Cold War Soviet Naval Aviation

Авиация военно-морского флота Soviet Naval Aviation

Naval aviation support for the Marines brigades for my Gotland Whisky on the Rocks scenario. The air support for the 336th Naval Brigade will receive air support for my Gotland scenario. I have purchased most of the helicopters and aircraft I want to build for the scenario.


During the 80s the Navy had available two anti shipping and submarine helicopter regiments to support the Navy's Baltic Fleet. The 396th and 745th helicopter regiments comprised of Ka-27's, Ka-25's and Mi-14's. The Mi-14 were predominantly were again anti shipping but did have a cargo variant, the Mi-14GP. I am planning one KA25 for my task force. Unfortunately the Ka-29 helicopter is not available for the scenario, as it comes into service just after in 1984. The Ka-29 had multiple variants, able to be armed with rocket pods, Kokon ATGM, UPK pods, 30mm 24A2 pod (same as Ka-50), 7.62 gatling gun, etc. Not only that, but the Ka-29 is better than the Mi-24 in one key area: the ability to transport fully armed crew while being laden with all its the weaponry.


The 55th Independent Helicopter Regiment (55OBVP) was stationed nearby on the Baltic coast in Poland, so we can add support from here. In 1989 it was blessed with 15 Mi-8 and 37 Mi-24D. This will breakdown to three Mi-8 and two Mi-24D.

For conventional air support the 66th Naval Assault Aviation Regiment (66 MSHAP) with 45 Su-17M3's. These provide a powerful multirole asset to the battlegroup, and could theoretically be armed with guided Kh29's air to ground HE for buildings, airfields and hard defence positions, Anti tank and cluster bombs. Marine Assault aviation regiment 170 MSHAP and 240 MSHAP each had 29 Su-24's, which can be armed with ground attack bombs, and [SEAD]. Finally, 871 IPA would provide ASF support in the form of the Mig-23MLD [AA1] and Mig-23MLD [AA2].

The Northern Fleet's aviation was significant, thanks to 88th and 279th Regiments providing a healthy quantity of Mig-23, Mig-27, Su-25 and Yak-38M VTOL aircraft. This covers most bases in terms of air support; the Mig-23MLD [AA1] provides air cover, Mig-27M [AT] and Mig-27K [SEAD] cover anti-tank and SEAD roles, Su-25 can cover [RKT] and more [AT], and the Yak-38M (being the only battlegroup likely to feature this plane) should come in all variants, including [UPK], [RKT], [HE], [CLU], and [NPLM], and possibly some multi-role variations of those if desired.

I have two Hind 24D and one KA27 helicopters to build in Naval camo, one Yak38M, a SU 24 light bomber and one MiG 27K. 

Cheers

Matt