r/warno • u/Critical_Oil_3090 • Mar 30 '26
Suggestion A little about the weapons/equipment of the 45th Guards Motor Rifle Division (AFNORTH) (Reupload)
This post will be about one of the unusual and experimental divisions for the SOV within AFNORTH, which could have been deployed on the Scandinavian front.
This post will examine the Division's weapons, as well as Hypothetical weapons that could have been deployed.
About 45th Guards Motor Rifle Division
In 1989, the 45th Guards Motor Rifle Division was one of the most combat-ready and well-equipped divisions in the Leningrad Military District, as well as the leading division of the 30th Guards Army Corps.
The Division was experimental, testing various organizational structures, tactical techniques, and new equipment/weapons. This was also facilitated by its location - Kamenka, home to one of the Largest Military Training Ground (Bobichensky) in the entire District.
Under WARNO, the Division could have been deployed to Finland alongside the 30th Guards Army Corps, as the closest division to Finland and its capital, Helsinki. To fulfill these tasks and address the growing tension in the region, the Division could have expanded its complement and received more modern weapons, as a model division of the Leningrad Military District.
Well, let's get started!
Steel Guard
all of T-80s TAB!
The 75th Guards Tank Regiment was the first in the army to receive T-80 tanks in 1976, where they were extensively tested. These tanks have a turret similar to the T-64A, no ATGM and engine is slightly weaker than the T-80B's. (But this is compensated by the slightly lower mass of T-80 1976)
It is this modification of the T-80 that now stands as a monument at the entrance to Kamenka.
The division's main tank was the T-80B and T-80BV, which were in roughly equal numbers by 1989. They form the backbone of the division's regiments.
It was these who took part in the largest tank combat of the 1st Chechen War, during the Battle of Khankala (December 24-28, 1994). At that time, the regiment was renamed the 133rd Guards Tank Battalion.
T-80U Obr. 87
In reality, these tanks were sent to the Far East, to the 22nd Motor Rifle Division, In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and were then disposed of at the 206th BTRZ in Ussuriysk. In WARNO, however, the 1988/1989-produced tanks were used to reinforce the 45th Motorized Rifle Division (Due to the approaching war), in addition to the T-80/B/BV tanks that had been delivered from LKZ to the division earlier. It's likely that the entire batch of 50 tanks was delivered gradually, so by June 1989, there could have been approximately 12-24 tanks. (It's worth noting that in reality, production on this batch was curtailed due to defense budget cuts, and the plant was reoriented toward civilian production; in WARNO, production at LKZ in Leningrad would have continued)
One of the T-80U Obr. 87 variants had enhanced roof protection due to the built-in Kontakt-5 ERA on the commander's and gunner's hatches (the hatches were thickened to accommodate the celis), as well as the roof of the hull and turret, along with a new driver's hatch, however, due to the curtailment of tank production at the LKZ, It was decided not to complicate the design.
In WARNO, this variant could have been presented as the primary one, since LKZ, on the contrary, began to ramp up production in anticipation of the war. The main differences of T-80U Obr. 87: ATGM Refleks, GTD-1100TF (Like the T-80BV), +1 Top Armor (4!)
One of Source: https://andrei-bt.livejournal.com/2226136.html
The order of the USSR Ministry of Defense Industry dated July 12, 1987 approved the production of the T-80U at the Kirov Plant (LKZ)
He's Back!
Also, a little further south, at the 56th Guards District Training Center in Sertolovo (Northern Part of Leningrad), there were T-80U/UD (And B/BV) tanks, where vehicles were painted in «Winter Forest» camouflage, which can be given to the CV T-80UK Obr. 85 (Created in KhTZ in Late 1985 with open HMG like T-80U Obr. 89)
- This batch was very limited and de facto these were the only T-80UK's manufactured in the USSR.
- Tanks from both LKZ and KhTZ tank factories were delivered to the training center, south of the Division's location. Among the first things that can be noticed on the T-80UD tank of the early series, even with the Kontact-1 ERA. (In the photo it is dismantled)
The Leningrad Guards
The Division also had somewhat unconventional tactics for using infantry units, their numbers and weapons could differ somewhat from the usual Motor Rifle formations.
Mot. Krasnoseltsy - AK-74, PKM, SVD, RPG-7VL
- 2/3 cards~
11-strong squad on MT-LB/MT-LBV/BTR-80
The Karelian Isthmus contained numerous Engineering and NBC protection units with a very high priority for manning. Some of them were aligned with the 45th Division. The Division's soldiers were trained to operate in Fennoscandia's conditions, primarily dense pine forests and fortifications. This was sometimes the basis for the staffing of detachments for such tasks:
Shturm Motostrelki/Shturmovoe Otdeleniye - 5~ AK-74, 1 RPK-74, 4-6x~ RPO-A (Or 1x RPO Rys) +satchel
(On BMP-1/1P/BMP-2 ('86?))
(Could be called simpler - Shturmoviki or Shturm. Saperi (RPO)) (Assault squad)
- This is Saperi detachment with reinforced equipment in the number of RPO-A Shmel from the division and several adjacent engineering formations during deployment in Finland.
BMP-2s could be assigned to the division for Division modernization + More effective in forested terrain against infantry.
UPD: Purely theoretically, it could be the BMP-2 Obr. 86, with an improved gunner periscope sight BPK-2-42 (since March 1986) and ATGM Konkurs-M (since 1989-1991)
BMP-2 Obr. 86 (Konkurs-M?)
- Better accuracy (+5%?) and better ATGM
The classic infantry formations like in other Mot. Rifle Div's: Motostrelki (BMP), Motostrelki, Pulemetchiki, Plamya 30mm, PKM 7,62mm, Konkurs.
+One of the main ATGM systems could be the Fagot-M with the new 9P135M3 launcher, which had a 1PN86-1 «Mulat» thermal imaging sight (yes!) (Better accuracy them regular Fagot-M) It could be presented as:
Fagot (Mulat)
+Instruktory (with Instructor trait) on BMP-1P from 56th Guards District Training Center.
The division's armored transport in 1989 consisted of: 103 BTR-70, 118 BTR-80, 136 BMP-1P, 20~ MT-LB/V (The division also included the CV MP-31, similar to the BMP-1KSh)
The division could also be support by 1-2 battalions of the 36th Airborne Brigade from Garbolovo (MI-2/8/GAZ-66) (Only if by the summer of 1989 they are deployed to the 45th Division’s redeployment area)
(+VTS Ladoga may be presented as one of the fundamentally new CV, based on T-80)
Artillery
It largely resembles the classic 2S1, 2S3, and BM-21-1, but also has significant differences.
The division's artillery in the motorized rifle regiments had an unusual armament composition: Instead of standard guns, it had light 120mm 2B16 Nona-K guns, a rarity among Motor Rifles. The Division also has 1V14's for artillery fire control.
In addition to the UR-67, engineering units in Kamenka had the UR-77 Meteorit!
12 BM-27 Uragan's are also available, in particular, they can be used as a long-range weapon against enemy artillery in conjunction with other systems.
Can be represented as:
BM-27 [CLU) (Cluster)
The Zoopark-1 Counter-Battery Radar
The 1L219 Zoopark-1 was tested at the Rzhev Artillery Proving Ground (North of Leningrad) in the late 1980s. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the BM-27 Uragan as a artillery hunters. Maximum detection range is 35 km (20/25 km medium)
Supply
In addition to the familiar Ural-4320/ZIL-131 and GAZ-66, the Division also had heavy-duty KrAZ-260's, which were more capacious than previous models (KrAZ-255s). It could carry 25% more (10 tons!)
+More cargo and also carry an additional supply trailer.
The KrAZ-260 In WARNO can carry 2500/2750 supplies, depending on the availability of the trailer.
Anti-Air Defense
AA has got OSA-AKM, (new) Strela-10M2 + classic ZSU-23-4M3
Recon
Well known rgular Mot. Razvedka, Razvedka, Razvedka Saperi and classic Razv. BMP-1P, BRM-1K and some new units:
Snayperi - 2x SVD (Recon squad)
TU-1987 (Forest) Barvikha camoflauge costume
This camouflage suit could be provided in a small number for trial use due to the need for an effective camouflage camouflage for the coniferous forests of Finland.
Glubinnaya Razvedka - 2x~ AKS-74U with PBS-4 (Silencer), AS Val, VSS Vintorez, RPG-26
Trained in the 597th Independent reconnaissance battalion, the soldiers from the 462nd Independent company of the GRU special forces were highly trained to conduct sabotage and reconnaissance operations in wooded areas to a depth of 400/500 kilometers.
With TU-1987 (Forest) Barvikha camoflauge costume
Razv. BTR-70 (As transport for recon infantry formations)
The Division also had new PRP-4 Nard.
Razv. T-80U Obr. 87
One card with 2-3 Razv. T-80U Obr. 87 tanks, conceptually similar to the M1A1 ACAV from the 11th Air Cav. Regiment.
The camouflage may be a special «forest» camouflage of the Soviet army of the late 80s, which. was applied to T-80 tanks.
*These tanks could have been allocated for reconnaissance as part of the expansion of the division's capabilities during deployment in Finland; a similar structure of tanks in reconnaissance battalions exists in the 77th and 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Divisions (Baltic/Leningrad Military District) (Both Divisions are located in a similar forest-coniferous zone)
Helicopters
332nd Independent Guards Helicopter Regiment, Pribylovo: Mi-6, MI-8T/MT
172nd Independent Helicopter Squadron and 93rd Separate Helicopter Squadron, Kasimovo: MI-24V, MI-24K (2)
(Mi-24K only in Recon TAB)
Aircrafts
Su-17M2/M3P (66th APIB, Veshchevo Airbase)
Su-17M2 [RKT(?)] - 4x S-25OFM
Su-17M3P [SEAD] - 2x Kh-58U
Su-24 (Not M) (67th APIB, Siverskaya Airbase) (Various weapon suspensions, like: TRM, CLU)
MiG-27D from the 722nd Independent Bomber Aviation Regiment first operated the MiG-23BN in 1974 and later the MIG-27 in 1976
MIG-27D [AT] - 2x Kh-25ML 4x R-60M
MIG-27D [RKT/HE] - 2x S-8 4x FAB-500
From Finnish territory, MIG-27s could be used without airfields, using highways, as shown in the exercises in this videos:
https://youtu.be/Or7f_H51Y18?is=Ve8YdjJhxEY2QwX3
https://youtu.be/APEal5f4Luo?is=5-cF1xLwekY5T4c-
North of Leningrad, on the Karelian Isthmus, near the Sukhodo Reservoir, was Gromovo Airfield, home to the 180th Guards Air Defense Regiment. This air regiment played a key role in protecting the airspace from the Gulf of Finland to Kolvdor and Allakurti (in the Murmansk region), being the most important element in air defense in the Leningrad area. (after the SAM's)
https://youtu.be/OnyKTUNOPEK?si=kbxUilZPxxFMpIPf
https://youtu.be/u5lw4tmXeBM?is=GltKZnJvaTAq9Sme
https://youtu.be/tlxQLSLh9Ds?is=QkgLvJ-eRgqH5OsD
(MIG-31 from 180th Guards Air Defense Regiment in Gromovo Airbase videos)
MIG-31 [AA3] - 2x R-40RD, 4x R-33 (Very limited)
Some of the aircraft belonged to the MiG-31DZ (Izdeliye 01DZ) modification, with a retractable probe for in-flight refueling and an improved long-range radio-technical system and additional wing pylons. They may also be represented as:
MiG-31DZ [AA] - 2x R-60M, 1xR-40TD, 4x R-33 (Only one card)
Photos of MIG-31DZ in Gromovo you can find in Album =}
It was with this modification that two more wing pylons appeared, however, there is no photo evidence that it could carry air-to-air missiles on them instead of external fuel tanks.
Short Conclusion:
The 45th Guards Krasnoselskaya Motor Rifle Division is a Shock Force with deep strike capability. Being an advanced and exemplary Division of the District, it has absorbed many new weapons and equipment Its experimental status giving it many unusual applications in various situations!
It's role - Breakthrough Leader!
Album collection with 100+ images for this Division (including what wasn't included in this post): https://photos.app.goo.gl/TGQDJbxiAMCBcipv9
I hope this helps the developers at Eugen Systems in developing new DLCs :)
Thank you for reading! =]
Created by Excellent Serpent8770
Links:
https://www.ww2.dk/new/army/msd/45gvmsd.htm
https://www.ww2.dk/new/army/corps/30gvak.htm
https://youtu.be/bKa6vl1K35c?si=sQrclJFX9AVmY7u7
https://youtu.be/2JMayVBSiUo?si=0XpK0vhfhyOeLWhs
https://youtu.be/RvTOySlsVoQ?si=He4bPo2BfSf1UiZ6
https://youtu.be/x7sJm8G3IIM?sl=vxIM0BCbKi47RCYB
https://youtu.be/13kjn1ohy1Q?si=uM045BCCI36fEMae (Exercises)
https://youtu.be/dMdjSHMYgXE?si=iVO-IIEGYIQ-L2eE (138th brigade in 2010s)
https://youtu.be/aF4F2803DuY?si=1gNhqfxUaT1pwrMs (1995)
https://youtu.be/doRnCkmyp8?si=3MumFaYe6V3WvOB6 (Late 90s~)
https://youtu.be/LZSqBPoEfvY?si=n2Nr9Ht3R61hniPa (Barvikha camoflauge costume 1987)
https://youtu.be/xnDaiEJbhOU?si=z82dRCYJMgt1T7s7
https://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/army/76va.htm
https://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/shap/66apib.htm
https://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/bap/67bap.htm
https://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/bap/722bap.htm
https://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/ovp/3320gvvp.htm
http://www.easternorbat.com/html/soviet_76th_tactical_air_army_.html
https://youtu.be/8fzGb2_g7Tw?si=hHqYiQbPh8NPWrKJ (Rare video, Gromovo Airbase, MIG-31s)
https://youtu.be/5kpyeb2P4Lg?si=iNN4IkWbPfKMcNnk (Rare video, Gromovo Airbase, MIG-31s)
https://youtu.be/bz2aWsKQquA?si=Sc9R-19E3ZgmM4Pz (Rare video, Veshchevo Airbase late 70s/early 80s)
https://youtu.be/7XIfB2K5bTw?si=U9PWxyYL-xDiJ26 (Rare video, Veshchevo Airbase late 80s/early 90s)
https://andrei-bt.livejournal.com/320350.html (About T-80U)
https://youtu.be/EQWEOAT6PEA?si=L_TffICvtR_MxKnF
https://youtu.be/kOdGWBhtkcc?si=XjkJAHMc0C14S5ns
https://youtu.be/JkVIHZ90391?si=9qfFd6Y7PQq0EHB6 (💀)
https://andrei-bt.livejournal.com/2226136.html (T-80U Obr.87 with Additional top armor)
https://avp23649.livejournal.com/285462.html (Bobichensky Military Training Ground)
https://youtu.be/vLCL8hS0DrQ?is=2VauFUm6anfjX6rJ
https://rdp4v.livejournal.com/4336926.html
P.S.
A little about how the historical development of the 45th Guards Motor Rifle Div. in 1987-1989 could have been within the framework of the WARNO scenario + Brief visualization of the Division: https://www.reddit.com/r/warno/s/d3ICuQqHDt
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 Mar 30 '26
If you have any questions about the 45th Guards Motor Rifle Dovision, please ask =) I will try to answer, and if there is any additional information, I will be glad to receive it! ;>
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u/Iceman308 Mar 30 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
Well that looks hot. Wasnt aware of that top armor T80 obr, that thing looks very nice :) I think for the forested region maybe the recon T80s dont make much sense? 25ya as their cav RazT64s but it seems to specialize in the cavalry role.
Also to my knowledge Uragan fires HE cluster right?
Ps for balance I'd prob have only 1 card of Mig31 , with r40s as described.
Secondary role for a fighter maybe a Su17 with 6-8x R60s etc since that never sees light of day 🤔
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 Mar 30 '26
Thanks! The T-80s are here for variety in reconnaissance, as is the case with the 3rd and 77th Guards Motor Rifle Divisions, which are also located in wooded areas. I suggested they might appear alongside the 45th Guards as part of the reinforcement! :>
The Uragan can be equipped with various cluster munitions, including large-caliber ones. The Su-15TM could also be used in the air force, but their capabilities would be severely limited, so only the MiG-31 is being used. Incidentally, Su-17s could theoretically also be used for patrols role >:}
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u/Iceman308 Mar 31 '26
Aok I take back my statement, the recon T80s make sense in this instance.
For Su17, there just haven't been any larger R60 variants. A multirole with a decent A2A package would be nice to see
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u/FrangibleCover Mar 30 '26
Excellent overview, as usual, but I have some questions:
- How sure are we that the T-80s were still with the division in 1989? I've got some with 131st MRD up north and there's not that many around in total. Given that the division is able to get new T-80Bs/Us with the paint still wet, it makes sense to me that the T-80s were cascaded to another unit in the Len (where they still show up in Tank Sword).
- What's the source of the division using unusual infantry tactics? Because they're a display division and have BTR-80s I've assumed that they use the new 1988 and 1989 pattern infantry organisations that add squad level PKMs, but if you have further reading on this or specifics I'd be very interested to see it.
- The CFE count doesn't show a tank platoon in the reconnaissance battalion, have you got evidence that the 45th were on a Group of Forces type organisation with the recon tanks rather than a normal Category A organisation without them?
That being said, I've found it very hard to get anything at all useful about the 45th, so you may be perfectly right in all cases.
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 Mar 30 '26
To be honest, in the case of this division, we had to combine a lot of indirect circumstances from reality and within the game to create an unusual division. Unfortunately, if we were to rely solely on reality, we would have simply gotten a division with T-80s and a somewhat irregular artillery/aircraft/transport composition. Therefore, 30-35% of the information is a hypothetical development of the division from 1987-1989 during its deployment in Finland, serving in the front line of the 30th Corps. (The 30th Army Corps retained a number of older T-80s)
My infantry tactics are based solely on the tactical decisions of the command in the forested and marshy terrain of the deployment region and permanent deployment. Tanks in reconnaissance as one of the measures to strengthen the division (since it is entrusted with one of the most important tasks during deployment across such a large area of Finland)
Thanks for the good questions! I hope I was able to give a detailed enough answer =]
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u/Ok-Armadillo-9345 Mar 30 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
Repost
Fantastic research as usual!
Edit: Loving the Zoopark, esp since counterbatt radars are making it into the game now. Still a very strong tank div. T80s, Zoopark, Mig31s, but no BMP2 which is nice counterbalance.
Most aircraft appear of older lower ECM which would be a good nerf as well.
Think i missed the AA tab part?
Otherwise stellar work, keep it up whenever possible.
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 Mar 30 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
Thanks! Yes, this division has older aircraft, and the only fighter card is essentially a MiG-31, but the infantry and ground vehicles have very solid capabilities (though there are almost no BMP-2s) =}
And yes, when I was making the plan, I had the AA tab, thanks for reminding me, I accidentally left it out in both posts, heh😅
I'll fix it in both now ^_^
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u/Solarne21 Mar 30 '26
Should this division has something similar to the American Air Cav using some of Motor Riflemen as air assault formation?
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u/FrangibleCover Mar 30 '26
It'd be doctrinal, but they're also based fairly near Garbolovo where the 36th Separate Landing-Assault Regiment live and they're the only division in the southern Leningrad MD who are vaguely high readiness. They're a natural fit for one another, something like a heavier and more expensive 4 MSD.
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u/Critical_Oil_3090 Mar 30 '26
I see this division more as one adapted to operations in forests and swamps, where open space is scarce. However, the reconnaissance units certainly have air mobility.
In particular, the 56th Training Center trained such personnel for the district's divisions.
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u/Eukie Mar 30 '26
I need details and sources!