Soviet Tank Company Tactics

DD t,1120-129-76

DEFENSEINTELLIGENCE AGENCY

DIR Defense Intelligenee Report

i,t

SOVIET TANK COMPANYTACTICS MAY 1976

SOVIET TANK COMPANYTACTICS

DDr-l120-129-'t 6

This docubmt waspreparedby Major A. Hemesley eLR of the CroundForces/MBFRBranch, Sovi€t/Vrrsar, Pact Division, DirectorateIfor Intelligeaie (R"*-"h a;t6;^""d publication by authodty of the Di.ector, Orfense fiteffd;nc.-,lge"cn.-'-" * is rcleasedfor

PREFACE This study of Soviet tank company tactics is written as a "how they fight" nranual.Many of the conccptsand methods used by the Sovietsappearto ihe US or NATO military rcader so alien that there is a temptation to say "This is unworkable."The readershould apprcciate that the Soviet tank company commanderhas a vastly different task than his US or NATO equivalcnt.His task is to train and lead his company as dirccted by well establishedpdnciples set out in field sewiceregulations,and as interprctedby his superiors.The companyfigllts either as pafi of a battalion size unit, or with the closesupport of other tank, motorized rifle, and artillery units. Th€ battalion is the basic unit of maneuverin the Soviet Ground Forcesand a company is b€st rcgardedas a fire team. Thc information used in the study has becn drawn from a wide variety of sourccs.In order to ensurcwide diss€minationsomedetailsof equipme[tshavebcea describedin a gcneralmanner. In this way the study can be issuedas an UNCLASSIFIEDdocument.Tlre rcadcr needingto study equipmentdetailshds been providcd with basicdata in the enclosurcs.It stroulclbe noted that equipment differs from on€ Sovict ullit to another and there are also minor differenccs in personnelmanninglevels. The study is written using a type organizationand manninglevgl which is defined in the text.

lu

CONTENTS Executive Summary CHAPTER I Introduction 2 Oqanizatlon, Command and Control ---------3 Weapons,Equipment and Services -------4 SovietTank Crew Training-----------------------5 Talrk Gumery and Firc Cont ol -----6 SovietConceptsand Missions--------------7 Taotical Formations -----------8 CBR Defense ---------9 Reconnaissanc€ -----------l0 March Security Operations ----------ll The Offensive ------------------12 River ClossingOperations --------------13 Defense ---------14 The Withdrawal -----15 Dudng Halts S€curity --------------16 Combat in Built-up Areas l? Conclusionsalld an Assessmentof the Combat Potential of a ----------SovietMediumTank Company -----------------------I Tank! and Associated Equipmedt ENCLOSURE ENCIOSURE 2 Soviet Iffd Navigationand Night Vision Deyices ---------ENCIOSURE 3 Arms and Equipment- Soviel Tank Company --------------------------ENCLOSURE4 T62 and T72 Tanks

Page vii I 3 7 ll 33 15 I7 2I 23 27 31 43 47 53 55 57 59 6l 65 67 69

EXNCUTIVE SUMMARY The Sovict tank company is equipped with either 10 or l3 trnks. according to its subordination,and is organizedinto three platoons.Its personnelconsistsprimarily of conscript soldiersgenerallywell trained in the individualskills of drivhg, loading,and gunncry.Four tank commandersin eachcompanyare officersor wa-nantoffice$ who completeextetsiveprofessional training. The remaining tank commande$ are conscriptswho have six months training before arriving in the company and tain in their units during the next l8 months until theh tcrm of serviceexpies, Tank companiesare equippedat presentwith tanks which are simple to operate,havelow silhouettes.good mobility, and an accurategun limited by its optics to a rangeof fifteen hundred mete$. Limitationsin target acquisitionand sightingequipmentmeanthat night firing is restricted to a mnge of about roughly half the daytime range. The Sovietsconsider that the rank company is a single fire unit. It can reinforce other combat arms or be reinforced. It normally operatesas an independcntunit in reconnaissance, as a secudty detachment,or when used as the basisfor a motorized rifle battalion'saDtitank defense.ln other tactical operationsthe tank company is subordinatedto a larger unit. Tactical training consistsprimaiily of rchearsingchangesin column and line formationsat platoon and company levcls. Fhe conftol is exercisedby the company commanderexcept in emergcncies.Antitank guided missilesand enemy tanks are regardedas pdority targets.Tanks fhe on the move or at short halts, and fire is concentratedagainsta singletarget if the company commanderconsidersits a pmticular thr€at. The cornpanyassaultsan enemyformationor position after artillery has providedhre support,wheneverpossible.Control and commlmicationssecurity is strict, and platoon and company commandersare expectedto lead and show initiative. but within the limits set by field regulations. Soviet tank tactics, which we believeare sound, emphasizeconcentratingagainsta poorly pfeparedenemy, attacking without lengthy preparation,and lapidly exploiting success. Training of tank crewsin such skills as driving,gunnery,and maneuvedng in combatformationsis cffcctive. However,junior officers and tank commanden do not have sufficient opportunity to develop the initiatiye neededto respond effectively to mpidly changingcombat situations.Overall,we judge that the Soviet tank company is capableol completingoperationalmissionsand that, iu combat, its successwould be determinedby forcc ratios,enemyeffectiveness, and other cxtcmal facto$.

I

I

I

Anist

Rendition of T 72

vltl

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

I

l. PURDOSE.This study prcsentsinfonnation on the tlctics of the Soviet m€dium tsnk compmy. Tactical information is prcc.d€d by data on equipment,tatrk crew trini[g, and orEani?ation.The study is primrrily lntcnd€d to providc instruclors at schools d itr ficld units witi referencematerial, Key facti are r€p€ated to make each s€ction self supporting. 2. SCOPE. a. the medium tank compary is lhe basic buildiag block of rhc Soviet trtrt arm. Nonaily, a trat comFanyvil opcrrrc es prlt of a battalior{ized un atrd be supportedby, or ln supportof, other arms. Alftough this study r€fers to combined arms op€.ations,oDly tfie techniquesand tacticsof the tanl compon€trt are analyzcd.

b. Thc study exanin.s compeny and platoon tacdcs ir a Europ€ans.tring in both nomuclerr and nucle& €nvironment!. Soviet tacticrl terminolog and symbolos/ haie beenusedwhen US. teminoloF/ fails to ad€quatelydescribeSoviet conceptr, organization, and tsctcs. Uniessotherwise3tatedmilitary lermsin common us€have the meaninggiv€n to then in JCS Publlcation I dated 3 Sep74. Sovietterns which haie oo US equivalent are defined when lust used. c, In thc tactical diagrams the rcader should esum! thet radio commrmicationsexilt betwe€neach rEhiclc d€pictcd. Frontagesused in the diagramsare for nonnuclearoperations.ln nwl€at op€rationsthe!€ frontag€s can generaly be doubl€d.

Figure1a. Organization of a Tank Company{TankDivisionl.

Figurc1b. Organization of a Tank Company{MotorizedRifleDivision)

CHAPTER2 ORGANIZATION,COMMANDAND CONTROL Section A Organization l. THE TANK COMPANYAND PLATOON.Thetank company consistsol thre€ tank platoons and a cornpanyheadqulrt€rs. In a tankbattalionsubordinate of threetanks. to a lank regiment, the platoonconsists In a tank battalionsubordinate to a motorizedrifle regimentthe platoon consistsof four tanks.In an independenttank baltalionsubordinate to a division the platoon consistsof four tanks.

c. Th€ driver.mechanic's duties include and rcparrof the lanl, oblaininSspre maintenance pans, and inspectionof the vehicle.In combat th€ driver-mechanicis rcsponsiblefor s€lecting a route which presentsthe gunn€rwiih goodfirin8 positions.

d. The load€ris responsibl€ for the conditionand of the sto(ageof ammmilion and for maintenance nachine guns. He assiststhe gunner in preparingthe in 2. THE TANK CREW.The crewof a Sovietmedium main gun for combat, aids the driver-mechanic the dutiesof the tank is normally four. Thc duti€sof t}te tanl crew routine maintenarceand assumes Surmer if necessary.He also nans the antiaircraft machhegun if thereis one mountedon the lank.In is in imrnediate rmderstrergthunits theremay be no loaderin tahks a. The commander comn nd of a tank. Thc companycornmander and platoonleaders oth€r than thos€ of the company and platoon cornmsnd iheir own tanks. T.nk commanders' responsibilities include maintenaflccof the vehicle, e. Thereis iittle evidence of formalcrosstraining t Jget acquisition.fire control,ihe slection oI firing positions.and rcsupply.The commander witlin lhe tanl crew. Soviet tank crewmenare likely is the only crew membertraned and authorizcd10 us€the tan-k to be familisrwith someof the operatingprocedures radio exceptin emergencies. of fellow crewmenand could probably perform the hsks required in an cmerSency.In some tank units of the iank. the commanderencourages efforts at crosstraining. b. The gunneris secondin command He is responsiblc for tuing, servicinS, andrepaningthe tanks maingun andmaintaining the tank sopticaland gunneryinstruments. He assists in the driv€.mechanic the technicalinspectionof the vehicle.and repiaces the ammunition.In combrt fte gunnerassists in target acquisilionandselects thc correctammunitionfor each tdgct. He firesthe maingunand the couial machine gun.

me Tank Crcw. The wirc ftun d1e helm.a arc for atbchment tu the intercommunication systam.Note ,he apparcnt youth of all four

Section B Command 3- COMPANY COMMANDER.The lank company cornmmder,normrl]y a captainor seniorlieutenant, is responsible to the battalioncommand€ribr the commandand efficiency of his company-He is responsible for the accomplidmentof the assigned mission and fire contlol of his companyduring operations. Beforeand afler conbat he is .esponsible for the maintenanceand sericinS of thc v€hiclesdnd the combatreadiness of the companyandthe standard of crcw and tacrical training. In combat the responsibilities of the compny command€r include: a. Deployment;camouflageimaintenance; and replacenenlof ammunition, fuel,lubrican ts,andfood.

4. COWANY IIEADQUARTERS. headquarters consistsof:

Company

a. Deputy commander - a s€nior lieuterart or lieutenant, who is dle politicai officer. b. Tecnnical officer . a senior li€utenant or lieutenant who has ihree or four years tsainingat a higher t nt techricrl school. c. A prcporshchik - (a ranl rougl y equiyalent to a US warrant officer) who attends to routine administf ative matters.

d. A tank cr€w mnsisting of a ddver-mechanic, b. Issuing tactical, political, ,nd preparatory a gunnerand a ioader. c. Estimatingthe situalion ,nd carrying out Mth subordinaleand attachedunit reconnaissance

The headquartersofficers and p/apolsr.rr* do not accompany|he ranls on their combat missions.There is also a truck driver and a derk.

5. PI-ATOON LEADERS. Platoon leaders ar€ normally lieutenants, but may sometirn€sbe praporshchiki or, rarely! sergeants.The aulhority of the platoon leader in company operationsis Imited. His 1nskis to lead his platoon in the executionof th€ cornFny mission,not to trandatehissuperiois'orders e. l-eading or dtecting the company during opeiations, controllingthe fire of companytanks,and into a platoon mission.Whenatiachedto a motorized attached units during execulion of the mission, .ifle bataalion, especially in defensii€ operations, platoon leadersrnay be alowed more flenb ity in the maintaining conlacl with flank units, and .eporting executionof lheir mission. iacticatinfor.nationto the battalioncommander. asuing d. Formulatisgcoordinatinsinstructions, orders, and supeNising inspections prior to

Section C ControL 6. CONTROL MEANS. The company cornmander controls rhe tank company by radio, visual and audio signall, and pyrotechnics,in rhe employment of well rehearsed laclical drills. Only office.s cafry maps. Rcfercncc points are used for identificalion of teffain lbaiurcs. Personal example is regardedas a control tcchniqu€,and conpany and platoon comrnandefsare cxpect€d to personally lead lheir subunitswhen lhe situalion demmds it.

9- RADIO SECURITY. The tank company, in common with other Soviet units, is forbidden to make radio transmjssions immediatclybefor€ contactis made with the enenry. Radio sets c opcratcd on listening silence until contact has been made.During combat, ody the company commander is authorized to Idn\nr Jn rl e .umplnJ irpqupnc) lrar'n,L.io1. "r€ shorl and kepi to a minimum. Plaloon leadeis are allowed to lrdnsnrit only in emergencies. In combat, o.den and tactical reports are rransmittedin the clear s h i l e ' e f e ' e 1 c p rt o l e f f r i n f e - r u r e sa n d o t h e rL , n i t rd r e

7. RAIIO NETS. The tank company commmder has rwo radios in his tank: r very high liequency (VHF) set for conr.nunicalionswith the company and a high frcquency (HF) set for communications with the battalion conmander and orher trnk conpanies.ln ihe tank cornpanyrhe company and platoon commanders n€t with each orher and the commandersof atlached motorized rifle dnd arlillcry units. Normally, radios in tanks other than command ianks dre operated only in ihe receiving mode Supporting arrillery comnanders can communicaledirectly to all company

10. \{SUAL AND ALIDIBLE SIGNALS. Prior ro conrbat, normally during dre comnranders reconndssancc,codcwordsare asigned to promnenr terrdn Ldlur€s wilhin compmy boundaies. Pyrotechnicsor tracersare usedin conbal to idcnlify tdgets. boundaries, and units Prearrangedaudible signrls arc uscd for warnin8swhen the conpany is in a static position. Ijid lines are usedto communicate between tanks and between supporlcd and supporting arms while in static defensivepositions.

8. CONTROL LE\TL. It h important 1o note that co.nol of lhe comnrnd radio ncl is rctrined at battalion level, an.l when the conpany operatesasp r of a battalion there will probably be no companynet, b u r a l l . n k , $ r l l ' n u l i t o r l h e b d a l i o nn e La n df e . e i v e orders liom the batlalion commuder.

AA

YY

5 (Revetr.3r.nkl

CHA?TER 3 WEAPONS,EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES Section A Weaponsand Equipment L WEAPONS. Equipment drd weaponsin the Soviel t nk company are durablemd beinginproved through continuing research and dcvelopment. Th€ Soviels expect tank units to {ight by day and night, in exlremes of climaie, and in a nucl€a nd chernrcal environment.Technical details of tanks, md dala on equipm€ntmd individual weaponscunenuy in service with the Soviet tank company, arc in enclosuresI and 2. D€tails of navigalionand night viewingdevicesus€d in tanks are in enclosure 3. 2. SPECIAL PURPOSE TANK EQUIPMENT. Soviei medium tanks can all be providedwith auxiliary pdrts for aitaching the mine plough, the plough and ro er combination,and th€ tank buldoz€I blade.The w€ight of thele items reduc€s tne tant's obstacle crossing ability and maneur€rability and makes the vehicle more difficult to handlc. The engine life of tanks having this specidlequipnenl attachedis alsoreducedThe detrimental effects of the usc of such special equipment a.e judged sufficientty sevele to inhibil frequent Eaining.

3. COMPANYTRUCK. OneLighttruck js heldin the tank company.This vehicleis usedby the deputy companycommander,the technicalofficer, md t]rc pruparshchik. Th€ v€hicle is equipped with a radio link from the which canbe usedasa communications conpany commander\ lrnk to the battalton herdquart€rs when the tank co'npanyis out of direct rangecommunications 4. CBR EQUI?MENT. A[ personnelhave individual protectivenasks,andmostmoderntank iJe probably Decontamination equippedwith alr Iiltralion systems. of vehiclesis carriedout undersupe$isionand with CBR defense the aid of chernicaldefensespeciatish. is deall witn in detailin Chapt€r8. Sovie!tankshave a smoke generatingsystemfor providing a defensive smokescreenwhen required.

762 tited wi$ nine plows-

Section B Services 5. SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE PLATOON. The suppiyandmaintenance platoonto evacuaae casualties commander of the supplyandmaintennceplatoonof and carry amnuition. Fuel trucks resupplythe the tank battalion coordinatesthe r€supply of tanl companyas requued. companies.There is, howeirr, no eviden€eof an administranvenet for his usewithin llle battalion-Thij could causeconsiderabledifficulty i.r resupply when the companiesare widely separated from battalion b. Tank comparies areresuppLi€d in the baltrlion assemblyar€a with POL and ammunition prior to combat. Main and auxiliary fuel lanks are filled to 6. TRANSPORTAND SL'PPLYcapacityfor approach rnarches. the 200liter auxiliary fuel lanksaredroppedprior to combat,pickedup by a. The organrc lrucls of Ihe lank baltaLion are th€ supplyand maintenance platoon,andrelurnedto supplenentedfor op€rationsby the tank regiment. tants on the objective. The basicload, known to the Specializedunarmored tracked tnnspo(ers are Sovietsas "ammmitionunit of fire,rrfortanksis listed availablein som€units for the medicalsectionandthe

WEAPON

TANK

RDS PER UNIT OF FIRE PER TANK 5000 rds 3500 rds 2500 rds 2100 rds 1500 rds

7.62mmMG

(2 (2 (l (3 (l

ea) ea) ea) ea) ea)

T-54 T-55 T-62 JS-2 JS-3

12.5mmMG

(l (l (2 (l (l

ea) ea) ea) ea) ea)

T-54

l4.5mm MG

(2 ea)

T-10 JS-2 JS-3 T.IOM

250 rds 250 rds (optional wpn) 744 rds 250 rds 744 rds

l00mm Main Gun

T-54 T-55

3 7 rds 44 rds (avg)*

I l5mm Main Gun

T-62

40 rds

l22mm Main dun

T-10/T-10M JS-2/JS-3

30 rds 28 rds

*The T-55 can carry from 38 to 47 rcunds of l00mm ammunition for the main gun. About half would be antitank (HVAP-T) and the other half HE ard fragmentationrounds (FRAG-HE). The averagenumber of on-boardrounds is 44.

c. Resupplyin combaris norma.lly at night;each tank companyis resuppli€d in tum. li a tsnl runsout of ammunitionduringcombatit movesto a position outsidc enemy observalionand is resupplied.In positionsammlmilionmaybe placedneartne defcnsive tank posilion to providea readyreserve.

ard monitors the comrnand net to ,dcnlify damaged and inoperative knks- Communicalions are aho mainrrined wirh rhe chief of servicesat regimenral headquarters.Thcrc is onc lrmored recovery vehicle (ARVI in each medium tank battrlion. c. Tanks damagedin combal are repairedon the s?ot or unde! the neareslcover by lhe baltalion repair and evacualiongroup (RFjG). The REG is fomed by the baltalion mrinlenancc s€ction with augmcnlrtion from regimentas required.lt follows the tank battalion and is tasked by the TOP.

d: An ernergency reserveconsists olbetween20 percentand 30 pcrcentof the norrnalload of POL, rationsand ammunition,andaI sparepartscarriedin conpanytanks.This reserve may not be us€dwithout ord€rsfrom t}Ic companycommlnder, 7. MATNTENANCE AND RECOVERY. a. Basicmaintenance of tanLsis cdried out by tankcrewssupervised by the companytechnicalofnccr and tant commanden.Identifiedfaults are recti{ied on tle lpot if possible-The low standardof training of the driver-mechanic and lack of equipnentrn lhe comprny precludeextensiverepans. b. In combat,a recoveryandrepairo.ganization is established at battaiionlevel,Atechnicalobservation point (TOP) is formed by battalionand company techrlicalofficersandis normallymountedin an A?C. with Thc TOPrnovesin rearof battalionheadquarters the task of maintainingvisualsurveillance over the batdefieldto locate damagedtanks.The TOP is in radio communication with the battalionconmander

d. TanlG damaged beyond dre repair capabilily of thc REG are recovereddnd evacurtedby rcgimenral or division mainlensnceunils. Crewsremainwith these tanks rnd alsist in mrkjng rcpairs snd are ihus losr to lhe compdny commrnder unlil repairs arc made. It should be noted thal the Sovicts normdUy replace entire units rathcr than makeindividualvehicleor crew

8. MEDICAL. First atd is adninistercd to baltle casudlies by olher members of dle crew. using thc first aid pack in $e tank. fie battalion medicalteam which accompaniesthc RBG removesseriouscasualtes from tanks once they have bccn lowed 1o covcr. Serious casuahics are collected and evacurled by reginental transpon, as thcre is no inedicalofficer at

Poutine mainenanceis car ed out by the d vermechanicand crew unclerthe srpeNisionof the Company (n.86.

9

Bra*)

CHAPTER 4

SOVIETTANK CREW TRAINING l CREWEFFECTMNESS.The effecriveness of ihe tank companydependson the quality of individual and crew training.This chapterdescribes tle type of trainingwhich membersof a tank cr€w receive.

5. TANK CREWTR-AINING.Soviet tarft crewsare trainedon controlleddrivingrnd firing rrng€s.The emphrsisin driv€rtlainins is on safelyovercomrng a timed s€riesof driving hazardsand providrngthe gunnerwith a goodsightpicture.Obstacles on a rypical 2. CONSCRTPT TRAININC. The majorily of mer m driving course include l lls, bridges,sreep dop€s, a Soviettanl companyareconscdpts. The percentage cufles,ramps.anda deepfordingobstacleGeeFigure of professionalsoldiersa1 this Ievel variesbut will 3). The gunneris requled to accufatelylue the main seldom exceed l0 percent. Conscript tank 8un and the machinegun both from staticpositions gunnersand driver-mechanics commanders, compl€te and on ihe move. a periodof four to six monthsinstruciionin training unrq beforejonng rheir companies. Loade-!receive 6. EQUPMENT CONSERVATION.To conserve no specialhttrainingand join their companies after equipmentfor combat,tank cornpanies nomally use one month of instruction. Most conscript tank only one or two tanksfor iraining.Renainingtrnks crewmen will have received pr€-induction training are kepr in storageand periodicallyrotated with beforeentering the Soviel Army. This training is given lraining tlnLs and are normallyusedonly for large by military instructorsat schools,facrories, collective scaleexercises. Storage maintenance standards arehigh, and state farms, and instiiuaesin the USSR.The but excessive andinexpertmairtenance of storedianks standard of pre-inductiontraining vades widely probablydoesmoreharn rhangood.The equipment ttuoughoutthe ussR. conseNationsystemdoesnol consisiently insurethe reliabilityof lhe company's mechanical lank inventory. 3. TRAINING OF JTNIOR LEADERS.At leastone The fiaining of crews whose lanks ltre storag€is tank conmand€rin each platoon is a junior officer probably less effectiveihan that of crewshaving ot pruporshchik.The officer har receivedup to four lraining tanks. years' training in ofiicer schools,and a ptaporshchik has receivedbet\r,eensix months and a years 7. SUBIJNITTRAINING.Trainingby companies and professional trainingfollowingtwo yearsexperience as plaioonsconcenrrates on fuing, driving,and rapidly shiftingcombatformalions.About 30 percenrof this tiainingis at night.In recentyealstherehasbeensome 4. ROTATION OF CONSCRIPTS. Conscriptsare combined trainlng ol talk and motorized rifle inductedinto the SovietArmy at six monthintervals elenents.Trainingis mairLlya rep€iilionof srandard andservefor two years.Thismeansthat appronma&ly drills with little opportunitylor junior comnanders 22 percentof a combatunil changes €verysixmonlhs. join tank comprniesat th€ sametime Non-specialists as specjalisrr. Man) regimenralcommanders reassign exp€riencedcrewmenevery six monahsto spread

11

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6. OownHill "Slalofr" B6rw6sn V€dcarly P|.c6d Matk€r Los3 3. simul.r.d Mine Fi€ld 7, Sh8llow tlke/DeD Fod 8. B.idse

Figure3, TankDriverTraining Course.

D Er training concenn'aE on efelY overcominga e $ of hazeds stch as hat Clown on an obsbcle coureA ttict tima limit is impoed for completion of the coure.

t2

CHAPTER5 TANK GIJNNERYAND FIRE CONTROL Section A Cunnery I. GIJNNERY]TIETHODS.

Supedor:

a. Emphasisis placed on fast. accura|e,and during intens€fire from the maingunandnachinegurs combatoperations. Tank gunnersfire from "in place" postions,at short haltsof 15 to 45 seconds, on the A greatdeal marcb,andwhilefordingwaterobstaclesof tsainingtimc in tank companiesis spent using simulatorsandsub.caliber devices1oimprovegunnery techniques. Firingon the rangeis frequentby dayand nidt usingthe 23mmsub-caliber deviceand the iank

Threehils wilh 23mmandat least one hir on one mactnn€guntar8e1,or two 23nrn hits and all machinegun tarS€tshii.

Excellenr:

Two 23mm targelshia and threemachinegun targetshit, or one 23mm targethit and all machinegun targetshit.

Good:

Two 23mm targetshit and onemachinegun targethit, or firee 23mm hits and no machinegun t3rgetshit.

Pass:

One 23mm larget hit and several hits machinegun targel-

Fail:

One 23mm tarSethit andno machineSunlarSelshit, no 23nrn and ,11 hits macbm€gun targetshit, or no hits wirh either-

b. Tank companyofficersand tank commanders arerequtcd1obe proficientwith the tanks armament, and ofiicers are used extensively as gunnery instructors.Tank comnandersqualili as gunnelsas pan of $€ir lraining,and conscnplcommanders can eam inc€ntivepay throughtheir skill as gunners. 2. INITIAL GUNNERYTRAININC. Basicgunnery trainingfor rh€ conscriptis dividedinto theoretical andpracticalwork, with emphasis beingplacedon lhe larrer.Upon lhe completiooof trainingthe gunneris givenan oral exaninationon the theoreticalsideof his training. He also fires three munds of 23mm sub&liber trainingammunitionand 70 roundsfrom the tank machiregun"for the record" to obtain a proficiencyfating.Trainees do not fire for tlle r€cord before their instructors e satisfiedthat they can performeverydetailof the gunneryroutinewithout difficdty.

norrnallyfire ttueeroundsof amor Tank commanders piercingeachyear for familiarization.

4. CUNNERY RANGES.Tank rangesare usurlly situatedneartank units.They normallyconsistol up to ten iargetlanesanda singlereturn{lne,downwhich tank mov€ in column after fuin8. Ordersfor firing from a cental are relayedto the platooncommander 3. GUNNERY STANDARDS.The standardsfor gunnery proficiency arc common ihroudoul the control tower by radio.Targetsrangefrom.l00m to 1200m and ale old r€hicles,popups,or moving Soviettank arm. A grad€dtest is tslen oncea year. of 13nts,APCS,or infantry.Ta*s engage of 40On to 1200mfor silhouettes Targ€tsa.e providedat ranges main armamentand machineguns. Threeroundsfrom targets on order of the platoon commander. the main armament,usualy of 23mm sub-caliber Approximately25 percentof ranS€Iiring is at night. . amrlunition, have to b€ fired within 100 seconds. Ta-rgelsare iliuminatedeithe! by s€archlights or by fiashingbulbsattachedto the targets.Usingthe night Machinegun brgetsappcartwicebeforeandtwiceafler th€ rnain larg€t.Ratjngsarc as folows: sightand the infraredsearchlighl, firing is conducied up to a rangeof 800m.

Section B Fiie Control s. FIRECONTROLON OPERATIONS. In a compiny operation,the companycommandcrcontrolsthe fire of eachtank by radio.TanI fire is concentrated upon targets accordingio the priority assignedby the (ATGM)arcfirst colnJnander. Antilankguidedmissiies priority targets.ln the arsault,tank cngage the targ€r which is closestandmost dangerous 1o them.Targets are indicatedby us€ oI encodedrerrain relerence points,by trace!fire, by the comna,:1dcr pointinghh gun at tlte target,or by useof the targerazimuthscale. The company or platoon commander gives a lire missioncontaininglhe followingelements: a. Call sign of unit or tank to tue. b. Targetlocationby us€ of referencepoint. c. Fire mission:destructionor neutralization.

7. ACCURACY.The accuracyof Soviet tank gun systemsappcarsto be limited by fien sighting mc,hdr5m'.rangcfL.]ders. and gunner)recnnrques. ralher than by capabilitiesof the guns and anmunition.W€assess the accuracy of fie l00mmgun of the T54/T55as beinghigh 10 1000n after which ir fall' oif rJpiJl).fhe l b2srh rfe l l5mmgJnusin8 high velocityfin slabilizedarmorpiercingdiscardin8 sabot(HVFSAPDS)ammuition is accuratemd h$ a good penetrationcapabiiiryat ranges up io 1500m. Reductionin tube life in the mainarmament and the high cosI of ful borc ammunitionexplains the fr€quent use of lhe 23rnm sub{aliber dcuce in gunnery raining. In nighl gunneryth€ IR system presentlyin useprcsentssightingproblems. The nost effective method of engaginglargets at night is illuminationby white lighl lnd engagement usingthe daylight sigit.

d- Firing procedure: fire from march,shorthalt. e. Type of roundi AP, HE, fra8mentation. f. Numberof roundsto be firedor whento ceas€ fire. 6. GllN STABILIZATION.Soviet tanis have had sornernethodof gun stabilization since1958.Tanks producedsubsequently have bolh vcltical plan€and azimuthstabilizalion.While the Sovierconceprcalls for t.nk to fire on tlle move,the stabilization system is spaceorientedrathertlt,n targelori€nled.Therough ride resulrinSfrom $e relativelycrude suspension sysi€mmqns that taJgerstabilizarion is probablynor yet possrble. ln thc T54-'Ib2 series.Therelore,thc chanceof a fint round hit still dependson thc skill of the gurlnerratherthan on the efficiencyof the stabiliza tion system.

The sunnet in 755 with he b.eech block of he qun in the foregrcund- The gunne$' left hand 6 on the ftngefindet to be left of which is the

l4

CHAPTER 6 SOVIET CONCEPTSAN'D MISSIONS

l. coNcEPTs.

3, MISSIONS.

a. The basictactical conceptof the Soviet Arrny is offensiveaction.This cals for Sovietforcesto break throughgapsin enemydefenses and to rapidlycxploit in strengthand depth. Sovietmilibry writingsstate "nobility andhigh tenposofcombatoperations bring success in a battl€or operations." Defenseis re$rded as a temporary expedient until a favorablesituation for a retum to the offensivecan be created.

a. As a rule, aankcompanies operateas parl of a tank balldion; howeve r, whenreinforcedby tactical uniis of other ground forces,lhey arc capableof independent operations, Missionsof a tankcompany, asparl of a lankbattalionor in conjunction with other

b. Tank unitsharra criticalroleh Soviettactical doctdnedue to their mobility,maneuverabilily, anil speed.Thesequalitiesare strcssedby the Soviet!more than the armor protection and fuepower inherent in the tanls.

(l) Reconnaissance. (2) Marchsecurity. (3) Advancesuard. (4) Attacksfrom the mdch column.

c. The Sovietsregardthe tank irm as ihe basic (5) Deliberate attacksagainslpreparedandhasly striking force of ft€ir ground forc€s, and stess lh€ defenses. necessity for rapid man€uv€r of t3nk units to exploit the effects of nuclear, chemical.or conventional (6) Meetinsengagcments. artillery fire. Tank and motorized rifle unils may be crossattachedas the missionrequn€s.Rapidchanges (7) Forchg or crossingwatcr obstacles. in mission ue an inl€gral pan of Soviet tactical (8) D€fensiveoperations. d. Tankcompanyoperations areusuallylaunched b. whentankcompanies reinforcemotorizedrifle from thc rnarchcolumn. Initiative and resourcefulness units, tbeir missionsare: are recognizedas b€in8 qualnes neededby ihe tank (l) To provideadditionalantitank firepower. unit commander in the exccutionofhis missioo.Strict adherence to hctical formationsis, howev€r,required (2) In defense.to providean armoredres€rve. witlin the company. e. Trsfficabilityof rhe tankcnnrestrictmobility, but ia $ould be notedihat tarft crewmenaretrained to crosswater obstacles by snorkctingin additionto bridgingand ferrying.Soviettank crewsaJetrain€d and equippedto operal€ in nuclearand chemical 2. ECmLONS AND RESERVES.In strict Soviel level. te.ms "echelons"ar€not us€dbelowregimental The first echelonwill be given prinraryobjectives. which Secondechelonsareinitiallyassigned objectives may be alteredafter crossingtheir linc of departure. a missionand cen A res€rveis not initially assigned be us€dby the commanderai thc decisivemoment of an operation.A tankcompanycanbc assigned tasks in €ither first or secondechelons. Suitablyreinforccd a tank companycan be employedas a rcgimental resewe.lts methodof operationwill remainthe same in any of theserol€s.

(3) To lead anacks.

''The

basb Ectical concept of the Soviet Amy

is offenive action"

TS4/SS'S in he Astautt.

CHAFTER7 TACTICALFORMATIONS I. GENERAL. a. During combatoperationsthe tan* conpany formationsappropna&10 the movesin well rehearsed mision. The placeof each t.nk in the phtoon and companyis fixed. Tant conpaniestrain for the orderly and npid redeployment from march and for procornht and combal lormations.This rraining|s inspected periodicaly by staff officers and commanders from rcgimenrwho judgerhe companyt proticiencyin executingthe formations. b. SiSnalsto deploy or chsng€formarionare usurlly givcn by flag or hrnd during the march or in precombatsituationsand by radio codewordsafter contacthas beer made.Navigarion is carriedout by ofncers, as €nlisied men are not isrued maps. The followingdiagramsshow lhe usualpositionof ranks in formation. 2. MARCH FORMATION. During the mrrch a tank company mov€s as quickly as possibleon roads in column formation. The companycommrnderleadsthe column ,nd platoons folow in nurnericalorder (see Figul! 4).

Combatfolmationsare 4. COMBATFORMATIONS. delerminedby the t€rrlin and the fireat. Basically, tanks are formed in line with the companycommander behind the line to be in position to control his in combatformalionsat a. The companyassaults maximurnspeed.lncombatline thereis l00m between trav€lsno morethan tanks.The companycommander (see 300 metersbehindth€ guideplatooncommander Fisure O. b. To add depth to .n assault,lhe 'two up formation may be used (see FiSure ?). ln the two up" formationknks areechelotred so &at all mayffr€ in the assault.A similar formation€xistswith only oneplatoonup. ln sucha ca!€tlrc guideplatoonleads. c. To protect an expos€dflank an echelon forrnationis us€d(seeFigure8). A similarformalion existsfor the tank companyto b€ echeloned right(see FigurE8).

l. PRECOMBAT FORMATIONS. movein Companies diff€ringconligurations of platooncolurm, depending on the t€rrainand the dkectionof the t]}reat-Thes€ .r€ called preconbar formationsand are xsed to actuevedispeBionwhen near the enemyor crossing minefields. The first platoonby numericaldesignation within thc company is known as the guide platoon (s.c Figure 5).

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