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Soviet Rifle Division Jul – Sep 1941 in Crossfire

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Zaloga and Ness (2003) (p. 11-15) describe the TO&E for the Soviet Rifle Division in the period Jul – Sep 1941 (TO 04/600-616). This is the Crossfire Orbat.

The historical order of battle

TO 04/600-616 was issued 24 Jul 1941 for “Reduced Strength” Rifle Division. Due to the large number of casualties experienced in the early part of Barbarosa, the infantry battalions, anti-tank complement and artillery were greatly reduced. It was in use Jul – Sep 1941.

The main changes were:

  • Reduce the divisional artillery from 15 batteries down to six.
  • Reduce the divisional AA capacity.
  • Within the infantry regiment:
    • Add 6 anti-tank rifles (first used on 16 Nov by 1075th Rifle Regiment).
  • Within the Infantry battalions:
    • Delete the anti-tank platoon.
    • Reduce the number of 82mm Mortars.

Revised in Aug 1941: Moved Flamethrower Platoon in Regiments to Division.

Revised 12 Oct 1941: Moved mortars from Battalions to Regiments; added anti-tank rifles See separate Orbat.

TO 04/600-616 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) *
  • 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
  • 1 x AA Battalion
    • 2 x Light AA Company/Battery: 1 x 37mm M1939 guns [3 guns each]
    • 1 x Heavy AA Company/Battery: 1 x 76mm M1931 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), 3 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 [3 guns each]
    • 1 x Regimental Gun Battery: 1 x FO for off table 76mm IG (12 FM) *
    • 1 x Heavy Mortar Battery: 1 x FO for off table 120mm Mortar (12 FM) [2 tubes each]
    • 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 AA Company
      • 1 x AA Platoon: 1 x Quad Maxim HMG [3 guns each]
      • 2 x AA Platoon: 1 x 12.7mm DShK [3 guns each]
    • 3 x Infantry Battalions
      • 1 x BC (+1)
      • 3 x HMG
      • 1 x FO for off table 82mm Mortar (12 FM) [2 tubes each]
      • 3 x Rifle Companies
        • 1 x CC (+1)
        • 1 x HMG
        • 1 x on-table 50mm Mortar (12 FM) [2 tubes each]
        • 3 x Rifle Platoons: PC (+1/0), 4 x Rifle

    • * Unless otherwise noted each artillery and mortar battery, represented here by an FO, had four guns. Similarly for anti-aircraft batteries.

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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