Soviet Anti-Tank Systems, an OVerview

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Material drawn from the FM-100 series and "Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army".

One of the key features of the Soviet Army is the importance that anti-tank warfare that is stressed throughout its organization. Every unit has an organic anti-tank capability, a legacy of 1941, when Soviet anti-tank weapons were few in number and hoplessly inadequate against the Germans. But the Soviets learn fast and by 1943, the combined arms anti-tank defense in depth had become their hallmark. The success of 1943 still guides Soviet anti-tank weapons and tactics to this day.

Anti-tank weapons are used to form a mutually supporting system at each level of organization, allowing the Soviets to optimise and integrate their employment. Slow firing, but accurate ATGMs provide the long range fire, engaging at ranges of up to 3,000 meters. At 1,500m, when volume of fire becomes more important than individual accuracy, tanks and anti-tank guns open fire. BMP guns open fire at 800m, beging better suited for short ranges than ATGMs. Close defense is provided by the widely deployed RPG-7s, their 300m effective range being the same as the ATGM's minimum range. Finally, all field and anti-aircraft artillery also have an anti-tank role.

The Soviet Army believes that the best anti-tank weapon is another tank. But they do not let their emphasis on tanks blind them to the importance of the combined arms approach to anti-tank defense. They are fully aware that the wide range of modern anti-tank weapons threatens the very basis of their armored offensive and much of their tactical evolution in recent years has been aimed at overcoming this threat.

While the Soviets field a range of ATGMs, ranging from the 1st Gen AT-1, AT-2 and AT-3, through the 2nd Gen AT-4 and AT-5 to the 3rd Gen AT-6. However, they still use towed anti-tank guns, mainly the 100mm T-12 in motor rifle divisions an the 85mm SD-44 in airborne units. THe aging 82mm and 107mm recoilless rifles have been largely replaced by man-portable "suitcase" AT-3 ATGMS and the 73mm tripod-mounted SPG-8 recoilless rifle. Hundreds of RPG-7 rocket grenade launchers provide close-range defence. By any defination, the Soviet anti-tank system is a formidable one.