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SOVIET VOROSHILOV ACADEMY LECTURES
FRONT OPERATIONS

 

CHAPTER II-1





Organization of Soviet Front and Front Headquarters


 

I. Soviet Front Headquarters

 
 

General Information

Although Soviet fronts vary in size, that is in the number of subordinate armies and support elements, the basic organization of the front headquarters is standard. As of the mid-1970s about 758 military personnel were assigned or attached to the front headquarters. This number was composed of 20 generals, 12 colonels or generals, and 540 officers, as well as NCO's and enlisted personnel.

 
 

Organization of Front Headquarters

The following main components of the front headquarters are directed by and responsible to the Commander in Chief (CINC) of front forces (Komanduyushchiy vojskami fronta) (see Figures 1 and 2 for the main components of front headquarters):
- first deputy CINC (pervyy zamestitel' komanduyushchevo voyskami fronta);

 
 

Figure 1 Main Components of front headquarters


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Figure 2 Front headquarters staff


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- front chief of staff (Nachal'nik shtaba fronta) controls the front staff (Shtab fronta).  He is the principal organizer of the front field operations and only he has the authority to issue orders in the name of the CINC. He is assisted by the First Deputy C/S. The front staff is composed of the following elements (see Figure 2 for organization of front staff); - Operations Directorate (Operativnoye upravleniye) which consists of the following elements:
- Operations Division (Operativnyy otdel);
- Information Division (Informatsiyonnyy otdel);
- Hydrometeorological Department (Girdrometeorologicheskoye otdeleniye);
- Special Department (Osoboye otdelenye).

- Intelligence Directorate (Razvedivatel'noye upravleniye) which consists of the following departments
- 1st Department - Military Intelligence (Otd. voyskovoy razvedki);
- 2nd Department - Clandestine Intelligence (Otd. agenturnoy razvedki)
- 3rd Department - Special Intelligence (Otd. osoboy razvedki);
- 4th Department - Information (Otd. informatsii);
- 5th Department - Signal Intelligence (Otd. radio i radiotekhnicheskoy razvedki);
- Special Communications department (Otd. osoboy svyazi);
- Special Department (Osoboye otdeleniye);

- Communications Directorate (Upravleniye svyazi) which is composed of the following departments:
- 1st Department - Radio Communications (Otd. radio svyazi);
- 2nd Department - Radio Relay Communications (Otd. radio releynoy svyazi);
- 3rd Department - Cryptology ZAS (Otd. zasekrechennaya avtomaticheskaya sistema);
- 4th Department - Communications for Forward and Alternate Command Post (otd. PKP i ZKP svyazi);
- 5th Department - Mail Communications (Otd. pochtovoy svyazi);
- 6th Department - Final Products (?) (Otd. ukomplektovaniya);
- Special Department (Osoboye otdeleniye).

- Administration and Resources Directorate (Upravleniye organizatsii ukomplektovaniya) which organizes and manages enlisted military personnel of the front;

- Services of the front staff (Sluzhby shtaba fronta) which provide special support to all directorates of the front staff and is composed of the following departments:
- Topographical Service (Topograficheskaya sluzhba);
- 8th Department of Special Communications (8-e otd. osoboy svyazi);
- Radio Electronic Jamming Department (Otd. radio elektronnykh protivodeystviy);
- Inspectorate of Measuring Instruments (Inspektsiya izmeritel'nykh priborov);
- Military Censorship Department (Otd. voyennoy tsensury);
- Printing Office (Tipografiya);
- Department of Physical Security and Traffic Control (Otd. okhrany i regulirovaniya);
- Department of Morale and Discipline (Otd. moral'nogo sostoyaniya i distsipliny).

 
 

There are the following Chiefs of Troops Branches (Nachal'niki rodov voysk) (see Figure 3 for organization of front Troops Branches):

 
 

Figure 3 Front headquarters chiefs of arms and services


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- Chief of Rocket and Artillery Troops (Nachal'nik raketnykh voysk i artillerii) who is assisted by the Staff of Rocket and Artillery Troops to control and command the following departments:
- Operations Department (Operativnoye otd.);
- Intelligence Department (Razvedivatel'noye otd.);
- Special Department (Osoboye otd.).

- Chief of Air Defense Troops (Nachal'nik voysk protivovozdushnoy oborony) controls and commands the following departments: 
- 1st Department - Operations (Operativonoye otd.);
- 2nd Department - Radar Intelligence (Otd. radiolokatsonnoy razvedki);
- 3rd Department - Communications and Automatic Guidance Systems (Otd. svyazi i avtomaticheskiye sistemy ypravleniya);
- 4th Department - Utilization of Equipment (Otd. ekspluatatsii tekhniki);
- Special Department (Osoboye otd.).

- Chiefs of Special Troops (Nachal'niki spetsialnykh voysk) are the following: (see Figure 3 for organization of front Special Troops)
- Chief of Engineer Troops (Nachal'nik inzhenernykh voysk) commands and controls the following departments:
- Operational Reconnaissance Department (Operativno-razvedivatel'noye otd.);
- Engineer-Technical Department (Inzhenerno-tekhnicheskoye otd.);
- Special Department (Osoboye otd.).
- Chief of Chemical Troops:
- Reconnaissance and Estimates of Radiological Fallout Department (Otd.  razvedki i prognoza radiotsionnoy obstanovki).

front Rear Services (Tyl fronta) is commanded by Deputy CINC/Chief of front Rear Service (Zamestitel'po tylu i nachal'nik tyla fronta). The Rear Services Staff is composed of the following elements (See Figure 3 for organization of front Rear Services):
- Food Supply Directorate (Upravleniye ukomplektovaniya Prodovol'stviyem);
- POL Directorate (Upravleniye ukomplektovaniya goryucho-smazochnymi materialami);
- Uniform/clothing Directorate (Upravleniye ukompletovaniyem obmundirovaniyem);
- Medical Service Directorate (Upravleniye meditsinskoy sluzhby);
- Veterinary Service Directorate (Upravleniye veterinarnoy sluzhby);
- Military Transportation Directorate (Upravleniye voyennogo soobshcheniya);
- Troop Billeting Department (kvartirno-ekspluatatsiyonnoye) otd.);
- Special Department (Osoboye otd.).

Chiefs of front Services (Nachal'niki sluzhb fronta) are as follows.  (See Figure 3 for organization of front Services):
- Chief of Armor Equipment (Nachal'nik bronetankovoy tekhniki);
- Chief of Rocket and Artillery Armament (Nachal'nik raketno-artilleryyskikh vooruzheniy) is subordinate to front CINC and to Chief of Rocket and Artillery Troops.
- Chief of Cadre (Nachal'nik kadrov) - for officers and career NCOs only;
- Chief of Motor Transport Equipment (Nachal'nik avtotransportnoy tekhniki);
- Chief Finance (Nachal'nik finantsovogo upravleniya).

 
 

front Political Directorate (Politicheskoye upravleniye fronta) is headed by Deputy CINC/Chief of front Political Affairs (Zamestitel' po politicheskim delam i nachal'nik politicheskogo upravleniya fronta), who is responsible for the political readiness of the front forces.

front Higher Military Council (Vysshiy voyennyy sovet fronta) is formed to advise front CINC on major decisions. front CINC is the chairman of the council and the members (in descending order of importance) are the following officers:
- Deputy CINC/Chief of Political Affairs;
- 1st Deputy CINC;
- Chief of Staff;
- Deputy CINC/Chief of Rear Services;
- Chief of Rocket and Artillery Troops;
- Two or three additional officers, as designated by front CINC.

 
 

Guard and Direct Support Elements of the front Headquarters

The following units provide guard, service, engineer, construction, and air transportation support to the front headquarters (See Figure 4 for the organization of the front headquarters guard and direct support elements):
- guard and service regiment (Polk okhrany i obsluzhivaniya) guards and protects the front headquarters and provides electrical, chemical defense, and engineer support to the wartime front Command Post;
- engineer battalion constructs front command posts sites and improves the immediate areas;
- mixed aircraft courier regiment (Smeshennyy aviatsonyy polk svyazi) provides air transport and courier service for the staff officers of front headquarters.

 
 

Figure 4 Front command post support elements


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Purpose and Capabilities of the Front Communications

 
 

The communications for the front troop control elements are provided by the following units: (See figure 5)

- signal units serving various communication centers:
- the command post signal regiment is composed of two battalions which operate from two communication centers and provide communications to the front CP;
- the forward command post (FCP) signal battalion operates from one communication center and provides communications to the front FCP;
- the rear services control post (RSCP) signal regiment consists of two battalions which operate two communications centers and provide communications to the front RSCP;
- the auxiliary communications centers signal battalion operates from six auxiliary communications centers;
- the communications cable-laying battalion is capable of laying up to 500 km of communications cable lines;
- the radio traffic surveillance and control center monitors and controls military radio traffic in the front area of operations;
- line communications units establish and operate radio-relay and telephone main lines of communications;
- two radio-relay battalions are responsible for directional radio-relay communications up to 1000 km;
- two long-range radio battalions are responsible for directional radio communications up to 450 km;
- the communications cable-laying battalions are responsible for laying permanent communications lines for distances from 100 to 320 km;
- communications cable-laying battalions lay communications cables from the front CP to the subordinate armies, up to 400 km.  There is one battalion for each army in the front;
- communications cable-laying battalions lay communications cables from the front CP to the subordinate rocket/missile brigades, up to 120 km. There is one battalion for each brigade;
- the underground cable-laying company;
- the signal company for communications with civilian centers takes care of communications between front and civilian centers in the front area of operations;
- the rear services long-range signal battalion provides distribution points for classified documents and messages. 

 
 

Figure 5 Front signal units


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Transportation to and from the following is provided by the front mixed aircraft courier regiment: 
- front forward message center;
- front rear services message center;
- message stations at front CP, FCP and RSCP;
- message stations at front bases and rear installations.

 
 

Only staff officers from the front headquarters are used as couriers of classified documents and messages.

Front signal storage and repair facilities. front communications elements are supported by four communications equipment and spare parts depots and by two mobile signal repair and maintenance bases. 

 
 

II. General organization of Front

 
 

The basic organization for Soviet fronts varies in number of subordinate units, strength, and type of equipment. The organization of a particular front depends on the following:
- the area of operation - for example, fronts facing NATO forces are larger than fronts inside the USSR;
- assigned mission, defensive or offensive;
- the strength and quality of the enemy force.

This chapter addresses a front facing NATO.

 
 

III. Organization of the Front:

 
 

A front is composed of the following subordinate units: (Fig. 6)

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Two or three Combined Arms Armies (Fig. 7)

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One Tank Army (TA) (Fig. 8)

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Tank armies vary in the number of subordinate combat and support elements, but their basic organization is standard (see Figure 2). The following units are subordinate to a Tank Army:
- Three or four tank divisions.
- One motorized rifle division (MRD). The assignment of a MRD to a Tank Army is not mandatory and depends on specific unidentified conditions.
- One brigade each of SCUD, air defense, artillery, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, chemical, engineer, and signal elements. These are similar to, but smaller than, the corresponding units in the combined arms army.
- Rear Services: Tank Army rear services are similar but smaller than those of the combined arms army.

- A four-division Tank Army consists of the following:
- strength - about 40,000 men;
- tanks - 1251;
- artillery and mortars - 400;
- SCUD launchers - 9;
- FROG launchers - 12-16;
- antitank weapons - 108.

 
 

One or two Combined Arms Corps

The organization and strength of the combined arms corps varies, but does not exceed three divisions; two MRDs and one TD. While the combined arms corps was mentioned at the Voroshilov General Staff Academy, a corps organization was never utilized during various staff exercises or war games at the academy. Seemingly corps were assigned to fronts, such as those with contingencies against Turkey or Iran, where the sectors are narrow and a corps was deployed instead of a combined arms army.

- From three to five Independent Motorized Divisions

 
 

One Air Army

The composition of organic front air armies varies, depending on the mission, airfields available, and capability of the enemy force (see Figure 9). The following units are subordinate to the air army:
- Two or three fighter divisions which consists of three fighter regiments, each with three squadrons. Each squadron has three four-aircraft flights.
- One or two fighter-bomber divisions with the same organization as a fighter division.
- One bomber division with an organization similar to the fighter division, except that a bomber flight has only three aircraft.
- Two air reconnaissance regiments which include a tactical reconnaissance regiment, equipped with 40 MIG aircraft which conduct reconnaissance to a depth of 500 km, the other regiment conducts operational reconnaissance to a depth of 1,000 km and is equipped with 33 bomber aircraft.
- One radio intercept and jamming regiment, equipment and strength unknown.
- Two or three air transport regiments equipped with about 32 transport aircraft or helicopters each.
- Two or three reconnaissance drone squadrons, number unknown;

 
 

Figure 9 Air army organization


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- Radio electronic warfare units consist of the following:
- One special purpose aviation radio regiment;
- one special purpose radio technical battalion with four SPB-7 and four SPB-8 radio electronic bombsight interference stations;
- nine SPO-10 radio transmission interference stations;
- 24 R-834P radio jamming stations; and four or five aviation radio jamming squadrons with one squadron for each bomber and air reconnaissance regiment. Each jamming squadron has nine aircraft equipped with unidentified radio jamming stations.

 
 

- Air army rear services are composed of the following elements:
-one or two air army rear service bases;
- one aviation technical regiment, consisting of three or four independent aviation technical battalions (one battalion for each air division);
-two or three independent aviation technical battalions (one battalion for each non-divisional regiment of the air army);
- and several independent airfield technical support companies (one company for each airfield used by subordinate units of the air army).

 
 

One or two missile (SCUD) brigades (see Figure 10)

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The brigade has the following subordinate units:

- Three missile battalions, each with four SCUD missile TELs. The SCUD missile can deliver nuclear warheads with a yield of 20, 40, or 100 KT.
- One fire direction battery.
- One missile transporter company.
- One meteorological battery.
- One engineer company.
- Various unidentified support and service platoons.

 
 

Front Artillery

Soviet fronts have no organic artillery units in peacetime. In wartime, the Soviet Supreme High Command can assign the following artillery elements to a front (see Figure 11):
- From one to three artillery divisions: The organization of the artillery divisions is unknown, but a division has 246 guns, mortars, and BM-21 multiple rocket launchers.
- Two or three antitank artillery brigades: Each brigade consists of four battalions of three batteries each, with 18 x 100mm antitank guns and one battery with nine ATGM launchers.

- Recapitulation: A front with 3-4 CAAs, 1-2 TAs, 5 Independent MRDs, 3 ADs and 3 AT brigades would have approximately 5,000 artillery pieces, mortars, and BM-21s, 700 antitank guns, and 2,000 ATGMs.

 
 

Figure 11 Supreme High Command artillery units


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Front Air Defense (see Figure 12).

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Air defense support consists of the following units:

- Two or three SAM regiments equipped with SA-2 (S-75) missiles. Each regiment has three launch battalions with 18 SA-2 launchers.
- One or two SAM regiments equipped with SA-3 (S-125) missiles. Each regiment has three launch battalions with 12 SA-3 twin launchers.
- One antiaircraft artillery division consisting of three regiments, with six firing batteries of 48 x 57 mm S-60 AAA guns.
- One air defense radio technical (radar) regiment with unknown organization and equipment which supports all air defense elements.

 
 

Front Signal Units (see Figure 5 above )

Front signal units consist of the following:

- One command post (CP) signal regiment, with two battalions which operate from two locations and provide communications to the front CP.
- One rear services command post (RSCP) signal regiment consisting of two battalions which operate from two locations and provide communications to the front RSCP.
- One forward command post (FCP) signal battalion operating from one location, providing communications to the front FCP.
- One auxiliary control post (ACP) signal battalion operating six auxiliary communication centers.
- One cable line communications battalion providing internal communications to the FCPs.
- One radio and radio-relay surveillance and control center, which monitors and controls military radio traffic in the front area of operations.
- Two radio-relay battalions which provide radio-relay communications up to 450 km.
- One rear services long-range radio-relay battalion providing long-range radio=relay communications to the front rear services.
- Two long-range radio-relay battalion providing radio-relay communications up to 1,000 km.
- Two cable line battalions which use existing above-ground communications line nets for front communications needs.
- Three or four (depending on the number of Armies in the front) cable-laying battalions which lay communications cables from the front CP to the subordinate Armies up to 400 km.
- One or two (depending on the number of SCUD brigades in the front) cable-laying battalions which lay cable from the front CP to the SCUD brigades) up to 120 km.
- One mixed aircraft courier regiment with one aircraft squadron consisting of six AN-2 and six YAK-12 aircraft and one helicopter squadron with 10 Mi-4 and six Mi-2 helicopters. The regiment provides transportation from and to field post centers and stations (message centers).
- Four communications equipment and spare parts depots, subordinate to front rear services.
- One mobile signal equipment repair base, subordinate to front rear services.
- One cable line company utilizing existing underground communications lines for front communications. - Field post and message service consists of two post office centers and several stations which serve as distribution points for mail, classified documents,and messages.

 
 

Front Reconnaissance Operations (see Figure 13).

Clandestine reconnaissance (agenturnaya razvedka) methods are used in operations in enemy territory in the front's sector of operations. Some of the agents (istochniki) operate in the target area in peacetime, while other agents would be dispatched there immediately prior to the start of hostilities. Special attention is paid to nuclear storage sites, headquarters, and troop concentrations. The agents report back by radio. front reconnaissance consists of the following:
- One independent special mission (OSNAZ) radio regiment composed of two radio intercept battalions, five radio direction finding companies,one radio-relay intercept company and one laboratory reconnaissance helicopter. The regiment can operate 97 radio intercept and 28 radio direction finding positions.
- One independent special mission radio technical regiment consisting of one ground radar reconnaissance battalion, one radio intercept battalion, one recon aircraft flight with two radar-equipped aircraft and one laboratory. The regiment can operate 46 radar and 50 radio intercept positions.
- One special purpose (SPETSNAZ) long-range reconnaissance battalion, capable of deploying 35-40 airborne qualified long- range recon teams.
- One airborne division.

 
 

Figure 13 Front reconnaissance units


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Figure 14 Front Engineer Units .

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The engineer units in the Soviet Western front are strong in bridge and other river-crossing support because the south-north flow of European rivers presents obstacles to Soviet advances to the west. front engineer support is composed of the following:

- one engineer road and bridge construction brigade consisting of three bridge construction battalions, three road construction battalions, and one engineer recon company;
- one engineer regiment consisting of three engineer battalions, one fortification construction battalion, one camouflage company, and one engineer recon company;
- one or two pontoon bridge regiments;
- one camouflage battalion consisting of two camouflage (makety) companies, one technical company, and one radio deception platoon;
- one or two river assault crossing battalions;
- one or two mine recovery battalions which deactivated and collected mines from minefields;
- one mine-laying battalion which laid mines and constructed obstacles;
- one control post (survey) engineer battalion supporting various front control posts;
- two or three engineer equipment repair battalions;
- one or two engineer heavy equipment repair battalions;
- two or three rear services engineer companies supporting front rear areas.

 
 

Figure 15Front Radio Electronic Warfare Units

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Front radio electronic warfare units consist of the following:

- One special purpose radio technical battalion consisting of nine SPB-7 and six SPB-8 radio electronic bombsight interference stations, 12 SPO-10 radio transmission interference stations, six R-834P and two R-388 radio stations.
- One or two special purpose radio battalions with two radio jamming companies, one direction finding company, one detection and targeting company, and one signal company. A battalion has 18 R-325M radio stations.
- One special purpose aircraft squadron with nine aircraft equipped with R-49 radio stations.

 
 

Front Chemical Troops

 
 

IV. Organization of Front Rear Services.

 
 

General

Front rear services are commanded by the deputy commander in chief of the front, who is the chief of the front rear services (Zamestitel' po tylu i nachal'nik tyla fronta). Rear echelon operations of a Soviet front are controlled from the Rear Services Control Post (RSCP) (Tylovoy punkt upravleniya).

 
 

Organization of the Front Rear Services

Some of the units and installations that operate in the front rear echelon have double subordination, i.e., they are directly subordinate to a particular branch, such as Signal or Engineer Troops, but their activities are directed and supervised by the chief of front Rear Services. The following units are included in the rear echelon of a front (see Figure 16):

 
 

Figure 16 Main components of front rear services


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- One or two Rear Services Base(s), which provide ordnance, POL, and quartermaster supply support to the front. The storage capacity of a base is 7,500 tons. The base is supported by the following units (see Figure 17).
- One independent motor transport battalion, which transports supplies between the Rear Service Base and front Forward Bases. The carrying capacity of the battalion is 1,000 tons.
- One engineer company for base construction support.
- One base chemical defense company.
- One independent service battalion which can load or unload up to 7,500 tons, or provide 2,500 cubic meters of ground construction per day.
- Three field bakeries.
- One POL equipment repair shop.
- One food service equipment repair shop.
- One quartermaster (uniforms) repair shop.
- One mobile motor oil recycling (cleaning) shop.
- Seven uniform cleaning depots.
- One supply transfer and distribution station to direct the flow and distribution of supplies.
- One quality control laboratory that checks the quality of food, POL products, etc.
- One field post office station that serves as a distribution center for messages, documents, and mail.
- Three ammunition depots; each of which can store the contents of 250 railroad wagons (a RR wagon is an equivalent of 20 tons).
- One artillery armament depot with a storage capacity of 250 RR wagons.
- Eight POL depots, each of which has a storage capacity of 8,000 cubic meters.
- One armor armament depot with a capacity of 250 RR wagons.
- One food rations depot with a storage capacity of 350 RR wagons.
- One motor vehicle depot that can store equipment and spare parts for motor vehicles and has a storage capacity of 150 RR wagons.
- One engineer equipment depot that has a storage capacity of 200 RR wagons.
- One signal equipment depot with a capacity of 100 RR wagons.
- One chemical equipment and material depot with a capacity of 500 RR wagons.
- One quartermaster depot with a capacity of 150 RR wagons.
- One veterinary depot with a capacity of seven RR wagons.
- One medical equipment and supplies depot with a capacity of 800 RR wagons.
- One miscellaneous supplies depot that stores furniture, office equipment, etc., and has the capacity of 50 RR wagons.


 
 

Figure 17 Front rear base


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Two or three Forward Bases that can satisfy the front supply requirements for three or four days. The given storage capacities of various depots represent the total of stored supplies for all forward bases of a front. The base is supported by the following units (see Figure 18):

- one motor transport (MT) regiment which can haul 3,000 tons;
- two service companies; each of which can load or unload up to 2,500 tons a day;
- one engineer company;
- one chemical defense company;
- three mobile field bakeries;
- one POL equipment repair shop;
- one quartermaster repair shop;
- two uniform cleaning depots;
- one quality control laboratory;
- one field post office station;
- one mobile motor oil recycling shop;
- one food service equipment repair shop;
- the ammunition and artillery armament depots have a combined capacity of 250 RR wagons;
- the POL depots have a combined capacity of 4,000 cubic wagons;
- the food rations depots have a combined capacity of 25 RR wagons;
- the armor armament depots have a combined capacity of 250 RR wagons;
- the motor vehicle equipment depots have a combined capacity of 25 RR wagons;
- the engineer equipment depots have a combined capacity of 200 RR wagons;
- the signal equipment depots have a combined capacity of 70 RR wagons;
- the chemical equipment and materiel depots have a combined capacity of 150 RR wagons;
- the quartermaster depots have a combined capacity of 150 RR wagons;
- the medical equipment and supplies depots have the combined capacity of 300-350 RR wagons.


 
 

Figure 18 Front forward base


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Two or three Rear Services Hospital Bases, each with a capacity of about 20,000 beds. The base consists of the following units and installations (see Figure 19):

- three sorting hospitals, 500-bed capacity each;
- four specialty hospitals, 300-bed capacity each;
- three trauma hospitals, 200-bed capacity each;
- nine surgical hospitals, 200-bed capacity each;
- two pathological hospitals, 200-bed capacity each;
- one regular infection hospital, 200-bed capacity;
- one dangerous infection hospital, 200-bed capacity;
- five evacuation hospitals; 400-bed capacity each;
- ten evacuation hospitals; 500-bed capacity each;
- six light wounds hospitals; each with 1,000 beds;
- one ambulance company;
- one special emergency medical group consisting of medical doctors, who would be sent to assist hospitals in emergency situations;
- one general support medical battalion;
- two blood bank stations;
- two oxygen stations;
- one mobile x-ray group;
- one field post office station.

 
 

Figure 19 Front rear service rear hospital base


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From four to six Forward Hospital Bases; each have about a 6,500-bed capacity. A base consists of the following units and installations (see Figure 20):
- two sorting hospitals, 500-beds each;
- four specialty hospitals, 300-beds each;
- three trauma hospitals 200-beds each;
- nine surgical hospitals, 200-beds each;
- two pathological hospitals, 200-beds each;
- two general infection hospitals, 200-beds each;
- one dangerous infection hospital with-100 beds;
- one light wounds hospital with 1,000 beds;
- one special emergency medical group;
- one general support medical battalion;
- one blood bank station;
- one oxygen station;
- one mobile x-ray group;
- one field post office station.


 
 

Figure 20 Front rear service forward hospital base


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Two or three motor transport (MT) brigades. The hauling capacity of a brigade is 6,000 tons, including 1,440 tons of POL. The brigade has the following subordinate units (see Figure 21):

- three MT battalions;
- one heavy truck battalion;
- one POL transport battalion;
- one service and support company;
- one mobile repair shop;
- one medical center.

 
 

Figure 21 Front motor transport brigade


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Two or three railroad (RR) brigades. The brigade has the following subordinate units (see Figure 22):

- two RR construction battalions;
- three RR bridge construction battalions;
- one RR mechanized battalion;
- one signal battalion;
- one RR technical battalion;
- one RR transport battalion;
- one wood processing battalion;
- one RR exploitation company;
- one technical company;
- one chemical defense company.

 
 

Figure 22 Front railroad brigade


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Two or three road traffic control brigades; Each brigade has the following subordinate units (see Figure 23):

- three road traffic control battalions;
- one road construction battalion;
- one bridge construction battalion;
- one special bridge construction battalion;
- one each signal, reconnaissance, and chemical defense platoon;
- one repair shop.


 
 

Figure 23 Front traffic conrol brigade


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One or two pipeline brigades; Each brigade is capable of laying a pipeline up to 600 km. A pipeline 100 mm in diameter can deliver 800 tons of gasoline or if 150 mm, 2,000 tons of gasoline in 24 hours. The brigade has the following subordinate units (see Figure 24):

- four pipeline battalions;
- one signal battalion;
- one MT battalion;
- one engineer equipment company;
- one helicopter flight with three helicopters;
- one medical center;


 
 

Figure 24 Front pipeline bragade


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One bridge construction brigade; The brigade is not organic to a front in peacetime, but can be attached to a particular front in wartime as needed. The bridge construction brigade is part of the reserves of Soviet Supreme High Command and has the following subordinate units (see Figure 25):

- two bridge construction battalions;
- two independent bridge construction battalions;
- one MT battalion;
- one engineer equipment company;
- one helicopter flight with three helicopters;
- one medical center.

 
 

Figure 25 Front bridge construction brigade


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One independent rocket fuel transport battalion which can haul 640 tons of fuel. The battalion has the following subordinate units:

- three rocket fuel transport companies;
- one mobile motor vehicle repair shop;
- one signal platoon;
- one rocket fuel depot which can store 500 tons of fuel.

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