lurrp Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 So, I've been working my way through Steven Zaloga's Companion to the Red Army. Fascinating if rather tedious read, chock full of TO&Es and groggy stuff. In order to help retain the information, I've starting writing down details about the different formations throughout the war. I'd be happy to post what I've written here, as Red Thunder is coming ever nearer. I just figured it might be a handy reference in regard to Soviet formations at the Combat Mission scale. If anyone would be interested in seeing some stuff, feel free to comment. I for one knew very little about Soviet stuff, so if nothing else this was handy for me. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 That book is both a fantastic source of information, and a source of fantastic confusion I'm a big fan of Zaloga (even met him once), but the way the presentation and organization of the book is not among it's strong points. The two big sources of low level detailed information are Zaloga and Charles Sharp. Sharp's work is a bit dated and somewhat based on US Army intel, but generally speaking it holds up pretty well to Zaloga's more recent work. Then there are less comprehensive works by Dunn and Glanz that help answer some questions. The thing that depresses me, somewhat, is Zaloga's book reminds me how much unFun™ earlier Soviet TO&E work is. The 1943/44 period was a time of consolidation, simplification, and standardization. Before that the exact opposite! Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurrp Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Oh, and you're telling me! That was exactly what I considered posting: a simplified version of the 1941-1942 TO&Es. Quite honestly, while the book is invaluable, the Soviets seemed to enjoy switching TO&Es every 10-15 minutes in the first year or so of the war. I finally just opened a Word Doc and started writing down the makeups of major formations, in an attempt to make sense of it. I figured some folks here might benefit from anything I thought up. On a related note, while I'm looking forward to the Barbarossa CM game more than anything else, QBs might be...interesting. "Hmm, do I purchase the 1940 Infantry Battalion or the 1941? What about the 1941 Reduced Strength, or maybe the December 1941?" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurrp Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 And on that note, the 1941 Reduced Strength seems rather "fun" to play with. Six LMGs per company and no integral indirect support, plus no antitank capability to speak of! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburke Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Oh, and you're telling me! That was exactly what I considered posting: a simplified version of the 1941-1942 TO&Es. *snip* "Hmm, do I purchase the 1940 Infantry Battalion or the 1941? What about the 1941 Reduced Strength, or maybe the December 1941?" I think you found the other part of the answer to "Why didn't BF start the East Front in 1941?" I am betting your post is making Steve pop an entire bottle of antacids. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Somewhat along those lines, is anybody here familiar with this work? It seems well thought of... http://www.amazon.com/-Yourself-Nazi-Bashing-Guerrilla-Warfare-Manual/dp/1612000096/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392793082&sr=1-2&keywords=Companion+to+the+Red+Army Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilM Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 So, I've been working my way through Steven Zaloga's Companion to the Red Army. Fascinating if rather tedious read, chock full of TO&Es and groggy stuff. In order to help retain the information, I've starting writing down details about the different formations throughout the war. I'd be happy to post what I've written here, as Red Thunder is coming ever nearer. I just figured it might be a handy reference in regard to Soviet formations at the Combat Mission scale. If anyone would be interested in seeing some stuff, feel free to comment. I for one knew very little about Soviet stuff, so if nothing else this was handy for me. I for one would be interested in seeing what you have put together, either posted here or, say, made available via dropbox? Thanks in advance. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurrp Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 Ok, so here are some TO&Es from the Barbarossa era. I hope to continually update this so as to have a decent database on unit organizations here. 1941 Rifle Battalion -Battalion HQ: -Battalion CO w/ pistol -2IC w/ pistol -Soldier w/ SMG -2x Riflemen -Radio Operator w/ rifle -3x Rifle Companies, each w/: -Company Command Squad -Company CO w/ pistol -Company Sergeant w/ rifle -Radio Operator w/ rifle -Political Officer w/ pistol -3x Riflemen -3x Rifle Platoons, each w/: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Platoon Sergeant w/ SMG -Runner w/ rifle -4x Rifle Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ LMG -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Soldier w/ SMG -6x Riflemen -50mm Mortar Squad -Leader w/ pistol -Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearer w/ rifle -Machine Gun Platoon: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Runner w/ rifle -2x MG Squads, each w/: -Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ M1910 MG -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -Mortar Company: -Company HQ Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Wire Operator w/ rifle -Political Officer w/ pistol -Company Sergeant w/ rifle -3x Riflemen -3x Mortar Platoons: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Soldier w/ SMG -Runner w/ rifle -2x Mortar Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ 82mm Mortar -2x Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -Machine Gun Company: -Company HQ Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Wire Operator w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -Company Sergeant w/ pistol -3x Riflemen -3x MG Platoons, each w/: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -4x MG Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ pistol -Gunner w/ M1910 MG -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -2x Riflemen -Anti-Tank Platoon: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Runner w/ rifle -2x AT Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ pistol -Gunner w/ 45mm AT gun -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -2x Riflemen 1941 Rifle Battalion (Reduced Strength) -Battalion HQ: -Battalion CO w/ pistol -2IC w/ pistol -Soldier w/ SMG -2x Riflemen -Radio Operator w/ Rifle -3x Rifle Companies, each w/: -Company Command Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Company Sergeant w/ rifle -Radio Operator w/ rifle -Political Officer w/ pistol -3x Riflemen -3x Rifle Platoons, each w/: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Platoon Sergeant w/ SMG -Runner w/ rifle -4x Rifle Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ LMG* -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Soldier w/ SMG -6x Riflemen -50mm Mortar Squad** -Leader w/ pistol -Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearer w/ rifle -Machine Gun Company: -Company HQ Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Wire Operator w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -Company Sergeant w/ pistol -3x Riflemen -3x MG Platoons, each w/: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -4x MG Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ pistol -Gunner w/ M1910 MG -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -2x Riflemen -Mortar Platoon***: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Soldier w/ SMG -Runner w/ rifle -2x Mortar Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ 82mm Mortar -2x Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle *Only two squads per platoon were issued with a LMG, for a total of six machine guns per company. In the other two squads, the gunner was presumably replaced with a rifleman. **Only two platoons per company were issued the 50mm mortar, for a total of six mortars per battalion (as opposed to nine previously). ***By October of 1941, the Mortar Platoons were removed from the battalions to be concentrated at the regimental level, as were the 50mm mortars. This left the battalion with no organic indirect fire support. 1942 Rifle Battalion (Early) -Battalion HQ: -Company CO w/ pistol -2IC w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Radio Operator w/ rifle -2x Riflemen -3x Rifle Companies, each w/: -Company HQ Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Company Sergeant w/ SMG -Political Officer w/ pistol -2x Riflemen -Runner w/ rifle -3x Rifle Platoons, each w/: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Platoon Sergeant w/ SMG -Runner w/ rifle -4x Rifle Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ LMG -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -Soldier w/ SMG -Marksman w/ sniper rifle -6x Riflemen -Mortar Platoon: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Platoon Sergeant w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -4x Mortar Teams, each w/: -Team Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ 50mm Mortar -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -Antitank Rifle Company: -Company HQ Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Company Sergeant w/ rifle -2x Riflemen -Runner w/ rifle -2x ATR Platoons, each w/: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Platoon Sergeant w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -4x ATR Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ ATR -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -Rifleman -Machine Gun Company: -Company HQ Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Wire Operator w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -Company Sergeant w/ pistol -3x Riflemen -3x MG Platoons, each w/: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -3x MG Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ pistol -Gunner w/ M1910 MG -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -2x Riflemen -Mortar Company: -Company HQ Squad: -Company CO w/ pistol -Company Sergeant w/ rifle -Political Officer w/ pistol -Runner w/ rifle -6x Platoons, each w/: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Platoon Sergeant w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -2x Mortar Teams, each w/: -Team Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ 82mm Mortar -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -Ammo Bearer w/ rifle This battalion saw the introduction of the AT rifle, which gave at least some protection from enemy armor. In addition, sniper rifles were introduced at a rate of about ten per company. Due to the creation of new regimental SMG companies, the total number of SMGS per company was reduced to around ten. I list one sniper and one SMG gunner per squad, but this was unlikely in most cases, as there simply weren’t enough weapons. LMGs were finally reissued to every squad per platoon, giving much more firepower to low-level formations. However, the battalion machine gun company was reduced by three guns to nine. Finally, the 50mm and 82mm mortars were reintroduced, with the former being concentrated in a new Company Mortar Platoon with four tubes instead of dispersed among the rifle platoons. The 82mm mortars were now fielded in a larger battalion mortar company, serving twelve tubes instead of the earlier six. Cavalry Regiment (1941) -Regimental HQ: -Regiment CO w/ pistol -2x Political Officer w/ pistol -Radio Operator w/ rifle -3x Riflemen -2x Aide w/ pistol -Pioneer Platoon: -Platoon HQ Section: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Signalman w/ rifle -Runner w/ SMG -2x Sections, each w/: -Section Leader w/ SMG -3x Pioneers w/ SMG -4x Riflemen -Anti-Aircraft Platoon: -Platoon HQ Section: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Signalman w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -3x AA Sections, each w/: -Section Leader w/ pistol -Gunner w/ DShK -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -Ammo Bearer w/ rifle -Truck -4x Mounted Squadrons, each w/: -Squadron HQ Section: -Squadron CO w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Radio Operator w/ rifle -NCO w/ SMG -Runner w/ rifle -Rifleman -4x Platoons, each w/: -Platoon HQ Section: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Signalman w/ rifle -Runner w/ SMG -2x Sections: -Section Leader w/ SMG -Gunner w/ LMG -Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -Grenadier w/ rifle + grenade launcher -2x Cavalrymen w/ SMG -2x Cavalrymen w/ rifle -Machine Gun Squadron: -Squadron HQ Section: -Squadron CO w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Signalman w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -NCO w/ rifle -4x Machine Gun Platoons, each w/: -Platoon HQ Section: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -Runner w/ rifle -2x MG Sections, each w/: -Section Leader w/ rifle -2x MG Squads, each w/: -Gunner w/ M1910 MG -2x Asst. Gunner w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -Regimental Artillery Battery: -Battery HQ: -Battery CO w/ pistol -Political Officer w/ pistol -Radio Operator w/ rifle -Signalman w/ rifle -Runner w/ rifle -AT Platoon: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -2x Runners w/ rifle -4x Gun Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ 45mm AT gun -2x Asst. Gunners w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -2x Riflemen -2x Infantry Gun Platoons, each w/: -Platoon HQ Squad: -Platoon CO w/ pistol -2x Runner w/ rifle -2x Infantry Gun Squads, each w/: -Squad Leader w/ rifle -Gunner w/ 76.2mm Infantry Gun -2x Asst. Gunners w/ rifle -2x Ammo Bearers w/ rifle -2x Riflemen The actual cavalry regiment contained many more personnel than listed here, who would remain behind with the horses and wagons organic to the regiment. In CM terms, the cavalry regiment would simply be a small infantry battalion with heavy firepower – note over 150 SMGs, plus quite a few heavy weapons. I had to do quite a bit of extrapolating here with low level units, such as HQ squads and the like. I believe what I have listed is pretty accurate, but I might be off slightly. If anyone knows anything further, I’d be happy to update. Heavy Tank Battalion (1941, Tank Division) -Heavy Tank Battalion HQ: -1x KV-1 (Radio Equipped) -3x Heavy Tank Companies, each w/: -Company HQ: -1x KV-1 (Radio Equipped) -3x Heavy Tank Platoons, each w/: -Platoon Leader’s Tank (Radio Equipped) -2x KV-1 Medium Tank Battalion (1941, Tank Division) -Medium Tank Battalion HQ: -1x T-34 (Radio Equipped) -2x BA-10 -3x Medium Tank Companies, each w/: -Company HQ: -1x T-34 (Radio Equipped) -3x Medium Tank Platoons, each w/: -1x T-34 (Radio Equipped) -4x T-34 The organization of the Soviet Armored force is perhaps the most confusing of all at this point, with the standard maneuver unit going from the division to the corps to the division again and then to the brigade. In many cases, details are quite scarce on the makeup of these units, and certainly not all units adhered to the right TO&E at the right time. At this point in the war, the Soviets did not field “mixed” tank battalions of any kind, only Heavy, Medium, and Light. The battalions listed above are from the 1941 Tank Corps, which were disbanded soon after Barbarossa. In the future, I will do my best to document other battalion types of 1941 but don’t get your hopes too high! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurrp Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 Wow, those indents didn't work at all. Sorry about that. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ts4EVER Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Note that the "rifle" the squad leaders were carrying in 1941 was supposed to be an automatic rifle (SVT or AVS), not the Mosin Nagant. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Wow, those indents didn't work at all. Sorry about that. You also won't be able to continuously update the post as info turns up, since Edits are time limited on the forum... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor Malan2 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Wow, those indents didn't work at all. Sorry about that. you didn't switch them on (only off). The format is '{INDENT} text to indent {/INDENT}', but with {} replaced by []. like this 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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