MILITARY TRAINING IN THE SOVIET ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00926A003100060003-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 24, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 21, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION "SECRET/US OFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD
COUNTRY USSR
SURJECT Military Training in the Soviet Army
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
DATE DISTRvid Feb 1951
NO. OF PAGES 10 50X1-HUM
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 50
U. S. C.. 3I AND 32. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO-
HIBITED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHISITILD.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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1.
Combat training of Soviet troops encompasses two elements, combat training proper
and political training for the enlisted men. Political training covers the following
points:
(a) A general picture of the USSR, with a discussion of its boundaries, area,
population, wealth, resources, and its governmental and political structure.
(b) The constitution of the USSR.
(c) The military oath.
(d) The international situation, including a consideration of lectures given by
various representatives of the government, resolutions passed at various
meetings and sessions of the USSR.
(8)
The autobiographies of national leaders like Lenin and Stalin.
2. The order of presentation of these several points is determined by the Main Political
Administration of the Soviet Army via the military district, the Army and the .Navy;
it is then taken up by the divisions and regiments. The instruction is presented by
the regimental propaganda officers together with the company and battery commanders
at a definite time and cover the separate details of the several subjects. The latter
officers conduct the exercises for individual groups of enlisted personnel, non-
commissioned officers, platoon commanders, battery or company commanders, and regimentl
commanders.
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3. The enlisted aen study the five points mentioned under a system of so-called political
exercises which are conducted by the battery commander. Formerly, Shero was a manual
covering these points entitled "Our Country". The exercises for the noncommissioned
officer ye carried out by the,assistant to the battalion commander for political
training, and party organization. The exercises for the platoon commae,lers are conducted
by the assistant to the battalion commander for education and political training.
:battery eommanuers are instructed either by the regimental propaganda officer or the
secretary. The battalion commanders are instructed by the assistant to the regimental
commander in education and political training. Regimental commanders are instructed
by the division education and political information chief. Nhereas the exercises for
the enlisted personnel deal with political training disciplines, in the case of officers
personnel training (from platoon commander to regimental commander), such exercises. are
termed exercises in Marxism-Leninism. Rather than encompassing the five basic points
mentioned, they deal with the History of the Communist Party, the basic principles of
Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin, and the international-situation and lectures or
reports by government representatives.
4. All exercises are conducted in accordance with the program of combat and political
training, and are planned by the appropriate staffs. In the case of the privates and
noncommissioned officers, the instruction is given twice weekly for two-hour periods;
in the case of officers, the instruction is given on days set aside for commanders'
training. However, on days when political exercises are conducted, the political
information is given only to the privates and noncommissioned officers. This, then, is
the picture of political training.
5. In his 2-3 years of service the service man studies only the five points mentioned.
However, the five points studied include several score different themes. The personnel
have great difficulty in assimilating the points covered in the political exercises.
And the reason for this is simple. The privates and noncommissioned officers of the
postwar period have a generally low educational background--this condition is past-
ioularly true of the recruits who entered the Army in the Spring of 1949. Mainly
individuals in this group are quite illiterate. Thus, we have an illiterate soldier
studying polities. Furthermore, at the end of their period of service some of these
people will become candidates or members of the Communist Party. Thus, we have a
picture of his ideology.
6. The matter of officer training in this respect is also not very exemplary. This is
true, not so much because of their generally low educational status, as it is beeause
the training presented assumes a state-directed form. For examples The study of the
Communist Party is begun anew each year, that is, beginning with the first chapter.
Obviously, such procedure can hardly be termed interesting. Actually, how much can
you say about the social-political governments, etc., if you have served in the army
for 10-15 years? It is not surprising, therefore, that the whole matter becomes a
formality. The matter is somewhat as follows: The exercises are to be held on the
following day--it means that for the sake of appearances, the subject is to be read
over today, and certain question which can be asked will be asked. The exercises will
be repeated in 10-15 days. And so it goes on for years.
7. Combat Training s The nature of combat depends, primarily, on the type of troops in-
volved and encompasses a number of training disciplines such as the following:
(a)
Special training (depending on the type of troops) for the different
specialties, including signalmen, scouts, riflemen, topographers, members of
computing and plotting sections, gun crew members, and radiomen.
Physical training
Rifle and marksmanship training
Drill
Tactical training
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Various service regulations
Engineer training
Automotive training, and other specialties
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However, in addition to these several training disciplines, each of the types of
troops has the most important training discipline for that branch. The most important
training discipline for the infantry is tactics; for the artillery, artillery firing
training; for the tank service, tactical-gunnery training; for the aviation service,
aerial gunnery training; for the navy, tactical-gunnery training.
8. The personnel in an artillery regiment are divided into the following groups t enlisted
men (privates); noncommissioned officers; and commissioned officers. The latter are
divided into (a) platoon commanders; (b) battery commanders; (c) battalion commanders;
and (d) the regimental commander. The privates, noncommissioned officers, platoon
commanders, and battery commanders may be specialists of various types. These
specialties may includes scouting (reconnaissance), computing and plotting specialists,
topographers, signalmen, radiomen, gun crews, and drivers (chauffeurs). In accordance
with these specialties there are privates, sergeants (commanders of sections), platoon
commanders, battery commanders,and chiefs of various services. The various specialists
in the regiment constitute the so-called instruction base; these bases are distributed
among the quarters. In actual practice it looks somewhat like the
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The regiment is distributed for quartering purpose' on the basis of one battery of
personnel per barracks hut. The hut is arranged to accommodate the personnel and to
provide separate classrooms for conducting the exercises.
9. Apart from the provision individually made by batteries and battalions, the regiment
provides for the classrooms as follows;
(a)
The tactical classroom, which consists, primarily, of a large room with
desks and benches. The training aids include a large sand table. The relief
of the tactical terrain therein is varied in accordance with the tactical
situation involved in the exercises. For the most part, the relief created is
that of the firing range, that is, taking into account topographical maps. It
includes the forward edge of the defenses based on the tactical problem, the
firing points, the battalion, regimental, and divisional reserves, the zones
of the main and secondary tasks. The regiment equips the classroom with various
charts, diagrams of different types of combat, various forms used in orders and
commands, diagrams of tactical distributions, various diagrams illustrating
techniques in foreign armies, etc. All these devices are supplied in
accordance with the program of tactical training for the school year.
(b) Artillery classroom, which includes:
(1) A miniature artillery firing range, 3 x 3 or 3 x 4 meters in its
dimensions. The relief of the locale in this case is fixed. On the floor
there is a topographical grid having a specific scale (for examples 1
meter equals 1 kilometer) of real coordinates. The firing range is
situated in such a manner that it serves as a continuation of this grid.
On the floor, that is, on the grid, outside of the firing range, there
are several firing positions and observation posts. The firing points
are indicated on the firing range--points such as machine gun positions,
antitank defenses, batteries, tanks, infantry positions etc. Underneath
all these firing points there are small electrical bulbs connected with
wires leading to one place on the side of the firing range. There are
several firing points each of which has its own number. The general cata-
log has the actual coordinates of these points as well as the coordinates
of all the firing positions and the observation posts. All these factors
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taken together are termed the combat formation. The firing range likewise
contains reference points. The forward edge of the defenses varies
according to the tactical problem. As a rule, the firing range is
designed for three batteries (laths) which /-.e placed vertically one-on
top of the other. Each lath, that is, battery; is divided into divisions
for lateral (right and left) adjustment. There is a small carrier on the
lath containing small charges (these are the shells).
The lath, which is moved according to the range, and the carrier, which
slides along the lath, are activated with the aid of small wheels and
strings. If the firing on the miniature firing range is conducted on a
full topographic basis, the map corrector is used. This device consists
of a plane table board with the same combat distribution as that on the
firing range. It contains a celluloid disc and one slide.
In fire using battalion combined observation (SND) there are two aiming
circles. Firing always commences with the solution of the tactical
problem. The exercises in this classroom are held for the artillery
fire preparation and artillery training classes.
(2) There are various diagrams of artillery fire with theoretical explana-
tions.
(3) There are listed various commands as well as the forms followed in issuing
orders and instructions. All this is tsken from the firing regulations,
explanatory bulletins, and manuals.
The equipment classroom contains the following:
(1) Various posters on the parts of rifles and on ammunition.
(2) A disassembled gun mounted on frames
(d) The rifle firing range. This range is arranged on the site. A relief of the
locale is created (it is a miniature of the original) and contains houses,
churches, roads, highways, river, etc. It is here that tactical firing is
done, though not with the guns, but rather with the carbines which are fastened
to the guns.
(e) The rifle range
The preceding represents the training base on the regimental scale.
10. Each battalion independently has the following classrooms:
(a) An artillery classroom--somewhat smaller in dimensions than the regimental
classroom.
(b) The tactics classroom is the same.
(0) The equipment classroom is the same.
(d) The signals communication classroom, which contains various posters and
diagrams, and dissassembled telephone apparatus.
(e) Tht, radio classroom is the same.
(f) The automotive classroom--this, too, contains various posters and a dis-
assembled automobile.
(g) The culture and educational classroom, where the political training is con-
ducted.
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11. The battery has the followings
(a)
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The cultural-educational classroom.
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(b) The elassroom for noncommissioned orficers (specialists) including scouts,.
telephone operators, and radiomen.
All the above classrooms are equipped during the preparatory period, that is, over
a month's time. The overall worth of a classroom is dependent on the initiative and
industriousness of the commanding officer of the subdivision.
12. Combat training includes a number of training disciplines which are called general
training disciplines and are given apart from the special training and regardless of
the individual's capacity. General training includes:
(a) Political training
(b) Drill
(c) Chemical training
(d) Physical training
(e) Rifle-marksmanship training
(S) Various regulationss
(1) The drill manual (SU)
(2) Interior guard duty regulations (UKS)
(3) Garrison duty reglations (UGS)
(4) Military discipline regulations (DU)
(5) Unit interior economy regulations (UVS)
The foregoing disciplines are studied by all on the same level. After this, special
instructions are given, such as:
(a) For the telephone operators?matters pertaining to telephones.
(b) For the radiomen?matters pertaining to radio.
(c) For the scouts--artillery firing training and scouting (reconnaissance)
(d) For the computers--artillery firing training
(e) For the topographers--topographical training
For the chemical service personnel--matters pertaining to chemical service.
(g) For the drivers--matters pertaining to automobiles.
13. With regard to drill, it may be said that the least amount of time is devoted to
theoretical considerations. To be sure, the regulations specify the rules and res-
ponsibilities of the soldier--the soldier is expected to know these regulations. The
noncommissioned officers are supposed to know a little more than the privates. They
should know the orders and formations, the correct procedures in issuing commands, and
instruetionss that is, they should know how to command a subdivision. Drill training
does not appear to present any serious difficulties; however, such is not the case.
trsining is of such a low order that the men in the subdivisions are still incap-
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\
able of walking according to regulations. If the soldier is obliged to serve 2 years,
and the noncommissioned 3 years--in accordance with the law--both serve this time With
the knowledge that they will complete their time; they do not serve with zeal. As to
whether he serves willingly or unwillingly, it is hard to say. It is sufficient to note
that there are no volunteers in the Army of the USSR, and that there is a military
conscription law. I have already stated that the soldiers and noncommissioned officers
serve 2-3 years; but if they are told to serve another year, and then go on to serve
one, two, or three more years, we, can see the reason for their poor combat training.
It is not erroneous to state that during the past three years the soldiers and non-
commissioned officers have been a problem to the government. Whether the government
desires this or not, the situation is so. Generally, this difficult problem exists
in all the training disciplines of the soldier.
14. Chemical training is given On infrequent occasions. The soldier is taught the con-
struction of the gas mask, he is acquainted with a variety of persistent and non-
persistent gases, and the protective measures.
15. A physical training is offered daily, usually 3 to 4 hours. The training is conducted
in accordance with the Physical Training Manual and involves completion of separate sets
of exercises for men with one year of service, those with two years of service, non-
commissioned officers, officers, and officers over 35 years of age. The exercises are
held in the so-called physical training grounds, that is, the physical training room.
In this room we find the following equipment: horizontal bars, parallel bars, ladders,
ropes, poles, rings, and vaulting horses. It is mandatory that all these exercises be
mastered. On the whole, the course of training is very difficult. Many soldiers who
complete their period of service still have not finished separate sets of exercises. It
is to be noted that the 1949 recruits are especially poor in physical development. The
men are small in stature, weak, and pale in Complexion.
16. Marksmanship Training: The soldiers have as weapons the Carbine, submachine gun, and
RPD machine guns. Brief instruction is given in the construction of the weapons and in
their tactical-technical data. Following this, they are trained to carry out the tacti-
cal exercises using these weapons. In the beginning, they are taught laying or training,
aiming, different commands, targets, mounts, etc. First they fire blank cartridges and
then ball ammunition. By the end of the year they should complete 1 or 2 exercises,
according to the KOP (the firing training course).
(a)
These will be from the Carbine Exercises No, 1 Practice Firing. Fire at a
range of 100 meters at a kneeling target, dimensions 50 x 50 am conditions--
firing from prone position with use of a prop (parapet) with strap, time not
limited, 3 practice rounds. Score--1 hit--satisfactory,2 hits--good, 3 hits--
excellent.
(b) Exercise 2. Firing at a range of 200 meters at a circular target, dimensions 1
square meter. Target consists of 10 concentric circles; the inner is marked
10, the next one 9, the next 8, and so on to 1. The circle has a radius of
5 cm. From circle 10 to circle 6 inclusive, the circles are black. Firing
conditions: firing from prone position without prop or strap, time not limited,
three practice rounds. Scoring: all three rounds must be grouped within
circle 6, points not counted.
(c)
From the submachine--Exercise 2. Firing at a range of 100 meters at kneeling
target, dimensions 50 x 50 am. Firing conditions--firing from prone position
using prop and strap, time of fire unlimited, 9 practice rounds, fire by threes
(automatically). The exercise is properly executed if 4 hits are registered in
the target.
(d) Fire with the RPD machine gun. Range 200 meters. The firing conditions are the
same as those for the carbine, Exercise No, 2. On inspection checks the
officers carry out the same tasks, depending on who is representing the sub-
division. In addition, all officers from platoon commander to the regimental
commander conduct practice fire from the so-called personal weapons, that is,
pistols.
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(e) Pistol firing is limited in extent, consisting of only several drills; there
are 2 basic drills from exercise No. 1. Fire is conducted from a standing
position at a range of 15 meters at a target 50 x 50 cm. The target consists
of concentric circles, the central one number 10, followed by 9, 8...1; the
radius of the circle is 2.5 cm. The first 5 rings, inclusive of No. 6 ring,
are black. Time of fire--not limited. Three practice rounds. The exercise
is scored satisfactory if three hits are registered inside of ring 6, it is
rated good is three hits are grouped inside of ring 7, and excellent if three
hits are grouped inside of ring 8. Drill No. 2. Fire from standing position,
range 25 meters. Target same type as in drill No. 1, time of fire 50 seconds.
Five practice rounds. The exercise is completed satisfactorily if 25 points
are scored, regardless of the rings in which the hits are scored. Drill No. 3.
Fire is conducted at a standing-type target (the figure of a man).. Conditions
Of fire--leave shelter and run 25 meters, draw pistol from holster while on
the run, and score 5 hits at 5 targets in a period of five seconds from the
firing (position). The exercise is then completed.
This, then, is a brief summary of the firing assignments for the individual
officers. It is not complicated, but it requires nevertheless, meticulous
training, particularly involving the use of ball cartridges; the point of,:the
matter, however, is that ball cartridges are lacking. In actual practice,
however, the soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and commissioned officers
conduct their exercises at the target range according to schedule, that
is to say, they go through the process of conducting adjustment fire and lay-
ing procedures; the officers attach little bags of sand to their arms to keep
them steady, smudge the sights, etc. In short, they click away with the slides
and triggers. And so, the days and months pass by, and with it the training
year. :When the inspection check is held, however, they do net then simply
click away with the slides and triggers--now they fire with ball ammunition.
However, inasmuch as the bullets are in flight for the first time, they go in
the air, and not at the target. Conclusion: The rifle-marksmanship training
is of poor quality in all the units of the Soviet Army.
17. Various Regulations: The study of regulations is conducted on pretty much the same
basis as the other forms of training. The contents of service regulations manuals
are mastered according to the intelligence of the personnel and depend upon the rank
and official function of the individual. For example, if the matter pertains to the
soldier, his functions, rights, and obligations are quite limited. If the matter
pertains to noncommissioned officers, these responsibilities are somewhat greater. And
in the case of the commissioned officer it is still greater, depending on his rank
and tl,e post he assumes.
(f)
18. Special Disciplines:
(a)
Gun crews. The special' training for these men consists of firing and the
study of the equipment. Elementary training and final training during the
course of the training year begins with a general orientation in the parts
of the weapon, that is, the gun, and a consideration of its technical-tactical
properties. It also includes the preservation and care of the gun and the
speed of movement, depending upon the type of road. After this, the actual
gunnery training is given, that is, instruction in team work among the gun
crew, and the duties of eech number, from the gun captain to the ammunition
cannoneer. They begin to execute the commands. Following this formation of
various sheaf's: parallel sheafs, effective fire, concentrated fire, at target
length; vertical laying, horizontal laying, fire by direct laying, and fire
from a concealed firing position. The tactics taught the gun crews consists
of the following: selection of firing positions, equipping the firing
positions, taking up positions, changing positions, open and concealed, cam-
ouflage, etc. Generally speaking, there are many questions here. The
course of a year's training boils down to the fact that the gun crew should
know how to handle the gun; that is, the crew should know how to fire the
weapon, not simply firing the piece, but firing at various types of targets,
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including infantry, tanks, firing points, etc. This is provided for by the
program and by the general instructions of the appropriate commanders and
chiefs. These are the requirements and demands, but in actual practice the
situation is far from such. By way of example, there is the gunnery service
among- the troops of the Central Army Group, in Austria. This form of
training is at a very low level, that is, the gun crews and tactical teams do'
not have combat efficiency. This is explained, first of all, by the fact that
they are not up to full strength. Actually, a gun crew should consist of 7
men--at the present time there are only 2 to 3 men per crew. It is physically
impossible for these 2 or 3 men to handle a gun. In May, 1949, General
Kozhukhov, Chief of the Artillery of the Central Army group, in accordance
with instructions from the high command, personally ordered that the gun crews
in the Central Army Group were brought up to strength. However, there were no
men available. Each unit expected replacements, but when the recruits arrived
the sizes of the crews were not increased. This situation was true in the
Central Army group as a whole. This was the situation in 1949. Such was the
gunnery service picture.
(b) Reconnaissance service. The main training for these personnel is reconnais-
sance and artillery firing training. Their training is begun with
reconnaissance procedures consisting of the purpoies of reconnaissance
work, types and methods, the characteristics of various targets,. target
designation (there are several thods). Selection of reference points and
their purpose. Reconnaissanceo6argets, reconnaissance beyond the battle-
field. Reporting procedures, observation. Keeping the observer's book.
Instruments, including binoculars, battery commander's telescopes, aiming
circles (FAB), scout's periscope. They study topography, conventional
symbols, reliefs, types of military locales, range cards, unobserved targets,
target maps, etc. They do very little reading of topographical charts.
Tactics--selection of the observation posts, equipping the observation post,
the work of the observation post during the day and night, camouflage, etc.
Artillery firing training consists only of training in estimating ranges by
eye, and rapid preparation of fire using the aiming circle. They fire only
by the observed bursts, the most simple type of fire. In actual practice
during 1949, only the commanders of reconnaissance detachments fired with ball
ammunition--and even then all of them did not get a chance to do so. What can
we conclude about the reconnaissance service? Reconnaissance, a special form
of service, absolutely requires more general training. But, here again,
the people for this work are unavailable. For this reason, reconnaissance is
at a low level of efficiency. Those features which are required of recon-
naissance units, namely, persistence and thoroughness, that is, ability to
conduct observation throughout the entire depth of the combat area, are, of
course, not met. This service is poorly prepared for present-day recon-
naissance work.
(C)
Telephone service. This form of training is not so difficult that one cannot
be taught something about the telephone apparatus, how to haul the reels
around, the hooking up of communication lines and then repeating what the com-
mander says, that is, transmitting the commander's message. Telephone men
study the telephone apparatusi the work on it, they study the defect of the
instrument, do practical Lork in hooking up communication lines, and transmit
commands. Tactics includes laying out lines in various places, that is, in
the forests, in the hills, through valleys, camouflage techniques, etc. But
here, again, there is a general shortage of personnel. In practical tactical
exercises the communications system never meets the requirements of the
commanders in directing their subdivisions. In the momentum of battle,
uninterrupted communication is not possible. It should be noted that not only
the shortage of men (telephone operators) makes it impossible to establish
communications in good time, but the telephone equipment frequently operates
in a faulty manner.
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(d) Radio operators. Exceptional stress has been placed of late on radto as the
basic means_of communication. The training of radio men has been well
organizedIf4z,that these men apply themselves assiduously to their tasks.
Vsrious types of meets are organized among the different classes of radio
operators; these are ropated annually. In short, radiomen are fairly well
trained, but there is a shortage of them. They study the radio; that ,is,
its circuits, trouble shooting, etc. The main occupation consists in the
:Practical work of transmitting training commands using the microphone and the
telegraph key Norse code). Nothing detrimental can be said about the train-
ing of the radiomen. However, as is true of the telephone apparatus, radio
sets frequently fail to operate. There is a shortage of power supply units
since there is only one charging station in the regiment. The radio sets are
not used in the daily exercises--they are used only in tactical exercises and
in tactical firing. Hence, we have a situation wherein the radio operator
may have mastered the theoretical principles of the radio in the classroom by
having transmitted commands, by having received and transmitted messages
rapidly and correctly, but having done no practical work on his awn instrument;
that is, he does not know its defects, nor what has to be done to instruments
when they fail to operate. The radio operator himself 5s not to blame on this
score, but he is never given an opportunity to work on his awn radio when he
is going through his course of instruction. It is nece8sary to note that units
of the division and higher levels have refused to use radios made in Russia--
rather, they are using German-made radios. It seems that certain modifications
may have been incorporated in them by the Russians. There is some radio and
telephone equipment of American manufacture. Radio communications is considered
the basic form of communications in all the arms of the Soviet Army.
(e)
f
Computers and topographers. There is no doubt that these specialties require
men who have had the best training. In comparison with the number of
personnel in other specialized branches of service there are relatively few of
these men. Until 1946, these people were very well trained. This is explained
by the fact that they were selected from the variety of personnel who entered
the armed forces during the war, that is to say, they had a good background of
general training. This has changed since 1946, because of the gradual demobili-
zation of the Soviet Army, and because the older personnel who had been
specialists in this branch left the service. Today the personnel have a law
level of general preparation. Their training, as always, is dependent upon
the excellence of training of their individual service chief. The reason for
this is that he conducts the exercises with them personally, that is, after
the men complete their course of instruction in the noncommissioned officers'
schools. :Topographers hate as their main subject the study of the topography
of the locale (the relief), the study of the system of coordinates (local and
national), various kinds of pictures, various intersections, and the tying-in-
of this with the combat formations. The organic equipment consists of one
instrument--the theodolite. Generally speaking, their training consists in
having them tie-in the combat formation of the subdivision accurately, that it,
determine the coordinat s of the firing positions, observation posts, and the
various targets. The tactical fire of the subdivisions depends, mainly, on the
work of the topographers. At the present time their preparation is varied.
The 233rd Gun Regiment had the better topographers in the past; at the present
time they are better trained in the 32nd Regimental Artillery Group. Generally
speaking, however, the topographers are currently more poorly pr.pared than
they were in 1946.
Computers. Here, again, the situation is the same as with the topographers.
Their special training consists in artillery firing training. They are given
instruction in the methods of fire preparation, that is, in correcting fire,
not in artillery firing proper. They commence their training by preparing
visual estimates of data for artillery fire; following this, they are instructed.
in rapid preparation of fire and in deliberate preparation of fire, that is,
using the analytic and graphic methods of computation. Generally speaking,
their preparation at the present time is considerably poorer than it was in the
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP80-00926A003100060003-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP80-00926A003100060003-0
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50X1 -HUM
past. However, there are not many of these specialists in the table of
organization, and the number of personnel is sufficient.
(g) Chemical troops. There are very few of such troops to begin with, and
special training is not offered for them outside of individual Procedures
given by the chemical instructors to the enlisted men.
(h) Drivers (chauffeurs). The matter of drivers in the Central Army Group is
worst of all. There are nowhere near enough drivers; only 50 - 60% of the
vehicles are serviced by drivers. Furthermore, those who can drive do so
very poorly. To be sure, there is a division school for chauffeurs, but the
whole trouble is that the men who come to the subdivisions from these schools
lack practical experience. There is very little gasoline. The gas rations
are very small and are always consumed in excess of the technical norms when
the machines are in very poor condition. The drivers are very poorly trained,
and there has not been a single instance of a subdivision leaving for
exercises without having had an accident. These accidents are especially
frequent during the winter and during the period of extensive exercises
conducted by the Central Army Group. Their theoretical training is likewise
poor, although such instruction is provided for in the plans; when it is
given at infrequent intervals, it is of a very low order. The battery limber
section commander conducts the training--he is the driver. It should be
noted that the entire automotive park is very poorly prepared. I cannot
recall a single instance of a regiment (to say nothing of larger units)
having left for their training exercises without machines having laTi7ed
behind. You would expect that the condition would be better in the mechanized
divisions, but such is not the case. Very frequently, the 13th Mechanized
Division, in executing a march from Vienna to Allenstein, found its leading
vehicles in the latter place while the rear of the column was still in the
outskirts of Vienna. Such, in general, is the situation with regard to .
automotive training and the training of drivers. Nevertheless, the higher
echelons are devoting much attention to the matter of automotive training.
For example, in 1949, an order MAS issued by the Ministry of the Armed Forces
making it mandatory for all officers to take the automotive course?actually,
this order was not followed out. The reason is the same; that is, there is
no chance for practical experience, since the officers have neither personal
nor service vehicles.
-end-
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP80-00926A003100060003-0