Cold War Gamer

Andy

This is frankly an outstanding reference work if you are interested in post war soviet military vehicles and artillery systems, sadly this is reflected in its price and availability. Written by two of the worlds leading experts and drawing on a wide range of sources that became available at the end of the Cold War as the Russians sought to export their technology and needed to more widely publish its capabilities to the world.

The book covers;

Evolution of Soviet/Russian Tanks
Anti Armour Developments
Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicles
Armoured Airborne Vehicles
Self Propelled Artillery
Towed Artillery

The principal component of the book is the evolution of Soviet/Russian Tanks which covers its subject in significant detail looking at both the major production models and the main prototypes it includes their evolution through the various marks and provides good coverage of the enhancements introduced. Through it all runs the broad thread of the design strategy and vision. The focus is very much on post war tanks and includes:

post war production of the T-34/85
early post war medium tank production T-54/55/62
Soviet Post War Heavy Tank Design
Soviet Post War Light Tanks
Second Generation Tank Development T-64/72/80

The sections on Anti Armour developments, Armoured Infantry Vehicles and Airborne vehicles traces a similar story through these sets of vehicles. Whilst the level of detail presented is extremly useful the breadth of Armoured vehicle types covered inevitably mean this is less than that provided within the tank story.

The section on artillery is both comprehensive and provides good coverage and technical detail on all the systems covered again tracing the evolution of the design concepts through the systems that were developed, the focus is delivered against system type looking at SPGs, Gun Mortars, MRLs, free flight rockets and ballistic missiles. Of note its not just about the delivery system. The Soviets designed for end to end engagement concepts in artillery; target acquisition, delivery and supply so the book includes a range of specilist logistic and support vehicles as well as command and observation post vehicles. The one noteable ommision under the artillery title to my mind is Air Defence systems although this may be more a reflection of the organisation of the the Soviet Armed forces, sadly this misses the oppourtunity to explore an area where the Soviets may well have outperformed the west.

At the end the authors provide an overview of the design philosophy which really highlights the technology push component of the Soviet approach and enables one to contrast this with the more requirements lead approaches of the western world. In Summary a superb book, that can be read cover to cover or dipped into as required, it contains a wealth of data that I have not come across elsewhere particularly in relation to the performance of armour. The sting in the tale is the price, at £130 on Amazon its not a cheap. If you can afford it, its worth buying if you see it for less than £50 don't even think about it, just buy it, great book.

Soviet/Russian Armour and Artillery Design practice, 1945 to present @ Amazon

Other Book Reviews:

Review-Book, Modern African Wars (3) South West Africa
Review-Book, Red God of War, Soviet Artillery and Rocket Forces
Review-Book, Iron Division, The History of the 3rd Division 1809-1989
Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002/2003

Review-Book, Rats Tales and Royal Scots in The Gulf

Review-Books, Warpaint, Colours and Markings of British Army Vehicles 1903-2003, Volumes 1-4

Review-Book, Air Battle Central Europe, Alfred Price

Review- Book, Confrontation, The Strategic Geography of NATO and the Warsaw Pact

Review - Book, Mil Mi 8/Mi - 17 Rotary Wing Work Horse and War Horse

Review - Book, A History of Soviet Airborne Forces

Review - Book, Soviet Tactical Aviation

A History of Soviet Airborne Forces

Soviet Tactical Aviation

Armies of NATO's Central Front

Red Thrust, Central Front

The Soviet Afghan War, How a Super Power Fought and Lost

Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army

Soviet Air Land Battle Tactics

The Military Balance

Encyclopaedia of the Modern British Army

The Soviet Conduct of Tactical Manoeuvre

First Clash

The Third World War

The British Army in Germany

The Cold War Bookstore contains links to over 60 Cold War titles covered in my book list

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Andy

The Forces deployed at Waidhaus by the Germans represent the concept of a forward Screen or covering force established in order to Identify, Monitor and Delay the enemy such that the main defensive positions could be prepared. As such it would be unusual for that force to become decisively engaged and it would be supported by Air Aviation and Artillery assets to enable it to achieve its mission. The covering force would consist of elements of the Divisional Recconaisance and Divisional and Corps Reserves. in this case:

Elements of Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 4
A reinforced battle group from Falschirmjagerbattalion 251
A Company from Panzerbataillon 123 part of Panzergrenadierdivision 4's reserve Panzerbrigade 12
elements of the covering force for Panzergrenadierbrigade 10 in the form of Panzerjagerkompanie 100 and Panzeraufklarungkompanie 100
Air defence assets from Flugabwehrregiment 4 (Gepard) and Flugabwehrregiment 200 (Roland)

The Remainder of the Recce Regiment was deployed to cover the Cham gap whilst the Recce Company of 12 Panzer Brigade covered the difficult terrain between Waidhause and Cham. The off board elements of Panzerbataillon 123 and Panzerbataillon 124 were being held as an armoured reserve to be deployed as the situation developed.

The guilds Mausman provided all the German forces used on the day and built a number of the forces for the event. Falschirmjagerbattalion 251 consisted of two Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanie each equipped with 3 TOW armed Weisels and 2 20mm Armed Weisels, The Weisel was just starting to enter service at the time of the scenario. The two Falschirmjagerkompanie are provided with Krakas for the use of their Milan teams. This was part of the earlier Kraka only equipped unit but it is not clear if these carried forward into the weasel equipped units

The Weisels are 1/72 models all from S&S and painted by the skilled hand of Mausman, in standard NATO 3 Tone, airbrushed using Tamiya XF-67 NATO Green, XF-69 NATO Black and XF - 68 NATO Brown

The Figures are 20mm from Elhiems Cold War German range and liberation miniatures Bundeswehr. The Krakas are by S&S and run up by Shaun to help John put his force together. As well as the cargo variants shown here S&S also do, TOW, 20mm and Milan armed variants, in fact just about all you need to represent the Falschirmjager units of the Bundeswehr in the 80's and early 90's.

As well as Falschirmjagerbattalion 251, the Germans deployed two of the Panzeraufklarungkompanies available to Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 4. One representing a heavy company reinforced by a Fuchs detachment with GSR and the other a light company with two Leopard platoons of 3 vehicles and 1 Luchs Platoon of 8 Vehicles. The Luchs are from 1/72 Revell kits and the Leopard 1 A3/4s are the Italeri 1/72 kit which has just been re released BTW. The Leopard 1 A2s shown below are Altaya resparays and the Fuchs from Revell. The Green Leopards are painted in a mix of Tamiya XF-69 NATO Green and XF-65 Field Grey

Panzerbrigade 12 provided two Panzer battalions as an armoured reserve to the covering force of Panzergrenadierdivision 4 with Panzerkompanie 1 of leopard 2s from Panzerbatallion 123 being deployed on board. a further 2 Companies from Panzerbatallion 123 and 1 from Panzerbatallion 124 were available as reinforcements during the game. The Leopard 2 A4s are from Dragon.

The final components of the onboard force were elements of Flugabwehrregiment 4 and Rolands from Heersflackbrigade 2's Flugabwehrregiment 200 The Gepards are altaya repaints the Unimog from S&S. The Marder Roland uses the missile unit from an Altaya AMX 30 Roland and the Hull from an Altaya Marder.

Confined to deploying at the rear of the area was Panzerjagerkompanie 100 from Panzergrenadierbrigade 10 Mausman converted these from the S&S Jagdpanzer Kanone with TOWs missiles provided from the S&S range as well. All vehicle markings were either suppliesd with the kits or possibly Prieser.

There is a wealth of German Orbat information on the web, particularly if your not afraid to wade into German language sources. Rationalising it all can be fun and inevitably you are left making a number of assumptions. listed below are some of the References I have used in compiling the German orbats for our last couple of games.

References:

Fire and Fury German Cold War Orbat

Micromark G98M West German 2 Korps

Micromark G170M West German Paratroop Brigade, 1984 - 1990

4 Panzergrenidier Division

12 Panzer Brigade

25 Luftlande Brigade

4 Panzeraufklarungs Battalion

NATO Order of Battle 1989

Die Bundeswehr 1989, Teil 2.1, Heer, I Korps, II Korps, III Korps

Armies Of NATOS Central Front D Isbey

Other Related Posts:

Scenario - Storming The Waidhaus Gap
AAR - Storming the Waidhaus Gap, part 1 Ground and Deployment
ORBAT - Soviet Air Assault Capability Part 1, Overview and Lift Assets
ORBAT - Soviet Air Assault Capability Part 2, Army Air Assault Battalion
ORBAT - Soviet Task Org, Fronts in the Western TVD
TTP-Forward Detachments and Tactical Air Assault
Wargames Unit - Soviet Late 80's, Independent DShV Battalion
Wargames Unit - Soviet Late 80's, MRB

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Andy

Whilst the bulk of the book talks to the evolution of Soviet Airborne organisation and use throughout WW2, it illustrates effectively the type of operations talked to in the post war doctrine whilst highlighting the somewhat hazardous nature of delivering Airborne units by parachute into the enemy's rear. The operations presented are comprehensively researched and presented with supporting maps that enable the reader to understand the operational points being made.

The last 100 or so pages talk through the development of the modern force set against the wider evolution of Soviet Doctrine, from manoeuvre in nuclear war to the defensive postures of the late 80s. The arrival of the Helicopter and its wide spread employment by the US in Vietnam clearly influenced Soviet military thinking in this space providing more predictable means of delivery and support for airborne envelop ment and manouver.

The Author charts this evolution of both organisation and doctrine in some detail, but sadly to my mind has not covered the contemporaneous evolution of the Air, Aviation, and Artillery Forces that were the fundamental enablers of the concepts discussed but which sat outside the scope of the title. A better History might have been of Airborne Forced, Operations and Doctrinal concepts which could have caught these missing elements.

Whilst the book does cover operations in Afghanistan which reflect the Soviet experience of air mobility this is done with a fairly superficial look at formations undertaking the role rather than a look at the operational context, which was significantly more difficult to come by in 1994 when this book was published. This is better covered in the Bear went over the Mountain, chapter 3, Tactical Air Assault published 1996 and the Soviet Afghan Wars sections on Air Assault and Army Aviation, published in 2002.

Having said that the chapters on the Modern Airborne force and the evolution of the Air Assault arm set against the evolving doctrine is extremely useful, and the detail on the organisational structures of the VDV and DShV adds significant value. For the Modern gamer I am not convinced that the content justifies the current price of £45, If your interested in WW2 or If you can score a cheaper second hand copy then its definitely worth having.

A History of Soviet Airborne Forces (Cass Series on Soviet Military Theory & Practice) @ Amazon

Other Book Reviews:

Soviet Tactical Aviation
Armies of NATO's Central Front
Red Thrust, Central Front
The Soviet Afghan War, How a Super Power Fought and Lost
Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army
Soviet Air Land Battle Tactics
The Military Balance
Encyclopaedia of the Modern British Army
The Soviet Conduct of Tactical Manoeuvre
First Clash
The Third World War
The British Army in Germany

The Cold War Bookstore contains links to over 60 Cold War titles covered in my book list

Andy

Otdelnyy Boyevoy Vertoletnyy Polk OBVP or Independent Combat Helicopter Regiments were formed to support Soviet Armies from the late 70's and were part of the fronts Air Army. The Regiments comprised:

2 Attack Helicopter Squadrons of 5 Flights of 4 Mi-24
1 Assault Helicopter Squadron of 5 Flights of 4 Mi-8

As a component of Air Assault operations undertaken by the DShV the Assault Helicopter Squadron was critical for Command and Control, ECM, Escort and Transport, depending on the exact configuration of the Mi-8s.

The detailed organisation of the five flights of Mi-8 breaks down as follows:

2 Flights Mi 8 TV NATO Hip E,
2 Flights Mi 8T NATO Hip C,
1 Flight Mi-8VzPU NATO Hip-D and two unidentified special versions of the Mi-8T

The Aircraft can be of three types and it might be worth speculating about the fourth.

Mi-8T, Hip C - Unarmed, carries 8,000 lbs internal, 6,000lbs slung, Upto 24 seated passengers or 12 stretcher cases.
Mi-8TV mark I, also known as Mi-8T, from 1968, Hip C - Armed Version of Mi-8T can be armed with 4, UV-16-57U Rocket Pods, and 2 PKT machine guns (nose and tail), alternatively 1000lb bombs could be deployed on the weapon points. All Mi - 8Ts including civil versions were capable of being configured in this way hence the confusing naming conventions. In this configuration there was no impact on the number of passengers carried, certainly in European flying conditions. As such my assumption is that the Mi-8T designated flights would be armed in this configuration.
Mi-8TV mark II, from 1974, Hip E . Includes a nose mounted, flexible KV-4 12.7 mm HMG. 6 weapons pylons capable of deploying six UV-32-57U rocket pods, these each carried 32 57mm rockets as opposed to the 16 in each of the mark I's rocket pods. four AT-2 Swatter ATGMs were carried on rails over the 4 Outboard Pylons. In this configuration passengers and cargo could not be carried.
Mi-8VzPU is an unarmed Airborn command post which was a post production conversion of the Mi-8T, recognisable by a prominent towel rail AE on the top of the fuse large above the rear doors and two box like equipment pods mounted instead of the weapons pylons.

I suspect though have no evidence is that the unnamed variants were ECM aircraft with air defence suppression systems on board, although communications relay aircraft, mine laying aircraft or NBC Recce might all make sense.

I use the aircraft armed with three weapon pylons per side to represent the TV mark IIs with 6 UB-32-57 Pods and 4 ATGW and an HMG, effectively as gunships for escort and the remainder as Mi-8Ts armed with the 4 smaller UB-16-57-U systems, that carry troops.

Later versions of the aircraft in these two configurations increased the flexibility of the weapons loads, adding 23mm Cannon Pods to the range of options and upgrading the ATGW systems as well as increasing troop capacity.

With a carrying capacity of 24 a flight can carry 96 troops which I equate to a basic company with no task organised support. If task organised support weapons are added into the mix I assume a second flight is required.

The aircraft are from a mix of manufacturers and the flight stands are all from Coresec Enginering mounted on East Riding Minatures MDF bases. The detail of the supported units and models have all been covered in previous posts referenced at the end of this post.

Reference:

Cold War Gamer

Saturday, 6 June 2015

Review - Book, Soviet/Russian Armour and Artillery Design practice, 1945 to present

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Wargames Units - The German Army At Waidhaus

Friday, 18 October 2013

Review - Book, A History of Soviet Airborne Forces

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Wargmes Unit - Soviet, Combat Helicopter Regiment, Assault Helicopter Squadron

Sunday, 14 July 2013

Wargames Unit - Soviet Late 80's, Independent DShV Battalion