Soviet Cavalry Squad SMG numbers
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2023 12:16 am
The 1941 TOE lists 2 LMGs for a whole Platoon (2Squads, so ~1 per Squad).
The 1942 TOE lists 3 SMGs for a whole Platoon (2Squads, so ~1 per Squad).
But already in July the 1941v2 Cavalry Squad gets 4 SMGs for each Squad, if this was the case the TOE would show at least a 8, wouldn't it? I guess that there are too many SMGs inside a Cavalry Squad especially that early when the 1942 TOE not even comes close to such numbers.
The 1943 TOE lists 8 SMGs for a whole Platoon, I see this being on average right due to the 2x4math when looking at the 96 Squads.
But where are those 18 times 10xSMGs+1xLMG "Cavalry Squad 43" comming from?
This Red Army Handbook states that: "[...] increased the use of a sub-machine gun as a personal weapon for combat troops, this latter by re-equipping one of the rifle platoons in each mounted squadron almost entirely with submachine guns. [...]" ...those can't be it since thsi would mean about 24 of such Squads and less regular Squads overall.
So then the last and best explanation is that those 18 Squads with SMGs+LMG are the new Reconnaissance Squads. The Division rceived this Recon early on and it got 88 Men and later that year for each Regiment "the addition of a 28-man reconnaissance platoon in July 1943" took place. Not sure about their Equipment, assuming the July 1943 Regimental Recon guys are already included this would mean (88+3*28)/12=14.33Squads, which is assuming that for some reason once every Men made the way not into Support Squads (and brought some additional friends with him
), so it also doesn't add up to 18.
Would be nice if someone could clarify.
The 1942 TOE lists 3 SMGs for a whole Platoon (2Squads, so ~1 per Squad).
But already in July the 1941v2 Cavalry Squad gets 4 SMGs for each Squad, if this was the case the TOE would show at least a 8, wouldn't it? I guess that there are too many SMGs inside a Cavalry Squad especially that early when the 1942 TOE not even comes close to such numbers.
The 1943 TOE lists 8 SMGs for a whole Platoon, I see this being on average right due to the 2x4math when looking at the 96 Squads.
But where are those 18 times 10xSMGs+1xLMG "Cavalry Squad 43" comming from?
This Red Army Handbook states that: "[...] increased the use of a sub-machine gun as a personal weapon for combat troops, this latter by re-equipping one of the rifle platoons in each mounted squadron almost entirely with submachine guns. [...]" ...those can't be it since thsi would mean about 24 of such Squads and less regular Squads overall.
So then the last and best explanation is that those 18 Squads with SMGs+LMG are the new Reconnaissance Squads. The Division rceived this Recon early on and it got 88 Men and later that year for each Regiment "the addition of a 28-man reconnaissance platoon in July 1943" took place. Not sure about their Equipment, assuming the July 1943 Regimental Recon guys are already included this would mean (88+3*28)/12=14.33Squads, which is assuming that for some reason once every Men made the way not into Support Squads (and brought some additional friends with him
), so it also doesn't add up to 18.Would be nice if someone could clarify.