Thread: Chaffee v. T-34
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Old 06-23-2007, 14:40 PM   #18 (permalink)
dalem
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Part of the confusion of how many Sov tanks had how many radios in WWII no-doubt results from the confusing (to us) labeling system the Sovs used vs. the Germans and the U.S. The UK had a different org too, but it wasn't quite as odd as the Sovs.

So while a German or U.S. org is pretty standard (at least on paper) with 5 per platoon, 15 per company, and 45 per battalion, anyone dealing with the Sovs has to deal with 3-tank platoons and 10-tank companies 3 platoons) for mediums, and 2-tank platoons and 5-tank companies (2 platoons) for heavies.

So a few times going back and forth between "company" "5 tanks" "10 tanks" and "platoon", and you are lucky if you don't fall down somewhere.

That's also a reason why German claims of always being buried by superior numbers on the East Front usually need a second look. A Soviet medium tank battalion is only 30 tanks, and a heavy tank regiment is only 21 KV or IS tanks. 21!

A mid-war tank corps would be called an independent brigade in German, American, or even UK usage.

-dale
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