SOVIET ARTILLERY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000100450001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 29, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 18, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

n 4 50X1 1#4:Ji . 'AA
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COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
50X1 ACQUIRED
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
USSR/Germany (Soviet Zone)
Soviet Artillery
DATE OF INFORMATION
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE IA. SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REY,
LOTION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON 19
PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION CF THIS FONM IS PROHISITED.
DATE DISTR. Jf Jun 1952
NO OF PAGES 9
NO. OF ENCLS. 1
(LISTED BELOW) (A)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
Command Channel and Artille Doctrine
The basic manuals on Soviet artillery are the following:
(A) Artillery Field Manual of the Red Firin Re tions
for Ground Artillerys l9:5 Nastavleniye Artilleriy Krasnoy
Armiy, Pravila Strelby Nazemnoy Artilleriy), is the basic
Soviet artillery manual.
(b) AAA. Tactics (Taktika Zenitnoy Artilleriy), written by Col
TFEITkiiitins instructor of tactics in the Dzherzhinskiy
Artillery Academy in Moscow, published 1949 or 1950, prescribes
tactics and techniques for Soviet AAA.
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The Field Manual (Polevoy Ustav)? published. in 1948 by the
Ministry of Armed Forces in Moscow, deals with all branches
of service and techniques of artillery support of infantry.
Part 1 of this manual concerns battalion and regiment,
and Part 2 concerns division and corps. This manual super-
sedes the Infantry Combat Manual (Boyevoy Ustav Pekhoty),
Which became obsolete in l9 1I
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(d) All three manuals are classified Top Secret and are kept in
the Secret Documents Section.
2. Soviet artillery units are placed under the command of tactical
troops which they support until they fulfill their assignment.
The level of the attachment for support depends upon the extent
of the artillery mission, the type of combat which is planned
and the decision of the division, corps or army commander.
Whenever the deputy commander for artillery feels that the
artillery organic to a rifle unit is insufficient for the planned
mission, an artillery battery may be attached to a rifle battalion
or regiment for support, an artillery battalion may be attached
to a rifle regiment or division for support, or an artillery
regiment may be attached to a rifle regiment, division or corps
for support.
3. An artillery division in combat is subordinated directly to
artillery corps, and the corks to an agmy or an army group. A
separate artillery regiment is subordinated directly to a rifle
division or corps in combat. An artillery corps is attached to
an army or army group for combat.
Artillery reconnaissance men and forward observers are Itoo
valuable to be sent out to infiltrate the enemy front prior to an
attaCk even to ensure more accurate fire direction. Instead, infantry
patrols are infiltrated and remain inside enemy lines with a radio
in order to direct fire. In a Soviet artillery unit the forward
observer,4111:11 US artillery coneepg is actually the unit commander
whether at battery, battalion, regimental or division level. The
observation post is on the front line, even at division level, and
Includes the reapective commander with radio, telephone, and
reconnaissance mep, and messengers. In an emergency the observer,
the unit commander, can send his reconnaissance men to infiltrate
enemy lines and report to him by radio, but usually only infantry
patrols perform this duty.
3. Firing positions are selected according to terrain, suitability
for camouflage, visibility (guns must have a 360 degree traverse),
and easy approach facilities for ammunition supply from the rear.
Artillery positions are never in front of mountains or woods.
When there is sufficient time, the regimental or divisional
artillery deputy checks the selection or firing positions; other-
wise battalion commanders set up firing positions as necessary.
Upon occupation, two large foxholes are dug by the gun crews
for their protection. The guns are in revetments, and are
camouflaged with nets, twigs, and earth.
5. Usually Soviet artillery is moved by rail over long distances
(100 km or more), and by organic transport (prime movers) for dis-
tances under 100 km. The movement Itself is usually cross-
country, can negotiate steep hills up to 45 degrees grade, and
is not road-bound. Point guards, (noc special Lraffic contoi
personnel) drawn from gun crews, designate fords, ditches and
passages for the units on the move. Vehicles travel 30 meters
apart, at 40 km per hour in daytime, 25 km at night. Tanks
and prime movers my carry logs which are used to make temporary
bridges. Usually engineer troops clear the road for vehicular
traffic when neceasary.
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7. Displacements in support of attack, withdrawal or defense are
oderad as necessary at the discretion of the artillery commander
according to tactical conditions and the need for flexibility.
There is no standard procedure, but usually 57-mm AT guns move
2:ith the infantry, 85-mm AA guns are two to three km behind the
infantry, light howitzer artillery is three to six km behind the
front lines, and heavy artillery is about eight to twelve km be-
hind the linos. The heavy artillery does not frequently displace
because it can fire up to a range of 15 km; consequently, a displace-
ment of one or two km is of no .importance and fire can still be
transferred by direction of the artillery commander.
8. ? For aiming the guns the follosing steps are taken;
(a)- The Soviet practice of registration is called "Vilk" (fork)
? and zeros the target with three or four rounds. After each -
round the observer corrects fire by dIrcting a shift to left,
right, over or short neeessary. The observer attains tbis
vertical and horizontal control by calling for a shift of
fire according to the error indicated by the graduations
of the reticle on the battery commander's scope: ? the observer
has a battery. commander's scope, binoculars, a telephone and
-.a radio for his. use. After the target has been zeroed-in
(before commencement of combat) it is designated by reference
points and entered on the plotting chart.
(b) Aiming stakes, placed in front of guns, are used to brinl. guir
within a unit on the targot. Also a fan (sheaf) Method, call(A.
11 veyer," is used to calibrate the azimuth control: when the
first gun has registered on the target, the battery offiers
calculate the settings for othr guns by using tbe almuth
adjustment, compass reading, and reference points .11OlcaT
by the registered gun.
(C)
(d)
( e )
The artillery survey is as extensive as time ..ormit:-5,and i
conducted under the direction of the division wra.ndo
used include infantry scouts or patrols, aerial reconna.oxl
interrogation of prisoners or indigenous people, and sound
locating devices.
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Soviet artillery consults weather information a great deal In 59)(1
firing. There are special firing tables for rainy or other 50:00
inclement weather, and the propellant zones are Changed.
according to meteorological conditions.
50:00
there is no provision in Soviet artillery 5000
for calibration of guns within a unit. 50:00
velocity between several guns ot a battery. The only method 50:00
for bringing the fire of one gun or the same target as
? the other guns of a battery, was described above; Z7ee paragraph
ag.
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9. Rogttle batterierl arc lor:atPd by r?.)und detoctorn, su.flAts,
obrvatin, p.nd intozdtion (if poisoners. Data. are -,rfoNaPd-d
to division beadquartrs by te1ephone, radio, or messenger, Tor
further action. The. diV1.1.en. CO takes measures to noutry
the enemy. batter ':t 174 hay:1.w: tho deputy for:artillordoLirm10,,
which cuns (depending ilpon whethor these' 40e.Airect
o defijade fire tarts)..shodld fire upon thr.--hostlio hattrloc,
? and by assigning the !,-,:lx".K.of dotroytng tho hostIto 1' Li'l
to the pertinent unit (artlliery .reLf,im=t,;:hodltv;In.'
.mortar unit, etc).
, .
10. On the use of fin?!.-Por 1 (."41." ;!ai ttTo n1.1ow ii
. ' ?-?
(a) All Soviet arti,ijo.ry e1Iploy;-.1 dIvet to. lip
1Dob111)1e extent, and...ireil:enly rarely on hjddew...r1,,elH.
for examiple flrin!!, CiAmi lonf,:, :range.. .
(b) Soviet artillery 11rf7. m4...1p1y on virtjble ;did do.
not NAPI ei ioa.rfto. Hil1;o.t.:d1c1:o Crro hI
very seldom. f told gttns very in:- 1.v u;I dli.1ncle 1.11,114.
. pbnitionos'but mortars and rockot launchopp.omploy
method frequently.
(c) Soviet tanks, as 4 rui, aro not Usc,:d as nupplOmentary- .
artillery) because the number of rounds carried In a
is limited and .must L. L.:.enoerved. Howevel., tactte.!Al au
siderdtiohrl may prompt a (:.:ommahdor.Lo,mdke oh' Lahlo ia
addltion41 artillery, and, in ouch cason'they :are ntlfld
uldr.avtillery, for the namn mioPionn,, thoPtly,06.vA;'110
tarGets, but occasiona lly on -Ind:Arcot tarets.
11 . During World liar 11 all batteries had a cenouflaged dummy battery .em-
placerm;nt to deceive enemy air observers, and sometimes expit.,1..vc:
chdrcos were flrod. tho I b;:1;.!-Me17 Al. 16,o;1(!tiLlio.
dummy battoTqes ai r-od In tr:)InIcr:..
12. On the use of artincry In attaok I .yan say. thf,Lrolliminv
(a) Reinforcing artillery moves into an area positi ?on
night before the attack at the latest.' If there
sufficient time, gum may move into the area .a wool prAor
to the. contemplated attack. Durint 1.1bild War II there were cases
in which a defensive'poSition sudden1y.changed;_tp.:4n::'
offensive position.?.and.consequently guns. Were An,P.Oplijou
for one month prior to the,attack.
position with other unito. 1.1ockt latirfchor.sr;mvnliO
position the night bethre the attack Or lm*.dloW.TY-brot'Y
the attack.
. .
? (b) Usually Soviet artillery fires during the 60?minutes:pre-
ceeding an attack and sometimes for two hour's before the
attack.
?
All Artillery, except tanks and AAA, fires prior to the jump-
off. This includes mortars, AT Rune, field guns, SUs.(seir-
propelled gUnis)and rocket. tatnchrrs. AAA '.1-..1.reo only at
attacking aircraft.
(C)
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Fire Control
'vocedures
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13. The techniques for the adjustment and control of fire are pre-
scribed- in the Art er paragraph 1 above7
gpo
The regimental or division artillery deputy decides which
target will be fired upon, and how many guns, rounds, and which
types of rounds will be used against the target.
Fire direction centers are maintained at battery, battalion,
regiment, and division levels.
Firing charts are used for indirect firing, to make adjustments
for wather changes and for zeroing guns. No firing charts
are uued fnr AAA guns when firing on aircraft or tanks, since
these arL visible targets.
The topography platoons assist in plotting the targets and
in map reconnaissance work. The intelligence platoon is used
to reconnoiter new targets, to infiltrate behind enemy lines
and to direct fire by radio contact with the Battery or
Battalion CO.
(e) If the artillery commander of a battalion or regiment con-
siders it necessary'to bring all the guns of a battalion on
a target, ho issues the pertinent order by radio or telephone.
Soviet practice is to fire volleys from all guns in order to
destroy a target; timed fire is not used.
Within one minute after a target is reported the entire
battalion must be ready to fire on it. This procedure is being
practiced constantlyland high efficiency and speed has been
developed. This procedure applies to visible targets - in-
direct targets are assigned to specific mortar or howitzer
batteries.
(f)
(g)
Soviet artillery will bring the fire of more than one
battalion to bear on the same target of opportunity if
necessary. Simultaneous delivery of fire will require one to
two minutes time for coordination.
System of Forward Observers
14. The Guide for Training of Reconnaissance Men, Telephone Men and
Raaiomen (Rukovodstvo Po Obucheniy Razvedchikov, Telefonistov i
'Radiystpv) is the manual which prescribes the training, functioning,
and examination of artillery reconnaissance men. The duties of
forward observers are prescribed in the Artillery Field Manual of
1945 z7ee paragrph 1 abovp.7.
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1
In Soviet artillery units the forward observer is the unit CO;
le, the battery commander observes and directs the fire of his
battery, and battalion and regimental commanders observe and
direct the fire of their units. The CO is located in the observation
post with radio, telephone, and reconnaissance men and messengers.
The observation post is as close to the front lines as is possible,
and an alternate post is used when necessary. The command post
of Soviet artillery units is from two to five km behind the
front lines and has a staff which deals with logistical problems
rather than fire direction or fire control.
There are no special forward observers; instead, the forward
observers are trained artillery officers who are unit COs. They
get their training in conducting maneuvers and exercises with
ihfantry troops. According to my information, infantry is
considered the major services and all other services have only
the mission of supporting it.
17. A forward observer (either battery or battalion CO) is responsible
only for his own sector. If a target appears outside the sector
assigned to a forward observer, it is the responsibility of the
other forward observer to take action upon it. No rule, however,
prohibits one observer from telephoning or radioing the information
to the other observer. A forward observer definitely will net
direct fire upon a target outside-his assigned sector unless
he is specifically ordered to do so by his superior.
18. The selection of positions for forward observers and observation
? pests is determined by terrain features, such.as cover, visibility,
? proximity to targets, and ease of camouflage.
19. ?Usually the forward observer of a battery controls four guns
? firing on one target; a battalion forward observer controls 12 guns
and a regimental forward observer controls 36 guns. The division
commander does not control the fire of his unit, but observes
and directs the fire of the entire division. There is no set
practice for all cases and procedure may vary.
2Q, On the reporting of the forward observers
(a) Targets are located and designated by reference points and
grid coordinates.
(b) The battery forward observer reports his observations to
the battalion commander and then directs fire upon the
target.
A forward observer, in reporting to his superior has only
one type of report to make, approximately as follows: "Target
destroyed, used 12 rounds." If the target is not destroyed,
he reports this to the divisional or regimental artillery
deputy, who then orders additional fire to destroy the target.
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21. There is a forward observer in each battery, four per battalion,
and nine per regiment. They vary in ranks from lt col in the
regiment to Maj in the battalion and capt in the batteries.
Administratively the forward observers are the unit commanders
within the regiment.
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The forward observer functions with a group which includes one
or two telephone men, one or two radiomen, one or-two reconnaissance
men, aricl one or two me sengersp all of whom are NCOs ? di --Jprtrat so
Whenever n entire battalion-, f.ire s on a single target the battalion
CO is the only forwarkI observer? If each battery fires on a
asperate target,, e ch battery has a forward. observer in the tom
of the battery commander? tSee Enclosure (A
Communications
23.
means of communications
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The commander of a supported unit requests fire on a target 50:00
by telephoning or radioing to his regimental or division
commander, who then will order his deputy for artillery to des.
troy the target. Grid cOordinatesor referenee'pOints are
used to designate the target area, and usually no more than
five minutes are required before the fire requested is forth-
coming.
(b) Regiments and higher units have organic artillery but may
be given additional artillery for support. Communications
between supported troops and the attached artillery must go
through the combined commander who is the commanding officer
of the supported unit. For example, 1 an artillery battalion
supports an infantry battalion, the infantry battalion commander,
as the combined commander, maintains communications with the
supporting artillery by. radio:, phone, or messengers.
(c) The Soviets have no artillery liaison,:officers. Each infantry
unit of regimental or higher level has an artillery deputy
who has his own staff.
(d) The forward observer communicates by telephone, or radio,
or through messengers with his unit and the supported unit.
He can communicate with all other echelons, either higher,
lower, or lateral, by the same means.
,(e) Artillery regiments have their ownartillery telephone men,
who lay telephone lines., and artillery radiomen 'for radio
communications. Reconnaissance men or any gun crew members
of at artillery battery may be used as messengers between
the artillery unit and the supported unit
Organization and Equipment
24 .
25.
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Observation balloons may also be used for fire
observation. Aerial observers for artillery are always artillery
officers assigned to the respective artillery unit. 50:00
(a)
information on reconnaissance teams: 50X1
Artillery regiments have special headquarter units of
reconnaissance and topographical men
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(b) A rifle division has two reconnaissance officers, one lt
one maj, in its headquarters and one reconnaissance officer
on its artillery staff,
The'separate AAA battalion of a rifle division has a Chief of
Reconnaissance (capt or it, who is also the battalion staff
signal officer); and two reconnaissance nen (Pvts, one a senior
reconnaissance man), one telephone NCO and three telephone
men (pvts,, one radio NCO and three radiomen (Pvts) all of '
whom are in the headquarters platoon. The battalion re-
connaissance section has a T/E of 21 TAI-43 field telephones,
six RBM radio receiver-transmitters, and three motorcycles.
(d) Each battery of the separate AAA battalion of a rifle divi5ion5oxi
has two reconnaissance privates (one senior reconnaissance
man - starshii razvedchik) whose duty it is to spot and 50:00
identify enemy aircraft, two telephone met, and two radiomenL
all of whom are in the headquarters squad. ffee Enclosure
37-mm AA guns
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(a) The 1939 model of the 37-mm AA gun in travelling position
weighs 3200 kg with its shield and 3000 kg without it. In
firing position the 37-mm AA gun weighs 3100 kg with the
shield and 2900 kg without it. 27ote: the late 1939 model
37-mm AA gun has a shielf. My unit, the 932d Sep AAA Bn,
had an unknown number of 37-mm AA guns. with shields and an
unknown number of 37-mm AA guns without shields.
(b) The vertical range of the 37-mm AA-gun Is four km, horizontal
range is six km,and the most effective range is two and one-
half km.
(c) The 37-mm shell is fixed (Unitarny Snaryad) and has no changes
of propellant. The shell arrives from the factory with the
MG-fuze already affixed.. The complete .round weighs 735 grams.
I do not know the weight of the explosive in the round.
27. Armor piercing rounds for use against tanks and tracer fragmen-
tation rounds for use against aircraft are available for 37-mm and 50X1
85-mm AA guns- Armor piercing and HE rounds are available for
76-mm and 122-mm field guns;
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28. In 1944 the Soviets developed a special shell called "Pod Kalibernyy
Snaryad" (sub-caliber projectile) for the 57 and 76-mm AT, 76 and
122--mm field guns, and the 85-mm AA and AT guns, which proved
to be very effective in armor piercing. It was a fixed shell of
the same size as the standard projectile,but it had a different
nose. 50X1
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It pierced the armor of German Tiger
tanks at anges of 300 - 600 m. this projectile will
penetrate 20 cm of armor at ranges of 1000 - 1200 m.
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Enolosure(4: Firing Positions of, a Sep AAA Br) of a Riflp Division
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ENCLOSURE (A)
4
SECRET SEOUBITY INFORMATION
irin Positions of a AAA a of a Rif e Divisi n
Spotter
? 2.5 Ion ?
IRadie
man
Airplane
Spotter
Telephone connections km
to AAA Oto ption
unit
)1N/
2- Ion 46)
Telephone connection
tQOS
1.1
'Len" TW4
I Radio--
410,)
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ENCLOST.
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BEoRET/szoterry mcBMATION
Legend
Fir sitions of a So AAA Bn of a:Rifle Divisi n
The akatah show a typical firing position for a Sep AAA Bn.:
Batteries are located at a distance of two to two and oae-half km apart,
Te battalion coMmand post is placed somewhere near the canter of the entire
area. Interval between individual AA guns in each battery is about 50 to 100 ma.
Batteries may be placed in a triangular formation, as shown, or they may
be placed in a straight line, whereupon the CP will be located beside one of the
batteries.
The battalioa commander and his staff are located at the ap. Ha has a
telephone switchboard which he can use to communicate with all the batteries
and a radio station which is in contact with the aircraft warning system and
'aircraft detector stations, Also the radio can be used. for communication with
the batteries ar higher headquarters.
The battalion CP contains about 18 persons: the battalion CO, C of Sv
Hq Plat commander, two VNOs (aircraft warning system) men. two SiD (Stantsiya
Krugovo Abaora AAA detection device) man, 10 or 11 aircraft spotters, and
radiomen, telephone men, observers, and aircraft identification personnel.
Battery Oommandera, each having a telephone liaison man, an aircraft
identification scout, and a radioman, are located at the battery CPt. Platoon
leaders, equiaDed with range finders, are located near their platoons. Each
battery commander has a computing team which compiles firing data.
S3CM,2420URIV7 1171V0RMATT0Y
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