"Russian Paratroopers Caused Havoc in World War II" Topic

….—Here's How They Did It

"The Soviet Union was a pioneer in airborne warfare in the years before World War II — the first conflict to see widespread use of paratroopers. And in the USSR, this development was part of an intense period of post-revolutionary military experimentation that would eventually experience the shock of Stalin's purges in 1937 and the German invasion in 1941.

By late 1941, German troops were directly threatening Moscow. In December, the Soviets' Moscow strategic counter-offensive saved the city, inflicting heavy losses on the German armies, overstretched and inexperienced in winter warfare as they were. However, by January 1942 the Soviet push was bogging down in the face of German resistance and incomplete Soviet planning, organization and strained logistics…."
Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

A rather misleading article. It starts of by saying this airborne operation was going to be one of the largest in history, but eventually admits that of 10,000 troops available only a little over 3,000 were dropped. Then it goes on to detail all the foul-ups once they were there and finally the "Havoc" created sounds like little more than a brief annoyance.

This adventurism.
Having neither superiority in air, nor any sufficient amount of transport aircraft, nor the ability to provide paratroopers with heavy weapons, they tried to surround the enemy.
The result is logical.
But it is necessary to recognize that both the paratroopers and the cavalrymen who came to their aid fought desperately.

Glup!….

Amicalement
Armand

In some cases the Russian Paras were dropped to link up with partisans. And I read/was told even some of their paras were dropped at very low levels into snow banks.

Having been awarded both US ARMY Parachute and Air Assault Wings … I don't think that was very good idea ! However, the WWII Russians seemed not to be to worried about taking heavy losses.

I have seen footage of early Russian paratroops climbing on the top wing if their drop aircraft. Holding on to a long cable then dropping off the wing. I don't think I would have liked that method of insertion too much !

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I have seen footage of early Russian paratroops climbing on the top wing if their drop aircraft. Holding on to a long cable then dropping off the wing.

In the pre-war (inter-war) period most of the Soviet paratrooper demonstrations involved TB-3 bombers. These were very large 4-engined aircraft with open cockpits and gunnery positions. They could carry a lot of weight (a lot of men), but it was not a quick process to get them out of the planes. So they went out slowly, sat on the wings, and all slid off fairly quickly so they could drop close together.

Here is a 1937 demonstration:
YouTube link

Might be worth mentioning that "Wing walking" was a fairly frequent airshow event in that era, and it was not uncommon in multi-engined airplanes to provide access so that an engineer could climb OUT of the plane and work on the engines during long flights. So I doubt it was such a stretch to put the boys out on the wing. I mean, they even got parachutes!

huh? I don't think I would have liked that method of insertion too much !

I'm sure it was all rip-roaring fun when it wasn't an actual combat jump. Well, maybe not in the Red Army of the 1930s, but it probably would have been anywhere else…

When I learned to jump, we had to climb out on the landing strut, to finally place one foot on the main landing gear wheel, the other dangling off in infinity, holding on to a wing strut, facing into the wind, awaiting the jump master's shouted command to jump. Once you were there, and he said "GO", the first reaction was "yeah,hang on a sec. Let's talk about this whole thing …" To which he (a 220lb ex drill sergeant to all appearances, who was perched in the door) simply said: "You're standing on the wheel! You can't be there when we land, and I'm not letting you back in the airplane! You need to JUMP NOW!"

And off I went into the instant silence of free fall.

I thank you for reminding me of the adventures of my youth. That's a set of synapses that don't get exercised too often… ;)

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Yes, "exiting the aircraft" by climbing out on the wing can't be fun ! Regardless if it was in combat or not.

Whether deploying by chute or chopper. The aircraft wants to get out of the DZ/LZ as soon as possible. After they drop/land their load. And not become a target. More then they already are.

Yeah, basically if you get on the aircraft for a drop … The only way you are getting out is with a chute on your back. Out the door, ramp, etc.