FM 100-2-3 The Soviet Army Troops, Organization and Equipment

456 Pages·2005·14.61 MB·English

"FM 100-2-3

Field Manual
No. 100-2-3 Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington. DC, 6 June 1991
The Soviet Army:
Troops, Organization, and Equipment
Preface
This field manual is part of FM series 100-2,The Soviet Army. The other
volumes in this series are FM 100-2-1, The Soviet Army: Operations and Tactics,
and FM 100-2-2, The Soviet Army: Specialized Warfare and Rear Area Support.
The three volumes complement each other. Used together, they provide a
thorough reference on the Soviet Army.
These manuals are the US Army's definitive source of unclassified informa-
tion on Soviet ground forces and on their interaction with other services in
combined arms warfare. The Threats Directorate, Combined Arms Command,
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, updates these manuals periodically to provide the
most current unclassified information available.
The proponent of this publication is HQ TRADOC. Users are encouraged to
recommend changes improving this manual to Commander, US Army Combined
Arms Command, ATTN: ATZL-SWW-L,Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-6900, using
DA Form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms).
Unless otherwise stated, whenever the masculine gender is used, both men
and women are included.
This publication contains photographs from copyrighted sources. The
citations for these materials accompany the individual photographs.
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution
is unlimited.
*This publication supersedes FM 100-2-3, 16 July 1984.
Contents
............................................................
Preface i.

.
Chapter 1 Soviet Ground Forces
...............................
Administrative Control 1-1

.....................................
Troop Categories 1-2

......................................
Force Structure 1-4

.
Chapter 2 Personnel

..............................
Manpower Procurement 2-0

................................
Conditions of Service 2-3

...............................................
Ranks 2-6

.....................................
Reserve System 2-8

.
Chapter 3 Training

.................................
Premilitary Programs 3-1

......................
Military Educational Institutions 3-4

.................................
Individuals and Units 3-6

.
Chapter 4 Organization
.............
Motorized Rifle Regiment Structure (BTR) 4-3

............
Motorized Rifle Regiment Structure (BMP) 4-26

..............................
Motorized Rifle Division 4-37

...........................
Tank Regiment Structure 4-107

......................................
Tank Division 4-1 12

..............................
Combined Arms Army 4-1 16

........................................
Tank Army 4-1 18

..............................................
Front 4-13 0

................
Airborne Regiment Structure (BMD) 4-144

..................................
Airborne Division 4-149

..........
Naval Infantry Regiment/Brigade Structure 4-1 55

.............................
Naval Infantry Division 4-157

.
Chapter 5 Equipment

........................................
Small Arms 5-2

..........................
Armored Fighting Vehicles 5-21

............................................
Artillery 5-60

..................................
Antitank Weapons 5-94

.......................................
Air Defense 5-1 14

...............................
Engineer Equipment 5-139

....................................
NBC Equipment 5-186

.................................
Logistic Equipment 5-206

........................................
Helicopters 5-21 1

................................
Fixed-Wing Aircraft 5-225

............................................
Radios 5-234

.....................................................
Glossary Glossary-1

................................................
References References-1

Index

...............................................
General General Index-1

.........................................
Equipment Equipment Index-l
CHAPTER 1

Soviet Ground Forces

CONTENTS
............ .........................
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL 1-1
Veterinary 1-3

.................. .................
TROOP CATEGORIES 1-2
Military Topographic 1-3

................ ...........................
Combat Arms Branches 1-2
Finance 1-3

..................... ............................
Motorized Rifle 1-2
Justice 1-4

............................. .......................
Tank 1- 2
Military Band 1-4

............ .........................
Missile Troops and Artillery 1-2
lntendance 1-4

....... ......................
Air Defense Troops (VoyskaPVO) 1-2
Administrative 1-4

.......................... ...................
Airborne 1-2
FORCE STRUCTURE 1-4

....................... ...
Special Troops 1-2
Major Geographical and Force Groupings 1-4

.......................... ...............................
Engineer 1-3
TV 1-4

............................ .............................
Signal 1-3
TVD 1-4

Chemical .......................... 1-3
Military Districts and Groups of Forces .. 1-5

..................... ............................
Motor Transport 1-3
Front 1-5

........................... ............................
Railroad 1-3
Army 1-5

............................. ..................
Road 1-3
Maneuver Divisions 1-5

............................ .......
Services 1-3
Reorganization and Modernization 1-5

...........................
Medical 1-3

The Soviet armed forces include five separate components, the Soviet ground forces. Highly
components: the strategic rocket forces, the ground modernized organization and equipment combine
forces, the air forces, the air defense forces, and to make the present Soviet ground forces the most
the naval forces. The generic term "Soviet Army" powerful land army in the world, with unprece-
normally includes all but the naval forces. This dented flexibility, mobility, and firepower.
manual concentrates on the largest of these
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
The Commander in Chief (CINC) of the Ground Defense (MOD) General Staff on ground forces
Forces is a Deputy Minister of Defense. He is matters. It also acts as a consolidation point for
equal in status to the CINCs of the other com- the work of the ground forces directorates. Among
ponents. His duties include supervision of technical the principal directorates of the Ground Forces
affairs and research and development, direct Headquarters are the Political Directorate, the
control of nonoperational training, and supervision Combat Training Directorate, and the Military
of ground forces administrative organs. He does Educational Institutions Directorate, all of which
not have direct operational control over the troops. have counterparts at MOD level.
This lack of operational control is not imme Large technical directorates exist for those troop
diately apparent from the composition of the branches peculiar to the ground forces. Each troop
Ground Forces Headquarters. Its composition branch directorate acts as a branch or service
includes the Main Staff and several technical headquarters which prescribes the organization,
directorates. The Main Staff, however, apparently equipment, tactics, and training for its branch and
fills a traditional role of coordinating, planning, operates the career management program for its
and maintaining liaison with the Ministry of leading personnel.
TROOP CATEGORIES

For administrative purposes, the Soviet ground become important to other components, the MOD
forces comprise three categories: combat arms generally oversees missile equipment development.
branches (troops), special troops, and services. However, a Chief of Missile Troops and Artillery
These are administrative categories pertaining to is present in Ground Forces Headquarters. His
personnel, not organization categories pertaining supporting administrative agency is large and
to units. Thus, troops of one combat arms branch, contains a coordinating staff. Also, chiefs of
such as artillery, may organizationally be in missile troops and artillery appear in the special
support units subordinate to a unit made up of staffs of combined arms units down to, and
troops of another combat arms branch (for including, regiments. At regimental level, this
exam.pl e,. motorized rifle or tank). These support official is sim.pl.y called the chie.f of artillery.
units may also include special troops and services.
Air Defense Troops (Voyska PVO)
COMBAT ARMS BRANCHES
This branch recentlv became a separatceom­
The firing elements of the ground forces com­ ponent combining air defense elements formerly
prise combat arms branches (troops). They differ under the National Air Defense Troops (PVO
from one another in organization, armament, Strany) and the Air Defense Troops of the Ground
tactics, and role in combat. Directorates of Ground Forces (PVO Sukhoputnykh Voysk). Although
Forces Headquarters administer the troop branches MOD headquarters now administers them, the
peculiar to the ground forces. troops may serve under combined arms command
in the field during wartime. They coordinate
Motorized Rifle
closely with aviation and radiotechnical elements
Motorized rifle troops generally parallel the in operational matters. Air defense schools pre-
infantry and mechanized infantry of other armies. viously under the ground forces now belong to the
These troops constitute the basic arm of the Air Defense Troops.
ground forces; therefore, various agencies under
the Ground Forces CINC, rather than one special Airborne
organization, administer their affairs. These Airborne troops form a reserve force of the
agencies prescribe motorized rifle and combined Supreme High Command (VGK) or the wartime
arms tactics and organization. They prepare Stauka VGK, although operational control of them
training schedules for motorized rifle and combined specifically belongs to the Chief of the General
arms units. They also administer motorized rifle Staff. The VGK may-
schools and manage motorized rifle officer person-
.- Control their combat employment directly.
nel. Other arms and services provide them with
logistic support. Place them under the command of a theater
headquarters.
Tank
Place them under operational control of a front
The Chief of Tank Troops in Ground Forces
or army to support operational missions.
Headquarters heads this branch. A Main Direc-
torate of Tank Troops supports him. The Main The troops are not subordinate to a ground forces
Directorate is an intricate organization which acts field command until the VGK commits them. This
as an administrative headquarters. Tank troop definite separation suggests that they have the
officers command tank units at all levels. Com- status of a sixth distinct component of the armed
bined arms formations feature a special staff forces, even though they are nominally subordinate
officer as chief of tank troops. He commands sub- to the CINC, Ground Forces, because of this
ordinate tank elements and reports to the com- special status.
bined arms commander.
SPECIAL TROOPS
Missile Troops and Artillery The special troops provide combat support to
This is one of the most prestigious branches the combined arms field forces of the ground
of the ground forces or the MOD. Artillery troops forces. They also support the other components of
have long held an honorable position in Russian the armed forces. For this reason, they are admin-
military annals. In recent decades, technological istered centrally from directorates in the MOD.
advances in missile weaponry have enhanced that Ground Forces Headquarters, however, contains
position. Since missile armaments have also specialized directorates or departments in each of
the combat support areas to deal with specific Railroad
ground forces problems. These directorates act as Railroad troops support the field forces by
a ground forces administrative echelon for the operating the railway links between the front and
superior MOD directorates. the central logistical base. They are responsible
for the construction, operation, and maintenance
Engineer
of railroads in a theater of operations. Since
As ground elements of the combined arms field March 1989, these troops are no longer considered
forces, engineer troops serve only as combat part of the armed forces.
engineers. The Chief of Engineer Troops of the
Road
MOD manages them. These engineers are not part
of the engineer-technical service, which comprises Road troops maintain military roads. They are
the logistic units of the various arms and services. often called road building troops or road service
Other Soviet troop branches perform civil engi- troops. The troops consist of separate traffic
neering, sanitation, and mapping functions; they control, road construction, and bridge construction
are comparable to organizations like the US Corps units. Operationally controlled by the chief of the
of Engineers. Engineer troops found in units at rear at various levels, their administrative subor-
division level or higher are simply called engineers. dination has been obscure since World War II.
Those at a lower level, in closer contact with the They may be a component of VOSO.
enemy, are called sappers.
SERVICES
Signal The Soviet concept of services includes all
Signal troops are organic to all levels using troops, installations, and duty positions which
signal equipment that requires special training for perform rear area support for the combat arms
operation and maintenance. The Chief of Signal branches and special troops. Such services are not
Troops of the MOD administers them because they specific to the ground forces, but support the other
perform tasks that are common to more than one armed forces components as well; therefore, various
component of the armed forces. They include radio agencies in the MOD administer them. These
technical troops that serve mainly in the units services differ from the special troops because they
whose missions require radar reconnaissance and apparently have no intermediate administrative
electronic warfare. They also perform missions directorates at Ground Forces Headquarters.
such as electronic deception and radioelectronic
Medical
reconnaissance, which include electronic intelli-
These units and personnel are organic to all
gence (ELINT) or signals intelligence (SIGINT).
levels of command down through company level.
The Central Military Medical Directorate under the
Chemical
Chief of the Rear supervises their activities at the
Chemical troops are organic to all tactical regi-
MOD level. The divisional and regimental surgeons
ments and divisions. They are allocated to armies
supervise personnel at their respective levels.
and fronts. Similar to engineer and signal troops,
they are directly subordinate to the MOD. The Veterinary
Chief of Chemical Troops administers them at
The Veterinary Service falls under the control
that level.
of the Chief of the Rear. It inspects the meat used
by the armed forces, supervises animal slaughter,
Motor Transport
and deals with prevention and control of conta-
The Chief of the Central Military Transportation gious diseases among animals used for meat.
Directorate (VOSO), under the Chief of the Rear
in the MOD, may administer motor transport Military Topographic
troops. The VOSO is primarily responsible for The Central Military Topographic Directorate
management and planning of defense transpor- of the General Staff of the MOD administers and
tation. It controls the training of all transport controls the Military Topographic Service. The
officers at and beyond the military college level. General Staff also probably disseminates the
The actual operation of the various modes of products of this service.
transport is the duty of the force components,
Finance
which in this case are the ground forces. At lower
levels, the deputy commander for the rear controls The Finance Service is locally supervised. How-
these troops. ever, it has a direct technical channel running
vertically to the Central Finance Directorate, lntendance
under the Deputy Minister for Rear Services in This service corresponds to the US Quarter-
the MOD. master Corps. It uses the same insignia as the
Justice Administrative Service.
The military procurator (prosecutor) and the
military tribunal are the central elements of the .A. d .m.. .i .n..i stra-t.i ve
Justice Service. These elements are attached to
This service may provide clerical and adminis-
each major headquarters down to division level.
trative support at higher headquarters. According
This hierarchy is independent of the military
to Soviet regulation, the highest rank provided for
command. It is subordinate to the Procurator
this service is colonel. Personnel doing adminis-
General of the USSR and the Supreme Court of
trative management, accounting, and similar
the USSR, although its officers are considered
housekeeping tasks may be members of the
active duty military personnel.
administrative service,the management service. or
Military Band the intendance service. Since there are no exclu­
This service provides bands to headquarters sively administrative units, these titles are probably
down through division. The Military Band Service just personnel categories with the individuals in
Directorate (or Directorate of Military Music) in them administered by the Main Personnel Direc­
the MOD administers it. torateof the MOD and supervised locally.
FORCE STRUCTURE

The Soviets have organized and equipped their continental TV can include land, air space, and
ground forces to support their defensive doctrine. assorted internal and coastal waterways. The
Moreover, they are constantly strengthening and Western TV, for example, includes the European
modernizing their organization and equipment to land mass and associated islands, the associated
improve their capabilities to fight either nuclear air space, the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas, and
or nonnuclear war. A nuclear exchange in Europe portions of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. The
could easily cause tremendous damage to the Soviet TVs have political and economic significance in
Union. Therefore, the Soviets clearly want to be shaping Soviet military goals. They contain one
able to fight and win a war in Europe quickly, or more TVDs.
before either side employs nuclear weapons.
The Soviets have determined that the only way TVDV D
to win such a war is by offensive operations. The The TVD geographical concept is the focus of
Soviet concept of the offensive emphasizes surprise planning and control for employment of Soviet
and high rates of advance combined with over- armed forces in major theater strategic actions.
whelming firepower. The concept of combined The Soviet planners divide the world into 14
arms is at the heart of Soviet combat doctrine. TVDs: 10 continental TVDs and 4 oceanic TVDs.
The continental TVDs include not onlv the land
MAJOR GEOGRAPHICAL AND

masses, but also the air space, inland waterways,
FORCE GROUPINGS

and a segment of the surrounding oceans and
The Soviets organize ground forces by geo- seas. The Western TVD of the Western TV, for
graphical boundaries into theaters of war (TVs), example, includes NATO's Central Region plus
theaters of military operation (TVDs), and military Denmark and the Danish Straits.
districts and groups of forces. They can organize
In wartime, the Soviets would employ inter-
forces into large field formations called fronts
mediate High Commands of Forces (HCF) that
and armies.
would be responsible to the VGK. In keeping with
TV the Soviet concept of centralized control and com-
bined arms operations, the TVD HCF not only
The Soviets envision that hostilities might occur
controls the assets available in the ground forces,
in any of three TVs: the Western, the Southern,
but also the naval and air assets. Some, if not
and the Far Eastern. A TV is a broad, geo-
all, of the non-Soviet Warsaw Pact forces might
graphically oriented designation within which
also be subordinate to a TVD HCF. The TVD's
Soviet armed forces would function in wartime. A
most important function in wartime would be to
orchestrate and control TVD-wide strategic Soviets gain flexibility in either offensive or defen-
operations as directed by the HCF in support of sive roles. An army can operate in different geo-
VGK campaign plans. graphical areas and under various operational
constraints. Besides its complement of two to five
Forces within a TVD can consist of as few as
maneuver divisions, a typical army of either
one front or as many as five or six. Other forces
type will normally have artillery, missile, air
allocated to a TVD can include fleets, airborne
defense, aviation, engineer, chemical, signal,
divisions, tactical aviation, strategic aviation,
reconnaissance, and rear support units.
military transport aviation, air defense forces, and
strategic rocket forces. MANEUVER DIVISIONS
Soviet maneuver divisions are well-balanced,
Military Districts and Groups of Forces
powerful, and mobile fighting units. They have a
There are 14 military districts in the USSR and combined arms structure as well as a comprehensive
4 groups of forces in Eastern Europe. The Eastern array of combat support (CS) and combat service
European groups of forces include- support (CSS) elements. In early 1987, there were
* The Western Group of Forces (WGF) in Germany. 211 active Soviet maneuver divisions: 150 MRDs,
52 TDs, 7 airborne divisions, and 2 static defense
The Northern Group of Forces (NGF) in Poland. divisions. The totals did not include 2 new army
The Central Group of Forces (CGF) in corps (NAC) and 5 mobilization divisions.
Czechoslovakia. The basic structures of the three types of
The Southern Group of Forces (SGF) in Hungary. divisions (motorized rifle, tank, and airborne)
appear in Figure 1-1.While this manual presents
In peacetime, each of these districts and groups
"type" Soviet divisions, different configurations
of forces is an administrative headquarters directly
and different categories of readiness exist among
subordinate to the MOD. In wartime, the Soviets
actual divisions.
will organize them into fronts for combat
operations. The military districts will continue to Divisions receive new items of equipment
function as territorial commands, serving as according to the priorities established by the MOD.
mobilization and training bases and providing High-priority formations, such as the Soviet forces
logistical and other support services. in the Western TVD, are usually the first to receive
modern equipment. When they replace older
Front material, the Soviets send that older equipment to
lower-priority units in the interior of the USSR or
The front is the largest field formation in war-
to reserve stocks. Late-model T-64/72/80 tanks
time. It is an operational and administrative unit
constitute about one-third of the USSR's tanks.
whose size and composition are subject to wide
While older T-55 and T-62 tanks constitute moat
variation depending on its mission and situation.
of the remainder, over 1,500 T-80s are currently
Roughly equivalent to a US/NATO army group,
deployed opposite NATO and nearly 75 percent of
a front can include three to five armies. Other
the 19,000 Soviet tanks in the Western Theater are
forces organic or attached to a front can include
T-64/72/80 models.
artillery, missile, air defense, engineer, chemical,
signal, reconnaissance, and rear service units.
REORGANIZATION AND MODERNIZATION
They can also include aviation, airborne, air
assault, airmobile, and special purpose forces. Since the mid-1960s, the Soviets have been
building a force capable of fighting decisively at
Army all levels of conflict. Recent improvements in force
capability include-
The Army is the highest peacetime combined
arms formation. The Soviet ground forces desig- * Modernization of nuclear and conventional
nate two types of armies: the combined arms army weapons.
(CAA) and the tank army (TA). While both types
Marked increases in the quantity and quality of
are actually combined arms organizations, a Soviet
conventional fire support (air and artillery)
CAA will normally have a greater number of
available to ground maneuver formations.
motorized rifle divisions (MRDs), while a TA will
have a greater number of tank divisions (TDs). Changes in organizational structure that generally
By altering the mix of MRDs, TDs, and artillery make fire support systems (air and artillery) more
and missile support in the army organizations, the directly responsive to the supported commander.
Basic organizational comparison of the motorized rifle, tank, andairborne divisions
MOTORIZED RIFLE DIVISION TANK DIVISION AIRBORNE DIVISION
Division Headquarters Division Headquarters Division Headquarters
Motorized Rifle Regiment (BMP) Motorized Rifle Regiment (BMP) Airborne Regiment (BMD)
Motorized Rifle Regiment (BTR) Tank Regiment Airborne Regiment (BMD)
Motorized Rifle Regiment (BTR) Tank Regiment Airborne Regiment (BMD)
Tank Regiment Tank Regiment Assault Gun Battalion
Artillery Regiment Artillery Regiment Artillery Regiment
SAM Regiment SAM Regiment AA Battalion
SSM Battalion SSM Battalion
Antitank Battalion
Reconnaissance Battalion Reconnaissance Battalion Reconnaissance Company
Engineer Battalion Engineer Battalion Engineer Battalion
Signal Battalion Signal Battalion Signal Battalion
Materiel Support Battalion Materiel Support Battalion Transportation and Maintenance
Battalion
Maintenance Battalion Maintenance Battalion
Chemical Protection Company Chemical Protection Company Chemical Protection Company
Medical Battalion Medical Battalion Medical Battalion
Artillery Command Battery Artillery Command Battery
Helicopter Squadron Helicopter Squadron
Other Support Elements Other Support Elements Other Support Elements
NOTES. 1. In 1989, the Soviets began replacing one tank regiment with an additional BMP-
equipped MRR in both the MRD and TD.
2. Armies in WGF are consolidating division-level SSM battalions into army-level
SSM brigades.
3. Not all MRDs and TDs have a helicopter squadron.
Refinement and exercise of types of operations includes the main features of the most current
that take greater advantage of the increased organizational changes. The addition of new sub-
firepower, mobility, and weapons sophistication units and the upgrade of existing elements have
of the general.p u r.p ose forces. expanded both MRDs and TDs. The greatest
changes are in the TDs.
In the 1980s, the Soviets began to form new
corps-type structures. These corps are divisions The BTR- and BMP-equipped motorized rifle
expanded to almost twice the size of a TD. Thev battalions (MRBs)have expanded the mortar
are ideally suited to act a s an operational maneuver battery from six to eight tub&. They have added
group (OMG)for the front, conducting high-speed a machine gun/antitank platoon to each company
operations deep in an enemy's rear area. These in the BTR-equipped MRB. The BMP-equipped MRB
NAC formations contain around 400 tanks, 750 has added machine gun platoons, with no extra
infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs)and armored antitank weapons. Also, the Soviets have now
personnel carriers (APCs),and 300 artillery pieces consolidated the automatic grenade launcher and
and multiple rocket launchers (MRLs).Additional antiaircraft (AA) squads in platoons at the bat-
units of this type may appear once testing and talion level of both BTR- and BMP-equipped MRBs.
operational evaluation end.
In order to support the fast-moving maneuver
Soviet maneuver divisions are continuously units envisioned for future battlefields, the Soviets
undergoing a reorganization that significantly have formed materiel support units within combined
upgrades their combat capability. This manual arms units from tactical to front levels. Within,
divisions and regiments, respectively, materiel sup- Hence, the capability of the TR and TD to conduct
port battalions and companies combine formerly largely self-supported combined arms combat has
fragmented motor transport, supply, and service increased greatly.
functions. The new rear area units will provide a
30-percent increase in motor transport assets and Large-caliber SP guns and mortars and long-
a streamlined command structure. A similar re- range MRLs have increased the artillery available
organization at army and front levels has created to army and front commanders. Additionally, some
materiel support brigades with centralized control army-level regiments have grown to brigade size
for ammunition, fuel, and other supplies. with the addition of a fourth artillery battalion.
These battalions are currently expanding from 18
The airborne division is now a fully mechanized
to 24 tubes, primarily in units opposite NATO. All
combined arms organization. Airborne divisions
of the Soviet's SP and towed guns/howitzers
now consist of three regiments equipped with the
(152-millimeter and larger) are nuclear-capable.
air-droppable BMD, affording these units greater
The Soviets are also adding newer nuclear-capable
firepower and mobility. The Soviets have also
pieces such as the 203-millimeter SP gun 2S7 and
produced a new 120-millimeter 2S9 airborne self-
the 240-millimeter SP mortar 2S4. They are
propelled (SP) howitzer with a mortar capability
deploying the BM-22 220-millimeter MRL, which
for airborne and air assault units.
can fire deep into the enemy's rear. These improve
Concurrent with these organizational changes, ments greatly enhance area coverage and counter-
the Soviets have pursued a comprehensive equip- battery support to subordinate divisions. The new
ment modernization program that affects many T-64/72/80-seriestanks feature improved firepower,
divisional subunits. The main thrusts of the with a 125-millimeter main gun and an improved
equipment upgrade are in the following areas: fire control system. Both the T-80 and a variant
of the T-64 can fire an ATGM through the main
Medium tanks.
tube. The T-80 can mount reactive armor which
Armored IFVs. further protects against the West's antitank
capabilities. At the same time, the establishment
Armored command and reconnaissance vehicles.
of army aviation has given ground forces a vertical
Antitank guided missiles (ATGMs). dimension. The helicopter now provides CAAsand
Surfaceto-surface missiles (SSMs). TAs with a highly maneuverable and versatile
platform for reconnaissance, command and control
Surfaceto-air missiles (SAMs).
(C2), and fire support. General-purpose and attack
Since the late 1970s,the Soviets have developed helicopter units can move with armies and divisions
the tank regiment (TR) into a combined arms at the high rates of advance they will need to
team (tank, motorized rifle, and artillery) that conduct combined arms operations in depth.
promises to be as flexible in its employment as
the motorized rifle regiment (MRR). (The MRR While changes in the organization and equip-
already had a tank battalion (TB) and an artillery ment of the ground forces are significant in them-
battalion.) The addition of an MRB to the TR of a selves and have serious implications for Western
TD eliminates the necessity for the TD commander defense planning, they do not take place in
to reinforce each of his TRs with MRR assets. isolation. Instead, these shifts appear to be part
This leaves the TD with four maneuver regiments. of a larger change in the concept for employment
The addition of an artillery battalion to the TR and organization of the armed forces. This change
places a great deal more firepower under direct should greatly enhance the flexibility with which
control of the regimental commander. The division Soviet military planners can apply force to achieve
commander then has greater flexibility in the use military objectives. (For more information on
of his artillery resources to influence the battle. Soviet operations and tactics, see FM 100-2-1.)