Tank Division 1980 - 1991
V2.2 – 31/1/10
DHQ (1980)
1 Command Stand
1 BTR
HQ Company
1 ZiL Staff Radio Truck
1 SAM Stand
1 UAZ-469
3 Tank Regiments (1980)
RHQ
1 Command MBT
HQ Company
1 Staff Radio BMP-1KSh
1 SAM Stand
1 BTR
3 Tank Battalions
BHQ
1 Command MBT
3 Companies
1 Command MBT
1 MBT
(One tank in bttn may be equipped with KMT mine rollers)
1 Motor Rifle Battalion (1980)
BHQ
1 Command Stand
1 BMP
HQ Company
1 AGS-17 GL Stand
2 SAM Stands (both in
one BMP)
2 BMP
3 Companies
1 Command Infantry Stand (MMG)
1 Infantry Stand
2 BMP
Mortar Battery
2 GaZ-66 Truck Towed 120mm Mortar or 2 2S12 (any HQ in Bttn can call 1-7)
1 Recce Company (1980-83)
1 Command BRDM-2
1 Recce BRDM-2
2 Recce Patrol Stands
1 Recce Company (1983)
1 BRM/BMP
1 (pure) Command Infantry Stand
1 Recce BRDM-2
1 Recce Patrol Stand
0-1 Mortar Batteries
1 Command Infantry Stand
1 Gaz-66 Truck
3 Gaz-66 Truck towed 120mm Mortars
1 Artillery Battalion (1980)
(any pure command stand in regt can call all three guns or part thereof on a 1-5)
BHQ
1 ARCV-2
1 Command Stand
3 Batteries
1 2S1
OR
BHQ
1 BTR
1 Command Stand
3 Batteries
1 Truck Towed D-30 122mm
0-2 Attached Artillery Battalion (from Arty Regt – see below)
(any pure command stand in regt can call all three guns or part thereof on a 1-5)
1 AA Battalion (1986)
BHQ
1 Command ARCV-2 + Dog Ear Radar
1 AA Battery
1 Command BTR-60PU
1 2S6 or ZSU-23-4
1 SA-13 TEL
1 AA Battery
2 SAM Stand
1 BMP-2
OR 1 AA Battery (1980)
1 Command BTR-60PU
1 ZSU-23-4
1 SA-9 or SA-13 TEL
1 Engineer Company (1980)
1 Command Engineer Stand
1 BTR
1 MTU-55 or MTU-72 AVLB
1 TMM or KMM VLB
1 BTU Dozer
1 PZM Excavator
1 GMZ or BTR-152 towing Mine layer
1 Medium Truck carrying 2 KMT-5 (usually attached to tank Bttn)
1 Medium Truck carrying 5 KMT-4 or 6 (usually attached to tank Bttn)
1 Chemical Defence Platoon (1980)
1 ARS, DDA or DKV Decontamination Vehicle
1 Recce BRDM-2RKh or RKhM
1 Motorised Rifle Regiment
RHQ
1 Command Stand
1 BMP-K
HQ Company
1 Staff Radio BMP-1KSh or BTR-50PU
1 SAM Stand
1 BTR
1 Tank Battalion (1980)
BHQ
1 Command MBT
3 Companies
1 Command MBT
2 MBT
(One tank in bttn may be equipped with KMT mine rollers)
3 Motor Rifle Battalion (1980)
As Above
1 Recce Company (1980)
As Above
1 AT Battalion (1980)
BHQ
1 Command (Joint) BMP-1KSh
ATGM Company
2 9P133 “BRDM-2IS” or 9P148 “BRDM-3”
2 RPG Stands
AT Battery
1 MTLB towing MT-12 firing AT-12 ATGW
OR 1 AT Battery (1990)
1 Command (Joint) BMP-1KSh
2 9P148 “BRDM-3”
2 RPG Stands
1 Artillery Battalion (1980)
(any pure command stand in regt can call all three guns or part thereof on a 1-5)
As Above
0-2 Attached Artillery Battalion (from Arty Regt – see below)
(any pure command stand in regt can call all three guns or part thereof on a 1-5)
1 AA Battery
As Above
1 Engineer Company (1980)
As Above
1 Chemical Defence Platoon (1980)
As Above
1 Artillery Regiment (1980)
RHQ
1 Command Stand
1 BTR
HQ Company
1 ZiL Staff Radio Truck
Recce Platoon (from target battery)
1 PRP-3 FO (can call any combination of battalions not allocated to line regiments on 1-7)
2 Artillery Battalions (1980)
(Usually attached to MR or Tank Regt)
As Above
1 Artillery Battalion
(May be attached to MR or Tank Regt)
BHQ
1 ARCV-2
1 Command Stand
3 Batteries
1 2S3
OR 1 Artillery Battalion
BHQ
1 BTR
1 Command Stand
3 Batteries
1 Truck Towed D20 152mm
1 MRL Battalion
BHQ
1 BTR
1 Command Stand
3 Batteries
1 BM-21 MRL
1 Target Battery
1 Command Stand
1 UAZ-469
1 UAZ-469 or Light Truck carrying S&F ranging
1 UAZ-469
1 Radar ESM Stand
1 Rocket Battalion (1980-1988)
1 Command BTR-60PU
1 FROG-7a, FROG-7b or SS-21 TEL
1 Reload Truck with 3 FROG Reloads or 2 SS-21 Reloads
1 SAM Regiment (1980)
RHQ
1 Command BTR-60PU
HQ Company
1 ZiL Staff Radio Truck
1 SAM Stand
1 Truck
1 Medium Truck towing Tub Brick aircraft radar jammer.
1 ARS, DDA or DKV Decontamination Vehicle
Radar Battery
1 Long Track Radar
5 SAM Batteries
1 SA-6a or SA-8b/c
1 SAM Stand
1 GaZ-66 Truck
1 Helicopter Squadron (1980)
1 Recce Mi-2
Added to some divisions 1985
1 Mi-8E (self Order)
1 Mi-24 (self Order)
1 Recce Battalion (1980)
BHQ
1 Command BRM + Tall Mike GSR
1 Light Company
2 Recce BRDM-2
2 Recce Patrol Stands
2 Heavy Companies
1 Command Infantry Stand
1 Infantry Stand
2 BMP
1 MBT
1 REC Company
1 Command Stand
1 UAZ-469
2 Medium Van with Radio Intercept
1 Medium Van with Radar Intercept + DF
1 Radar DF Recce Stand
1 UAZ-469
1 Engineer Battalion (1980)
BHQ
1 Command BTR-60PU
1 Recce Platoon
1 Command Engineer Stands
1 BTR-50/60
1 Recce Engineer Stand
1 Truck
1 Sapper Company
1 Engineer Stand
1 Truck
1 BTR-152 or GMZ towing Mine Layer
1 MTK/MTK-2
1 IMR
1 Road Company
2 TMM VLB
1 BAT/BAT-M Dozer
1 Pontoon Bridge Company
1 PMP Pontoon Bridge (on 4 Medium Trucks)
1 BMK Boat on Medium Truck
1 Assault Company
2 PTS-M or K-61
1 GSP Ferry
1 Truck carrying 2 Assault Boats
1 Technical Company
1 BTM/MDK-2 Ditcher
1 BAT/BAT-M Dozer
Notes
1) This organisation is valid from 1980. The dates in brackets indicate when that unit was introduced. It is not indicative that all the equipment variations were available on that date.
2) MBTs can be anything from T-54 to T-80U. Regiments will be of the same tank type though it is possible there will be different sub-types. Recce Companies and Battalions will get the new equipment first.
3) BMPs can be BMP-1 or 2. Category C units and Ghost Divisions may have BTR-50 or even Trucks. Category A units in the Arctic have MTLBs. .
4) Some BMP battalions had a mixed mortar compliment instead of the 120mm: 1 82mm Stand and 1 82mm Vasilek, both towed/carried by a light truck.
5) Only regiments where the battalions
only had 82mm Mortars had the 120mm Mortar Battery
6) The regimental AAA batteries were
upgraded to small battalion in 1986, not all units got the upgrade
7) Note that all Russian APCs and BMPs can not perform any action independently of their infantry stand. They may not move further than 2” away. If the infantry stand is KOed it is assumed that the command personnel make it back to the APC or BMP allowing it to move.
8) The SA-16 entered service in 1981 replacing the SA-14. The SA-18 followed shortly afterwards in 1983. Some units in the west had integral SAM with the command infantry
9) The recce companies in the regiments changed from 2 BRDM to 1 BMP and 1 BRDM starting in 1983. Units in Germany and the Western USSR received a BRM instead of the BMP
10) The 2S1 Battalions in the divisional artillery will almost inevitably be attached to the lead Tank or MR regiments. The 2S3 Battalion may well be attached too, especially if corps or army attaches artillery to the division. Divisional artillery can be called by the PRP-3 but for the moist part will be used for counter artillery or programmed fires at the start of an assault. The Divisional artillery (not attached to regiments) can not H&I fire on table
11) The above organisation is for a category A division. Category B divisions have about 40% of their complement, though the Rocket Battalion and Recce Units are at full strength. Category C Divisions are at 10% of full strength, though the Rocket Battalion and Recce Units are at 40% strength. The equipment for such divisions will be in store and of older, even obsolete, types. Category B and lesser divisions, where there is a choice of organisation will have the older or weaker variant. Category A units will have the stronger or newer variants.
12) Category B and C divisions may never reach the strength of their category A cousins. Regimental Artillery Battalions may only be batteries or not exist at all, especially in tank regiments. Tank regiments may only have a Motor Rifle Company or no infantry at all. All B and C divisions will have towed guns. Many of the support platoons will be missing from the Motor Rifle Battalions.
13) In times of general war the Russians will mobilise "Ghost" divisions. These, apart from their command personnel will be equipped with very old equipment; all the notes in "5" will apply.