Friday, November 4, 2022

Vozdushno-Desantnye voyska Rossii - VDV Russian Airborne part 2

VDV Russian Airborne part 2

VDV airborne badge

Another item to complete for the analogue painting challenge are my soviet airborne brigade, with that in mind I have prepared my Able Archer organisation. The VDV battalions had a lot of support weapons so it is difficult to portray this so I have added a support coy with a mortar coy as per soviet doctrine.

Airborne Parachute Regiment (530 men in each battalion)

Regiment Command company 
CO + 5 figs sniper, First aid and communications, UAZ 469, GAZ66 truck,
  • Recon coy 6 figs 1 x BDRM2 1 x UAZ 469
  • Air defence coy 1 x UAZ 469 with 1x AA ZU23-2 3 figs  1 x  (9 Strela-3 / Igla MANPADS) 2 figs UAZ 469, 1 x BDRM SA9 
  • anti tank battery 1 x ATGM 9K111 Fagot 2 figs, 1 x SPG-9MD recoilless 3 figs 

1st Battalion

OC + 5 sniper, 2 x RPG, first aid and communications mounted in BMD1
 
1st Company to 3rd Company

 assault company 6figs PK LMG Mounted in BMD1 

assault company 6 figs PK LMG mounted in BMD1

assault company 6 figs PK LMG mounted in BMD1


 
support company

AGS launcher 2 figs, spigot ATGM 2 figs

 mortar coy 

Observor 2 figs, 1 x 82mm mortar 3 figs, 1 x PM38 2B11 120mm mortar 3 figs

 

2nd Battalion
OC + 3 sniper, first aid and communications
 
1st Company to 3rd Company

assault company 7 figs RPG-16, PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs RPG-16, PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs RPG-16, PK LMG 

anti tank battery 
1 x ATGM 9K111 Fagot 2 figs, 1 x SPG-9MD recoilless 3 figs
 
support company

AGS launcher 2 figs, spigot ATGM 3 figs

 mortar coy 

 Observer 2 figs, 1 x 82mm mortar 3 figs, 1 x PM38 2B11 120mm mortar 3 figs


3rd Battalion air assault 3 x Mi8 Hips

OC + 5 sniper, RPG x2, first aid and communications

 

 
1st Company to 3rd Company

 assault company 7 figs PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs PK LMG 

anti tank battery 
1 x ATGM 9K111 Fagot 2 figs, 1 x SPG-9MD recoilless 3 figs
 
support company

AGS launcher 2 figs, spigot ATGM 3 figs 
 
mortar coy 

Observer 2 figs, 1 x 82mm mortar 3 figs, 1 x PM38 2B11 120mm mortar 3 figs


ASU 85 x 2  (withdrawn from service in 1993)

I have ordered the extra pieces in metal from S&S models to make up the  plastic battalions short fall of heavy weapons.

cheers

Matt

 

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

57ths Fustung Regiment April 1945

57th Festung Regiment

Winter is almost upon us so I am planning my painting for the Analogue painting challenge. High on my list this winter are my 20mm collections. One of these is my fall of Berlin German forces. So I have gathered as much information as I can to build my Volkssturm troops. I have based my units on the 57th Festung Regiment who were at the brunt of the breakthrough assault in the north east, I have given numbers involved where possible for conversion to other rule sets. My battalions are set up for Rapid Fire Rules.



The 57th Defended Sector Anton- Biesdorf, Kaulsdorf, Mahlsdorf, Hellesdorfer farm (advance position).

57th Festungs Regiment Known locations

Sector Anton, Formed in October 1944 under the command of Olt Bärenfanger - two Volkssturm battalions, 1 police battalion and various units Luftwaffe AA crews manning AA batteries around the train stations, plus Festung MG coy, SP AT company and Festungs artillery battery.

20th April Von Trockels marschgruppe who had been pulled back from the Seelow heights (around the 19th April), and another Volkssturm unit was added to the Festung on the 21st of April.

21st April soviet assault begins on the outer positions

22 April The regiment defended positions between the Kaulsdorf and Mahlsdorf railway stations, the Hellersdorf farm complex was the picket position for the Siemens battalion. The left flank was defended by Trockels Wehrmacht Marschgruppe and right flank was the Warnholz police battalion at the Kaulsdorf Barnhof.23-24th moved to defend the central cattle market

25th April moved to Friedrichsfelde Ost S-bahn station.

27th April, moved to Löwen-Böhmisch Brewery (overlooking Volkspark Frederichshain)

28th April

Surrendered 12th May

I plan to build the regiment over the next 12 months mostly with Simons Soldiers, Blitz/battlefield, FAA and CP models.