Soviet Rifle Division Dec 1941 – Feb 1942 in Crossfire

Zaloga and Ness (2003) (p. 15-19) describe the TO&E for the Soviet Rifle Division in the period Dec 1941 – Feb 1942 (TO 04/750-769). This is the Crossfire Orbat.


The historical order of battle

TO 04/750-769 was the 6 Dec 1941 revision of the October TO&E. It was in use Dec 1941 – Feb 1942.

The main changes were:

  • In the infantry regiments:
    • Add 3 LMG to each rifle company to give 3 of the 4 squads in each platoon a LMG.
    • Add a 27 gun ATR company.
    • Lose a squad from the mounted reconnaissance platoon.
    • Remove the Quad Maxim HMG from the AA Company.
  • Add a second 120mm Mortar Battalion.
  • Remove the 76mm guns from the AA battalion.
  • Restore of the anti-tank battalion (if available).
  • Add a rocket-launcher battalion (if available).

It is worth noting that existing divisions were expected to reorganize their infantry regiments, and create the new divisional mortar battalions, to match this TO&E, but were not expected to create other new units.

The new anti-tank battalions were added as equipment became available. Lucky divisions got the 57 mm ATG, but most got the older 45 mm ATG.

Most divisions never received a rocket-launcher battalion.


TO 04/750-769 as Crossfire Order of Battle

The Crossfire order of battle is:

  • 1 x DC (+1) – Divisional Commander
  • 1 x Artillery Regiment
    • 2 x Artillery Battalions
      • 2 x FO for off table 76mm field guns (12 FM)
      • 1 x FO for off table 122mm Howitzers (4 FM)
  • 0-1 x Rocket Launcher Battalion
    • 2 x FO for off table Multiple Rocket Launchers (4 FM)
  • 1-2 x Mortar Battalion [one horsed and one motorised]
    • 3 x Mortar Companies
      • 2 x FO for off table 120mm Mortar (12 FM)
  • 1 x Motorized Reconnaissance Company
    • 1 x CC (+1)
    • 3 x Reconnaissance Platoon: PC (+1/0), 3 x Rifles
  • 0-1 x Flamethrower Platoon: PC (+1/0), 3 x Assault Engineer Rifles (added in Aug 1941 revision)
  • 1 x Pioneer Battalion
    • 1 x BC (+1)
    • 3 x Pioneer Companies
      • 1 x CC (+1)
      • 3 x Pioneer Platoons: PC (+1/0), 4 x Engineer Rifles
  • 0-1 x Anti-tank Battalion
    • 3 x Anti-tank batteries [4 guns each]: 2 x 45mm ATG (or 57mm ATG) and tow
  • 1 x AA Battalion
    • 2 x AA Company: 1 x 37mm M1939 guns
    • 2 x AA Platoon: 1 x Quad Maxim HMG (actually one each in the Artillery regiments)
  • 3 x Infantry Regiments
    • 1 x RC (+1) – Regimental Commander
    • 1 x Mounted Reconnaissance Platoon: PC (+1/0), 2 x Rifles [Horses]
    • 1 x Infantry Reconnaissance Platoon: PC (+1/0), 4 x Rifles
    • 1 x Anti-tank battery: 2 x 45mm ATG and tow
    • 1 x Regimental Gun Battery: 2 x FO for off table FO for off table 76mm IG (12 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off table 120mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 1 x Mortar Battalion
      • 3 x Mortar Company
        • 2 x FO for off table 82mm Mortar (12 FM)
        • 2 x on-table 50mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 0-1 x Flamethrower Platoon: PC (+1/0), 3 x Assault Engineer Rifles (removed in August revision)
    • 1 x Pioneer Company
      • 1 x CC (+1)
      • 2 x Pioneer Platoons: PC (+1/0), 3 x Engineer Rifles
    • 1 x SMG Company
      • 1 x CC (+1)
      • 3 x SMG Platoons: PC (+1/0), 3 x SMG
    • 1 x AA Company
      • 2 x AA Platoon: 1 x 12.7mm DShK
    • 2 x Anti-tank Rifle which can be attached to any Rifle Squad. [3 AT-Rifles each]
    • 3 x Infantry Battalions
      • 1 x BC (+1)
      • 3 x HMG
      • 3 x Rifle Companies
        • 1 x CC (+1)
        • 3 x Rifle Platoons: PC (+1/0), 4 x Rifle

References

The book is available from Amazon USA, UK, and Canada:

Zaloga, S. J., and Ness, L. S. (2003). Red Army Handbook 1939-1945. Sutton.

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