"Cold War Soviet Naval Infantry TO&E" Topic

I've come into possession of a number of PT-76s which I would like to use in Force on Force. Can anyone direct me to a website with a Soviet naval infantry platoon TO&E from the 80s? All I've been able to come up with has been WWII stuff.

For opponents, I'm currently leaning towards Sweden in order to field the S-tank or possibly Norway in order to use the Elhiem figures.

Hmm, not sure, but suspect someone will be along with it shortly.

I know they also transported Motor Rifle Regiments as well, in their landing ships, so you might check out their platoon TO&Es too, if you can't find the above.

I seem to recall them rolling BTR-60s, with troops running alongside in the surf, during the height of the Cold War maneuvers.

You might also consider Danes as opponents too, in addition to the Swedish (one of my favorite hypotheticals too). The Soviets/Warsaw Pact had plans to land troops on the Danish isles (and possibly the Southern tip of Sweden), in addition to the German Baltic Coast, in order to sweep around the main defenses of NATO in West Germany. That would also help them to secure the Danish Straits, so their Baltic Fleet would have access to the open sea too, if desired.

Given the tight Denmark straits, number of mines and minelayers, aircraft, etc., not sure they could have pulled that one off, without using nuclear weapons (which they had plans to use, as well), but that was the plan.

Specifically, if I recall correctly, East Germany and Poland were slated with spearheading that assault, should WWIII ever kick off in earnest. They had a lot of landing craft and amphibious ships in the fleets.

Good fun!

How about this: link

jekinder6-

That's exactly what I had in mind. Thanks!

Mako11-

Any idea what the Pacific fleet would be up to? Another direction to take a naval infantry project would be to invade the Aleutian Islands or something.

Hmmm, can't really see the point in taking any of the Aleutians, unless there are radar stations out there that they want to eliminate, and Alaska proper is probably a bit too much a challenge.

Better perhaps to attack a small island, like Diego Garcia, or Guam, instead, to eliminate or take over a major, strategic forward operating base of the USA.

Hawaii is probably too difficult to do, invasion wise. Better to knock it out with nukes, if WWIII starts.

Of course, then you'll probably get them back in kind, and everyone loses.

From a conventional standpoint, the Russians are always claiming the upper Japanese isles, so perhaps they could make a play for some of those, which the US is obligated to help Japan take back, in time of war.

Soviet Naval Infantry were organised into independent brigades, each of 3-5 naval infantry battalions, plus support elements. However, in the Far East there was a Naval Infantry Division of two (I think?) brigades. There were three briades in the west – one each for the Baltic, Black Sea and Leningrad Military Districts (the 'Leningrad' Brigade was actually stationed on the Arctic Coast).

Each battalion had three companies, each of three platoons, organised very much as wheeled motor rifles, in BTR-60s (BTR-70 began to replace BTR-60 in the late 1980s). However, there were minimal battalion support weapons – usually only a platoon of 120mm mortars. One battalion in each brigade was para-trained and had the dual role of air assault.

Each Brigade had a Tank Battalion equipped with T-55s. Each battalion had three companies, each of three platoons, each of three tanks. Unusually, one tank in each platoon was usually an OT-55 flamethrower tank. They eventually upgraed to T-72, though this doesn't seem to have happened until the 1990s.

Each brigade also had an Amphibious Tank Battalion equipped with PT-76, organised the same as the Tank Battalion, though lacking flame tanks.

There was also the Polish 10th Marine Division, which was effectively a brigade in terms of organisation, with three strong Marine Battalions (each with one PT-76 company and five marine companies mounted in TOPAS (a licence-built version of the BTR-50 tracked APC, more commonly known by its Czech designation OT-62)), plus a Tank Battalion and other support elements.

The Chinese (probably with good reason) thought the Soviet Pacific Fleet Marines were for use against them. Plenty of history of amphibious operations against ports along the Chinese coast.

From my notes:

Naval Infantry Company

1 Company HQ -- 1xBTR-60 or BTR-80, 3 x SA6 Grail, 10 men

3 Naval Infantry Platoons, each with 3 x BTR-60 or BTR-80, 3xRPG-7, 1xSVD, 3xRPK-74 LMG, 21xAK-74, 31 men

Organization of Naval Infantry Platoon
1 Platoon HQ (4 men)
3 x Squads, each with 1 BTR, 9 men, 1 RPG-7, 1xRPK-74

The naval Infantry Battalion has 3 Naval Infantry companies, a mortar platoon and an AT platoon, which could provide additional assets.

Mortar platoon has 1xBTR-60 or BTR-80, 3x82 or 122mm mortars and 16 men

AT platoon has 1xBTR-60 or BTR-80, 3 manpack ATGM [AT-3], 3 SPG-9 and 27 men

The Naval Infantry Regiment has 3 Naval infantry battalions and the following units which could provide reinforcement:

1 Tank Battalion -- 41xPT-76/T-54/T-55; 3xBTR-60 or BTR-80

1 Reconnaisance Company -- 3xPT-76; 3xBRDM-2

1 AT Battery -- 6xBRDM-2 with AT-3

1 AD Battery -- 4xZSU-23/4; 4xSA-6 or SA-13

Rocket Launcher Battery -- 6xBM-21

Hope this helps.

Isn't that an SA-7 Grail?