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)
- 2 x Artillery Battalions
- 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)
- 3 x Mortar Companies
- 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)
- 3 x Mortar Company
- 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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