?? on Soviet OOB in Kharkov 1943

[castro323]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can provide information on
Soviet order of battle involved in the 3rd Battle of Kharkov (Feb.-March.1943)

Looking for Rifle Corps, Rifle Divisions, Seperate Tank Brigades, & Seperate Tank Regiments
involved in this battle?
Is there any recommended books on Tank strength or OOB for this battle?

The only Soviet units I know are
3 Tank Army (12 and 15 Tank Corps)
1 Guards Army
6 Army
69 Army
3 Tank Corps
10 Tank Corps
18 Tank Corps
25 Tank Corps
1 Guards Tank Corps
4 Guards Tank Corps

I appreciate for the help and Thanks in advance,
Apollo

[von Salza]

Hi Apollo,

The 3rd Battle of Kharkov (Operation Star) 2 February - 23 March 1943.

Soviet OOB as follows;

40th Army - Lt Gen K S Moskalenko (90,000 men; 100 tanks)

100th Rifle Division - Maj Gen F I Perkhorovich
183rd Rifle Division - Maj Gen A S Kostitsin (4 March to 6th Army)
305th Rifle Division - Col I A Danilovich (17 February to 3 Tank Army; 28 February to 69th Army)
309th Rifle Division - Maj Gen M I Men'shikov
340th Rifle Division - Maj Gen S S Martirosyan (4 March to 6th Army)
107th Rifle Division - Maj Gen P M Bezhko (4 March to 6th Army)
303rd Rifle Division - Col K E Fedorovsky (12 February to 38th Army)
25th Guards Rifle Division - Maj Gen P M Shafarenko (19 February to 3 Tank Army)
129th Rifle Brigade

4th Tank Corps (5th Guards Tank Corps) - Maj Gen A G Kravchenko - (about 50 tanks)
- 45th Tank Brigade
- 64th Tank Brigade
- 102nd Tank Brigade
- ? Motorised Brigade

116th Tank Brigade
192nd Tank Brigade

59th Separate Tank Regiment (from 9 February)
60th Separate Tank Regiment (from 9 February)
61st Separate Tank Regiment (from 9 February)

69th Army - Lt Gen M I Kazakov (40,000 men; 50 tanks)

161st Rifle Division - Maj Gen P V Tertyshny
180th Rifle Division - Maj Gen I Ya Maloshitsky
219th Rifle Division - Maj Gen V P Kotel'nikov
270th Rifle Division - Col N D Polyakov
37th Rifle Brigade - Col P G Moskovsky

137th Tank Brigade
292nd Tank Regiment

3rd Tank Army - Gen P S Rybalko (55,577 men; 165 tanks)

12th Tank Corps - Maj Gen M I Zen'kovich
- 30th Tank Brigade
- 97th Tank Brigade
- 106th Tank Brigade
- 13th Motorised Brigade

15th Tank Corps - Maj Gen V A Koptsov (KIA 3 March)
- 88th Tank Brigade
- 113th Tank Brigade
- 195th Tank Brigade
- ? Motorised Brigade

6th Guards Cavalry Corps - Maj Gen S V Sokolov

48th Guards Rifle Division - Maj Gen N M Mokovchuk
62nd Guards Rifle Division - Maj Gen G M Zaitsev
111th Rifle Division - Col S P Khoteev
184th Rifle Division - Col S T Koida

179th Tank Brigade
201st Tank Regiment

3 Tank Army Tank Strength

29 January - 165 tanks
14 February - 100 tanks
18 February - 110 tanks
27 February - 39 tanks
16 March - 22 tanks

Reinforcements to 3 Tank Army

25th Guards Rifle Division - 19 February
253rd Rifle Division - 23 February
219th Rifle Division - 25 February
1st Czech Rifle Battalion - 1 March
19th Rifle Division - Col G A Golilitsyn - 1 March
86th Tank Brigade - 1 March
17th NKVD Rifle Brigade - 1 March
113th Rifle Division - 10 March
1st Guards Cavalry Corps - all 13 March
- 1st Cavalry Division
- 2nd Cavalry Division
- 7th Cavalry Division

Front Reserve

86th Tank Brigade (to 3 Tank Army 1 March)
150th Tank Brigade

3rd Guards Tank Corps - 150 tanks
2nd Guards Tank Corps - 175 tanks

The 2nd Guards Tank Corps (arriving 15-16 March) & 3rd Guards Tank Corps (released 13 March by Front HQ) managed to slow the German advance (after Kharkov had been retaken) and only with the arrival of 21st and 64th Armies (newly released from the defeat of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad) did the Soviets finally manage to bring the advance to a halt.

6th Army and 1st Guards Army where with Vatutin's Southwestern Front and participated in Operation Gallop aimed at the Donbas but did not participate in Operation Star and the struggle for Kharkov.

Source : From the Don to the Dnepr; Soviet Offensive Operations December 1942 - August 1943 by David Glantz.

Hope this helps

Regards

David

[Die Blechtrommel]

Asking a silly question:
Which Front were these Armies under and who was the CiC of the Front?
Greets
Juha

[von Salza]

Hi Juha,

Operation Star was conducted by the Armies of the Voronezh Front.

CinC was Col Gen F I Golikov.

Regards

David

[von Salza]

Hi Apollo,

I've refined the OOB a little after hitting the books. Amendments in red highlight

The 3rd Battle of Kharkov (Operation Star) 2 February - 23 March 1943.

Soviet OOB as follows;

Voronezh Front
- Commander - Col Gen F I Golikov
- Commissar - Lt Gen F F Kuznetsov
- Chief of Staff - Lt Gen M I Kazakov (upto Feb '43 then to newly formed 69th Army as commander) succeeded by Maj Gen A P Pilipenko

40th Army - Lt Gen K S Moskalenko (90,000 men; 100 tanks)

100th Rifle Division - Maj Gen F I Perkhorovich
183rd Rifle Division - Maj Gen A S Kostitsin (4 March to 6th Army)
305th Rifle Division - Col I A Danilovich (17 February to 3 Tank Army; 28 February to 69th Army)
309th Rifle Division - Maj Gen M I Men'shikov
340th Rifle Division - Maj Gen S S Martirosyan (4 March to 6th Army)
107th Rifle Division - Maj Gen P M Bezhko (4 March to 6th Army)
303rd Rifle Division - Col K E Fedorovsky (12 February to 38th Army)
25th Guards Rifle Division - Maj Gen P M Shafarenko (19 February to 3 Tank Army)
129th Rifle Brigade
253rd Rifle Brigade
16th Destroyer Brigade
26th Armoured Train Battalion
14th Engineer Battalion
512th Howitzer Artillery Regiment (from 29th Howitzer Artillery Brigade)
76th Guards Gun Artillery Regiment
4th Guards Tank Destroyer Regiment
595th Tank Destroyer Regiment
593rd Mortar Regiment
594th Mortar Regiment
36th Guards Mortar Regiment
332nd Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion


4th Tank Corps (5th Guards Tank Corps awarded Guards status 7 February '43) - Maj Gen A G Kravchenko - (about 50 tanks)
- 45th Tank Brigade
- 64th (possibly 69th) Tank Brigade
- 102nd Tank Brigade
- 4th Motorised Brigade

116th Tank Brigade
192nd Tank Brigade

59th Separate Tank Regiment (from 9 February)
60th Separate Tank Regiment (from 9 February)
61st Separate Tank Regiment (from 9 February)

69th Army - Lt Gen M I Kazakov (40,000 men; 50 tanks)

161st Rifle Division - Maj Gen P V Tertyshny
180th Rifle Division - Maj Gen I Ya Maloshitsky
219th Rifle Division - Maj Gen V P Kotel'nikov
270th Rifle Division - Col N D Polyakov
37th Rifle Brigade - Col P G Moskovsky

137th Tank Brigade
292nd Tank Regiment

3rd Tank Army - Gen P S Rybalko (55,577 men; 165 tanks)

12th Tank Corps - Maj Gen M I Zen'kovich
- 30th Tank Brigade
- 97th Tank Brigade
- 106th Tank Brigade
- 13th Motorised Brigade
- 6th Armoured Car Battalion

15th Tank Corps - Maj Gen V A Koptsov (KIA 3 March)
- 88th Tank Brigade
- 113th Tank Brigade
- 195th Tank Brigade
- 52nd Motorised Brigade
- 5th Armoured Car Battalion

6th Guards Cavalry Corps - Maj Gen S V Sokolov
- 8th Cavalry Division - ?
- 13th Guards Cavalry Division - ?
- 161st Mortar Regiment - ?
- 20th Cavalry Artillery Battalion - ?
- 7th Tank Destroyer Battalion - ?

48th Guards Rifle Division - Maj Gen N M Mokovchuk
62nd Guards Rifle Division - Maj Gen G M Zaitsev
111th Rifle Division - Col S P Khoteev
184th Rifle Division - Col S T Koida
160th Rifle Division - ?
182nd Engineer Battalion

8th Artillery Division
- 2nd Light Artillery Brigade
- 12th Gun Artillery Brigade
- 28th Howitzer Artillery Brigade

1172nd Tank Destroyer Regiment
1245th Tank Destroyer Regiment
15th Guards Mortar Brigade
62nd Guards Mortar Regiment
97th Guards Mortar Regiment
315th Guards Mortar Regiment
71st Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment
470th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment
391st Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment

179th Tank Brigade
201st Tank Regiment
39th Armoured Car Battalion

3 Tank Army Tank Strength

29 January - 165 tanks
14 February - 100 tanks
18 February - 110 tanks
27 February - 39 tanks
16 March - 22 tanks

Reinforcements to 3 Tank Army

25th Guards Rifle Division - 19 February
253rd Rifle Division - 23 February
219th Rifle Division - 25 February
1st Czech Rifle Battalion - Col L Svoboda - 1 March
19th Rifle Division - Col G A Golilitsyn - 1 March
86th Tank Brigade - 1 March
17th NKVD Rifle Brigade - 1 March
113th Rifle Division - 10 March
1st Guards Cavalry Corps - all 13 March
- 1st Cavalry Division
- 2nd Cavalry Division
- 7th Cavalry Division

2nd Air Army

205th Fighter Aviation Division
269th Fighter Aviation Division
208th Night Bomber Aviation Division
227th Assault Aviation Division
291st Assault Aviation Division
50th Reconnaisance Aviation Regiment
375th Mixed Aviation Regiment
376th Mixed Aviation Regiment
878th Mixed Aviation Regiment
2nd Transport Aviation Regiment
13th Corrective Aviation Squadron


Front Forces

With the exception of the 2nd Guards Tank Corps, 3rd Guards Tank Corps & the 86th Tank Brigade the following units cannot be confirmed as supporting Operation Star; although they were part of the Front forces and were available for use if not committed on other sectors.

86th Tank Brigade (to 3 Tank Army 1 March)
150th Tank Brigade (part of 60th Army not involved in Operation Star)
14th Tank Brigade
96th Tank Brigade
173rd Tank Brigade
201st Tank Brigade
262nd Tank Regiment
43rd Aerosleigh Battalion
50th Aerosleigh Battalion
34th Armoured Train Battalion
4th Ski Brigade
6th Ski Brigade
8th Ski Brigade
4th Engineer Miner Brigade
60th Engineer Sapper Brigade
13th Guards Battalion of Miners
15th Pontoon Bridge Battalion
23rd Pontoon Bridge Battalion
235th Engineer Battalion

1st Destroyer Division
- 2nd Destroyer Brigade
- 6th Destroyer Brigade
- 10th Destroyer Brigade

10th Artillery Division
- 22nd Light Artillery Brigade
- 27th Gun Artillery Brigade
- 29th Howitzer Artillery Brigade (less 512th Regiment with 40th Army)

1109th Army Artillery Regiment
875th Howitzer Artillery Regiment
1240th Tank Destroyer Regiment
496th Army Mortar Regiment

4th Guards Mortar Division
- 16th Guards Mortar Brigade
- 20th Guards Mortar Brigade
- 16th Guards Mortar Regiment
- 314th Guards Mortar Regiment

5th Antiaircraft Division
- 670th Antiaircraft Regiment
- 743rd Antiaircraft Regiment
- 1119th Antiaircraft Regiment
- 1181st Antiaircraft Regiment

1288th Antiaircraft Regiment
1289th Antiaircraft Regiment
626th Antiaircraft Battalion


3rd Guards Tank Corps Lt Gen P A Rotmistrov to 22 February '43 then succeeded by Maj Gen I A Vovchenko - 150 tanks
2nd Guards Tank Corps - Lt Gen V M Badanov - 175 tanks

Regards

David

[Die Blechtrommel]

This is great, David.
Where do you get this info?
Juha

[von Salza]

Hi Juha,

Apologies for my late reply, I've been away on business.

Source: Boevoi sostav Sovetskoi armii, chast' 3 (ianvar' - dekabr' 1943 g) [The combat composition of the Soviet Army, part 3 (January - December 1943)]

Table quoted in 'Companion to Colossus Reborn' by David M Glantz.

Regards

David

[Pan]

Hi,

great thread containing a lot of useful information. Exactely what I was looking for. Though two questions:

1. Not knowing much about russian armor I would be interested to know, what kind of units where compiled in russian Tank Destroyer Regiments? Mostly anti tank guns or selfpropelled guns/assault guns too?

1240th Tank Destroyer Regiment

2. Did any Rocket Launcher (Katjusha) Regiments/Brigades etc. see service during operations around Kharkov '43? And if so, what would be their names (though naming just a few would be sufficient)?

Some info would be highly appreciated. Thanx in advance.

[Pan]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can provide information on
Soviet order of battle involved in the 3rd Battle of Kharkov (Feb.-March.1943)

6. Army

I also would be highly interested to know the OOB of russian 6th Army.

Highly appreciated if someone could provide some help.

[von Salza]

Hi Pan,

The Soviets referred to their Rocket Launcher units as 'Guards Mortar' units. These are listed in the thread above.

Tank Destroyer units were indeed comprised mostly of anti-tank guns but sometimes anti-tank rifles. Red Army fronts formed regimental variants to undertake particular missions or deploy in specific circumstances so the OOB could vary from unit to unit. Self Propelled Guns were organised into separate Self-Propelled Artillery Units.

By January 1943 there were six different types of Tank Destroyer Artillery Regiments but typically consisted of a mix of both 76mm and 45mm guns. The 45mm guns began to be phased out and replaced by 57mm ZIS-2 guns from June 1943. The NKO April 1943 Order created Tank Destroyer Brigades of;

1x Heavy Tank Destroyer Regiment = 5 x batteries of 4 x 76mm guns = 20 x 76mm guns
1x Heavy Tank Destroyer Regiment = 5 x batteries of 4 x 76mm guns = 20 x 76mm guns
1x Light Tank Destroyer Regiment = 5 x batteries of 4 x 45mm guns = 20 x 45mm guns
1x Machine gun platoon
1x Reconnaisance Battalion
1x Topographic platoon
1x Engineer platoon
1x Signal platoon

1297 men, 40 76mm Guns, 20 45mm Guns, 60 Anti tank rifles, 30 light machine guns, 115 trucks and 75 artillery tractors.

Guards units typically added an extra battery to each regiment.

Regards

David

[Pan]

Hi Pan,

The Soviets referred to their Rocket Launcher units as 'Guards Mortar' units. These are listed in the thread above.

Thank you so much for this info, really helped me a lot. Always was wondering what "Guards Mortar" units were supposed to be. Now the mystery is unraveled.

Tank Destroyer units were indeed comprised mostly of anti-tank guns but sometimes anti-tank rifles etc...

Wow..that's some great info.

Again thanx very much for your effort. Really highly appreciated.

[Pan]

Here is a map with OOB of Kharkov:

OOB Kharkov '43

Well figured out 6th Army's OOB (which makes my above postet question obsolete):

350 Rifle Div
172 Rifle Div
6 Rifle Div
106 Rifle Brigade
267 Rifle Div

But my russian is a little hazy (and couldn't copy any textes from map to google translator (don't know why)), so I couldn't assign Divisions etc. to 1st Guards Army. Onyl 244th Rifle Div. But the rest?

Anyone could kindly help me out and provide 1st GA OOB ?

Thanx a lot in advance.

[von Salza]

Hi Pan,

As requested.

6th Army – Lt. Gen. F M Kharitonov

15th Rifle Corps –
172nd Rifle Division
350th Rifle Division

Army Troops –
6th Rifle Division
267th Rifle Division
106th Rifle Brigade
115th Tank Brigade
212th Tank Regiment

Support Troops –
870th Light Artillery Regiment (attached from 7th Artillery Division)
150th Tank Destroyer Regiment
462nd Tank Destroyer Regiment
45th Guards Mortar Regiment
87th Guards Mortar Regiment
1290th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
1474th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
126th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
123rd Pontoon Bridge Battalion
370th Engineer Battalion

1st Guards Army – Lt. Gen. V I Kuznetsov

4th Guards Rifle Corps – Maj. Gen. N A Gagen
(transferred to 6th Army 19th February 1943)
35th Guards Rifle Division – Col. I Ya Kulagin
41st Guards Rifle Division – Maj. Gen. N P Ivanov (WIA 26th February)
195th Rifle Division – Col. V P Karuna

6th Guards Rifle Corps – Maj. Gen. I P Alferov
44th Guards Rifle Division
58th Guards Rifle Division
78th Rifle Division

Army Troops –
244th Rifle Division
127th Tank Regiment
67th Motorcycle Battalion

Support Troops –
9th Artillery Division –
407th Light Artillery Regiment
442nd Light Artillery Regiment
456th Light Artillery Regiment
47th Gun Artillery Regiment
127th Gun Artillery Regiment
212th Howitzer Artillery Regiment
221st Howitzer Artillery Regiment
230th Howitzer Artillery Regiment

40th Guards Corps Artillery Regiment
42nd Guards Corps Artillery Regiment
302nd Guards Mortar Regiment
303rd Guards Mortar Regiment
115th Guards Mortar Battalion

4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
606th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
633rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
640th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
658th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment

139th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion

62nd Engineer Sapper Brigade
26th Pontoon Bridge Battalion
28th Pontoon Bridge Battalion
100th Pontoon Bridge Battalion
350th Engineer Battalion
358th Engineer Battalion
538th Mine Sapper Battalion

Regards

David

[Pan]

Fantastic, that's some excellent information. Exactely what I was looking for. That helps me tremendously.
Thank you so much for your support. Highly appreciated.

Best regards.

[Ricardo Silva]

Having seen such detailed Battle Orders, i think that in that regard there isn't much to add to this thread, nonetheless, if you can take a look at these book "Last Victory in Russia, The SS-PanzerKorps and Manstein's Kharkov Counteroffensive February-March 1943" by Geroge M. Nipe, Jr. (Schiffer), you'll get a tremendous narrative of the whole battle, and get a daily account of the activities of all the units involved, it's the best book i've ever read about "these" battle of kharkov.
Despite being mostly about the german side of the battle, it inevitably gives a detailed picture of the soviet one too.