107 replies to this topic

[Rick]

Who did Yugoslavia see as it's main adversary during this time? You mentioned a limited advance into Albania for Italy, so I am assuming the Soviet Union?

[bojan]

Yes, USSR after 1948. until the end. Italy was considered possible opponent in the 40/50s, but after that it's threat was diminished, main threat being that it might try to use more global conflict as a pretext to occupy parts of Istra.

Austria was considered unlikely opponent.

With a Greece there was a mutual defense treaty that neither side would allow transit of the enemy troops over own territory..

After 1968. Romania was also considered very unlikely to be an opponent.

[Rick]

Yes, USSR after 1948. until the end. Italy was considered possible opponent in the 40/50s, but after that it's threat was diminished, main threat being that it might try to use more global conflict as a pretext to occupy parts of Istra.

Austria was considered unlikely opponent.

With a Greece there was a mutual defense treaty that neither side would allow transit of the enemy troops over own territory..

After 1968. Romania was also considered very unlikely to be an opponent.

The question then, to me, is why the Soviets would want to invade Yugoslavia? Warm water port? Would they use non Soviet, Warsaw Pact forces? Or is all this just conjecture? 

[bojan]

1965. Naval infantry company

 

Company command - 6 men - 4 x SMG, 2 x P
- Co Cmd - P
- Co 2inC - SMG
- Co Jr. Officer - SMG
- Medic - P
- Radiomen x 2 - SMG

 

SMG platoon x 3 - 39 men - 6 x LMG, 3 x ATW, 30 x SMG, 9 x P
- Plt Cmd - SMG
- Plt 2inC - SMG

 

SMG Section x 3 - 10 men - 2 x LMG, 2 x P, 8 x SMG
- Section leader - SMG
- LMG gunner x 2 - LMG, P
- Assistant x 2 - SMG
- SMG gunner x 5 - SMG - SMG gunner 1 is section 2inC

 

AT Section - 7 men, 3 x ATW, 4 x SMG, 3 x P
- Section leader - SMG
- AT gunner x 3 - ATW, P
- Assistant  x 3 - SMG

 

Support Platoon - 37 men - 2 x 81mm mortar, 6 x ATW, 3 x MG, 26 x SMG, 11 x P
- Plt Cmd - SMG
- Plt 2inC - SMG
- AT half-plt Cmd - SMG
- General support half-plt Cmd - SMG

 

AT section x 2 - 7 men - 3 x ATW, 4 x SMG, 3 x P
- Section leader - SMG
- AT gunner x 3 - ATW, P
- Assistant  x 3 - SMG

 

MG Section - 10 men - 3 x МG, 7 x SMG, 3 x P
- Section leader - SMG
- MG gunner x 3  - MG, P
- Assistant x 3 - SMG
- Ammo bearer x 3 - SMG

 

Mortar Section - 9 men, 2 x MB 81mm mortar, 2 x P, 7 x SMG
- Section leader - SMG
- Gunner x 2 - P
- Loader x 2 - SMG
- Ammo handler x 2 - SMG
- Ammo bearer x 2 - SMG

 

Total - 160 (6 + 3 x 39 + 37) men - 2 x 81mm mortar, 3 x MG, 18 x LMG, 15 x ATW, 120 x SMG, 40 x P, 1 x truck, 1 x 3/4t light vehicle

 

1965 Naval infantry battalion 
700 men. Naval infantry brigade had 3 x Bn

 

Bn command - 10 men - 6 x SMG, 4 x P, 3 x motor vehicle

 

Naval infantry company x 3 - 160 men - 18 x LMG, 3 x MG, 2 x 81mm mortar, 15 x ATW, 120 x SMG, 40 x P

 

Naval infantry support company - 94 men - 6 x 81mm mortar, 4 x 82mm RCL, 12 x 12.7mm AAMG, 80 x SMG, 14 x P, 4 x motor vehicle
Co command
Mortar platoon - 6 x 81mm mortar
RCL Platoon - 4 x 82mm RCL
AAMG platoon x 2 - 6 x 12.7mm AAMG

 

Recce platoon - 21 men - 2 x LMG, 21 x SMG
- Plt Cmd - SMG

Recce section x 2 - 10 men, 1 x LMG, 10 x SMG
- Section leader - SMG
- LMG gunner - LMG, SMG
- Assistant - SMG
- SMG gunner - SMG - SMG gunner 1 is section 2inC

 

Pioneer platoon - 30 men - 1 x LMG, 25 x SMG, 5 x P, 2 x motor vehicle

 

Signal platoon - 21 men - 21 x SMG, 3 x motor vehicle

 

Logistics platoon - 44 men - 18 x SMG, 26 x P, 10 x motor vehicle

Edited by bojan, 31 October 2018 - 1742 PM.

[bojan]

The question then, to me, is why the Soviets would want to invade Yugoslavia? Warm water port? Would they use non Soviet, Warsaw Pact forces? Or is all this just conjecture? 

 

Regime change, as in Hungary/Czechoslovakia.

Strategic positioning in the global conflict.

Trying to do a shortcut toward Italy in a global conflict.

 

As for a plans, only one that was leaked, from 1968. included Soviet, Hungarian and Bulgarian troops.

[Rick]

The 1965 Naval Infantry Company; 9 men for two 81mm mortars(and I presume mortar ammunition?) . Any vehicles in this organization? Seems a rather heavy load to carry for only 9 men.

[bojan]

Mortar section weapons and ammo loaded in the Co's only truck, together with ATW's ammo.
Co HQ had 3/4t vehicle (Dodge WC), it also had trailer that loaded MG section's weapons and ammo.
In pre-1971 formations more trucks were supposed to be alocated from a Bn/Bde logistic company in the field, enough that Co could carry reinforced (usually tripple) ammo load and load all crew served weapons.
Exceptions were Naval infantry Cos in the close defense role which were primary static formations with only listed transport (single truck and 3/4t light vehicle).

[bojan]

1965. Independent SMG company of the Naval infantry brigade.

 

Company command - 6 men - 3 x SMG, 3 x P
- Co Cmd - P
- Co 2inC - SMG
- Co Jr. Officer - SMG
- Medic x 2 - P
- Radiomen - SMG

 

SMG platoon x 3 - 30 men - 2 x LMG, 4 x ATW, 24 x SMG, 6 x P
- Plt Cmd - SMG
 

SMG Section x 2 - 10 men - 1 x LMG, 1 x P, 9 x SMG
- Section leader - SMG
- LMG gunner - LMG, P
- Assistant - SMG
- SMG gunner x 7 - SMG - SMG gunner 1 is section 2inC

 

AT Section - 9 men, 4 x ATW, 5 x SMG, 4 x P
- Section leader - SMG
- AT gunner x 4 - ATW, P
- Assistant  x 4 - SMG

 

Total - 96 (6 + 3 x 30) men - 6 x LMG, 12 x ATW, 75 x SMG, 21 x P, 1 x 3/4t light vehicle

Edited by bojan, 01 November 2018 - 0459 AM.