Military of The --Soviet Union--
The Soviet Military is divided under two ministries, one directorate and one committee, organised in twelve branches. The Soviet Armed Forces, consisting of the Ground forces, Navy, Air force, Anti-air defence forces, Airborne assault troops, Strategic rocket forces, Civil defence and Rear services consist of 5.699.080 personnel and are directly under the Ministry of Defence.
The KGB, MVD and GRU also have their own armed components. The KGB Border guards and the Security troops number a total of 278.540 personnel; the GRU Special-purpose troops number 50.000 personnel; and the MVD Interior troops number 340.000 personnel. These armed forces tend to come under the Ministry of Defence with their current head's jurisdiction on wartime to improve cooperation.
In 2006, the Soviet Military operated a total of 63.000 tanks, 86.000 armoured combat vehicles, 33.000 towed howitzers, 9.000 self-propelled howitzers, 8.000 multiple rocket launch systems, 17.670 aircraft (including 2.430 large and medium Aeroflot aircraft under the Strategic Air Transport Reserve), 1.175 major and minor surface combatants and assault ships, and 264 submarines, while the Strategic Rocket Forces were equipped with 1.200 intercontinental ballistic missiles tipped with multiple nuclear warheads. A large number of helicopters numbered in the thousands was also operated.
Contents
Ministry of Defence
Ground Forces
The Ground forces of the Soviet Armed Forces consist of 2.270.000 men and women, organised in 142 Motorised Rifle, 26 Tank and 20 Artillery divisions. The standard motorised rifle division consists of three motorised rifle brigades, one tank brigade and one artillery brigade; tank divisions consist of three tank and one motorised rifle brigade, whereas an artillery division consists of two artillery brigades.
The Ground forces are using the T-80UM2 'Black Eagle' and the T-94 as frontline main battle tanks, the BTR-80, BTR-90 and BTR-94 armoured personnel carriers, and the BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-T and BMT-72 infantry fighting vehicles. The artillery consists mainly of the towed 2S19 Msta-B and the self-propelled 2S19 Msta-S 152 mm howitzers, however models like the older 2S7 Pion 203 mm self propelled gun are still in service. Other vehicles like the BRDM-2, the 9P149, 9P157 Krizantema and the BRM-1 are also in service, together with MLRS such as the BM-27 Uragan and the BM-30 Smerch.
The Ground forces find themselves in three levels of readiness; between 50 and 75% of their projected wartime strength on 'critical' areas such as the western frontiers and the northern coast, around 50% of their wartime strengths on the southern and eastern frontiers, and circa 25% in the remaining territories.
4.300 helicopters also find themselves in service under the Ground forces. These tend to be Mi-8, Mi-26 or Ka-60 transport helicopters (the first being gradually phased out by the latter), or Mi-24, Mi-28 and Ka-50/Ka-52 attack helicopters, with the first remaining in service even though they were first produced as many as thirty-four years ago (in 1972.)
Anti-aircraft weapons also form a large part of this inventory. 12.000 self-propelled and towed anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) weapons are used, primarily of the towed ZU-23, ZSU-23-4 Shilka and 2S6M1 Tunguska AAA. Surface to air missile systems, like the Strela-10 man-portable SAM, the Buk-1M and the Tor-M2 short range vehicle-mounted SAM, and the S-300VM and S-400 long-range 'heavy' SAM systems, are also in service in very large quantities, with the S-300VM being phased out by the newer S-500.
Operating 625 minor surface ships, 118 major surface combatants, 75 landing ships and 264 nuclear and diesel-powered attack submarines, nuclear-powered guided missile submarines and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines armed with nuclear missiles carrying multiple warheads, the Soviet Navy finds itself as one of the largest in the world.
The Navy is organised under four fleets and a single flotilla, each having a different number of ships depending on its needs. With over 563.000 personnel, the Navy also has four naval Spetsnaz (marine) brigades, eight coastal defence artillery brigades and 1.030 naval aviation bombers to enhance amphibious and defensive/anti-shipping operations in wartime.
Notable classes used by the Soviet Navy are the Type 941 Akula (Typhoon) and the Type 995 Borei SSBN; the Type 949A Antey (Oscar II) SSGN; the 945 Barrakuda (Sierra) and 971 Bars (Akula) SSN; 677 Lada and 877 Granay (Kilo) SSK; 1143.5 Kreml (Kuznetsov) and 1143.7 Ulyanovsk heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers; 1144 Orlan (Kirov) and 1164 Atlant (Slava) missile cruisers; 956 Sarych (Sovremenny) and 1155.1 Fregat (Udaloy) destroyers; 1135.6 Dozorny (Krivak??), 1154.0 Yastreb (Neustrashimy) and 1166.1 Gepard frigates; 133.1 Parchim, 1239 Sivuch (Bora/Dergach) and 2038 Steregushchy corvettes; 903 Lun, 1041.0 Svetlyak, 1230 Scorpion and 1241 Molniya-2 (Pauk) patrol craft; and a variety of mine and amphibious warfare, intelligence collection, replenishment, transport, service, and other auxiliary ships, and non-combat nuclear submarines.
Anti-Air Defence Forces
With 504.000 personnel, the Anti-Air Defence Forces (or simply Air Defence) operates over 2.460 aircraft and large quantities of ground based AA systems, much like the Ground forces'. It supplements the Air force in air superiority role, allowing the said service to focus on support operations for the Ground forces and Navy. The Air Defence employs almost exclusively fighters, along with the entire fleet of the country's AWACS, and the country's radar defence network (including the strategic defence radars that can locate oncoming ICBM waves.)
The Air defence is organised similarly to the Ground forces, with air regiments and air divisions forming the bulk of the organisation. Multiple air divisions can form air armies; the terminology used everywhere in the aviation branches is almost identical to the equivalents in the Ground forces, including most officer ranks. It previously was also responsible for the Ground forces' air defence, but in ca. 1980 the duties were reworked and the Air Defence found itself with a geostrategic role.
The Air Defence employs the A-50 AWACS and MiG-29OVT, MiG-31 and MiG-37 (MiG MFI) fighter aircraft, Buk-1M and Tor-M1 short-range SAM systems and S-300PMU2, S-400 and S-500 'heavy' SAM systems (the first being phased out by the following two.) The Air Defence is responsible for the security of the Soviet airspace and key industrial, political and other sites throughout the country, as well as performing air superiority duties abroad during warfare.
Air Forces
Over 10.470 aircraft are stored or operated by the Air force, mainly fighter-bombers, bombers, transports, reconnaissance and electronic warfare ones, but with a notbale number of fighter aircraft as well. The Air force employs a total of 450.000 personnel and, when combined with the Air Defence, it is by far the largest and most sophisticated air defence and counter-attack network in the world.
The Air force is organised similarly to the Ground forces, with air regiments and air divisions forming the bulk of the organisation. Multiple air divisions can form air armies; the terminology used everywhere in the aviation branches is almost identical to the equivalents in the Ground forces, including most officer ranks. It smoothly supplements the Air Defence in duties, and together they form a powerful combination.
Fighters like the MiG-29OVT, MiG-31, MiG-33 and MiG-37 (MiG MFI project) and Su-30M, Su-34 and Su-37, bombers like the older Tu-22M and more modern Su-40 (T-60S project) and strategic aircraft like the Tu-95 and Tu-160 form most of the aircraft holdings. The Il-76, An-124 and An-225 form the transport wing, while the Il-78 tanker, variant of the Il-76 transport, form more specialised aircraft. Electronic warfare is often practised by converted Su-34 and Mi-8 aircrafts and helicopters respectively.
Airborne Assault Troops
The 300.000 Airborne Assault Troops are organised under 20 Rapid-Deployment divisions, deployable within 30 days, and 20 Instant-Deployment divisions, deployable within 3 days, at any place within the flight radius of the Soviet transport aircraft fleet (essentially the whole world.) They are equipped with paradroppable BMD-3 AIFV's, BTR-D AAPC's, light artillery and other necessary equipment, in order to hold their positions and/or advance until land reinforcements can arrive. An Air Assault division consists of 3 Air Assault brigades.
Airborne Assault Troops were the first airborne force founded, used in large scale exercises and completely mechanised, and form the largest such branch in the world. They are supported by transport aircraft (such as the Ilyushin Il-76 and the Antonov An-124 and An-225 of the Air Force) but also have their own holdings of equipment, consisting primarily of Mil Mi-26 and Kamov Ka-60 transport helicopters, the latter having replaced the Mi-8 family from service with its ranks.
Strategic Rocket Forces
The 300.000 personnel of the Strategic Rocket Forces operates the country's 1.200 land-based ICBM's in twenty-eight bases with 300 missile control centres, including a very large number of road- or rail-mobile ICBM's that increase the force's survivability. They are organised in a manner similar to the ground forces, with several Missile armies existing.
The standard division of the Missile troops consists of 4 brigades, with a total of 30 Missile divisions existing under the organisation of 10 missile armies. The majority of the personnel is in communications and other logistic duties, such as manning the computers of the weaponry, but each brigade always has a number of security personnel equipped with vehicles and equipment suitable for NBC warfare.
Rear Services
Numbering some 1.162.000 personnel, the Rear Services is an integral part of the combat branches of the Armed forces, being always invisible but present aside their regular combat logistics and support (CLS) units. The Rear services' task is to maintain the infrastructure of the armed forces (such as roads and railways, which commonly puts them in civil duties as well), supply the armed branches of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, KGB and GRU with all necessary equipment (such as uniforms and ammunitions), manage prisoners of wars, etc.
The Rear Services also include the world's largest and most sophisticated NBC warfare force, with tens of thousands of vehicles suitable for reconnaissance of contaminated territories and light 'cleaning' operations. The Chemical Troops, as they are known, saw extensive action in the 1986 Chernobyl reactor accident. Other components include the Signal troops, who manage the communications of the Soviet military, and the Engineer troops, assigned with the most key maintainance tasks for a wide variety of fields to servicing vehicles to that of servicing road networks.
Civil Defence
Numbering 150.000 personnel, this non-combat branch manages the Soviet Union's underground defence network (such as bunkers and underground railways used by the civilian and military authorities of the country.) Its tasks include the safe evacuation of political authorities and civilians in the event of total or nuclear conflict, and other similar duties.
Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
Interior Troops
Consisting of 24 Motorised Rifle divisions and 16 Spetsnaz brigades, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' (MVD) Interior Troops number a total of 340.000 personnel. These troops have the mission of suppressing demonstrations, revolts, riots, strikes, or other challenges to the regime that the militsiya (police) cannot contain. Supplementing not just the militsiya but also other MVD formations, the Interior troops might also assist in emergencies such as fighting fires.
MVD Interior Troops are equipped in the same manner as the Ground forces' MRD's (Motorised Rifle Divisions). These divisions consist of three motorised rifle, one tank and one artillery brigade, and are most commonly equipped with BMT-72 heavy IFV's in place of main battle tanks (as the BMT-72 is a standard T-72BM with a crew compartment for five troopers) aside to the T-90 (T-72BU) main battle tank, BMP-4 infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-90 APC's, 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers, 9P157 Krizantema anti-tank vehicles, and 2S6M1 Tunguska and ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft artillery units. These arms make them excel in urban warfare while retaining sharp combat ability for conventional battlefields.
Committee for State Security (KGB)
Border Troops
The circa 238.540 Border Troops, under the Committee for State Security (KGB) and organised under 14 MRD also operate 100 corvettes and 16 frigates that form the Soviet Union's coast guard. They protect the USSR's land and maritime frontier, and in wartime they become a frontline combat service (including coast guard duties). They operate land-, sea- and air-based systems to fulfill their missions. As such, they are mainly organized in style similar to the Ground forces.
Standard-issue equipment for the Border troops is same as those of the ground forces with the exception of tanks (as Border troops' armoured brigades are issued the T-90/T-72BU,) unlike the Interior Troops which have the benefit of acquiring more specialised equipment for their more specialised duties. The Mil Mi-24 and Mi-28 attack helicopters are the primary air wing, used to patrol frontiers and eliminate any sudden threats; the Mi-24 'Hind' can also be used as a light transport, considering its capability to carry up to 8 personnel.
Security Troops
Although Soviet sources do not specify the functions of these special troops that also come under the KGB, Western analysts think that one of their main tasks are to guard the top leadership in the Kremlin, as well as key government and party buildings and officials at the republic and regional levels. Other special KGB troops were intended for counter-terrorist and counterinsurgency operations.
Such troops are reportedly employed, along with the MVD's Internal Troops, to suppress public protests and disperse demonstrations. Special KGB troops also are trained for sabotage and diversionary missions abroad. The 40.000 KGB Security troops are organised under 16 brigades and contrary to their counterparts under other branches, who are named 'Spetsnaz,' they are called Osnaz.
Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)
Special-purpose Troops
GRU Special-purpose forces (Spetsnaz GRU) are special operations units subordinate to military counter-intelligence (GRU) and operating under Airborne Troops (VDV) uniforms. They are organized in the same style as KGB's Security troops. They form, together with KGB's Osnaz (under the Security troops), the nation's most elite forces. These troops' existence is hidden from public. The Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) retains 50.000 Spetsnaz under 20 brigades. As they operate under Airborne uniforms, they are excellent in conducting airborne operations as well.
Military Service
Military service in the Soviet Union is compulsory for both male and female Soviet citizens between the age of 18 and 49, and lasts 25 months, including one month of basic training. Conscripts are in their position for the duration of their service term, which means that they are heavily specialised in their duty; for instance, a Soviet infantry trooper assigned with anti-tank weapons will be training with it for both years of his service. Such specialities are always assigned after basic training.
By law, all positions in the armed forces are open to both men and women, independent of sexuality or political, religious, racial or other affiliations, although in effect the military's top ranks are almost exclusive to CPSU members or otherwise people loyal to the Communist Party and are of Slavic origin. Women, and particularly since 1992, have an ever-increasing role in the armed forces; although most are channelled to the Rear Services, the Air Defence troops and the Civil Defence in non-combat duties, an ever-increasing number is taking up arms like regular soldiers.
Because conscription is compulsory for both sexes, the workforce is drained and the military is already in the brink of overspending, the vast majority of recruits are channelled in alternative/civil duties/service. Such persons undergo regular basic training, but spend the rest 24 months of their service employed in economic duties with the same wage and rank as a regular soldier. This enhances economic activity and reduces unemployment to near zero, although a small degree of underemployment (2,7% according to UN data) is noticed in general. All in all, very few escape either of the two service options.
According to Article 31 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution, paragraph 2, in order to defend the gains of socialism, the peaceful labour of the Soviet people, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, the USSR maintains armed forces and has instituted universal military service.
Reserves
Those who complete armed military service are automatically drafted into the reserve forces of the Soviet Union until their age of 49, when they are relieved of it. At any time during their life, however, they may be recalled for short intervals of re-training or back to active duty if a critical situation requires their presence. This applies to both men and women independent of beliefs, affiliations, etc.
In total, less one-sixth the Soviet population (82 million citizens) are part of the reserves of the USSR, 32 million of which being women. Overall, about 2.069.040 reservists are organised under 133 Ground forces, Border guard and Interior troops divisions, as well as Naval squadrons complete with their ships, Air defence and Air force Air Armies and various special operations reserve units under KGB and GRU.
A total of 9 million Soviets have been discharged from active duty in the Armed Forces or other armed branches, of them 3 million able to be recalled within 72 hours to fully man all military units. These figures include non-commissioned officers (NCO's); such discharged persons are trained similarly to reservists, however on far more regular intervals, and are unofficially considered reservists by many analysts.
Equipment in reserve varies from that of the main military. The T-64BV, T-72BM, T-72BU (T-72's upgraded to T-90 standard) and T-90 tanks, BMP-2/3, BMP-4 and BMT-72 IFV, BTR-70/80 APC, BRDM-2, BRM-1, 9P137 and 9P148 anti-tank vehicles, towed D-20 and self-propelled 2S3 Akatsiya howitzers, ZSU-23-4 Shilka AAA, S-300PMU2 and S-300VM SAM, BM-21 and BM-27 MLRS, a number of MiG-29 and Su-27 and variations, and a number of ships and submarines mainly from the 1970's generation are the stocked equipment with which organised reserve divisions and to-be-organised divisions are issued.
