"Soviet and WARPAC Small Unit Doctrine?" Topic

Just curious to know if the Soviets and other Warsaw Pact forces, during the Cold War, used mechanized infantry/infantry doctrines similar to that of other nations, e.g. breaking their squads down into fireteams, in order to overcome enemy defenses, and troops?

Not sure if they would break them down into two, or more teams for each squad, or if they just used multiple squads/platoons to swarm and overwhelm the defenders, when dismounted, with fire support also provided by their IFVs and APCs.

I do know the vehicles were to provide direct fire support for their dismounted squads.

It would be helpful to know, since I will be wanting to base some Cold War communist troops in the near future.

Thoughts?

Everything I've seen has the Russians in squads as the smallest 'chunk' of the military. Well, with the possible exception of weapons teams.

There doesn't seem to be any splitting of the squad, not even gun group/rifle group like the Brits did in WW2.

Pretty much the same impression on me from my research into the east german army (NVA). All training films and all the people I asked that have served in military or paramilitary organisations (paramilitary training in schools was not only common but compulsory for men) have confirmed that the smallest tactical element was the squad (motorized riflss squad = 7 men dismounted) supported by its APC.

Some of those I´ve spoken to are pretty sure that elite formations like the Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) probably had their own small unit tactics and operated in smaller groups, but those are considered special forces.

As Black Guardian points out, the standard Motorized Rifle Squad in Soviet armies was only 7 dismounted troops, so it didn't really behoove them to split it into even smaller groups.

-Will

The dismounted squad was to work with the BMP as a 'team' or fire unit, each to cover the other as needed…….as said above the 7 man formation- if at full strength – was too small to break down again, the weapons TOE precluded it too, RPK,RPG & 5 x AK's……as I recall the actual squad leader was also the track commander? This would leave the 'boots' under a JNCO at best, subordinate to the BMP.
Not sure about BTR units as the squad would be bigger….? I imagine that they were to fight as infantry as their vehicle was a transport not an IFV.
We were told to expect the SF and 'elite' groups to be flexible in doctrine and mission orientated……..
It would be interesting to see how it compares to 'now'………

Found this…..

'Dismounted infantry assault: Normally the infantry will dismount 300-400m from the enemy. However, the infantry will dismount 500-1,000m from the enemy if the enemy is unsuppressed, well entrenched, strong in anti-tank weapons, or in terrain unsuitable for vehicles. Once dismounted the riflemen form skirmish lines and continue to advance, about 200m behind the tanks. Dismounted squads, platoons, and companies all attack in a single skirmish line. The Soviet infantry will attempt to advance as fast as possible, partly to keep the momentum of the attack, and partly to support the advancing tanks. If the skirmish lines are forced to ground, they will alternate fire and short rushes; entire companies will either move or fire, not combine the two Once at 25-30m from the enemy the Russians will charge. The APCs or BMPs follow 300-400m behind the dismounted infantry using direct fire through the gaps between rifle squads (from the short halt).'

From here….

link

A post -Grozny report ('94/95)…

link

Imagine it like this:

YouTube link

Video title is misleading, it´s a tactics film about assault and breaking into enemy lines.

Another Cold War analysis….

A Soviet style squad is heavily armed with automatic weapons. Usual doctrine calls for the squad to deploy on line and while standing or crouching, advance on the enemy. As the squad advances a high volume of fire would be maintained so that the squad would have fire superiority and their enemy would be forced to seek cover. With fire superiority, the Soviet squad would advance on line with their weapon in their shoulder or at their hip. When a soldier fired he would 'walk' his rounds into the target, adjusting his aim according to where his rounds hit.

Of course the Soviets did not always do it this way. They would take cover and use finer tactics, but because they didn't trust their soldiers they preferred to keep things as simple as possible and trained their troops accordingly. Most of their soldiers were conscripts and didn't want to be there anyway. This is also a reason nearly all Soviet weapons had the automatic fire capability.'

Dismounted infantry assault: Normally the infantry will dismount 300-400m from the enemy. However, the infantry will dismount 500-1,000m from the enemy if the enemy is unsuppressed, well entrenched, strong in anti-tank weapons, or in terrain unsuitable for vehicles. Once dismounted the riflemen form skirmish lines and continue to advance, about 200m behind the tanks. Dismounted squads, platoons, and companies all attack in a single skirmish line. The Soviet infantry will attempt to advance as fast as possible, partly to keep the momentum of the attack, and partly to support the advancing tanks. If the skirmish lines are forced to ground, they will alternate fire and short rushes; entire companies will either move or fire, not combine the two Once at 25-30m from the enemy the Russians will charge. The APCs or BMPs follow 300-400m behind the dismounted infantry using direct fire through the gaps between rifle squads (from the short halt).'

'

Aah … memories …

Thanks for the info.

I really appreciate it.

Also try, FM 100-2-1. Headquarters. Department of the Army. OPERATIONS. AND TACTICS.
PDF link

As above, the section was the smallest element. Fire and movement was conducted by platoon.

Lion,

Gun/Rifle Groups were still the basis of British Section tactics right up to the 80s.

Hi,
In Grau's "The Bear Went over the Mountain" (Soviets in Afghanistan) there was IIRC only one mention of a squad being broken up into two fire teams, and the troops in question were VDV (paratroopers). They were set up in defence into two 3-man teams, with the squad leader acting as required by the situation.
Cheers,
Aksu

@RMD: Huh, thought you guys had picked up the "brick/fireteam" concept/organization pretty early.

The 'brick/team' concept came in with the SA80………we trained in 'rifle group/gun group' right up until 1988/9 when we converted to the new gat, the two bricks were meant to be both 3x rifles and 1x LSW gunner……but we kept our GPMG's from the start……so we had extra firepower…….