Modern Russian Forces

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:03 am

Have we had a good chat through the most current Russian Army forces yet?

Hmmm. Lots on the Germans, and the USMC, etc.

So how is the big, bad bear faring?

Let's start with some pictures, to get all those micro-armor painters all worked up:

Cross post from TankNet thread on "History of Russian Armor"

The 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division has been involved in some exercises recently. This unit is the only one in the russian army to be equipped (partially) with T-80U:

http://img.rian.ru/images/8145/47/81454737.jpg
http://www.fdk.ru/createfoto.php?foto=i ... ig/051.jpg
http://www.fdk.ru/createfoto.php?foto=i ... ig/055.jpg
http://www.fdk.ru/createfoto.php?foto=i ... ig/019.jpg
http://www.fdk.ru/createfoto.php?foto=i ... ig/032.jpg
http://img.rian.ru/images/8145/52/81455244.jpg

Seems that the Kantemirovskaya TD is now equipped with T-80U and T-80BV. Russian newspaper articles (Rossiiskaia Gazeta) project that both this division, and the Taman Tank Division, will be fully re-equipped with T-90s within 2 years.

This seems like a difficult goal to achieve, given the low production rates of the T-90 (about 30 tanks per month). But whether it is two, or three, or four years, soon the T-90 will become the spearpoint.

Other Russian units are primarily equipped with various marks of the T-72, and a few Interior Ministry units are still equipped with the T-62.

Or so my Russian aquaintances indicate.

kgpanzer · Post by **kgpanzer** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:41 pm

my contacts expressed to me that the older T62 and such is used more for training and reserve style / guard units they field.

Not to get off topic.....The russians are fielding on a faster production rate the T90 and T95 because Putin says they need it.....since they are not at a war state and using there military funds to wage a campaign as the US is in the middle east, Russia and China are taking this time to have new, lean and better equipment. 5 years from now as we talk about this on this forum we will see both of them more on our level of combat readiness <only> is there tight alliance with Russia at this present time.

Cheers
Anthony

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:17 pm

Anyone else notice that all the T-80Us shown in the pictures are painted straight forrest green?

None of the tan/sand and black crow's-feet camo that was seen during the Gorbachov/Yeltsin putsch.

Back to straight-up forrest green, but with the many re-inforced rubber panels in plain dull black.

Ah bugger, I really do not want to re-paint my T-80Us!

gandr · Post by **gandr** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:27 pm

hooo i love those T-80Us

paul · Post by **paul** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:31 pm

I guess I got lucky, all my T-80's are forest green only.

jb · Post by jb » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:09 am

four of the pictures are blank

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:59 am

jb wrote:four of the pictures are blank

Sorry. Servers in Russia ... kind of a hit-and-miss affair, don't you know.

So, for those who find the world wide web something less than worldwide... I've nabbed the pics for local hosting:

Kinda makes you want to dig out the modern kit, don't it? Maybe buy some more, even?

Now, where did I put my can of ModelMaster Forrest Green spray ... ?

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 6:27 am

Just when im about to buy some Modern British, you pull these out MK1..

Does make me interested though, and i have had some spare cash free up. Something that i will have to look at

Thanks for the cool photos though

jb · Post by jb » Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:05 am

Thanks for the pictures, Mark1

Gort · Post by **Gort** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:02 pm

Nice pics Mark!

As far as repainting your T80s goes, unless you want them to represent 4th Gds TD at the present time, I personally wouldn't bother. If it was any other unit besides 4th Gds TD or 2nd Gds MRD I would be inclined to believe that the russians were going back to a monochrome finish on their gear. But these 2 units are AIUI "parade units". The white and red "pimp my ride" striping looks better on dark green than on camo. The pictures look more like a photo op than a training exercise.

Regarding 4th Gds TD equipping with T80s, my understanding is that these are the last of the top line T80s in service. The rest are sitting in depots deadlined, awaiting a decision on whether to scrap them, refurb them for the export market, or sell them back to Ukraine. Remember that the T80 is not a domestically produced tank, and not only are they 20+ years old, but the chances of buying spare parts from Ukraine given the current political climate is pretty remote. Not to say that it isn't possible, but any parts received are likely to come with a large serving of baked crow - and I don't think Putin has the appetite for it. Having said that, the T80 is still a much better tank than the T72 and it makes sense, both from a prestige and a logistical viewpoint, to put them in the most visible unit in the russian military.

From my reading the 2nd Gds MRD already has its 100 or so T90s and is replacing its BMP-2s with BMP-3s as production allows. I don't see why 4th Gds TD wouldn't be fully re-equipped with T90s by 2010 since the russian army is taking delivery of approx 100 vehicles per year. The bulk of T90 production is going to service export contracts - primarily India IIRC.

It looks very much like the best equipment is going to the two most visible, and politically reliable, units in the russian army first. The two units are also part of the small number of units that are maintained at near full TO&E. After they get all their new gear then the rest of the army will start to get something better than what they have now.

Of course I'm no expert and I could be completely of base with my assessment. I'm always willing to absorb new info from better informed people.

regards

Steve