[Mobhack]

The Soviet organisation used from the 60's on is a quite useful battalion organisation (not just for the Soviets).

A Soviet formation is based on 3 "type" formations, and a supporting formation. The support formation normally gets split and a third is added to each "type" formation.

So a mech battalion of a mech brigade/regt will get a tank company added. The tank company is then usually broken down and a platoon is added to each mech coy as a supplement.

In SP terms that would be, roughly:
Mech bn core:
- HQ
- mech mortar platoon (SP or towed)
- mech bn AT platoon (saggers and SPG-9 RCL)
- mech bn MG/AGL platoon (80s onwards)
- 3 of the already supplied in the OOB BTR or BMP coy + tank platoon(4)
attached down from higher command:
- a recce scout car platoon
- a battery of 6 arty (on map SPs or off map to taste) under command from regt
- 2-4 AA sections (2 each ZSU or SP-SAM)
- (option) a BRDM-type SP-ATGM platoon
- (option) An engineer platoon

Tank Bn core:
- HQ
- 3x10 tank coys with attached mech (usually BMP) inf (in the OOB)
attached down from higher command:
- a recce scout car/PT-76 platoon
- a battery of 6 arty (on map SPs or off map to taste) under command from regt
- 2-4 AA sections (2 each ZSU or SP-SAM)
- (option) a BRDM-type SP-ATGM platoon
- (option) An engineer platoon

All tanks and APC to be of the same type, of course.

Should you decide that your battalion is the lead element
- the attached recce element may be a company
- the under command Sp/offmap arty may add another 1 or 2 btys
- If a tank bn core - you may also have all (or some) of the split-up supporting mech bn's support coy (Mor, AT, MG/AGL pls)

Allow one Forward Observer in the core after about 1970 unless the entire arty bn is fielded - then you can allow another. Post about 1990, you can allow 1 per battery (including the infantry mortars). Before 1970 - only allow a FOO if you have fielded the entire regimental arty battalion (3 batteries).

This applies to the Soviets, and probably to current day conscript forces. The modern Russian era use of some professional long-term contract troops probably means that any formations based on these will be more "mix and match" company level task forces like NATO than the old "cookie cutter" fixed attachments.

Cheers
Andy