Update on the Armoured Forces
Report on the Soviet Armoured Formations
27.02.1941
addressed to: Stavka, Boris M. Shaposhnikov
Overview
The current formation system of the Red Army armour is based on Army level command to effectively guide and centralize the force from it's armoured forces according to top-level strategic need. Currently, two Mechanized Armies, the 1st and the 2nd, are formed and in operational readiness.
The 1st Mechanized Army currently consists of 10 tank and 5 motorized divisions, formed into 5 mechanized corps'. The Army is lead by Marshal Ivan Konev and is positioned in the Kaunas-Wilno area.
The 2nd Mechanized Army currently consists of 8 tank and 7 motorized divisions, formed into 4 mechanized corps'. The Army is lead by Marshal Georgy Zhukov and is positioned in the Minsk-Smolensk area. It is not fully formed and is presumed to be at full battle readiness by the 5th of June.
In addition to two independent armies, there are also tank, armoured car and self-propelled artillery brigades in the various Fronts, subjugated to infantry divisions, motorized or otherwise.
The full count of all armoured assets in the end of February 1941 is as follows.
Total armoured vehicles - 8923of which in active service - 8570
of which being formed into units - 353
Model T-28 tanks - 2527
Model BT-7M tanks - 1963
Model BA-20 armoured cars - 1443
Model BT-5 tanks - 1400
Model KV-1 tanks - 850
Model SU-76 self-propelled artillery guns - 314 (of which unassigned - 34)
Model T-34 tanks - 303 (of which unassigned - 303)
Model BA-10 armoured cars - 123 (of which unassigned - 16)
Individual elements
The
T-28 is our most numerous tank, but slowly being replaced by the BT-7 model. It was designed for an infantry-support role rather than a divisional level tank force one, and as such, is obsolete in our current military doctrine. However, taken on its own right, the tank is a formidable medium tank comparable to the german Pz-IV series after being improved minding the lessons from the Soviet-Finnish war. Technical details is as follows:
Weight: 27,8 tons
Engine: 450 hp
Armour (front/side): standard (de jure) 30/20 mm, improved (de facto) 80/50mm
Speed: 40 km/h
Operational range: 220 km
Main gun: 76.2 mm
Supporting armaments: 4x7.62mm machine guns
The
BT-7M is a cavalry tank, lightly armoured and very fast and mobile. It is designed to cover land quickly and efficiently with reasonable firepower. However, it is insufficient for engaging enemy heavy armour and is being phased out in favour of the T-34.
Weight: 18 tons
Engine: 500 hp diesel
Armour (front/side): 30/30 mm
Speed: 52 (tracked) to 72 (wheeled) km/h
Operational range: 230 to 900 km, depending on configuration
Main gun: 45 mm
Supporting armaments: 7.62mm machine gun
The
BA-20 is a light armoured car, meant for scouting, communications and light support roles. It is only in brigade level-formations, attached to infantry, motorized or tank units. It is being phased out in favour of the BA-10
Weight: 2.5 tons
Engine: 500 hp diesel
Armour: 10 mm
Speed: 85 km/h) km/h
Operational range: 450 km
Main armaments: 7.62mm machine gun
The
BT-5 is essentialy an inferior version of the BT-7 and the most obsolete tank in service.
Weight: 11.5 tons
Engine: 365 hp
Armour: 13 mm
Speed: 53 (tracked) to 72 (wheeled) km/h
Operational range: 150-200 km, depending on configuration.
Main gun: 45mm
Secondary armaments: 7.62mm machine gun
The
KV-1 is our leading heavy tank, meant for sheer breakthrough power on the field. All of these tanks are currently formed into brigades supporting infantry. The tank is the most modern heavy tank available to us at the moment.
Weight: 45 tons
Engine: 600 hp
Armour: 90-75 mm
Speed: 35 km/h
Operational range: 335 km.
Main gun: 76mm
Secondary armaments: 3x7.62mm machine guns
The
SU-76 is a simple and effective self-propelled artillery piece, and is the only model of its class in use by the Red Army. It is designed for high-level mobile artillery support for divisions to which they are attached, and can be used as assault guns and anti-tank weapons.
Weight: 10 tons
Engine: 2x85 hp
Armour (front/side): 35/16 mm
Speed: 45 km/h
Operational range: 320 km.
Main gun: 76mm ZiS3 gun
The
T-34 is our most modern tank available, and is planned to replace all but the heavy armour tank class models. Currently no formations field the weapon, but the first tank division to be formed from solely T-34s will be operational approximately on 04.04.1941. It is revolutionary in many aspects, especially it's sloped armour, which allows for mcuh moe protection regular armour would.
Weight: 26 tons
Engine: 500 hp
Armour: 45 mm
Speed: 53 km/h
Operational range: 400 km.
Main gun: 76.2 mm F-34 gun
Secondary armaments: 2x7.62mm machine guns
The
BA-10 is an upgraded version of the BA-20, and is to fulfill the same role. It features a formidable main gun for an armoured car.
Weight: 5 tons
Engine: 500 hp
Armour: 6-15 mm
Speed: 53 km/h
Operational range: 300 km.
Main gun: 45 mm
Secondary armaments: 2x7.62mm machine guns