John Kettler Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 (edited) "Under White Cupolas" shows how the Soviet Desantniki trained and fought, together with some good material on the air landing troops, who came in by plane once an aerodrome was secured. The paratroopers fought in their jump coveralls and paratrooper helmets, were very lightly equipped relative to US and British airborne troops. This made them speedy by comparison. The pragmatic Russian approach to doing things simply is clearly on display (check out the supply bundles). Found it odd the Desantniki would destroy fuel and munition stocks on an airfield they planned to capture, but maybe that was in case they couldn't actually seize the objective, thus turning that mission into a raid instead to inflict crippling damage on that airfield. Regards, John Kettler Edited April 9, 2021 by John Kettler 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 I read somewhere that the Soviets actually would drop without parachutes into thick snow. So, the Germans started painting possible hard surface landing sites with whitewash. Any truth to that? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 Erwin, My understanding is that the no chute drop was tried--with disastrous results, but am unsure whether this was during troop trials in Russia or actual combat in Finland in 1939. Have zero knowledge of the purported German countermeasure. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUSKER2142 Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 On 4/9/2021 at 5:03 AM, Erwin said: I read somewhere that the Soviets actually would drop without parachutes into thick snow. Probably Vyazemsky airborne operation was meant, then part of the 250th regiment was unloading into deep snow without a parachute. On 4/9/2021 at 5:03 AM, Erwin said: So, the Germans started painting possible hard surface landing sites with whitewash. Any truth to that? I can suggest that it was more of a fight against saboteurs, whom they liked to send behind the front line on U-2 (Po-2) aircraft. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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