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I've done two Comic AARs, and always dreaded the idea of work involved in doing a classic one. Until I discovered just how much work the CAARs were. Combined with all the AARs I've read here already trying to improve my tactical knowledge and skills, made me really want to give this standard format AAR a try. The battle is a 45 minute duration attack by me on a German opponent in PBEM. My partner doesn't participate in the BF forums so this AAR will not be mirrored from the German perspective. I am a graphics dilettante compared to Bil Hardenberger. I recommend you read his AARs, and visit his blog. His AARs were to me highly educational as well as inspirational. The concepts of planning, reconnaissance, and how to present it to readers in graphic format are all things I've learned from reading them. By no means can I approach his tactical or graphical skill but I hope you will still find this enjoyable to read and contribute to the thread.

Evening all.

G'day all. I've enjoyed making SP scenarios in the ArmA series in my spare time, for example, this one. I've got a scenario involving spetznas sabotaging CDF equipment in Chernarus circa 2009 that is technically finished, but I need three voice actors who either speak Russian (or are willing to take a tilt at some Russian transliterated into English) to polish it off. Two parts are small (one-two lines each) and one is considerable (around 15 lines). No prior experience required and I'll provide all the details. Please, if you're interested (or you know someone who may be), drop me a PM, reply below or contact me here.

I've put this here instead of the bug section so the scenario makers have a chance to jab at realistic orders of battle through the scenario editor. Sourcing preface. TOEs and ORBATs are considered classified information. That is why you won’t find original document sourcing here. Gathering this information from direct sourcing is also illegal. Most of this is presented “as is” for that exact reason and formation numbers are dropped. Where applicable, general sourcing will be used. Part 1 - Motor-rifle battalion. This is presented in an ascending order from squad to battalion unit size. We have deliberately ignored Staff and battalion command, signals and comms platoons, battalion supply platoons and medical platoons. Russian army has three main types of motor-rifle battalions - BMP, BTR and MTLB. Unless the type is specified, consider universal application. 1- Some squads in CMBS tend to have both PKP’s and PKM’s. That is a dubious combination unconfirmed by actual deployment personnel or exercise reports. PKP shares 80% of the kit with PKM, so general replacement happened very quickly. However, there are some remote formations that still have only PKM’s. To note, they more than likely don’t apply to CMBS rapid deployment scenario. It is important to note though, few BMP battalions that still have not received PKP’s, use RPK-74M’s on squad level. BMP Battalions that have received PKP’s use them both on platoon and squad level. Consequently BMP platoons can either have 4xPKP, or 1xPKM+3xRPK-74M. 2- PKM with a tripod mount is called PKMS. Effectively the tripod mount has not been used since the late 80’s. That is due to two things, necessary accuracy dictated by PKM’s SAW role was achievable without the mount devaluing increased weight over marginal accuracy gain. Source - PK, PKM, PKS, PKMS, PKB, PKMB and PKT manual page 1, 1979, MoD Published. 3- Standard squad carried ammo for PKP/PKM is 600 rounds. 2 ammo boxes of 200 rounds and 2 ammo boxes of 100 rounds.Current MG rounds carried are overabundant, even if considering that each squad member carries an additional 100 round box like in the Chechen campaign, the MG load is overrepresented. The Military Balance 2013. — P. 370. 4- AKS74U for RPG carrier is no longer the only option. The swap to AK-74M for RPG operators begun back in 1994. Both variations tend to crop up from time to time, so it is only fair to assume both are still in valid service. It is hard to determine which variation is the preferred one by the army. 5- Starting from the 80’s AGS operators were armed with AKS74U’s. Somewhere from mid-90’s they begun switching them to AK-74M’s, so both rifle variants can be found. PM’s are not considered an effective infantry weapon in the Russian army and can only be found as a sidearm on officers. Example. 6- With most brigades, SVD operators are moved out of general motor-rifle companies into a specialised marksman company. As such, SVD’s are not generally present in motor-rifle companies at all. 7- Most BMP motor-rifle companies have 11 vehicles, 3 per platoon and 2 for command. This is a leftover from when companies had a organic MANPADS section. There are alternative, “strengthened”, brigade companies with organic AGL’s. These companies have 12 (one AGL squad) or 14 (full AGL platoon of 3 squads) BMP vehicles. Some experimental ORBATS also include 4 BMP’s per platoon instead of 3, but I am not sure this variation should be considered until it is more widespread. 8- Every company is equipped with a short-range doppler-effect recon station and has a one trained operator for it. They are usually attached to the command squad. These have been standard issue since late 60’s. First such station, PSNR-1, was introduced to service in 1966, albeit not on company level back then. SBR-3, the first doppler station for company-level use was introduced into active service in 1976. Tactically, this recon station is similar to company-level small UAV’s used by the US army. In terms of CMBS, there are two stations that need to be covered -SBR-3 “Fara/Fara-U” from 1976 and SBR-5 “Fara-1” (Headlight) introduced into service in 1999. Ultimately, the code for this is already in game with BRM-1 and 3 using PSNR-5 and PSNR-5M. General Specs (SBR-3) are: Operators - 1 Operational band - Unknown Effective coverage - Distance 3km, azimuth scanning unknown. Effective detection - Man 900m, Vehicle 2.5-3km. Average detection error - Unknown Operation time - 8 hours at 20 °C, 2 hours at -40 °C Weight - 18.5kg. Deployment time - 5 mins. Source: Here + Recon Sgt. Handbook, 1989 MoD Published. http://i.imgur.com/2P4lJFG.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RqZ73QX.jpg http://i.imgur.com/50tyFlU.png http://i.imgur.com/01LmrDL.jpg General Specs (SBR-5) are: Operators - 1 Operational band - 2cm (J) band Effective coverage - Distance 5km, 24°/45°/90°/120° discrete levels of azimuth scanning. Effective detection - Man 2km, Vehicle 4km Average detection error - Distance 20m, 1° of angle error. Operation time - 6 hours of autonomous operation form a battery. Weight - 16.5kg regular, 10.5kg patrol variant. Deployment time - 5 mins. Source: Here. http://i.imgur.com/FJV0lZK.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ZqrHYek.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rxyRuEN.jpg http://i.imgur.com/2FHK1M0.jpg There is also Fara-PV allegedly in in service, and Fara-VR with passed army and state trials as of 2012. Getting the regular SBR-3 first should be the first step though. As with any piece of equipment, there are pros and cons that should be reflected in CM. The major pro for doppler stations is the relative transparency of foliage and small landscape variations. The con is slow movement is very hard or impossible to detect depending on size of the object in question. 9 - The are no weapons platoons in BTR and MTLB companies. MG squads were dropped in early 90’s due to sufficient MG saturation in line motor-rifle platoons. The proper term is Anti-tank squad. 10 - In CMBS BMP battalions are missing engineer and recon platoons found in their BTR and MTLB counterparts. Considering this and point 7, the minimal IRL BMP count per platoon is 42 and not 34 like we currently have in CMBS. 11 - 2S34s have not made it to battalion level integration despite active internet rumour. However nice that might have been, 2S34’s need to be removed from mortar selection for battalions. There are no foreseen plan to introduce 120 or 122mm SP Howitzers to battalion organic support at the moment. 12 - Current motor-rifle battalion mortar support is comprised of 2S12 (120mm) and 2B9’s (82mm), both of which the latter is not present in CMBS. A general mortar battery is comprised of 2-4 platoons of 4 or 3 mortars in each platoon, and a command squad per platoon which is currently missing. Platoons are have homogenous equipment, but batteries are generally mixed between 120mm and 82mm artillery pieces. In difference to general perception, 4 mortar platoons are more commonly integrated into current formations than 3 mortar ones. To add, every mortar platoon has one RPG-7 as available kit. Soviet ORBATs sometimes had “driver-AT operator” MOS description as well. 13 - MTLB and BTR battalion recon platoon look differently IRL. It has four squads (1 command and 3 recon). First recon squad is a surveillance one, has 7 members including vehicle crew of 2 and is organised around a more powerful doppler recon station*, a laser designator and two RATELO operators. This squad is directly plugged into the C4 network wherever that is deployed. This squad is armed with AK-74M’s only, but carries an RPG-7 in their vehicle. Two other recon squads of 7 are organised more traditionally (like we already have in-game), except they also have a “senior-scout” role who by TOE’s should have a VSS or comparative weapon, and one RATELO operator. *To note, if first recon squad of battalion recon platoon is riding a BRM-1K, then the doppler station is a more powerful PNSR variant requiring 2 operators. If any other vehicle is used, SBR-5 and derivatives are operated. 14 - Engineer platoons have four squads IRL, with 1 command and 3 engineer squads. Equipment isn’t necessarily an issue here since CM handles engineering with a very high degree of abstraction. Part 2 - General equipment observations.- CMBS has over represented Motor-rifle NVG equipment. Night scopes, usually within 2+/3 GEN, are often assigned to AT gunner, MG gunner and squad leader. Currently there are no NVG sight and monocles in service with motor-rifle troops. We are not sure how things will change in two years. - Perhaps a bit of an obvious one, but BMP-2M is not in Russian service, was never planned for it and there are currently no plans to introduce it in the future. It is in full blown Algerian service, so this vehicle might be best suited for future CMSF titles. If I had the choice, I would petition this vehicle’s removal along with ERA BMP-3. The latter being a late 90’s development which couldn’t even make it to army trials. - With a high degree of confidence, I can say that BTR-82 with KPVT never entered service. MoD supply and procurement documents. Regular BTR-80’s with KPVT though, are in active service by both the Russian, and Ukrainian armies. I think removing the 82 and introducing the 80 would be a good move towards authenticity. Naval Infantry BTR-80’s, 2014 caspian sea http://i.imgur.com/TXhvLo9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/VFBjozY.jpg Army BTR-80’sб 2015 http://i.imgur.com/gfG5MB7.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/j4OjXZx.jpg- BMP-1P on the other hand still remains in service in fair numbers (around 500 reported). Potentially these are vehicles used for training purposes. Additionally, this is a vehicle still used by the Ukrainian army in fair amounts I believe, and while I am against bringing junk to a CMBS setting, I would still value this over BMP-2M. It is a similar concept with the BTR-70M which is fairly active use. BMP-1P recent exercise application: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDCvTfuatYU http://i.imgur.com/ZLW8noa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XtKEHsg.jpgBTR-70M in recent service: http://i.imgur.com/8Kf2ttX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/8Kf2ttX.jpg*To note, older equipment is often used for training, so its proliferation in active formations may be overstated. - 2S24 isn’t a mortar per say, it is a self propelled base for 2B24 mortar. Together then make 2K32 complex which isn’t in service and there are no plans for it. I would consider removing this vehicle. They are in limited service by the ministry of interior - not the army: Source Prepared, formatted and brough to you by BTR and Wieking. I hope this provides the Devs with enough information to make adjustements towards a more authentic, and more modern Russian ORBATS. I also hope that this provides a bit of a guide for scenario makers.