"Soviet motorised rifle platoon in 1960s" Topic
11 Posts
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nikolas93ts | 11 Jan 2017 3:52 p.m. PST |
Hi everybody! This is my first post, but I have been lurking around for…several years already! Anyway, my question to the community regards Soviet mechanized troops during the 1960s, and possibly even early 1970s. There is plenty of sources covering 1980s, but earlier periods are sketchy at best. I would assume that despite older half-platoon APC organisation being used soldiers, once dismounted, would divide into three squads. What was their composition and how many men platoon had in total? I plan on using BTR-152, BTR-50PK and BTR-60PA (1965-1970) to illustrate motorised rifle platoon before BTR-60PB and BMP-1 reached widespread service. While first three were half-platoon, BTR-60PA is of a bit mysterious with 12 dismount capability, indicating it might have been squad APC, or it carried additional troops like those from anti-tank platoon etc. Thanks in advance! |
jekinder6 | 11 Jan 2017 5:15 p.m. PST |
This is MR regiment 1964. Note that the APCs are in a separate company from the carried troops with 6 BTRs per company. PDF link |
jekinder6 | 11 Jan 2017 5:16 p.m. PST |
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Vostok17 | 14 Jan 2017 5:30 a.m. PST |
Good afternoon! If you are interested in the period from 1965 to 1970-1972, the standard structure for platoon, he is as follows: 28 soldiers and 1 officer, 3 BTR-60PB, three RPG-7, 3 RPK, 17 AKM / AKMS, 1 SVD, 7 PM pistol, gun APS 1. BTR-60PA used in the auxiliary battalion platoon. In particular, the anti-tank platoon of the battalion was 3 BTR-60PA, 31 soldiers, 1 officer, 6 SPG-9 and 27 AK. BTR-152, BTR-50 and BTR-60s early versions were replaced in front line units very quickly, because it does not meet the requirements of the modern battlefield. Yes BTR-50 and BTR-60PA not popular because of the complicated structure. The final version of the platoon on BTR-152 – 3 armored personnel carriers (in each – 2 person crew and 10 people landing) |
nikolas93ts | 17 Jan 2017 5:30 p.m. PST |
Hi, thank you very much! That look similar to modern Russian platoon, which is also composed of 29 personnel at full-strength. However how they were broken down? I would assume they used 8-men strong squad (24 men) and rest as platoon HQ/support element (if including sniper). Squad should therefore have something like: 1 x RPK 1 x RPG 2 x pistols for BTR driver and gunner 4 x AKM And platoon HQ with platoon Leader and assistant (pistol and AK, respectively) sniper. They would be seated with other squads and dismounting with them. What is giving me confusion is that there are two men missing, and there is that APS 1 gun. I am not sure what it is, google gives APS as underwater assault rifle, but that is unlikely. |
nikolas93ts | 17 Jan 2017 5:54 p.m. PST |
I am also particularly interested for that BTR-152 platoon, as I have seen plenty of them being used in 1968, actually they seem to be most numerous, and some odd BTR-50PK, including Bulgarians, albeit part of Soviet division was mobilised and therefore equipped with older vehicles. I also guess BTR-60PB were kept West for possibly nuclear escalation.
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nikolas93ts | 06 Feb 2017 5:45 p.m. PST |
Just upping this up, does anybody might clarify what APS 1 gun is? APS underwater assault rifle entered service in 1975, so I doubt it is it. Also, link jekinder6 kindly provided show BTR companies with anti-tank platoons having some sort of AT guns towed by BTRs themselves. Were those T-12? or possibly D-44? I can safely guess they were eventually replaced by AT-4 (and even later, integrated with smaller AT-7) but what happened with AT-3 Saggers in meantime? They went to regimental anti-tank platoon? |
nikolas93ts | 11 Feb 2017 8:32 a.m. PST |
Any suggestions? :( I hope UsmanK might see this |
Vostok17 | 11 Feb 2017 9:57 a.m. PST |
APS – Stechkin automatic pistol. Additional weapon for soldiers with RPG or main weapon for officier. As for the early (before the BTR-60) battalions I can not say anything – I never worked with this theme. In the period 1965-1970 states artillery in mechanised infantry battalion was mortars (8 120-mm mortars in a mortar platoon) and recoilless guns (6 SPG-9 in anti-tank platoon). |
nikolas93ts | 20 Feb 2017 5:02 p.m. PST |
UsmanK, thanks again for your invaluable knowledge! American 1990 study on Soviet combined arms battalions gives anti-tank platoon as two SPG-9 and two or four AT-3/AT-4 by 1977. The same reports say they replaced 57mm (sic) towed guns, but I think it is more likely those were 85mm like D-44. AT-4 was complemented by AT-7 in 1978, which was developed as replacement SPG-9, covering some range (1000m) and having warhead sharing the design with PG-7VL for RPG-7. Assuming both American report and UsmanK is correct, anti-tank platoon probably had mostly SPG-9 before AT-4 entered service 1970. AT-3 had longer maximum range early on, and significantly longer minimum range than AT-4, so maybe it was indeed issued to anti-tank units at regimental or similar level. |
Mako11 | 20 Feb 2017 6:05 p.m. PST |
IIRC, the 8 man teams were all dismount personnel, not including drivers/gunners, which remained with the vehicle. So, you should have full, 8 man squads on the tabletop, if gaming at 1:1 ratio, and the vehicles are still crewed, so can provide fire support, if needed too. |
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