Soviet Tank Corps, 1942 - 1945 Table of Organisation & Equipment M3 scout car M3 scout car supplied to the

Red Army under the Lend-Lease program. Scout cars m ay be used to motorize the SMG Battalion which was an integral part of the Tank Brigade. Non-elite formations were not usually equipped in this way and their in fantry rode on the back of the tanks they were supporting. Soviet Tank Corps * 3 Tank Brigades * 1 Mechanized Rifle Brigade Soviet Tank Brigade 1942-1945 * Brigade Headquarters: o HQ Section of 2 T-34 tanks o Reconnaissance Platoon o Engineer Platoon o Anti-tank Rifle Company o Anti-tank Gun Company o Heavy Machine Gun Company o Trains + 5 recovery tanks + 12 maintenance trucks + 42 supply trucks * Tank Battalion: (organization same as below) o Light Battalion using T-60 or T-70 tanks, 1942 o Medium Battalion using T-34/76 or T-34/85 tanks, 1942-1945 * Medium Tank Battalion: o Headquarters + 1 T-34/76 or o Tank Company + 1 T-34/76 or + 9 T-34/76 or o Tank Company + 1 T-34/76 or + 9 T-34/76 or

T-34/85 tank T-34/85 HQ tank T-34/85 tanks in 3 tank troops T-34/85 HQ tank T-34/85 tanks in 3 tank troops

* Tank Battalion: (organization same as above) o Heavy Battalion using KV tanks, 1942 o Medium Battalion using T-34/76 or T-34/85 tanks, 1942-1945 * SMG Battalion: (infantry, 403 all ranks) o HQ Section o Heavy Machine Gun Platoon of four HMG o Anti-tank Rifle Platoon of six AT rifles o Anti-tank Gun Platoon of four guns o Mortar Platoon of six 82 mm mortars o Motor Rifle Company o Motor Rifle Company o Motor Rifle Company In 1942, tank brigades used a mixture of light, medium and heavy tanks, dependin g on what was available to them. As production of the T-34 increased, the brigad es became more homogeneous. For wargaming purposes, the following combinations o f tank battalions may be used:

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1 1 2 3

Light Battalion, 1 Medium Battalion and 1 Heavy Battalion Light Battalion and 2 Medium Battalions Medium Battalions and 1 Heavy Battalion Medium Battalions, of which one or more may be using T-34/85 tanks.

Distant Action Raiders The Soviet Army differentiated certain tactical groups of tanks: * D.D. Tanks (T-35, T-28, KV-1, KV-85, IS) - Distant Action Raiding Tanks * N.P.P. Tanks (BT, T-46, T-34, etc.) - "Cavalry" Breakthrough and Flanking Tanks * D.P.P. Tanks (T-18, T-24, T-26, T-46, etc.) - Close Infantry Support Tanks D.D. tanks operated without infantry support, and this explains why some KV-1 ta nks counter-attacked and penetrated deeply behind German lines. As the war progr essed, it was found that the T-35 was a practical D.P.P. tank, and the BT made a good Recce tank. Accordingly, these vehicle changed roles. The T-46 is a T-26 w ith BT wheels and tracks.