As you may have noted this group has morphed a bit from being an WWII US group into a more generic "allied" classification. This will allow WWII modelers of similar subjects to merge a bit more. Soviet armor is still a bit up in the air. We currently have a Soviet/Russian DG that "may" morph into more of a modern only Soviet/Russian DG. This will mean that Soviet WWII topics will either be here, or in a new WWII specific DG.

What do you think?

Jim

Breaking Soviet armor into different eras is a good idea. I would make the break at the start of the Cold War:

Soviet Armor pre-1950

Modern Russian Armor

I'd use "Russian" for modern to cover pre and post Soviet rule. This would be much like modern US armor starts at Korea and goes through Vietnam, Cold War, Desert Storm, to OIF.

Historically there are two 'Soviet' periods, the establishment/consolidation from 1920/21 and the post war era from 1948/1950 until the fall if the Soviet Bloc. So yes there is a natural break up until 1950 - two simple divisions.

Another useful 'sub-division' would (as they do on M-L) would be early armor, WW1 up until 1938 (end of the Spanish Civil War)...Yes, this is, for me at least the simplest and most logical way of sub-dividing...Jim

I will have to agree with Sabot and Jimbrae. My first choise would be to make it up to '45 because of the War. However - the period between 1945 and 1948 is pretty special in my opinion: for example you might have a T-54 with soldiers carriing PPsh's, plus the Cold War is just starting out... so logically it would be armor up to 1948.

I also completely agree on the WWI up to '39 group for all countries.

Well, in my opinion the best dates are:

WWII up to 1945

1945 to modern

Basically, the cold war started after Japan surrendered. SOme say it really started before that but...

As for equipment, well, some places still have T-34's in service...

Finally, russia did keep some of its WWII era vehciles in stock, but for the most part started building up divisons based on new tanks ASAP. T-34's and JS-II's were relegated to lower readiness and then to border guard status fairly fast, if they were not given to "friendly
govts as aid.

So I stand by my dates for the russkies.