03-10-2009, 07:36 AM
Hi All
Russian made extensive use of Forward detachments. This formation was used properly by the Soviet (mid 1943 onwards) in mobile groups who operated in German rear areas after breakthroughs and expected to run into meeting engagements with the Germans.
I have provided a detailed breakdown including TO&E and OB of a Russian Tank Brigade acting as a forward detachment. I have also included a the tactical march formation used by the Soviets for the scenario design enthusiasts who would like to design meeting engagements. Some of the TO&Es included here are not found in the JTCS.
Tank Brigade
1x HQ
1x HQ Company (1x Motorcycle Platoon, 1x Engineer Platoon, 1x Chemical/Engineer Defense Platoon)
3x Tank Battalion (2 Companies of 10 tanks each+ HQ Tank)
1x Motorized SMG Battalion
1x Motorized Anti-Aircraft Battery
1x Motorized Anti-Tank Battery
Usual attached units: Varies depending on terrain and mission type
1x Mixed SU Regiment
1x Engineer Company
1x Heavy Tank Company (1x HQ Tank, 2x Tank Platoon (2 tanks each=5 tanks per company)
1x Motorized Anti-Aircraft Battery
Add 1 of the following
1x Motorized Mortar Battalion
1x Guard Mortar Battalion
If the Tank Brigade is the Forward detachment for the Corp or Army than add 1 of the following
Motorcycle Regiment (mid 1944
1x Regiment HQ, 1x HQ Platoon (2x BA-20), 3x Armored Car Platoon, 1x Medium Tank Company, 3x Motorcycle Company, 1x Armored Rifle Company (White Halftracks or M3A1 Scout Cars), 1x Anti-Tank Battery (2x SU57 Platoon mid-1944), 1x Mortar Battery (4, 82mm), 1x 76mm FG Battery (mid-1944), 1x Anti-tank Rifle Company (3x Platoon)
or
Armored Recon Battalion (mid 1944)
1x Battalion HQ, 1x HQ Platoon (1x BA-20), 1x Armored Car Platoon, 1x Medium Tank Company, 2x Motorcycle Company, 1x Armored Rifle Company (White Halftracks or M3A1 Scout Cars), 1x Anti-Tank Battery (2x SU57 Platoon mid-1944), 1x Mortar Battery (4, 82mm), 1x 76mm FG Battery (mid-1944)
or Motorized Rifle Battalion or Rifle Battalion (Truck mounted)
March Formation:
Tank Brigade as Forward detachment with an Armored Recon Battalion
Turn 1: Recon Patrol:
Armored Car Platoon
Turn 3: Combat Patrol:
1 Tank Platoon, 1x Mortar Platoon, 1x Engineer Platoon 1x Motorcycle Company, 1x Anti-tank Platoon
Turn 5: Advanced Guard: Main Body of Armored Recon Battalion
1x Battalion HQ, 1x HQ Platoon (1x BA-20), 1x Medium Tank Company (-), 1x Motorcycle Company,
1x Armored Rifle Company, 1x FG Battery, 1x Anti-Tank Battery (-)
[/u]
Turn 7: Advance Party of Tank Brigade (1st Echelon)
Tank Battalion+ Motorized SMG Company+ AA Platoon + SU Battery+ Engineer Platoon
Turn 8: Headquarters
AA Battery + Engineer Company (-) + Bde HQ+ HQ Company + SU Rgt (-) + Artillery Battalion
Turn 9: (2nd Echelon)
Tank Battalion+ Motorized SMG Company+ AA Platoon
Tank Battalion+ Motorized SMG Company+ AA Platoon
Motorized Rifle Battalion: 1x Mortar Company+ 1x Anti-Tank Company+1x Anti-Tank Rifle Company
Turn 10: Rear Area Security
Motorized Anti-Tank Battery
Russian made extensive use of Forward detachments. This formation was used properly by the Soviet (mid 1943 onwards) in mobile groups who operated in German rear areas after breakthroughs and expected to run into meeting engagements with the Germans.
I have provided a detailed breakdown including TO&E and OB of a Russian Tank Brigade acting as a forward detachment. I have also included a the tactical march formation used by the Soviets for the scenario design enthusiasts who would like to design meeting engagements. Some of the TO&Es included here are not found in the JTCS.
Tank Brigade
1x HQ
1x HQ Company (1x Motorcycle Platoon, 1x Engineer Platoon, 1x Chemical/Engineer Defense Platoon)
3x Tank Battalion (2 Companies of 10 tanks each+ HQ Tank)
1x Motorized SMG Battalion
1x Motorized Anti-Aircraft Battery
1x Motorized Anti-Tank Battery
Usual attached units: Varies depending on terrain and mission type
1x Mixed SU Regiment
1x Engineer Company
1x Heavy Tank Company (1x HQ Tank, 2x Tank Platoon (2 tanks each=5 tanks per company)
1x Motorized Anti-Aircraft Battery
Add 1 of the following
1x Motorized Mortar Battalion
1x Guard Mortar Battalion
If the Tank Brigade is the Forward detachment for the Corp or Army than add 1 of the following
Motorcycle Regiment (mid 1944
1x Regiment HQ, 1x HQ Platoon (2x BA-20), 3x Armored Car Platoon, 1x Medium Tank Company, 3x Motorcycle Company, 1x Armored Rifle Company (White Halftracks or M3A1 Scout Cars), 1x Anti-Tank Battery (2x SU57 Platoon mid-1944), 1x Mortar Battery (4, 82mm), 1x 76mm FG Battery (mid-1944), 1x Anti-tank Rifle Company (3x Platoon)
or
Armored Recon Battalion (mid 1944)
1x Battalion HQ, 1x HQ Platoon (1x BA-20), 1x Armored Car Platoon, 1x Medium Tank Company, 2x Motorcycle Company, 1x Armored Rifle Company (White Halftracks or M3A1 Scout Cars), 1x Anti-Tank Battery (2x SU57 Platoon mid-1944), 1x Mortar Battery (4, 82mm), 1x 76mm FG Battery (mid-1944)
or Motorized Rifle Battalion or Rifle Battalion (Truck mounted)
March Formation:
Tank Brigade as Forward detachment with an Armored Recon Battalion
Turn 1: Recon Patrol:
Armored Car Platoon
Turn 3: Combat Patrol:
1 Tank Platoon, 1x Mortar Platoon, 1x Engineer Platoon 1x Motorcycle Company, 1x Anti-tank Platoon
Turn 5: Advanced Guard: Main Body of Armored Recon Battalion
1x Battalion HQ, 1x HQ Platoon (1x BA-20), 1x Medium Tank Company (-), 1x Motorcycle Company,
1x Armored Rifle Company, 1x FG Battery, 1x Anti-Tank Battery (-)
[/u]
Turn 7: Advance Party of Tank Brigade (1st Echelon)
Tank Battalion+ Motorized SMG Company+ AA Platoon + SU Battery+ Engineer Platoon
Turn 8: Headquarters
AA Battery + Engineer Company (-) + Bde HQ+ HQ Company + SU Rgt (-) + Artillery Battalion
Turn 9: (2nd Echelon)
Tank Battalion+ Motorized SMG Company+ AA Platoon
Tank Battalion+ Motorized SMG Company+ AA Platoon
Motorized Rifle Battalion: 1x Mortar Company+ 1x Anti-Tank Company+1x Anti-Tank Rifle Company
Turn 10: Rear Area Security
Motorized Anti-Tank Battery