Information about the Soviet 54th army in Summer 1942

[stg 44]

Does anyone have any information about the Soviet 54th army in the Summer of 1942? I'm interested in the OOB, what their defenses were, and what the terrain they occupied looked like. I'm curious whether the planned and ultimately cancelled German Operation Moorbrand to cut off the Pogostye salient had any realistic chance of working had it happened when originally planned.

[Virginian]

According to the BSSA:
On July 1st and August 1st 1942: 4th RC with 3rd GRD and 4 Rifle Brigades), 9 other RDs, and a naval infantry brigade. Also included 4 tank brigades.
September 1st: 8 RDs and a naval infantry brigade. Also included 1 tank brigade.

[stg 44]

According to the BSSA:
On July 1st and August 1st 1942: 4th RC with 3rd GRD and 4 Rifle Brigades), 9 other RDs, and a naval infantry brigade. Also included 4 tank brigades.
September 1st: 8 RDs and a naval infantry brigade. Also included 1 tank brigade.

Thanks. Was 4th RC= 4th rifle corps? Was that 4th Guards Rifle Corps?
What did the 54th army have inside the Pogostye Salient and outside it in reserve?

[GregSingh]

There are several detailed map of the area at https://pamyat-naroda.ru/warunit/42+%D0%90/

Map from 18-24 July 1942 shows 4th Guards Rifle Corps outside salient. Also 124, 122, 16 tank brigades were outside (or on the base of salient).
The same for 281RD.

Inside the salient from East to West: 115, 137, 285, 198, 11, 294, 80 RD, 6th Marine Brigade, 177 RD.

[Art]

what the terrain they occupied looked like.

Forests, marches, almost no roads.

I'm interested in the OOB

It depends. What date in the summer do you need?

[stg 44]

what the terrain they occupied looked like.

Forests, marches, almost no roads.

How did the Soviet forces supply all those units without roads?

I'm interested in the OOB

It depends. What date in the summer do you need?

Early July, late June would work.

[Art]

On 30.6.42:

294 Rifle Division - 5 286 men
281 RD- 3 850
80 RD - 4 985
11 RD - 3 837
311 RD - 6 170
198 RD - 4 280
177 RD - 5 821
115 RD - 4 371
285 RD - 4 571
3 GRD - 9 478
6 Marine Brigade - 2 099
32 Rifle Brigade - 2 576
33 RBr - 2 757
137 RBr - 2 328
140 RBr - 2 669
16 Tank Brigade - 683
98 TBr - 845
122 TBr - 1 347
124 TBr - 696
21 Artillery Regiment - 1 060
24 Artillery Regiment - 1 095
13 Artillery Regiment - 1 084
40 Artillery Regiment - 920
51 Rocket Battalion - 325
115 Rocket Battalion - 315
Total 73 448 men in combat units.
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/dou/?docID=113939709

Totals in the Volkhov Front on the same day:
8 Army (2 rifle divisions, 1 rifle brigade) - 24 712 men
54 Army (10 rifle divisions, 5 rifle brigades, 4 tank brigades) - 73 448
4 Army (3 rifle divisions, 2 tank brigades) - 20 523
59 Army (8 rifle divisions, 2 rifle brigades, 2 tank brigades) - 48 232
52 Army (4 rifle divisions) - 24 388
2 Shock Army (remains) - 4 210
Front's reserve (2 rifle divisions, 3 cavalry divisions) - 32 708
total 228 221 men

How did the Soviet forces supply all those units without roads?

I guess, as far as passable roads were available - by motor transport, further by horses using forest trails.

[stg 44]

On 30.6.42:

294 Rifle Division - 5 286 men
281 RD- 3 850
80 RD - 4 985
11 RD - 3 837
311 RD - 6 170
198 RD - 4 280
177 RD - 5 821
115 RD - 4 371
285 RD - 4 571
3 GRD - 9 478
6 Marine Brigade - 2 099
32 Rifle Brigade - 2 576
33 RBr - 2 757
137 RBr - 2 328
140 RBr - 2 669
16 Tank Brigade - 683
98 TBr - 845
122 TBr - 1 347
124 TBr - 696
21 Artillery Regiment - 1 060
24 Artillery Regiment - 1 095
13 Artillery Regiment - 1 084
40 Artillery Regiment - 920
51 Rocket Battalion - 325
115 Rocket Battalion - 315
Total 73 448 men in combat units.
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/dou/?docID=113939709

Totals in the Volkhov Front on the same day:
8 Army (2 rifle divisions, 1 rifle brigade) - 24 712 men
54 Army (10 rifle divisions, 5 rifle brigades, 4 tank brigades) - 73 448
4 Army (3 rifle divisions, 2 tank brigades) - 20 523
59 Army (8 rifle divisions, 2 rifle brigades, 2 tank brigades) - 48 232
52 Army (4 rifle divisions) - 24 388
2 Shock Army (remains) - 4 210
Front's reserve (2 rifle divisions, 3 cavalry divisions) - 32 708
total 228 221 men

Thanks!
Any similar info for 8th army in terms of specific units? Your help is much appreciated. On a German situation map from July 15th I'm seeing a reserve of a tank brigade, and infantry brigade and what might be an additional Rifle Division besides the 2 RD and 1 mountain brigade on the front line. Thanks again.

[Virginian]

According to the BSSA:
On July 1st and August 1st 1942: 4th RC with 3rd GRD and 4 Rifle Brigades), 9 other RDs, and a naval infantry brigade. Also included 4 tank brigades.
September 1st: 8 RDs and a naval infantry brigade. Also included 1 tank brigade.

Thanks. Was 4th RC= 4th rifle corps? Was that 4th Guards Rifle Corps?
What did the 54th army have inside the Pogostye Salient and outside it in reserve?

It was 4th Guards Rifle Corps, my error.

[Art]

From the same doc:
8 Army on 30.06.44
128 Rifle Division - 8 031 men
286 Rifle Division - 8 918
1 Mountain Rifle Brigade - 4 339
71 Guards Artillery Regiment - 1 115
445 Howitzer Artillery Regiment - 1 049
884 Anti-tank Artillery Regiment - 445
50 Rocket Battalion - 275
107 Tank Battalion - 181
2 Armored Car Battalion - 125
124 Armored Car Battalion - 104
Armored Train No.60 - 130
Total 24 712 men

[stg 44]

From the same doc:
8 Army on 30.06.44
128 Rifle Division - 8 031 men
286 Rifle Division - 8 918
1 Mountain Rifle Brigade - 4 339
71 Guards Artillery Regiment - 1 115
445 Howitzer Artillery Regiment - 1 049
884 Anti-tank Artillery Regiment - 445
50 Rocket Battalion - 275
107 Tank Battalion - 181
2 Armored Car Battalion - 125
124 Armored Car Battalion - 104
Armored Train No.60 - 130
Total 24 712 men

Thanks.
I don't read Russian, so I can't read the doc.

[Art]

Yes, I just indicate the source for info.

[stg 44]

Yes, I just indicate the source for info.

Hey Art do you know what the strength was for the Kalinin Front in 1942? Also how were they able to supply such a force over a single rail line in the Toropets salient? Thanks.

[Art]

From Krivosheev the average number of personnel in the Kalinin Front throughout 1942 was about 600 000. I don't remember reading anything on their supplies or rail operations.