14. Mototankova Divize
Howdy commanders!
Welcome to the fourth entry of ten in the “Second Wave” conceptual WARNO expansion. We will be going to Czechoslovakia today, specifically the northeastern part (modern day Slovakia). The “class” of division is not correct from a doctrinal (and linguistic) standpoint, but there will be an explanation; I hope you will agree it functional if nothing else. Per the usual, I am largely focused on how this battlegroup will play in game and many decisions for addition or exclusion of units were made along those lines. The intent with this formation is to be a swarmy, light instructor tank division with plentiful line infantry. It is meant to be lighter than 2. motostrelecka divize and really focus on the ground game, using artillery and weight of number to grind forward. Nothing revolutionary is really captured here in terms of new units, the novelty is meant to come in composition and playstyle. As ever, I appreciate your feedback and I will take things under advisement ahead of posting the (more) finalized product.
Let’s get to it!
Background
- Tankova Divise was a Czechoslovak tank division largely stationed in the foothills of the Tatra mountains (in modern day Slovakia), far from the frontlines of the Third World War. With NATO pushing into Czechoslovakia by way of Austria and southern Bavaria, the division would serve as a strategic quick reaction force (QRF). 14. Tankova was, nominally a low readiness division, but it had four fully staffed combatant regiments. The composition of these regiments were unusual, however. Instead of the 3:1 mix of tank and motor rifle regiments (the standard for a Soviet-style armored division), it instead had two each. The reasoning for this is that 14. Tankova would use some of its own regiments to break off and form the cadre around which a twin motor rifle regiment would be formed.
While the concept is a cadre division in Soviet-style armies isn’t new, this implementation is uncommon. Most low readiness/cadre style divisions in the Warsaw Pact would have a skeleton crew of standing professional army forces who would maintain equipment and be responsible to train the incoming reservists and conscripts (303. Tankova, 71-ya, and 157-ya are in game examples of this). The way 14. Tankova has organized itself is different in that its “cadre” component was an integral part of another division instead of being the minimally manned kernel of a standalone division. This meant that, in effect, 14 Tankova was a full-strength division in peacetime, but it wasn’t truly a Motor Rifle nor Tank division from a doctrinal standpoint.
The mobilization and raising of this twin division will be said to have occurred in the WARNO timeline, at least partially. The mobilization process would have begun in the early stages of the war. However, other reservist mobilizations (such as 303. Tankova) would have been prioritized; 14. Tankova, after all, could be functional as a division if not doctrinally compliant. As NATO forces press their attack across the border, Czechoslovak forces would redouble efforts to mobilize and fill the 14^(th)’s twin division. While sourcing is unclear, this twin division will be dubbed 14. Motostrelecka Divize; a name under which 14. Tankova was previously organized. This pseudo two-division battlegroup will collectively be called “14. Mototankova Divize” (technically descriptive if not linguistically or doctrinally correct).
There were several training grounds at or near the seat of 14. Tankova’s regiments’ garrisons. Vojenský výcvikový prostor (VVP) Kamenica nad Cirochou and VPP Valaškovce were training grounds in the region; many square kilometers of training area. It is probable that they were the regiments’ own training centers, but they were in varying stages of use in real life. VPP Valaškovce was only restored to operational status in 1988. These training grounds would almost certainly have been used to train the incoming mobilized troops. This implies that there would be staff, either organically or as an addition to the Division’s order of battle, who would assist in the training of new arrivals. It has been documented that there were early model T-72s in the region for training, but it will be said that those were sent to support 303. Tankova. Regardless, instructors would be available to whip the conscripts into shape!
What will all of this mean in game terms? This battlegroup will have a large selection of unit and approximately one third of the division’s forces would be reservists. There would be a few other sources of support from which 14. Mototankova could draw from. Local people’s militia (reserve police forces) and specialized border guard would help to ensure mobilization and deployment could occur in an orderly fashion while also helping to root our infiltrators or spies. Additionally, Poland was in the process of sending a division stationed near the Tatras to add additional strategic QRF to the Warsaw Pact’s operations in Czechoslovakia (more on them in a future conceptual division). Some elements of this force would forward deploy and to support to 14 Mototankova.
How would 14. Mototanková Divize play in WARNO?
Slots and Units
LOG
A good category (1/1/1/2/2/3/3)
- VELITELSKÉ UAZ-469
- VSOT-64/R2M
- BVP-1K
- ZÁSOBOVACÍ RND an older model truck pulled back into service. These vehicles carry a modest amount of supply. RNDs were affectionately known as randál, in reference to its loud engine.
- ZÁSOBOVACÍ V3S
- ZÁSOBOVACÍ T813
- PMZ
INF
A good category
- The mechanized components of 14. Divise are familiar. Unless otherwise noted, these units may arrive in V3S trucks or BVP-1 IFVs.
- VELITEL MOTOSTŘELCŮ
- MOTOSTŘELCI
- PANCÉŘOVNÍCI
- ZÁLO. MOTOSTŘELCI a conscript-based motostrelki-style squad with an identical loadout to the standard motostřelci units, but with the reservist trait. May only arrive in a reservist traited ZÁLO. BVP-1; no ATGM on this vehicle.
- Motorized infantry would be available in limited numbers, arriving in VS3 trucks or OT-64C ACPs.
- VELITEL STŘELCŮ
- STŘELCI
- ZÁLO. STŘELCI a squad with the same equipment as the regular střelci, but it features the reservist trait and trades its RPG-7VL for an RPG-75.
- INSTRUKT. STŘELCI this 10-strong squad is composed of trainers and veterans. They are armed with a vz.61 Skorpion SMG, 7 Sa Vz.58P rifles, 2 UK Vz.59 MGs, and an RPG-75.
- Divisional engineering units would include the units below. Each would have access to RND trucks or OT-62A APCs for transportation.
- VELITEL ŽENISTŮ
- ŽENISTÉ
- ZÁLO. ŽENISTÉ 8-man reservist engineers with 4 vz.61 Skorpion SMGs, 4 Sa Vz.58P rifles, satchel charges, and an RPG-75
- Military and local police as well as local People’s militia (reserve police) would support operations to ensure the divisions could mobilize where they needed to rapidly.
- TAI arriving in a UAZ-469 TAI and UAZ-452 TAI
- LIDOVÁ MILICE arriving in RND trucks
- LM ÚDERNÝ ODDÍL a large lidová malice (reserve police) squad assembled for security and rear line duties. The term úderný oddíl was used to describe a detachment of LM putting down strikes or riots. They will be clad in a mix of their sharp uniforms (pictured above) and riot gear. This 14-strong unit will be armed with 4 vz.61 Skorpion SMGs, 10 Sa Vz.58P rifles, and flashbangs. They will have the security, militia, and military police traits. This unit may arrive in RND trucks.
- Typical weapon teams are available to support this battlegroup. They have UAZ-469s available as transports.
- ZÁLO. Vz.59 7.62 mm reservist machine gun team
- UK Vz.59 7.62 mm
- BzK Vz.59 82mm
- PTŘS FAGOT
- Forward-deployed Polish KOMANDOSI are available to the battlegroup and may arrive in HONKER 4011, Mi-8T, or W-3 SOKOŁ
ART
A good category (1/1/1/2/3/3)
- Czech forces provide the following mix of new and old systems
- M vz.52 82mm
- H D-30 122mm
- ShH 2S1 122mm
- ShKH DANA 152mm
- ShKH ONDAVA 152mm a prototype version of the DANA with a 47-caliber barrel (as opposed to the regular 36). This will provide greater range than the mainline production howitzer.
- RM vz.70/85
- RM vz.70 [NPLM] a new-to-this-nation unit, an RM-70 with incendiary rockets
- RM vz.70 [CLU] an RM-70 with cluster rockets
TNK
A good category (1/1/1/1/1/2/2/3/3)
- Elements of the 14^(th) would provide significant numbers of T-54/55s
- T-54BK
- ZÁLO. T-54B a reservist T-54B, with a HEAT cannon, 2 MMGs and a DShK
- T-55AK a command version of the Czech T-55A
- T-55A
- ZÁLO. T-55A a T-55A crewed by reservists, featuring the reservist trait.
- T-55AM1K
- T-55AM1
- ZÁLO. T-55AM1 like the others, this is a reservist version of a T-55AM1
- T-55AM2K3
- T-55AM2
- T-55AM2B INSTRUKT. an instructor version of a T-55AM2B from training cadre at the local training grounds
- OT PTRK MALJUTKA
- OT PTRK KONKURS
REC
An average category
- PRŮZKUMNÍCI able to arrive in UAZ-469 or OT-65
- MOT. PRŮZKUMNÍCI arriving in V3S or PRŮZ. BVP-1
- ZÁLO. MOT. PRŮZ. reservist reconnaissance motostřelci. 7-stong with the reservist trait, this unit has 6 Sa Vz.58P rifles, 1 UK Vz.59 MG, and an RPG-75. They have the following available as a transport: V3S or ZÁLO. PRŮZ. BVP-1; a reservist version of the recon BVP-1 with no missile.
- DUNAJSKÁ STRÁŽ a three-man team of the Danube River Border Guard. These units would ensure the mobilizing forces would have ample warning of anything trying to cross the Danube river. The team would be armed with 2 Sa Vz.58P rifles and 1 UK Vz.59 MMG. They feature the military police trait and would have the dapper, navy-inspired uniforms of the Czechoslovak Dunajská pohraničná stráž. These units would typically arrive in boats, but would be delivered in game in TATRAPLAN cars with border guard markings.
- BVP-1PPK an artillery radar artillery reconnaissance vehicle built on a BVP-1 chassis. This system has a surveillance and tracking radar on an extendable mast. It would be armed with a DShK and would provide exceptional optics.
- BPzV SVATAVA
- Mi-24D PRŮZ. an Mi-24D outfitted for reconnaissance. It is armed with its nose mounted Yak-B and a pair of gun pods.
AA
An average category
- The organic army units would have the following:
- PPLRK S-2M carried by UAZ-469s
- ZÁLO. PPLRK S-2M a reservist version of the strela-2M team arriving in UAZ-469s
- PLK čs 57mm towed by a V3S
- PLRK S-1 BRDM Czechoslovakia had a very small number of the familiar Soviet wheeled SAM system and 14. Tankova Divize had them
- JEŠTĚRKA 30mm
- PLRK KUB-M3
HEL
A decent category (1/2/2)
- Mi-24D
- Mi-24D [RKT] a rocket-only configuration of the Mi-24D, sporting 4 32-pack rocket pods (across two weapon slots)
- Mi-24D [AT] an ATGM-only configuration of Mi-24D with 4 9P145 Falanga-PV missiles and its Yak-B gun
AIR
A poor category (1/2/3/3)
- ČSLA Air Force would provide limited cover for this division
- MiG-23MLA [AA]
- MiG-23MF [HE] outfitted for ground attack, this variant of MiG-23 dives towards its target with six FAB-500 HE bombs
- MiG-23MF [CLU] like the variant above, this version carries 6 RBK-500 cluster bombs
Summary
- “Mototankova” division is a light Czechoslovak armored division, using only T-54/55s. Their mechanized and armored forces’ are augmented by reservists in both categories. Because they are starting from their home turf, their veteran and instructor units will provide leadership and guidance on the front line as the division postures for rapid reaction. They can build mass quickly and have plentiful tanks, IFVs, and infantry. Their air defense and artillery is strong and long range and it must rely on both to deal with foes with more modern equipment. The division is slow moving and cannot scale into heavier, more modern systems as an engagement drags on. They will struggle against heavy armor and they can be susceptible to aircraft if they lose their long range AA.
This concept division would 28 new units to WARNO. While many are reservist versions of existing units in this count, there are also a number of units that are configured differently, whether with new and different ammunition available or loaded with new configurations.
Other Works
If you liked this writeup, feel free to check out the other WARNO conceptual projects I’ve done. The links below are generally a more polished product than the original reddit post, though some I haven’t gone back to revisit yet (AMF(M) is top of that list as it needs a partial rewrite). I also plan to consolidate my nemesis writeups into a single document to capture the theming. I will also soon post my entry into the (now completed) WARYES division writeup contest. Stay tuned for that!
Other Second Wave conceptual expansion:
Nemesis Concepts:
- Strategic Strongholds: US Military District Washington & Mongolian 016 Mechanized Division
- Gdansk Gambit: UK Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Marine) & PL 16 Kashubian Division
Author’s Commentary
This division was pretty neat in that it focused more on the Slovak side of Czechoslovakia; something that hasn’t been deeply explored in the WARNO universe yet. I may be leaning too hard into that with the divisional icon, but I don’t know how much more in game variety Czechoslovak units could provide; most of the architypes have been hit already. I could be convinced otherwise and could simply use standard Czechoslovak division icon. Another note: I am aware the pictured RM-70 is a Slovak army variant which postdates the cold war. I included that image because I though it looked neat with the plow.
Things that could be cut
T-55AM2s. I was unable to find conclusive documentation on exactly what flavor of T-55s 14. Tankova had in 1989. I suspect that the more advanced tank would have been allocated to units closer to the front, as is the case for most armies in this time period. March to war style arguments could certainly be made if needed. Ultimately T-55AM2s were added to allow for some scalability in what the division could bring to bear; i.e. a strictly gameplay oriented decision.
Danube River Guard. This is definitely a stretch. While border guards are already prominently featured in game, Dunajská pohraničná stráž is extremely geographically locked and their role would likely not have extended much beyond the banks of the Danube; which isn’t terribly close to the Tatras. Their addition isn’t really even a gameplay factor (although very cheap, high availability recon is nice). These fine fellows were added in no small part of their drip. However, due to the intended role of 14. “Mototankova” as a strategic QRF, it isn’t inconceivable they would deploy near the Danube as we don’t have much in the way of specifics regarding the state of the frontline in the Czechoslovakian theater. Ultimately a style pick I could be convinced to drop.
BVP-1PPK. Kind of a weird addition, but it was cool, new, and different. Being an artillery targeting system, it makes sense to include it with an artillery heavy battlegroup such as this one. Its cool, new, and different and provides exceptional optics to things that need it.
Things that were cut
SHPz. The recon tab was feeling pretty crowded and these units were the first to be cut. No particular reasoning other than more SF units didn’t seems to have a strong role in this division. I could be convinced to re-add them.
More Poles. I had originally planned this division to have a decent contingent of Polish forces, mostly recon, air mobile, and air craft. As mentioned before, the recon tab filled up quickly and I decide to not include many. Polish planes were included as well, but were ultimately cut as 1) the division has good enough planes as is and 2) air is really not a focus of this division. I wound up settling on only the Kommandosi as their air mobility would allow them to get to where they needed to go quickly. I had also intended to include the Podhale rifles from Nemesis 6.1, but I decided they wouldn’t be a good fit here. I will get their drippy capes into one of these write ups (I’m 0 for 2 now…).
