Russian Infantry Units size and formation

My question is what is the formation of a typical Russian Army squad?

Like in the US, a fireteam consists of 4 guys, 1 of them is the Squad leader, then we'd have a general Riflemen, then a Grenadier (which is typically the riflemen's rifle but with a grenade launcher attached) and a Support gunner who mans a light machine gun.

As far as I know, I do think it goes 5 men squads in Russia with a designated marksmen, but asides from that part, I am not sure if they have squads set up like we do or not.

IronsightSniper wrote:My question is what is the formation of a typical Russian Army squad?

Motorized Rifle Squad (BMP):

Personnel:.......................................................Equipment:
Squad Leader/BMP Commander............................AK-74
Assistant Squad Leader/BMP Gunner.....................AK-74
BMP Driver/Mechanic..........................................PM (Makarov pistol)
Machine Gunner................................................RPK-74
Machine Gunner................................................RPK-74
Grenadier.........................................................RPG-16/PM
Senior Rifleman.................................................AK-74
Rifleman/Asst. Grenadier.....................................AK-74
Rifleman..........................................................AK-74

No designated marksmen? :O

IronsightSniper wrote:No designated marksmen? :O

Comes in a different kind of unit. I am not aware most US motorised squads come with a sniper team.

Ah, so what would that unit be? (the one to contain a designated marksmen.)

Actually I am quite interested in the armament of different front line units as well.

I found a TOE for a Seperate Tank Brigade.

Here it is (it was in Russian and has been translated and tidied up by me so any errors are mine.)

Separate Tank Brigade (state of peace-time)

MANAGEMENT HEADQUARTERS
MAJOR DIVISIONS:
- Motorized infantry battalion
- Rifle platoon (snipers)
- Tank Battalion (3)
- Self-howitzer battalion
- Rocket artillery battalion
- Man-portable air defense battalion
- Anti-aircraft division
UNIT MAINTENANCE
- A reconnaissance squadron
- Engineering and engineer company
- Company RHBZ
- Battalion
- Company EW
- A platoon of government (chief of artillery)
platoon-control radar and intelligence (the Chief of Defense)
- A platoon of government (Chief Intelligence Office)
- Repair battalion
- Battalion logistics
- Command squadron
- Medical company (deploying 50 beds)
- Editorial Board
- Military Orchestra
- Club
- Platoon (instructors)
- Platoon Simulators
- Polygon

Total staff: 2901 in / s (248 officers, 730 sergeants, soldiers, 1928) Civilian personnel: 133, students: 10

Personal firearms:
5.45-mm AK-74M -1183
5.45 mm AKS-74U machine - 1178
7.62-mm automatic AKM with PBS - 6
9-mm automatic AS - 54
9-mm pistols P-Ya - 432
7.62-mm pistols PSS - 31

as well as:
7.62-mm sniper rifles SVD-S - 33
9-mm sniper rifle VSS - 8
5.45-mm machine guns RPK-74M - 3
7.62-mm machine guns PKP - 35
RPG-7V2 - 81
RPO-A - 180

MAIN ARMAMENT AND EQUIPMENT:
MANPADS «Thor» - 12
ZRPK «Tunguska-M1» - 6
MANPADS «Strela-10M3» - 6
MANPADs «Needle» - 36
Radar 9S18M1 «Dome» - 1
Item Management IP-12M - 1
Item Intelligence and Management PPRU-1M - 1
Team points 9S912 - 8
Combat vehicles BM-21-1 - 18
152-mm self-propelled howitzers 2S19 «Msta-C» - 18
120-mm Mortar 2S12 vozimye - 8
30-mm automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 - 6
Complexes 1V12M - 1
Complexes 1V17 - 1
Items intelligence PRP-4M - 3
Stations P-18R - 1
Stations SLR-5 - 7
Tanks medium - 90
T-72BK - 4
Infantry fighting vehicles BMP-3 - 49
Wheeled armored personnel carrier - 6
Combat reconnaissance vehicle BRM-3K - 3
Cars BREM-1 - 8
Cars BREM-L - 1
Cars WRI-3M - 2
Bridge tank MTU-20 -1
Machine excavation PZM-2 - 2
Radar stations 35N6 - 1
Radio station R-166 - 1
Radio station R-166-0, 5 for APC - 8
Command-staff vehicle R-142TO - 2
KSHM R-142NMR - 4
KSHM R-149BMRG - 7
KSHM R-149BMR - 8
Satellite station R-441-O - 1
Stations R-330ZH - 1
Radio stations R-330B - 2
Stations interference R-934B - 2
Transmitters interference RP-377UV - 24
Complexes of RP-377LA - 1
Complexes of SPM-377L - 1
Control R-330K - 1
Hardware RP-330KPK - 1
Mobile complex technical control MKTK-1A - 1
Cars RHM-6 - 3
Cars LMC-T - 3
Command and staff vehicles R-142T - 1
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY -
Vehicles - total-590
including: --
cars - 2
Cargo-240
special (general purpose) -12
special (of troops and services) -336
Crawler Transporters, trucks for hauling weapons, transport personnel and cargo by assembling weapons and equipment
-39
Crawler Transporters, trucks for hauling weapons and equipment, the installation of weapons and equipment
-20
Tractors for hauling equipment and for installation-2
Trailers Transportation-122
Animals
guard dog-16
mine detection dogs - 7

I wish I know the organization and composition of the following units in order to achieve correct addons for ArmA :

- MSV, Motorized Infantry Brigade
- MSV, Motorized Infantry Battalion on BMP
- MSV, Motorized Infantry Battalion on BTR
- MSV, Motorized Infantry Battalion on MT-LB

- VDV Airborne Division
- VDV Battalion on BMD
- VDV Battalion on BTR

and the composition of Squads and companies, support units (ATGM, RPO, Anti-aircraft ...).

thank you  

I found this one time when searching for the structure of a new Russian Brigade:

Officers 327:
- 1 General major
- 5 Colonels
- 29 Lieutenant colonels
- 43 Majors
- 68 Captains
- 181 Senior lieutenants
- 68 Lieutenants


- HQ of brigade
- 3x Motorized rifles battalion
- Sniper platoon
- Tank battalion
- 2x SP howitzer battalion
- Rocket launcher battalion
- Anti tank battalion
- Air defence missile battalion
- Air defence missile - artilery battalion
- Recon company
- Engineer battalion
- NBC defence company
- EW company
- Signal battalion
- Command and recon battery (Chief of artilery)
- Command and radar platoon (Chief of Airdefence )

HQ of brigade 92(34 officers - 16 NCO - 42 soldiers )
Brigade comander 1(1-0-0) General major
Deputy brigade comander 1(1-0-0) Colonel
Chief of staff/deputy brigade comander 1(1-0-0) Colonel

Operation department 6(2-2-2) chief of department /deputy chief of staff Liutenant colonel
Mobilization department 10(1-0-9) chief of department/ deputy chief of staff Lieutenant colonel
Inteligence department 3(1-1-1) chief of department Lieutenant colonel
Communication department 3(1-2-0) chief of department Liutenant colonel

Chief of EW 1(1-0-0) Lieutenant colonel
Chief of topography 2(1-0-1) Captain
Secret communication service 5(1-2-2)
Chief of secret department 4(0-1-3)
Secretary 2(0-1-1)
Administration 2(0-0-2)

Training department 6(1-0-5) chief of department / deputy brigade comander Colonel
Chief of physical training 1(1-0-0) Major

3x Motorized rifles battalion 510(26 officers - 91 NCO - 393 soldiers )
HQ of battalion 3(3-0-0)
Staff 3(1-1-1)
Signal platoon 14(1-3-10)
3x Motorized rifles company 96(4-16-76)
HQ of company 9(1-4-4)
3x Motorized rifles platoon 29(1-4-24)
Mortar battery 57(4-13-40) 8x 120mm Mortar
HQ of battery 3(1-2-0)
Mortar platoon 22(1-5-16)
Mortar platoon 21(1-4-16)
Command platoon 11(1-2-
AGL platoon 22(1-3-18)
Antitank platoon 28(1-3-24)
Recon platoon 26(1-3-22)
Engineer platoon 19(1-3-15)
Logistic platoon 36(0-7-29)
Medical platoon 14(1-6-7)

Recon company 129(6 officers -20 NCO -103 soldiers )
HQ of company 9(1-4-4)
3x Recon platoon 25(1-3-21)
RT recon platoon 19(1-3-15)
ELINT platoon 26(1-4-21)

Engineer battalion 260 (20 officers - 55 NCO - 185 soldiers )
HQ of battalion 4(3-1-0)
Enginer recon platoon 11(1-2-
Signal station 4(0-1-3)
Enginer sapper company 58(4-13-41)
HQ of company 5(1-3-1)
Engineer saper platoon 22(1-3-18)
Mining platoon 18(1-3-14)
Engineer platoon 13(1-4-9)
Engineer construction company 59(4-12-43)
HQ of company 5(1-3-1)
Engineer construction platoon 13(1-2-10)
Engineer construction/bridge platoon 28(1-3-24)


Hope that is helpful...

All this stuff is changing quite rapidly and wouldn't be surprised if its still in a bit of a flux right now. There is a lot of disorganization in the armed forces because of the reforms, and what you reguarly get is one change being made, only for it to be reverted later. Trial and error, fits and starts. For example I remember I heard for example of the recon company being downsized to a recon plattoon in the new brigade structure; or something. Which contradicts GarryBs list. Anyway, go by GarryBs research; it's the best we have for the moment.

Flamming Python raises a critical point... there are paper plans for units and there are actual units.

Units in the field rarely reflect fully the paper strength they are supposed to have.

I have an excellent book somewhere about Soviet Army units during WWII by Stephen J Zaloga that lists the contents of units from just before WWII (Mongolia and Finland conflicts) through to the force that removed the remnants of the Japanese forces from what is now China. The interesting thing is that as the war progressed the size of the units shrunk dramatically... standard units went from about 10,000 men down to about 5,000. Initially the shrink was because most of the front line officers were captured or killed in 1941 and what was left was not able to effectively control large forces. Later in the war however the huge increase in mechanisation and the enormous increase in fire power rather than the individual rifleman meant that units could be made smaller and still get the job done.

The Book is called "The Red Army Handbook 1939-1945".

It should be noted that the on paper required weapons were not necessarily in service in the numbers required. Cheap weapons like Mortars that were relatively easy to make and use were usually in service in numbers, but there were problems with things like effective anti armour ammunitions delivered to the front.

Obviously now there are different issues, but when you see a unit in exercise they might be using stuff taken from stores rather than what they would be equipped with in real combat.

The increasing use of simulators will also have an effect too... they don't use fuel and can simulate all sorts of situations and conditions like fighting in deep snow at night with less risk.

I made this thread so that we can compare the average Russian infantry be it mechanized or any other, to other countries' infantry.
When I came into service in 2008 my squad was made up of 5 men not including the 2 crew of the BMD-2. Since we did not operate too far from each other the squad leader would have a radio, And depending on mission each squad member could get radios too. Also what was done is instead of the regular 3 crew of the BMD-2 the commander would be seated in the commander seat of the BMD-2. I wonder what the counterpart of my squad would be in America? Also a good comparison of Russian MSV and American infantry would be nice.

Thanks for the link, But if im correct in the picture it shows JAV is that for Javelin? Because if it is then the average Russian infantry platoon is outgunned by a great amount.

What would you say is the most common type of plane a Russian airborne platoon would jump from?

Russian marine platoon is 33 men.

Von-Lang wrote:What would you say is the most common type of plane a Russian airborne platoon would jump from?

IL-76

VladimirSahin wrote:I made this thread so that we can compare the average Russian infantry be it mechanized or any other, to other countries' infantry.
When I came into service in 2008 my squad was made up of 5 men not including the 2 crew of the BMD-2. Since we did not operate too far from each other the squad leader would have a radio, And depending on mission each squad member could get radios too. Also what was done is instead of the regular 3 crew of the BMD-2 the commander would be seated in the commander seat of the BMD-2. I wonder what the counterpart of my squad would be in America? Also a good comparison of Russian MSV and American infantry would be nice.

Numbers is irrelevant..
If Russia go an try to fight NATO with equal number of soldier in close combat ,they are doing something really wrong. Soldiers on Foot are only useful for urban warfare or for directing the fire or the artillery. The major difference i see between NATO and Russian army is that NATO rely on air supremacy for anything... they like easy wars and will only send its soldiers only after the enemy airforce and air defenses and artillery suppressed. They will never send soldiers into a place that the enemy can pin point their location and blow them off.  

So while NATO is an airforce focused army.. Russia is an artillery focused army. Like the Ukraine conflict shows
ARtillery is the king. If you dominate the fight in artillery and have good cover of your airspace you win. Tanks are no match for artillery.. and soldiers on foot will be next to useless if your are visible and enemy can scorch the earth in your positions.  This is why it will be worth to see a game simulation of a conventional war between NATO and Russia. Because Russia artillery will own NATO and their planes will not be able to fly freely on Russian airspace or any airspace that Russia army move.  They do not have lazer precision artillery like Russia that can target even moving tanks with direct hits..from 30km away and probably now from farther.  The closest thing they have is GPS artillery which can be jammed and useless for mobile targets.  NATO is also very weak in mobile SAMs.. So Russia Army can move with their air defenses ..and artillery at same time.. while NATO is more static army.. is purely offensive army with next to no defense. Russia army is highly mobile with very strong defense and Offense.  This means that in any invasion of NATO , it cannot be possible on any nation if they do not control the airspace first. They simply do not like to take risk and want easy fights..

In short NATO armies are designed for two purposes.. to encircle Russia and to fight easy wars against third world nations. The IRAQ war is a classic example how NATO fight.. they first deploy hundred of thousands troops near the border of the nation they want to attack.. setup a military base and command center..later they send the airforce and drop cruise missiles and bombs like no tomorrow and when air defenses supressed the army enters..  

If they try to do that against Russia it will not work.. Russia Iskanders missiles will do direct hits on their command centers where their generals are.. and none of precision weapons will work. their satellites shutdown ,and there will be no safe zone for them.. US cities and European cities can be directly targeted. and their communications will be interrupted.  simply i don't think NATO is a force that is prepared to fight Russia. and this is not counting on the help of China ,that could if needed help Russia and cover their rear flank. but i don't even think NATO bothers to train for a war against Russia.  My best guess is that the only trainings NATO do is nuclear war interchange and economic sanctions , don't think NATO will bother to fight Russia in a conventional war.. since they will lose.

The interesting thing here to remember.. is that..
because USA and its NATO colonies only fight Offensive illegal wars.. never in the defense of their nations.. instead
wars for the expansion of US world empire.. they will not fight a war ,that is hard ,because they are aware that the public opinion in the majority of cases will be against their war.

So contrary to western trolls propaganda NATO is a weak army with a lot of modern tech that can be easily jammed
and or defeated by Russia. If you remove their computers and communications they will not know how to fight. They rely to much on technology and little on tactics..and their weapons are not made to last years without proper cleaning and their tanks not made to run in hard terrain. Is an Air Conditioner army. Even Serbia was holding well
against NATO in Kosovo war and hit 2 F-117s .. using old sams.. and they were afraid of a ground invasion. because of Serbian capable forces. What NATO is evolving today is an airforce /Naval force that now hire mercenaries and terrorist to do the fighting for them. The fact that USA lost the war in Ukraine which was not supposed to happen so fast ,even thought they had thousands of special forces there with NATO logistics and equipment.. and it was americans generals advisors the ones leading the tactics of the Ukrainian army.. It shows how Poor they are really
prepared for a fight with Russia..  I think the only armies in the world that are made for real long difficult wars will be Russia ,China and Germany.

Take a look at the only time US and its allies (today NATO)  fought in a full scale war against a decent army..
with they alone leading the fight.

http://bevinalexander.com/books/korea-first-war-we-lost.htm

Also is that artillery and sams are less mobile than aircraft so you must count on their range in order to deploy. Troops at ground are vulnerable to plane atack so they always need a complex troops. Once APUs will be more powerfull simple ATGMs launchers like could defense ground troops. Cause is all about stronger radar signal.

I am looking for information on the organisation of a typical motorised rifle platoon and it's sections today, including the weapons assigned, whether weapons and equipment vary greatly between different units and districts, or are fairly uniform, typical ranks of various positions in the unit, and sub unit organisation, such as whether section leaders typically stay with AFVs, or with the dismounted infantry, whether any scouts or snipers operate in separate groups, etc.

VladimirSahin,

Let me add that I would be equally interested in all the details of an Airborne infantry platoon that I asked regarding a Motor Rifle platoon.

Sorry to raise the dead, but this video I found rather interesting....

Hi
1. does someone maybe have a modern taskorganisation and equipment table for the recconaissance company's in a motorized rifle and tank regiment? are there differences between the two? and are there differences when the unit is equipped with bmp's, BTR's or MTLB's?
2. does someone maybe have the same but then for the recce battallions of a brigade or a division? like forinstance the 136th recce battallion of the 2nd guards and the 137th reccefor the 4th guards tank?

kind greetz