Tajikistan's 1st Rapid Reaction Special Purpose Brigade in Command Decision

Background Information:

1st OBrON (Rapid Reaction Special Purpose Brigade), stationed near Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, is arguably the most combat-worthy force Tajikistan is able to field, although its effectiveness may be undermined by political reliability issues. It operated during the 1990s against various Tajik anti-government rebel groups and factions. It has close links with the Russian military (many OBrON officers, for example its helicopter crews, are Russian) and depends on Russian technical support and supply services.

While the brigade ought to be able to combat Taliban-style irregulars (and internal security is its primary mission), the extent of its combat effectiveness is unknown. It suffers from having no fewer than 8 nationalities serving in its ranks and two command languages (Russian and Tajik). Its equipment is up to three decades old. The brigade's political reliability and loyalty to the president is open to question as well, as there are documented cases of it refusing orders to carry out combat operations. Its officers have been linked to drug smuggling. Although it is officially subordinate to the Internal Troops Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of Tajikistan, the brigade appears to be little more than the private army of its commander, Major General Sukrob Kasymov, who himself may eventually challenge the Tajik president Imomali Rakhmonov for power. Although Kasymov defended Rakhmonov against the 1997 rebellion of Colonel Makhmud Khudoyberdyyev's 1st Guards Brigade, his loyalty to the president may not last.

A number of brigade's soldiers participated in combat operations in Afghanistan on the side of the Northern Alliance. Their role appears to have been limited to providing specialist support as AFV and artillery crews. Although for the moment the threat to Tajikistan posed by the Taliban regime appears to have subsided, the future of Tajikistan and its relationship with Afghanistan remain uncertain. In view of the complex web of loyalties in the region, Tajikistan's political system may also be subjected to further upheavals. Should a serious challenge to Tajikistan's security or government arise, the Tajik government may be forced to rely on the services of the Russian Army's 201st Motorized Rifle Division, the most significant combat force in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia.

1st OBrON for Command Decision:

The brigade's organizational structure is a reflection of its mixed combat/internal security role: 

Brigade HQ:
1 Command Stand, 1 TOC Van

Motor-Rifle Battalion: The heavy muscle and firepower of the brigade.
Battalion HQ, with:1 Command Stand, 1 Light Truck
1 Tank Company, with: 1 Command T-72, 1 T-72
1 Motor Rifle Company, with: 1 Command Infantry Stand, 1 Infantry Stand, 2 BMP-2
2 Motor Rifle Companies, with: 1 Command Infantry Stand, 1 Infantry Stand, 2 BTR-80
1 Mortar Battery, with: 1 120mm Mortar, 1 Gun Crew, 1 Medium Truck

Special Purpose Battalion: A light infantry force, capable of dismounted infantry operations and patrolling, in contrast to the infantry companies of the motor-rifle battalion.
Battalion HQ, with: 1 Command Stand, 1 Light Truck
3? Companies, each with: 1 Command Infantry Stand, 1 Infantry Stand, 2 Light Trucks?

Checkpoint/Patrol Battalion:
This unit provides troops for manning road checkpoints and/or policing patrols (and extracting "taxes") along major roads. Its tabletop presence should be limited to 1-2 Infantry or Patrol stands, possibly mounted on light trucks.

Operations Battalion:
This unit appears to have a law enforcement-type investigative/intelligence-gathering function, and would not be represented on the tabletop.

Artillery Battalion:
2 Howitzer Batteries, each with: 1 D-30 122mm howitzer, 1 Gun Crew, 1 Medium Truck
1 MRL Battery, with: 1 BM-21 MRL

Reconnaissance Company, with: 2? Recon Stands?

High-Mountain Detachment, with: 1 Recon Stand (trained in alpine mountaineering)

Mountain Ski Detachment, with: 1 Ski Recon Stand

Helicopter Flight, with: 1 Mi-8 Stand

Air Defense Battery, with: 1 ZSU-23-4? or 1 ZU-23 portee on medium truck?

Communications Company: provides TOC Van for Brigade HQ.

Transportation Company: provides motorization assets for brigade subunits.

Notes:

1. Unit Quality: Motor-Rifle Battalion, Checkpoint Battalion: Regular, Morale 8. Special Operations Battalion and Reconnaissance Company: Experienced, Morale 9. Mountain Recon detachments: Veteran, Morale 10. All Infantry and Recon stands have integral RPG-7s. Brigade also has an unknown number of ATGMs (AT-4), AGS-17 AGLs, and SPG-9 RCLs.

2. Since the brigade is reputed to follow Russian MVD organizational patterns, BTR-80s listed as belonging to the Motor Rifle Battalion may actually belong to the Special Operations Battalion (the brigade does not have enough BTRs for more than one battalion). In this case the BTR-80-mounted MR companies use medium trucks.

3. Structure as of early 2003. Due to the serviceability problems and dependence on Russian equipment supplies, the brigade's equipment is in a constant state of flux. Likewise, since the brigade has the character of a mercenary "private army", its organizational structure will change over time, depending on the availability of personnel.

Mike J.
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The J-8 Shop
Wargame Rules and Variants
http://geocities.datacellar.net/pmj6/