"How did Soviet Tank and Platoons operate" Topic

During the Cold War did Soviet tankers spot their own targets and engage or did the platoon commander designate targets for his platoon only?

I suspect a bit of both.

I do recall reading of a tactic where a single target would be designated by the platoon commander, for volley fire, when ranges were long, and/or the conditions presented low percentage chances to hit, and/or kill the target.

I think a couple of rules sets even permit that tactic to be used by Soviet players, with a slight bump in the % To-Hit, and using a single die roll for resolution.

Not sure that carried over to the later, 125mm gun armed tanks, but do believe it was used by the T-55 and T-62 crews.

Thanks very much.

Wouldn't the platoon commander always designate the general targets in a tank unit, regardless of nationality?

Or do you mean the platoon commander designates each individual target for each tank?

"Weapons and tactics of the Soviet Army" mentions that on the attack, units will stop for 60 seconds or so, to fire several shots, which doesn't seem enough time to designate individually.

In AH's MBT, Soviet armor always operated as a platoon for movement and fire, and I have understood that was their doctrine. No doubt some of the Cold War era tankers will be along anytime to correct any misunderstandings.

I have a few reliable sources on the subject, one a personal one and the chap who taught me, although I went the G2 route in the end and SABOT from the Guild. Both these chaps have a massive amount of knowledge working with and instructing armour. A clip stolen from the guild:

The time given above to spot / aquire targets at 20 seconds??? Not a chance, any turret crew that took longer than a few seconds would be sacked after failing assessment Exercise Juliet – single crew evaluation through to Exercise Oscar – troop Battle Run.

There is no such thing as applying suppressive fire from MBT`s – no way.

Move after firing 4 rounds – again complete nonsense. No drills were ever laid down for this as an SOP except kill the target , 80% of the time first round kill – then jockey by reversing out of the field of view of the enemy and reappear and engage again. No technique would last more than three rounds KE but yes, CE engagements could be four or five rounds (usually three on average) but CE engagements mostly against targets that could not kill you at the same range band.

Some AFV`s not firing – not a chance. No way. Our problem in Gulf 1 was over kill. Because the signature from a hit using APFSDS was minimal often each Callsign fired into the same target more than once til it was def dead. Tank crews do not get to choose when to engage either , i.e. "think I will hold back here" as Troop fire control is standard practice in all NATO armies. The centre callsign calls the `Bill` total targets arrayed and each C/S claims or is designated.

On the air sounds like this……

"Hello all stations this is One Zero – watch your front!"

Hello One Zero this is One One ( troop Sgt) One right – mine out!" He then engages.

Two more targets appear …

"One Two (troop Cpl ) this is One Zero (Troop Leader), two left , split!"
Another target appears ….

"One Zero One One – single right – mine out" and engages.

Troop Leader spots another and is engaging a previously spotted target so has to designate to the callsign least busy….. that`s One Two….

" Mover left One Two engage!"

Troop leader during lull (if there is one!) One One and One Two One Zero FIVE – destroyed Over?"

" Roger Roger " from both flanking callsigns who then MRS and prepare to move ( Jockey) During jockeying may need to restow ammo to ready round bins but only two max will move and one remains overwatch then they switch.

As for the Sovs, firing at the short halt was the norm, using "volley" fire to bring in the maximum of shots on a target.

Tally Ho!

Where did 20 seconds come from? Or was this a response to something else?

Confused here :-)

Weasal,

yes from another part of the conversation on the Guild,

Tally Ho!

Engaging targets was practiced regularly and was per SOP. In a four tank platoon there would be two sections of two tanks each, call them the red and blue section. Once targets entered the kill zone, the platoon would split the kill zone in half and the red section had the right half and the blue section the left half. Then each section would further split their half with red 1 engaging targets from the center and working outward, and red 2 would engage targets at the end and work inwards. The blue section would similarly engage targets in their half. This was to ensure minimal overkill and that all targets in the KZ were serviced.

The Warsaw Pact probably had a similar battle drill with the platoon leader engaging targets at the center of the kill zone and working outward, and the right hand wingman starting at the right edge and working in, and the left wingman working from the left edge in.

I can see where being on the attack and having to engage targets in defensive positions, they would have the entire platoon engage a single target from a short halt because they were not faced with a target rich environment.

"I do recall reading of a tactic where a single target would be designated by the platoon commander, for volley fire, when ranges were long, and/or the conditions presented low percentage chances to hit, and/or kill the target.

I think a couple of rules sets even permit that tactic to be used by Soviet players, with a slight bump in the % To-Hit, and using a single die roll for resolution".

By the above, I mean that a Soviet/WARPAC tank platoon commander would order all of his tanks to fire on a single enemy vehicle, when there was a low chance of a hit, like when firing at long range, or when conditions were otherwise unfavorable.

For much of the Cold War, their "effective" gun range was only about 1,500m, due to poor optics and other issues.

That's also assuming, on a modern battle field, that the attacker can even identify multiple targets.

The Warsaw Pact tank platoon was a three tank unit with the platoon leader in the lead tank. The PL was the only tank with company command. In the early era of the 1960s and 1950s the other tanks were suspected of not having any radios requiring PL to use signal flags and hand signals for fire and movement.
The OPFOR units at Fort Riley were part of our MI unit. The platoons spent a lot of time learning Soviet tactics. I was signed for all of the Soviet equipment during a inventory investigation.
Operations were more of a company maneuver of ten tanks rather only a three tank tactical unit.