Part two - Whisky on the Rocks - Soviet order of battle

 

Soviet Order of Battle  

Invasion of Gotland 1981

Part two 

“Admiral Ivan Kapitanets stared at the map of the island of Gotland. Preoccupied with his primary concern; The naval spetsnaz operatives actions against the strike capability of the Swedish Airforce and the anti ship missile defences on Faro Island. He pondered, if the planned operation was only partially a success, would the remainder go to plan, and from past experience nothing ever goes to plan….” 

336th Independent Naval Guards Brigade 

The 336th consisted of four battalions, one heliborne air landing  and three battalions of Naval Infantry equipped with the amphibious BTR 60 armored personnel carriers, a tank battalion with two companies of PT-76 amphibious light tanks and a company of T-55 main battle tanks. Artillery support was provided by a battery of BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, Nona and Gvozdika SP guns and a battery of anti-tank guided missiles, while air defense consisted of a platoon of ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft guns and a platoon of 9K31 Strela-1 surface-to-air missiles. Support units included support, reconnaissance, engineer, and NBC defense companies. 

336th Independent Naval Guards Brigade 

Order of Battle

877th Naval Infantry Battalion
878th Naval Infantry Battalion
879th Naval (Air Landing) Infantry Battalion
884th Naval Infantry Battalion
112th Tank Battalion 

887th Reconnaissance Battalion
1612th Artillery Battalion
1618th Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion
1615th Multi-Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion
1621st Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion

40 T-55, 26 PT-76, 96 BTR-80, 64 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 24 2s9 Nona, 18 BM-21 Grad, 15 MT-LBT, 3 PRP-3 Forward Observor , 3 PU-12, 1 BTR-60PU, 7 R-145BM, 6 1V119, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 1 BTR-70KSh, 

Able Archer order of battle 336th Naval Guards Brigade 

Brigade HQ 

BTR 60 R-145BM command vehicle CO + radio + 5

BTR 80 ZS88 PSYOP vehicle PO + NKGB platoon, 

MTLB  ambulance OC + 2 medics 

Ural 4320 supply truck

561st "Maritime Recon” (Spetsnaz) battalion 

HQ coy 

CO+RO SA-7 team (2 figures), 4 figures medic, sniper, radio ops

I companies 

8 figures spetsnaz RPG and LMG

II company 

8 figures spetsnaz RPG and LMG 

Regiment HQ:

BTR 60 PU-12 command vehicle 

- regimental commander +3

- SA-7 team (2 figures)

Naval Infantry battalions

877th Naval infantry 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MT-LB 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

878th Naval infantry battalion 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MTL- B 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

879th Naval Air landing battalion 

Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

7 figures with RPG and LMG

7 figures with RPG and LMG

7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

884th Naval infantry battalion 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MT-LB 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

112th Tank Battalion 

BHQ 1 x T55 AD (DRZOD APS) BTR60 P

I Company

      1 x TO55 (flamethrower)

      2 x T55 AD (DRZOD APS) 

II company 

2 x PT76 

III Company

2 PT-76B

887th Reconnaissance battalion:

HQ company 1 x BDRM 2, 1x BTR 60 PU radio 

 I company

1 x BDRM 2

II company 

1 x PT-76B 

1612 Artillery battalion 

HQ 

Observor PRP-3 VAL

I Battery 

2 x 2S9 Nona 

II Battery 

1 x 2s1 Gvozdika 

Engineer Company:

PTS M 7 figures, rpg, lmg

BTR 50 UR67 (mine clearance rocket) 

1621st Anti tank battery 

BRDM-2 with AT-3

1618th AA Battery:

HQ coy BTR 60 PU 4 figs 

I battery SA-9 Gaskin 4 figs

II battery 1 x ZSU-23-4

1618th MLRS Battery:

HQ Gaz -66 IV19 radio command vehicle 

 2 x BM-21 Grad MLRS 4 crew

Tactical air support 

Observer BTR 60 R-975M1

71st red star landing brigade

The Ondatra class Soviet designation Project 1176 Akula LCT

(Landing craft, can carry two T-55, two APC or trucks or 50 infantry). 

Ropucha class LCM

Korolev, Minsk, Kaliningrad, Pyotr Morgunov, Georgy Pobedonosets

Baltic Fleet Naval Aviation  

689th Fighter Aviation Regiment SU27
4th Naval Attack Aviation Regiment SU24
125th Independent Helicopter Squadron Mi8 and Mi24
398th Transport Aviation Squadron Mi8

Cheers

Matt

Research 

Russian

Bundeszollverwaltung - Customs company part 2

Completed the 7 miniatures for my Customs border unit. These chaps are all Esci and Airfix. The figures are from the Esci ground crew (radio operator ) NATO troops man with hand up, and from the Airfix nato ground crew the dog and the three walking (minus their tool boxes)

The unit will be used for my skirmish and larger battles as opposition to my Soviet special forces. 

Bundeszollverwaltung -  Customs patrol

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday - TV crew

 Another table piece for my Cold War collection this time a camera crew covering the troubles along the border….. figures from Elhiem miniatures range. 

Cheers

Matt 

Bundeszollverwaltung - Customs company part 1

 Bundeszollverwaltung 

Bundeszollverwaltung

A small addition to my Cold War west German are some customs border officers, mostly at the suggestion of Carlos on the lead adventure forum as they often were the first person to be encountered when entering West Germany. The Bundeszollverwaltung patrolled the border in a set area up to 10 klm deep, living in the area close where they patrolled.  They even had riverine and ocean going patrol boats. I plan to use up left over airfix and Esci nato figures and another dog handler to make up another 7 figure company, plus a VW van and VW beetle car to come. 

Uniform

Dress uniform 

A lime green shirt, black tie,  green dress jacket, field grey trousers, black shoes, dress cap green, grey cords and black peak.

Field uniform 

A dark green field jacket, with field grey trousers black belts and boots, a green field cap 

Weapons 

Pistol, rifle or SMG. 

Cheers 

Matt

50th Infantry Division Tyne Tees Part 5

Tyne Tees part 5

Completed some more crews for vehicles and Bren Carriers etc. another 30 odd figures to go. Again all figures are Britannia miniatures. 

Cheers 

Matt

Swedish Army Project - Volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil part two

Finally completed this during the week during my down time between guests I have been airbrushing and catching up on my kit builds during the year. I do need to add crew from elhiem when I find them in the pile of opportunity. 

The Volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil was armed with a Pvpj 1110 90 mm recoil-less antitank gun. I picked up the Gecko models 1/72 model last year and finally assembled it this week for Mad March build, so has been a while between build and painted but until I complete the renovations on my workshop upstairs I will need to be patient until I get my airbrush studio space completed. 

This chap will join my Swedes in the anti armour platoon of my infantry regiment for my Cold War game later in the year. 

Cheers

Matt

Swedish Army Project - Volvo C303 TBG 11 part two

 Additions for my Swedish army is a passenger truck, the Volvo C303 TGB11 these small vehicles were commonly referred to as the Puppy in Swedish service and were used in a variety of uses. 

The PLTGB 903 was designed and built by Volvo and was designated the Laplander L3314. It came in hard top, soft top and the specialized anti tank version. I picked up the Gecko heavy industries model, which to be frank is not that good for its price, with lots of air bubbles and a clear cabin in very hard resin. See my previous kit review Here 

I am quite happy with the result though and was a simple dark green airbrush job then hand painted windscreens, tactical signs and lights etc. 

Cheers

Matt

Nationale Volksarmee - Trabant 601 car

 Elhiem miniatures have released a few pieces for the Nationale Volksarmee GDR East Germans. A simple start to my project coming up this year is a Trabant 601 car for some minor officer of the army. A nice start to kit off the army! 

Cheers

Matt

National Volks Armee

 A upcoming project later on the year is to add some Nationale Volksarmee GDR troops, particularly to oppose my Brit’s on the northern plain. I plan to Armoured, motorised and artillery support, plus choppers and aircraft! This will be all set around Able archer rules structure. I have quite a lot of Un allocated armour, plus the files for the support events to print most of them. The infantry will be Elhiem I suspect.  

9th Panzer Division 

21st Panzer Regiment "Walter Empacher"

RHQ 1x T-55 and radio truck

3 tank companies of T54 or T55

9th Motor Rifle Regiment "Rudolf Renner"

RHQ BMP 1 CO, PO, medic, sniper, LMG, RPG , radio truck, signaler, +1

2 x motor battalions 

BHQ BMP 1 OC + RO, RPG, LMG + 4 

2 x Company BMP 1, RPG, LMG + 5 

Gaz 66 + 2 crew, MTLB with 120mm mortar 5 crew 

9th Artillery Regiment "Hans Fischer"

BTR 60 TACP (forward Observer) 

2s1 Gvozdivka 122mm  

9th AA-Missile Regiment "Rudolf Dölling"

1st Battery BTR 60 SA9 x 3 

2nd battery ZSU 23/4 

9th Rocket Detachment "Otto Nuschk"

2x BM21 Grad 

9th Reconnaissance Battalion "Eduard Claudius"

Recon platoon BDRM 2 2 figs 

9th Panzerjägerabteilung

Two jeeps AT4 2 figs, SPG -9 3 figs 

As I am a big fan of soviet helicopters I am planning 

Combat Helicopter Squadron 5 Adolf von Lützow

1 x Mi2 for recon
2x  MI 8 for troop transport 
1x Mi24 attack helicopter 

In addition I like to add a jet to my collection looking in the stash I already have selected for a fighter squadron and fighter bomber. 

Jagdfliegergeschwader 9 (JG-9) "Heinrich Rau"

I.Jagdfliegerstaffel/JG-9 (I.JS/JG-9), MiG-23ML

Jagdbombenfliegergeschwader 77 (JBG-77) "Gebhardt Leberecht von Blücher"

I.Jagdbombenfliegerstaffel/JBG-77 (I.JBS/JBG-77), Su-22M-4

Cheers

 Matt

Leopards Roar - Bundeswehr upgrades to nato camouflage

 Bundeswehr upgrades

As the majority of my Bundeswehr are painted with Ammo RAL6014  for the true Cold War period I do have sitting in storage plenty of kit to extend the date past 1984 which is my current cut off. 

This year I have decided after joining a few of Bob Mack’s kickstarters I will go past my cut off date and add Bundeswehr in three colour NATO. My new additions will include-

• 3d printed Marder 2 
• Diecast Fuchs
• Diecast Luchs
• 3d printed trucks 
• Diecast Leo 2
• Diecast ME 109 SP artillery (battery of two) (need to change the muzzle break to reflect the FH70)
• MLRS (M270 Rocket launcher) battery of two 
• Plastic fennek 
• Plastic weisels 

This will extend the playing period past 1986 and plan to paint them all in the coming 8 weeks over summer. 

NATO 3 colour was adopted and rolled out over three years being completed in 1988. Team yankee has a fine guide available Here , I will be using AK three colour nato in their new real colour range. 

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz part 9 - VW 181 car

 One of my Bundesgrenzschutz units is a 1/72nd scale VW181 to complete my command platoon. 

The Germania Figuren vehicle is made from resin and is a very nicely cast model. Hardly and flash and no bubbles. It comes with two options roof on or folded back, plus driver (which is a bonus) with four head variants. Assembly was quite simple and the cabin went together well, although take care with the windscreen removal, and fitting the back parcel shelf and seat which I fitted incorrectly! 

It was a little pricey at €16.50 plus shipping but a great little kit never the less. A solid 9 out of ten, only mi us was the instructions and broken windscreen 

A simple Tamiya nato green paint job, with  highlight, then black lining. The driver was painted in bundesgrenschutz camo smock. Really happy with the result. 

Cheers

Matt 

Bundesgrenzschutz Part 8 - Ambulance

 Another piece for my Bundesgrenzschutz regiment a VW ambulance this time, a few more vehicles to come and a helicopter before the regiment is complete. 

 The vehicle is from Jonny Lightening and needs a windscreen warning lights and rear window and the Elhiem driver adding before truly complete. Really happy with it, I striped the original paint scheme back to bare metal as the acrylic paint did not cover properly over the matt guide coat. Second time round much happier. The crosses are from a job lot I picked up years ago, gloss varnish, then decal, then gloss again, followed by a complete Artist matt varnish. 

Bundesgrenzschutz Ambulance 

Bundesgrenzschutz Ambulance 

Cheers

Matt

370th Fighter Group P38 part 1 WIP Wednesday

P38J Droop Snoot

 First ww2 aircraft build off the desk this year is a P-38J from the 401st reconnaissance squadron of the  370th fighter group USAAF.  I have always wanted to build one of these for my European theatre ground air support as this unit was the close support for Pattons 3rd Armys breakout through Pays de Loire in August 1944. The droop snoot nosed aircraft was used coordination for targeting and low level rockets and bombing by the rest of the group, targeting the German support elememts and retreating convoys to the north and east into the Falaise pocket. 

401st Squadron patch

As Wargamers we like to think that air support was easily available, with ground to air contact regularly. Pattons 3rd army was the first time that units at the front had direct radio liaison between the ground and the target liaison aircraft during the breakout. US aircraft were available every 8 mins to be targeted on the Germans units directed by these aircraft in constant contact with the lead elements of Pattons Armoured units. The P38s were flying out of Cardonville in Normandy so were over targets in the Mayenne region in around 5 mins as they chased the German 7th army east towards Paris then the border. The unit was also the first to drop Napalm incendiary bombs in Normandy on the 17th of July on a German fuel depot at Coutances west of St Lo. 

My kit is the superb Dragon model, only complaint no pilot….. so a Revell one was used, markings are for the 401st squadron of the 370th Fighter Group, fuselage code 9D. 

P38J Droop Snoot

Sound effect of the P38 Fly Past

Dragon P38J Droop Snoot

The kit being academy went together very well, you will need a stand to align the wings though because of the centerpiece and the way the wings are designed. I built it wheels up, which has a lot of carving and sanding to get close enough to closed wheel bays. Also ensure you correctly line up the pilots bay with top and bottom before gluing. The only PE I used was for the recon camera. 

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz part 7

 Support weapons and Bundesgrenzschutz company 

Finally on the last of my support units and rifle coy for my Federal Border Guard battalion. These chaps can be used in airfield and key installation protection for my Warpac special forces operations. All of the figs are from the Elhiem miniatures generic NATO range. 

Bundesgrenzschutz Head Quarters platoon, officer and radio, sniper, NCO and medic. 

Bundesgrenzschutz Milan and M92 Stinger teams 

Bundesgrenzschutz Mortar teams 

Bundesgrenzschutz Observer team

Bundesgrenzschutz Observer team 

Cheers

Matt