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

SU -15 TM PM models

 Flagon SU-15TM

Last year in england I picked up the PM model SU15TM at Newark air museum. This is another MAYDAY build.

What can I say, one of the most dreadful kits I have ever built, the fuselage was bent, the fuselage needed so much filler I should of just scratch built one, one wing was offset and the canopy looks like a Mig 15 canopy and was so thick and was such a poor fit it is almost not worth placing on the kit. I built it anyway and three weeks ago before holidays I painted it. I added the decals on it, but still not my favourite at all. I elected to add 2 of the  K-8 missiles, I added KP models  S-5 rockers for ground attack role. My suggestion steer clear of this kit.

Cheers

Matt

KBG border Patrol

 In between completing some decals on aircraft this week I completed some Esci warpac figures. I intend using them as KGB border police I think as they do look different in the Parker style uniform to my other Warpac figures. 

Cheers

Matt

Soviet tank crew

 A few pieces from Mars plastic figures, escaping tank crew. Simple blue overalls and black tanker caps 

Cheers

Matt 

Part Three - Whisky on the Rocks - Swedish order of Battle

Invasion of Gotland 1981

Part Three

“Admiral Ivan Kapitanets was relieved the briefing was over, finally his command will launch its offensive against the west, the but first the Swedish island of Gotland needed to be taken, he would leave the political animal Major General Vladimir Platov’s 11th Guards army to take the mainland, but his Naval Infantry would take the key to the eastern Baltic, the island of Gotland. Then the placing of  surface to Air missile batteries to control the skies over the baltic and Northern Europe.” 

Well I have been giving thoughts towards my Cold War game next year and a linked Cold War weekend war game. The weekends gaming will be a what if invasion of Gotland circa October 1981. For those with long memories a Soviet Nuclear Submarine S363 grounded itself  off the coast of Sweden in October 1981. 

The Gotland Regiment 

Major General COL Lars-Eric Wahlgren

PB 18 - Gotland Brigade in Visby:Headquarters and Staff Company

1st Armored Battalion 

with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

2nd Armored Battalion with a staff company, 

12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

3rd Armored Battalion 

with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

Artillery Battalion

with 12x 155mm Haubits m/F towed howitzers in three batteries

18th Armored Reconnaissance Company 

6x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers, 12x Jeeps, 12x Recon Teams, 2x Rifle Squads and 4x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles

18th Anti-tank Company 

with m/48 recoilless rifles and Bantam anti-tank missiles
18th Engineer Company
Logistic Battalion

KA 3 - Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment

In Fårösund trained and fielded a wide variety of units, which in case of war would have come under direct command of the Gotland Military Command: three mobile Coastal Guard Platoons (Sjöbevakningspluton) armed with light Robot 17 anti-ship missiles. One heavy anti-ship missile battery armed with Robot 08 missiles. 

The 7th Coastal Artillery Battery 

In Bunge with 3x mobile 152mm M/37 cannons. Besides these mobile units the regiment also controlled the following fixed artillery positions: 4x batteries of three 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns each at Kappelshamn, Ljugarn and St Olofsholm on Gotland and at Ryssnäs on Fårö, 1x battery of three 120mm Tornautomatpjäs m/70 automatic guns at Slite and 1x battery of three twin-barreled 152mm Kustartilleripjäs m/51 heavy coastal artillery guns at Bungenäs. Furthermore, the regiment trained a few smaller units, which maintained minefields with controlled mines along the coast of Gotland and Fårö. Additionally the regiment fielded a limited number of 75mm m/65 automatic cannons, which were a mobile version of the 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns and the small minelayer HSwMS Fårösund (16).

Lv 2 - Gotland Anti-Aircraft Battalion 

In Visby with Robot 69 and Robot 70 man-portable surface-to-air missiles, as well as 20mm lvakan m/40-70 and 40mm lvakan m/48 anti-aircraft autocannons.

4th Independent Armored Battalion 

In  Visby with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

5th Independent Armored Battalion 

In Fårösund with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R centurion tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company

32:a Gotlandsbataljonen (the 32nd Gotland battalion)

Thee armored brigade thus became reorganized into five large battalions with KP-bil(instead of bicycles) with each two companies of either tank destroyers Stridsvagn 74. During the 1970s, the brigade was re-armored with Stridsvagn 102, which, like the KP-bil, underwent a renovation in the 1980s.

Gotland Regiment (P 18), Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) and Gotland Anti-Aircraft Battalion (Lv 2)

Visby
Faro island anti shipping defenses 

Local defence company 

Hopefully that makes sense in someway, I will break these into Rapid Fire Able Archer Organisation next 

Cheers

Matt

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

Mad March III

 More Mad March modelling madness completed, this time a soviet radio truck from ICM, I had a devil of a time fitting the wheel arches, but it is together! 

Cheers

Matt

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

Kit Review -SU 15 TM

SU15-TM

I have been looking though my kits to complete some Soviet and Swedish kit for the big weekend Wargame Holiday game next May. I have a lot of aircraft kits to build and paint for both sides so I have decided to commence the assembly of my PM Models SU-15 TM which I purchased at Newark museum airfield shop in April. 

The kit looks quite simple as to be expected on a short run. The body is twisted it seems and the canopy seems to be a very poor fit. A little bit of rough casting around the engine intake and marbling around the nose  but with sanding it should clean up. The K8 missiles are oversize also.  I was disappointed that there was no pilot also and soft interior detail, I will add a 3d printed interior and pilot I suspect. 

I plan to get it painted this week in silver with a green nose and tail tip, while I am having a little summer break before our next Wargame holiday guests. 

Cheers

Matt

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 Gaskin
• 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 mounted in UAZ 469

 mortar coy 

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

 

2nd Battalion AS Above 

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

 

Soviet Cold War Motorised Infantry part two

 Soviet Motostrelki 

Finally after finishing some more house renovations I have managed to sit down and complete some miniatures. last week I completed another soviet motorised battalion for my cold war collection. The figures 20mm from the Elhiem Miniatures range, I plan to paint another three battalions to complete my Armoured Division collection.  

My cold war collection is growing rapidly and may soon surpass my ww2 collection for "completed kits" and figures. In 2022 I am planning a big Able Archer game, multi divisional gaming weekend in Autumn for four to six players hopefully in the newly renovated apartments with a 26-30m x 6 table, over a full weekend of modern wargaming. I will release the details in November for the event and our 2022 calendar. 

Soviet Motostrelki Command

 

Soviet Motostrelki Elhiem miniatures

Soviet Motostrelki

Soviet Motostrelki

Soviet Motostrelki

Soviet Motostrelki

I need to add Anti Air, 81mm and 120mm Mortar and HMG coys 

cheers

Matt

Vozdushno-Desantnye voyska Rossii -VDV airborne troops

 VDV Airborne troops

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. 

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)

Commander Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Shvets

• 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

Sources

Russian Airborne Units

Soviet Army Operations and tactics

Wikipedia 35th Guards 

Soviet Motorised troops Part 1 WIP

 

 Soviet Motorised Troops 

I have started to refocus to complete a number of my projects for 2021 and my Soviet motorised troops are next on the list for completion. I am using Elhiem miniatures Russians to fill out my recon and motorised battalions in camouflage suits. I will probably pick up a second regiment in the coming months to bring them up to a brigade combat group.

 I am following my previous recipe for the for camouflage. Vallejo Green with dark sand splotches, washed then highlighted in same with a hint of bleached bone. 

cheers

Matt 

NB Models Kit Review

 New Company on the block NB models, Greece.

For those interested in the wars of Yugoslav wars of Serbia and Croatia a company has started to produce the local vehicles and guns. Most of these vehicles also were used by the Arab countries for the ARab Israeli war and the Iraq Iran war. 

The TAM series of trucks and cold war cars, plus some modern kit post cold war kit.

Releases so far include

Steyr Pinzgauer is13e 4x4 (used by a lot of other nations, so a useful kit)

TAM 110 20e Yugoslavian 4x4 light truck , TAM 150 25e Yugoslavian 6x4 truck  and the TAM 150 Plamen S 128mm rocket launcher on truck

Milos BOV MRAP 25e 4x4 multi purpose (modern 2015) MRAP vehicle

Lazar 3 Armoured personnel carrier (Modern 2015)

ZU23 light soviet designed 23mm AA gun, my purchase, really impressed with the detail on this two part kit

Nikolas has some new releases very soon, civilian vehicles a 4x4 pajero and soviet bloc cars for the conflict. 

Prices are from €8 to €25 more in line with models rather than wargames models, but rare and hard to find vehicles indeed, I have talked to him about a simplified kit for wargamers, time will tell.

I ordered and was delivered very fine resin 3d prints ZU23 AA guns, a quick turn around of the order too, awaiting his soviet block cars with interest.

NB models only have a facebook presence only at the moment or via email

Based in Greece 

Nikolas

email nibr88 at gmail.com

NB Models

cheers

Matt

#30daykitchallenge progress week 1

 

 Progress week 1 

So it begins I have been cleaning up resin and plastic this week with a lot on the table. I managed to hurt my back ago on Easter monday in the garden lifting out shrubs so have been watching movies rather than getting kits together. However I felt good this morning so sat down at my desk and banged these out quite quickly, ready for undercoat. 

Have started the plastic kits and the drilling work on the resin T62b tanks, adding details and filling the resin air holes which is a lot of work. I also pulled out some more plastic kits and have put them aside for later in the week as I am confident I will hit thirty kits easy for the month. 

14 completed

Diamler SOD command cars

AEC armoured car, metal barel

crusader AA mkIII

Soviet AA, NB models resin 3d prints, not a lot of clean up and assembly

one will join my rebels on a technical, one Egyptian, one Russian

Dingo scout car

M3 scout car

Diamler armoured car

cheers

Matt

Academy 1/72 Sam 6

Sam 6 Missile

Next cab off the rank is Academy models Sam 6, a absolute cracker and easy build IMO, little or no flash, parts went together well and I built it over a weekend, it will join my soviet army, thinking about a second one also. The one piece track assembly is really nice and looks better than the rubber tracks, I lowered the finish height of the missiles so it could be transported easily, yet to add a few bits before painting, waiting on black dog bits to arrive from BNA model world.

Cheers

Matt

30 day kit challenge BTR-60p

Next four BTR60 kits from S models, two are destined for my engineers and two will become command variants, waiting for S models to deliver variant kits

30 day kit challenge Mig 21 and CR42

Recently off the build desk and ready for painting a mig 21 and Cr42 both have taken around 8 days to complete, I had better get a wriggle on, next are some Smodel BTR 60s, waiting for S and S kits to finish them off, could be two week wait, so some 54mm metal Napoleonics next.

Mig 21

Revell CR 42 from the box but scratch built larger wheel struts ready for paint destined for my Belgians

Cheers

Matt

Wartime Modern Russian Federation Infantry

Modern Russian Federation Infantry

Just off the painting desk some of Wartime's new Modern Russian range, suitable for the end of the cold war and post cold war battles.

The figures are superb with excellent detail, I especially like the weapons, I painted them in two different variations of the Flora and woodland camouflage patterns. These figures really suit post 1990 (body armour and the new helmet), I have painted the 6B23 body armour in plain reed green as the original issue, now it is available and many different flora, woodland and digital patterns.

These chaps will be for my modern skirmish gaming.