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The following information is composed of excerpts related to rear
services from various lectures. It is provided for the reader's information
pending the preparation of a complete chapter on this topic.
I. Composition of the army rear services organization and capabilities of
the army mobile base
----- - Army rear services has 7,000 personnel and 2,500 motor vehicles
assigned to it;
----- - Army Mobile Missile Technical Base (armeskaya podvizhnaya raketnaya
teknicheskaya baza-APRTB) provides technical support for missile units;
----- - Army Mobile Base (armeyskaya podvizhnaya baza-APB-) includes a
transportation regiment and provides supplies and materiel;
----- - Independent Traffic Control Battalion (Otdel'nyy dorozhno-komendantskiy
batal'on-ODKB) are assigned two each per army and one per tank army;
----- - Independent Bridging Company (Otdel'no-mostostroit' yelnaya
rota-OMOSTR), one each;
----- - Independent Technical Vehicle Recovery Battalion (Otdel'nyy batal'on
evakuatsii i tekhniki-OBET) is assigned for technical support;
----- - Independent Tracked Vehicle Recovery Company (Otdel'naya rota
evakuatsii avtotraktorov - OBEAT) is assigned for technical support;
----- - Independent Engineer Repair and Recovery Company (Otdel'naya
inzhenernaya remontno evakuatsionnaya rota- OIRER) is assigned for technical
support;
----- - Independent Medical Detachment (Otdel'nyy meditsinskiy otryad OMO) has
10 to 12 per Army, six per tank army, and is assigned for medical support;
----- - Independent Medical Transportation Company (Otdel'naya avtomobil' naya
sanitarnaya rota) is assigned for medical support;
----- - Army Anti-Epidemic Detachment (armeyskiy sanitarnyy
protivoepidemicheskiy otryad - ASPEO) is assigned for medical support;
------ Army Medical Reinforcing Detachment (armeyskiy otryad meditsinskogo
usileniya - AOMU) is assigned for medical support;
----- - Veterinary and Epizoic Detachment (Veterinarno-epizooticheskiy
otryad-VEO) is assigned for medical support.
In addition there are a postal service unit, shopping center (magazine), a
branch of the state bank, logistics signal communications battalion and
separate chemical decontamination battalion organic to the army's rear
services. The army may be enforced by Front logistical units and installations
such as: tank repair battalion, separate automobile repair battalion, and etc.
Army's mobile base
It is appointed to maintain stores and supply reserves and to deliver them to
the units.
Composition
----- - Army's mobile base headquarters and its signal platoon: This element
can detach a separate detachment (division) (army's mobile base detachment
(division); it's communications are provided by a base signal platoon. ----- -
Motor transport regiment: with a total transportation capacity of 5,030 tons
(of which 690 tons POL) in the combined arms army and 3,390 in the tank army.
----- - Army logistic stores depots:
----- - Artillery stores depot: 2,000 tons
----- - POL stores depot: 3,000 cubic meters
----- - Foodstuff depot: 400 tons
----- - Armored depot: 1,000 tons
----- - Motor and tractor depot: 150 tons
----- - Engineer stores depot: 250 tons
----- - Signals stores depot: 80 tons
----- - Chemical stores depot: 300 tons
----- - Commercial goods depot: 40 tons
----- - Medical stores depot: 60 tons
----- - Quartering stores depot: 25 tons
-------TOTAL about 7,000 tons
----- - Independent service company: can handle 2,500 tons daily.
----- - Independent logistic engineer company: can perform 6,000 cubic meters
of engineer work (digging) daily.
----- - Independent logistic chemical protection company: consists of six
platoon and can accomplish the following in 24 hours:
----- - Decontamination of personnel: 6,000 men
----- - Decontamination of vehicles: 400 vehicles
----- - Decontamination of routes: 25 km
----- - Decontamination of clothing: more than 1,000 pairs of clothing.
----- - mechanized bakery: can bake 18 tons of bread in 24 hours.
----- - Commercial goods base (T35): can store 40 tons of goods.
The chief of depot is subordinate to the chief of army's mobile base. He is
also subordinate to the army's support arms and services chief in accounting
matters for the relevant stores.
II. Deployment and movement of the rear services
The most important problem in the establishment of the rear services are the
supply of materials, the timely evacuation of casualties, and the recovery of
disabled vehicles. During an operation logistical units and installations of
the army are positioned in accordance with the following principles:
----- - The logistical units and installations within the army offensive area
of operation and in the direction of the main attack must be positioned to
support the main forces under favorable conditions.
----- - The rear services of the army will be placed as close as possible to
the combat forces with consideration given to the assigned mission,
characteristics of the operation, depth of operational deployment, mission of
rear services units, condition of access roads, and conditions of the terrain.
----- - In positioning the rear services consideration is given to their
activities, communications and command and control.
----- - Utmost importance is accorded to maneuvering logistical forces against
the enemy.
III. Rear services positioning
Before launching an offensive operation the rear services will be positioned as
follows: the Army Mobile Base, the Army Mobile Technical Missile Base, and the
Army Motor Transport Regiment are positioned 40-60 km from the FEBA. The
Independent Medical Detachment (in reserve), the Independent Army Anti-Epidemic
Medical Detachment, and the Army Reinforcing Medical Detachment will be
positioned between the first and second-echelon divisions so as not to be too
far removed from the rear services headquarters.
The Independent Medical Detachment and the recovery units attached for
reinforcement of the first-echelon divisions will be positioned in the division
offensive area. If the area designated for the Army Mobile Base in occupied by
other units, the Army Mobile Base will move to the rear of its designated
position. Reserve positions, approximately 15-20 km distant from the designated
positions of the mobile base, will be prepared for the Army Mobile Base and for
the Army Mobile Missile Technical Base. A section of the Army Mobile Base may
be detached and positioned separately in support of those forces that are
operating on separate axes.
IV. Movement of rear services units and installations
The movement of rear services units and installations depends on the momentum
of the attack, regrouping of the forces, condition of the access roads, and
condition of transport vehicles. As the offensive movement gathers momentum,
logistical units move more frequently and, as such, reduce their supply
capability. During the advance of first-echelon divisions, the Independent
Medical Detachments, units of the Medical Transportation Company, and recovery
units follow closely. The Army Mobile Base changes its location so as not to be
further than 125 km from divisional depots. In other words, it will not exceed
one-half the 24-hour range of the transport vehicles. If the momentum of the
offensive becomes substantial, the Army Mobile Base will change its position
every day. Some of the units and installations of the Rear Services, such as
the Army Mobile Base, the Army Missile Technical Base, Mobile Bakeries, the
Independent Armored Vehicle Recovery Battalion, and the Independent Tracked
Vehicle Recovery Company, will not change positions with their complete
organization but, rather will redeploy by sub-units.
V. Management of supplies in an offensive operation
The higher echelon is responsible for the timely supply of the subordinate
echelon. According to this principle, the Chief of the Rear Services of the
Army is responsible for the timely delivery of supplies to all subordinate
units. For this purpose, he has at his disposal all transport vehicles
belonging to the Army and the forces. However, only the chief of Artillery is
responsible for the supply of nuclear rounds. The main principles of supply of
materials are as follows.
----- - First Principle The higher logistical echelon is responsible for
transport to the lower echelon. For example, Army to division, division to
regiment.
----- - Second Principle Transport vehicles bring in supplies from the
higher echelon. For example; Army trucks will pick up from Front and deliver to
Army, division trucks will pick up from Army and deliver to division.
----- - Third Principle Transport vehicles will work within two to three
echelons. Trucks from the Army will pick up supplies from Front and will
deliver directly to divisions. This principle will save time needed for loading
and unloading.
VI. Army transportation concept
During an offensive operation, supplies are brought from Front to the Army
Mobile Base, and, according to the orders of the chief of the rear services,
transport vehicles of the army will be employed to transport supplies from the
Front base to the army base.
Supplies from army to divisions are brought to the divisions according to a
plan prepared by the army. Transport vehicles of the Army will carry supplies
to divisions and in some cases even to regiments. In some cases, and, in
accordance with the decisions of the chief of the rear services of the army,
transport vehicles of the forces will be employed to carry supplies from the
army base and even from the forward Front (mobile) base. This will be done only
if the distance does not exceed the 24-hour range (the 24-hour average range is
200-250 km). In the first day of the operation, the quantity of supplies is
5,000 to 7,000 tons, and, on subsequent days, it is expected to reach 3,000 to
5,000 tons.
Basically, the first day's supplies, usually carried by transport vehicles of
the forces, originate in permanent depots, Army bases, etc. Only that
ammunition required for artillery preparatory fires is carried by transport
vehicles of the Army. If sufficient vehicles are available, supplies will be
brought from the Front mobile base to the army and carried to front-line
divisions by transport vehicles of the army. Only under certain conditions will
transport vehicles of the second-echelon divisions and units of the army carry
supplies from the army base. If the supply distance is longer, army vehicles
will carry supplies from the forward Front (mobile) Base to the army base. In
some circumstances supplies will be transported by air.
VII. The management of medical support in a army offensive operation
Under modern conditions of warfare and in a nuclear environment medical support
is very important. Medical supplies play a decisive role in coping with the
effects of enemy weapons of mass destruction. In an NBC environment, casualty
rates will be very high, from 3.8 to 5.3% daily. Casualty figures for a
complete operation will be 27-42%. In a conventional combat environment, the
average daily casualty rates will be from 1.1-1.3%. For a complete operation,
these figures will be 7.4 to 10.4%. One to two independent medical detachments
will be attached to first-echelon divisions; the remainder will be kept in Army
reserve for later assistance to divisions or for employment in coping with
enemy use of nuclear weapons. Each Independent Medical Detachment and division
Medical Battalion has the capacity to admit 500 casualties in 24 hours and to
render specialized treatment.
The Army Independent Medical Detachments will be placed in the following
positions: for the rotation of employment with divisional medical battalions in
cases where these battalions lose their operational effectiveness. The complete
cycle of activities of the division medical battalion or of the Army
Independent Medical Detachment is as follows: deployment, admission of
casualties, rendering of medical treatment, evacuation to hospitals, closing
down its activities, and redeployment to another location. The cycle will
require two twenty-four hour periods. The evacuation of casualties from
division is carried out by the chief surgeon of the division, using transport
organic to the division Medical Battalion or the Independent Medical
Detachment. Evacuation of casualties from division Medical Battalion or the
Independent Medical Detachment to Front hospitals is arranged and executed by
the chief surgeon of the army. This evacuation is carried out by vehicles of
the Medical Transportation Company. One time evacuation capacity: division
Medical Battalion (80 casualties); Army Independent Medical Detachment (160
casualties); and Medical Transportation Company (1,000 casualties).
Should the enemy use bacteriological weapons, the net number of casualties will
increase. The following measures will therefore be applied in the army:
diagnostic reconnaissance and prophylactic measures, including precautionary
vaccination of all personnel, safeguarding the potability of water supplies,
control and inspection of newly-arrived supplies, quarantine of personnel
infected with contagious diseases, etc.
VIII. Management of recovery and repair of tank material, tracked and
wheeled vehicles
The role and importance of technical service/support have increased
considerably under conditions of modern warfare. Maintenance of technical
vehicles in operational status and the rapid repair of disabled vehicles have a
decisive effect upon the course of operations, ever since modern armies became
users of large numbers of various types of technical vehicles and a great
number of those became disabled during an operation. During the Great Patriotic
War, tank and infantry armies lost 8-9% of their tanks and vehicles; in a
nuclear environment, it is expected that they will lose 12-15% of their
vehicles within the first 24 hours.
The repair elements of the forces have the capability to repair 100% of the
slightly damaged vehicles and 15-20% of vehicles with medium damage. Based upon
experiences gathered in exercises, losses in the course of an offensive
operation in a nuclear environment will be as follows: tanks (50-80%); APCs
(30-40%); and motor vehicles (40-60%). Losses suffered in the course of a
conventional operation will still be extensive due to the time required and the
length of the operation. In the course of one operation, 400 tanks, 300 BTRs
and more than 3,000 motor vehicles may require light damage repair. With the
exception of the Independent Engineer Repair and Recovery Company, there are no
other repair facilities in the Army. Repair facilities of the forces are
capable of handling slight damage repairs only.
In some circumstances, when the momentum of the attack is not high, the army
may be reinforced with the following repair units: Independent Tank Repair
Battalion, one to two (artilleriyskaya masterskaya) organic to army artillery
troops and a Mobile Signal Equipment Workshop. The Independent Tank Repair
Battalion has the capacity of repairing ten tanks with medium damage in
twenty-four hours. It is also capable of repairing four sets of major
components (kimplekty). The Independent Motor Vehicle Repair Battalion has the
capability of returning to duty 27 medium damaged vehicles and 40 slightly
damaged vehicles, within 24 hours. Combat technical vehicles will be evacuated
in cycles calculated for minimum loss of time. Repair is carried out in the
most expedient manner, and the repaired vehicles are immediately thrown back
into battle.
One of the fundamental methods of repair is the direct replacement of damaged
parts by new ones; such an operation requires less time. Recovery units (the
Independent Armored Vehicle Recovery Battalion, the Independent Tracked Vehicle
Recovery Company) will establish a collection point for disabled vehicles
(SPPM-sbornyy punkt povrezhdennykh mashin) in an area close to a large
concentration of such damaged equipment and bring the disabled vehicles from
the forces to that location. From these collection points, disabled vehicles
are evacuated to the repair workshops of Front or Army (the Army does not have
any of its own). Some of the Army's recovery vehicles may be employed to
evacuate vehicles from areas where there are many damaged vehicles or in some
cases, may be attached to first-echelon divisions to evacuate the disabled
vehicles from division disabled vehicle collection points.
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