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 may 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 infantry 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:
    • HQ Section of 2 T-34 tanks
    • Reconnaissance Platoon
    • Engineer Platoon
    • Anti-tank Rifle Company
    • Anti-tank Gun Company
    • Heavy Machine Gun Company
    • Trains
      • 5 recovery tanks
      • 12 maintenance trucks
      • 42 supply trucks
  • Tank Battalion: (organization same as below)
    • Light Battalion using T-60 or T-70 tanks, 1942
    • Medium Battalion using T-34/76 or T-34/85 tanks, 1942–1945
  • Medium Tank Battalion:
    • Headquarters
      • 1 T-34/76 or T-34/85 tank
    • Tank Company
      • 1 T-34/76 or T-34/85 HQ tank
      • 9 T-34/76 or T-34/85 tanks in 3 tank troops
    • Tank Company
      • 1 T-34/76 or T-34/85 HQ tank
      • 9 T-34/76 or T-34/85 tanks in 3 tank troops
  • Tank Battalion: (organization same as above)
    • Heavy Battalion using KV tanks, 1942
    • Medium Battalion using T-34/76 or T-34/85 tanks, 1942–1945
  • SMG Battalion: (infantry, 403 all ranks)
    • HQ Section
    • Heavy Machine Gun Platoon of four HMG
    • Anti-tank Rifle Platoon of six AT rifles
    • Anti-tank Gun Platoon of four guns
    • Mortar Platoon of six 82 mm mortars
    • Motor Rifle Company
    • Motor Rifle Company
    • Motor Rifle Company

In 1942, tank brigades used a mixture of light, medium and heavy tanks, depending on what was available to them. As production of the T-34 increased, the brigades became more homogeneous. For wargaming purposes, the following combinations of tank battalions may be used:

  • 1 Light Battalion, 1 Medium Battalion and 1 Heavy Battalion
  • 1 Light Battalion and 2 Medium Battalions
  • 2 Medium Battalions and 1 Heavy Battalion
  • 3 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 tanks counter-attacked and penetrated deeply behind German lines. As the war progressed, 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 with BT wheels and tracks.

Soviet Red Army Miniatures of World War Two