Soviet Naval Infantry 1917-91

 This is the latest in the Osprey Elite series by David Greentree. Over the century, they probably justified being in the Elite series, although often, naval infantry were simply sailors taken off ships and sent to the front. This book should be popular with wargamers, looking for some variety when painting Soviet armies.

The Russian Civil War illustrates the use of sailors as ad-hoc infantry when some 100,000 were deployed. They were armed with a wide variety of equipment and gained a reputation for carrying as much weaponry and ammunition as possible. You just never know when the next supply truck will arrive! There is an excellent colour plate and photographs to illustrate this. Naval infantry played a vital role in winning the war, particularly in the south against Wrangel.

In the interwar period, the navy was not the first priority, with the focus on smaller ships and coastal defence. The purges didn't help, with a staggering 80% of naval captains executed. It wasn't until WW2 kicked off that the Soviet Union returned to naval infantry with the creation of the 1st Separate Rifle Brigade. 

Most of the book focuses on the naval infantry during The Great Patriotic War. They gained a justified reputation as the tough defenders of ports, even when all was collapsing around them. As the war progressed, they often helped to breach German defences by landing behind Axis positions and holding a bridgehead until relieved, or sometimes not! These make great wargame scenarios, and this book has many examples. They also provided much-needed manpower, with 389,975 sailors operating as infantry from June 1941 to May 1943, with another 100,000 added up to the war's end. Sailors formed 19 brigades, 13 regiments and 70 or so battalions to fight on land.

The organisation of naval infantry varied according to the fleet and the equipment available. A naval infantry brigade typically had 4-6 infantry battalions and support weapons. Tanks depended on what was available locally, but the T-26 light tank was a standard option. Even more than the western Allies, there was always a shortage of specialised landing craft. So, all types of ships, military and civilian, were used. The US Pacific Fleet provided 30 LCI to enable Soviet naval infantry to attack the Japanese Kuril Islands at the war's end.

The book covers all the main operations. Some are familiar, like the Kuban Bridgehead and the Crimea. However, others, like the Artic in 1940-41, are interesting. Naval infantry landed behind the Germans advancing on Murmansk, hindering their offensive, and keeping that vital supply route open. The Baltic operations, including attacks on Finnish islands, offer a different scenario. They also helped storm Budapest from the Danube. 

After the war, only six naval infantry brigades and ten separate battalions remained operational. However, as the Cold War developed, there was an expansion of the naval infantry. This included a strategic role in seizing vital sea lanes through narrows and straits. I feel a modern Turkish scenario coming on! By the mid-1980s, each naval infantry brigade (2,059 all ranks) had three infantry battalions, each with three rifle companies, plus a tank battalion equipped with PT-76s and T-54/55s. Naval infantry became an all-volunteer elite force. The distinctive black uniforms also started to give way to camouflage suits that are a nightmare to paint.

I really enjoyed this book. So well written, with operations I wasn't familiar with. And as usual lovely colour plates and plenty of period photographs.

Some of my WW2 naval infantry in 15mm.