Quote:
Originally Posted by DRG
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Going by Zaloga's splendid Red Army Handbook (also published as Companion to the Red Army) the Soviet TOEs seem to have been adjusted quite a lot of times in 1941-42. I have listed a summary of some of these below (please consider grabbing a nice cup of vodka before proceeding).
Motorized and tank divisions in June 1941 TOE have 10 tanks in heavy company, 17 tanks in medium company, 17 tanks in light company and 12 tanks in flamethrower company (3 gun tanks plus 9 flamethrower tanks).
Already in July 1941 division organisation was reviewed, and all tank companies (light, medium and heavy) streamlined to 10 tanks per company. Flamethrower tanks no longer seem to make an appearance on this divisional organisation.
Then in August 1941 TOE for tank brigades was issued. This time heavy companies were reduced to 7 tanks each, while light company and medium company remained at 10 tanks per company.
Revised tank brigade TOE was issued in December 1941, matching the one given in the link above. In this TOE light company contains 8 tanks (2 in HQ plus two platoons of 3 tanks each), medium company contains 10 tanks (1 in HQ plus three platoons of 3 tanks each) and heavy company contains 5 tanks (1 in HQ plus two platoons of 2). Both of the tank battalions in brigade contained one each of light, medium and heavy company, but the battalion HQ had no tanks at all, with battalion commander needing to get around on a radio truck!
Next major tank brigade reorganisation takes place in July 1942. This time both light and medium companies are standardised at 10 tanks each, battalion commanders are given their personal tanks, and heavy tanks no more show up in TOE. In November 1943 TOE also light tanks disappear from tank brigade TOE, which from then on consists only of medium tank companies (10 tanks each).
Besides tank brigades, there were also separate tank battalions established. August 1941 version features two light companies (10 tanks each), medium company (7 tanks) and battalion HQ (2 medium tanks). Revised TOE issued in November 1941 featured two light companies (10 tanks each), medium company (10 tanks), heavy company (5 tanks) and battalion HQ (1 medium tanks)
September 1942 saw introduction of tank regiment, employed as separate formation or as part of mechanised corps. In this TOE light companies are 16 tanks each (1 in HQ and three platoons of 5 tanks each) and medium companies 11 tanks each (2 in HQ plus three platoons of 3). In January 1943 this is reduced to 7 tanks per light company (1 in HQ plus two platoons of 3 tanks each) and 10 tanks per medium company.
Guards heavy breakthrough regiments, consisting of only heavy tanks, start appearing in October 1942.
In case you actually managed to read this far, I would like to recommend having another hearty cup of vodka.