Reduced Strength Rifle Regiment - Aug1943

[Gary Kennedy]

The "Red Army Handbook" by Zaloga & Ness gives some detail of a reduced strength version of the Rifle Regiment being issued on 22nd August 1943, which saw the authorised strength drop from 2443 (which was previously 2474) to 2017 all ranks.

Buried in a hefty 70MB file over on Sturmpanzer.com is a German document that largely matches with this description, with a summary at page 151 -

http://downloads.sturmpanzer.com/NARA_R ... H1_048.pdf

I know from asking around that there were various types of reduced strength Regt used by the Red Army, and that these could differ dependent upon what HQ issued the guidelines and on how many personnel were available. The 2017 strong version does bear some hallmark of standardisation and I'm trying to establish just how accurate (or otherwise) the German intelligence assessment of it was, in the absence of any Red Army documentation.

If I'm reading the German report correctly, and it does require a certain amount of squinting, the figures given are;

Regimental HQ staff was 29, stayed at 29
Cav Recce Pl was 12, stayed at 12
Inf Recce Pl was 25, stayed at 25

SMG Coy, was 100, became 80 (deleted 2-in-C and Political officer from Coy HQ, deleted 1 Sgt and 1 man from each SMG Squad (9 Squads)

Anti-tank Rifle Coy was 73, became 46 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ, deleted third Platoon (22 men), and seemingly deleted the wagon drivers from Coy HQ but I really can't be sure what the figures say.

Signal Coy was 50, became 48 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ)

Commandant Pl was 13, stayed 13
Sapper Pl was 20, stayed 20
CW Pl was 12, stayed 12

Three Rifle Battalions, each

Battalion HQ was 4, stayed 4
Signal Pl was 10, stayed 10

Medical Pl was 5, stayed 5
Supply Pl was 12, stayed 12

Anti-tank Rifle Pl was 23, stayed 23 (?) - document says 22, but that throws out the Bn total
Anti-tank Gun Pl was 17, stayed 17

Machine Gun Coy was 58, became 38 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ and deleted third Pl (18 men total)) - I'm differing from the document again as that says the MG Coy was 41

Mortar Coy was 61, became 40 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ and deleted third Pl (19 men)

Rifle Coys were 143 each, became 115 each - deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ, and possibly Sgt Clerk; deleted 50-mm Mortar Pl (7 men total), each Rifle Pl dropped from 40 to 34, so total of 28 all ranks deleted

Regimental units

Anti-tank Gun Bty was 55, became 36 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ and deleted third Pl (17 men total)

Inf Gun Bty was 74, became 70 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ and deleted 2 wagon drivers from Supply Pl)

120-mm Mortar Bty was 65, became 57 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ, deleted 2 men from HQ/Sigs Sec and deleted one 120-mm Mortar Squad (7 men), but seem to have added 1 man back per Platoon?

Medical Coy was 33, stayed 33
Veterinary was 3, stayed 3
Weapons Workshop was 11, stayed 11
Repair was 3, stayed 3
Transport Coy was 39, became 37 (deleted 2-in-C and Pol Offr from Coy HQ)

Total was 2474, became 2017

What I'm wondering if whether anyone has seen confirmation of these figures, and ideally a little more detail, particularly a split of officers/sergeants/rank & file, and horses and transport?

Thanks,

Gary