Quote:
Originally Posted by Koh
For wargaming purposed I'd be interested in knowing which regiments employed which equipment. It would also be interesting to know what artillery systems the Russians eployed, and did they employ any towed artillery. And what's the deal with the independent 135th Motor Rifle Regiment? Is it some sort of special or elite formation, or just a leftover regiment from a disbanded larger entity?
I'd also be interested in knowing how much of the units were manned by conscripts. Some sources claimed that the Russian force was all professional, but I find that somewhat hard to believe. The VDV units as well as the special forces are fully manned by professionals I believe, but from what I've gathered most of the motor rifle regiments and brigades seem to employ a professional officer and NCO cadre with conscripted rank and file. But do correct me if I'm wrong.
If anyone has any of this information, it would be much appreciated.
- Koh
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According to the Moscow Defense Brief,
http://www.mdb.cast.ru/mdb/3-2008/item3/article1/ "The attack on South Ossetia was not spontaneous. Over the course of several days in early August, the Georgians appear to have secretly concentrated a significant number of troops and equipment (the full 2th, 3th and 4th Infantry Brigades, the Artillery Brigade, the elements of the 1th Infantry Brigade, the separate Gori Tank Batallion – total the nine light infantry and five tank battalions, up to eight artillery battalions – plus special forces and Ministry of the Internal Affairs troops – all in all, up to 16,000 men) in the Georgian enclaves in the South Ossetian conflict zone, under cover of providing support for the exchange of fire with Ossetian formations. On August 7, at about 22:00, the Georgians began a massive artillery bombardment of Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, and by dawn the next day began an attack aimed at capturing Tskhinvali and the rest of the territory of South Ossetia. By 08:00 on August 8, Georgian infantry and tanks had entered Tskhinvali and engaged in a fierce battle with Ossetian forces and the Russian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the city."
Later [on August 8] three tactical battalion groups from the 135th, 503rd and 693rd Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division (based in Vladikavkaz) of the 58th Army of the North Caucasus Military District were deployed in battle formation to Java and Gufta, and by the end of the day had cleared the roads and heights around Kverneti, Tbeti, and Dzari districts, and as far as the western edge of Tskhinvali. Russian AF also took action.
Saturday, August 9, a fierce battle took place in the region of Tskhinvali, and the Georgians were able to mount several counterattacks, including some with tanks. They even resorted to ambush and partisan tactics...by the morning of August 10, the Georgians had captured almost the whole of Tskhinvali, forcing the Ossetian forces and Russian peacekeeping battalion to retreat to the northern reaches of the city...
By the evening of August 10, Russia had six regimental tactical groups (135th, 503rd and 693rd Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division from North Ossetia, the 70th and 71th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division from Chechnya, and mixed from the 104th and 234th Paratroop Regiments of the 76th Pskov Air Assault Division), units of the 45th Reconnaissance Paratroop Regiment and the 10th and 22nd Special Forces Brigades, as well as significant artillery and air-defense forces. Two Chechen companies from the Zapad and Vostok Battalions and regimental tactical groups of the 98th Ivanovo Airborne Division, deployed to the battle zone too. The total number of Russian forces in South Ossetia reached about 10,000 men and 120 tanks.
The 135th was primarily a Peackeeping force, divided into four battalions. They had 2111 personnel, (upto 1700 of which fought), and 147 BMP-2 (87 of which were the "K" variant). After the Georgian attack the 135th also got 11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S19_Msta and 15
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/122_mm_howitzer_2A18_(D-30) from the 58th Army, and the D-30s had trucks.
The 19th Motorized Division was better armed, providing most of the tanks that fought, having over 70
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S3_Akatsiya several companies of BM-21 Grads, 4 Uragans, 26 Msta and 4 Osa.
The 42nd had a similar deployment.
The paratroops (VDV) units also used Nona artillery and resembled the GRU Spetznatz units.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S9_Nona.
The GRU had 3 Spetnatz Brigades and Battalions Vostok and Zapad. They have basic armament described above, but they are damn goog at fighting. The casualty rate was below 1%.
I'm sorry, but the data for this ORBAT is tough to find.