MILITARY THOUGHT (USSR): REBASING THE AIR ARMY OF A RESERVE FRONT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10-00105R000100940001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 16, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 19, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
19 November 1974
MEIJRANDim7 FOR: The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT MILITARY THOUGHT (USSR): Rebasing the Air
Army of a serve Front
1. The enclosed Intelligence Information Special Report is part of a
series now in preparation based on the SECRET USSR Ministry of Defense
publication Collection of Articles of the Journal "Military Thought". This
article discusses the re basing of an air army of a reserve front in a
theater of military operations simultaneously with the other forces of the
front. A possible sequence for rebasing the large'units and units of an
air ary is described in detail. A diagram of the long-distance rebasing
of an air army as part of a reserve front is included. This article
appeared in Issue No. 1 (86) for 1969.
2. Because the source of this report is extremely sensitive, this
document should be handled on a strict need-to-know basis within recipient
agencies. For ease of reference, is from this cation have been
assigned li 50X1-HUM
William E. Ne on
Deputy Director for erations
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Distribution:
The Director of Central Intelligence
The Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
The Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Intelligence
Department of the Army
The Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Intelligence)
Department of the Navy
The Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence
U. S. Air Force
Director, National Security Agency
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Deputy Director for Science and Technology
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
for National Intelligence Officers
Director of Strategic Research
Director of Weapons Intelligence
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Early 1969
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COUNTRY USSR
DATE OF
INFO.
MILITARY THOUGHT (USSR): Rebasing the Air Army of a Reserve Front
Documentary
Summary:
The following report is a translation from Russian of an article which
appeared in Issue No. 1 (86) for 1969 of the SECRET USSR Ministry of
Defense publication Collection of Articles of the Journal 'Milita
Thought". The author of this article is nera - eytenant of Aviation Yu.
y ev. This article discusses the rebasing of an air army of a reserve
front in a theater of military operations simultaneously with the other
forces of the front. A possible sequence for rebasing the large units and
units of an air army is described in detail. A diagram of the
long-distance rebasing of an air army as part of a reserve front is
included.
End of Summary
Intelligence Information Special Report
DATE 19 November 1974
General-Le enant Yuriy Borisovich Rykachev authored several articles
in Recd tsar andviet Aviation during the years 1951 through 1963.
CRET version of itar Thought was published three times
annually and was distributed down to the level of division commander. It
reportedly ceased publication at the end of 1970.
Tar-seeffT_-
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Rebasing the Air Army of a Reserve Front
General-Le tenant of Aviation
u, y a ev
The air army of a reserve front in a theater of military operations,
depending on its composition and ation, may be rebased simultaneously
with the forces of the front in which it is to operate or separately when
the air army has to con uc~ ct combat actions before the reserve front is
committed to an engagement. This article is concerned with the rst
instance.
We would like to turn our attention first of all to the fact that the
first priority measures, upon whose timely implementation depend both the
procedure for rebasing an air army and its subsequent fulfilment of its
assigned combat tasks, are to withdraw its units and mar im;ts gut from
under a p ibl . n .my n i i . s r~ e on the permanent basing airfields,
and disperse them to _.alsternate dirt airfields. n order" to ca t
dispersal every permanent basin ai" x "ie s . ve_ still in peacetime,
at least two alternate dirt airfields, of which at least one
must~be
careTlly concealed from'enemy reconnaissan eAll the airfields on
perm nent operation must 'have prepared locations (zones) for long-range
dispersal of regiments by squadrons. These dispersal areas must be 3 to 8
kilometers from the main runway (depending on the configuration of the
terrain), and must have short takeoff strips and shelters for aircraft,
personnel, and maintenance equipment. These airfields (zones) of dispersal
must be stocked in advance with fuel, ammunition, and materiel and
technical means, and dependable cover must be provided for flight control
elements and means.
During rebasing, an air army will be divided into two echelons:
flight and ground. The fli ht echelon will include large units and units
of combat and auxiliary aviation and the aircraft of military transport
aviation transporting ground personnel and equipment. The ground echelon
comprises all the units and facilities of the rear services, communications
and radiotechnical support, as well as the non-flight personnel of the air
army large units and units; the ground echelon, in turn, also is divided
into two echelons. The first echelon must be able to receive rebased units
in the new area and support their carrying out of combat actions while
preparations are being made to commit the reserve front, while it is being
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committed, and at the beginning of an offensive operation. Calculations
hich have been confirmed by the experience of training exercises, indicate
that the first ground echelon must contain not less than 60 percent of the
forces and means of the support units and the engineer-aviation service.
The second echelon must support the combat actions of part of the fighter
an d reconnaissance aviation from the departure basing airfields. This
flirce"~rd
echelon usually does not contain more than 30 percent of" the&'
means of the units of the rear services, communications, raiote ical
support, and technical personnel from the air regiments.
the number of transport aviation aircraft is limited, the main body
of the ground echelon of an air army must use organic motor vehicle
transport to rebase. Only the forward flight echelon of an air army is ~W-%
prepared for trans ort ? r.~.including the operations group of the air
army staff, and Ehi air army forward co Est, the operations groups
and forward command posts of the divisions, and forward teams of the
regiments, air-technical units, commLmications, and radiotechnical support.
But this rebasing variant will enable an air army to begin combat actions
only upon the arrival of the first ground echelon.
Towever, ?if. a ,..ai --ate'-does_ a v . -R?dequate number of transport
aircraft, all of its engineer-technical personnel with the basic equipment
of the engineer-aviation service, all of the staffs and command posts of
the large units and units with communications means and radiotechnical
support, and the forward teams of the rear services and communications
units, may be transferred by air transport. Equipment which is not
transportable by air will have to be transferred by rail or under its on
power, as will ground unit personnel who can be done without during the
first days. In this variant of rebasing, an air army is able to begin
combat actions from the new area immediately.
The plan of the air army commander for the move indicates the
procedure and sequence for the transfer of the flight echelon (including
airlifts), the primary and alternate variants for rebasing the ground
echelon, the number and distance of the ground moves, and the areas for
day-long halts. In establishing the flight sequence of the units, the
commander proceeds from the requirement to establish, within the new basing
area and by a certain time, an aviation grouping which would conform to the
plan for the combat actions of the air army in the front operation. He
must also take into account the requirement to cover th front forces and
to conduct aerial reconnaissance.
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Cover from the air (against enemy aerial reconnaissance and enemy
strike aviation) is required primarily by the ground forces of the reserve
front who are advancing in a wide zone and by the ground echelon of the air
army. In addition, fighter cover will be needed for units of
reconnaissance, fighter-bomber, and bomber aviation during their transfer
flights.
Therefore, the fighters of the air army _must be ,_r b sed first.It is
advisable to organize the flights consecutively-by air regiments, using
intermediate airfields on our own territory and in allied countries.
During this time, cover also will be provided over the entire line of march
of the reserve front in conformity with the plan for cover worked out in
the air army staff,based on the orders of the front commander. The plan
indicates specifically which fighter regiment will cover which forces,
where and when.
Aerial reconnaissance will be required from the very beginning of the
move. The march routes and the radiation situation will be reconnoitered
first, in support of the front ground forces and the ground echelon of the
air army. Then, as the troops approach the area of final concentration,
they will need.the information on the enemy which is required for planning
the commitment to the engagement and subsequent actions of the front. The
subunits of reconnaissance aviation therefore must make their transit
flight at the same time as the fighter aviation units or immediately after
them.
It is advisable to concentrate fighter-bombers and bombers in the new
basing area immediately before the first echelon of the reserve front
troops approaches. In this way they can achieve a certain degree of
secrecy and surprise in moving out; the fighter-bombers and bombers gain
the time needed to prepare for participation in the nuclear strike of the
front when it is committed to the engagement. Here, too, there arises a
need for a certain sequence in rebasing. Fighter-bombers obviously must
begin their flight sooner, since they will have to utilize the intermediate
airfields. The front bombers, which are capable of reaching their
destination airfields without stops, will be the last to transfer.
To receive the transferring units at the intermediate airfields it
will be?neesa y,_to send ahead on transport aircraft small teams of 50X1-HUM
technical personnel from the air regiments, airfield maintenance
b ttala and llum~riation and radiotechnical support battalions. On our
ohm territory, the necessary means will be furnished by the emits based at
these airfields; on the territory of allied countries--in accordance with
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required aviation grouping in the new area. 50X1-HUM
The units of the first ground echelon, after supporting the departure
of the air regiments for their alternate airfields, proceed to areas for
assembling and forming into marching columns. These areas should be
signed at a distance of 8 to 15 kilometers from the air garrisons. The
units will move out to the columns of the first ground echelon, in a
sequence corresponding to the accented procedure for establishing the
moves out to the command post of the formation of the Air Defense Forces. of
the Country to control the actions of its fighter aircraft to cover the
front troops.
units organize into echelons in accordance with the rebasing plan.
The forward flight echelon of the air army, comprising the forward
command post and the operations group of the air army staff, and the
forward command post and forward teams of the large units and units, is-
sent to the new basing area by transport aircraft. Another operations
group of the air army staff, with a combat crew from the command post,
existing agreements. Depending on the situation, it may be possible that,
when the first ground echelon passes through the area of the intermediate
airfields on the second or third day, part of its forces will have to be
left at the airfields with the minimum necessary support means.
All of the main points regarding rebasing aviation are reflected in
the plan of the commander of the reserve front and in the plan of the front
staff. They are worked out in detail in We-appropriate appropriate air army
documents. The sequence for rebasing the large units and units of an air
army may be as follows.
As the danger of a start of combat actions increases, an air army is
brought successively to increased and then full combat readiness. The
dispersal of air units to alternate airfields is calculated so that the
time spent on it is less than the approach time of the enemy aircraft and
missiles. As experience shows, air units which have been well trained in
the process of combat preparation, begin to fly out by regiments in 10 to
20 minutes from a state of increased readiness. In case the weather
precludes flying, the aircraft are dispersed in the outlying areas of the
basing airfields.
At the same time as the air regiments depart for their alternate 50X1-HUM
airfields, all the control elements and posts, the engineer-technical
personnel, and the rear services, communications and radiotechnical support
TOP
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The units of the second ground echelon proceed immediately to their
alternate airfields to receive.and support the dispersing air regiments.
The trans?-port columns of the air a c least 350
kilo m in a Say. a"the first ground ec,ielo when an
air army is reessed over, for example, 1000 to 1500 kilometers, to precede
the ground forces columns by a march of two to three days. And this in
turn ensures the air units transfer 2 to 3 days before the troops of the
reserve front approach their concentration area.
To increase the mobility of an air army it is desirable to include one
or two air transport regiments aboard AN-12 aircraft in its composition,
and to bring the weights and dimensions of the means of the
engineer- aviation service, and of communications and radioteclmical
support, into line with the capabilities of these aircraft.
When the first ground echelon has arrived at the airfields in the
final basing area, combat aviation completes its transfer. Units of
fighter and reconnaissance aviation arrive there first, as planned,
followed by units of fighter-bomber and bomber aviation. Auxiliary
aircraft transport the forward teams, the control posts, and the '~
~l engineer-technical personnel of combat aviation.
When the rebasing begins, the commander of the air army is located at
the forward command post; he studies the situation and makes a decision on
the army combat operations when the reserve front is committed to combat,
organizes and directs air combat operations a the advance of the
reserve front, and directs and monitors the rebasing of the army. -IL_
necessary he out to subordinate large units and units and pars nally
Erects va = At the forward command post with the commander there
is a group from the operations department, the chief navigator, the chief
of communications and radiotechnical support, the chief engineer, the chief
or deputy chief of rear services of the air army, and other officers (at
his discretion). The main contingent of the air army command post, headed
by the chief of staff, win be enrou~e t this time, at the head of the
first ground echelon of the air army. At locations stipulated in the plan,
it halts, deploys, clarifies the situation and reports it to the commander,
receives orders from him, and forwards them to the large units and units.
Upon arrival in the new basing area, the air army command post deploys near
the front command post.
At the start of the rebasing, the forward command posts of the air
divisions are transferred to airfields in the new area by transport
TS #206354
Copy #/'?
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aircraft, where they will assume control of the actions of subordinate
units. Some combat crews from-the command posts of the divisions and
regiments may remain in their former location, from which they are
transferred to the new basing area by transport aircraft after the
departure of the regiments.
After all the aircraft have taken off, the second ground echelon
begins its march to the new area. It is &d b e that the
engineer-technical personnel who have remained at a alternate airfields
in acing ea'~e"rred'" owe new area y air.
During the rebasing of an air army, its fighter aviation covers the
advancing front forces and the area ahead of the operating fronts, jointly
with the Air Defense Forces of the Country and with air defense forces and
means of allied countries. In organizing cooperation among these forces it
is advisable to use the following procedure as a point of departure for
providing cover.
During the first day the fighter aviation of the air army, jointly
with a formation of the Air Defense Forces of the Country, will cover
troops and old basing airfields, in accordance with the operating plan for
the air defense of the military district. Its actions are controlled by a
staff operations group headed by the deputy commander for air defense and
located at the command post of the formation (large unit) of the Air
Defense Forces of the Country.
During the second day, the fighter aviation of the air army rebases
consecutively by regiments to intermediate airfields located on the
territory of allied countries, from which cover is provided jointly with
the air defense troops of the respective country. A control group moves to
the command st of the allied air defense troops. By this vme the
eater part of the groan ones o the reserve
-ft 7T--
, ving completed
their march, will be on the territory of the allied country.
By the time of the third day, airfields in the concen ri
area become ready, part of the fighter avi Lion r e s to and.
ca ies out cover missions from them, comprising the first echelon of the
front air defense.
During north and fifth days, all of the fighter aviation of the
air army transfers to ai iel final concentration area. The
operations group of the air army deputy commander for air defense arrives
at the combined front air defense command post. Cover will be implemented
I
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entirely through the joint efforts of fighter aviation and the air defense
troops of the reserve front.
Aerial reconnaissance also will be carried out during the rebasing
period, in order to support the planning and preparations for the
commitment of the reserve front to the engagement. Aerial reconnaissance
is particularly important in ro ganizing a front nuclear strike. It must
reveal and then confirm the strike targets of the front rocket troops and
aviation.
ZThus, fighter and reconnaissance units, which have completed rebasing
2 to 3 days ahead of the whole air army, engage in aggressive combat
actions. If the troops ahead of the operating fronts move farther forward
in this period, they will be rebased immediatelyy a er these units.
When an air army has completed rebasing, having concentrated in the
new area the day before the arrival of the first echelon of ground forces,
it immediately enters into combat actions to support the commitment of the
reserve front to the engagement, from the march. The air army covers the
approaching troops and their deployment, continues to conduct aerial
reconnaissance, and seeks and destroys enemy missile and airborne nuclear
means, and enemy reserves in the area in which the front is about to be
committed. Already in this period, preparations must Agin for the
subsequent rebasing of the air army, the necessity for which may arise
literally on the second day of an offensive operation by a reserve front.
In conclusion, we note once more that rebasing an air army 2 to 3 days
before the arrival of the ground forces of a reserve front in the final
concentration area, is a necessary condition for success in its commitment
to an engagement, and in subsequent combat actions.
50X1-HUM
1a" ET
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