I am currently researching the order of battle for the Soviet armed forces during the entire Cold War period.
I have the beginning (1 May 1945/3 Septmber 1945) and the end (14 November 1990[CFE]) but very spotty in between.
Can anyone provide assistance in this quest?

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Originally posted by craig:
Gentlemen,

I am currently researching the order of battle for the Soviet armed forces during the entire Cold War period.
I have the beginning (1 May 1945/3 Septmber 1945) and the end (14 November 1990[CFE]) but very spotty in between.
Can anyone provide assistance in this quest?

Craig

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I have some info on the evolution of GSGF and other forces in WP countries.

I should be able to send you a list of the Rifle Divisions that were disbanded June-Aug 1945 and what the Tank and Mechanized Corps became.
Other than that, that's all I have.

Regards,

You can send it to: crofoot@rayovac.com

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Originally posted by JM Serrano:

I have some info on the evolution of GSGF and other forces in WP countries.

Can you send me the info on 1945 my way? More specifically, I am looking on the Front/Army/Corps structure in August 1945 in the West.

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quote:

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Originally posted by craig:
Will take a look tonight.
Should have it by tomorrow morning.

Craig

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Thanks

Here are the brigade totals for 1 May 1945:

Rifle Brigades: 17
Airborne Brigades: 3
Artillery Brigades: 69
Anti-Tank Artillery Brigades: 66
Mortar Brigades: 8
Guards Mortar (Rocket Launcher)Brigades: 11
Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigades: 21
Tank Brigades: 63
Mechanized Brigades: 5
Motorized Rifle Brigades: 1
Self-Propelled Artillery (SU-) Brigades: 12
Engineer Brigades: 110

Several sources indicate the the ACTUAL strengths of the divisions in the Leningrad Military District [ which included Murmansk] were the highest of all USSR mil. districts at more than 11,000, but i cannot find a division breakdown. The "militia divisions" were said to vary in strength from 12,000 DOWN.

42nd Rifle Corps (104th and 122nd RDs)
14th RD
52nd RD
23rd Fortified Region "Murmanskiy"
104th Gun Artillery Regiment
1st Tank Division
31st Separate Engineer Battalion

According to "Sukhoputnyye Sily RKKA v predvoyennyye gody" [Ground Forces of the Red Army in the pre-war years], St. Petersburg, 2000:

"The rifle divisions of the LMD were filled to a very high level. As of June 1, 1941 the average manpower of the district's rifle and motorized divisions was 11,985 men. The units directly on the border regions by May 1941 were practically at full war-time strength in manpower and equipment."

None of the divisions in the Leningrad MD were at reduced strength; even the four divisions at the 4/120 5,900-man "shtat" (70th, 177th, 191st, and 237th RDs) received 6,000 reservists each by the middle of June, 1941.

At the beginning of the war the 1st Red Banner TD had 176 BT-7s, 89 BT-5s, and the rest a mixture of T-26s and T-28s. There were also 53 armored cars.

In anyone out there has information as to specific division strengths I would still welcome that information.

TJ: I am in the process of having a new (2000) work translated that is supposed to deal extensively with this type information. should be ready in some form in a couple weeks.

[/B][/QUOTE]

Bomber Corps - 4
Long-range Bomber Corps - 8
Mixed Corps - 4
Shturmovik Corps - 5
Fighter Corps - 6

Bomber Divisions - 16
Long-range Bomber Divisions - 17
Mixed Divisions - 5
Shturmovik Divisions - 26
Fighter Divisions - 34
Night Bomber Divisions - 11

Some of these divisions were part of the corps. In addition, there were the following independent regiments:

Shturmovik Regiments - 3
Fighter Regiments - 6
Reconaissance Regiments - 12
Artillery Reconaissance Regiments - 9
Night Bomber Regiments - 2

Don't ask me what kind of planes were in these units, or what their strength was. I don't know.

The PVO forces had 24 fighter divisions, some of them in 4 corps.

Air units in non-active military districts consisted of:

Shturmovik Corps - 1
Fighter Corps - 1
Bomber Divisions - 8
Long-range Bomber Divisions - 1
Mixed Divisions - 6
Shturmovik Divisions - 11
Fighter Divisions - 10
etc.

FWIW, the Soviets produced in 1944:

Yak-1: 1128
Yak-3: 2180
Yak-7: 465
Yak-9: 7831
LaGG-3: 229
La-5: 3503
La-5FN: 323
La-7: 2236
Pe-3: 19
Il-2: 11110
DB-3F: 118
IL-4: 588
Pe-2: 2944
Pe-8: 5
Er-2: 148
Li-2: 626
Shche-2: 222
UT-2: 1055
U-2 (Po-2): 5133
Be-4: 20

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Originally posted by Gary Dickson:
Anybody know what the US produced in 1944?

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US production in 1944 was:

Very Heavy Bombers (B-29) - 1,161
Heavy Bombers - 14,887
Medium Bombers - 5,228
Light Bombers - 3,861
Fighters - 24,174
Reconnaissance - 95
Transports - 9,276
Trainers - 7,578

25,137 bombers (all multi-engine)
24,174 fighters
16,949 other
66,260 total

Many thanks.

quote:

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Originally posted by Tangoj:

In anyone out there has information as to specific division strengths I would still welcome that information.

TJ: I am in the process of having a new (2000) work translated that is supposed to deal extensively with this type information. should be ready in some form in a couple weeks.

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[/B][/QUOTE]

quote:

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Originally posted by Gary Dickson:
FWIW, the Soviets produced in 1944:

Yak-1: 1128
Yak-3: 2180
Yak-7: 465
Yak-9: 7831
LaGG-3: 229
La-5: 3503
La-5FN: 323
La-7: 2236
Pe-3: 19
Il-2: 11110
DB-3F: 118
IL-4: 588
Pe-2: 2944
Pe-8: 5
Er-2: 148
Li-2: 626
Shche-2: 222
UT-2: 1055
U-2 (Po-2): 5133
Be-4: 20

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Interesting poste.

I am quite surprised by some of the aircraft and quantities on this list. Some of these models were surpassed in 1942, yet remained in production through 1944.

I'm not refering to types like the Po-2, which often derided for remaining in service long past the life of most biplanes, was in fact every bit as serviceable as a "Pup" or "Storch" in US or German service.

Rather, I am refering to types like the LaGG-3 or Yak-1, which were not only clearly surpassed by their Luftwaffe opponents, but also by successor designs within their own series.

Maybe it was reasonable to build a few Yak-7s, to have two-seaters for squadron "hacks" and VIP couriers -- but I very much doubt the -7s built in '44 were original two-seaters. Building fighter versions when the -9 had been in production for two years just doesn't make sense to me.

And I can see the La-5fn running some volume concurrent with the ramp-up of the La-7. Not all factories switch over immediately, and some portion of the year's production would be La-5fns even in the factories that did switch. I can even see how one might keep the La-5 in production side-by-side with La-5fn for occasions where superchargers were in short supply.

But LaGG-3? Surely these planes were considered wholy obsolete in their primary roles by 1944. Its not like it used fewer key resources -- what a waste of an engine that might have served well in an Illyushin!

And then there is the DB-3. The DB-3?!?!? Surely there must have been SOMETHING better to do with factory resources than to continue production of THAT plane when ANYTHING else was available.

-Mark 1

Early Soviet fighter types like the Yak-1 and LaGG-3 that were in service by 1944 were for the vast majority very refined variants. For example, the Yak-1B which began production in 1943, was equal to a Yak-9D in top speed, and had a very good climb rate at 5km in 5.4 minutes. The LaGG-3 version of 1943 was a lightened version and quite capable of combating the Bf 109 in experienced hands.

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La-5FN: 323

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Gary,

Does that number seem a bit low? Or, were the GAZ associated with Lavochkin fighters switching over to the La-7 that quickly? But, that would make no sense, since the production for the La-5 (and La-5F?) were above 3,000.

Greg