"Modern Soviet Tanks with Minerollers?" Topic

Just curious to know how many of these are in a battalion, or regiment?

Perhaps a platoon of T-55s, T-72s, or others, equipped with 3 – 4 of these to help clear the way for breakthrough attacks?

The rollers were mounted only on an as-needed basis. Their weight significantly slows the tank down and puts a lot more strain on the transmission. Once the obstacle is breached, they are jettisoned. Soviet/Russian doctrine is enough for 1 platoon per company, although they probably didn't produce that many. The US authorized 2 rollers and 2 plows per tank company, but I never saw more than a couple sets. In both 1st and 2d ID, ours were kept by the engineer battalions and carried around on flatbed trucks. We planned to group all the plows and rollers into ad hoc breaching platoons when needed. Each roller was paired with a plow. When the time came, the plow would clear a path through the obstacle, then the roller proofed the path for follow on vehicles. Once no longer needed, the rollers were jettisoned to be picked up by the engineers later.

David Isby says:

Battalion has no engineering section in itself.

Regiment has "27 mineroller/plough combinations and 9 dozer blades issued to tank companies and battalions as needed"

More engineering assets at higher levels but he doesn't get specific.

Thanks for the quick replies.

So, from the above, it appears 3 minerollers per company, assuming triangular battalion/regimental structures, and one dozer per company.

That's good enough for me.

I appreciate the info on US units and tactics too.

Averaged out yeah, but it's probably likely that more could be assigned to a unit pushing through a heavily mined area with very few, if any, on the follow up units.

The good news is it means you can easily squeeze in one or two on your gaming table :)

PDF link

Just looking at an image with 12 KMT-6 pairs outside the Tank Bn shed of an MR Regt., standard practice as there was not enough room for the tanks to park with them fitted. Also saw an image of a T-64 with KMT-4 mine roller set, which meant I could fit one of mine with a set from he Trumpeter T-55 kit as no one makes KMT-6 in 20mm, hint hint S&S!!!

Tally Ho

Does anyone know of a kit/mod for a mineclearing plow/roller KMT-4/5M/6 for 15mm tanks?