Amedeo

Try Red Army by Ralph Peters.  Lt Plinnikov is commanding a BRDM platoon.  He doesn't last long in the story, but it is a good description of how the asset is used in the larger picture.

There's also this book, by David Glantz, that gives a good and detailed introduction to the tactics of the Soviet forward detachments.

No lie @sburke bagged an M1 with this thing by hitting in the behind in the Soviet Campaign.

No one is in a hurry... at least I'm not, since I just started the first of your training scenarios! 😄
 
Yes. This is exactly what I had in mind.

Of course I have no difficulties believing that a lot of thought went into this whole business of crafting CMCW. I know the quality Battlefront strives to deliver because I'm a happy customer since the days of CMBO. With CMBO, Battlefront started to produce the best (that is, in my opinion, the most realistic, user friendly and fun to play) tactical wargames and still does. So, rest assured that I'm not writing this to bash CMCW: in fact, now that it is available, and installed both on my Windows laptop and Mac Mini, I ditched all my other tactical cold war era videogames.
Does it mean that CM is perfect? Of course not. And, although I am not one of the top posters,  it's more than 20 years that I joined this community and I do remember how the process of polishing, improving and expanding the various CM titles passed also through a lot of long, documented and passionate threads on these very forums. Even I had the occasion to partecipate in some of those discussions and contribute a little bit of info than managed to find its place into some CM titles. So, I wrote the OP in the spirit of those constructive threads, not to point fingers, not to demand, but to suggest and discuss.
And, speaking, of the engine restrictions on ammunition natures, I'm aware of them, but they are not consequential to what I wrote. They would be of hindrance if one had to place in the very same AFV different APDS types, or different APFSDS types, but that's not the case.
 
I know of the sandbox nature of the game. But CMCW is not a 'generic' Cold War game nor simply an OPFOR vs US Army simulator: it sports a specific timeframe (1979-1982) and it's obvious that BFC goal was (as always) to provide players the most accurate and high fidelity representation of the opposing US and Soviet armies in terms of organization, equipment, weapons, ammo types etc. In this respect I do think that some more polishing and chrome might and should be added. Moreover, it can be easily made in a way that is already a CM staple, i.e. adding to a tank's name a suffix like 1979 or 1980 or early, mid, late, latest to differentiate models that differ only for the ammo loadout composition (reflecting, for example, the introduction of a better kinetic penetrator).
For what concerns the composition of the M60 park in USAREUR units, you are, of course, right. In fact, even with the 'policy' of one tank model-one ammo model, BFC managed to achieve the "best fit" for M60s and M1s in the given timeframe. But, as you noticed, I wasn't speaking of them (although one could point out some subtleties that could allow for a bit of chrome... but I'd better reserve this for another post! 😄)

Of course I have no difficulties believing that a lot of thought went into this whole business of crafting CMCW. I know the quality Battlefront strives to deliver because I'm a happy customer since the days of CMBO. With CMBO, Battlefront started to produce the best (that is, in my opinion, the most realistic, user friendly and fun to play) tactical wargames and still does. So, rest assured that I'm not writing this to bash CMCW: in fact, now that it is available, and installed both on my Windows laptop and Mac Mini, I ditched all my other tactical cold war era videogames.
Does it mean that CM is perfect? Of course not. And, although I am not one of the top posters,  it's more than 20 years that I joined this community and I do remember how the process of polishing, improving and expanding the various CM titles passed also through a lot of long, documented and passionate threads on these very forums. Even I had the occasion to partecipate in some of those discussions and contribute a little bit of info than managed to find its place into some CM titles. So, I wrote the OP in the spirit of those constructive threads, not to point fingers, not to demand, but to suggest and discuss.
And, speaking, of the engine restrictions on ammunition natures, I'm aware of them, but they are not consequential to what I wrote. They would be of hindrance if one had to place in the very same AFV different APDS types, or different APFSDS types, but that's not the case.
 
I know of the sandbox nature of the game. But CMCW is not a 'generic' Cold War game nor simply an OPFOR vs US Army simulator: it sports a specific timeframe (1979-1982) and it's obvious that BFC goal was (as always) to provide players the most accurate and high fidelity representation of the opposing US and Soviet armies in terms of organization, equipment, weapons, ammo types etc. In this respect I do think that some more polishing and chrome might and should be added. Moreover, it can be easily made in a way that is already a CM staple, i.e. adding to a tank's name a suffix like 1979 or 1980 or early, mid, late, latest to differentiate models that differ only for the ammo loadout composition (reflecting, for example, the introduction of a better kinetic penetrator).
For what concerns the composition of the M60 park in USAREUR units, you are, of course, right. In fact, even with the 'policy' of one tank model-one ammo model, BFC managed to achieve the "best fit" for M60s and M1s in the given timeframe. But, as you noticed, I wasn't speaking of them (although one could point out some subtleties that could allow for a bit of chrome... but I'd better reserve this for another post! 😄)

@Amedeo I'll look into this more closely when I have time (swamped all weekend and trying to keep up) but I do think you bring up a few good points, especially regarding some of the Soviet ammo. I've added this to my own list of things to look into to be considered for the first patch. Try to get more detailed later when I have more time for it. 

The 2A42 30mm autocannon on the BMP-2 in the game has APDS ammo. I presume it's the 3UBR8 round. AFAIK this particular type of ammunition wasn't available for the aforementioned weapon during the 1979-1982 timeframe (IIRC it entered service after the end of the Cold War).
No Beehive ammo for the 152mm gun launcher on the M60A2? Was it a Sheridan-only asset? 
Moreover I dare to say that some obsolete round are not likely to be found in units stationed (or deployed) in Germany during the first weeks of war. I mean the M392 105mm APDS and the 3BM12 125mm APFSDS. In the first case, even if NG units equipped with M48A5 would have been rushed to Europe I presume it would have been a  folly to add another round to the logistical queue (in addition to the two or three available), considering that in the 1979-1982 timeframe even the newer M728 APDS was obsolescent. For what concerns the Soviet round, well, Fofanov wrote that 3BM22 "was the most common APFSDS projectile used by Soviet Army in late 70s-early 80s", so there's ground to presume that also 3BM15 should be rare in the 1979-1982 timeframe, let alone the 3BM12!
And last but not least, I presume that the more modern variants of the T-55 should get the 3BM20 APFSDS (minimum!) instead of the 3BM8 APDS. Let's remember that the mass production of the 3BM25 started in the mid '70s (although the round officially entered service only in 1978).
Thus, by 1979 we have two newer generations of AP ammunition already available for the 100mm D-10T gun to supersede the obsolete (and expensive - don't forget that one of the goal of introducing the 3BM20 was to issue the 100mm rifled gun a cheaper, tungsten-wise, ammunition than 3BM8). It makes no sense to suppose that these rounds were all deployed in some obscure military district in the interior of the USSR, instead that with the GSVG units.

Some anecdotes:
https://www.tanknet.org/index.php?/topic/33449-timeline-for-apds-replacement-in-nato/

These are what I list in the designer notes in the scenarios. Good starting point, at least for the Soviets:
FM 100-2-1 The Soviet Army - Operations and Tactics (1990 version)
TRADOC Pamphlet 350-16 Heavy Opposing Force (OPFOR) Tactical Handbook
FM 100-2-3 The Soviet Army - Troops, Organization, and Equipment (1991 version)
AFM Volume 2 Part 3 - Soviet Tactics
I'm also planning on doing a more detailed write up for the training scenarios and including them as a PDF, but I did not have enough time to complete it before the game was released. I figured it was better to get the game out the door than hold it up for a pamphlet no one is going to read! 😁

See this video. In buildings I notoced same approach
 
 

So, BFC, what are you releasing next Friday?  I just want to clear my schedule...

Same here!
This is definitely at the top of my CM games list. Makes sense, seeing as I was one of those obnoxious people here who kept begging for it over the years!

Thank you, @Bil Hardenberger and @The_Capt! Thank you, @Battlefront.com and team! As a child of the Cold War, this game has surpassed my expectations on Day 1. I had so much fun fighting as the "hated" Soviets and loved playing as the "good guy" Americans. The equipment and technology is a blast. This has immediately become my favorite CM game, and I hope it gets the love the CMBN and CMSF have with lots of modules, battle packs and vehicle packs plus great support from the community.
Lt, out!

The 2A42 30mm autocannon on the BMP-2 in the game has APDS ammo. I presume it's the 3UBR8 round. AFAIK this particular type of ammunition wasn't available for the aforementioned weapon during the 1979-1982 timeframe (IIRC it entered service after the end of the Cold War).
No Beehive ammo for the 152mm gun launcher on the M60A2? Was it a Sheridan-only asset? 
Moreover I dare to say that some obsolete round are not likely to be found in units stationed (or deployed) in Germany during the first weeks of war. I mean the M392 105mm APDS and the 3BM12 125mm APFSDS. In the first case, even if NG units equipped with M48A5 would have been rushed to Europe I presume it would have been a  folly to add another round to the logistical queue (in addition to the two or three available), considering that in the 1979-1982 timeframe even the newer M728 APDS was obsolescent. For what concerns the Soviet round, well, Fofanov wrote that 3BM22 "was the most common APFSDS projectile used by Soviet Army in late 70s-early 80s", so there's ground to presume that also 3BM15 should be rare in the 1979-1982 timeframe, let alone the 3BM12!
And last but not least, I presume that the more modern variants of the T-55 should get the 3BM20 APFSDS (minimum!) instead of the 3BM8 APDS. Let's remember that the mass production of the 3BM25 started in the mid '70s (although the round officially entered service only in 1978).
Thus, by 1979 we have two newer generations of AP ammunition already available for the 100mm D-10T gun to supersede the obsolete (and expensive - don't forget that one of the goal of introducing the 3BM20 was to issue the 100mm rifled gun a cheaper, tungsten-wise, ammunition than 3BM8). It makes no sense to suppose that these rounds were all deployed in some obscure military district in the interior of the USSR, instead that with the GSVG units.

The 2A42 30mm autocannon on the BMP-2 in the game has APDS ammo. I presume it's the 3UBR8 round. AFAIK this particular type of ammunition wasn't available for the aforementioned weapon during the 1979-1982 timeframe (IIRC it entered service after the end of the Cold War).
No Beehive ammo for the 152mm gun launcher on the M60A2? Was it a Sheridan-only asset? 
Moreover I dare to say that some obsolete round are not likely to be found in units stationed (or deployed) in Germany during the first weeks of war. I mean the M392 105mm APDS and the 3BM12 125mm APFSDS. In the first case, even if NG units equipped with M48A5 would have been rushed to Europe I presume it would have been a  folly to add another round to the logistical queue (in addition to the two or three available), considering that in the 1979-1982 timeframe even the newer M728 APDS was obsolescent. For what concerns the Soviet round, well, Fofanov wrote that 3BM22 "was the most common APFSDS projectile used by Soviet Army in late 70s-early 80s", so there's ground to presume that also 3BM15 should be rare in the 1979-1982 timeframe, let alone the 3BM12!
And last but not least, I presume that the more modern variants of the T-55 should get the 3BM20 APFSDS (minimum!) instead of the 3BM8 APDS. Let's remember that the mass production of the 3BM25 started in the mid '70s (although the round officially entered service only in 1978).
Thus, by 1979 we have two newer generations of AP ammunition already available for the 100mm D-10T gun to supersede the obsolete (and expensive - don't forget that one of the goal of introducing the 3BM20 was to issue the 100mm rifled gun a cheaper, tungsten-wise, ammunition than 3BM8). It makes no sense to suppose that these rounds were all deployed in some obscure military district in the interior of the USSR, instead that with the GSVG units.

Soviet Campaigns = Tough and Challenging:
- First off the player has to manage an entire MRB TF (so Bn and a Tank Coy as a min) in each battle (except the last one but lets leave that one for now).  Over the Campaign the player is basically managing an MRR across the campaign scenarios, so 3 x MRBs, a TB and AT Bn as they fight down towards Alsfeld.
- The Campaign reflects Soviet doctrine (and POV to be honest) so there is very little RRR between battles (in March or Die it is zero).  So if one loses the better part of a tank company in Battle #1, you have to live with those losses for the rest of the campaign.  It is very easy to run out of gas by the end if a player is reckless.
- Force ratios are pretty forgiving actually, Soviets will go into each fight with at least a 2:1 advantage or higher.
- Tough as in US troops quality and positioning.  The US troops are 11 ACR and 3rd Armd Div, about the best equipped and trained the West had in this area.  They have owned the ground for nearly 40 years at this point and know every inch of it.  So each fight sees them very well positioned and with the best stuff.
As to saving and bush-searching, well I will leave that decision to you but each fight in on the clock so don't take too long.  Bottom line is that the campaign is not recommended for first time players as it will likely be frustrating.  Veterans should be prepared for shaking hands and tears in their eyes if they make it to seeing the street lights of Alsfeld.

Fightin' 41 ready for action! 😀

Fightin' 41 ready for action! 😀

Dang! So, we, Sheridan aficionados, need a module to go back a couple years to see the M551 in line (with the Armored Cavalry). And, for good measure, one should go back to 1976, just to put in the old Soviet heavies (ISU-152, IS-2, IS-3, T-10).
Since a module like this would come up last, I foresee interesting Sheridan vs ISU-152, Leopard 1 vs IS-2M and Chieftain vs T-10M scenarios! 😂

It's widely known that, after the end of WW2, the Soviets continued to use the ISU-152 in their armed forces. Modernized versions, like the ISU-152K (1956) and ISU-152M (1959) served with first line units well into the early 1970s, when modern self propelled guns, such as the 2S1 and 2S3, were introduced.
What is, perhaps, not so widely known is that the introduction of the new generation SPGs didn't decree the instantaneous and complete disappearance of these assault guns from Soviet inventories... and units!
Here are a few photos I recently found on the net, depicting the use of ISU-152 assault guns in Soviet Army/Navy units during the late '70s and the early '80s.
331st OSDAN, 55th Naval Infantry Division (Pacific Fleet) 
1974-1978







1980-1981



207th Training Regiment, 24th Tank Division (Baltic MD)
1983




 
22nd Tank Division (Kiev MD)
1986


Some of these vehicles were also used by "liquidators" after the infamous Chernobyl' nuclear accident. 

Fortunately Sheridans were still in ACAV service in 1979, although they were being phased out. Though I would love to see a US airborne and VDV module, as well as east germany, west germany, and the BAOR to flesh out the german region.

101st and 82nd were going to the Middle East as part of the RDF/CENTCOM's XVIIIth Corps.  The 173rd Brigade were in Italy as part of AFSOUTH?  If so, they get Yugoslavia and northern Italy. 

If we say about 70th, separate tank battalions/regiments, equipped with heavy tanks or ISU-152 had completely other tasks and other subordination - as a rule they belonged to Army level, though some tank divisions had own battalion with heavy tanks. They were in constant readiness and stood in the boxes with loaded ammunition. In the cause of war, they had to move to the border immediately with the task "last stand" in order to win the time for other tank divisions, equipped with modern MBTs. GSFG's T-10, for example, even hadn't loader in own crew. Afer arriving on position, the driver left own place and became as loader - the tank turned out into armored bunker.
Thus, using of heavy tanks had own specifics and didn't slow down other units. IS-3M at all were in small number - they partially remained after disbanding of heavy tank divisions and gradually were turned back to USSR. This tank finished own active service in 1973 - probably all useful IS-3 were gathered in 80th reserve cadre tank division of Transbaikal Miliatry District, were they kept to the end of 80th.
This district also had reserve tank division equipped with T-34-85. So, you can see, that old tanks were moving to perifery, so if you discover the photos of some rarity armor in service in 70-80th it is not a sign they could use throughout all Soviet army.  

Last GSVG's ISU-152 of 221st separate tank regiment of 2nd Guard Tank Army were moved back to USSR in October 1976. The regiment have received T-64A instead.
In European part of USSR these SP-guns were been moving in reserve since begining of 70th, but on Far East ISU-152 delayed up to the end of 70th. And in Marines units too. But you should know, Far East defense system and units TO&E had own specific