The Weird and Wonderful World of Soviet Tankovy ~ WWPD: Wargames, Board Games, RPGs, LCGs, and more!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Weird and Wonderful World of Soviet Tankovy

Posted by Steven Labels: Flames of War, USSR

Denis Kosta sent us a great article on Soviet tanks, their history and unit composition. This is a great read and hope you find this piece as interesting as I did. -Luke

Weird and Wonderful World of Soviet Tankovy

By Denis Kosta

The virtual annihilation of the Soviet armoured forces in 1941 led to drastic changes to the Soviet armoured forces. With only small numbers of tanks left in the inventory, the Soviets did away with their tank divisions and replaced them with tank brigades with ever smaller numbers of machines assigned to them. Even the new tank corps were actually closer to the size of a standard division than a traditional corps.

The new tank brigades had their establishment changed a number of times. The first brigades authorised in August 1941 had 93 tanks in 3 battalions. The 3 battalions included two light tank battalions and a third with a mixture of heavy and medium tanks. Yet in August 1941 these brigades were reduced to 67 tanks. In January 1942, tank brigades were authorised at 46 tanks and in February 1942, tank brigades of 27 tanks were authorised.

1941 also saw the introduction of the Separate Tank Regiments with a theoretical establishment of 2 companies of medium tanks and one of light tanks. These units were to be assigned where required and were mainly to be used for infantry support. The authorised strength for these formations was 36 tanks including 5 heavy, 11 medium and 20 light tanks.

By mid 1942, the existing brigade structure was considered inefficient and a new structure was introduced. Each brigade was to have a total of 2 battalions, one with 2 medium tank companies and the second with 1 medium and 2 light tank companies.

Furthermore in 1943 the organisation was changed yet again with 3 tank battalions each with 2 medium tank companies for a total of 65 tanks. This became the standard organisation in terms of tanks for the rest of the war though in practice some units continued with older style organisations.

While Stavka authorised the above formal organisations, the situation at the front resulted in tank units using whatever machines were available. This resulted in odd assortments of tanks grouped together and in some instances tank units were equipped with more than the authorised number of vehicles.

In addition, tank formations were often used to the point where they had no machines operational. With tanks being urgently required they were also issued as they were available. This was especially the case in early 1942 where units were thrown into both defensive and offensive operations in a bid to turn the tide of the war.

The tendency to use tank formations until they were truly exhausted also led to entire corps being reduced to the size of companies. A famous case was that of Popov’s Mobile Group which fought near Kharkov in early 1943. This formation was originally composed of four Tank Corps (3^rd, 4^th, 10^thand 18^th tank corps). The formation began 1943 completely under strength with 212 tanks assigned to it and by the end of February it was down to 50 tanks of various sorts before it was destroyed in Mannstein’s infamous assault on Kharkov.

To represent the eclectic nature of Soviet tank forces, the following options are to be allowed as a supplement to Russian lists in Eastern Front. These supplements are designed to allow players to model different tanks, to provide a different tactical experience and to allow more historical orientated
gaming.

To assist with promoting historical gaming, unit descriptions have been included with numbers and types of tanks used, time period they were used in and what front and army the tank unit was part of.

Mixed
Tankovy Company

As a result of intense fighting and lack of replacements, Soviet brigades and sometimes entire corps were often reduced to the size of a single company or even less with a disparate combination of machines. With a lack of replacements, tank units used whatever machines they could.

Examples include the following units

Front	Army	Brigade (Corps)	Quantity Operational	Date Reported
Southern Front	9^{th Army}	12^th Tank Brigade	KV-1: 1 T-34: 2 T-60: 5	17 May,1942
Crimean Front	51^st Army	39^th Tank Brigade	KV-1: 2 T-60: 2	25 March,1942
South-Western Front	38^th Army	3^rd Tank Brigade	KV-1: 3 T-34: 2 T-60: 4	30 June,1942
South-Western Front	9^thArmy	132^nd Separate Tank Battalion	KV-1: 3 T-60: 3 Matilda: 1 Valentine: 4	29 June, 1942
South-Eastern Front	64^th Army	13^th Tank Brigade(13^th Tank Corps)	T-34: 3 T-70: 2 T-60: 1	11 September 1942
South-Eastern Front	64^th Army	56^th Tank Brigade(13^th Tank Corps)	T-34: 1 T-70: 4	11 September 1942
South-Eastern Front	62^nd Army	27^th Tank Brigade(23^rd Tank Corps)	T-34: 3 T-70: 1 T-60: 1	11 September 1942
Kalinin Front	30^th Army	119^th Tank Brigade	Valentine: 4 T-60: 4	September-October 1942
North-Western Front	1^st Shock Army	226^th Tank Brigade	KV-1: 3 T-34: 2 T-60: 3 T-70: 1 M3M: 1	April 1943

To represent these war weary units, the following unit may be taken by a strelkovy or motostrelkovy batalon in place of a medium tank company:

Mixed Tankovy Company
Tank Type	Number	Red Army (points per tank)	Guards (points per tank)
KV-1e	0-2	105	-
Matilda Mk II	0-1	60	-
M3M	0-1	65	-
T-34 Obr 1941	0-3	75	-
T-60	0-4	20	-
T-70 Obr 1942	0-4	30	-
Valentine Mk II	0-4	45	-

Any combination of tanks may be selected, but the total number of tanks may not exceed 10 tanks. Minimum number of tanks is 3.

Designers notes: Idea behind this unit is to allow Soviet players to play a zany “Frankenstein” company. This unit should provide not only an interesting modelling opportunity but also an interesting playing opportunities as each tank has very different strengths and weaknesses.

Points are to be assigned per tank instead of usual reducing scale. Points are based on cost of 5 tanks in Eastern Front divided by 5 and rounded to the nearest 5 points. E.g. KV-1e costs 106.67 points so the points are rounded down to nearest 5 thus giving 105 points per tank.

American Lend Lease Mixed Tankovy Company

In order to simplify logistics requirement, the Red Army tended to group its American lend lease tanks into separate tank units.

In combat these units also tended to be reduced to small groups of functioning tanks.

Examples include:

Front	Army	Brigade (Corps)	Quantity Operational	Date Reported
Kalinin Front	30^th	153^rd Tank Brigade	M3L: 3 M3M: 7	September – October 1942
Don Front		241^st Tank Brigade	M3L: 3 M3M: 3	Oct 1942 - Feb 1943
North-Western Front	1^st Shock	37^th Tank Brigade	M3L: 4 M3M: 3	April 1943

To represent these depleted lend lease units, the following unit may be taken by a strelkovy or motostrelkovy batalon in place of a medium tank company.

American Lend Lease Mixed Tankovy Company
Tank Type	Number	Red Army (points per tank)	Guards (points per tank)
M3M (M3 Lee)	0-7	65	-
M3L (M3 Stuart)	0-4	35	-

Any combination of tanks may be selected, but the total number of tanks may not exceed 10 tanks. Minimum number of tanks is 3.

Designers notes: Idea behind this unit is to allow Soviet players to provide an interesting modelling opportunity as well as the opportunity to play using a historically based force.

Points are to be assigned per tank instead of usual reducing scale. Points are based on cost of 5 tanks in Eastern Front divided by 5 and rounded to the nearest 5 points. E.g. M3L costs 37 points so the points are rounded down to nearest 5 thus giving 35 points per tank.

BT-7 Light Tankovy Company

In 1941 the BT series of light tanks was the second most numerous tank after the T-26. Large numbers were destroyed in 1941 including in the Battle of Moscow where they were used in some numbers.

A number survived in 1942 and were used by a number of units in the absence of more modern machines.

Examples of units equipped with BT tanks in 1942 include:

Front	Army	Brigade (Corps)	Quantity Operational	Date Reported	Notes
South Western Front	21st	478^th Separate Tank Battalion	1	11 May 1942	Still had 2 BT-7, 2 BT-5 on 30 June,1942
South Western Front	21st	10^th Tank Brigade	9	11 May 1942	Still had 7 BT-7 on 12 July,1942
South Western Front	28^th	6^th Guards Tank Brigade	7	11 May 1942
South Western Front	38^th	13^th Tank Brigade (22 Tank Corp)	17	11 May 1942	14 BT’s lost in combat 13 May, 1942.
South Western Front	38^th	133^rd Tank Brigade (22 Tank Corp)	12	11 May 1942	2 BT’s lost in combat 12 May, 9 lost 13 May,1942
South Western Front		7^th Tank Brigade	10	11 May 1942
South Western Front	Front Reserve	71^st Separate Tank Battalion	1	11 May 1942
South Western Front	Front Reserve	132^nd Separate Tank Battalion	2	11 May 1942
South Front	Front Reserve	62^nd Separate Tank Battalion	18	1 July 1942	Dug in
South Front	Front Reserve	75^th Separate Tank Battalion	11	1 July 1942

To represent the usage of the BT series of tanks in 1942, the following unit may be taken by a mixed tankovy, strelkovy or motostrelkovy batalon in place of a light tank company.

BT Light Tankovy Company
Tank	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
BT-7	-	-	-	-	155	180	205	225	240	255

The BT-7 has the following stats:

		Front Armour	Side Armour	Top Armour	Special Rules
	Range	ROF	Anti-tank	Firepower
BT-7		1	1	1	Light tank, Unreliable, Co-Ax MG, Limited Vision
45mm Obr 1934 gun	24 “/60cm	2	7	4+

Designers notes: Idea behind this unit is to allow Soviet players to provide an interesting modelling opportunity as well as the opportunity to play using a historically based force. In addition it allows the plucky little BT to play a role in the Mid-War period.

Arguably a mid-war Soviet list should also have T-37/-38/-40 as well as BT-5s but this would simply confuse matters even more especially as these were often used in very small numbers. As can be seen in the lists above, the BT-7 was available in some numbers in 1942.

Points are based on those provided by Phil on BF forum some time ago.

T-60/KV-1 Tankovy Batalon

A number of tank brigades were not issued with medium tanks and instead were equipped with a combination of heavy KV-1 tanks and light T-60 tanks.

These units included:

Front	Army	Brigade (Corps)	Quantity Operational	Date Reported	Notes
Bryanksy Front		107^th Tank Brigade (16^th Tank Corps)	KV-1: 24 T-60: 27	28 June, 1942	Was down to 19 T-60’s by 13 July,1942
Bryanksy Front	40^th	45^th Tank Brigade (4^th Tank Corps)	KV-1: 29 T-60: 26 T-70: 4	26 June, 1942
Bryanksy Front	40^th	66^th Tank Brigade (17^th Tank Corps)	KV-1: 23 T-60: 26	28 June, 1942
Bryanksy Front	40^th	4^th Guards Tank Brigade (24^th Tank Corps)	KV-1: 24 T-60: 27	28 June, 1942
Bryanksy Front	5^th Tank	148^th Tank Brigade (2^nd Corps)	KV-1: 26 T-60: 27	6 July,1942
Bryanksy Front	5^th Tank	3^rd Guards Tank Brigade (7^th Corps)	KV-1: 33 T-60: 27	6 July,1942
Bryanksy Front	5^th Tank	3^rd Tank Brigade (11^th Corps)	KV-1: 24 T-60: 27	6 July,1942
Voronezh Front		180^th Tank Brigade (18^th Tank Corps)	KV-1: 24 T-60: 27	6 July,1942
South-Western Front	38^th	132^nd Separate Tank Battalion	KV1: 7 T-60: 7	30 June, 1942

A T-60/KV-1e Tankovy Batalon utilises the Mixed Tankovy Batalon list out of Eastern Front with the following exceptions:

1. Following structure is to be implemented:

Combat Company 1	Light Tankovy (T-60)/
(Compulsory)	Heavy Tankovy
Combat Company 2	Light Tankovy (T-60)/
(Compulsory)	Heavy Tankovy
Combat Company 3	Light Tankovy (T-60)

2. Light tankovy company is restricted to T-60 only.

3. No KV1e/s tanks may be downgraded to KV-2.

Designers notes: Idea behind this unit is to allow Soviet players to play a historically based force.

The rational behind being able to mix the two types of tanks is similar to that of the Panzer Company whereby it’s possible to combine Panthers and Panzer IVH’s despite these being assigned to different battalions within a division. These changes similarly allow the mixing of different battalions assigned to a brigade.