Warsaw Pact Armies

 

This section is only accurate until 1991.  There are many changes in progress at present, but the Russians certainly have retained the same basic organization until today. This is probably due to the typical Russian inertia.

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Regiment Headquarters 1958 to 1970 (Commands 3 Motor Rifle Battalions)

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

Regimental Mortar Battery      1 Gaz, 1 OP, 2 APCs, 2 120M

1 or 2 Companies each            2 ZSU57 or 2 Trucks, 2 ZPU4 (Only 1 battery may have ZSU57)

Engineer Company                  1 Truck, 1 Engr, 1 MTU1

1 Anti-Tank Battery                  2 Trucks, 2 85ATG or 100ATG

1 Anti-Tank Company              2 Gaz/107RR or 2 Gaz/Snapper or BRDM1/Snapper

1 Recce Company                    2 BRDM1, 1 PT-76

Note                                                                             Only one type of APC may be used. Czechs use OT810 instead of BTR152, Czechs and Poles use OT64 and OT62 in place of BTR60 and BTR50 respectively.  Similarly BRDM are replaced by OT65/FUG. Only BTR152 may be used until 1960, BTR50 from 1959 and BTR60 from 1961.

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Regiment Headquarters 1970 to 1982 (Commands 3 Motor Rifle Battalions, 1 Tank Battalion)

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

Regimental Mortar Battery      2 Trucks, 2 120M

1 Anti Aircraft Company           2 ZSU57 or 1 ZSU23 and 1 SA9

1 Engineer Company               1 Truck or BTR50, 1 Engr, 1 MTU20

1 Anti-Tank Company                          2 Gaz/Snapper or BRDM1/Snapper, or BRDM1/Sagger or BRDM-2/AT

            1 Recce Company                    2 BRDM1 or BRDM 2, 1 PT76

                                                            Note                                         Only one type of APC may be used; Czechs and Poles use OT64 and OT62 in place of BTR60 and BTR50. Similarly BRDM are replaced by OT65/FUG.  BTR50 is used in second line Soviet units and can replace the BMP in first line units.  BTR152 may be used in second Warsaw Pact line units and third line Soviet units. BMP1 from 1971, BMP2 may be used from 1979. Gun tractors may be MTLB, or specialised Artillery Tractors such as the AT-L series.  In Warsaw Pact nations there is good evidence that even farm tractors have been used to haul artillery in second and third line formations.

                

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Regiment Headquarters 1983 to 1997 (Commands 3 Motor Rifle Battalions, 1 Tank Battalion, 1 Artillery Battalion)

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

1 Anti Aircraft Company           1 ZSU23, 1 SA9 or SA13

1 Engineer Company               2 BTR50 or BTR60, 2 Engr, 1 MTU20

1 Anti Tank Company              3 BRDM1/Sagger or BRDM-2/AT or SHTURM-

            1 Recce Company                    2 BRDM2, 1 BMP-R

Note                                                                             Only one type of APC may be used. Czechs and Poles use OT64 and OT62 in place of BTR60 and BTR50.  BTR 50 and BTR 152 are used in third line units only.

Warsaw Pact Tank Regiment Headquarters 1956 to 1970 (Commands 3 Tank Battalions)

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

1 Anti Aircraft Company           2 ZSU57

1 Engineer Company               1 BTR50, 1 Engr, 1 MTU1

1 Recce Company                    2 BRDM1, 1 PT76

Note                                                                             T62 was introduced in 1962, only in Soviet units. Similarly, T44 was only used by the Soviets. All armies may use T54/55 and T34/85. BTR-50 is replaced by OT62 as in Motor Rifle Regiment for non-Soviet nations. One infantry company in BTR50 or BMP may be added from 1965, see the next list. Russians could use T64 tanks from 1967. Only Russians may use T10 at this level.

Warsaw Pact Tank Regiment Headquarters 1970 to 1985 (Commands 3 Tank Battalions)

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

1 Anti Tank Company              3 T64 (Russian units only)

1 Anti Aircraft Company           1 ZSU23, 1 SA9 or SA13 

1 Engineer Company               2 BTR50 or MTLB, 2 Engr, 1 MTU20

1 Recce Company                    2 BRDM 2, 1 PT76

Note                                                                             T34 and T44 may still be in use with third line units. Warsaw Pact units primarily use the T72 tank.  While only Russians used the T64; it is possible that the T80 was in use by 1982.   In this case the T64B is replaced by a T80B. T62 is in Russian units only. From 1983 some units had an Artillery battalion. Only Russians may use T10 at this level.

                                   

Warsaw Pact Tank Regiment Headquarters 1986 to 1997 (has 3 Tank Battalions, 1 Motor Rifle Battalion, and 1 Artillery Battalion)

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

1 Anti Tank Company              3 T64 or T80 (Russian units only)

1 Anti Aircraft Company           1 ZSU23, 1 SA9

1 Engineer Company               3 MTLB, 3 Engr, 1 MTU20

1 Recce Company                    2 BMP-R, 1 MBT

Note                                                                             T34/85 and T44 may still be in use with 3rd line units.   Warsaw Pact nation units primarily used the T72 tank.  T64 and T80 primarily served the Soviets. T62 is in Russian 2nd Line units.  Russians primarily use fully upgraded T55 in conjunction with T80U and T80B. Second and third line units may have PT76 in the Recce Company. Warsaw Pact Units replace PT76 with BMP1.

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Battalion (BTR) 1958 to 1970  

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 1 Gaz/82RR or 1 Sagger, 1 ZPU4, 2 Trucks

3 Motor Rifle Companies each 3 BTR 152 or BTR50 or BTR60, 3 Rifle

1 Mortar Battery                       4 Trucks, 2 82M or 2 120M

Note                                                                             Only one type of APC may be used, and should match the regimental Headquarters. Units in Tank Divisions had BTR50, or earlier BTR152. BTR60 is used in Motor Rifle Divisions.

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Battalion (BTR) 1971 to 1983

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 1 BRDM2, 1 SG9, 2 Sagger, 1 SA7, 3 BTR50 or BTR60/70/80

3 Motor Rifle Companies each 3 BTR50 or BTR60/70/80, 3 Rifle

1 Mortar Company                   2 Trucks, 2 120M

Note                                                                             BTR-50 is for 2nd line Tank divisions; BTR-70 and 80 are only just allowable in 1980 and 1983 respectively.  This organization is still current for 2nd line formations. Czechs & Poles substitute OT64C.

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Battalion (BMP) 1968 to 1983

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Motor Rifle Companies each 1 BMP1, 3 Rifle

1 Mortar Company                   2 Trucks, 2 120M

Note                                                                             By 1980 BMP2 can be used. These units are in Tank Divisions, and 1 Regiment in a Motor Rifle Division. This organization is still current for 2nd line formations.

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Battalion (BTR) 1983 to 1997 

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 2 Spigot, 1 SA7, 1 30GL, 4 BTR70 or 80

3 Motor Rifle Companies each 3 BTR60/70/80, 3 Rifle                

1 Mortar Company                   2 MTLB, 2 120M

Note                                                                             Czechs & Poles substitute OT64C. Some units may have Self-Propelled 120mm mortars or automatic 82mm mortars.

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Battalion (BMP) 1983 to 1997

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 1 SA7, 1 30GL, 2 BMP

3 Motor Rifle Companies each 1 BMP, 3 Rifle

1 Mortar Company                   2 MTLB, 2 120M

Note                                                                             BMP1, 2 or 3.  Warsaw Pact BMP2 has Spigot rather than Spandrel.  Some units may have Self-Propelled 120mm mortars or automatic 82mm mortars.  BMP3 may be used from 1995.

Warsaw Pact Airborne/Air Assault Battalion 1983 to 1997

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 1 SA7, 1 30GL, 2 Spigot, 1 82RR

3 Infantry Companies ea          3 Rifle

1 Mortar Company                   2 82M

Note                                         Airborne units have BMD as transport.

Warsaw Pact Tank Battalion 1955 to 1997

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Tank Companies                   3 Tanks

Note                                                                             Some 1st line units have a fourth company of obsolete types for training purposes.  Other than this battalions may only use vehicle type.  Tanks allowed are:

                                                            T34/85                          To 1980

                                                            T44 M                           To 1985

T 54/55                                                 No restrictions, upgrades at appropriate dates

T62                                                       From 1961 to 1993

                                                            T64                               From 1967 onwards

T72                                                       From 1975, Warsaw Pact Units primarily

                                                            T80                               From 1985

                                                            JS3                               To 1970

                                                            T10M                            To 1978            

Upgraded vehicles may be used at the appropriate dates. Prior to 1958 the third company of tank battalions in motor rifle regiments was equipped with a JSU122 or JSU152, this situation would prevail later Warsaw Pact units.

Warsaw Pact Divisional Recce Battalion 1958 to 1980

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

1 Scout Company                    4 BTR40, 2 Recon or BRDM1 or BRDM2

2 Tank Companies each          2 PT76

Note                                                                             This unit may add one motor rifle company, one tank company, Engineer Company, and an anti aircraft platoon. 

Warsaw Pact Divisional Recce Battalion 1980 to 1997

             HQ                                          1 HQ,

1 Scout Company                    4 BRDM2

2 Recce Companies each        2 BMP-R, 1 T64 or T80

Note                                                                             This unit may add 1 Motor Rifle Company, 1 Tank Company, Engineer Company, and an Anti-Aircraft platoon.  Desant (Airborne) division has only one scout company. 

           

Warsaw Pact Artillery Battalion 1958 to 1997

3 Batteries each                                   1 FAO, 2 Trucks and 2 122H or 152H or 2 SAU122 or SAU152 or 2S5 or 2S4 or 2 BM21 or BM24

Note                                                                             SAU122 and 122H are used in Regiments, SAU122 in front line units, 122H in 2nd Line ones. SAU122, SAU152, 122H and BM21 form the divisional Arty Regiment. The rest are Corps assets. Towed Corps weapons would include 180H, 130H and towed 160 and 240mm Mortars. 

Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Division Anti Tank Battalion 1958 to 1997

2 Anti Tank Gun Batteries        2 Tractors, 2 100 or 85ATG

1 Anti Tank Missile Battery      3 BRDM2/AT

Note                                                                             Tractors can be Trucks, MTLB, AT-L, AT-T or other specialist vehicles.

Warsaw Pact Divisional Engineer Battalion 1958 to 1997

HQ                                           1 HQ

            1 Engr Company                      3 Engr, 1 GMZ, 3 APC, 1 IMR

                                                            1 Assault Engr Company          1 BRDM1 or 2, 2 GSP, 2 PT54, 2 Truck with 10 Rafts

            1 Bridging Company                1 Truck with 5 Rafts, 1 Engr, 1 APC, 4 PMP

            1 Tech Engr Company             2 Bulldozer, 1 BAT-M

            1 Construction Company          4 Dump Truck, 2 BAT-M, 2 Bulldozer

                                                            Note                                         Wheeled APC should be used as per dates in Motor Rifle Regiment Headquarters.

Warsaw Pact Attack Helicopter Battalion 1983 to 1997

4 Companies each       2 MI24 or Mi35

Warsaw Pact Transport Helicopter Battalion 1983 to 1997

4 Companies each       2 Mi8

Warsaw Pact Heavy Lift Helicopter Battalion 1983 to 1997

4 Companies each       2 Mi26

Warsaw Pact Divisional Helicopter Battalion 1983 to 1997

2 Companies each       2 Mi24

2 Companies each       2 Mi8

Warsaw Pact Desant (Airborne) Division Assault Gun Battalion 1960 to 1997

3 Companies each       3 SO57 or SU85

Large Units:

Tank Division – 2 Tank Regiments, 1 Mechanized Infantry Regiment, 1 Artillery Regiment, 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion

Motor Rifle Division – 1 Tank Regiment, 2 Mechanized Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment, 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion

Desant (Airborne) Division – 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment, 1 Assault Gun Battalion, 1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 1 Anti-Tank Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Recon Company

Air Mobile Brigade – 3 Commando Battalions, 1 Helicopter Regiment

Naval Infantry Brigade – Naval Infantry Brigade Headquarters (BTR60 Infantry Regiment Headquarters), 3 to 5 Naval Infantry Battalions (BTR60), 1 to 2 Naval Tank Battalions (T55 or T72), 1 Naval Artillery Battalion (2S1), 0 to 1 Rocket Battalion (BM21)