VDV Airborne troops
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| VDV airborne badge |
While I have had the camo painting bug for Soviet cold war troops I decided to also paint up two battalions of plastic Esci VDV airborne troops that I had in my collection donated to me by my mate Spiros.
The VDV originally were just part of the ground troops, uniforms and equipment corresponded accordingly to motorised troops in general up until 1983. After that date specific equipment was issued, and the VDV moved from Maroon Berets of the special forces (spetsnaz retained the maroon) to the more familiar mid blue in 1982, along with one piece jump overalls.
Structurally the brigade consisted of a combat and transport combat helicopter regiments (a total of 80 MI-8T, 20 Mi6a and 20 Mi24A). Three airborne and one air assault battalions, plus support elements.
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Below is the 1983 order of battle of the 35th Guards Landing Assault Brigade, which was posted to Cottbus East Germany in December 1979.
35th Guards Separate landing Assault Brigade (callsign Veskiy)
- 1st Airborne Battalion (Parachute about 530 men in each battalion)
- Command section, Recon platoon, AA missile group (9 Strela-3 / Igla MANPADS), First aid and communications
- Three assault companies (4 x 82-mm M mortar, 3 Metis 9K115 ATGMs, 3 AGS-17 30mm grenade launcher, 6 PK LMG, 9 RPG-16, 9 RPKS-74 LMG, AKS-74, SVD sniper rifle)
- anti tank battery (6 ATGM 9K111 Fagot / Factoria, 6 SPG-9MD recoilless Heat/HE)
- mortar coy PM38 2B11 120mm mortar
- 2nd Airborne Battalion (Parachute)
- as above
- 3rd Airborne Battalion (Heliborne)
- as above
- 4th Separate landing Assault Battalion (about 490 people Heliborne)
- Three airborne assault companies (five platoons: three assault troops, machine gun, mortar; 117 hrs, 10 BMD-1P / PK, 4 BTR-D armored personnel carriers, 4x82-mm M, 8 PKM, 13 RPG-16, 9 RPKS-74, AKS-74)
- From 1983 - self-propelled artillery battery (8 x 120-mm SAO 2S9 Nona)
- platoons: grenade launcher (3 BTR-D armored personnel carriers, 6 AGS-17), anti-aircraft missile (9 MANPADS, 3 armored personnel carriers BTR-ZD), communications, support, first-aid post.
- Artillery battalion (Heliborne or airdrop)
- 6 x 122mm Howitzer GD30 3 batteries
- Mortar battery 120-mm M PM-38
- platoons: anti-aircraft missile (9 MANPADS 3 BTR ZD), control, support.
- Rocket Artillery Battery 8 x 122 mm MLRS BM-21V Grad-V
- Anti-aircraft Battery (heliborne or airdrop)
- from 1982 - anti-aircraft battalion (8 SZRK Strela-10M, 8 ZSU-23-4 Shilka, MANPADS 3 APC BTR-ZD)
- Anti-tank missile Battery (heliborne)
- 12 ATGM Fagot / Factory, 6 ATGM
- Reconnaissance Company (heliborne or airdrop)
- three reconnaissance platoons on UAZ-469
- Engineering Sapper Company (parachute, heliborne)
- Medical Company (parachute and heliborne)
- Communications coy (parachute and heliborne)
- airborne company (support and despatch)
- automobile company (heliborne or airdrop)
- repair company (heliborne or airdrop)
- logistics company (heliborne or airdrop)
- RHR platoon (3 UAZ-469) 1984 - RHBZ company (RBCW company) (heliborne or airdrop)
- platoon of the chief of artillery (survey and communications centre) (heliborne or airdrop)
- commandant platoon (parachute, heliborne or airdrop)
- orchestra. (not operationally deployed)
I will decide upon what I build to make up my battalions, as I have a few of the vehicles already, but may need a few bits to complete to Brigade! I hope to have the figures painted in the next week or two.
cheers
Matt
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