Modelling - Converting a BRDM2Rkh

The BRDM 2 was the primary scout car operated by the Soviet Union in the later part of the cold war, it was produced between 1962 - 1989, it had a crew of 4 and mounted a 14.5mm KPVT HMG in the same turret as the BTR 60PB.  The BRDM 2 Rkh is an NBC Reconaisance version of the vehicle with flag planting, soil sampling and environment monitoring capabilities, two versions of this vehicle exist one with a standard turret and the other with a 7.62mm MG and a small sensing port in the turret.

The basic model was S&S's BRDM2 which is a good representation of the vehicle requiring minor amounts of filling on the raised detail on the back decks, front headlight clusters and around the rear left wheel.  It is now supplied with a turret with rear mounted smoke grenade discharger units representing a Russian BRDM 2M, these are easily removed with a sharp knife and file for those like me requiring an earlier version, for those requiring something operated by the Russian Federation, you get it for no effort.  I like this model the hull and turret shapes are good although it is a little smaller than the ACE model, sadly no longer available. As well as filling and filling I added a search light at the commanders position out of the spares box.

I wanted two BRDM 2Rkh, so I decided to use an Elhiem NBC clad figure in the commanders position on each vehicle, so removed the moulded hatch detail and and amended the figure to remove the weapon and add representation of the soil sampling kit using brass wire and green stuff.  Hatches and the window covers were made from thin plasticard.

The main recognition feature of the BRDM 2 Rkh are the racks of flags mounted on either side of the vehicle and covered and stowed over the back decks when the vehicle is traveling between tasks.  The alternative is to model them down and in operation. Stowed looked easier so stowed it was.  The Dischargers were made from card stock using square rod cut to size and caped with an oblong piece of card to represent the elongated top of the discharger unit.  The other components required are the rests near the turret and the uprights again produced from card stock.

I decided not to represent the covers at any level of detail and added what looks like some reactive cloth to the sides of the vehicle using green stuff as represented in the 2nd of the two black and white images.

The vehicle will be painted and marked in line with the rest of the Soviets and will become part of the Mobility Support Detachment for the MRR as outlined in this post here

References:

FM 100 3-1, The Soviet Army, Troops, Organisation and Equipment
Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army
War Wheels BRDM 2Rkh
ORBAT - 1980s Soviet MRR and TR, Part 3 Engineers

Review - Web Resources, M136 Exercise Picture Archive

The M136 website is an excellent web resource with a significant amount of imagery generated by a number of photographers living in Germany throughout the cold war period.  Whilst the cold war is extensively covered post cold war content is also good.  The Web site is in German but its easy enough to navigate and most of the information is pictorial in nature

Exercises from 1960 through to 2010 are covered making this a first rate historical record.  Most NATO nations are covered I have used it for US, Canadians, Danes, British, Dutch and Belgium

In addition to the extensive imagery archive the site has also archived op orders, exercise instructions and news paper articles about the exercises.

 If the central front in the cold war or indeed the post cold war period is of interest to you this really is a brilliant web site.

Review - Models 1/72, Trumpeter M113 A2, M150 Conversion

The M113 was used by the Canadians as their primary APC for 4 CMBG, the A2 started to come into service with Canadian units from 1983 and both variants were used across the roles allocated to the vehicle with no obvious patterns. This included providing the platform for the TOW equipped anti armour defence platoons.  The Canadians adopted the TOW system in the mid to late 70s and used it mounted on the M113,  its not clear from the references if these were actually M150s.

The model like all the other trumpeter kits I have ever made is very straight forward to assemble and contains a wealth of detail both internal and external. The only obvious problem area is the plastic tracks, the joining of the two ends still seems to defeat a reliable approach for achieving an enduring bond. I would also recommend a good study of the photography collection with regard to the particular vehicles being made as there are a number of alternative parts not needed on all vehicles some of which requier holes cutting in the hull.

I used the TOW launcher from the Dragon HMMWV kit which looks sadly to be discontinued as it was one of the cheapest ways to get a decent TOW launcher, given that you had other things to do with the HMMWVs. I used a card stock plastic tube to provide the base of the mount into which the TOW launcher fitted.

Just about every picture of a Canadian M113 I have seen has a road wheel fixed to the trim vane, not sure why but included one here. Of course it was not until I had fixed it that I noticed that in the photos it was half a road wheel. in addition I added some rolled stowage on the front hull top, and a cam net. the crew were provided by some Elhiem Germans with the guns removed and the head of a liberation South African figure

Decals came from a number of sources, the top set are TL Modelblau, The middle set QRF black numbers and the letters are Fantasy print shop Luftwaffe serials.  The things a boy has to do to get a decently marked up set of vehicles.

For Colour and marking guides I have used the excellent Armoured Acorn site, and managed to identify the Call Signs from a number of forum posts by ex Canadian Forces soldiers.  The Anti Tank Platoon was Call Sign 55 with 18 Vehicles in 4 sections of 4 and 2 in the HQ.  55 A-P being the 16 Vehicles in the sections the Call Sign of the Command vehicles being 55.  Morters were 57, Pioneers 58 and the Company HQ 59.

It would appear from the references that some units carried number plates and some did not. The paint scheme uses Vajello Russian Uniform, German Uniform and Black, The Hatch spall liners are in Gunship Green and the Cam Net in Bronze Green.  The TOW Launcher is Olive Drab.  I used this model as a bit of a tester for the Canadians to try out the Cam scheme and get all the decals together. 

ORBAT - 1980s Canadian BG, Part 1 Task Organisation

The History of Canadian involvement in the post war NATO force in europe is covered in more detail here the key components are as follows:

• In 1968 the Brigade had mechanised and been renamed 4 Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group (4CMBG).
• in 1971 it transferred from BAOR in Northern Germany to Lahr in Southern Germany where it would act as a reserve for either III US Corps or II Ge Corps.
• In 1988 it was incorporated into 1st Canadian Division following the Canadian governments decision to withdraw from the CAST Brigade commitment to Norway. 1st Canadian Division remained the parent formation until the end of the cold war.

Battle group composition is therefore:

• The early 80s forces will be based on 4 CMBG and potential reinforcements from either of the supported Corps who reinforced the brigade in areas of key equipment shortfalls. 
• The late 80s force could either be as above or could be based on the composition of 4 CMBG and 1 Canadian division.
• The 90's force will be based on 4 CMBG as part of 1 Canadian Division.

Throughout the 80s the Canadian land forces in Germany received little in terms of equipment upgrades and were organisationally stable, although some new equipment started to reach them in the early 1990s.  They are therefore quite straight forward to represent across the spectrum of the decade and a half that represents the arms race at the end of the cold war. They are very distinctive with a unique camouflage scheme and their regiments are distinctive with long and glorious fighting histories.  On top of all that they have a great Brigade title and the opportunity to be reinforced from and support two other nations.

4 CMBG was a Mechanised Brigade its Orbat is shown here from the Canadian Soldiers website

In essence 2 Infantry Battalions, an Engineer Regiment, Tank Regiment and Artillery Regiment with an Aviation Recce Squadron.

Higher level task organisation

The Canadians like the British and most NATO forces formed task organised groupings depending on the mission.  The structure of 4 CMBG limited what those groupings could as it deployed 2 Infantry Battalions  and 1 Armoured Regiment.  The Canadians through out the period formed Combat teams of Armour and Infantry at Sub Unit level through cross attaching Troops and Platoons.

The Infantry were provided by:

• The 1er Battalion Royal 22e Regiment (1 R22eR) 1967 - 1993
• The 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) 1977-1984 and 1988-1993
• Princes Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) 1984 - 1988. 

Each Infantry battalion was scaled for 4 Infantry companies and a Support Company, in the early 80s 1 rifle company was held in Canada, by the late 80's all 4 were deployed. The Support Company provided Mortars, Recce, Anti Tank and Assault Pioneers. They used M113 A1 and A2, M150, and Lynx C&R.

The 4th Canadian Engineer Regiment (4CER) consisted of a field squadron and a support squadron.  The field squadron comprised  4 M113 mounted field troops.  The field troops and sections could be  deployed to battle groups or be deployed on Squadron tasks. 

They used the M113, M113 engineer variant with a dozer, the beaver leopard based AVLB and Lynx C&R along with a variety of other plant in the support squadron.

The Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) provided the Tank Regiment. The Unit consisted of 3 Armoured Squadrons and a Recce Squadron. The Squadrons were very large by comparison to other NATO units consisting of 19 Vehicles, 4 troops of 4 Tanks with 3 in the HQ.  It would donate armoured squadrons or troops and would receive infantry platoons or companies. It operated the Leopard C1 which was an upgraded  Leopard 1 A3 and the Lynx command and reconnaissance Vehicle

The recce squadron would be deployed in support of the brigade providing a formation recce capability in conjunction with the aviation squadron.  I assume the armoured regiment retained at least 1 reconnaissance troop for its own needs but have been unable to confirm this.

1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) provided the artillery regiment. This consisted of 4 Batteries of 6 M109 and a blowpipe troop.  The regiment like its British counterparts provide 3 FOOs from each battery in support of  the battle groups of the brigade.  It seems likely that the FOOs from the 4th Battery supported the Recce Squadron.  Each Battle Group could also receive a blowpipe section.  The artillery regiment could be augmented by assets from the supported Corps as required, this would normally be in the form of longer range equipments such as the M110.

444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron provided the Canadian component of the aviation assets. The Squadron provided aircraft for command, liaison and recce.  The recce Aircraft tended to work in support of the Brigade Recce Squadron provided by the armoured regiment but could be attached to other Brigade elements.

Typical Battle Groups

In First Clash Kenith Macksey creates three Battle Groups in 4 CMBG, two of them ground holding infantry battle groups and the third composed of 1 Squadron and 2 Platoons but capable because of the strength of the tank Squadron of forming two Combat teams.  This gives a clear indication of an extremely flexible approach to task organising force elements of the anything goes variety.

3 RCR Battle Group

• 3 Combat Teams each of 1 Rifle Company at full strength with attached support weapons 
• 1 Rifle Coy (-) 1 Platoon (+) 1 Troop Tanks, in reserve
• 1 Armd Sqn (-) 1 Troop, Fighting within the main defensive position 
• 1 Engineer Field Troop
• 1 Battery of M109
• 1 Blowpipe Section
• 1 Mortar Platoon
• 1 Anti Tank Defence Platoon
• 1 Recce Platoon

Royal 22e Regiment

• 3 Combat Teams each 1 Rifle Company at full strength with attached support weapons. 
• 1Combat Team of 1 Rifle Coy (-) 1 Platoon (+) 1 Troop Tanks, in reserve
• 1 Armd Sqn (-) 1 Troop, Fighting within the main defensive position 
• 1 Engineer Field Troop
• 1 Battery of M109
• 1 Blowpipe Section
• 1 Mortar Platoon
• 1 Anti Tank Defence Platoon
• 1 Recce Platoon

RCD

2 Combat teams each

• 1 Sqn HQ 2 tanks
• 2 Troops of Tanks
• 1 Platoon Infantry
• 1 TOW Section
• 1 Blowpipe Section
• 1 Platoon Mortars
• 1 Engineer Section
• 1 Trp Lynx
• 2 x LOH CH 136
• 1 Battery RHA
• 1 ARV 

Its not clear from the reading I have done if these task organised units existed simultaneously or if some assets were regrouped to the RCD as the started their mission such as the mortars.  US Chaparral and Vulcan provided area air defence within the scenario and in addition the brigade were supported by an attack helicopter squadron and a battery of M110, more of that in the next post.

Some of the other battle group options worth considering are

• R22eR and RCR would each of 3 Companies and 1/2 Squadron, RCD 2 Squadrons 2 Companies 
•  R22eR and RCR 3 Companies 1 Squadron, RCD 2 Companies 1 Squadron
• R22eR 4 Companies, RCR 3 Companies 1 Squadron, RCD 2 Squadrons 1 Company
• Considering the RCD as a covering force with 2 Squadrons 2 Platoons and the Brigade Recce force is also interesting,  

All these options seem to fit within the ways of doing business outlined in First Clash it would be interesting to understand what options were used and under what circumstances.

References:

4CMBG The Canadian Soldiers website
First Clash. Combat Close - Up in World War Three
Canada's NATO Brigade a History