‘The tanks of the Soviet Union are the best in the world. Their armout is thick, their guns are powerful, and their speed and mobility unmatched. They are the sledgehammer of the Red Army, smashing the Hitlerite army against the anvil of Mother Russia, ‘hie core of the attack is formed by the ‘34s, They attack up the centre ofthe batllefield, taking on the main strength of the enemy while the light tanks sneak around the side striking at the enemy's exposed flanks. On the other flank the Katyusha rocket launchers protect the attacking tanks bby smashing fascist anti-tank guns with their accurate high explosive salvoes Meanwhile the brave tank-rider company holds the other flank or advances to eradicate the Hitlerte scum that infest our beloved Motherland SS “The 34's spearhead the attack on the objective, led by the brave Bat taon 7734 medium tanks are the core of this army, They deploy in the centre, From there they can strike towards cither objective. Battalion HO 134 90 points 170 light tanks are perfect for harassing the flanks. | Tankovy Company foes ReM oe eal ; Mpiicerontce ease] =| x T34's 555 points can take out light tanks and infantry with litle difficulty. Tankovy Company ‘SU-76M assault guns are ‘1x T-70's 210 points good cheap anti-tank guns, They hide in cover near | Tank-rider Company 220 points ee eyelet | dd Komi 5 pins ‘main tank assault. Add HMG- 20 points fan to shit when holding | 88H Gn Company an objective, and great for 3x SU-76M 150 points rooting out enemy infantry Sra a Guards Rocket Mortar Company 1x Rocket Mortar Platoon 180 points Kaysha rocket lucien | Add Loading Crew 70 points epee te ati Sita innt-tank guns, They rarely | Total 1500 points retract Maesteg yeINTELLIGENCE HANDBOOK ON SOVIET ARMOURED AND CAVALRY FORCES Written By: Phil Yates, Jason MofTatt. Graphie Design: Dion Holswich, Casey Davies Editors: Peter Simunovich, John-Paul Brisigotti Miniatures Design: Evan Allen, Photography: Baitletront Studio Terrain Modelling: Richard Carlisle, Photographs: National Library of New Zealand, Imperial Colin Craigie, Andrew Hunter ‘War Museum, Bovingion Tank Museum, Australian War Miniatures Painting: Evan Allen, Karl Cederman, Sam ‘Memorial, Roger Key Private Collection, Knowles, Jeremy Painter, Angela Smith, Wayne Tumer NARA, National Archives OF Canada, Lead Playtesters: Kim Alberto, Mike Allen, Tony, ‘wivw.ww2modelmaker.com Armstrong, Jon Cleaves, Nicolo Da lio, Tim Fadere Stories: Steven Ross Jonathon Forsey, Simon MeBeth, Paul Monk, Juer Cover Art: Vincent Wai Parks, Emest Payton, Damian Reid, Rob Sadier, Imernal Art: Vincent Wai, George Bradford ‘Schneider, Karl Shanstrom, Richard Steer, Chi Assistant Writers: Jason Farley, Alun Gallic, ‘Chris Townsley, Mike Tumer, Dan Wade ‘Tom Robertson And thanks 10 ail of the other playtesters! Proof Reader: Paul Beach. Russian: Denis Burba 3! Mechanised Corps in Battle. Combat Companies Why Collect ea ‘Weapons Companies Soviet Alphabet os crarsonsaauoiagsnnsessnn Rota Razvedki Tertin0lORy’sorsnnans Headquarters Platoon Russian Military Units Pesca Combat Platoons ‘Tank Comps of the Red ‘Weapons Platoons. Guard-Tank Corps ofthe Red Army ae Cossacks in Flames Of War Cavalry Comps of the Red Army. é. Kazachya Sotnya.. ‘Guard Mechanised Comps of the Red Army Headquarters Platoon Mechanised Corps of the Red Army 7 ‘Combat Platoons ‘Tank Development Bureau. Weapons Platoons. Warriors in Flames Of War és Support Platoon . Mariya Oktyabrskaya vasssn--nsnsnansnsentn Dismounting Your Cavalry Organisation and Equipment... Naming Your Company... Choosing Your Force Platoon Deseriptions See Special Rules. : Gvardeyskaya Kazachya Soiny: Soviet Artillery beet ‘The Great Battle Of Kursk Soviet Tanks Za Stalina Arsenal Soviet Aircraft : Weapons ‘Tankovy Batalon ‘ Nehicles Headquarters C , 2 “Tank Teams, Combat Companies... ag 2 Vehiele Weapons ‘Weapons Companies Ae Transport Teams Mixed Tankovy Batalon, FER tio Gun Teams... Headquarters Company r Infantry Teams. Combat Companies @ Aireraft Motostrelkovy Batalo Terrain Chat. Headquarters Company. t © Thisis a supplement for Flames Of War, the World War IL miniatures game. ‘A copy of the rulebook for Flames Of War is necessary to fully use the contents of this book. Alias reserved No art ofthis publication may be rerodued, stored in a retrieval sjstem, or arsmite, in any form or by any Te the prior writen permission ofthe publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding ox cover the than that in Which itis pb without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. © Copyright Battlefront Miniatures Ltd., 2005. ISBN: 0-9582536:EHH a Formed amidst the turmoil of the Great Patriotic War, forged in the red heat of battle, and tempered by the fierce Russian winter, 3-y Mechanizirovanniy Korpus, the 3% Mechanised Corps, fought against the Nazi invaders from the gates of Moscow to the ruins of Berlin. The Last Blitzkrieg ‘The Great Patriotic War (as the Soviet Union called their part of the Second World War) began on 22 June 1941, ‘when Hitler launched his batle-hard- ‘ened army against an unprepared RKKA (Workers. and Peasants Red Army) in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Using their blitzkrieg tactics perfected in the first two years ofthe war the German Panzers raced east across the vast expanses of the Soviet Union with unprecedented speed, The armoured speatheads struck deep into Soviet territory encircling and destroying ‘whole armies Amongst the massive casualties suk fered by the RKKA in the face of the German onslaught were their poorly trained and led tank and motorised divisions. Although the Red Army hhad the world’s biggest tank force, ‘many were unserviccable when the ‘war began, and most obsolete. The divisions were further hamstrung bby shortages of trucks, radios, and experienced officers (tank officers hhad suffered badly in Stalin’s pre-war purge). Desperate Days Stalin rebuilt the almost destroyed Red Army, desperately seeking. to stem the German tide, Tank divisions were out of the question—the few armoured vehicles left were shuffled into small tank brigades instead. If large tank forces were difficult, mo totised divisions were simply impos sible. The few trucks available were desperately needed to supply the tank forces. Instead, there was a resur- eof the cavalry forces to provide mobile infantry, More than eighty new cavalry divisions were formed, ‘with many composed of the dashing Cossacks—renowned horse warriors ofa previous age. Miraculously, the hastily scraped to- gether forces held, In early December 1941, the German Army finally ground to a halt in the outskirts of Moscow, General Winter ‘The onset of the ervelest Russian ‘winter in fifty years saved the devas- tated Red Army, freezing the advanc- ing Germans in their tracks. With *General Winter’ on their side the RKKA undertook counter-offensives that were partially successful in push- ing the invaders back, but at the cost of almost all of their hastily scraped together mobile forces. A New Beginning The spring of 1942 saw both sides rebuilding their exhausted forces. The Red Army realised that it needed sirong armoured formations on. the German model if it was to go back on the offensive. The resulting tank corps ‘combined three tank brigades into one concentrated force. As spring tured to summer, the Army struck first in June 1942 with offensives against the Rzhev pocket in front of Moscow and out of the lzyum bridgehead in the south. The new tank corps were committed, and being untrained and inexperienced, ‘were devastated by German counter attacks, leaving the cavalry isolated behind German lines. With Soviet forces weakened, the German Army resumed the offen sive, this time concentrating their efforts in the south. The Panzer divi- sions punched down the Don River smashing fank corps thrown in their path and captured Voronezh in July 1942, German forces swept into the oil-rich Caucasus. On the flanks of this advance the ferocious battle for Stalingrad, the city named in honour ‘of the Soviet leader himself, began in early September, Soviet tank corps were thrown into battle against the flanks of the German thrust, aiming to relieve the city, but their handling was still inept and they ‘were destroyed time and again by the Panzer veterans. Stalingrad was near to falling, Mechanised Corps The lack of infantry and artillery su port in the Soviet tank corps had been cruelly exposed in the summer battles Inresponse the Peoples’ Commissariat for Defence added support units to the tank corps and ordeted the creation of eight new mechanised corps. The third ofthese, 3-y Mechanizirovanniy Korpus, was formed. in September mY1942 from the shattered remnants of several tank corps. Placed under the command of General ME Katukov, a renowned tank commander, the Comps was assigned 0 22-ya Armiva, th 22" Army, for the winter offensives, Uranus and Mars With Stalingrad about to fall, the only option open to the RKKA was to attack, The winter offensives of 1942 were based around the twin spheres of Operations Uranus and Mars. General YVasilevsky’s Operation Uranus was intended to surround the 6” Army of the German General Von Paulus in the ruins of Stalingrad. In Operation Mars, Marshal Zhukov's forces were {o attempt a. similar encirelement of General Model's 9 Army, in the Rehev salient north of Moscov Operation Uranus saw the more bal- anced tank and mechanised corps allied with their old comrades, the cavalry corps. Together they smashed through the Rumanian 3 and 4H ‘Armies in mid-November 1942, en- citeling Stalingrad in a matter of days. ‘They then tumed to defeat the Panzer forces sent to break their stranglehold. Tt was the first real vietory of the Red ‘Army in the war. The Rzhev Meat Grinder Meanwhile in the north, amidst snow- storms and fog, Operation Mars began on 25 November. With more than 800,000 men and 2000 tanks avail- able and simultaneous attacks in three sectors, the plan looked foolproof, In the cast, 20-ya Armiya, at huge cost, established a bridgehead across the Vazuza River. The mobile group, 6-y Tankovy Korpus (64 Tank Corps) and 2-y Grardeyskiy Kavaleriyskiy Korpus (2 Guards Cavalry Corps), pushed though the breach only 10 be cut off and destroyed piecemeal. Only 20-ya Gvardeyskiy Kavaleriva Diviziya, the 20% Guards Cavalry Division, survived, spending forty days behind German lines before rotumning, On the western flank of the lient, 4/-ya_Armiya smashed through the front-line and led by 1-y Mechanizirovanniy Korpus, Mechanised Corps, struck deep into German-held territory. However, the bulk of the army quickly become bogged down in a fruitless assault uupon the heavily-fortified town of Belyi, Again the penetration was eventually cut off and the encircled forces destroyed In the most successful of the 3 sec- tors, 3.) Mechanizirovanniy: Korpus formed the spearhead of the drive by 22-ya Armiya eastward along the Luchesa valley. For the first two days the Comps swept aside all opposition as they pushed towards their objective of the Olenino-Belyi road, Against the on-rushing Soviets the Germans threw the grenadiers of the famed Grossdeutschland Division. Heavy fighting ensued around the village of Starukhi, resulting in a stalemate that the steadily weakening ranks of 3-y Mechanizirovanniy Korpus could not break. As the Soviet offensive stalled, Zhukov, unwilling to concede defeat, issued orders to keep attacking at all costs, pouring his reserves into the *Rzhev Meat Grinder’ in an attempt to make a decisive breakthrough, By 15 December Soviet casualties had reached enormous levels, nearly 500,000 men and 1,700 tanks in total, and Stalin intervened to cancel the operation. Like most of the units involved, 3: Mechanizirovanniy Korpus had been nearly destroyed. Little Saturn With the ailing Mars operation finally cancelled, focus switched to Operation Saturn, designed to exploit the success of Uranus around Stalingrad, Saturn was to destroy all German forces in the Caueasus, General Vasilevsky was forced. to revise this plan to counter German attempts to relieve 6" Army trapped insidean ever-tightening circle around Stalingrad. The revised Little Saturn, Jaunched on 16 December 1942, par- ried the German relief attempt then ‘went on to retake Kursk, Kharkov and Rostov in January and February 1943, As the Soviet thrust ran out of steam, the Germans counterattacked retaking Kharkoy in March, forming a bulge in the Soviet frontline around Kursk, Operation Citadel In eatly 1943 3-y Mechanisirovanniy Korpus was totally rebuilt, along with most ofthe virtually destroyed Soviet tank forces. Fortunately the German Army was equally exhausted, Once again both prepared for new summer offensives. This time Stalin elected to ‘wait forthe Germans to strike frst. ‘The German plan was codenamed Operation Citadel and was intended to cut off and destroy the troops in the Kursk salient, However, delays in the launching of Citadel, which didn’t begin until 5 July, 1943, allowed theSoviet forces to rebuild and fortify their positions, Kursk was to be the rock against which the steel fist of the Nazi forces was to shatter itself Thunderstorms at Kursk As summer thunderstorms rolled overhead, 3-y. Mechanizirovanniy Korpus once again rolled into battle against its old enemy—the Grosscleytschland Division. Attacking south from Kursk, the Corps aimed to stop the German 48" Panzer Corps” thrust. towards Oboyan. T-34 tanks of 3) Mechanizirovanniy Korpus re peatedly clashed with enemy armour. On § July the brave tankists engaged the fearsome Tiger heavy tanks of Grossdewssehland outside the town of Syrtsevo, The following day the German. thrust was tumed aside at heavy cost to the enemy. The ill-fated German offensive would now meet its doom upon the reckoning ground of Prokhorovka in one of the largest tank battles in history. On 12 July, the»same day asthe mighty tank clash at Prokhorovka, the Red Amy launched a major of- fensive against the Germans around Orel immediately to the north of the Kursk salient. Over a month of hard Sis “Suu a af fighting followed, as the Soviet a inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy forces and gradually drove them back, ‘After this the Red Army would never be defeated agai Guards Mechanised Corps 4a Mechanizirovanniy. Korpus was ven lite time to rest following its ry at Kursk, and was in the thick fol the fay inthe Soviet offensives that followed. Belgorod was recaptured, as too was Kharkov forthe final time. ‘As a reward for its brave fighting at Kursk and after, 3-y Mechanizirovan- iy. Koxpus was renamed 8-y Gvard- eyskiy Mechanizirovanniy Korpus (8 Guards Mechanised Corps) on 23 October 1943. On that same day the Red Army captured Melitopol north of the Crimean peninsular. The Red Tide Flows How far the Red Army had come from the dismal days of'a year before js shown in their new eavalry-mecha- nised groups, Composed of a cavalry and a mechanised comps and fighting ‘with new-found operational skill, these groups advanced ahead of the main force, keeping the defenders ‘off-balance, With these mobile groups Laima *”( 4 a SWEDEND <5.) TISAI in the vanguard, the red tide swept ‘westwards. The Dnepr River becaine the finish fine in a race between the German Army Group Centre rushing. to reach the western bank and fortify it, and the advancing Soviets attempt= ing to cut them off. The German ‘Army won, narrowly, but a few Soviet Dridgeheads across the Dnepr would ‘ultimately prove their undoing. Triumphant March 1044 saw the Red Army finally liber- ting the rest of the Soviet Union in ‘Operation Bagration (launched on the third anniversary of Hitler's invasion) and the Lvov-Sandomir operation in ‘August that eared them tothe Vistula River in central Poland. In September, 8.» Grardeyskiv Mechantzirovarniy Korpus was fthdrawn into reserve for a wellde- served rest and refit Itwas back atthe front by the beginning of 1945 dr jing telentlessly forward through the heavily fortified area from the Vistula to the Oder. The vengeful Red Army swept onwards and in May’ 1945, the battle-weary. 8 Goardeyskiy Mechanizirovanniy Korpus played its final part inthe bloody, but tium- Phan, storming of Berlin,Ie eA urfare willbe ar of engines. Engines on land engines tn the air, engines on water and under water: Under Hiions, the winning side will be the one with the greater number and the more powerful engines. P Mote Naionat Commissar for Defence, lsif tain. « soldiers and diligent factory workers. Together the ‘yer seen — the avvesome RKKA, the Red Army. The foolhardy Germans will now feel the wrath of the So end be crushed by it, AN tat will be left ofthe Mittertes wil be ther gleaming bones turned over by our jis in the summer planting. F- ‘Arimoured or Cavalry foree you have at your Simard the ste! fist of the indestructible Red Army. a Red tank commander, you field huge formations of Fe onerous and more powerful than foe, Tho Js the famed T-34, the finest tank of the war—tugged, titans rd-hiting. Deployed en masse and supported by Ne is gee tachncs estat sopra SI Your opions are almost united though, You can equip ree vite tind of other tank typ nsicad, Mich as American lend-lease M3s Lee and Ma Sherman din tanks or British Mark Th Matilda and Mark oie scpport tanks: you ean field @ and tankeriding infantry. Huge companies of Wet motor-rflemen easily swamp enemy posi- my strong heavy machine-punners cut-down enemy coun- . With plentiful anillery and.riasses of tanks in joHl, Your motor-riflemen sweep the-enemy from the ld, | Forshoxe players wito Tong forthe dash and vigour, to say nothing of the élan, of an old-style cavalry charge, there are the SR Be reeks hove baat most feces arin ithe wold, The ReAray has harnessed traditional ferocity and mobility to modern weapons of war. Operating with tanks, machine-guns and artillery, these #9 ofthe sieppe ae sil a force to be reckoned with Eioiy is inevitable, Defeat is unthinkable, For the Rodina! For Stalin! Aya PT a tise the Cyrillic alphabet. The table below shows the approximate pronunciation of each letter ‘father K ko) Kiok kiss x kh loch Dank 1 an sits ch church sh short tite im moter Boat ca fea Eee hard sign it dog port yes penguin yorhurt red massage $ soon, soft sign zebra see oodbye ee rg ye ieee othea EEE ‘Anirnmanii (an al-cha-nin): Englishman. Nickname for Marks IL ‘Sl Briish Tend-ease tanks. BA, BpoHieasromoGvine (BA. bro-ye-ay-o-mo-bil) ‘Armoured cat Beh awncroa (bye-y fa-shist-ov) Slogan ‘Crus the Fascists. Boesas Flonpyra (bo-ye-va-ya po-dni-za}: ‘Slogan ‘Fighting Girlfriend Bparckaa wornmia wa wecreper (bras-ka-ya mora na shye-stye-aykh): "Grave for six brothers. Nickname of Jend-lease M3s medium tank. Bponerpancnoprep (hro-aye-rans-porsyer): Armoured ‘ransporter. Banestraii (vacyen-tijm): Valentine. Lend-lease Mark HI tank: BBC, BoenHo Bosnyusi’ Cunsi (VVS, vo-yen-no fordush-ny-y si): Military Air Fore. Benukan Orevectuennan Bora (vychi-kasya otye-chyest ‘yen-n-ya voy-na)- Great Patriotic Wa. The Second World Wat. Bnepea Ha Zapag (vpye-ryed na za-ad) ‘Slogan ‘Forwad to the West. Fonoxoniit Dapaynant (go-l-znpi-y fe-dinant): Bare-ass Ferdinand, derogatory nickname for SU-76M assault gun 3a Cramma (za stali-na Slogan For Stalin’ 3a Poguny (a rossi Slogan For the Motherland ‘Baepo6on (zvye-o-bo-y): "Animal Killer’. Nickname given the '$0-152 assault gun for kiling the German Tigers and Panthers, Kagak (ka-zak): Cossack Kasavien Cova (ka-zacya solnya): Cossack hundred, squndron Kanuri (ka-pi-tan: Captain. Company oficer Kaviousa(ka-tyu-sha):Litle Katy. BM-13 rocket launcher KB, Knumestr Bopousios (KY, ki-ment vo-r0-shiloy): ‘Commissut of Defence, KY tankenamed ate him, KB-1a (KV-Lo):“Ekranirovannyy’ of uparmoured KV tank. KB-Te (KV-13} ‘Skorostnoy" of fist KV tank Konon6uta (ko-lom-bi-na: Columbine. Nickname for SU-76M. Kommccap (ko-mis-sar: Senior political officer. Kpacwoapmey (kras-no-a-myets): Red Annyman Private soldier. Teri (legeki-y: Light, : lesen (Iye-y-tye-namt): Lieutenant Jnior office Tai: Le. Lend-lease M3 medium tank M3n (MBI): M3 “legkiy” or ight tank Mc (M35); M3 “stedniy’ of medium tank Maranioga (na-si-la): Matilda, Lend-ease Mark Il tank. ‘Mexannanponatiian Bpnraga (me-khs-niziro-van-no-ya ‘gat: Mechanised brigade ‘Mexannanpogannsih Kopnyc (me- or pus): Mechanised eotps. Morocrpenkosbifi BaramoH (mo-to-stiyel-ko-vy-y baton} ‘Motor-ifebatalion 6p, Ospaaiya (obr,o-braz-tsa): Model lose (po-bye-da): Slovan “Vietory’ lonkosHik (pol-kov-nik): Colonel. Regimental officer. TognionkosHik (pod:po-kov-nik): Sub-colonel. Li, Colonel yn (pup) Pup. Nickname for lend-lease Mark Il tank Paawequnna (raz-ved-cicki): Scouts PKKA, PaGoue-Kpectbstickas Kpachan Apis (RKKA, rabo-che krest-yan-ska-ya kras--yaatmi-ya) ‘Workers and Peasants Red Amy. Ponuna Maré (ro-di-na mat); Motherland ‘Cepoxatr(ser-zhant) = Sergeant CkopOCTHOA (sko-tostnoy): Fas. Crest (slv-ya-nin) lav. Nickname for Soviet sok. Ceqnit(styed-ni-y): Medium. CCP, Coos Conerckix Couianncraueckix PecnySmHk (SSR, s0-yz, S0-vyetskikh so-tsi-abist-is-yeskikh ryes-pub-lik): Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Cran (stalin: lost Stalin, Soviet leader Cy, Camoxognan Ycranoska (SU, sa-mo-khod-na-ya, esta-novska): Selfpropelled mounting, Assault gu. (Gyka (sucka) Bitch, Nickname for SU-76M assault eu. Tai (tank): Tank ‘Tankoasid Baranbou (tan-ko-vy-y bataton): Tank battalion, ‘Tanikosaa Bpuraga (tan-ko-va-yabriga-da): Tank brigade, “Tarikoabiti Kopnyc (tan-ko-vy-y kor pus): Tank cops. ‘Tarikonecantink (.an-ko-dye-santonik) Tankride, “Taina (ia-chan-ka): Horse-drawn machine-gun ear Topapiy(to-va-rishch); Comrade, “Troxenta (1ya-zhye-y-y): Heavy. “Tpmpuamesenepka (trid-stat-chyet-vyor-ka: Thitty-four ‘Nickname for T-34 tank USA, Yoeriar Cyxnnenina Agonipa (v-bye-yat su-kinesy-1 SudolFa): USA, “Kill that son-of-a-bite AdoI.Prespainted ‘Slogan on Ametican lend-ease vehicles, ‘pau (ts): Frit, Niekname for German soles POHTORHK ({ront-ov-ik): Frontline soldier. Yepsnans (ehyer-cill): Churchill. Len-ease mark 1V tank Wea6 (hvu: Schwabian Nickname for Germans. Wepma (shyer-man): Sherman. Lend-ease M4 tank: ‘9kpakiypowsHHbil(ck-a-ni-t0-vaneny-y): Shielded. ‘Quisa, 3o Yerbipe (cmcha, em che-iyr-ye): M4. Nickname for lend-lease Mi tank, o-NAn-AY-y EU ET ay ‘The structure of the Red Army's mechanised forees ean ‘often be difficult to fathom at first glance. They have tank. comps with fewer tanks than anyone else's armoured divi- sions, and assault gun regiments with only twelve heavy as- Sault guns, a large company by other standards, However, closer examination reveals the underlying logie. Starting at the bottom, the Red Army is composed of com- panies, These are the smallest unit capable of independent ‘combat. Most Soviet companies are similar to their westem counterparts, although tank companies tend to be rather small with teh tanks rather than twenty, with heavy tank ‘companies getting down to five tanks (a large platoon in the West). An extreme example of this meaning of the term. company is the heavy assault gun company with just two ‘guns. However, since they are intended for independent as- signment they are by definition a company. ‘A battalion is a collection of companies that will always ‘operate together as a single unit, while a regiment is a col- lection of battalions and companies all of the same type that will operate independently, Thus we can explain the twelve-gun heavy assault gun regiment. It can’t be a bat- talion since the companies are intended to be dispersed to other units, so the six-company unit must be a regiment? ‘Coming 10 the larger units, a brigade is a collection of battalions and regiments of different types that will fight, together, a division is a collection of regiments that will fight together, and a comps is a collection of brigades and divisions, Again, this makes sense of the absence of Soviet, tank divisions. Since the basic formation is a mixed brigade (of tank and infantry battalions, it must be a comps rather than a division, A tank division by comparison would re- ‘quire pure tank and infantry regiments.‘The Red Army entered 1942 with less than 2000 tanks on inventory, They were held in small brigades of 10 heavy, 14 selmi and 20 light tanks and allocated to armies as needed, This was unsuitable for the planned summer offensives, 80 22 tank corps were ordered burlt in March (6 June 1942, When the fledgling tank corps went into battle they suffered horrific casualties, Rebuilt with bettersupport and more experienced officers, they would lead all subsequent offensives, “Tank Comps, authorised strength fom July 1942; Tanks—63 light, 99 medium. Personinel—7853. ‘Note: The units liste are those that served with the cops during 1942-43. Not all ware present atthe same time, “Tank Brigades 1 Gas, 49, 89. 1 Mot, later 89, 117, 159, 44 Mot, 1437 SU Rat! 26,27, 148, 2 Mot, later 26, 99,1695, 58 Mot, 62 Hy Regt, 15 Gas Hyy Rat 50,51, 103, 57 Mot, 1540 Hy SU Ret 45,47, 102, 4 Mot 24, 41, 70,5 Mot\l435 SU Rat! Corps Ley Tankovy “Isterburgskiy” ‘Krastznamenniy Korpus Dey Tankovy Korpus Sy Takvy Korpus ‘ey *Staingradskikh’ Tank Korpus Sy Taikowy ‘Dvinskiy* ‘ordenoy Suvorova i Kutuzova Kerpus {6-y Tankovy Korpus 224, 100, 200%, 6 Mot, 112, 1461 SU Rat Ty Tankovy Korpus 3 Gas) 62, 87, 7 Mat ‘S-y Tankovy Korpus 25,31,93, 8 Mot S2y Tankovy “Bobruysko= 23,95, 108, 8 Mot [esinskiy’ Krasnoznamenniy, HMS4 SU Ree, 1455 SURst, ‘ordena Sivorava Korps 1540 Hy SU Ret lo-y Tankovy ‘Dneprovskiy* 178, 189, 186 11 Mot, 1450 SU Ret ‘ordena Suvorova Korpus HY TankOvy *Radonsko- 53%, 599,160 12. Mot Berlinskiy* Krasnoznamenniy, later 20,36, 65,12 Mot, 1493 SU Ret ‘andetioy Suvorova i Kutuzova Korps 2-y Tankouy Korpus 30, 86,97, 13 Mot, 106, 1417 SU Res 1 Tankovy Korpus (STHvy_85)88,20 Mot, 163, 165,169, later 6 Gd, 13,254, 38 Mot 196, 105,113, 17 Mot Inter 88, 113,195, 2 Mot, [418 SU Ret? 107, 109, 164, 15 Mot, 141 SU Rare 15-y Tankouy Korps 16-y Tankowy Korps Tankeovy Korps 66, 67, 174, 31 Mot “Zoainsisko- THO} 180,181, 1 NGL lier 110; 70,1819 Krasnoznamenniy, 32 Mot, 36 Gas Fivy Ret, frdenoy Suvorova i Kutuzova Korpus 1543 Hyy SU Ret 19y Tankouy *Pevikopskiy 79, 101,202", 19 (later 26) Mot, Keasnaznamenniy Korpus 1824 Hy SU Ret, 1452 SU Ret 20-y Tankovy Zvenigoroshy 8 Gas, 80, 158, 7 GlsMox, 1419 SUIRB Krasnaznatneaniy Korps 1834 Hy SU Rg, 1895 SU Rat 2i-y Tankovy Kerpus 64,198, 199,21 Mot 22y Toy Korps 13)36)138, 3,36, 173, 176, 182,22 Nl 23-yTankovy “Budapeshiskiy 6,130", 130, 23 Mot, ordenaSuvorova Korps Inter 3,39, 135, 56 Mo, M3 SU Rat 2-y Tankovy Korpus AGIs, 54,130, 24 Mot Sy Tankowy Krasnoznam 11,1625, 175, 16 Mot, Korpus 41 SU'Rgr 1829 Hlyy SU Ret 26-y Tanky Korps 19,157,216, 14Mot 28-y Tankory Korpus 39, 55, 56,3. Mot 29-yTankovy Zoatenskikhiy” | 25,31)32, SU Mol 446SU Rat, Krasarnamenniy Korps 1349 HyySU Ret 30-y Tankoxy Dolxovolcheskiy 107, 283,248, 30 Mos, ‘Urasky’ Koxpus im. taling 162i SU Ret 35) Tankony“Viseaskiy* 100,237, 240%,298GSU Ret Krasnoznameniy, 1535 Hyy SURE cordenov Suvorova i Kutsova Korps Tankowy Korpus ates ‘Voronezh, Uranus, Ore, Bagration, Bali, Fast Prussia Voronezh, Kursk, Bagration, 8.9 Grareystiy Tankowy Korps Kho; Orel, Bagration, 95) Gvardskiy Tankowy Korpus ‘Voronezh, Stalingrad, Uranus, Satur, 5-y Gas Tank Korpus Orel, Baltic Rahev, Kursk 1/-y Gvandeyshiv Tankory Korpus ‘Vowel Stalin, Uranus, 3-) Gls Tonkowy Koypus Rabe, 3-y Mechanzinovannly Korpus Rabe, Ore, Bajration, Berlin Kharkov, Kursk, Kharkov, Dnepr, Bate, East Prussia ‘Biyansk, Kharkov, Melitopol, Ukraine; Beri Rahev, Khatkos, Ore, 6-» Gvandeyskiy Tankovy Korpus ‘Bryik Steingrady 13°yMeehion iran Korpus Kozelsk, Kharkov, Kursk, 7» Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Korpus Stalingrad, Uranad) Kursk Diep, Korsuit Bagration, Ty Gvardeyskiy Tankowy Korpus - ‘Voronesh, Saturn, 4-» Gwardeysiy Tankovy Korpus Woronedli Satur, KhatkW Kursk, Kharkov, KitgvOuady “Korsitn, Lvov-s sae Hungary Pe Karsk, Donbas, Mito, Crime, Baltic Kuk, Uitaing, KO ¥ harkox, Destroyed June 1942 Kavos, Saingrad, Destroyed Aust 1942 uarkox; Dons, Dnep, Ukraine, Hungary, Vienna Uranus) 29° Girdle Tanikooy Rorpus ‘Voronezh, Satur, Kharko, Kursk, Dnepe, Vistla-Oler, Berlin Uranus, 2p Gourde shi Tank Karp Stalingrad, 4-» Mechanizivovanniy Korpus Kursk, Kharkov, Dnopr, Kos Bagration Bali, ast Prussia el Ore, Smolensk, 0-y GrardeyskiyTankowy Korpus Kiusk, Kha6® Diep, Bagration, Lvov-Sandoinin, Vistla-Oder, Bedin ank Corps, Krasnoznamennty = Red Banner, orden Sivorova = Onder of Suvoroy eno Kunzuva~ Onde of Kuan, Dobrovolcheskiy = Voluater, im, Siafina~ in the name of Stalin, Hvy~ Heavy, SU Assault gun, Rgt= Regiment. 1 Mixed SU-76i & SU-122 6 su-i2 2 KV85 3 Ma 7 suas 8 (Matilda 1) ‘Mark I (Valentine 4 MIM (Les) 9 MAL Star 5 SU-16 10 Mark IU (Valentine VI)ER eed Tere A Corps [by Gvardeyskiy Tankovy ‘Donsko orden Lenin Krasnoznamenniy. ordena Suvorova Korps 2-y Gvanleyskiy Tankovy "Tasinskiy’ Krasnoznamenniy, odena Suvorova I Korps 34) Gvandeyskiy Tankovy “KoiGhnikovskiy ‘Krasnoznamenniy, ordena Suvorovt Korps 4-y Gvanleyskiy Tankovy “Kanteminovskiy ‘ordena Lenina, Krasnoznamenniy Kospus TH36SU Ret 1431 SU Ret S-y Gvanleyskiy Tankovy Stalingrasko-Kievskiy’, ‘orden Lenina, Krasnoznamenni ordenov Sworova i Kuturova Korps 6-y Gvandeyskiy Tankovy “Kievsko-Berlinskiy orden Lenina, Krasnoznamenniy, ‘ondenoy Suvorova i Bogdana-Khn T-y Gvanleyskiy Tankovy “Kievsko-Bertnskiy’, ‘dena Lenina, dvazhd Krasnoznamen fondena Suvorova IL Korps 48 Gls yy S1.Gas, Initskogo Korpus 1419 SU Ret 10-y Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Dobrovoleheskiy ‘Unlsko-Lvovskiy’Krasnozmamenniy, ordenov Suvorova i Kutuzovs Korps {-y Gvadeyskiy Tankowy “Prikarpatsko-Deetinsky’ Krasnoznamenniy, ondena Suvorova HL Kors 356 Gds SU Re, 17.Gds, 1 Gls Mot 34.Gus Hy Tk, 1001 SU Rgt! 1541 Hy SU Rut 4 Gds, 28 Gd, 26 Gis, 4 Gals Mor, 47 Gils TK Ret, 1819 SU Ret, 1833 Hvy SU Ret 3 Gas, 18 Gd, 19 Gas, Gas Mot 12Gds?, 13 Gas’, 14 Gas’, 3 Gls Mot, 20 Gis, 21 Gas, 23 Gs, 6 Gas Mos, k Ret! Gis, $3 Gls, 22 Gas Mat, 292 Gas SU Rye, 1893 SU Ret 1835 Hy SU Ret, 1442 SU Ret 54 Gas, 55 ids, 56 Gils, 23 Gas Mot, 293 Gd SU Rat, 1894 SU Rut, (61 Gis, 62 Gas, 63 Gd, 29 Gs Mor 345 Hvy SU Ret, 40 Gis, 44 Gas, 48 Gad, 27 Gls Mot, 293 Gds SU Ret’, 1535 Hy SU Ret Batles Kursk, Dnepr, Bagration Vistula-Ouer, Belin Kursk, Dnepr, Bagration, Baltic, East Prussia Diep, Leningrad, Bagration, Berlin S.aruen, Kharkov, Kharkov, Vistla-Oder, Berlin Kursk, Dnepr, as-Kishiney, Hungary Kursk, Dnepr, Lyov-Sandomit, Berlin Smolensk, Lvov-Sandomit, Prague Bagration, Lvov-Sandomit, Vistla-Oder, Berlin Ukrsing, Berlin Bagration, Lyov-Sandomir, Gvardeystav~ Guards (Gs), Tankony Korpus ~ ‘Tank Corps, Krastoznamenniy = Red Banner, dvazha = twice, ordena Sivorova~ Onder of Suvarov, ondena Bogdana-Khmelmiskogo Volunteer, Hvy = Heavy, Mot= Motor Rifle, SU = Assault gun, Tk 1 $U-76 <= 2 SU-122 3 Mark (Valentine 1) fan, Rat Order of Bogdan-Khimelnitsky. ordena Kumzova Regiment. 4 Mark AV (Churebill 1) (Order of Kuuzov, Dobravolcheskiy = 5. suas ETE Tae Ae = Corps “avalry Divisions +y Gvardeyskiy Kavaleriyshiy “Zhitomitskoi” Korpus 1 Gds, Gd, 7 Gs, (Kavaleriyskiy Korpus “Belov’) 461 SU Ret 2+y Geandeyskiy Kavaleriyskiy Kompus 4 Gas, 20 (ater 17 Gs), 1812 SU Ret 3-y Gvardeyskiy Kavalsiyshiy “Grodnenskikhiy’ Korpus 5 Gas, 6 Gs, 32 1814 SU Ret 9 Gis, 10 Gas, 0, 1815 SU Ret 4-y Kubanskiy Gvardeyskiy Kavaleriyskiy Kazachiy ‘ordena Lenina, Krasnoznamenniy, 30, ‘ordenoy Suvorova i Bogdan Khmelnitskiy I Korpus 11 Gds 12 Gas, 63, 1896SU Ret 8 Gas, 13 Gas, 8, 1813 SU Ret 14 Gis, 15 Gas, 16 Gas, 1897 SU Ret S-y Donskoy Gvardeyskiy Kavaleriyskly Kazachly "Budapeshiskiy” Krasnoznamenniy Korps ‘6-y Gvardeysiy Kavalriyshiy Korpus 7-y Gvardeyskiy Kavalviysky “Brandenburgskiy" ‘ordena Lenina, Krasnoznamenniy, ‘ordena Suvorovs It Korps 2+y Kavaleriyskiy Korpus 38, 62, 64, 70 61,81 30,34, 60 26, 28,49, 7 Tank Bae 217,83 21,38, 112 18, 24,82. 25, 80, 87 12, 13,15, 16 46y Kavaleriyskiy Kerpus S-y Kavaleriyshiy Korpus 6) Kavaleriyskiy Korps ey Kavaleriyskiy Korpus Sy Kavaleriyskiy Korps Ly Kavaleryskiy Korpus [By Kavaleryskly Korpus 17-y Kavaloriyskiy Kazachiy Kerpus Battles ‘Vyazma, Donbas, Prep, Zhitomir, Lvov-Sandomit, Vistla-Oder, Prague Rahtev, Orel, Pripyat Marshes, Bagration, Lvov-Sandomir, Vistula-Oder, Frankfurt jum, Kharkoy, Stalingrad, Uranus, Smolensk, Vitebsk, Bagration, Vistula-Oder, Elbe Caucasus, Mius, Odessa, Bagration, Budapest, Prague ‘Cayeass, Donbas, Melitopol, Dnepr, Korsun, Iassi-Kishiney, Budapest, Vienna Smolensk, Pripyat Marshes, Budapest, Prague Voroshiloverad, Pripyat Marshes, Bagration, Vistla-Oder, Brandenbure lzyum, Kharkoy, Destroyed July 1942, ‘Uranus, Destroyed February 1983 yum, Kharkov, Destroyed July 1942 Tyum, Khatkov, Destroyed May 1942 Saturn, 6y Grardeyshiy Kavalerishiy Korpus Bryansk, Uranus, 2 Glodeysi Kavaleriystiy Korpus ‘yazma, Destroyed August 1942 ‘Volkov, Destroyed July 1942 Caueasus, 4+» Gvurdeyshiy Kavuleriyskiy Korpus ‘Gvurceyskiy/= Guards (Gs), Kavalerisshiy Korpus = Cavalry Corps, Krasnozhamenniy = Red Banner, ordena Suyorova = Order of Suvoro., ‘ordena Bogddanay Kimelntskaya ~ Order of Bogdan Khmelntsky, Kazachiy Korpus = Cossack Corps, Kuanskiy Kecac onshay Kazach = Don Cossack, SU salt gun, Rat~ Regiment, Be = BrigadeEUR Ae PTS TNE TA The Red Army found its all-lank tank corps to be unbal- i Ba ii ‘anced in.combat and even when a motorrifle brigade and a antillery support were added, unable to hold the ground they {ook Their solution was the new mechanised corps with {hee motor-ifle brigades and two tank regiments (later one tank brigade). These corps actually had more tanks than a tank corps and three times as much infantry! Equipping a ‘mechanised corps was expensive and relatively few wer Faised—most quickly gaining Guards status (unsurprising, given their role in leading every major offensive!) Mechanised Comps, authorisod strength from September 1942: Tanks -69 light, 101 medi, $ heavy. Personnel 15,581 Corps Mechanised Brigades Battles [ey Gvardeyskiy MechanizicovanniyVenskiy Gis, 2 Gs, 3 Gas, 16 Gas Te Re, Uranus, Donbas, Dep, fdenoy Lenina i Kutuzova Kerpus 17.Gds Tk Ra, ater 9 Gds Tk, 1544 Hy SURst— Vienna 2-y Gvardeyskiy Mechanizirovanniy ‘Nikolaesko- 4 Gus, 5 Gis, 6 Gd, 21 Gls Tk Ret, 22 Gals Tk Ret, Uranus, Kursk, Dnepr, ‘dapeshiskiy” Krasnoznamenniy, ordena Suvorova Korpus later 37 Ge Tk, 1543 Hy SU Ret Vi 3y Gvardeyskiy Mechaniziovanniy 7.Gds, 8 Gils, 9 Gus, 41 Gas TK Rei 2 Gas TK Ret, Uranus, Kursk, Dnepr, ‘Shalingradsko-Kirvorozhskiy' Korpus later 38 Gas TR, 1831 Hy SU Ret Bagration, Baltic 4+-y Gvardeyskiy Mechanizirovanniy 13 Gs, M4 Gis, 15 Gas, 41 Gas Tk Ret Urans, Dnep, ls Salingradskiy’ Krasnoznamenniy, later 36 Gs Tk, 1828 Hvy SU Rt, 292 Gas SU Ret! Kishinov, Balkans, Budapest ordeno Swvorova i Kutuzova Korpus 55 Giardoyskiy Mechanizirovanniy "Zimovnlkovakiy®, 10 Gs, 11 Ga, 13 Gas, 32/Gas Te Ret, Uranus, Kursk Dep denoy Kutuzova i Aleksandra Nevskogo Korpus $3 Gs Tk Rg, ater 24 Gds Tk, 47 SU Ret Bagration, Berlin 6-y Gvardeyskiy Mechanizirovanniy *Lvovskiy'ordena Lenina, 16 Gas, 17 Gus, 49, re, Lvov-Sandomit, Krasnoznamenniy, ordena Suvorova Korpus 29 Gis Tk Ret, 6 Gus Tk Ret, | Gas SU Ri ‘Vistua-Oder, Prague ‘7.9 Gwadeyskiy Mechanizirovanniy 24 Gis, 25 Gas, 26 Gis, $7 Gils Tk, (Orc, Fast Prussia, Prague’ *Nezhinsko-Kucbansskiy”ordena Suvorova Korps 293 Gas SU Rie ‘8 Gvardoyskiy Mechanizirovanniy ‘Prikarptsko-Bevinskiy’ 19 Gas, 20 Gd, 21 Gals, 1 Gd Tk Kharkov, Dnepr, Krasnoznamenniy, dena Suvorova I Korpus 4354 Gids Hey SU Ret, 1451 SU Ret Lvoy-Sandomi, Bertin En = Sein ecpeere van Rar = ci Cn nc eed Bac vena aia OOo of Lenin, ordena Swvorova = Order of Suvorov, ordena Kutuzova = Order of Kutuzov, ordena Aleksandra Nevskogo ~ Order of Alexander Neva, Hi = Het SU Asi gn Te -"Ton,a - Regct 1 Suss 2 Sia 3 SU% LISA ee EE Corps Mechanised Brigades bates [ey Mechanizirovanniy ‘Krasgraskiy’ 19, 85, 37,219 Tk, Kharkov, Dap, Bagration, Vistula-Oder, Bestin Krasnoznamenniy Kerpus - 2+y Mechanizirovanniy Korpus 1s, 34,43, 33 Tk, 36 Tk Velikiye Luki, Orel, 7» Gvardeyshiy Mechantzirowanniy Korpus 3 Mechanizirovanniy Korpus) 1,310, Gas Th 49, 1547 Hyy SURI Rzhes, Kursk, Dnep, SV Garey Mechaniseosanni Korps 4Ly Mechanisrovanniy Kompus 36.59.60, 55 Tk Rat, IS8 Tk Rgt Uranus, 3-» Gvardeyskiy Mechonisirovanniy Korpus S.y Mectanizirovanniy Korpus 451,49}, 50, 166-Tk Ryt' 188 Tk RA” Utaius, Kharkov, Kursk Smolensks Korsun, Dest, later 2, 9),48),233 Th', 1827 Huy SU Ret lasi-Kishiney, 9: Gvurdevstiy Mechaniiroranniy Korps 6-y Mechanizirovanniy Kompus 51,54, 55,77 TKRat, 78 Tk Rgi__ Uranus, S-y Gvardeyskiy Mechanizirovanmiy Korpus 7-y Mechanizirovanniy 16063, 64,237 Tk Rat, Daepr Rumania, Hungary, Vienna “Novoukrninsko-Khinganskiy* 240 Tk Rt, 1821 SU RSE ena Lenina, Krasnoznameniy, ordena Suyorava Korpus 1 Mechaniztovanniy 66, 67, 68, 116 Tk, 1822 SU Ret Dnepr, Bagration, lasi-Kishiney, East Prssia “Aleksandiyskiy” Krasnoznamenniy, ordena Kutuzova Kospus Ly Mechinizirovanniy Kiovsko- 69170971, STGISHNY TE Rat,“ Pnepr, Lvov-Sadomir, VistulZOdee Poe Zhitomirskly’Krasnoznamenniy, —166-Tk Ret. 1823 SU Ret a: ‘ondenov Suvorovil Kutuzova Korps 1454 SU Rae $y Mechanizirovanniy Korps 19, 61,02, 13 Te Uranus, 47 Grardeyskiy Mechomtcirovannly Korpus Mechnicirovenniy Korpus = Mechanised Corps, Krasnaznamenniy ~ Red Banner, arena Lenina ~ Onder of Leni, oxdea Suvorove Onler of Swyoro, ordena Kuuuzova= Onler of Kutuzoy, Hy Heavy, SU = Assault gun, Tk~ Tank, Rat = Reinet 1 Mark (Matilda Tl) & Mark It (Valentine 11) 2 suas 3. su-76VICTORY AT AZHEV! ‘Moseow—29 November 1942 Sources close to Stavka, the Soviet High Command, have today declared they are confident of the imminent and glorious victory of our gallant forces over the fascist invaders around Rahev. Our glorious offensive was launched ‘on 25 November with a three-pronged simultaneous attack designed to stun the enemy and cause confusion and panie, Led by the hero of the people, Marshal Georgi Zhukov, the valiant troops of the Red Army are close to driving the Fascist wolf from the doorstep of our beloved capital. In the east the 20° and 31" Armies under General Konev attacked on a 40 km front along the Vazuza ‘and Osuga Rivers near the town of Zubstov against the Hitlerite 5" zer Division and the 78* and 102% Infantry Divisions. ‘The very forces of nature again aided the defence of the Motherland as thiek fog and snow allowed our brave forces to advance close to the enemy positions without suffering serious losses. The 20% Army, led by the 247" Rifle Division and the 80" ‘and 240! Tank Brigades swept aside the enemy forward positions and crossed the Vazuza river to establish a bridgehead on the western bank. In a bold move General-Major Kiryukhin, rushed forward Major-General Kruikov's 2"! Guards Cavalry Corps ‘and Colonel Arman’s 6" Tank Corps to expand their gains. A lack of roads fn the area and heavy fire from enemy artillery caused some delays with this redeployment, but our valiant troops ‘continued to push forward, sweeping, ‘aside enemy opposition and driving a ‘wedge deep into the area. Meanwhile in the west the 22" Army under General-Major Tushkevieh and the 41° Army under General-Major ‘Tarasov launched a twin operation from the opposite direction. The 41" ‘Amy's attack will liberate the town of Belyi and link up with 20" Amy. This meeting will encircle and destroy fan entire German Army and smash a 100 km (60 mile) hole in their Army Group Centre, These gallant sons of Russia succeeded in quickly breal the German defence and cutting the enemy's lines of communication. In some areas our troops met with stubborn resistance as could be expected from an enemy fighting for survival, Resistance was particu- larly strong in the area of Belyi where troops from General Solomatin’s 1" Mechanised Corps clashed heavily with organised enemy defences before breaking through in the direction of O_ Kilomerers 30, @ Molodoi Tod 14P2G XXXXIPZ goliubovo ° Dac Rv Kholm XXX Stenino XXVII Stara XXXIXPz XXXXVIPZ Novodugino ‘ssep Proposed atcis ul ates Fives 9 [Fitna 9 cesses Propased betes ‘zu ebjcives ied De rman camir ates Up Ringe 4 SOVIET AY GROUPS ersemy CEB Pins cons D2 sey ‘GERMAN ARMY GROUPS IX shletnry Corpe IP2DD 18 Pane isin XU hisnnyCoe_ 9PZD "Famer Dison En" Arey EB) Amy 1) 9 Army 31 my EB) 39% Army Bava [Duh LIB wechnset Crs Be ate cops (9am 5 Tank Cmps (GG o> Tank ors 5 9 Tonk ops we TankCrps EEDA 2 Guares Cary ars XX "lenny Cope 14P 2D we PaerDisen XXN 3 lfy Cops [NNT 234 ay Cops XVID fry Cos XNXINPz a Pore Caps SSED s5Cavey Dison [XXAAIPZ ls Power Cops SNNAVIPZ Faces Comps 430m 9¥Aany GD Gossdenctons(Our gallant Red Armymen advance behind a well-camouflaged 7-34 medium tank. Viadimirskoe. Whilstthe 41 Army continues to gain ground around Belyi, the 22 Army commanded by General Iushkevich has launched a parallel attack along the Luchesa River valley to the north. ‘The spearhead succeeded yesterday in breaking through the defence of the Germans and have started to push the enemy from the Luchesa Valley. Much of the area is frozen swamp and forests, but units are progressing well ‘and commanders are confident the final enemy resistance will be swept aside shortly. Intelligence suggests that the Germans have committed units from theirmuch- {outed ‘Grossdeutschland” Motorised Rifle Division to try to stem the flow, but to little gain. General Iushkevich continues 10 exploit the breach and push on towards the strategic goal of the Olenino-Belyi highway. ‘This can only help the companion thrust southwards by 30" and 39% Armies who are also facing elements of ‘Grossdeutschland’, Progress here hhas been good with Molodoi Tud liberated and the advance on Olenino progressing well. The 20" Army’s 22* Tank Brigade took the spearhead in the next phase of the battle. The mighty machines of 6® Tank Corps, supported by the 2"! Guards Cavalry Corps, smashed aside the enemy defences, crossing the Rzhey-Sychevka road, 20km into enemy territory, and liberated the ae of Lozhky by nightfall on 26 November, Many fascist units were routed and at least two artillery regi- ‘ments destroyed. There are numerous reports of supply dumps being cap- tured or destroyed, Marshal Zinukov ‘ordered the infantry to advance from the Vazuza bridgehead to join the shock group and consolidate the ground. The infantry renewed its of- fensive yesterday, 28 November and tial reports are encouraging. From 41 Army around Belyi reports have been received of the commitment early today of the 47* Tank Brigade, under the command of Colonel I Dremoy, who have secured the Belyi- Viadimirskoye highway and control the eastern approaches to the town, This completes the envelopment of the enemy in the area, ‘Zhukov continues to push the attack and our men are fighting theft way ‘deeper into the heart of the enemy area, Resistance is strengthening, but that ean only be seen as a positive sign that indicates the desperation of the defence as they try to hold their line against the red tide of our victory. Reports have been received of some ‘counterattacks but again these are the actions of a desperate enemy facing certain defeat. They are throwing in their last reserves who will soon be ‘consumed, It is only a matter of time before our gallant forces break the re~ solve of the invaders, already sapped by the harsh reality of a Soviet winter, ‘and the trickle of retreat becomes the full flood of rout. ‘Our brave sons of Russia are well-po- joned to drive the fascist curs from the soil of our beloved Motherland ‘with their tals between their legs ‘Our men will not rest until every fas- cist has been driven from the soil of ‘Mother Russia, Vietory is ours!TTT Mi Ta T-3t Crowes ‘Armament: 762mm F24 tenk gun and two 762mm DT machine-guns OBRAZTSA 1942, Dimensions: Longth 7.5m (24 Fn), width 282m (in), height 299m (76 1in) Weight: 32,0009 (705715) Grow: 4 ‘Armament: 6.2mm ZIS-3 divisional cannon Dimensions: Length 4.9m (16f Tin, width 2.7m (Bf in), height2m (7 in) Weight: 11,200kg 25,0001)‘Comrade, you have been given ageess to the Central Tank Development Bureau files, These plans must not fall into the hiands of the fascists, keep them seeret at all costs. With this vanced techtoloxy were cera to push the fixes from the Motherland and al of Europe a aaa aink ourasinhg ham ua OBRAZTSA 1941 Meare oon ash rae sae a Weight: 5,150kg (11,3541b) a Kv-IS Grew:5 Armee: 7 2nmZIs8 gun an re san 0 macin-ane SKOROSTNOY ions: Length 7.0m (234), width 3.3m (10ft 10in), height 2.8m (9ft 2in) Weigh 2204 (9,000) a..Fighting Girlfriend... ‘Yofimovich grasps hie mug of acorn coffee tightly and sfumps firedly down onto an ammunition crate beside his comrades, “Yefimovich. tell Gregori about whal happened today with Tovaritsch Mariya” urges Volshooa, ‘Da, very well he begins. taking « fong gulp of his coffee. “Twas mid-afternoon and we had just broken through the German lines. or 40 we thought. Ithad seamed foo quiet {oo subdued That fool Tolistoo had Glundered ahead yet again and we had become separated when the whofe world secmed to erupt around our very ears! It was oboious that Tofistov had fed us all into an ambush, Blast his eyes. The first shot. bang! Hit us on the flank, The boy Ravel was hysterical, sereaming for his mother. But Mariya refused to panic, We were reversing when, bang. another hill This one was louder, closer, the impact sending 2 back, skidding until we came fo a hal. Then we waited. that cold sifence, not finowing whether wed start burnin. Fiedor shouled down from the turret ‘Left rack ~ oui! We weren't going anywhere. Mariya picked up the tool hit Jrom the floor. ‘Where the hell do you think you're going?” demanded Fjedor. "A slifl tank is a dead tank’ shouted ‘Mariya. She lurned to the rest of us. Who's with me?” Rioel was sobbing still: Fjedor for all his protests muttered something about his back. She looked at me. what could I do? Next tank. In one. two. three movements we hit the hard ground.” “Outside was chaos, smashed tanks. bodies, fire—terriblel Clank, clank, efank, Mariya hammered at the buckled fake. The damage wasn't asbad as we feared but sti bad enough to leave us exposed. Soon enough they had our range and bullets were zipping all around ws.” “You know what she id?” ashes Yofimooich with a smile. “She threw her hammer up al the turret to where Fedor ‘was shulking. Fedor! Ono fiundred yards, ton o'clock, continuous fire. heep their heads down, now! The ‘enemy fire coming from ahead of us. wasn't sure exactly where bul somehow she new where fo ain Fjedor af. My heart was pounding, ny mouth dry with fear. We shoulda't be out here! I thought.” “We heard Fjedor’ grumbling but 1000 fe was firing. By the gods. if was foud! Stiff Mariya hept hammering at the buckled track. her hands bruised and cul. Soon enough we had beaten the fast fink into place and the track was {good ence more. The fire was getting heavier: Mariya had her heel efipped by a stray sho but she just pushed me head first bach into the tank and dropped back into her seal Let's go and find Toistoo™ Z 19 Ifinow, we are clambering out from the HAAALSAS IM FLAMES SF HAA Outstanding individual soldiers often performed amazing feats. Whether their actions were heroic fights against the ‘odds or inspiring leadership in desperate situations, these ‘warriors changed the outcome of battles by their strength of will and personal courage, Flames Of War recognises these heroes and their conttibu- tion by representing them as Warrior teams with their own special rules. A Warrior team can be included as part ofan appropriate foree. Of course, Warriors are unique and your force ean only have one of any Warrior ‘They do not count as a platoon and must usually: be at- tached to a platoon at the start ofthe game and remain with it for the game’s duration. %Rome eM OED nce RCO MEY Cleese arena on OneE TC. ‘her husband changed their sumame to Oktyabtskaya. Peg orem elem Rinna co ea August 1941 but the news took a year to reach her. Her Penrice role aia ee nt aise funds to purchase a tank for the Red Army. Mariya Scorer Re cc ee Saas Towed to drive it! Realising the publicity opportunities, High Command approved hier request and, atthe age of thirty-eight, she commenced training In September 1943, she was assigned to 26a Gvardey- ‘kaya Tankovaya Brigada (26 Guards Tank Brigade) as SES er aN tac cae *T34 tank emblazoned with the turret slogan ‘Bovevaya Sarma tren sou ae enc seed ems sie Reece ee passat Ce ceo Smee an Matiya’s participation in battle, Incombatduring October ETO ei eae aN Pees IRUemUnen nunca acd Pen eer sus acaL Moet PUN ee Rena senate Peover are een eS rae halted hor T-34, Mariya, often disregarding orders not to, would jump out of the tank while under fire, effect Sey aan LES eS In January 1944 she was hit in the head by shrapnel ‘while repairing a broken track and killed. In August she SOON seat ecto ene tankist to be awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union the Tenge eg Monn Let Ta rT Mariya Oktyabrskaya is a Warrior and has the same ST Cen een Ta ANNA Sut Ie NORTE OS feo Ne og SE Company for a cost of +25 points. ees Arca a aa SL Nene fora For the Motherland: Any tank driven by Mariya passes Bisa bee ener ers Heroine of the Soviet Union: Mariya makes expert use of all available cover and concealment when ma- Erocnerrrae ace Meer NCSA soe Near ene ne nee Save. If the Save is successfll Mariya’s experience has protected her tank ~ disregard the hit. unsuccossfil the Ce eee eos eu cence anc Ce mre cas commander/gunner’s shooting allows her to halt at the Er eto ITNT La noe tank driven by Mariya does not reduce the ROF of its TTA Mn ae Dannie te en nenee heen fn) 27} bey ed |..Don Pursuit. 16th December on the Don River and it is very cold’ outside, | fool sorry for the infantry, the inside of my T- 54 seems positively warm in comparison, “After midday a finock resounds on the bottom of the half and a soldier says. Liculenant Bonder. a note for you feam the battalion commander’ I say, Take it through the hatch. The commander writes: Son, at five oclock ia the evening Katyushas’ wiff play. As soon a they play try to break through with the infantry to Dubooifoyka’ That was the whole order. Everything 1or from neigh Couring detachments, no reference points, simply om {ry lo breakthrough to the other end.” And so I shout orders to my crew to got ready. My crew consists of Sehuskin, and Perepefitsa. both off ‘enough fo be my fathers. they're around forty and Lam Sul @ teenager, and Yaschka Vorontsov, who is about five years older than myself. The driver. Perepelitea Keeps complaining he is cafd and that his feet im their boots and fegrwrappings are frozen to a degree of tolal insensitivity: I tell him he ean warm them up on the Fascist’ fires, anyway what does he have to complain about, he doesn't have lo have his head up top directing the other tanke. ‘was cfear, there were no separation f ‘Kalyusha’ sings and we are off.1 am using my feet on the shoulders of Perepelitia. I push forward ry left and he turns loft. push righ! and he turns right ~ the internal telephone system is nol working again! The noize of the T-54 tracks are enough to wake the dead. Gut that is nothing compared to the first shells hitting the armour—the whole inside rings fihe a bell and T cant hear a thing. And there go the headlights again. ‘alisays cleaned off in the first Jirafight. We charge on not stopping, feasing the infantry fo efean up. On to Dubooihoyka. The Fascists are pulling up a terrible fight, We have wed up all our ammunition Blasting fanks and build ings. We had fo wail for more ammunition. but no one twanis lo gol out and do the refoadingsit is too cold, so 1 Fhave fo yell at the [azy peasants. I see that there are not the ‘os many fankes left as started. bul no fime fo th assaull is on again, with infantry supp twe push these inoaders of Mother Russia oul for good. Success, Dubovihoyfia is ours, and then they make us ‘wail uniil relieved by infantry. We are angry fo be miss” ing the Jun’ up front as our comrades drive on. Bul we refuel, and resupply. It is even cofder, so we keep the engine running (otherwise the fuel freexes of course), New orders fo lake Taly. Off we go drioing through dis carded Fascist equipment and stragglin Yaschha enjoys shooting up with the hull machine-gun. Comrade Semonoo's tanke stops. he yells his stearing is not working and whore the hell are the suppor! troops {o fix it. His problem. I drive off Lace a clearing bathed in sunlight al the other end. and [ have onfy one wish: to get to the centre of Taly. If il is not defended, that means that Taly is ours. and T won't adoance further. I will have carried out my mis Sion and stayed alive. Suddenly. see through the peri- teope a German tank gun! A missile to the side! The driver evies, Commander! They killed Yaschha! Ibend cover Yaschka. He is aff black, The ps sweat right theough him. Another fou! The tank stalls and eateh 2 fire throw back the hatch and yell to the crew, ‘Out 1e vehicle! and jump. Alf three of us jump: the dead remain in the lank. antry that “We jump onlo a snow-covered field as bullets whistle around. Lam wounded. Blood gushes from my feft Teg. I Bandage my feg and as we ie there, he fank stops burn ing-Theep saying. Why aren you burning? Why arént you bursing?” Afr all. fit doesn't Gurn I'm facing the penal battalion, because I had the right fo leave the tanks Inder only two cireumstances: the first if it caught fire tand the second, if i's armament was out of commission. Bat the gun as fine and now the tank has stopped Gurning. It turns out that the tank itself wasn't burning. the oapours inside it wore, The vapours aff burned out, the if burned out on the bottom as well. and the tank stopped burning. Lorder the driver. ‘Crawl over there ‘and start the tank: So we cravl over and in through the GCotlom hatch and it starts fiet time. We destroy the gun that thought we were dead and advance into the centre of Taly! A glorious victory!tal 1 1942—Renewed Soviet attacks.Peat meet ed er en ea See er1 seater, we on mhe Od soeBa neha pli Assemble your tanks using the diagram in the pack Undercoat them with a black spray-can primer or thinned primer paint. Base coat your tanks with Russian Green. Eo) Finish off your tanks by painting your tracks Gunmetal Grey and the tyres on the road wheels Black ‘Your tanks are now ready to stalk their prey across the battlefield CSLOUAS USED All the colours used in this guide are available in the Quartermasters and Soviet Paint Sets, Available from all good hobby stores. Vallejo Tanks, Trucks and Guns Green Russian Green (924) Catachan Green Games Workshop Camouflage White White 951) Skull White Earth Brown Flat Earth (983) Bestial Brown Sand Yellow Yellow Ochre (913) Bubonie Brown Common Colours Tracks Tool handles ‘Tyres, road wheels Gunmetal Grey (863) _Boltgun Metal Beige Brown (875) . Scorched Brown Black (950) Chaos Black ‘Tank Crews Overalls Black (950) Chaos Black ‘Altermat@ uniform’ Khaki Grey (880) Graveyard Earth Helmet Black (950) Chaos Black ‘Alteniate Gl0U#"” "Beige Brown (875) Scorched Brown Faces and hands Flat Flesh (955) Dwarf Flesh WACACWS) SVICECT YANS Next highlight the tank, Mix Russian Green with a little White (90:10) and ciry brush this onto the raised parts of the tank to add depth, Check out the Flames Of War book and website (www:FlamesOsWar:com) for dry-brushing and modelling techniques. _ To take your tank fo the expert level you can paint the tool handles Beige Brown and theit heads Gunmetal Grey. Dry brush the tracks with Flat Earth and highlight with Gunmetal Grey to simulate mud and wear. Add decals for slogans or hand paint your own to give your tanks the final touches. PISHTIMG STALPALEMD Mariya Oktyabrskaya’s tank “Fighting Girlfriend’ has been painted using the guide above. Being the command tank, extra care and detail has been added to make this the centrepiece of the army. ‘A mixed grey (White and Black mixed at 50:50) was used to paint on stains and wear in the paint with final touches off Gunmetal Grey on the edges of areas that can easily be damaged in operation representing paint being wor off, exposing the metal of the tank underneath. ‘The mud was made by mixing Beige Brown paint with ready-mixed plaster. Mariya shown on her tank (above) and the dismounted version (lef) show the common tank crew uniform colours of Black or Khaki Grey.