Project Kirov
Kirov is with us
Background
This proposed Production Budget follows on from the completion of Project Red Wall, which established the RKKA perimeter on the border of the Soviet Union.
The objective of Project Kirov is to fulfill the material requirements for the RKKA and the VVS with a view to putting the Soviet Union on an effective war footing for defensive and offensive operations within an 18 month timeframe in contrast to the present standing of basic frontier protection.
The general timeline is for 1938 to be a year of production, to take advantage of the industrial efficiencies of recruiting large numbers of brigades on Reserve status whilst still on a Volunteer footing but with War Economy Industrial Capacity. In 1939, the focus is to shift to preparation for imminent operations by running off the tail of production of new units and starting to convert old units (such as cavalry in the Shock Armies) to modern units. The focus in 1940 is to finish off these conversions and then take stock of where to go next.
Proposal
1938 Build Up
The long term goal is to fit out the Rifle Divisions of the Red Wall with Artillery and Anti-tank brigades for punch and to compensate for the fact that most foreign Divisions have greater numbers through 3 Infantry Regts comapred to our 2 Regts per Division. It is proposed that there 150 ART and 145 AT brigades be built over 3 serial runs (the difference in numbers is due to the allocation of ART but not AT to the Mountain Divisions). These runs are to be placed at the bottom of the Production queue to use IC as and when they become available. This will produce a cascade of ART and AT brigades to be allocated 1 of each type per division ((I found it easiest to start from the top of the Rifle Divisions in the scroll down and allocate ART, then when the AT came on line to allocate them with the Divisions with ART so that it filled their 4 slots and took them off the scroll down)). This part of the project will not be completed until mid 1939 because of the delay in waiting for IC to become available after other items are completed.
The more immediate goal is the construction of the 3rd Shock Army of 5 Mechanized Corps of 5 Tank Divisions (Medium Tank + Motorized Infantry + Tank Destroyer + ART (SPART once researched) and the 8th Army comprised of 5 Rifle Corps of 4 Rifle Divisions each (2 INF + 1 ART + 1 AT). Based on what has been produced to date, this requires a further 21 Tank Divisions and 16 Rifle Divisions. We can produce 2 Tank Divisions and 3 Rifle Divisions per annum per serial run. Again, this will take an 18 month period.
For the VVS, it is proposed to have 7 INT Groups of 4 INT’s each and 4 Close Support Groups of 4 CAS each by mid 1939. This would require a further 13 INT’s and 14 CAS. We can produce 2.8 INT’s and 2 CAS per annum per serial run. We are currently producing 5 INT’s and 6 CAS in the Production queue. I suggest cutting these back by 1 of each to 4 and 5 respectively once the existing units are produced to free up IC for ART/AT productions. The INT and CAS construction should be completed by mid 1939.
For the Red Fleet, 4 Transports are to be built to bring the total transport lift capacity to 6. These can be built as a 1 off group of 4 at the start of the year. The IC can then be switched back to other projects in May 1938.
The NKVD has requested 2 MP brigades. These can be built as one offs at the start of the year with the IC sent back to projects once this is completed in March 1938.
1939 Preparation for War
In 1939, there will be a run off of production from the 1938 queues, especially the ART and AT brigades.
We should then add a run of 45 Tank Destroyers and 45 Self Propelled Artillery to fill out the original Tank Divisions of the 1st and 2nd Shock Armies built from the scrapping of the old battleships. This should be placed in priority over the ART/AT brigades so that the Tank Divisions can be combat ready by 3rd quarter 1939.
The Cavalry Regts of the 1st and 2nd Shock Armies are to be converted to Medium Tank Regts. Timing of the conversion will depend heavily on whether we are at peace at the time as this will incapacitate the Division until the conversion is completed.
It is also expected that over this year, there will be a gradual move of IC away from Production to Upgrading, and after the introduction of a draft, to Reinforcement. Depending on whether there are any hostilities it may be necessary to suspend production except for the conversion of units so as to pile IC into Reinforcement and then Upgrading on an emergency basis.
1940 Finishing Touches
Subject to any events which may delay the above, and subject to operational needs from hostilities, 1940 will be mostly just finishing off production from the above steps and conversions. The Cavalry and Garrison regts in Moskva can be converted at this time, as can the NKVD Garrison Regts.
Caveat
If this production goes to plan, it will dilute the existing officer pool significantly to the 50’s % by 1939. This will in turn require a significant allocation of leadership to build up officers in 1939 once drafts are introduced. It will be a very slow process to regain officer percentages (about 1% per month) so we will be relying on numbers and superior equipment rather than tactical leadership to overwhelm the opposition. We should therefore pick wars where we can exploit our overwhelming numbers rather than pick fights where it is 1 on 1.
Proposed Construction Queue (grouped in following order)
2 Factories – To finish 28/II & 13/IV and not renewed
6 ARM Div (Reserve: 1 Medium Tank, 1 Motorised Infantry, 1Tank Destroyer & 1 ART/SPART) – Reduce down to 5 when next division built 15/I and not renewed. Otherwise repeat after each division is built until 3rd Shock Army full
4 INF Div (Reserve: 2 Infantry, 1 ART & 1 AT) – Repeat after each division is built until 8th Army full
2MP – one offs not to be renewed. To be completed by 31/III
4 TRANS – one offs, not to be renewed. To be completed by 19/V
5 INT – Reduce down to 4 after next INT built on 6/I, repeat until 7 INT groups built
6 CAS – Reduce down to 5 after next CAS built on 21/II, repeat until 4 CAS groups built
50 x 3 ART (Reserve)
45 x 3 and 10 x 1 AT (Reserve)
In 1939, add above ART brigades
45 TD (Reserve)
45 SPART (Reserve)