Brigade Kalinovsky

[Vintage Wargaming]

Can anyone point me to any sources on the Brigade Kalinovsky (Soviet armoured brigade in early 1930s?

Also does anyone know of key soviet aircraft types at the time - I have got as far as the PO-2 but what would be the fighter options around then?

Glad of any help

Thanks

[cuprum]

In 1929, was formed by experienced mechanized regiment, which consisted of a battalion of tanks MS-1, Armored car Division (battalion) BA-27, a mechanized infantry battalion and aviation detachment. In the same year the regiment took part in the exercises of the Belarusian Military District.

In May 1930, the regiment deployed in the 1st Mechanized Brigade in the future get the name K.B.Kalinovsky - first commander of the brigade. Its initial structure - Tank Regiment (two battalions of the composition), a motorized infantry regiment, reconnaissance battalion, Artillery Division (battalion) and specialized units. On arms brigade had 60 tanks MS-1, 32 tankettes T-27, 17 armored cars BA-27, 264 motor vehicle, 12 tractors. In 1931, the organizational and staff structure has been strengthened. Now 1st Mechanized Brigade  included in its composition:

1) strike group - Tank Regiment, consisting of two tank battalions and two battalions of self-propelled artillery (due to lack of self-propelled guns equipped with 76-mm hauled by guns in the automotive traction);

2) reconnaissance group - tankettes battalion, armored car division (battalion), automobile machine-gun battalion and Artillery Division (battalion);

3) Artillery Group - 3 divisions 76 mm guns and 122 mm howitzers, air defense division (battalion);

4) infantry battalion on motor vehicles.

The number of personnel was 4,700 people, armed with 119 tanks, 100 tankettes, 15 armored vehicles, 63 self-propelled anti-aircraft machine gun, 32 76-mm cannon and 16 122-mm howitzers, 12 76-mm and 32 37 mm anti-aircraft guns, 270 cars, 100 tractors.


The organization experienced mechanized brigade - Summer 1930


Organization of the 1st Mechanized Brigade named after Kalinowski (1932)

On arms had 178 T-26 tanks, 32 tanks BT-2, 91 tankette T-27 ...

http://topwar.ru/25578-zheleznyy-kulak-rkka-sozdanie-avtobronetankovyh-voysk.html
http://forum.tankfront.ru/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=52
http://borovsk-tract.ru/vna/kbk/kbk.html

[cuprum]

Air fleet of the USSR in 1930:

Fokker C-IV - 33 pcs.
R-1 - 1309 pcs.
R-3 - 89 pcs.
R-5 - 19 pcs.
TB-1 - 37 pcs.
JH-1 - 7 pcs.
Fokker D-VII - 13 pcs.
Fokker D-XI - 87 pcs.
I-2 - 40 pcs.
I-2 bis - 76 pcs.
I-3 - 234 pcs.
I-4 - 108 pcs.
MR-1 - 76 pcs.
ND-55 - 18 pcs.
Savoie 62bis - 1 pc.
Dornier Val - 21 pcs.
U-1 - 313 pcs.
MU-1 52 pcs.
U-2 - 51 pcs.

All fighters have index I- ?

http://www.airaces.ru/stati/proizvodstvo-samoletov-v-sssr-v-pervojj-pyatiletke-1928-1933-gody.html

[Vintage Wargaming]

Thanks Cuprum, that's fantastic, especially the types of armoured vehicles, which is information I didn't have.

Intrigued by the aviation detachment - you wouldn't know how many Maxine's of what types? Or maybe it will be in your internet references when I have a proper look at them.

Now if only I could remember who made the metal T-27 tankettes I bought ten to fifteen years ago so I could buy some more. I thought they might be Raventhorpe but they aren't on any list.

Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble on this, I really appreciate it

Clive

[cuprum]

Airsquadron Brigade Kalinowski (89th) consisted of six reconnaissance aircraft R-1.

http://forum.tankfront.ru/viewtopic.php?p=1494

I am glad to help

Michael.

[Vintage Wargaming]

Thanks to Fitz's activities on Shapeways I now have 12 T37s and 10 T18s to join my Fabbri diecasts and am well on my way to having my Brigade Kalinovsky, thanks also to the references you provided along with a little further research

[Vintage Wargaming]

I've finally (sort of) finished my 1931 Soviet Armoured Brigade organised for Rapid Fire.



Particular thanks to Cuprum on Lead Adventure Forum for helping with information, Alan Mccoubrey fro Russian into English translation, and to Peter Fitz for being willing to take requests for 3d printed models on Shapeways'

I didn't work out a way to do a decent shot of the whole formation and the picture of the HQ is a bit fuzzy as it was on zoom.

Here is the tank regiment - two battalions each of 3 companies of two tanks - most of these are Fitz's from Shapeways, two are the Fabbri diecasts I started out with,



Reconnaissance Regiment - tankette battalion and armoured car squadron



The T27s are Fitz's 3d printed, the armoured cars are Fabbri (I would like to swap the FAI's for BA 27s at some point)

The motorcycle battalion (mounted and dismounted) and motor rifle company



The motorbikes are Shellhole Scenics with Raventhorpe head swaps

The Anti Aircraft  company



The 76.2mm gun is SHQ (I have a second, but I have lost a vital bit which I need to find or replace), Quad maxims are Skytrex I think.

The motor rifle battalion



These are Combat Miniatures, with two First to Fight 37mms and a Zvezda infantry gun

The Artillery Battalion



HaT Putilov 76.2 mms, Irregular Really Useful Guns 122 mm howitzers M1930/10s, and two of Fitz's Shapeways T18 SPs  - these never saw service but are too nice to leave out.

HQ



The General Officer is s soft plastic figure from the Dark Dream Studio Pilots of the First War set, the Commissar (with flag) is Drew's Militia (Battlefield).

Finally, outside the Brigade, the supporting  DPP echelon tanks, Fabbri T24s. These can be replaced by T28s and T35s, and the MS-1s with T26s, to udate to 1932-4. I have all of these but the T26s should probably be twin turrets, of which I only have a few.