far East there was a Naval InfantryDivision of two Brigades.ME CWWP-12x3 Antitank Company (d)(d) One source lists an ATGM Company AND an Antitank Battalion.This doesn’t seem very likely, so I’ve only listed the three companiesof the Antitank Battalion here.ME CWWP-15x1 Reconnaissance Company (b)(e) The Baltic and Leningrad Brigades each had x5 Naval InfantryBattalions. One Battalion in each brigade was trained for air assault(utilising naval Ka-25 ‘Hormone’ and Ka-35 ‘Helix’ helicopters) andhad one company para-qualified. It was not organised or equippedany differently to the other battalions in the brigade; it simply hadextra training.ME-CWWP-13x1 Antiaircraft CompanyME CWWP-27x1 Naval Engineer CompanyFIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTSFSE CWWP-01x1 Self-Propelled Field Artillery BattalionFSE CWWP-05x1 Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-10Soviet Independent Air Assault Brigade(1 per Front) (a)HQCommandx1 CommanderTransportx1 UAZ-469 Light Utility Vehicle (b)CWWP-103BATTLEGROUP CWWP-11Soviet Independent Air Mobile Brigade (a)HQCommandx1 CommanderCWWP-103CWWP-86Transportx1 UAZ-469 Light Utility VehicleForward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverCWWP-115Forward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverCWWP-115Transport/Reccex1 UAZ-469 Light Utility Vehicle (b)CWWP-86Transport/Reccex1 UAZ-469 Light Utility VehicleCWWP-86CWWP-86BATTLEGROUPSBATTLEGROUPSBG CWWP-20x2 Air Assault Infantry BattalionME CWWP-19x3 Parachute Infantry Battalion (b)ME CWWP-19x2 Parachute Infantry BattalionMANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-21x1 Airborne Reconnaissance CompanyMANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-21x1 Airborne Reconnaissance CompanyME-CWWP-20x1 Airborne Light Antiaircraft CompanyME-CWWP-19x1 Airborne Antiaircraft CompanyME CWWP-26x1 Airborne Engineer CompanyME CWWP-26x1 Airborne Engineer CompanyME CWWP-18x1 Airborne Antitank CompanyME CWWP-18x1 Airborne Antitank CompanyFIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTSFSE CWWP-04x1 Field Artillery Battery (c)FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTSFSE CWWP-07x1 Airborne Artillery Battalion(a) The independent Air Assault Brigades normally formed theairborne reserve for a Soviet ‘Front’. Sometimes these weresupplemented by Guards Air Assault Divisions (BG CWWP-03).Along the quiet southern fringes of the USSR, the lighter andcheaper Air Mobile Brigades were used rather than Air AssaultBrigades (see BG CWWP-11). Individual Soviet Armies each hadan independent Air Assault Infantry Battalion under theircommand (see BG CWWP-18).(b) Sources do not list any AFVs for the Brigade Headquarters, soI’ve given them softskins. However, it does seem possible thatthey would have used BMDs. Therefore, may replace UAZ-469swith:BMD U Airborne Command VehicleCWWP-66(a) The Airmobile Brigades were mainly deployed along thesouthern fringes of the USSR, where there wasn’t a major threatfrom NATO. Consequently they were a lot lighter (and cheaper)than the Air Assault Brigades, as they lacked lacked heavyequipment such as BMDs. They also had a single artillerybattery rather than an entire artillery battalion as found in the AirAssault Brigades.(b) The Para Battalions are organised as per those of the AirAssault Brigades, but they do not have SPG-9 73mm RecoillessRifles.(c) The Field Artillery Battery would not have armouredcommand/OP vehicles.

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-12Soviet Guards Air Assault Regiment (a)HQCommandx1 CommanderTransportx1 BMD U Airborne Command VehicleForward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverTransport/Reccex1 BMD U Airborne Command VehicleBATTLEGROUP CWWP-13Soviet Independent Motor Rifle Brigade (a)Commandx1 CommanderCWWP-103CWWP-66Transportx1 BMP-KSh Command VehicleCWWP-65CWWP-115Forward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverCWWP-115Transport/Reccex1 BTR-60 PSBG CWWP-20x3 Air Assault Infantry BattalionBG CWWP-14x4 Motor Rifle Battalion (BMP)MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSMANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME-CWWP-19x1 Airborne Antiaircraft CompanyME CWWP-02ME CWWP-26x1 Airborne Engineer CompanyME CWWP-15x1 Reconnaissance CompanyME CWWP-18x1 Airborne Antitank CompanyME-CWWP-13x1 Antiaircraft CompanyFIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTSFSE CWWP-09x1 Airborne Mortar Companyx1 Tank Battalion (Motor Rifle Regt)ME CWWP-25x1 Engineer Company (MRR)ME CWWP-12x1 Antitank CompanyFIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTSFSE CWWP-01x1 Self-Propelled Field Artillery Battalion(a) The term ‘Brigade’ in the Red Army was something of an honorificand was usually applied to independent regiment-sized units with avery special task. In this case, the unit described above is the 6thMotor Rifle Brigade, which had the distinction of being the garrison ofEast Berlin. I’ve not come across any other Independent Motor RifleBrigades in the Soviet order of battle.

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-14Motor Rifle Battalion (BMP)HQCommandx1 CommanderTransportx1 BMP-KSh Command VehicleBATTLEGROUP CWWP-15Motor Rifle Battalion (BTR)CWWP-103CWWP-65MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSCommandx1 CommanderCWWP-103Transportx1 BTR-60 PU Command VehicleCWWP-62MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-07x3 Motor Rifle Company (BMP)ME CWWP-06x3 Motor Rifle Company (BTR)ATTACHMENTSOrganic Fire Supportx4 M-43 120mm Mortar (ac)HQATTACHMENTSCWWP-113Organic Fire Supportx4 M-43 120mm Mortar (af)CWWP-113CWWP-87Transportx4 Gaz-66 Medium Truck (cd)CWWP-87Self-Observed Fire Supportx1 AGS-17 30mm AGL (e)Transportx4 Gaz-66 Medium TruckCWWP-110Self-Observed Fire Supportx1 AGS-17 30mm AGL (g)CWWP-110CWWP-34Transportx1 BTR-60 PB APC (bc)CWWP-31x2 AT-3 ‘Sagger’ ATGM (de)CWWP-96Transportx1 BTR-60 PB APC (bc)CWWP-31x1 SPG-9 73mm Recoilless RifleCWWP-80Transportx1 BTR-60 PB APC (bc)CWWP-31Transportx1 BMP-1 Infantry Combat Vehicle (b)(a) May replace M-43 120mm Mortars with:x4 2B9 Vasilek 82mm Automatic Gun-Mortar (c)CWWP-112Or a mixed platoon:x2 2B9 Vasilek 82mm Automatic MortarCWWP-112x2 M-43 82mm Mortar (c)CWWP-111Some sources suggest that in the late 1980s the mortars may bereplaced with:x3 2S9 ‘Anona’ Self-Propelled 120mm MortarCWWP-72(b) From mid 1980s: May replace BMP-1 with:BMP-1P Infantry Combat VehicleCWWP-35BMP-2 Infantry Combat VehicleCWWP-36Note that the BMP-1 was never completely replaced by the BMP-2 inSoviet units based in Europe and it was often the case that a unitcould have both BMP-1 and BMP-2 (though they were probablysegregated by company).(c) In 1988 a reorganisation reduced the number of mortars in abattalion from x4 to x3. Therefore remove x1 weapon from theplatoon. However, it does seem that a great many units were alreadyoperating with only x3 weapons throughout the period – possibly dueto a shortage of such weapons.(d) From mid-1980s: May replace trucks with:MTLB Armoured Carrier(e) Mid-1980s: Increase to x3 AGS-17.CWWP-90(a) May replace M-43 120mm Mortars with:x4 2B9 Vasilek 82mm Automatic Gun-Mortar (f)Or a mixed platoon:x2 2B9 Vasilek 82mm Automatic Mortarx2 M-43 82mm Mortar (f)CWWP-112CWWP-112CWWP-111(b) Note that the BTR-60 PB remained the most common SovietAPC in Europe until the end of the Cold War. Nevertheless, BTR-60may be replaced with:BTR-70 APCCWWP-32Or from mid 1980s: May replace BTR-60/70 with:BTR-80 APCCWWP-33(c) During the 1970s and 1980s the USSR suffered from a severeshortage of APCs. As a consequence, some obsolete typesremained in service well-beyond their sell-by date in low-categorydivisions. May therefore replace APCs with one of the following:BTR-60 P APCCWWP-29BTR-60 PA APCCWWP-30BTR-50 PB APCCWWP-135BTR-50 PK APCCWWP-28BTR-152 APCCWWP-27(d) May replace AT-3 ‘Sagger’ with:AT-4 ‘Spigot’ ATGMCWWP-97(e) Battalions of some divisions had x3 ATGMs (the third ATGMreplaces the SPG-9 73mm Recoilless Rifle team).(f) In 1988 a reorganisation reduced the number of mortars in abattalion from x4 to x3. Therefore remove x1 weapon from theplatoon. However, it does seem that a great many units werealready operating with only x3 weapons throughout the period –possibly due to a shortage of such weapons.(g) Mid-1980s: Increase to x3 AGS-17.

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-16Reconnaissance Battalion (a)Commandx1 BRDM-2U Command Vehicle (b)BATTLEGROUP CWWP-18Independent Air Assault Infantry Battalion (d)CWWP-60Forward Air Controllerx1 Forward ObserverCWWP-115Transport/Reccex1 BTR-60 TACPCWWP-64MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-17x1 or x2 Heavy Reconnaissance CompanyHQCommandx1 CommanderCWWP-103Transportx1 BMD U Airborne Command VehicleCWWP-66MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-09x1 Air Assault Infantry CompanyME CWWP-10x2 or x3 Parachute Infantry CompanyME CWWP-16x1 Scout Car CompanyATTACHMENTSATTACHMENTSReccex2 BRDM-2 RKh NBC Recce Vehicle (c)CWWP-59(a) Note that there were very many variations on Soviet recce unit andsub-unit organisation and it remains a very difficult topic to research.(b) May replace BRDM-2U with:BRM 73mm Reconnaissance Vehicle(c) Late 1980s: May replace BRDM-2 RKh with:RKhM NBC Recce VehicleCWWP-58CWWP-144BATTLEGROUP CWWP-17Naval Infantry BattalionHQCWWP-111Organic Fire Supportx1 2B9 Vasilek 82mm Auto Mortar (a)CWWP-111Transportx1 GAZ-66 Medium TruckCWWP-87Self-Observed Fire Supportx1 AGS-17 30mm AGL (b)CWWP-110x2 or x3 AT-4 ‘Spigot’ ATGM (c)CWWP-97(a) The mortars were normally allocated directly to the battalion’scompanies, with the Vasilek section going to the Air AssaultCompany.Commandx1 CommanderCWWP-103Transportx1 BTR-60 PU Command Vehicle (a)CWWP-62(b) Mid-1980s: Increase to x3 AGS-17. These weapons werenormally allocated directly to the Parachute Companies.(c) The AT-4 ‘Spigot’ ATGMs were normally allocated directly tothe Parachute Companies. The Air Assault Company had its ownorganic ATGMs, mounted on its BMDs.MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-08x3 Naval Infantry Company (b)(d) Each Soviet Army normally possessed an Independent AirAssault Infantry Battalion as its airborne reserve.ATTACHMENTSOrganic Fire Supportx4 M-43 120mm Mortar (cd)CWWP-113Transportx4 Gaz-66 Medium TruckCWWP-87(a) Late 1980s: Replace BTR-60 with:BTR-70 APCOrganic Fire Supportx2 or x3 M-43 82mm Mortar (a)CWWP-32(b) One Battalion in each brigade was trained for air assault, withone company being para-qualified. Organisationally they were nodifferent, though clearly the heavy vehicles would not be able toaccompany an airborne assault. Transport would be provided bynaval Ka-25 ‘Hormone’ or Ka-35 ‘Helix’ helicopters.(c) In 1988 a reorganisation reduced the number of mortars in abattalion from x4 to x3. Therefore remove x1 weapon from theplatoon. However, it does seem that a great many units werealready operating with only x3 weapons throughout the period –possibly due to a shortage of such weapons.(d) Compared to Motor Rifle and Air Assault Battalions, thisorganisation seems very ‘light’ on support weapons platoons, but Ihaven’t been able to find many sources from which to glean suchinformation. However, sources for the very similar Polish MarineBattalions also describe a ‘light’ support weapons organisation, but inthat case there was just one platoon of AGS-17s listed for eachbattalion. This requires further research.

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-19Parachute Infantry BattalionHQCommandx1 CommanderBATTLEGROUP CWWP-21Antitank BattalionCWWP-103MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-10x3 Parachute Infantry CompanyCWWP-103Transportx1 BRDM-2U Command VehicleCWWP-60ME CWWP-14x2 Antitank Gun CompanyOrganic Fire Supportx4 M-43 82mm Mortar (ab)CWWP-113x2 AT-4 ‘Spigot’ ATGMCWWP-97Self-Observed Fire Supportx1 AGS-17 30mm AGL (c)CWWP-110x1 SPG-9 73mm Recoilless RifleCWWP-80(a) May replace some or all M-43 120mm Mortars with:2B9 Vasilek 82mm Automatic MortarCWWP-112(b) In 1988 a reorganisation reduced the number of mortars in abattalion from x4 to x3. Therefore remove x1 weapon from theplatoon. However, it does seem that a great many units werealready operating with only x3 weapons throughout the period –possibly due to a shortage of such weapons.(c) Mid-1980s: Increase to x3 AGS-17.BATTLEGROUP CWWP-20Air Assault Infantry BattalionCommandx1 CommanderCWWP-103Transportx1 BMD U Airborne Command VehicleCWWP-66MANOEUVRE ELEMENTSME CWWP-09x3 Air Assault Infantry CompanyATTACHMENTSSelf-Observed Fire Supportx1 AGS-17 30mm AGL (b)CWWP-110Transportx1 BTR-D Airborne APCCWWP-145(a) Mid-1980s: A small Mortar Platoon may have been added to theorganisation:x1 M-43 82mm Mortar (c)CWWP-111x1 UAZ-469 Light Utility VehicleCWWP-86(b) Mid-1980s: Increase to x3 AGS-17.Commandx1 CommanderMANOEUVRE ELEMENTSATTACHMENTSHQHQME CWWP-12x1 Antitank Company

MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWWP-01Tank Battalion (Tank Regiment) (b)MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWWP-03Independent Tank Battalion (bd)Commandx1 T-64 AK 125mm Command MBT (acd)CWWP-06x12 T-64 A 125mm MBT (ace)(a) May replace all tanks with:T-64 B 125mm MBT (c)T-64 B1 125mm MBT (c)Or in the mid 1980s in some Tank Divisions with:T-80 B 125mm Main Battle Tank (c)Or in some divisions outside Germany with:T-72 125mm Main Battle TankT-72 A/B 125mm Main Battle Tank (c)T-54/55 100mm Main Battle TankT-62 115mm Main Battle -03CWWP-05(b) Soviet Tank Battalions generally operate as single MEs.However, one company of x4 tanks may be detached from eachTank Battalion as a separate ME (designate one tank as theCompany Commander).(c) From 1985: T-64 B, T-64 B1, T-72 B and T-80 B tanks andtheir command variants may be fitted with Kontact 1 ExplosiveReactive Armour (ERA).(d) Soviet Regimental and Battalion Command Tank (‘K’) variantsdo not have AAMGs or tube-launched ATGMs.(e) Some low-category formations would have a reduced battalionestablishment with only two platoons per company. In theseinstances, delete x3 Main Battle Tanks.MANOEUVRE ELEMENT CWWP-02Tank Battalion (Motor Rifle Regiment) (b)Commandx1 T-64 AK 125mm Command MBT (acd)CWWP-06x17 T-64 A 125mm MBT (ac)(a) May replace all tanks with:T-64 B 125mm MBT (c)T-64 B1 125mm MBT (c)Or in the mid 1980s in some Tank Divisions with:T-80 B 125mm Main Battle Tank (c)Or in some divisions outside Germany with:T-72 125mm Main Battle TankT-72 A/B 125mm Main Battle Tank (c)T-54/55 100mm Main Battle TankT-62 115mm Main Battle -03CWWP-05(b) Soviet Tank Battalions generally operate as single MEs.However, in this instance, the battalion may be divided up intocompany MEs of x6 tanks each, with each company comingunder the command of a Motor Rifle Battalion commander(designate one tank in each company as the CompanyCommander).(c) From 1985: T-64 B, T-64 B1, T-72 B and T-80 B tanks andtheir command variants may be fitted with Kontact 1 ExplosiveReactive Armour (ERA).(d) Soviet Regimental and Battalion Command Tank (‘K’) variantsdo not have AAMGs or tube-launched ATGMs.Commandx1 T-64 AK 125mm Command MBT (ace) CWWP-07x16 T-64 A 125mm MBT (ad)CWWP-07(a) May replace all tanks with:T-64 B 125mm MBT (c)CWWP-07T-64 B1 125mm MBT (c)CWWP-08Or in the mid 1980s in some Independent Tank Brigades with:T-80 B 125mm Main Battle Tank (c)CWWP-12Or in some divisions outside Germany with:T-72 125mm Main Battle TankCWWP-09T-72 A/B 125mm Main Battle Tank (c)CWWP-10T-54/5

BATTLEGROUP CWWP-01 Soviet Tank Division/Guards Tank Division (a) (a) A Guards Formation was organisationally identical to a non- Guards Formation. The term ‘Guards’ was simply an honorific titl