Modern Russians vs. US

[M4A3E8]

Hey all, I am starting a modern project: Russians vs. US. I envision the Ukrainian conflict turning into a larger scale engagement between the two. As the first part of the project I am assembling a platoon of Russian and US forces. I have started with the Russians and have a couple of questions I was hoping someone could give me some guidance on. I am trying to put together a Russian squad and have come up with the following organization:

Squad Leader
Driver
Gunner
Section Leader
PK Gunner
Grenadier
Section Leader
RPK Gunner
Grenadier

 I extensively searched the internet for Russian Squad composition but did not find a lot that would explain the organization of a “Current” Russian Squad. Does anyone know if my Organization is close or am I way off?  Thanks for the help.

[commissarmoody]

I don't recognize that APC, is it one of the T-14 variants?
Also here are links to two groups working on modern versions to bolt action rule sets.
http://www.warlordgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=21978&hilit=modern&start=70

http://jayswargamingmadness.blogspot.com/2016/06/bolt-action-modern-version-20-rules.html

And I believe osprey just released a book on modern Russian forces. I have yet to see it. But from what I have read what you have there is pretty current. at least its how I am making more forces. I got 3 BMP3s, 3 btr-3s, an hind and some softskins. Need a t-72 or a t-90 I am thinking.

[arget8]

That's about what I've been able to find as well. The driver and gunner would stay mounted most of the time and use the APC as a mobile fire base, often as a flanking element in open terrain. I would not be surprised if they dismount more often than the tactics dictate, especially in combat in urban areas or modern militaries. A fight against an American unit is likely going to have a lot of powerful anti armor rather than RPG-7's and the like.

I'm not sure if they would be split into two groups though, and they would likely have an RPK and RPG-26 rather than 2 PKM's. At least, that is the info that I've been able to find.

[commissarmoody]

Nah, if you dismount are leaving the most casualty producing element in the team. Even when I was in Iraq and Afghanistan the driver and gunner stayed in the vehicle.
And only dismount if the track gets disabled. Beside, you need some one in to make sure that no one else drives off with it. 
So for my tanker buddies. "Death before dismount and all that". 

from what I have read the PKMs are kind of optional, but why wouldn't you take one if you had the option? That's a lot of lead going down range mixed in with the RPK. 
The breaking up of the squads into 2 teams is pretty standard. In a perfect world, one lays down fire to help kill/suppress the opposition. The other team is there to maneuver/flank/ assault and prevent the base of fire element from being flanked. They have NCOs now, along with contracted solders. The Russian army is becoming a professional army with some thing like only 20% now being conscripts, meaning training standards are going up.
 
I think a few dudes interested in Modern Russian kit are on this https://www.facebook.com/groups/628206883900507/ page. I am sure they might be able to answer better then I.

[arget8]

And I learned something today

[commissarmoody]

I hope all i said is correct. 

[M4A3E8]

Thanks for all the help! Looks like I am close.
The APC is the new Russian Kurganets-25.

Thanks again.

[commissarmoody]

Thanks for all the help! Looks like I am close.
The APC is the new Russian Kurganets-25.

Thanks again.

Cool, so where did you get it from...If I may ask?  

[carlos marighela]

I think you'll find the Russians have binned or at least are in the process of binning the RPK. It's supposed to be replaced with the Pecheneg version of the PKM essentially a fixed barrel, squad version.

Of course the Russians being the Russians there are no doubt gazillions of RPKs still floating about but less likely in units issued brand spanking new kit like the Empress ones or brand new battle taxis.

The Yahoo Groups TO&E group has extensive discussion and files on contemporary Russian forces IIRC.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

The Osprey book does not appear to have squad level information. It does say the PKP Pecheneg GPMG has largely replaced the PKM and RPK.

The T15 carries nine infantry, if that helps.there is little information on the Kurganets.

 Wikipedia says that the T14 has three vehicle crew as well.

Wikipedia also says the lighter Kurganets has three crew, though the article reads like a sales brochure.

[commissarmoody]

I think you'll find the Russians have binned or at least are in the process of binning the RPK. It's supposed to be replaced with the Pecheneg version of the PKM essentially a fixed barrel, squad version.

Of course the Russians being the Russians there are no doubt gazillions of RPKs still floating about but less likely in units issued brand spanking new kit like the Empress ones or brand new battle taxis.

The Yahoo Groups TO&E group has extensive discussion and files on contemporary Russian forces IIRC.

And that is why mine are not Russians but, troops from the "Peoples Republic of Redforeia" and Opforian nationalist troops, located next to the "Republic of Pineland" and "The Constructional Grand Duchy of Zubrawka". Who all have to keep on eye on the "Peoples nation for Peace Esperanto". Or from the Trigonist nation. 

[CptJake]

And that is why mine are not Russians but, troops from the "Peoples Republic of Redforeia" and Opforian nationalist troops, located next to the "Republic of Pineland" and "The Constructional Grand Duchy of Zubrawka". Who all have to keep on eye on the "Peoples nation for Peace Esperanto". Or from the Trigonist nation. 

I currently live just north of Pineland. 

[Elbows]

The Russian military, much like other large militaries is undergoing a lot of upgrades lately - however - due to the size of the armed forces, they will see scattered use at best, with rear-echelon units, etc. continuing to operate old materials and equipment for another 10-15-20 years if needed.  The US is very much the same way.  You should see some of the guard units and their equipment (still rockin' M113s in some places...and not upgraded ones!).

It's safe to say that whatever you want to field can be fielded.  Add to that the reality of combat conditions, supply issues, battlefield pick-ups etc. and it's safe to say that a few months into any large/long conflict you'll see some bizarre gear/equipment being fielded by normal forces.  I think you can find a good excuse to field a majority of the stuff you want - just keep the force structure reasonable (i.e. no rifleman squads with 7 PKMs running around...).

Re: the armored vehicle

The "Armata" platform and its Boomerang/Kurganets siblings are still in flux right now.  They were revealed maybe 2 years ago at the big Moscow parade and have since been mostly re-designed (the ones parading were mock-ups at best).  The idea is to replace the existing common families of armored vehicles (T-72, BMP, BTR etc.)

The "Kurganets" is replacing the BMP.  You'll note in the picture below (the parade-era vehicles) that the driver is sitting way in the back - this is because they had engines shoe-horned from other vehicles, and the driver has since been moved to the forward/left position was intended.  Pictures surfaced recently a recovery vehicle based on this chassis also.


The "Boomerang" is intended to replace the BTR line of wheeled vehicles.  It's changed a lot since this picture as well.


The Armata tank chassis features a unique three-abreast seating with nobody present in the turret.  It's also the basis for a larger/heavier troop transport --- they turn the vehicle around (placing the engine up front, ala Merkava) and troops in the rear.  I don't know the name for this one, but it doesn't feature the main gun like the tank obviously.

Following this you'll see every armored vehicle based on one of these three or four chassis ideas (mobile air defence, engineer vehicles, recovery vehicles, command and control, ambulance, bridge-laying, etc.) eventually.  The project is ambitious (like their aviation goals) but could happen - they're under a budget crunch at the moment.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Wikipedia article on T15.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-15_Armata

Add your own salt...

Interesting bit above, did they use an FV432 as the basis? ^__^

[Hobbit]

A fight against an American unit is likely going to have a lot of powerful anti armor rather than RPG-7's and the like.

I can't recall the source but I believe that the RPG-7 (or variant thereof) can be equipped with the equivalent of an RPG-29 warhead. There are, of course, lots of powerful disposable AT weapons available too.

There is a good compilation of open-source info on weapon systems collected together in the World Wide Equipment Guide books from the US Army TRADOC available to download: https://www.scribd.com/doc/304960189/Worldwide-Equipment-Guide-2014-FINAL-Vol-1-Ground-Systems