Grenade platoon. Vladimir Manyshev Tactical training: a tutorial. Complex MANPADS "Sagittarius"
Dvoinev Vladimir Vladimirovich
Stories about service in the Kandahar Brigade 1984-1986
(part five)
June 1984 My second platoon, as part of the 9th company, on armored personnel carriers, having made a march from the brigade, arrived from the northern side of the steppe to the green zone, in the area from Nari-Rauzi to Loi-Manar. The infantry landed and, combing the surroundings, in the afternoon went to the village of Kogak, located on the hills. We were followed by an officer - an aircraft controller, a fighter with a massive radio station operating on the frequency of aviation. Also with us went to the operation 2 mortar crews, which were headed by Lieutenant Alexander Kozinyuk and our battalion doctor Bogatu Igor. Our task was to provide the aircraft controller with support for his efficient and safe work. The young lieutenant was supposed to correct the work of aviation in the area, direct bombing and assault strikes of air groups on targets. Recently, the spirits have gone completely berserk and brought a lot of trouble to the columns passing along the Nagakhansky turn and the infantry setting up escorts. Therefore, the command of the brigade decided to launch bombing strikes on this area, in which the main enemy forces settled. Having cordoned off Kogak from three sides, we cautiously entered it and took up defense in adobe Afghan houses. The village was not large, and the population left it before our arrival. It was clear that no one had lived here for a long time. The air controller worked on the air, transmitting coordinates to the target. Everything went on as usual. With the onset of darkness, we began to prepare to stay the night in this inhospitable place. They set up military outposts, set up several tripwires on the approaches, had supper with dry rations and hid, completely restricting any movement. Those who served in the 70th brigade in Kandahar will understand where we spent the night. Next to us is Nagahan. There is greenery all around, which Shuravi has not set foot in for a very long time.
The map shows the villages of Kogak and Nagakhan. The route of the 9th company in June 1984.
The night was quiet, bright, the moon illuminated the area well, which helped us to view the area. The sky was strewn with bright large stars. Such a starry sky can only be seen in the east. If it were not for the war, one would believe that you are traveling through a fairy-tale land and stopped for the night in a local caravanserai. But there was a war and the romantic mood quickly disappeared. You have to watch around. In the morning, the platoon, except for sentries, dozed off. Powerful explosive blows woke us up. Our valiant aviation ironed with its 250 kg. bombed the village in which we occupied our positions. A pair of MIG-21s have already walked up the hill once and taxied out for the second run for bombing. The fighters urgently lit smoke bombs with orange smoke. With such checkers, we denoted that here - "Own"! But from the flight altitude and at the speeds at which the MIGs entered, the orange smoke was hardly noticeable. 4 more bombs fell nearby, shaking everything around. The air controller began to shout on the radio command to stop the bombing. One of the pilots replied that it was his pilot who mixed up the slides. Having thus completed the flight task, the planes left for the airfield. When we looked around, counted the personnel and checked the weapons, making sure that we had not suffered losses, we breathed a sigh of relief, we realized that this time we were very lucky. Aviation did not operate any more that day. Yes, and it’s understandable, if there is infantry in the greenery, why drop bombs there? Sasha Kozinyuk said that if we all return to the brigade, we must not forget to visit the pilots and deal with them about today's bombing.
Singerai vineyards
Having completed the task, almost dying at the same time, we received an order to go to the armored group and leave for the brigade. We went through the famous Nagakhan. For the first time, I saw this hostile and hated village from the inside. Having distributed positional roles between platoons, we divided into three groups: the forward detachment of 1 platoon, the so-called avant-garde, then the main group, which included my 2nd platoon and 3rd platoon, as well as the closing grenade-machine-gun group platoon. When I say, 9th company, you, dear readers, imagine a full-time motorized rifle company, which is armed with 12 combat vehicles equipped with heavy-caliber 14.5 KPVT machine guns, 7.62 PKT tank machine guns. In our situation, all platoons consisted of 9-12 people, they had only regular weapons, small arms. We did not have mortars and recoilless guns. In those days, the company commander was not with us, his duties were performed by the deputy company commander for political affairs, senior lieutenant Ibraev Murat Assankulovich, who died on 07/19/1984 at the "Most" outpost. There was no deputy, as the position of deputy company commander would be introduced later in August 1985. There were no warrant officers: the foreman of the company and the senior technician of the company. And our glorious medical instructor Sasha Minaev, a month earlier, was out of our ranks due to a serious injury. Many fighters were in hospitals or had previously died. In total there were 40 of us, no more. In such a lightweight version, our company almost always performed its combat missions. Armor couldn't walk with us. Zelenka was completely impassable for military equipment.
The mountain in the center of the photo is Kogak. On the right is the blue dome of the mosque. In front of the mountain is the river Arghandab.
We moved along the village. I remember a very long alley, probably a hundred meters. On the right side, it was covered by high walls of long buildings, and on the left side, by a low, about shoulder-length duval. We walked along the village, ready to join the battle at any moment. Having gone almost two-thirds of the way along this Afghan alley, I suddenly heard three long bursts from a machine gun. Instantly we spread out across the width of the enclosed space. To be honest, we were in full view in this clay gutter. And if it were not for our fortune and the sensible arrangement of units in a moving column, then we would not have avoided losses. The fact is that somewhere in the middle of this alley, on our left side, in a not high duval, at the level of the knees, there was a hole large enough to shoot through it. When my platoon passed by this place and retreated to a distance of about 5-7 meters, a pipe of a duh grenade launcher slipped through the hole and aimed at our backs. Apparently, the enemy, having missed us, decided that all the Shuravi had passed and decided to attack from the rear, insidiously, as usual. Praise be to our Lord that, closing the company column, a grenade-launcher and machine-gun platoon followed us. A fighter of this platoon, (unfortunately forgot his last name), seeing a grenade launcher, quickly looked behind the duval and, finding two Basmachi, reacted instantly, he shot them both from a machine gun. Reaching into the hole with his hand, he grabbed an enemy grenade launcher and a Chinese AKM. He quickly ran to us and reported the situation. We had little time to get out of this corridor, which was being shot from all sides. We rushed to the exit. We were lucky it was clean. The spirits, somehow, did not immediately catch on and understand what had happened. Their five-minute confusion was enough for us to rush out of the village into the greenery. When the enemy came to his senses, we were at the ditch that went around the village. Through this ditch there was a passage - a low-leaning living tree. The company began to run across the tree to the other side. Here, in our direction, a sea of \u200b\u200bfire poured. They were hit with grenade launchers and automatic weapons. My soldiers lay down and began to cover the withdrawal of the main part of the company. While we were shooting, the company crossed over to the other side. It's our turn to leave. I got up and stepped into the tree. From the side of the spirits, a full-length warrior of European appearance, in a sandy overall, wearing sunglasses and a yellow baseball cap, stood up. He fired a grenade launcher in our direction. The grenade, whistling and hissing, flew by and exploded in the reeds behind our backs. Bullets snapped overhead and on the sides, along the branches of trees and bushes. The company set up barrage fire with its fire, and we all moved beyond the saving channel. The fighters quickly left at the exit at the crossing, a couple of grenades with the pin pulled out, crushing them with cobblestones. We, firing on the move, began to quickly leave the green. After a while, I heard an explosion at the ferry. After everything was quiet. Probably, the gift left for our opponents did not please them. No one followed us anymore. We made a march through the village of Dekhsauzi and followed the Elevator onto the concrete road. Here our armor was waiting for us. Having saddled it, we at full speed went to the location of the compound. Over the past day, luck smiled at us twice. The first time, having fallen under the bombing, they almost suffered from their own. The second time, we talked with the insidious, ruthless and trained enemy in his lair, while all our fighters remained safe and sound, none of us even got injured. The spirits suffered losses.
9 company after the raid in the brigade. I am standing in a maskhalat, to my left is Senior Lieutenant Popov, commander of the 1st platoon. In the photo, soldiers and sergeants of the company: Mikheykin Veniamin, Dmitriev Roman, Zardotkhonov Jura, Onishchenko Sergey, Korablinov, Nesen, Klimov, Shatsky Valera.
But, the problem of shelling by our troops pursued our units throughout the entire time of service in the DRA. I remember cases when a brigade operation was carried out to clear the area around the Pasab outpost. There, Soviet tanks were shooting at us. One shot from a tank gun hit a tree standing above our soldiers and one soldier died. The night raid behind Singerai gave an unforgettable feeling of shelling from Grad launchers. Miraculously, that night, the 2nd and 3rd platoons of our company did not lose their fighters. Later, at the 1001 mark, my platoon in green escort was fired upon from a Soviet column that was firing in our direction from Utyos. Under the Perseus outpost, twice, with a difference of six months, our positions were attacked by NURSs from helicopters that flew around the territory at night. And the incident at the Nagakhansky turn, as a result of which Private Kassilin was seriously wounded, I described earlier. Regarding the shelling by NURSs from helicopters that made night overflights around the perimeter of the airfield, it was like this. One of the first shellings that took place at the end of February or at the beginning of March 1985, when the South outpost had only recently been set up. Oleksandr Kozinyuk, the platoon commander of the mortar battery of the 3rd battalion, then miraculously survived. The mortars were located in adobe rooms with round roofs. Alexander, that evening left for the service brigade. He had to stay there for the night, at the outpost, he did not return. And at night, a couple of turntables, making a control flight around the territory (apparently, they had no data that our outpost was set up here), saw lights below (the driver of the armored personnel carrier at the outpost decided to turn on the headlights for a few seconds) and right there, the helicopter pilots shot back with NURS . One of them accurately broke through the roof of the house and hit the wall right above Sasha's bed. When he arrived in the morning, he almost freaked out. Blanket and mattress, everything was cut with shrapnel. Some kind of foresight averted trouble from him. He then walled up the NURS liner into the wall and showed it to everyone. And at Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Koblov, commander of the 3rd PTV, NURS hit right through the hole in the engine compartment of the armored personnel carrier. There was no visible damage, but the armored personnel carrier would not start - they could not understand what was the matter. Only when they climbed into the engine compartment - everything became clear. And the second case has already happened, in January-February 1986. The mortars were located at the new Slovo outpost, but on the contrary, just the location of my AGS platoon was. Battalion doctor Igor Bogatu and Slava Zhivotenko were on "Science". In short, Igor and Slava gathered to visit the mortarmen on the Slovo. They kicked out the moonshine, let's go. We sat, painted the party in preference. The company consisted of the following actors: Slava Zhivotenko, Sasha Kozinyuk, Igor Kalinichenko, Sergey Khrenov, Oleg Razinkin. Everyone is passionate about the game, and then, suddenly, at low level flight, a pair of approaching helicopters fires a volley of NURSs. The helicopter pilots extended the entire cassette from the commander's house of mortars to the positions of my AGS platoon. How at that time no one was hurt (even a fragment did not hook anyone) - it's incomprehensible to the mind! The fact is that when a positional war is waged, the troops occupy certain lines. And, in this case, it is clear where the enemy's line of defense is. According to it, aviation and artillery conduct their work. In the war in Afghanistan in 1979-1989, units were constantly on the move throughout the territory. We moved through the mountains, the desert, the green zone, crossed rivers, entered residential areas. I remember that as part of raid operations, our company covered distances of up to 20 km. per day, on foot, without military equipment. We had a dress code: "who is in what much." No monotony. From a certain distance, it was impossible to understand who we were. In this war, we did not set ourselves the task of destroying all Afghans. Most often it was we who were the targets for the spirits. I still can't say for sure why we did all this? Because as soon as we left the area, everything in it returned to normal again - the spirits came back. But we were Soviet servicemen and strove to serve our Motherland with honor and dignity.
MOTOR RIFLE COMPANY ON APC
OKSVA, 1984-1985
General company structure 1. The position of "Deputy Company Commander" was introduced in all motorized rifle companies of the Limited Contingent in the summer (around August) of 1985.| 1st, 2nd, 3rd Motor Rifle Platoon | |||
| 1) Platoon leader 2) Sniper 1 motorized rifle squad 1) ZKV - squad leader 2) Art. shooter 3) Machine gunner 4) Sniper 5) Pg. grenade launcher - gunner KPVT 6) Driver 2nd and 3rd motorized rifle squad 1) Squad leader 2) Art. shooter 3) Machine gunner 4) Sniper 5) Pg. grenade launcher - gunner KPVT 6) Driver | Art. lieutenant corporal st. Sergeant Corporal Private Private Private Private Sergeant Private Private Private Private | AKS-74 SVD AK-74, GP-25 AK-74, GP-25 RPK-74 SVD RPG-7V, AKS-74u AK-74 AK-74, GP-25 AK-74, GP-25 RPK-74 SVD RPG-7V, AKS-74U AK-74 | Total in platoon: 20 people hp (1 officer, 3 sergeants, 16 row) 3 BTR-70 3 RPG-7V 3 RPK-74 4 SVD 10 AKS-74 3 AKS-74u 6 GP-25 |
| Grenade launcher and machine gun platoon | |||
| 1) Platoon leader 1 machine gun compartment 1) ZKV - squad leader 2) Machine gunner 3) Machine gunner 4) Machine gunner 5) Driver 2 grenade launcher compartment 1) Squad leader 2) Art. grenade launcher 3) grenade launcher 4) Art. grenade launcher 5) Pg. grenade launcher 6) Art. grenade launcher 7) Pg. grenade launcher 8) Driver | Art. ensign st. sergeant private private private private sergeant private private private private soldier | AK-74 AK-74 PKM PKM PKM AK-74 AK-74 AGS-17, AKS-74u Machine AGS-17, AKS-74u AGS-17, AKS-74u Machine AGS-17, AKS-74u AGS-17, AKS -74u Machine AGS-17, AKS-74u AK-74 | Total in platoon: 14 people hp (1st great, 2nd sergeant, 11th row) 2 BTR-70 3 AGS-17 3 PKM 5 AK-74 6 AKS-74u |
A motorized rifle company (MSR) is a tactical unit within a battalion, consisting of motorized rifle platoons. In the article, we consider the organizational structure of a motorized rifle company.
A motorized rifle company consists of a control group, motorized rifle platoons with their own control groups and. The company also includes a division of "tank destroyers".
In the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in 2005-10, there were several options for organizing motorized rifle companies (MSR).
- MSrota on an armored personnel carrier.
- MSrota on the BMP-2 from the staff of the regiment, in divisional subordination.
- MSrota on the BMP-2 from the staff of the battalion, in brigade subordination.
Motorized rifle company on an armored personnel carrier
The company on an armored personnel carrier includes three (MSV). Each platoon has 32 personnel and each platoon has a control group of 6 people.
Anti-tank squad in a company on an armored personnel carrier
In addition, the company on the armored personnel carrier includes an anti-tank squad from the staff of the battalion's grenade launcher platoon. The PTO consists of 9 people who have the following weapons:
- Anti-tank missile system (ATGM "Metis") on the armored personnel carrier 80 - 3 units,
- "Kalashnikov" AK74 - 6 units;
- Armored personnel carrier (APC) - 1 unit,
- Vinogradov heavy machine gun, mounted on an armored personnel carrier (marking KPV) - 1 unit,
- Tank Kalashnikov machine gun, stands on an armored personnel carrier (PKT marking) - 1 unit.
Armament of the MSR on the armored personnel carrier
For company fighters, armament consists of additional armament of the company, namely:
- Kalashnikov machine gun (PKM) - 4 units;
- Dragunov sniper rifles (SVD) - 12 units;
- Kalashnikov machine gun manual (RPK 74) - 9 units,
- "Kalashnikov" AK74 - 76 units;
- Grenade launchers (RPG-7) - 9 units;
- Anti-tank missile system (ATGM) - 6 units;
- Armored personnel carriers (APCs) - 11 units.
- Heavy machine gun Vinogradov (KPV) - 11 units, are on the armored personnel carrier,
- Machine gun Kalashnikov tank (PKT) - 11 units. They are on the armored personnel carrier.
Note: In state there are no signalmen, chemists, air defense means (air defense) in the company.
Motorized Rifle Company on BMP-2 from the staff of the regiment
Company management - 10 people, move on two infantry fighting vehicles, namely:
- The company commander is also the commander of the first BMP;
- Deputy company commander for personnel;
- Company foreman;
- Sanitary instructor;
- SBR radar operator (short-range reconnaissance radar);
- Commander of the second BMP;
- Two senior driver-mechanics;
- Two gunners.
The distribution of the company control group for BMP
The control group is moving on two infantry fighting vehicles from 11 infantry fighting vehicles of the platoon.
First BMP This is the company commander's car. The crew of the vehicle: the company commander, he is also the commander of the infantry fighting vehicle, the driver, he is also the senior company driver, operator - gunner.
2nd BMP company, crew: BMP commander, he is also a senior company technician, driver, gunner.
In addition to the crew in these 2 infantry fighting vehicles, the companies in the troop compartment transport:
- sanitary instructors;
- Anti-tank squad AGS-17 from the grenade platoon of the battalion,
- Department of MANPADS from the air defense platoon of the battalion,
- A communications unit or several radio operators from a battalion control platoon.
Armament of the directorate of a motorized rifle company on an infantry fighting vehicle as part of a regiment
- AK74 - 10 units;
- BMP-2 - 2 units;
- 30 mm cannon on infantry fighting vehicles (2A42) - 2 units;
- Tank Kalashnikov machine guns (PKT) - 2 units,
- Anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) - 2 units.
The main composition of the company on the BMP
In addition to the control group, the company includes:
3 platoons of 30 fighters and 6 control people each. Total in the company as part of the regiment: 100 people.
Main armament:
- PKM machine gun - 3 units;
- SVD rifle - 3 units;
- machine gun RPK 74 - 9 units;
- AK 74 assault rifle - 76 units;
- grenade launcher RPG-7v - 9 units;
- BMP vehicle - 11 units;
- 30-mm guns (2A42) - 11 units (on BMP);
- PKT machine gun - 11 units (for infantry fighting vehicles);
- ATGM missile system - 11 units (for infantry fighting vehicles).
Motorized rifle company as part of a brigade
The staff of the MSR in the brigade is similar to the MSR in the regiment, only reinforced with a grenade launcher platoon.
The composition of the MCP grenade launcher platoon
The grenade launcher platoon has 26 personnel, including the platoon commander. Deputy commander, three squads of 8 people.
Armament of a grenade platoon
- AK74 - 20 units;
- AGS-17 - 6 units;
- BMP - 3 vehicles;
Installed on the BMP: 30-mm cannon (2A42) - 3 units, PKT - 3 units, ATGM - 3 units.
In total, there are 126 people in the staff of the MSR in the battalion.
Armament of an anti-tank platoon:
- PKM - 3 units;
- SVD - 3 units;
- RPK 74 - 9 units;
- AK74 - 96 units;
- RPG-7v - 9 units;
- AGS-17 - 6 units;
- BMP - 14 units;
- Gun 2A42 - 14 units;
- PCT - 14 units;
- ATGM - 14 units.
If the Soviet and German rifle squads and platoons were approximately similar in composition and structure, then there were very significant differences between the Soviet rifle and German infantry companies.
The main difference was that the Soviet rifle company, unlike the German one, did not have material supply and support units in its structure.
It was a 100% combat unit.
The rear support of the company was a rifle battalion and a regiment. There were corresponding rear structures, rear convoys, etc.
At the level of a rifle company, the only person who was directly involved in providing the company was the company commander himself and the company foreman. It was on them that all the care for a simple company economy hung.
The rifle company did not even have its own field kitchen. Therefore, hot meals were provided at the battalion or regiment level.
The situation was quite different in the German infantry company.
A German infantry company can be conditionally divided into two parts: combat and logistics (convoy, two quartermaster detachments, a mobile workshop).
These are the rear divisions of the company, which were engaged in supplying the company with everything necessary.
They did not participate directly in the fighting at the forefront and during the offensive of the company they were directly subordinate to the battalion and regimental rear structures.
From the front line, these units were at a distance of 3-5 km.
And what was the combat unit of the German infantry company?
German infantry company (Schuetzenkompanie).
The total strength of the German infantry company - 191 people
(in the Soviet rifle company 179 people).
This is what it looks like schematically:
Four messengers up to and including Gefreiter.
One of them is simultaneously a bugler, the other a light signaller.
Armed with carbines.
Two cyclists in the rank from to gefreiter (Gefreiter) inclusive.
Armed with carbines. They ride bicycles.
Two coachmen in the rank up to Gefreiter inclusive. They drive a heavy horse-drawn carriage drawn by four horses.
Armed with carbines.
Groom for an officer's horse up to and including Gefreiter. Armed with a carbine. For movement is equipped with a bicycle.
Thus, the total number of combat units of the control department was not 12, but 9 people. With the company commander - 10 people.
The basis of the combat unit of an infantry company was infantry platoons.
There were 3 of them, just like in the Soviet rifle company.
The total number of soldiers in infantry platoons was 49x3 = 147 people.
Taking into account the number of combat units of the control section, including the company commander (10 people), we get 157 people.
Infantry platoons at the company level received reinforcements in the form of an anti-tank squad (Panzerabwehrbuchsentrupp).
There are 7 people in the department. Of these, 1 non-commissioned officer and 6 soldiers.
The group weapons of the squad are three Pz.B.39 anti-tank rifles.
Squad leader in rank from Obergeifreiter to Unterfeldwebel. Armed with a carbine.
Three calculations of anti-tank guns.
Each calculation consisted of a PR shooter in ranks up to Gefreiter inclusive (personal weapons - a pistol) and his assistant in ranks up to Gefreiter inclusive. Armed with a carbine.
The total number of calculation is 4 people.
Squad strength - 7 people (3x2 +1 squad leader)
The anti-tank squad was armed with:
Anti-tank gun Pz.B.39 - 3 pcs.
Mauser 98k magazine rifle - 4 pcs.
Pistol 8-shot - 3 pcs.
In total, in a German infantry company of combat strength 157 + 7 \u003d 164 people out of 191 people in the company.
27 people are rear guards.
Vehicles:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Bicycle - 3 pcs.
Only 4 horses per company.
A few words about the Pz.B.39 anti-tank rifle.
German anti-tank gun Pz.B.39
The German army in World War II had two main types of anti-tank guns - the PzB-38 and its later modification PzB-39.
The abbreviation PzB stands for Panzerbüchse (anti-tank rifle).
Both the PzB-38 and the PzB-39 used the "Patrone 318" 7.92x94 mm cartridge.
Several types of such cartridges were produced:
Patrone 318 SmK-Rs-L"spur- a cartridge with a pointed bullet in a shell, with a poisonous reagent, tracer.
Patrone 318 SmKH-Rs-L"spur.- a cartridge with a pointed bullet in a shell (solid) with a poisonous reagent, tracer.
This is actually an armor-piercing cartridge.
Number 318
was the reciprocal of the old designation (813 - 8 mm bullet in a 13 mm sleeve).
smk meant Spitzgeschoss mit Kern (pointed bullet in a sheath)
SmKH- Spitzgeschoss mit Kern (Hart) (pointed bullet in a jacket (Hard)
Rs- Reizstoff (Poison agent), because the bullet had a small amount of tear gas to affect the crew of armored vehicles, chlor-acetophenone was placed in the recess at the bottom of the core - a tear-action poison, but due to the small amount of tear gas in the capsule, the crew most often simply did not notice. By the way, until the German samples of anti-tank rifles were captured, no one suspected that there was gas in their bullets.
L "spur- Leuchtspur (tracer), the bullet had a small tracer in the back.
His bullet weighing 14.5 g accelerated in the barrel to 1180 m / s. A rather high armor-piercing effect of a bullet penetrating 20 mm armor set at an angle of 20 ° to the normal at a distance of 400 m was provided by a tungsten core.
According to other data, the PTR pierced 20 mm armor from a distance of 300 m and 30 mm armor from a distance of 100 m at an angle of 90 °.
In practice, fire was fired from a distance of 100 to 200 m, mainly on the tracks and fuel tanks of the tank in order to stop it.
However, at the same time, the PTRovets very quickly found its position and became an excellent target for shooters.
Therefore, if the PTRs were a strengthening of the German infantry company in the confrontation with tanks, then not too significant.
The bulk of the tanks were still destroyed by anti-tank guns, which were not at the disposal of the German infantry company.
Now let's compare a German infantry company with a Soviet infantry company not from the point of view of the total number of staff, but from the point of view of the combat strength of those who were directly at the forefront.
Soviet rifle company
The rifle company was the next largest tactical unit after the platoon and was part of the rifle battalion.
He commanded a rifle company company commander (company commander) with the rank of captain.
The company commander relied on a riding horse.
Because on the march of the company, he had to control the movement of the company, which was stretched during the march, and if necessary, the horse could be used to communicate with other companies or the battalion command.
Armed with a TT pistol.
The assistant commander of the company was a company political instructor.
He conducted political educational work in the divisions of the company and kept in touch with the political department of the battalion and regiment.
Armed with a TT pistol.
But the actual assistant to the company commander was the company foreman.
He was in charge of a poor, it must be said frankly, company economy, dealt with issues of providing the company units with everything necessary, getting everything they needed in the battalion, which included a rifle company.
For these purposes, the company had one horse with a cart, which was driven by a rider with the rank of private, armed like a foreman with a rifle.
The company had its own clerk. He was also armed with a rifle.
There was one messenger in the company with the rank of private. But despite the ordinary rank, he was, perhaps, the left hand of the company commander. He was entrusted with responsible tasks, he was always next to the battalion commander, he knew all the platoon and squad commanders well, etc. And he was known not only in the divisions of the company, but also in the battalion.
He was also armed with a rifle.
The basis of a rifle company was rifle platoons.
There were 3 such platoons in a rifle company.
At the company level, rifle platoons received reinforcements, primarily in the form of a machine-gun platoon.
Machine gun platoon.
The machine gun platoon was led by a machine gun platoon commander with the rank of lieutenant.
Armament - TT pistol.
The machine-gun platoon consisted of two crews of the Maxim machine gun.
Each crew was commanded by a sergeant.
Armament - TT pistol.
The calculation consisted of a calculation commander and four privates (gunner, assistant gunner, cartridge carrier and rider), armed with rifles.
According to the state, each calculation relied on a horse and a cart for transporting a machine gun (tachanka). The calculation was armed with rifles.
The number of machine-gun crew was 6 fighters.
The number of machine gun platoon was (6x2 + platoon leader) = 13 fighters.
In service with a machine gun platoon:
Machine gun "Maxima" - 2 pcs.
Self-loading rifle SVT 38/40 - (4x2) = 8 pcs.
TT pistol - 3 pcs.
The main purpose of the Maxim machine gun was to suppress enemy firing points and support infantry.
The high rate of fire (combat 600 rounds per minute) and the high accuracy of the machine gun fire made it possible to carry out this task from a distance of 100 to 1000 m to friendly troops.
All fighters of the machine gun crew had the same skills in shooting from a machine gun and, if necessary, could change the crew commander, gunner, etc.
Each machine gun carried a combat set of cartridges, 12 boxes of machine-gun belts (tape - 250 rounds), two spare barrels, one box of spare parts, one box of accessories, three cans for water and lubricants, an optical machine gun sight.
The machine gun had an armored shield that protected against shrapnel, light bullets, etc.
Shield thickness - 6 mm.
German machine gunners have no protection other than a helmet.
True, this shield did not always save the machine gunner.
Bullet hits are visible.
And here in general a sieve. Apparently fired from armor-piercing cartridges.
And the trunk got it.
Thus, the main armament of the platoons at the company level was the 7.62 mm machine gun of the Maxim system of the 1910/30 model.
In addition, as a company reinforcement of platoons during the battle, there were 2 snipers in the company.
Sufficiently powerful strengthening of company units for the purpose of destroying enemy firing points from a long distance and incapacitating enemy unit commanders.
The snipers were armed with a Mosin rifle (three-line) with a PU optical sight (short sight).
What is a sniper? A good sniper from a distance of 300 m per minute of shooting can easily lay down an infantry squad. And in pairs - half a platoon. Not to mention machine-gun points, gun crews, etc.
But they could work from 800 m.
The company also included a sanitary department.
The department was commanded by the commander of the department, a sergeant-medical instructor.
He had 4 nurses under him.
The squad is armed with 1 pistol.
Well, this is practically one orderly per platoon.
In rifle platoons, unlike the German infantry, the orderly was not supposed to be in the state.
But as we can see, the platoon still did not remain without a nurse.
Total: 5 people. Armed with one pistol.
Total company strength:
Company commander - 1 person.
Political instructor of the company - 1 person.
Company foreman - 1 person.
Messenger - 1 person.
Scribe - 1 person
Riding - 1 person.
Rifle platoons - 51x3 = 153 people
Machine gun platoon - 13 people
Sniper - 2 people
Sanitary department - 5 people.
Total: 179 people.
In service with the company:
Machine gun "Maxima" - 2 pcs.
Machine gun PD Degtyarev - 12 pcs. (4 pieces each in each rifle platoon)
Light 50 mm mortar - 3 pcs. (1 piece each in each rifle platoon)
Submachine gun PPD - 27 pcs. (9 pieces in each platoon)
Rifle SVT-38, SVT-40 - 152 pcs. (36 pieces in each platoon + 8x4 = 32 + 8 pieces in a machine gun platoon + 4 for the rest)
Mosin sniper rifle with PU sight - 2 pcs.
TT pistols - 22 pcs. (6 pieces in each platoon + 1 in the machine gun platoon + 1 in the sanitary department + 2 in the commander of the company and political officer)
Vehicles:
Riding horse - 1 pc.
Horse with a cart - 3 pcs.
Total 4 horses
In service with a German infantry company / in comparison with a Soviet rifle company:
1. Light machine gun - 12/12
2. Machine gun - 0/2
3. Submachine gun - 16/27
4. Magazine rifle - 132/0
5. Self-loading rifle - 0/152
6. Sniper rifle - 0/2
7. Mortar 50 mm - 3/3
8. Anti-tank rifle - 3/0
9. Pistol - 47/22
From this we can conclude that the Soviet rifle company at the company level significantly outnumbered the German infantry company in terms of firepower and armament.
Conclusions on the number.
The total strength of a German infantry company is 191 people. (Soviet rifle company - 179 people)
However, the combat unit of an infantry company was only 164 people. The rest belonged to the rear services of the company.
Thus, the Soviet rifle company also outnumbered the German infantry company by 15 people (179-164) in terms of the number of combat personnel.
At the battalion level, this excess was 15x3 = 45 people.
At the regimental level 45x3 = 135 people
At the divisional 135x3 = 405 people.
405 people is almost 2.5 companies, that is, almost an infantry battalion.
The advantage in vehicles, wagons and draft power at the company level in a German infantry company was associated with the work of the rear services of a German company.
The combat unit of the company moved on foot in the same way as the Soviet rifle company.
Vehicles of the combat unit of the Soviet rifle company:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Horse and cart - 3 pcs.
Only 4 horses per rifle company
Vehicles of the combat unit of the German infantry company:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Bicycle - 3 pcs.
3. 4-horse heavy wagon - 1 pc.
Only 4 horses per infantry company.
On the march, the German infantry company moved exclusively on foot, as did the fighters of the Soviet rifle company.
Therefore, the German infantry company had no advantage in vehicles over the Soviet rifle company.
Making a general conclusion, we can conclude that both in terms of the number of combat personnel and in terms of armament and firepower, the Soviet rifle company was superior to the German infantry company, yielding to it only in the supply organization system.
Motorized Rifle Company (MSR) is a tactical unit and organizationally part of the motorized rifle battalion (MSB).
MSR, equipped with modern weapons and equipment, has powerful fire, high mobility, maneuverability, armor protection and resistance to enemy weapons of mass destruction.
The MSR, in cooperation with other units of the combat arms and special forces, performs the main task of directly destroying the enemy's manpower and firepower in close combat.
The MTS, using the results of conventional and nuclear weapons strikes, skillfully combining fire and movement in the offensive, can:
- rapidly attack the enemy, destroy his manpower, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, anti-tank and other fire weapons;
- means of nuclear and chemical attack, aircraft, helicopters;
- seize his positions, develop the offensive at a rapid pace, conduct a meeting engagement, form water barriers on the move, repel enemy counterattacks;
- overcome obstacles and destruction, pursue the retreating enemy.
Performing these tasks, the company can be in the first or second echelon of the battalion, in the support zone or in the forward position, act in the head marching outpost (GPZ), bypassing, special and reconnaissance detachments, form a combined arms reserve or be as a tactical airborne assault.
When leaving the battle and retreating, the company can be assigned to the rear (side) outpost or act as a cover unit. In the defense of the MSR, with fire of all means, it inflicts defeat on the approaches to the forward edge, repulses the attacks of enemy tanks and infantry, air strikes, and stubbornly holds the occupied strong point.
In the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, there are several types of organizational and staff structure of the MSR.
- MSR on an armored personnel carrier;
- MSR on BMP-2 from the staff of the battalion, in brigade subordination. The MSR has a grenade launcher platoon: three grenade launcher compartments. In total, there are 26 people in the platoon, BMP - 3 units, ATS - 6 units;
- MSR on the BMP-2 (BMP-3) of a separate battalion.
Company management
Total in company management: 3 people.
Company management department
In total, in the department of company management: personnel of 9 people. BMP-2 - 2 units.
In these two BMPs of the company's control in the airborne squad, they transport: a medical instructor and units attached to the company, an ATS-17 squad from the battalion's grenade launcher platoon, a MANPADS squad from the battalion's air defense platoon, a communications squad or several radio operators from the battalion's control platoon.
Armament, personnel of the MSR
|
Personnel and weapons |
on BMP |
on an armored personnel carrier |
|
Company management |
||
|
Personnel (people) |
||
|
ATGM launcher |
||
|
Automatic grenade launcher easel ATS-17 |
||
|
Machine guns (PKT) |
||
|
Machine guns (KPVT) |
||
|
Automatic AK-74M |
||
|
Automatic AKS-74U |
||
|
SVD sniper rifle |
||
|
Light machine gun RPK-74 (PKP "Pecheneg") |
||
|
RPG-7V grenade launcher |
||
|
GP-30 grenade launcher |
||
|
Station short-range reconnaissance SBR-5M1 "Credo-M1" |
The company on the BTR-80 includes an anti-tank squad (PTO) - 9 people from the staff of the battalion's grenade launcher platoon. In service with anti-tank weapons:
- anti-tank missile system (ATGM "Metis") on armored personnel carriers 80-3 units;
- AK-74 - 6 units;
- heavy machine gun Vladimirov tank (marking KPVT) - 1 unit;
- tank Kalashnikov machine gun (PKT) - 1 unit.
The company on the BTR-70 has a full-time machine-gun platoon and a full-time anti-tank squad of the Metis ATGM (the loopholes of the BTR-70 are designed only for RPK machine guns).
Motorized Rifle Platoon (MSV) is the smallest tactical unit. It is organizationally part of the MSR and is designed to destroy enemy manpower, as well as its tanks, guns, machine guns and other fire weapons.
The MSV is designed to perform various tactical tasks as part of a company, and in some cases independently (in reconnaissance, in an assault group, in combat, marching, guard guards). A platoon can be assigned to an advanced group from the MSB (MSR) operating in the tactical airborne assault. A motorized rifle platoon may be assigned an anti-tank squad, a flame thrower squad, and a grenade launcher squad.
MSV organizationally consists of:
- from the department of management - 6 people;
- three MCOs - 8 people.
In total, there are 30 people in a platoon.
The management of the MSV includes:
There are 6 people in total. Management moves to BMP departments (2 people each).
Total in MSV for BMP-2:
Motorized Rifle Squad (MSO) can be on infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), armored personnel carriers (APCs) or on armored vehicles of various brands and modifications.
The motorized rifle squad is designed to destroy individual enemy groups, individual enemy firing points and armored targets.
The organizational structure of the MCO on the BMP
|
Job title |
Military rank |
Armament |
|
|
Squad leader - combat vehicle commander (KO-KBM) |
|||
|
Deputy commander of a combat vehicle, gunner-operator (BUT) |
corporal |
||
|
Driver (MV) |
|||
|
Machine gunner (P) |
RPK-74 (PKP Pecheneg) |
||
|
Grenade shooter |
RPG-7, AKS-74U |
||
|
Senior Gunner (SS) |
AK-74M with GP-30 |
||
|
Shooter(S) |
AK-74M with GP-30 |
In total, there are 8 people in the personnel department.
Armament MSO
Inside the BMP there are places:
- for MANPADS "Strela-2" or "Igla" - 2 pcs.;
- transportable grenade launchers RPG-7V (PG - 7VM) - 5 pcs.;
- reactive anti-tank grenades RPG-22 (RPG-26) - up to 5 pcs;
- manual fragmentation grenade F-1 - 15 pcs.;
- 26 mm SPSh pistol - 1 pc. and 12 rounds;
|
Placement of the MSO in the BTR-82A |
|
 |
|
|
Placement of MCOs in BMP-2 |
|
 |
|
|
Placement of MCOs in BMP-3 |
|
 |
|
The organizational structure of the MCO on the BTR-80
|
No. p / p |
Job title |
V/rank |
Armament |
|
Art. driver of an armored personnel carrier (St. waters) |
|||
|
Machine gunner BTR (P) |
|||
|
Grenade shooter |
RPG-7, AKS-74U |
||
|
Shooter - assistant grenade launcher (SPG) |
|||
|
Senior Gunner (SS) |
AK-74M with GP-30 |
||
|
Shooter(S) |
AK-74M with GP-30 |
||
|
Machine gunner BTR (P) |
RPK-74 (PKP Pecheneg) |
||
|
Sniper (SN) |
In total, there are 9 people in the BTR-80 department.
Armament of the MSO on the armored personnel carrier
Ammunition for armament MSV
The composition of the MCP grenade launcher platoon
The grenade launcher platoon has 26 personnel, including the platoon commander. Deputy commander, three squads of 8 people.
Armament of a grenade platoon: BMP - 3 vehicles; AK74 - 20 units; ATS-17 - 6 units.
A motorized rifle platoon is a tactical unit, as part of a company. A motorized rifle platoon is designed to solve tasks in defense, offensive, in capturing objects and solving other tactical tasks.
Motorized rifle platoon - organization
A motorized rifle platoon includes a control group and three squads. Typically, the MSV operates as part of a company. However, in marching, combat guards and in reconnaissance, the MSV can act independently.
To solve individual tasks, the platoon can be given additional forces of other branches of the armed forces and special units.
Motorized rifle platoon control group There are motorized rifle platoons operating on armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.
Motorized rifle platoons on armored personnel carriers
MSV on an armored personnel carrier consists of a control group and three motorized rifle squads. The platoon control team includes:
- Platoon leader armed with AK-74 and Makarov Pistol (PM);
- Deputy platoon commander (armed with AK-74);
- Platoon sniper (SVD armament);
- Machine gunner with a Kalashnikov machine gun (PK) or its modifications (PKM);
- Assistant machine gunner with AK-74;
- Shooter - sanitary AK-74.
The organization and armament of the motorized rifle squad can be read in the relevant articles of the site:
Platoon on BMP
A motorized rifle platoon on an infantry fighting vehicle also consists of a control group and three motorized rifle squads. The composition of the control group is similar to the control group of the MSV on the APC. Only the composition of the squads on the BMP differs, about which you can read the relevant articles (link to the articles above)
Total. A motorized rifle platoon on an armored personnel carrier includes 32 fighters, on an infantry fighting vehicle 30 fighters.
MSV armament includes:
- Kalashnikov assault rifles: 18 units for armored personnel carriers and 16 units for infantry fighting vehicles;
- AKSU-74: 6 units;
- PK (Kalashnikov machine gun): 1 unit;
- (Dragunov sniper rifle): 1 unit;
- RPKT (machine gun on vehicles): 3 units;
- RPG-7v (hand grenade launchers): 3 units each.
The main tasks of a motorized rifle platoon
A motorized rifle platoon, organization and armament allow solving the following tactical and special tasks:
- Organization of defense in the area of 400 meters;
- Establishment and retention of the MSV stronghold in the area of 400 by 300 meters;
- Offensive as part of a battalion or separately, to defeat enemy units;
- Capturing buildings and lines of defense, pursuing the retreating;
- Conduct reconnaissance;
- Carry out independent security;
- Capture individual settlements, break through fortified areas, with the organization of assault groups.
To solve special tasks, MSVs are attached to additional units of other military branches.