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

Scenario Wriezen, 16th April 1945

 Scenario Wriezen, 16th -17th April 1945 

First Belorussian and First Ukrainian Fronts attacked before dawn on 16 April. The First Belorussian Front, the stronger of the two armies also had by far the tougher assignment. Its main force, deployed in a 20-mile sector between Wriezen and Seelow, had to cross the marshy bottomland of the Oder and Alte Oder and take the Seelow Heights. 

The attack, began in darkness, was intended to achieve surprise, and batteries of powerful searchlights had been positioned to illuminate the German line and blind the defenders. The Russian infantry moved out behind a shattering artillery preparation, but the lights did not have the expected effect. In the mud, smoke, and darkness the waves of infantry piled up on each other. By daylight, the confusion was complete. The Russians were lucky that the Germans failed to appreciate what had happened.

The 47th Soviet Army virtually destroyed the 606th Wehrmacht infantry division, formed only 5 days earlier on the 11th of April

 Elements of the Soviet heavy tank regiments broke through defences along the Wriezen-Thoringswerder-alt Lewin Highway. Kampfgruppe 1001 nights were thrown into the breach to hold and pinch off the breakthrough. 

This scenario is a medium-sized high-paced heavy-metal scenario featuring IS-2 tanks and SU-152 assault guns trying to break through a line held by SS Paratroopers, Hetzer tank destroyers and a lone '88'. German reinforcements, in the form of elements of Albert Speer's personal escort battalion, appear mid-game.

The Kampfgruppe 1001 nights was formed into three combat formations

Commander 

Major Gustav-Adolf Blancbois

Staff car CO x 1

Radio car

Gruppe Suleika 

560th SS tank destroyer Battalion

Commanded by Sturmbannfuhrer Wost

Hq company sturmgesschutze III, bergepanzer iii recovery

• 1st Jagdpanzer-Kompanien 2 Jagpanzer Hetzer  
• 2nd Jagdpanzer-Kompanien 2 Jagpanzer Hetzer  
• 3rd Jagdpanzer-Kompanien 2 Jagpanzer Hetzer 
• 1 Sturmgeschutze III,  (from 27th Friewillgen-grenadier-regiment Langemarcke) 

600th SS fallschirmjager 

Hq Kompanie Kommamder Fritz Leiheit co +4 panzerschrek 

• 1 Kompanie 8 figures in Wehrmacht smocks. 2 x Panzer Faust 
• 1st jager coy 6 figures cycles Panzer Faust 
• Support coy 75mm LG recoilless, kettengrad 3 figs

Gruppe Harem

Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung Speer (arrive turn 5)

• Motorcycle and kettengrad company 8 figures (RAD uniform)(escort coy of Albrecht Speer)
• Armoured car coy 1 x Sd.Kfz 231/17 75mm gun 3 crew, 1 x 251 drilling mount 3 crew
• Infantry coy 8 figs, cycles 
• Anti Tank platoon Pak40, OST tractor 3 rad crew

Sultan

Marschregiment 2 possibly in Panzer Wraps from V2 sites and training companies

Hq co +5 panzerschrek , 5cm leGrW 36 mortar.

• 1 Schutzen-Kompanie panzerfaust 8 figs
• 2 Schutzen-Kompanie panzerfaust 8 figs
• 3 Schutzen-Kompanie  panzerfaust 8 figs
• 13 coy 2x MMG, 1 x 81mm mortar

Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 292

Flak 8.8cm 6 crew no tractor. 

Sdkfz 7/1 2cm flak 4 crew

Russian Army
47th Army Assault Brigade

70th Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, 47th Army, 1st Belorussian Front; 334th Guards Heavy Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment and 125th Rifle Corps, 47th Army)

ISU-152 x 5

BA-64B
IS-2 x 5

8 SMG
8 SMG
8
8
8
8
1x White Scout car

CO+3 8
CO+3 SMG 8 SMG
CO+3 8
CO+3 8
1x Maxim HMG 1x Zis 3 75mm pak
1x Maxim HMG 1x Zis 3 75mm pak
1x Maxim HMG
1x Jeep
1x Jeep
1x 81 mm mortar 1x Jeep
1x 81 mm mortar 1x Jeep
1x 81 mm mortar

3° Battalion HQ Cp
1° cp
2° cp

3rd Heavy Weapons Company

Artillery Battalion 1st Company

HQ Co +5 radio truck 

FO +1 Jeep

Tank Regiment 

HQ Company
1x T34/85 
3x T34/85 
3x T34/85 
3x T34/85 

Heavy Tank company 

2x Js2

Tank destroyer Regiment HQ Cp
1° cp 2x SU 85
2° cp

CO + 3 8
8
8

FO + 1

1x Maxim HMG 1x Zis 3 75mm pak

Russian Armour 

2x ISU 152 
2x ISU 152

4x SU85

1x 81 mm mortar 1x Jeep
1x Jeep
1x Zis 3 75mm pak

1x Jeep

Air support 

1x Stormovich IL27

Whisky on the Rocks - Invasion of Gotland 1981, outline

French Wargame Holidays Wargames 

Campaign Weekend 4-7th October 2024

Summer 1981 - “Admiral Ivan Kapitanets was relieved the briefing was over, finally the command to launch the offensive against the West.  The political animal Major General Vladimir Platov’s 11th Guards army is to take the southern Swedish mainland. His Naval Infantry command to the island of Gotland; the key to the eastern Baltic. Then there establish the installation of  Surface to Air missile batteries, controlling  the skies over the baltic and Northern Europe.” We are coming….

I have been thinking about the Cold War and new Wargame to close the 2024 Wargame Holidays.  A Long weekend of Cold War Wargaming. The weekend gaming scenario - “What if the invasion of Gotland circa October 1981?  For those with long memories a Soviet Nuclear Whisky class Submarine S363 grounded itself  off the coast of Sweden in October 1981.  The Swedes decide they want to to keep the grounded submarine and stop it from departing until investigations were completed. 

The game plays out the scenario’s :  The Russians commence operations to recover the submarine and invade Gotland and Mainland Sweden. The game will concentrate on the Russian invasion of Gotland, with airborne and amphibious landings.  The goal to take out the Swedish early warning radar, air assets, and the Naval gun 152mm emplacements defending the ports and channel. Capture the port, airfield and barracks of Visby, Närs coast guard base, the island of Faro with its anti shipping missile batteries and take out the Bunge airfield, all before the Swedish Marine and army reserve can arrive to tip the balance. 

I have researched available 1981 orders of Battle to create the game. To expand the scenario to a weekend game, some elements will take place on the board game ‘Next War, Deadly Northern Lights’. This will track off table Air assets, naval combat and reserves before the game commences etc. The table top will fight the ground actions with or without air support as per earlier map movement.

Gaming across 3 - 4 tables, broken into three phases, the opening moves are VDV spetsnaz assaults on radar installations, electrical supply, communications and the air bases. Followed by missile bombardment of the air bases, the VDV parachute - air landing assault, and Marine Sea landings. Each will carry over casualties and losses so the order of battle will be fluid. Each phase has the possibility to include a reinforcement phase for each side.  

Sign up to my blog to stay tuned for my next article covering 

 # The breakdown of the Orders of Battle

 # The tables layout using Force on Force special forces games. 

 # The order of Battle for the small element games

 # Rapid Fire Able Archer for the larger games. 

To enquire about booking contact me 

Email lhoteldeherce@orange.fr 

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Mobile - +33 06 45 40 30 50 & What’s App

French Wargame Holidays

Cheers 

Matt Williamson