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I'm currently doing some research on the topic, but seeing as how there are much smarter people on dakkadakka, I might as well use it a resource. I am currently wondering, if there are any ways a Soviet paratrooper list could be done. While I realize they historically existed. Did they do anything during the war, or were they an "in name only thing" . Like the Soviet Marines that didn't launch amphibious assaults.

Here's the organisation of an airborne brigade in 1941 - http://niehorster.orbat.com/012_ussr/41_organ/41_airborne-bde.html

I'm not sure if you count the 14,000 men dropped in the Vyazma operation, or the 3 brigades dropped on Dneipr in 1943 as 'in name only' - plus the other operation the airborne forces were deployed in, such as Kursk.

Soviet Marines (Naval Infantry to give them their correct WW2 term) did launch amphibious assaults during WW2... They launched four amphibious assaults in the Black Sea - Two in 1941 and two in 1943... Plus more in 1944. Then there are amphibious assaults on Feodosia, Novorossyk, Eltingen and Petsamo areas. The Soviets attempted an amphibious assault at Mereküle, Narva and on the eastern shore of the lake Ladoga near the Tuulos the Soviet 70th Naval Infantry Brigade made a landing in the rear of the Finnish 5th Division during 1944. Lots more too but you get the point.

But thats not what you asked.


Soviet Airborne formations were generally wasted as well-motivated infantry in a ground role. They continued through the war in a ground role, 9th Guards Airborne Division played a vital role at Kursk defending one sector. There were several Corps sized airborne formations.

Despite the Russians pioneering large scale airborne drops pre-war, they only tried two significant airborne attacks during the war. One was the Vyazma Operation in 1942 and the Dneipr/Kiev drop of three brigades in 1943 that was a disaster. They did a series of smaller drops in 1941 around Kiev, Odessa and the Kerch Peninsula. Generally all their strategic drops were poorly co-ordinated affairs.

They did however excel at small tactical drops in support of partisan units deep behind German lines.

Big P wrote:Soviet Marines (Naval Infantry to give them their correct WW2 term) did launch amphibious assaults during WW2... They launched four amphibious assaults in the Black Sea - Two in 1941 and two in 1943... Plus more in 1944. Then there are amphibious assaults on Feodosia, Novorossyk, Eltingen and Petsamo areas. The Soviets attempted an amphibious assault at Mereküle, Narva and on the eastern shore of the lake Ladoga near the Tuulos the Soviet 70th Naval Infantry Brigade made a landing in the rear of the Finnish 5th Division during 1944. Lots more too but you get the point.

But thats not what you asked.


Soviet Airborne formations were generally wasted as well-motivated infantry in a ground role. They continued through the war in a ground role, 9th Guards Airborne Division played a vital role at Kursk defending one sector. There were several Corps sized airborne formations.

Despite the Russians pioneering large scale airborne drops pre-war, they only tried two significant airborne attacks during the war. One was the Vyazma Operation in 1942 and the Dneipr/Kiev drop of three brigades in 1943 that was a disaster. They did a series of smaller drops in 1941 around Kiev, Odessa and the Kerch Peninsula. Generally all their strategic drops were poorly co-ordinated affairs.

They did however excel at small tactical drops in support of partisan units deep behind German lines.

Like I said there smarter people on dakka then I. (Also I was kinda lazy, and didn't look up the source that said that they didn't)

Now all we need is some !5mm Models.
If anyone knows of a MAnufactor please share.

Well anyone who makes 15mm Russians will do...

Those deployed in a ground role would be equipped as any Russian infantryman.

For those in an airborne deployment, figures for Russian Scouts are probably best used as they often jumped wearing the one-piece coverall, in both plain green and camo(though they did have a leather jump helmet, but that was usually discarded after landing;



The only specific WW2 Russian Paratrooper models that I know of, that are wearing the jump helmet, are in 20mm (but then we have everything in 20mm!).

But for ground troops, use any Russians, and for airborne deployed just use the figures for Soviet Scouts.

They had some specific equipment but at the 15mm scale that's not important. For example, the liner for combat helmets was a bit different and they had leather helmet straps on their SSh-40 helmets instead of canvas as for "common" infantry - now, this You can actually represent on Your models. And Big P is always correct about using that distinct coverall.