I was in the Army in Germany at the time you mention, the lectures and briefings we used to get would suggest Motor Rifle Regiments equipped with BMP1 if part of Tank formations and BTR60PB if part of Infantry (MotorRifle) formations. The BTR60PB is an infantry APC. The BTR60PA is the open topped version (not in use in Germany at that time as far as I am aware. The BTR60PU is the command version found at Battalion and Regimental headquarters. The BTR70 (Just entering service back then) was issued to some East German formations, it is basically a stretched BTR60. BTR 80 also entering service but only with elite formations in Russia itself. The East Germans also still had BTR50.

Just a quick note about the BTR-60 open top- this had a really short service life due to the impracticalities of the open roof and saw very little service before being replaced by the closed top versions.

Any other thoughts on "unusual" (there is a Trumpy Gaz truck & rear mounted gun combi but that seems to be non-Soviet(?)) Warsaw Pactl

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Any other thoughts on "unusual" (there is a Trumpy Gaz truck & rear mounted gun combi but that seems to be non-Soviet(?)) Warsaw Pactl

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Hi Robert -

To the best of my knowledge, the GAZ-66 with the ZU-23-2 AA gun on the cargo bed was used by the Soviet Army in the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s, along with other types of truck mounting the same gun, but they weren't stationed in Europe.

Jerry

Well, in the 1980's the Russians had what were called Category A, B, and C units. A brief summary:

Category A units were top line units that got new equipment and training very quickly. Full mechanization. Full readiness at 75-110%. ALL units in GSFG (Group of Soviet Forces in Germany) were Category A.

Category B units were reserve units using second line equipment or less technologically advanced equipment. Mostly mechanized, more reliance on wheeled vs. tracked equipment. Partial readiness at 45-65%. 30 day timeline to make combat ready.

Category C units were strategically stored equipment using troops that were to be called to duty after some refresher training. These units had older equipment and relied heavily on wheeled vehicles. Low readiness at 10-25%. 60 day timeline to bring to make combat ready.

By the 1980's you had:

Category A units: T-64 or T-80 tank, BMP-2 IFV, BTR-80 IFV, BTR-60 specialty units (BTR-60PU etc...), ZSU-23/4 or Tunguska and SA-9, SA-6, SA-8, 2S1, 2S3, 2S7 artillery. etc.

Category B units: T-72 or T-62 tank, BMP-1 IFV, BTR-70 IFV, BTR-60 specialty units, ZSU-57-2, SA-6, SA-8 MANPAD, troops carried in trucks rather than APC's in some cases, towed artillery like D-30, D-74 etc...

Category C units: T-55 or T-62 tank, BTR-60, BTR-50, BTR-152, BTR-152 AAA, SA-8 MANPAD, some BTR-60 specialty vehicles, troops in trucks, older towed artillery such as ML-20 or D-44, towed AT guns like BS-3.

This is a BREIF overview to give you and idea of how things were organized.

Well, in the 1980's the Russians had what were called Category A, B, and C units. A brief summary:

Category A units were top line units that got new equipment and training very quickly. Full mechanization. Full readiness at 75-110%. ALL units in GSFG (Group of Soviet Forces in Germany) were Category A.

Category B units were reserve units using second line equipment or less technologically advanced equipment. Mostly mechanized, more reliance on wheeled vs. tracked equipment. Partial readiness at 45-65%. 30 day timeline to make combat ready.

Category C units were strategically stored equipment using troops that were to be called to duty after some refresher training. These units had older equipment and relied heavily on wheeled vehicles. Low readiness at 10-25%. 60 day timeline to bring to make combat ready.

By the 1980's you had:

Category A units: T-64 or T-80 tank, BMP-2 IFV, BTR-80 IFV, BTR-60 specialty units (BTR-60PU etc...), ZSU-23/4 or Tunguska and SA-9, SA-6, SA-8, 2S1, 2S3, 2S7 artillery. etc.

Category B units: T-72 or T-62 tank, BMP-1 IFV, BTR-70 IFV, BTR-60 specialty units, ZSU-57-2, SA-6, SA-8 MANPAD, troops carried in trucks rather than APC's in some cases, towed artillery like D-30, D-74 etc...

Category C units: T-55 or T-62 tank, BTR-60, BTR-50, BTR-152, BTR-152 AAA, SA-8 MANPAD, some BTR-60 specialty vehicles, troops in trucks, older towed artillery such as ML-20 or D-44, towed AT guns like BS-3.

This is a BREIF overview to give you and idea of how things were organized.

Asked should be based in reply, autotype.
PS may vote would be on a ZSU-23-4.
Looks great and new kits on the way