"Russian Tank Riders " Topic

Russian tank riders . I assume they would of been part of the tank brigade . or would be part of an infantry support companie

There was a motorized infantry battalion in each tank brigade that had two companies of motorized rifles and a company of tank riders. I've done up platoon organizations for them, but had to guess about certain things. It's based on Zaloga. PM me and we can arrange a way for me to send you what I wrote up.

PM' Its just based on what i have learnt read seen etc . And ty for the links ditto

The Bn organisation details are now available for the Motor Bns of the Tank Brigades. Are you just looking at the Platoon level details, and if so for what period?

Gary

I would love to have platoon level details for the motorized "rifle" companies in 1944 if you have them. I'm fairly confident in my inferences, but would like to have facts rather than conjecture.

From November 1943 the Motor Rifle Battalion that had been part of the tank brigade converted to an SMG battalion, (two companies of three platoons, 3 squads each, plus one 95 man SMG company – the tank riders)

Unlike the SMG companies in the Mechanized (infantry) units, the two converted rifle companies retained their allotment of nine DP light machine guns and two Maxims.

As above, the tank sealant company was the SMG company from the brigade rifle battalion, although irl it was not uncommon for any old Tom, dick and Harry to ride the tanks, including rifle troops from infantry brigades.

Platoon cmdr (SMG)

Three Squads, each

Sergeant (SMG)
Jnr Sgt (DP LMG)
Asst gunner (SMG)
6 men (each SMG)

Total Pl 28 men.

Gary

Platoon level 1945 its for 20mm scale i paid for the pdf from fow but its notcorrect on there army lists regards tank riders

Thanks Gary. That's exactly what my inferences led me to!

IIRC, a Soviet mdm tank brigade had 3 battalions of 21 tanks each (if at full strength). That's 63 tanks plus whatever the brigade HQ had. Three SMG platoons of 28 men each makes 84 tank riders, or only slightly more than 1 rider per tank!

Bde HQ added two T-34s on the late 1943 organisation. The SMG Pls of the single 'original' SMG Coy were a little larger, 1 officer and three 10-man Squads each. The two former Rifle Coys each had three Pls as detailed above.

Gary

A highly recommended read is Evgeny Bessonov's "Tank Rider". Junior Lt. Bessonov led the 2nd Platoon, 1st Company, 1st Motor Rifle Battalion, 49th Mechanized Brigade, 6th Guards Mechanized Corps, 4th Tank Army.
link

There's an error in the link where it says "At some point a 120 mm mortar battery (4 mortars) turned up, and stayed with Bessenov for the duration of his time in Lvov" in fact it was the mortar platoon officer (and presumably a signaler with a field telephone) that arrived and was able to call in support from the guns which were a healthy distance away.

Bessonov himself never carried a weapon apart from a brief time with a captured German machine pistol which he soon discarded.

Excellent

does this look about right

A bit off topic but related enough to be of interest.Recently i saw a very interesting photo on face book,Soviet tank riders mounted on a company of early T-62s…clearly well within the era of BTRs and BMPs.Couldnt identify if it was a motor rifle or an armoured unit by the captioning.Always wondered how long they continued the practice…certainly not into the age of reactive ERA tile.