Thursday, April 7, 2016

NQM Orders of Battle - Eastern Front : Soviet 1

Soviet Infantry Division
Div HQ   1 Commander (in Gaz Jeep, on foot or horse), 1 Signals Staff Car(@Strength 3), 1 AA stand (in truck, or towed or horse drawn)
Div Recce Coy3 single fig recce stands (@Str 1), on foot, horse or M\cycle
Inf Regt (or Bde)HQ x 3RHQ:Comd, 82mmMor, SMG or NKVD (all stands@Strength 3), 45mm or 76mm Regt Gun + limber (@str 2)
Inf Bn x up to 9Comd, 3 Rifle Stands, MMG  (all stands@Strength 2 or 3)
Arty RegtRHQ comd, up to 3 FOO(@Strength 1-3), 2 76mm Div gun + limber, 122mm Howitzer + limber (all stands@Strength 3-4)
Arty RegtRHQ comd, up to 2 FOO(@Strength 1- 3), 1 76mm Div gun + limber, 122mm Howitzer + limber (all stands@Strength 3-4)
Arty RegtRHQ comd, up to 2 FOO(@Strength 1- 3), 1 76mm Div gun + limber, 122mm Howitzer + limber (all stands@Strength 3-4)
MG Bn3 MG stands, ATR stand (@Strength 2 or 3)
Anti- Tank Bn 3 45mm Guns(@ 2 or 3 crew), 3 Limbers, 1 Anti-tank Rifle (ATR) stand (strength 2 or 3)
Pioneer Bn2 Pioneer Stands (@2-3 figures), 1-2 Wagons with optional Bridging Trailer
Note that the Soviet Inf Div would have no FOOs, early in the war, so can only pre-plan indirect artillery fire, or use direct artillery fire. As the War progressed FOOs were introduced in greater quantity.   
Author's Collection. Various, including scratchbuilds and conversions
The  picture of the Inf Div above deviates from the Orbat. The Pioneer Bn only has 1 Wagon. The Mortars are 120mm (the Corps commander is surely going to want them back!) The Anti tank Bn has only 145mm gun, towed by a captured German Granit truck. The Rifle Regiments can only muster two Bns per Regt, and they have no Bn HQ stands, so can only operate as a Regt, not individually. The RHQs have had to make do with ATRs instead of 45mm ATk guns. There is only one Artillery Regiment, and it is making do with 76mm Regimental Guns instead of the more powerful Divisional Gun. At least one of the Div Recce Companies is over strength.
The exigencies of war would mean that very few units would exactly match their Order of Battle. Combat would quickly reduce the strength of the fighting companies down. We typically fight battles with units at 2/3 to 1/2 their authorised combat strength, so the picture above represents the norm rather than an exception. Units in contact with the enemy would also add captured equipment (especially logistic equipment ) to their inventory.

2 comments: