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Hello together! Again a post from my side to help improving the best game in the world! I'm just starting a new battle in CMBN with Waffen SS defending and now as I choose a motorized SS Panzergrenadier batalion in the purchasing screen, from the category "Mechanized Infantry", I realize that they don't have any vehicles. No Opel Blitz trucks or Kubelwagen, not even an old bicycle... can it be? The same applies to the SS Panzerdivision Escort Company, in both categories, "infantry" and "mechanized infantry". In the category "Wehrmacht", there are always ammunition trucks assigned to this formation (Panzer Div. Escort Company), even if it is only in the "infantry" category. So I'm wondering that the Waffen SS, which ususally was better equipped than the Wehrmacht, should not have had any trucks in Normandy? This is an error in the TOE, I guess. Have been looking for a thread on this topic before, but it looks like nobody has noticed it yet, so I'm posting it here for discussion or for notification and improvement.

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.

Here we go with our counterparts. This is version 1, so please excuse grammar mistakes and the like. Mechanized and Armored forces Part 1 - Current weapon systems in service In this section the author we will try to examine the current (as of end of 2015) equipment, composition and organisation used by the Ukrainian mechanized and armored units. Other branches might get a passing mention. Since the author is not a Ukrainian citizen, we will mention unit numbers, something we could not do for our Russian investigations. Brief overview of current weapon systems in service: 1 - MBT Ukranian armored and mechanized formations current have around 25 tank battalions in total. That amounts to just about 1000 tanks. The vast majority of these battalions is equipped with either T-64B, T-64B1, T-64BV or T-64BV1 variants, which make up 9%, 22%, 44% and 15% of total armor fleet respectively. Primary differences between T-64B and T-64BV lies in internal glacis configuration and K-1 ERA kits. Minor differences include older T-64B’s having inferior gun and subsequently inferior stabilization, and T-64BV’s having varied (obr. 85 and obr. 87) side ERA panel layout with newer models also having R-173 radios instead of outdated R-123Ms. Overall however, it would be safe to sum up Ukrainian armor fleet as being 90% T-64B variants, a third of which lack any ERA protection and have inferior glacis configuration. The latter variants are not segregated into separate formations and are present among T-64BV’s. For whatever reason, the only exception to this is 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which haв BV variants exclusively. Current rumors indicate that due to high rate of mechanical attrition during Donbass operations, a portion of T-64BV’s will be replaced by refurbished T-72AV’s. For example, the aforementioned 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade has already received a shipment of those tanks. There are also rumors of 128th Mountain Brigade having received T-72’s for service. The only formation using T-64BM’s is 1st Separate Tank Brigade. This tank type attributes to only around 9% of the total armor fleet, which would safely warrant its inclusion in “uncommon” equipment list in CMBS. We are unaware of any future plans (extrapolating to 2017) to refurbish existing T-64BV’s in BM models. Originally Ukrainian MO has ordered 10 T-84 “Oplot” tanks to be procured for domestic service, but could only finance a part of that deal. Therefore, of 10 total, 4 vehicles were sold to US, and of remaining 6, one was sent to the Land Forces Academy in Lvov. Last five vehicles were given to 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade. As such, this is currently a very uncommon piece of equipment with no further known plans to purchase more vehicles. BM Oplot modification was never procured for domestic Ukrainian service, and as it currently stands with Thai contract, Ukrainian defense sector would more then likely be unable to deliver sufficient amount of these tanks even with proper funding. Ukraine also has several other tank types in limited service. Nation guard has around 12 T-64BM1M which is a refitted T-64BV with upgraded ERA, and airmobile formations have several T-80B, T-80BV and T-80UD tanks at their disposal. 2 - IFV/APC Ukrainian armed forces have around 42 Mechanized battalions, the majority of which are supplied with BMP’s. If we remove command vehicles and other miscellaneous BMP based equipment, current BMP composition is as follows: 71% are BMP-2’s, 18% are BMP-1P’s, 10% are BMP-1’s and 1% are BMP-1U’s. It is interesting to point out that Ukraine also has four BMP-3’s in service, two of which were actively engaged in Donbass operations as part of 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade. There is no apparent system to BMP type assignment within battalions. It appears that any company can have mixed BMP-2 and BMP-1 fleets, which means that older equipment isn’t isolated into their own formations. BMP-1U’s are an exception, forming an entire company of 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade. They are not found anywhere else though. 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade is an interesting and isolated case, since it is the only mechanized brigade with battalions comprised entirely of BTR-70’s and BTR-60PB’s. It is suspected this is not a result of an experimental ORBAT, but rather a skeleton unit being reformed in absence of IFV’s. Another isolated case is a recently formed 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, of which one battalion is known to have only MT-LB’s with DShK’s. Since Ukraine generally has a large stockpile of MT-LB’s this variant might see more proliferation in the future. To sum up, the most common IFV’s in service are BMP-2 and BMP-1P and BMP-1. Uncommon types include MT-LB and BTR-70. Limited equipment includes BMP-3 and BMP-1U. BTR-4 present in CMBS is currently not in mechanized unit service. It was originally passed over to the national guard. At present date, 95th airmobile brigade has received them as well. Current BTR-4 production allows the Ukrainians to field a full battalion (support vehicles included) every year. BTR-3E has a similar proliferation, with at least 30 being in service with the national guard and a number going to the airmobile troops. Command vehicles types are split between BMP-2K, BMP-1KSh, BMP-1K and BMP-1PK. BMP-1 type command vehicles are usually found in tank battalions, while BMP-2 are more often found in mechanized ones. BTR-60PV’s (?) are sometimes also listed as command vehicles, but isn’t very proliferated. Around 6 vehicles have been reported in mechanized forces, and around 10 in airmobile forces. Recon formations are fairly unified in their equipment. Typical force composition is based around BRM-1K, BMP-2 and BTR types. Most recon companies use BTR-80’s as their transport, however 17th Armored, 128th Mountain, 28th, 51st and 93rd Mechanized brigade recon companies use BTR-70’s. 24th Mechanized brigade recon companies use both, BTR-80’s and BTR-70’s. Sapper companies use BTR-70’s almost exclusively, usually three per company. 3 - Artillery systems Brigade artillery groups are present in all Brigades and are made up of two SPG battalions, one MLRS battalion and one AT battalion. Most of them use PRP-4’s, and only 1st Separate Tank Battalion has been spotted using PRP-3’s. Artillery systems have a hight degree of unification, with first SPG Battalion almost always being 2S1’s and second being 2S3’s. MLRS systems are mostly BM-21, in some cased being BM-21U. AT Battalions use MT-12’s, with one in every three guns being MT-12R, and 9P148 systems. 9P149 are present, but appear to be much less common. In general command and miscellaneous vehicles for Artillery battalions look to be BRDM-2’s, including 2DI “Hazar” modernization. An interesting variation on usual artillery systems is present in AT Battalion of 93rd Brigade. It appears that a large portion (if not all) of the battalion is armed with D-48 guns. There are also reports of ZiS-3 and BS-3 guns being used by the AT Battalion of 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Mechanised formations mortar systems are 2S12, PM-38, 2B9(M) and 2B14. Carried ATGMs “Stuna-P” ATGM (Skif in CMBS) was delivered to airmobile units in the total quantity of two complexes. It is not available to mechanized, armored and motorized line formations. “Skif” ATGM was delivered to national guard units in the total quantity of seven complexes. It is not available to mechanized, armored and motorized line formations. AT platoons sometimes also have a soviet mix of ATGM systems (9K111/9K111-1) with SPG-9 recoilless guns. Motorised Battalions Currently mechanized brigades are being strengthened by surplus and storage equipment such as BMP-1’s, BTR-60PB’s and BRDM-2’s. Since a large part of these motorized battalions are ex-volunteer formations, unification and structure is fairly hard to track. Even if an official OOB exits, these battalions have not been supplied with enough resources to represent it. Ukrainian media paints a picture in which these battalions will try to copy mechanized formation, except tracked and wheeled armored vehicles will be replaced with trucks, and there will be no armored companies. Motorized Brigades are expected to have towed D-20’s as artillery support, D-44 as AT support, and AAA will be represented by mounted or towed ZU-23-2.

Soviet Army, Motorized Infantry Anti-tank Battery [medium] contains two platoons... which further contain two platoons. There might be other branches where the AT Bty [medium] has platoons in its platoons.