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Newest Scenarios |
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US airborne expands the defensive perimeter around Carentan, the Germans want it back. Two forces collide outside Carentan.
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This is a fictional scenario in it's beta format that my good friend Spauldoten created and we played H2H today, it is a depiction of a clash between well armed German forces defending the fictional "mountain redoubt", forgive it's rough edges and lack of briefings. Reinforcements do arrive within ten turns to both sides. This battle lends to excellent gameplay, any feedback is appreciated..
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This fictional battle is a delaying action against German forces trying to withdraw Easttward shortly after the Ardennes Offensive.
Captain Henderson’s men have been through some heavy fighting already during the Battle of the Bulge. They’re short on supplies and ammo and it’s freezing cold.
They have just been given the order to hold out as long as possible until aircover arrives.
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Obviously, a “what if” scenario, I wanted to create an operation where the Germans were on the offensive and weren’t hindered by the destruction of their production, infrastructure and manpower. I tried to design a balanced and fun scenario with a wide variety of units (while keeping it realistic) and a large and interesting (approximately 6 km long x 2 km wide) map. The operation should see-saw back and forth and use up the entire map. All of the units portrayed on both sides were real units and I’ve tried to include a realistic TO&E for each one, including the supporting units. While the landmarks are real names, the map is fictional, but typical of western Pennsylvania terrain. This represents a Regiment (+) defense (although the defensive frontage and initial US setup is Battalion size.) The American player should be a veteran player who is adept at setting up an in-depth defensive position utilizing obstacles. I think that the defensive player has the greatest influence over his success or failure during the initial setup of his forces. For this reason the initial US setup is not completed for you. The units are grouped by unit, as if on parade (This will be in the final version - for playtesting, I've set up the defense in order to save time)
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Capture Henk.....
Two player battle, pick a side and read your orders in the briefing. Map is a part of the small town of Eemnes where I live.
Have fun.
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British attack on Hill 112 in Normandy, July 1944
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Two player CMAK Chess! Each side has forces representing 16 chess pieces. Players fight for control of 2000 points of objectives.
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The invasion of italy has begun!
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A small glider force defends a Farm House overlooking an important river crossing
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6 June, 1944, and the long awaited invasion has begun. The Allies have established a foothold on the beaches of Normandy and are advancing slowly inland. However, on June 7, 1944, history is going to be re-written. Field Marshall Goering kept his promise to re-equip the Luftwaffe in France. When the Allied air forces reached the coast of France, they were met by swarms of Germany's fighters. Instead of the Panzer Divisions being mauled by the Allied fighter-bombers, they met the Allied infantry divisions head-on and in full strength. This scenario pits Kampfgruppe Wunsche of the 12th SS HitlerJugend against the advancing Canadian Army.
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CMBB |
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Pustynja is a German strong-point situated roughly 30Km NW of Demyansk which is almost fully encircled by Soviet forces. Only a log causeway through bog forests enables the Germans to supply the defenders at night. There has been heavy fighting for the now erased hamlet since January 1942. On Dec. 18 1942 the Soviets try again to seize the village in an concentric assault supported by tanks and heavy artillery. They will have to fight against an enemy inferior in number and equipment. But the Germans are well entrenched and possess an iron will to hold the ruins.
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Alternative History : Moskow Decision This the first of a series of fictional scenarios based on the hipotetic decision by Hitler to attack Moskow instead of Kiev during the august 1941. The german offensive to Moskow is starting, the first task is to take the bridge over the Dnjepr between Smolensk and Viazma.
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Schwere abteilung 509 attacks towards the Sarviz canal!
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German Heavy Jagdpanzer platoon supports rear guard holding a key road junction to prevent encirclement and destruction of Nehring's XXIV Panzerkorps.
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VERSION 2: Feb 1945. The Polish 1st Armored Div. attack the town of Ekehaar, Netherlands, which is defended by the Germans. The Pols are equipped with Soviet Armor.
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During the Battle of Kursk, the 6th Panzer Division tries to race forward and seize an important cross roads at Melikhovo. But a Russian Rifle Battalion has got there first. Large map with lots of forces but plays quickly due to the armour vs infantry setup.
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Part two of the Melikhovo series. 6th Pz Div attacks again after its failure to take Meilkhovo at 2pm but this time it is backed up by more infantry and Tiger tanks. But the Germans must move on deeper into the defences and capture the next village before dark. Can they do this and will the Russians bring up reserves?
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Scenario; "Metro city Mayhem' Location: Metro City, Imperial Stewartania Date: July 1943 Time : Mid-Day, Overcast, Cool, Dry
Note: This scenario is a strictly for entertainment and perhaps some good tactical training in fighting in built up areas. It is NOT historical by any stretch, nor was it intended to be, but it is a tremendously fast paced, challenging scenario.
Sit-Rep: Metro City, is known throughout Europe for its outstanding historical sites, and it pristine streetscape. The queen Martha of the house of Stewart had the League of Nations designate it a "Cultural Heritage Wonder". As such, all combatants have agreed to forego using any track laying AFV when fighting in this little piece of heaven. Also, all empty casings will have to be picked up following the battle.
As such, as the forces of the Reich and its allies are in a race with the Red Army to seize this metropolis, so that their respective Ruling Party Upper Echelon will have a nice place to visit when the war is over. With that goal on the line, there will be no quarter given!
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A german force must seize the bridges in the city of Katomsk in order to establish a bridgehead across the river Niehr (fictional) ----------- Note: This is a new - very different - single battle version of my earlier operation named "City Salient". The map, however, is exactly the same. Meant to be used with my Stalingrad-ish mods.
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In Early 1942 Stalin had ramped up his efforts to produce a atmoic weapon. Knowing that Germany and his allies had a head start he had a staff of scientists working on the project way to the east in Mongolia. One of the sources for atomic power is 'Heavy Water'. The russians had one plant that was setup to produce the heavy water at this time. The plants location was in Northern Russia near the Finnish boarder in a town named Bupma.
The German became aware of the Heavy Water production plant and dispatched a plan to aquire it for their own use. This is that battle
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CMBO |
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German infantry dawn attack during the Battle of the Bulge. American infantry caught off-guard whilst lining up for chow.
VPs for casualties and German exit points only.
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Before dawn on D-Day the British airbourne must destroy the gun batteries at Vierville.
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Koen - A Town to conquer *****************************************
a Couple of weeks ago the Allies have conquered one of the major towns in France.
Now the Germans broke through the American line of defense in the Ardennes and are advancing rapidly towards this town.
Can the Allied commander hold this town?
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November 1944, the French 2nd Armored Division is tasked to breach the German fortified line of the Vosges mountains. This battle takes place on the second days of the attack. The different French Task forces are competing with each other in order to be the first to reach the plain of Alsace. The company team Minjonnet (part of the Task Force Massu) blocked close to Voyer in a narrow valley by German remnants of the 708. ID has to bypass quickly this resistance. The French can be sure that their old enemy is not about to ease their action !
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An American WWII GI's dream come true- a "what if" American assault on Berlin AND a chance to personally bag the ol'Führer himself!
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Arnhem Bridge battle. British airborne against armoured SS.
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Updated Scenarios |
CMAK |
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Two mechanised forces race for control of vital river crossings and the bridgeheads beyond.
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This fictional battle is a delaying action against German forces trying to withdraw Easttward shortly after the Ardennes Offensive.
Captain Henderson’s men have been through some heavy fighting already during the Battle of the Bulge. They’re short on supplies and ammo and it’s freezing cold.
They have just been given the order to hold out as long as possible until aircover arrives.
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British troops assault the Germans on the other side of the valley.
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6 June, 1944, and the long awaited invasion has begun. The Allies have established a foothold on the beaches of Normandy and are advancing slowly inland. However, on June 7, 1944, history is going to be re-written. Field Marshall Goering kept his promise to re-equip the Luftwaffe in France. When the Allied air forces reached the coast of France, they were met by swarms of Germany's fighters. Instead of the Panzer Divisions being mauled by the Allied fighter-bombers, they met the Allied infantry divisions head-on and in full strength. This scenario pits Kampfgruppe Wunsche of the 12th SS HitlerJugend against the advancing Canadian Army.
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British attack on Hill 112 in Normandy, July 1944
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British Airborne operation to secure a river crossing thought likely to be used to reinforce Sword beach.
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Two player CMAK Chess! Each side has forces representing 16 chess pieces. Players fight for control of 2000 points of objectives.
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The invasion of italy has begun!
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A small glider force defends a Farm House overlooking an important river crossing
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Axis and Allied forces clash for a town and large hill.
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CMBB |
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VERSION 2: Feb 1945. The Polish 1st Armored Div. attack the town of Ekehaar, Netherlands, which is defended by the Germans. The Pols are equipped with Soviet Armor.
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Spanish civil war
Battle of the Jarama
Moorish troops assault the international battalion Commune de Paris.
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This is historically accurate operation (4 battles), that depicts finnish delaying actions during soviet advance in summer of 1944. The game is pure infantry actions in heavy wooded terrain of Karelia. Scenario must be played according "play as they lay" rules.
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you must lead a counter attack across a river, Prepare for some tough Urban fighting
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Axis attack during zitadelle somewhere on the southern side of the salient.
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Setting is the Crimea, neck of the Kerch peninsula during the Soviet's spring offensive. A hill overlooks both side's trench line. After an extensive bombardment, another assault has been ordered. Organize your men and move out.
This scenario depends on a "Soldier's Luck" and skill in handling an infantry company. Will the enemy's last shells land in your trenches and wipe out half your force? Or will that exceptional platoon lieutenant be the only casualty? Will your heavy weapons squad arrive in time to turn the battle? Should you send all your men forward or hold some back? Rest and regroup your platoons or send them in at once? Will you reach the hill faster than your opponent?
This scenario was in round one of the Masters Tournament, Fall 2008. Mirror forces but with random reinforcements.
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Romanian 1st Armoured Divsion attack on Russians who are holding vital river crossing points. There is a special victory condition for the Romanian side to try to spice things up a bit. The map is accurate, and the elements of both forces should be consistant with history. This is primarily a light armour and infantry battle.
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***temporary briefing*** Russia, June 1941
***play as allied***
situation: training scenario task: take the german strongpoint (use shift-L to display description for tactical information)
- split your squads and move the halfsquads with LMGs to the support position. - use your other half squads (the ones with the SMGs) to move through the woods (therefore using
cover and concealment) to the assault position. - support your assault on the strongpoint by firing at the house with the support HalfSquads (use
area fire to suppress units before actually beginning the assault)
length: 15
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***temporary briefing*** Russia, June 1941
***play as axis***
situation: training scenario task: take the soviet position and hold off reinforcements (use shift-L to display description for tactical information)
- move ATGs and MGs to the defence position to interdict soviet movement and hold of reinforcements - use your tanks for infantry support on your assault on the soviet position in the woods
length: 15
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***temporary briefing*** Russia, June 1941
***play as allied***
situation: training scenario task: take the victory location
- move towards the victory location using the cover available - use your BT tank, mortar and Maxim MG to cover your advance and surpress enemy resistance
this is part 1 of the scenario: basic training: quality level of troops length: 25
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CMBO |
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German infantry dawn attack during the Battle of the Bulge. American infantry caught off-guard whilst lining up for chow.
VPs for casualties and German exit points only.
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An American WWII GI's dream come true- a "what if" American assault on Berlin AND a chance to personally bag the ol'Führer himself!
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Newest Maps |
CMAK |
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This is a huge (actually 5 x 4 km) map representing a piece of French countryside west of the town of Arras. It is flat (gentle slopes) and moderately populated with villages, forests, orchards and the like. It is suitable for a massive battle of regiment-sized forces (15,000 points or more).
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Fictional Map, Crete, An almost compleatly dried up river bed with a ruined bridge across, 2 small hamlets on either side
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The axis forces have captured the ridge east of Lieso. It´s been quiet over a month, so they have had enough time to dig deep in the ridge.
Allied forces are attacking with brutal force from east. Tuomari-Laurila has already been taken.
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The axis forces are about to assault a little town called Lieso in aim to capture a road that leads through a ridge to deeper east. The allied forces are dug in somewhere around the old elementary school.
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A small river splits a large map, with lots of roads and 6 bridges to control and a town also to control. This map is for meeting engagements and no side has a terrain advantage. Hopefully this will boil down to your choice of units and your game play.
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Map made of RHZ Fall Gelb scenario WIP Setup for Axis attack and Axis defend (2 maps!)
Has all sorts of terrain, with gentle hills, a small river, woods, grain but also lots of LOS and fields of fire for longer range shooting.
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Map for PvP and free for using in scenarios.
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Old village by a wadi, somewhere in Tunisia.
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Ideal for a QB ME
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In the Ardennes US recontroops discovered a Flak Battery. They need to take it out!
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CMBB |
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1600x1600m, middle eastern front, 3 big victory locations in the middle of the map, 4 additional small flags, medium settlement with surrounding rural areas, some hills, woods and farmland, a small river crossing from N to S, prepared setup-zones for both sides, therefor I call it battlefield-map.
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Germans advance easily untill they find... A speed bump on the road to Leningrad
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This Map is designed for Meeting engagements, it is set in a fictional City.
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A medium town lying crosswisely to the advance direction. In and around the town gardens and fields, some bush and tree rows. 2 small rivers with some fords. Only 1 large victory location. Best used for meeting engagements.
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Damaged large town/small city divided by a river. Contains several bridges, an old fortress, stadium, factories, railway station, and an old manor. Flags spread pretty evenly out on the map, made for a QB axis attack. IMPORTANT: ONLY FOR USE WITH UMLAUTS STALINGRAD MODS. You most use the scenario with these three mods found at www.cmmods.com:
FULL_telephonepole_umlaut rubble_spray_umlaut stalingrad_buildings_umlaut
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Stalingrad-ish map made for Umlaut´s Stalingrad-mods.
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29 2x2km maps. Various terrain; city, village, farmland, deep forests ...
They all quite beatuful ;)
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I know it was UK and not USSR! but i didnt own CMAK when i made the level and i dont want to do everything over again so USSR must equal UK! its a fun level with the FJ troops in the greatest air invasion prior to D-Day.
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The last push by Germany to leave Berlin before the surrender.
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The finals days for the reich as the soviets storm the reichstag and even the chancellery.
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CMBO |
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This CMBO map is built from a topographical map of the little town of Seville, NE of Melbourne, Australia. My idea was to lauch a Brit brigade (3 btns) across it at a German static defence screening mobile reserves.
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Desiliens is an ancient Roman town. The map features the ruins of the town, an aquaduct, and the ruins of a villa on a low central hill.
The eastern side of the map is mostly woods, the west is hills and farms. It is most suitable for an assault on the town, but if the focus is shifted to the ruined villa it would be good for a meeting engagement.
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Updated Maps |
CMAK |
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Ideal for a QB ME
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CMBB |
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This Map is designed for Meeting engagements, it is set in a fictional City.
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axis winterattack on a Russian City
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Please feel free to download, use or edit the map.
Screenshots can be found here:
http://worldatwar.eu/index.php?entity_sess=512x00db4fede3b24a34db2c5e9d283f162c&lang=3&location=boardshownode&boardid=51
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A town with a river and lake surrounded by grainfields
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Map is based on a sketch in the book > Die guten Glaubens waren< the history of the SS Polizei Division and shows a hard-fought area south of Leningrad. The Observatory was not reached by the Germans although they really tried it This is part of a series of maps on the so-called Ladoga Front
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CMBO |
Newest Members |
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armoredcrewman |
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forgethethunderbolt |
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37th armor |
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34th tanker |
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CptAd |
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| NAME |
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Soviet Tank Units 1941-1945 |
MAD RUSSIAN
Senior Tester
Member #468
Joined: Oct 2003
Ratings: 14 / 1 / 0
Discussions: 140
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Post #32
2029 days, 1 hour, 0 minute, 39 seconds ago
Soviet Tank Units 1941 - 1945
By Steve 'Mad Russian' Overton
By late summer of 1941, The Red Army's armored force had suffered staggering losses, and there were few KVs or T-34's left in service. On 15 July, STAVKA (Soviet High Command), was obliged to recognize the obvious and disband the mechanized corps. Of the 22,000 tanks in existence at the beginning of 'Barbarossa', it is unlikely that more than 1,500 remained operational. In place of the huge and unwieldy mechanized corps, STAVKA created tank brigades as the largest tactical armoured formation. These new brigades were organized around a tank regiment and a motor rifle battalion with a nominal strength of 93 tanks. The tank regiment included a company of seven KV tanks, a company of 22 T-34 tanks, and the remainder of the unit was filled out with whatever light tanks were available. By September 1941, shortages led to reduction in the paper strength of these units to 67 tanks, though most brigades didn't even have that many tanks. In September, independent tank battalions were formed which could be assigned to cavalry or infantry units for support. They consisted of one medium tank company and two light tank companies with 29 tanks. These units were not entirely well received because they lacked any of the KV heavy tanks which had proved so successful in terrorizing ill-equipped German infantry units. As a result, in November, they were reorganized and were supposed to consist of five KV, eleven T-34 and twenty light tanks. Severe shortages of tanks in the winter of 1941-1942 from attrition and the evacuation of the factories forced the paper strength of the tank brigades even lower. The January 1942 table of equipment was only 42 tanks, and those assigned to support cavalry units were not supposed to have the precious KV tanks. By February 1942, the official tables of equipment reached their nadir at a mere 27 tanks. By early spring, the situation began to improve as the factories resumed production and Lend-Lease tanks became available in small numbers. The April 1942 tables of equipment returned the tank brigades to the January levels of 46 tanks, but more importantly, the T-34 strength was proportionately higher at the expense of the less valuable light tanks. The most significant change brought about by greater availability of tanks was the GKO decision to begin forming the new tank corps. The term 'tank corps' is misleading by Western standards, the corps were in fact tank divisions and weak ones at that. Each had three tank brigades and a motor rifle brigade, but possessed only twenty KV's, 40 T-34's and 40 light tanks. Never the less Soviet tank corps strength continued to grow throughout the war, while the strength of the Panzer divisions shrank. In July, the establishment of the tank corps was raised to 168 tanks, and a battalion of the potent BM-13 Katyusha multiple rocket launchers was added. The combat debut of the tank corps was also matched by the formation of the new tank armies which, in fact, were more comparable to British or American corps. They were of varied compositions, usually being based on two tank corps and a rifle division. The new tank corps and tank armies went into action in May 1942, and were not an unqualified success. The tank corps were often used in a timid, defensive fashion with little co-ordination between sub-units. As mentioned earlier, Soviet tank tactics were usually quite poor, stemming from lack of training and inherent design flaws in the tanks. The potentially powerful tank armies were also a disappointment and could not prevent the shocking defeat at Voronezh. Several of the new tank corps were wiped out. The fighting highlighted the incompatibility of the heterogeneous tank brigades. General Pavel Rotmistrov, who would head the Soviet armored force after the war, candidly explained this to STAVKA: 'The difficulty is that while there isn't much difference in speed between the light (T -60) tank and the medium (T -34) tank on the roads, when moving across country, the light tanks are quickly left behind. The heavy (KV) tank is already behind and often crushes bridges which cuts off units behind it. Under battle- field conditions, this has meant that too often the T -34 alone arrived; the light tanks had difficulty fighting the German tanks anyway, and the KVs were delayed in the rear. It was also difficult to command these companies because occasionally they were equipped with different types of radios or none at all.' The head of the Armoured Force (GABTU), Colonel-General Ya. N. Federenko set about improving the situation in a number of ways. Crew training was increased, especially unit training. Technical improvements were suggested such as three- man turret crews, improved vision devices and provisions for more radios. To ensure closer support of infantry and tanks in the absence of armored troop carriers, hand- holds were to be welded to tanks to permit them to carry tank raiders (tank desant). In July 1942, the new tank brigade table dropped the KV; by this time, its armor was no longer invulnerable, and the increased armor of the KV-l Model 1942 had slowed it so much that it could not operate properly in combination with the fleeter T -34 and T- 70. The new tank brigades had 53 tanks. The KVs were shifted to independent tank regiments where they could be used for infantry support. The July changes also dropped the cumbersome tank regiment headquarters from the tank brigade organization in favor of a simpler configuration. In October 1943, some of the brigades began to be enlarged to 65 tanks by adding an additional company of the much prized T -34. Another important change in Soviet mechanized doctrine was marked by the introduction of the new mechanized corps in September 1942. This differed from the tank corps by reversing the composition of the brigades. A mechanized corps had three mechanized brigades and only one tank brigade. However, owing to a lack of armored infantry transporters, the mechanized brigades needed an entire tank regiment to help lift the assault infantry into action, and as a result, the mechanized corps had more tanks than the tank corps.' Each mechanized brigade had three motor rifle battalions plus a tank regiment. Besides the independent heavy tank regiments mentioned earlier, in September 1942, GABTU also introduced independent tank regiments composed of T -34s and light tanks. These were used to reinforce tank or mechanized corps, or could be attached to rifle and cavalry divisions to provide support. They replaced the earlier independent tank battalions which now began disappearing. By the spring of 1942 it became apparent that larger groups than these diminutive tank brigades would be required if tanks were to make the decisive contribution to the Soviet war effort. On 31 March orders were issued for the activation of the 1st - 4th Tank Corps, each to consist of a headquarters, two tank brigades and a motor rifle brigade. These corps had an authorized strength of 5,603 men with 20 KV heavy tanks, 40 T-34 medium tanks (including 8 reserve tanks authorized but rarely present) and 40 T-60 or T-70 light tanks. The corps included no artillery, reconnaissance or engineer units, nor any service support elements. The motorized rifle brigade was a new formation designed to hold captured terrain and protect the tanks from enemy infantry and anti-tank guns. Under the new TO&E's issued for this unit (Nos. 10/370-380) the maneuver elements of the brigade were it's three motorized infantry battalions. The brigade held two indirect-fire support elements: a mortar battalion and an artillery battalion. The mortar battalion consisted of two 6 tube 82mm mortar batteries and a 4 tube 120mm mortar battery. The artillery battalion was made up of three 4-gun batteries of 76mm guns. The brigade reconnaissance company was composed of an armored car platoon, two platoons in armored trucks a sub-machinegun platoon and a headquarters. The tank corps was actually an armored division, a small one by Western standards. Several factors limited it's usefulness. One obvious problem was the tank mix. A third of the tanks were the light T-60/70 models, with thin armour, weak armament, an inefficient 2-man crew and no radios. The T-34 and KV tanks effective fighting machines, but the three types of tanks in each battalion had such widely differing characteristics that coordination proved almost impossible. The light tanks and T-34's leaving the KV tanks behind while they advanced. The KV's bringing up the rear destroyed roads and bridges as they moved forward. As a result, the arrival of a tank battalion at an objective in one piece was a rarity. Changes to the authorized composition of the brigade were made almost immediately. In mid-April a third tank brigade was added to the corps, along with an independent engineer-mine company. The lack of service support, which had limited the usefulness of the tank corps for an independent role, was partially rectified by the addition in June of a fuel transport company to the corps structure. Russian armored organization as the new campaigning season opened was still based on the independent tank brigades. These brigades grew rapidly in number during 1942: there were about twenty available at the beginning of May, but the Germans claimed to have identified 138 by the end of the year. However, it was quicker, easier, and cheaper to make a T-34 than it was to choose and train its crew. The difficulties of swiftly acquiring a proper reserve of trained tank crews for the new brigades meant that their use would be strictly limited - and would often be confined purely to infantry support. A combat armored formation is not produced overnight: the whole command structure of the Russian armor, from the corps commander on down the men in the T-34 turret, needed to be revised and refined if it was to be used properly. The brigade was too small a formation for use in a hammer blow, and yet the Russian command was not yet experienced enough to handle armor, offensively, in larger masses. Zhukov knew this, but Stalin did not. Stalin now intended to assuage his frustrations of the previous year by offensive operations on a grand scale. The State Defense Committee met at the end of March, and a lively dispute ensued among Russia's military leaders. Zhukov had already expressed his views: he wanted to launch a limited offensive to eliminate the dangerous German salient which threatened Moscow in the Rzhev-Vyazma area. However, Stalin, and part of the Russian general staff were interested in operations farther south. Stalin at nothing less than a great stroke to recapture Kharkov. This would require the bulk of the T-34's and KV-1's of the painfully reconstituted Russian armored force. Stalin, in a flash strangely reminiscent of Churchill, turned on them all. 'We cannot remain on the defensive and sit on our hands until the Germans strike first. We must launch preventive strikes...' This was also the thinking of Timoshenko, who was now to command the South West Front of operations. He announced that his troops were ready for an offensive, and that such an offensive should be undertaken as a preventive measure, to disrupt German plans for an attack of their own.
The die was cast.
(modified 07/20/2004 20:32:15 by Mad Russian)
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MAD RUSSIAN
Senior Tester
Member #468
Joined: Oct 2003
Ratings: 14 / 1 / 0
Discussions: 140
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Post #33
2029 days, 50 minutes, 29 seconds ago
In April, Timoshenko received his orders. He was to attack the Germans in the vicinity of Kharkov, and recapture the city. Timoshenko himself now had the bit between his teeth and he was eager to expand this not inconsiderable operation into one of even wider scope, aimed at driving the Germans back to the Dniepr River. He believed that the most effective blow he could strike would be to launch his armor into the German concentrations preparing for their own offensive. For this purpose, he had under his command several of the newly formed tank brigades. Rigid and clumsy though it was, Timoshenko's attack at first succeeded under its sheer weight of numbers. He broke into the positions of Paulus' Army to a depth reaching twenty miles. However, Kleist's First Panzer Army, which had been concentrating, ready for a German offensive, at Kramatorsk, was at the base of the salient that Timoshenko was then driving into the German lines. Timoshenko seemed resolutely to turn his eyes away from this threat, although, according to Zhukov, even Stalin was concerned about it. Timoshenko told Stalin, in effect, that Kleist at Kramatorsk was something of a paper tiger. His views were supported by General Nikita Krushev, what at the time was Timoshenko's political commissar. Within a few days Kleist's well trained tank crews would prove them wrong. On 17th May, Kleist struck with 2 Panzer Divisions, a Panzer Grenadier Division and 8 Infantry Divisions. As part of Timoshenko's forces - Gorodniansky's Sixth Army and Kharitonov's Ninth - swung north towards Kharkov, Kleist's tanks hit the long extended flank. Meanwhile, following its orders, the Russian armor was actually driving out of the battle area, further into a worsening situation. The Ninth Army was surrounded and destroyed piecemeal. There were not adequate reserves and with his armor strung out there was nothing that Timoshenko could do to set the situation right. On 18th May, his staff telephoned STAVKA asking if he could break off the battle, but received a dusty answer from Stalin. He was told to go on attacking 'to the end.' It was another day before STAVKA gave permission to go on the defensive. By then the damage had been done. Encircled and chopped up one by one, the Russian armies were defeated. Two army commanders were dead - - Gorodniansky of Sixth Army and Kharitonov of the Ninth. More than 250,000 Russians were captured, and - just as important - the precious tank brigades were largely destroyed. The Russians had committed the 10, 57, 84, 90, 13, 36, 133, 37, 38, 48, 64, 198, 199, 6, 130, 131, 7, 51, 121, 12, 3 and 15th Tank Brigades either in whole or in part. The Germans committed the 3, 23, 14 and 16th Panzer Divisions in either in whole or in part. Russian tank losses from the 10-31 May amounted to 652 tanks. One clear military deduction could be drawn from the whole sorry, bloody, mess; the Russian armor, though building up in numbers, still had a very, very great deal to learn. For the failure was not wholly at the level of Timoshenko. Much lower down the chain of command, essential qualities were still lacking. German opinion of the lower and middle levels of command, in Russian armored formations, was that, they were poor in the summer of 1942. That they lacked the ability to make quick decisions and had little tactical insight even at battalion or company level. Two larger elements were added to the tank corps in July. The first was a rocket launcher battalion consisting of two batteries each of four BM-13 rocket launcher systems. An extremely useful weapon, the effectiveness of the rocket launchers was limited by the small number deployed. Although the problem of divergent tank types would be solved very quickly, that of indirect fire support would continue to plague Soviet mechanized forces until the end of the war and would cost them dearly in tank losses. The second addition in July 1942 was a motorcycle reconnaissance battalion. This was divided into a motorcycle company and an armored car company, the latter with twenty armored cars. At the same time the 120mm mortar company of the rifle brigade was expanded to six mortars. A machinegun company with 9 machineguns was added to each of the rifle battalions as well. The tank brigades were still being organized on three different TO&E's, and in addition an NKO order of 29 May had authorized the formation of corps in which one of the tank brigades was equipped primarily with heavy KV tanks. As a result, the number of tanks authorized for the different tank corps varied from 150 to 180 depending on which TO&E their tank brigades were formed from. To remedy this a new standard tank brigade organization table was published 31 July 1942, to which all tank brigades were directed to conform. As with all cases of new orders this took time to implement. The new tank brigade TO&E's (Nos 10/270-277) was very similar to the earlier ones except for the tank component and the replacement of the anti-aircraft battery with an anti-tank battery of four 76mm guns. The tank component of the new brigade was made up of two battalions: one light and one medium. This new composition gave the tank brigade a force of twenty-one light and thirty two medium tanks from July 1942. A total of twenty-five tank corps were activated between April and September 1942, largely from existing assets. All of the tank brigades involved had already been fielded and the process simply involved gathering them together. The motorized rifle brigades were new units but they may have been simply redesignated from an old rifle brigades and re-equipped along the new TO&E's. Few of the tank corps actually had their specified combat support units during 1942. Only five motorcycle reconnaissance battalions were activated, and these only survived for a few months. No rocket launcher or anti-aircraft battalions were formed in 1942 for the tank corps either. The tank corps thus contained only the headquarters, the combat brigades themselves and a small base of service elements. Soviet tank losses in 1942 were staggering. In the early and middle months the losses reached between 2,000 and 3,000. Only later in the year did they drop to around 1,000 tanks per month. In light of these losses only three more tank corps were formed during the last quarter of 1942. Another reason for the slow down in tank corps activation was the diversion of tanks into a new Russian armored formation, the mechanized corps. The mortar regiment brought thirty-six 120mm mortars to the tank corps. The assault gun regiment brought a direct fire capability to help relieve the lack of artillery support for the fluid combat often engaged in by the tank corps. The assault gun regiment contained seventeen Su-76's and eight SU-122's. The first half of 1943 saw a flurry of activity. On 10 January, NKO ordered that a mortar regiment and an assault gun be added to the tank corps TO&E. In March, the AA batteries of the brigades were consolidated in a corps AA battalion of sixteen 37mm guns. The Tank brigades were then given an AA machinegun company consisting of nine DShK weapons. In April, a tank destroyer artillery regiment was added with twenty 45mm ATG's. In May yet another tank destroyer regiment was added this time with either twelve 76mm or 85mm guns. Also in May the assault gun regiment was reorganized into a heavy SP regiment that included twelve SU-152's. In August, The two towed anti-tank battalions were replaced with two SP regiments. One of these was assigned twenty-one SU-76's, while the other had sixteen SU-122's assigned. The last change to the organization of the tank brigades came in November of 1943. With the TO&E (Nos 10/500-506) completely eliminating light tanks from the organization. The tank brigades motorized rifle battalion was reconfigured as a sub-machinegun battalion. This unit kept it's crew served machineguns for long range fire. In February 1944, all the assault gun regiments were organized on a uniform TO&E that gave each twenty-one assault guns. This raised the number of assault guns in the corps to sixty-three. In August, a light artillery regiment of twenty-four 76mm guns was added. When the need and mission called for it a heavy tank regiment with IS-2 heavy tanks replaced the heavy assault gun regiment with it's SU-152's. These organizations remained in effect to the end of the war. At Kursk the Soviets stopped a German operational drive for the very first time. They then went on to show the Germans what they had learned in their own counter offensives. Stalin continued to try to reach out for objectives that were beyond the capabilities of his armored forces but they were learning and getting better. The year 1944 is known as the 'Year of 10 Victories' to the Soviets. Leningrad was relieved, Sevastopol and the Crimea were recaptured, the Finns were pushed back and accepted a negotiated peace, the Vistula was reached in Poland, the Germans were pushed out of the Baltic states or contained in a pocket on the coast, the Red Army entered Hungary and Yugoslavia, Romania surrendered, Bulgaria which had never declared war on the Soviet Union was invaded. This was the year that the Germans were driven from Soviet soil. This was the year that they destroyed Army Group Center and achieved the largest victory gained against the Germans in World War II. This was the year that they showed how much they had learned and how far they had come. It is true that the Soviet armored forces were never as dashing and sophisticated as their German opponents. The simple fact is that they didn't have to be. The sledgehammer could win battles as easily as the rapier and was capable of taking considerably more damage while doing it. In 1945 the Red Army continued it's unstoppable advance to Berlin and the end of the war. Capturing Budapest, Warsaw and Vienna along the way.
Sources: "Kharkov 1942: Anatomy of a Military Disaster" by David M. Glantz (pages 72-73, 272-275)
"KV-1&2 Heavy Tanks 1941-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga, Jim Kinnear and Peter Sarson (page 33)
"Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (pages 75 - 76, 78 - 79, 80 - 82)
Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two by Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen (pages 147 - 149)
"T-34 Russian Armor" by Douglas Orgill (pages 81-85)
"The Battle of Kursk" by David M. Glantz and Jonathan M. House ( pages 264-267)
"The Eastern Front" by J.N. Westwood (pages 164-190)
1941 Tank Division Division HQ Signal Battalion Reconnaissance Battalion Armored Car Company (15 AC's) Light Tank Company (17 T-40) Motorcycle Rifle Company (12 LMG, 3 x 50mm Mortar) Two Tank Regiments Regimental HQ (1 T-34, 3 AAMG) Reconnaissance Company (13 AC's) Heavy Tank Battalion Battalion HQ (1 KV-1, 3 AC's) Three Company's, each with 10 KV tanks. Two Medium Battalions, each with Battalion HQ (1 T-34, 3 AC's) Three Company's, each with 17 T-34 tanks. Flamethrower Battalion Battalion HQ (1 T-26, 3 AC's) Three Company's, each with 3 T-26's, 9 x OT-26 flamethrower tanks. Maintenance Company Supply Company Motorized Infantry Regiment Signal Company Reconnaissance Company (10 AC's) AA Machine Gun Company (6 AA MG's) Three Infantry Battalions, each Three Rifle Companies, each (12 LMG, 2 MG, 3 x 50mm mortar) Machine Gun Company (6 MG) Mortar Platoon (2 x 82mm mortar) Anti-Tank Platoon (2 x 45mm ATG) Infantry Gun Battery (4 x 76mm Infantry Guns) Artillery Regiment Regiment HQ ( I KV tank, 3 AA MG's) Light Field Howitzer Battalion Three Batteries, each (2 LMG, 4 x 122mm How) Heavy Field Artillery Battalion Three Batteries, each (2 LMG, 4 x 152mm How) Anti-Aircraft Battalion Three Light Batteries, each (4 x 37mm AA) Pioneer Battalion
Tank Brigade - August 1941 (TO 010/75-83) Brigade HQ (2 LMG) Two Tank Battalions, each Battalion HQ (2 T-26 tanks) Three Light Tank Company each with 30 T-40 tanks. Medium Tank Company each with 11 T-34's. Heavy Tank Company with 7 KV-1 tanks.
Motorized Rifle Battalion Battalion HQ Two Rifle Companies, each (9 x LMG, 2 x MG, 3 x ATR) Submachine Gun Company Mortar Company (6 x 82mm mortar) Anti-Aircraft Battery (3 x AAMG, 4 x 37mm AA) Anti-tank Company (4 x 45mm ATG, 6 x ATG)
Note: One tank in each medium and heavy platoon was equipped with a radio, as were all tanks in company and battalion HQ elements, light and medium/heavy; the light tank platoons apparently had no radios.
The brigade's infantry battalion included not only a large conventional AT company but also a unique tank-destroyer company that utilized extemporized close-in anti-tank weapons such as hand grenades, flamethrowers, 'Molotov cocktails' and engineer demolition material. The Brigade had no indirect fire support other than the mortars of the infantry battalion.
"Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (pages 71 - 72)
*** Light Tank Company's were made up of Three platoons of 3 T-40's and a Company Command Tank. Medium Tank Companies were made up of Three platoons of 3 T-34 and a Company Command tank. The Heavy Tank Company was made up of three platoons of 2 KV-1's and a Company Command tank. *** (sro)
Tank Brigade - September 1941
Soviet sources give the September 1941 Tank Brigade a total of 7 KV's, 22 T-34's and 38 light tanks.
This change apparently did not apply to the tank brigades that were operating with older tanks. On 10 November 1941 the 54th Tank Brigade reported itself using the old (August) TO&E and at full strength in tanks, but all ninety-three tanks being T-26 models.
"Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (pages 72, 99)
*** I find little information about this interim TO&E. I'm not sure that it was ever official. *** (sro)
Tank Brigade - December 1941 (TO 10/345-352) Brigade HQ (2 LMG) Two Tank Battalions, each Battalion HQ Light Tank Company each with 8 T-60 tanks. Medium Tank Company each with 10 T-34's. Heavy Tank Company each with 5 KV-1 tanks.
Motorized Rifle Battalion Battalion HQ Two Rifle Companies, each (9 LMG, 2 MMG, 3 ATR) Submachine Gun Company Mortar Company (6 x 82mm mortar) Anti-Aircraft Battery (3 x AAMG, 4 x 37mm AA)
Note: Two changes were immediately apparent. The first was that overall tank strength in the brigade was deduced to forty-six (including sixteen light tanks), barely the strength of a conventional Western tank battalion. The second was that all three types of tanks - light, medium and heavy - were now integrated into each tank battalion.
"Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (page 74-75)
"Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two" by Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen (pages 147 and 222) *** Light tank companies were made up of two platoons, each with 3 T-60 tanks with the company HQ having two more. None of these 8 tanks had a radio.
The medium tank companies were made up of three platoons, each with 3 T-34's with the company HQ having another tank. The company and platoon command tanks all had radios.
The heavy tank company was made up of two platoons of two KV tanks with the company HQ having another KV tank. The company and platoon command tanks all had radios.
The new battalion HQ did not have any tanks or any other equipment that is available in CMBB. *** (sro)
Tank Brigade - July 1942 (TO 10/270-277) Brigade HQ (1 T-34) Medium Tank Battalion Battalion HQ (1 T-34) Three Medium Tank Companies, each with 10 T-34's. Light Tank Battalion Battalion HQ (1 T-60/70) Two Light Tank Companies, each with 10 T-60/70 tanks.
Motorized Rifle Battalion Battalion HQ (3 Armored Cars) Two Rifle Companies, each (9 LMG, 2 MG, 3 ATR) Submachine Gun Company Mortar Company (6 x 82mm mortar) Anti-tank Battery (4 x 76mm ATG)
Note: Each command tank, from the Brigade commander down through the platoon commanders, had a radio.
"Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (page 78-79)
"Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two" by Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen (pages 148 and 222)
Tank Corps - Late 1942 Corps HQ (3 T-34) 3 Tank Brigades, each with 21 x T-60/70, 32 x T-34, 18 x LMG, 4 x MMG, 6 x ATR, 6 x 82mm Mortars and 4 x 76mm ATG
Motorized Rifle Brigade with 110 x LMG, 18 x MMG, 3 x HMG, 54 x ATR, 30 x 82mm Mortar, 12 x 45mm ATG, 12 x 37mm AA, 12 x 76mm guns
Reconnaissance Battalion with 20 Armored Cars. Rocket Launcher Battalion with 8 BM-13 Katyusha Rocket Launchers. Pioneer Mine Company Fuel Transport Company Two Maintenance Companies NKVD Section "Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (page 80)
Tank Brigade - November 1943 (TO 10/500-506) Brigade HQ (2 T-34, 3 Armored Cars) Three Tank Battalions, each Battalion HQ (1 T-34) Two Tank Companies, each with 10 T-34's. Motorized Sub-Machinegun Battalion Battalion HQ Two Sub-Machinegun Companies, each (18 LMG, 4 MMG, 18 ATR) Mortar Company (6 x 82mm mortar) Anti-tank Battery (4 x 45mm ATG)
Note: Each command tank, from the Brigade commander down through the platoon commanders, had a radio.
"Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (page 81)
"Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two" by Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen (pages 149 and 222)
Tank Corps 1942 - 1945
April 1942: 40 x T-60, 40 x T-34, 20 x KV-1, 42 x 82mm Mortars, 4 x 120mm Mortars, 12 x 45mm ATG, 20 x 37mm AA, 20 x 76mm Guns
January 1943: 70 x T-70, 98 x T-34, 48 x 82mm Mortars, 4 x 120mm Mortars, 12 x 45mm ATG, 2 x 37mm AA, 24 x 76mm Guns, 8 x BM-13 Katyusha
January 1944: 208 x T-34, 1 x KV-1, 21 x SU-76, 16 x SU-85, 12 x SU-152/ISU-152, 52 x 82mm Mortars, 42 x 120mm Mortars, 12 x 45mm ATG, 16 x 57mm ATG, 18 x 37mm AA, 12 x 76mm Guns, 8 x BM-13 Katyusha
May 1945: 207 x T-34, 21 x SU-76, 21 x SU-85, 21 x SU-152/ISU-152 52 x 82mm Mortars, 42 x 120mm Mortars, 12 x 45mm ATG, 16 x 57mm ATG, 16 x 37mm AA, 36 x 76mm Guns, 8 x BM-13 Katyusha
"Red Army Handbook 1939-1945" by Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness (page 84)
"Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two" by Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen (pages 148 and 222)
Notes: The ISU-122 was the tank destroyer version of the ISU-152 assault gun and they were used interchangeably during the war. The SU-85 and SU-100 were both fairly rare. There were about 2000 of each model manufactured. To give an idea of scale there were about 12,700 SU-76's made, more than 1100 SU-122's, over 700 SU-152's and about 4,000 ISU-122/152's produced.
The IS-2 was used in Guards Heavy Tank Brigades composed of 65 IS-2's.
Guards Tank Corps got the pick of new equipment when it was available. Such as the SU-100 tank destroyers.
Several Soviet tank corps were equipped with Lend Lease M4A2 Sherman tanks. One such tank corps was the 3rd Guards Tank Corps during the destruction of Army Group Center in June and July of 1944. There were 4,252 Shermans sent to the Soviets. These were equally divided between the 75mm and 76mm armed versions.
"Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two" by Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen (pages 217, 222 and 225)
"Bagration 1944: The Destruction of Army Group Centre" by Steven Zaloga (page 65)
(modified 07/20/2004 20:37:37 by Mad Russian)
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