The_Soviet_Army_troops_organization_and_equi

DESCRIPTION:

The SA-8/GECKO is a two-stage, solid-fuel, short-range, low-altitude, all-weather SAM system.

The unique six-wheeled SA-8 TELAR is amphibious and has a large boatlikebow. On the SA-8asystem,

four missiles mount on launch rails on an integrated rotatable turret; the SA-8bsystem carries six canister-launched missiles. On either variant, the on-board LAND ROLL target acquisition and fire control radar system also is mounted on the front of the turret. The LAND ROLL system consists of a folding surveillance radar antenna located atop the launcher, between the two pairs of launch rails, and a large tracking radar dish flanked by two smaller command radar dishes forward of the launch rails.

CAPABILITIES:

The SA-8 has a slant range of 12 kilometers a n d a kill zone of approximately 10 to 12,000 meters in altitude. Compared to other Soviet air defense systems, the SA-8 has several advantages: it is fully self-contained, highly mobile, amphibious, and air-transportable.

The SA-8 system is organic to the SAM regiment of some MRDs and TDs. An SA-8 regiment has a

total of 20 TELARs organized into five batteries of 4 TELARs each. The regiment also h a s 10 resupply vehicles, based on the same chassis as the TELAR, which carry additional missiles and a crane for transloading.

The surveillance radar of the LAND ROLL system probably operates in the H band and has an effective range of around 30 kilometers against

a typical target. Its antenna folds down behind the launcher, enabling Soviet transport aircraft to airlift the system. The tracking radar is of the pulsed type; it probably operates in the J band with a range of 20 to 25 kilometers. The two I-band guidance radars make it possible to launch two missiles at the same target, each one respond-

ing to a different frequency to frustrate ECM. A low-light-level television camera mounted on top

of the fire-control assembly is used for optical target tracking.

The incorporation of the radars and the number

of ready missiles on the TELAR give the amphibious SA-8 system some mobility and tacticalemploy-

ment advantages over the SA-6 system. The SA-6, on the other hand, provides greater depth of coverage, especially against aircraft employing standoff weapons. The use of canisters on the SA-8bsystem h a s three advantages: it further increases the number of ready missiles, it improves missile survivability, and it facilitates resupply and reloading.

LIMITATIONS

Besides being susceptible to suppressive fires and ECM, the SA-8's exposed radars and wheels are especially vulnerable to artillery fires.

REMARKS:

The Soviets introduced the SA-8a in 1974 and first publicly displayed it in 1975. The SA-8b variant was first seen in 1980. Along with the SA-6, the SA-8 systems have replaced the S-60 AA gun in most division-level air defense regiments.

DESCRIPTION:

The SA-9/GASKINis a short-range,low-altitude SAM. Four missiles in detachable, box-like launch canisters are mounted on a modified BRDM-2 amphibious armored scout car. The launcher is 360-degree traversable and rests flat on the rear of the vehicle when not in the launch-ready position. The vehicle carries an additional four missiles inside.

The GASKIN missiles has a passive infrared seeker. It carries an HE warhead.

CAPABILITIES:

The SA-9 has a slant range of approximately 6 kilometers and a kill zone of 10 to 5,000 meters i n altitude. A surveillance data link alerts a n operator seated in the vehicle cabin to a n approaching target. The operator then tracks the target optically through a large window at the base of the launcher pedestal.

Once targets are sighted visually, the SA-9 prob-

ably uses a red/green light indicator system similar to that of the SA-7/GRAIL; that is, when the red

light turns green, the missile has locked onto the target and is ready to fire. However, the GASKIN

missile is not a derivative of the GRAIL. The SA-9 is the least complex of Soviet vehiclemounted SAM systems.

A platoon of four SA-9 vehicles is organic to the air defense battery of MRRs and TRs. The SA-9sare teamed with a platoon of four ZSU-23-4s.

The SA-9 also is organic to Soviet naval infantry regiments and brigades.

The four SA-9/GASKIN fire units normally operate as a group. They would most likely deploy between the first and second echelons of the regi-

ment. From that location, the SA-9s can protect both first-and second-echelon units without be-

coming exposed to enemy direct fire weapons. The SA-9sprobably have the task of covering the regimental command post, the regiment's organic artillery battalion, a n d other organic or attached elements i n the regiment's sector.

The SA-9 is amphibious with hydrojetpropulsion. An air filtration and overpressure system provides NBC protection. These capabilities enable the SA-9 to cross rivers and zones of radiation along with forward columns of tanks and APCs.

LIMITATIONS:

The SA-9 has significantly reduced range against high-speed aircraft approaching the launcher. The system has no on-board radar. Therefore, the crew must depend on preliminary target data broadcast over the division early warning radio net until they visually acquire the target. The system is susceptible to suppressive fires and battlefield obscuration. Maximum armor protection is only 1 4 millimeters.

REMARKS:

The Soviets introduced the SA-9 in 1968. Its

Soviet nickname is Strela-1 (arrow). Around 1977, the SA-12/GOPHERSAM system began to replace

the SA-9.

DESCRIPTION:

The SA-11/GADFLYis a low-to-mediumaltitude SAM. The SA-11TELAR is based on a tracked

chassis also used for the radar vehicles associated with the SA-11. The TELAR features a 360-degree

traversable platform with a dome-shaped radar antenna at the front and a four-rail launcher near the rear. At the extreme rear of the platform is a communications antenna.

CAPABILITIES:

The GADFLY missile has a slant range of 30 kilometers. I t provides air defense against high-

performance aircraft operating at low-to-medium altitudes, as well as against cruise missiles. The

tracked TELAR provides excellent mobility.

Although SA-11 batteries (if deployed at division level) or battalions (if deployed at army level) have

longer-range surveillance and target acquisition radars, each TELAR, with its on-board guidance and tracking radar, can operate independently for surveillance and target engagement.

LIMITATIONS:

The TELAR apparently does not carry reload missiles onboard.

REMARKS:

The SA-11 TELAR vehicle first appeared with the SA-6b/GAINFUL system around 1979. The entire SA-11system with the GADFLY missile was

not introduced until 1983. Initially deployed as a

replacement for the SA-4 system in army-level SAM brigades, the SA-11may eventually replace the SA-6 as a division-levelSAM.

The SA-12a/GLADIATORis a long-range, low­ to-high altitude, tactical SAM system. Th e SA-12a TELAR is based on a modified MT-T heavy tracked transporter. Cylindrical containers i n circular launch racks carry four GLADIATOR missiles. The

driver's cab. A separate transloader vehicle on the same type o f chassis carries four reload missiles and a crane. Separate phased-array radars and C3

vehicles associated with this SAM system use similar vehicles.

CAPABILITIES:

The GLADIATOR missile has a range of 90 kilometers and a kill zone at altitudes between 30

and 30,000 meters. The SA-12a mobile system pro­ vides air defense against all types o f aerodynamic

vehicles, including cruise missiles and some tactical ballistic missiles. The phased-array radars provide

long-range surveillance and a capability for hand­ ling multiple targets.

The SA-12a/GLADIATORsystem is a replace ment for the SA-4/GANEFin nondivisional SAM

units. Initial deployment has been to front-level SAM brigades.

REMARKS:

The Soviets first deployed the SA-12a/GLADIA­ TO R system i n 1986. Still under development is a n even more capable, longer-range, higher - altitude missile to complement it. T h e second missile, designated SA-12b/GIANT,is a tactical

SAM with a range of 100 kilometers. The GIANT can intercept aircraft at all altitudes, cruise mis-

siles, tactical ballistic missiles, and possibly some types o f strategic ballistic missiles. Th e SA-12b system uses the same TELAR as the SA-12a,except tha t it carries only two o f th e larger GIAN T missiles.

DESCRIPTION:

The SA-13/GOPHERis a short-range, low altitude SAM system. The SA-13 TELAR is a modified MT-LB amphibious armored tracked vehicle with t h e machine gun turret removed. The launcher pedestal mounted to the rear of center of the vehicle is 360-degree traversable. It incorporates the op-

erator's position behind a large, rectangular window at its base. Atop the pedestal are mounting brackets

for four missile canisters. The SA-13launcher can accommodate the GASKIN missile canisters normally associated with the SA-9 system; it can also accommodate the slightly larger canisters for the

GOPHER missiles associated exclusively with the SA-13 system. Like the GASKIN canisters, the

GOPHER canisters are box-shaped, with hinged covers a t both front a n d rear. However, t h e GOPHER canisters are slightly longer and reinforced by transverse ribs in their rear portion, while the GASKIN canisters have smooth sides.

Located between the two pairs of missile canisters is the circular parabolic antenna of a ranging radar. There is a n unidentified plank-shaped structure above the position for the inside right canister. On both sides of the pedestal are running boards for crew members emplacing new missile canisters. I n travel position, the canisters and radar are lowered to the rear of the pedestal and rest on the rear deck, facing to the rear; approximately one-third of the canister length extends behind the vehicle. The MT-LB cargo compartment may carry up to eight reload missiles. It has two large doors at the rear.

The platoon leader of the SA-12-equipped SAM platoon uses a second version of the SA-13 TELAR.

This version features four box-shaped receiver devices mounted on the front, rear, and both sides of the hull.

SA-12/GOPHER (continued)

CAPABILITIES:

The GOPHER missile has a slant range of 6

to 7 kilometers and a kill zone between a minimum of 9 to 10 meters and a maximum of 5.500 meters

in altitude. It has a cooled IR seeker and operates i n dual frequency bands to better discriminate

against countermeasures (in comparison to the GASKIN). As with the SA-9 system, the operator

tracks the target optically; but, in this case, the onb board ranging radar allows him to determine when the target aircraft is within range of the

missile. This reduces the needless expenditure of missiles on out-of-rangetargets.

A platoon of four SA-13TELARsis organic to the air defense battery of MRRs and TRs, where

they are complemented by a platoon of four S P AA guns. The SA-13is also organic to Soviet naval infantry brigades.

The four box-shaped structures on the hull of the platoon leader's TELAR house a passive radar warning system. The receivers' arrangement provides 360-degreecoverage around the vehicle.

The tracked, amphibious TELAR with collective NBC protection allows the SA-13 system to cross

rough terrain, water obstacles, and contaminated areas along with the tank and BMP-equipped units it supports.

LIMITATIONS:

The SA-13 h a s significantly reduced range a g a i n s t high-speed aircraft approaching the launcher. Despite a limited surveillance capability of the range-only radar, the SA-13 still depends primarily on visual acquisition by the crew. It also depends on target data passed to the crew by data link when targets are acquired by the radars of the battery's S P AA guns or by division-level radars. Suppressive fires and battlefield obscuration may degrade the operator's ability to track targets visually. The MT-LB hull offers a maximum armor protection of only 7 millimeters (half that of the BRDM-2 hull of the SA-9).

REMARKS:

The Soviets introduced t h eSA-13 system around

1977 a s a replacement for the SA-9 system. Their nickname for the SA-13is Strela10.

BRIDGE

CHARACTERISTICS

BRIDGE AND LAUNCHER

IN TRAVEL POSITION:

Length (m)

Width (m)

Height (m)

Weight (mt) Transporter-launcher BRIDGE ONLY

Treadway length (m) Unfolded

Folded

Width (m)

Unfolded

Folded

Weight (mt)

ASSEMBLY DATA

Spans in set

Length of span (m)

Total length of bridge (m)

Roadway width (m) Capacity (mt) ssembly Time (min) workingparty

EAR INTRODUCED

PMP RAFT

CHARACTERISTICS

SEMBLY DATA ans in raft totallength (m) adwaywidth (m) acity (mt)

assemblytime (min)

king party

Bridges and Rafts

Bridge and raft characteristics

DESCRIPTION:

Although the complete PMP ribbon bridge set

consists of 32 center pontons and 4 ramp pontons, the ponton bridge companyof an engineer battalion

normally has half a set (one complete bridge) made up of 16 center and 2 ramp pontons. Each 4-section ponton is launched from a KrAZ-255B truck. It automatically unfolds upon entering the water. The

sections then lock in place to form a bridge unit 6.75 meters long and 8 meters wide. Normally,all

the units are launched simultaneously. They join together parallel to the near shore to form a continuous roadway. The roadway then swings across the water obstacle; powerboats (6 per halfset) hold it in place on the designated centerline.

CAPABILITIES:

Engineers can use the full 36-ponton construct 227 meters of 60-ton bridge. The also configure it as 40to 170-ton rafts. A 1 gives each division the capability to constr meters of 60-ton bridge, 191 meters of 20-ton

or rafts. Under ideal conditions, assembly of 7 meters of bridge per minute can result

REMARKS:

The PMP was introduced in 1961. It is e vulnerable to air attack and artillery.

The TMM is a multiplespan, treatle-supported, scissors-type, treadway bridge. One bridge set

comprises four 10.5-m s p a n s carried on, a n d launched from, modified KrAZ-214 or KrAZ-255B

(6 x 6) trucks. Spans fold i n half for transport. Three of the spans have integral-mounted, adjustable (1.7 to 3.2 meters) trestle legs, while the fourth (far-shore) span h a s none. During travel, the trestles can fold beneath the scissors span.

CAPABILITIES:

raises, unfolds, and emplaces the span with the folding trestle legs.

Engineers can launch the complete 42-m bridge in 40 to 60 minutes during the day or 60 to 80 minutes at night; however, a well-trained working party can cut this time in half. If necessary, it can lay the TMM underwater; this adds about 50 percent to the launching time. Adding more spans can lengthen the bridge.

A launching girder mounted on the truck bed launches the TMM hydraulically over the tailgate. Assisted by winch cables and pulleys, the girder

REMARKS:

The TMM was introduced in 1964. It is vulnerable to direct and indirect fire weapons.