Soviet Recon Doctrine

[CMGC]

First of all hi, I've lurked here for a little while but I now have a question to ask.
Can anyone point me in the direction of some information regarding Soviet 1970's Brigade/Division level recon tactics?

More specifically I am interested in doctrine for BRDM/BMP based recon.

Do the vehicles operate singly or in groups?

What proportion of the total recon elements would be operating at one time?

Is there ever a reason to open fire on the enemy whilst on a patrol? (not in self defence)

Do the recon troops stay in radio contact? If not, how do they communicate securely?

How often would the crews dismount?

Unless I am mistaken there are no Soviet 'Field Manuals' published on the net so I am finding it hard to track down the info so any help would be appreciated!

[DesktopArmor]

I have a book at home, Firepower: Mechanized Warfare that has one chapter/article on reconnaissance operations, and it has a section talking about Soviet recce tactics. I don't know exactly what period it focuses on, but my guess given equipment used is the '70's/'80's. AFAIK from the section, BRDMs and BMPs operated in groups in advance of the main force. Also, Soviet doctrine tended towards "Reconnaissance by fire" which means some heavier recce groups may have used main battle tanks to add firepower. Unfortunately, I don't have the book with me, or I could say more.

[CMGC]

Well thats something I didn't know!
Does that mean a recon company would operate as a company sometimes or would regular troops be used in that role?

[Gungnir]

IIRC... similar to most U.S. Recon/Scout units. (like DeskTopArmor said) operated in groups far in front of the main effort as detection force to determine composition/disposition of the enemy, ID and destroy enemy recon elements, ID the enemy's main effort. The set up screen lines and conducted route, zone, area Recon missions.
I am not sure, did they protect the flanks of main efforts with moving screen lines?
Screen line going forward is just an area recon

oh and act as bait

life expectancy of a U.S. Scout (and an FO) on the Fulda Gap in the face of a Soviet thrust... what, like 60secs?

[Somalimafia]

We were taught that the soviets, especially armoured forces, used highly aggressive recon tactics. Small BMP teams would advance at full speed until they took fire or enemy was sighted. Upon contact they would, in the event of catching the enemy off guard, push through, report and continue or retreat, unload infantry, and advance again, if they were spotted. Our artillery unit was told that the Defence University super computer had modelled that in every major battle our unit would encounter armoured soviet recon or assault units. The recon platoon would do exactly as I said above. They would drive through the entire battery at full speed mapping the locations of our howitzers and then turn around or continue to the next battery. (BMP at full speed with the element of surprise would be difficult to intercept without landmines or AT squads, which each battery is supplied with.) Mechanized infantry or MBTs would follow and annihilate the battery or call in arty unless the entire battery displaced in 30 minutes.

[CMGC]

Thanks, guys for the help. woot
So, if the soviets were aggresive and could expect to lose a lot of vehicles, what proportion of them would be used when advancing to contact?
I read somewhere that a Soviet division was expected to last 10 days on the front line so does that mean it would commit everything at once?
Also, a BRDM can't have been used aggresivly can it?

[Gungnir]

Thanks, guys for the help. woot
So, if the soviets were aggresive and could expect to lose a lot of vehicles, what proportion of them would be used when advancing to contact?
I read somewhere that a Soviet division was expected to last 10 days on the front line so does that mean it would commit everything at once?
Also, a BRDM can't have been used aggresivly can it?

Depends on Commander, mission, METT-C, etc. the Commander will commit the necessary elements/numbers.


The Great Patriotic War/WWII proved that the Soviet/Russian Army could sustain enoromous casualties and losses and still conduct offensive (counter-attack) and defensive operations. So not saying they do not value human life (of their own) but They have the ability (due to their sheer numbers) to take serious losses and still be FMC and conduct operations.

I believe US response to Soviet/Russian numerical superiority was firepower and accuracy. The Soviets would overwhelm the enemy's defensive line and zone with their numbers.

[JRT]

Thanks, guys for the help. woot
So, if the soviets were aggresive and could expect to lose a lot of vehicles, what proportion of them would be used when advancing to contact?


As a simple rule there is 1 squad from a platoon that moves up front, 1 platoon from a company, 1 company from a battalion, 1 battalion from a regiment etc.

Take it like this: Recon followed by forward elements (1/3 of force) followed by main body (2/3 of force). Recon moves until it is stopped, forward elements conduct the assault on move and main body moves through once the forward elements have opened a gap and thrusts to the objective. Basically the reserves are large and there are lots of smaller units ****ging for a hole in the lines where that large, quick and mobile reserve can be unleashed into a virtually undefended rear of the enemy line.

This operational thinking can stretch in a bigger way as well, put some divisions "****ging", once one gets trough pour a corps of several divisions through that hole.

[Eeobroht87]

As a simple rule there is 1 squad from a platoon that moves up front, 1 platoon from a company, 1 company from a battalion, 1 battalion from a regiment etc.

Take it like this: Recon followed by forward elements (1/3 of force) followed by main body (2/3 of force). Recon moves until it is stopped, forward elements conduct the assault on move and main body moves through once the forward elements have opened a gap and thrusts to the objective. Basically the reserves are large and there are lots of smaller units ****ging for a hole in the lines where that large, quick and mobile reserve can be unleashed into a virtually undefended rear of the enemy line.

This operational thinking can stretch in a bigger way as well, put some divisions "****ging", once one gets trough pour a corps of several divisions through that hole.
Wasn't this essentially the entire Soviet concept for the OMG (Operational Manouver Group) concept? Have a gap opened in enemy lines and have the OMG - a heavily armoured mobile force - move through and wreak havoc behind enemy lines?

[asch]

Have a gap opened in enemy lines and have the OMG move through and wreak havoc behind enemy lines?
sorry for ot, but that sounds truly epic )

[JRT]

Wasn't this essentially the entire Soviet concept for the OMG (Operational Manouver Group) concept? Have a gap opened in enemy lines and have the OMG - a heavily armoured mobile force - move through and wreak havoc behind enemy lines?

Indeed so. The same Manoeuvering method was essentially used in smaller levels as well. Support the success where it is found.

[Veni Valboro]

sorry for ot, but that sounds truly epic )

OMG! It does!:)p-)
On a serious note, did NATO have any comparable tacticts?