Saturday 18 March 2017

T-62 in South Ossetia and Abkhazia

When the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia started several T-62 tanks were seen. Back then there was a debate on why such old vehicles were being used. The answer is the same as in Syria. The T-62 is a reliable and simple to use tank, and more than enough to be used in support of infantry and against fortifications. 

In the Caucasus there were 2 units equipped with the T-62, the 42 Motor Rile Division (MRD), and the 100 Division belong to the Interior Ministry. When Georgia launched a surprise attack on South Ossetia Russian units in the Caucasus were amongst the first to intervene.

Graphic 1: T-62 identified in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The graphic offers a summary of all identified vehicles. Not all belong to Russian personnel as local militias in Abkhazia had a few available. Other vehicles carried no number. An attempt to organise the tanks into companies has been performed. A Russian tank company is made up of 10 vehicles, 3 platoons of 3 and a command tank. The result is not conclusive. It is likely these vehicles operated with T-72s.

1) 210, 212, 215, 218       
2) 228, 229,           
3) 231, 232-u, 233-u, 235, 236, 239-u
4) 410, 411, 412, 416       
5) 431, 433       

References:

These photos have been circulating around the internet for a long time, I don't know their authors.

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