Syrians for CWC (Revised)

One of the things I occasionally do to relax is to translate Order of Battle information into army lists for  my rules of choice. This time I've had a go at the Syrian Army for Cold War Commander.

Please note that I've revised this post based on feedback kindly provided by Neil Patterson in the comments below. I'm always grateful to be proved wrong as that's the way we learn stuff! The original 1960-68 list was, like the rest of the post, just an exercise in translating from Ian Shaw's Leopard lists to Cold War Commander format. Now I've done a little Googling and reflected a few other sources in a revised list.

1960 to 1968 Syrian Arab Army

Brigade HQ                          1x CO 

Tank Battalion         1x HQ, 9x tank

Mechanised Battalion 1x HQ, 9x Infantry, 3x B10 82mm RCL, 1x 82mm Mortar, 

                13x BTR-152, 1x GAZ with B11 RCL or 1x GAZ with Snapper

Infantry Battalion                    1x HQ, 6x Infantry, 2x HMG, 1x 82mm mortar

Brigade AT Company      2x ZIS-2 57mm AT gun, 2x Truck

Brigade Recce Coy                 3x recce platoons

Divisional AA platoon 1x ZPU-4, 1x Truck

Divisional AT Company         2x SPG

Brigade Mortar Battery 2x 120mm mortar, 2x Truck

Artillery Battalion         2x artillery pieces, 2x Truck

Engineer Platoon         1x Engineers, 1x Truck

Notes:

Combined arms doctrine was not well applied. Fixed formations should be used.

A mechanised brigade headquarters should be modelled with a BTR-152 and a BTR-40. 

A tank brigade probably has two tank battalions and perhaps one mechanised company in support. The tanks may be mostly T-54s or T-55s, perhaps reinforced by a few T-34/85s. 

The single mechanised brigade commands up to three mechanised battalions and may have had one tank battalion. The tank battalion may use T-34s or Panzer IVs. BTR-152s may be replaced with trucks.

Self-propelled guns may be SU-100 or perhaps Jagdpanzer IV (maximum one model) or StuG III (maximum of 7). 

Artillery pieces are mostly 122mm M1938 supplemented by a few 122mm D-30 or 76mm pieces. Up to one artillery element may be replaced by a single Hummel model. A few Bm-21 may be available.

"Recce platoons" above may be equipped with BTR-40 or perhaps with AMX-13.

Air support may be MiG-17s and (from 1963) MiG-21s. One (model’s worth of) Il-28 remained in Syria after the break-up of the United Arab Republic in 1961.

1970 to 1982 Armoured or Mechanised Regiment

Regimental HQ                  1x CO 

Tank Battalion         1x HQ, 9x tank

Mechanised Battalion 1x HQ, 9x Infantry, 2x 82mm Mortar, 11x APC,

Battalion AT Platoon 2x B-11 RCL or Sagger, 2x GAZ jeep

Regimental AT Company 3x BRDM-2S

Regimental Recce Coy         3x BRDM-2

Regimental AA elements           0-2x ZSU-23/4, 0-1 SA-9

Divisional AT Company         2x SU-100

Regimental Engineer Coy 3x Engineers, 3x BTR-50PA, 1x MTU20 AVLB

Regtl Mortar Battery 1x 120mm mortar, 1x Truck

Artillery Battery         1x artillery piece, 1x Truck

Divisional AA Company       1x 57mm S60, 1x Truck

Notes:

Tanks may be T-62, T-54B, T-55A.

APCs may be BTR-50 or BMP-1 in armoured regiments, BTR-60 PU or PB in mechanised regiments.

Artillery pieces may be 160mm M1953 mortars, 122mm D74 guns, 122mm M38 howitzers, 130mm M36 guns, 180mm S23 guns or BM24 MRLS. Batteries have six real-world weapons so could at a pinch be represented by two models. An artillery battalion has two batteries.

Air support may be Mi-8 transports, Mi-24 or (from 1977) Gazelle AT helicopters, MiG-17s and MiG-21s, Su-7s from 1968 and Su-20s from 1973, and MiG-23s from 1974.

1983 to 1993 Tank Regiment

Tank Regiment HQ         1x CO (BTR50PU)

Tank Battalion           1x HQ, 1x Recce BRDM2, 9x Tank

Mechanised Battalion 1x HQ, 9x Infantry, 9x APC, 1x 120mm mortar, 1x Truck

Regimental AT Coy          3x BRDM2S, 1x BRDM2

Regimental AA elements         0-2x ZSU-23/4, 0-1x SA-9

Regimental Engineer Coy 3x Engineers, 3x BTR50PA, 1x MTU20

Regtl Artillery Battery 1x 122mm gun, 1x Truck or 1x SAU122

Divisional Artillery Battalion 2x artillery piece

Corps Artillery Battalion         2x artillery piece

Notes:

The regiment has three tank battalions and one mechanised battalion.

Tanks may be T-55M, T-62 or T-72.

APCs may be BTR50PK or BMP-1.

Regimental 122mm guns may be M1938 or D-30 howitzers. Divisional guns may be 122mm howitzers as above or D-74 guns or 160mm M1953 heavy mortars. Corps level guns may be 130mm M-1946, BM24 MRLs or 180mm S23.

If artillery batteries are on-table they may be protected by 57mm S60 AA guns.

Air support may be Mi-25 or Gazelle AT helicopters, Mi-18 transports, MiG-17 (until 1985), MiG-21, Su-7, MiG-23, Su-17 or MiG-29 (from 1989).

1983 to 1993 Motor Rifle Regiment

Motor Rifle Regiment HQ CO (OT64C or BTR60PU), 1x Recce BRDM2

Motor Rifle Battalion 1x HQ, 9x Infantry, 4x ATGW, 11x APC, 1x 120mm mortar, 1x truck

Tank Battalion         1x HQ, 1x Recce BRDM2, 9x Tank

Regimental AT Coy         3x BRDM2S, 1x BRDM2

Regimental AA elements              0-2x ZSU-23/4, 0-1x SA-9

Regimental Engineer Coy 3x Engineers, 3x BTR50PA, 1x MTU20

Regimental Artillery Battery 1x 122mm gun and 1x Truck or 1x SAU122

Divisional Artillery Battalion 2x artillery piece

Corps Artillery Battalion          2x artillery piece

Notes:

The regiment has three Motor Rifle Battalions and one Tank Battalion.

APCs may be OT64C or BTR60PB.

ATGW platoons may be equipped with Sagger, Spigot or Milan.

Tanks may be T-54/55 or T-62.

Regimental 122mm guns may be M1938 or D-30 howitzers. Divisional guns may be 122mm howitzers as above or D-74 guns or 160mm M1953 heavy mortars. Corps level guns may be 130mm M-1946, BM24 MRLs or 180mm S23.

If artillery batteries are on-table they may be protected by 57mm S60 AA guns.

Air support may be Mi-25 or Gazelle AT helicopters, Mi-18 transports, MiG-17 (until 1985), MiG-21, Su-7, MiG-23, Su-17 or MiG-29 (from 1989).

General Notes:

This is based on Ian Shaw’s army lists for the Leopard rules. I have updated the aircraft in-service dates based on newer information.

Infantry should be upgraded with RPG-7 throughout.