Vorrei preparare intanto un esercito di inizio guerra, per combattere contro gli iracheni:

• due battaglioni carri Chieftain (verde oliva chiaro)
• un battaglione carri M60A1 (verde oliva chiaro, piu’ tardi sabbia)
• un battaglione carri M48A5 (olive drab/verde oliva chiaro, verde/sabbia)
• un battaglione carri M47 (verde oliva chiaro)
• due battaglione meccanizzati su M113 (verde oliva chiaro)
• M113 TOW (verde oliva chiaro)
• Type59 (verde/sabbia)
• T55 (pochi sabbia/verde, molti sabbia, verde russo/verde oliva chiaro+coccarda)
• T62 (pochi verde russo/verde oliva chiaro+coccarda)
• Scorpion (verde oliva chiaro, verde sabbia inglese)
• Ferret (verde oliva chiaro, verde sabbia inglese)
• due battaglioni meccanizzati su type63 (uso gli stessi pezzi che ho fatto per gli iracheni Gulf War)
• due battaglioni meccanizzati su EE-11 Urutus (verde oliva chiaro)
• 4 pezzi EE9 cascavel Recce (sabbia/verde)
• un battaglione meccanizzato su BTR60 (verde oliva chiaro)
• un battaglione BMP1 (uso gli stessi pezzi che ho fatto per gli iracheni Gulf War)
• tre-sei battaglioni Pasdaran (comando di battaglione Mullah fatto con un fante afgano)
• tre battaglioni Basij (comando di battaglione Mullah fatto con un fante afgano)
• tre battaglioni artiglieria M109 (verde oliva chiaro)
• un battaglione artiglieria M110 (verde oliva chiaro)
• un battaglione artiglieria M107 (verde oliva chiaro, sabbia/verde)
• un battaglione artiglieria M-1978 (Koksan) 170 mm self-propelled gun (verde russo oppure sabbia)
• una compagnia AA ZSU57-2 (verde oliva chiaro)
• una compagnia AA ZSU23-4 (verde oliva chiaro)
• una batteria Hawk
• 6-9 jeep con recoiless (verde oliva chiaro, oliva drab)
• 3-6 jeep con Tow (olive drab)
• 4 scorpion recce (sabbia british army)
• 2 BMP1 recce (uso gli stessi pezzi che ho fatto per gli iracheni Gulf War color sabbia, oppure sabbia/verde, oppure verde russo)
• MTLB (sabbia/verde)
• 2S1 (sabbia/verde), max 2 basi.
• BTR50 (verde oliva chiaro)
• Rapier (verde oliva chiaro)

Da prendere:

• 20 EE-11 Urutu
• 4 EE-9 Cascavel
• 4 M107
• 4 M101 105mm
• 4 M114 155
• 4 M115 203
• 1 Scud
  

Ho preso un colore molto simile al verde oliva chiaro (italian camouflage green), che intendo usare per dipingere la maggior parte dei veicoli iraniani. Se lo passo una sola volta sopra un fondo skeleton bone viene scolorito al punto giusto.
Le fanterie iraniane, che saranno molte, saranno fatte con i nuovi fanti tedeschi anni 70-inizio 80 che sta preparando la Heroics. Serviranno dei fanti con il Dragon.

• Quality:
  • WARPAC 1 / WARPAC 2 / Third World (see below)
• Morale:
  • 2/3 Regular 1/3 Green / 1/3 Regular 2/3 Green / All Green (see below)

Armoured Division

• Armoured Division Headquarters:
  • 1-HQ M113.
• 2 Armoured Brigade Groups, each:
  • Brigade Group Headquarters: 1-HQ M113.
  • Brigade Recon Company: 1-Recon BMP-1 Combat Team, 1 or 2-Recon AFV Stands[1].
  • Brigade AA Company: 2-SPAA Stands[2].
  • Brigade Engineering Company: 2 or 3-Engineer Stands in Trucks[3].
  • 1-Armoured Artillery Battalion: 3 or 4-M109 SP 155mm, 1-FO.
  • 2-Armoured Battalions, each:
    • Battalion Headquarters: 1-HQ MBT[4].
    • 3-Tank Companies, each with: 2 or 3-MBTs[4].
  • 1-Mechanised Battalion:
    • Battalion Headquarters: 1-HQ APC[5].
    • 3-Infantry Companies, each with: 2 or 3-Combat Teams[5].
    • 1-Weapons Company: 1-106mm RR Stand in APC[6], 1 or 2-81mm Mortar Stands in APC[6].

Notes

[1] Recon Companies used Scorpion Light Tanks or Ferret or Fox Armoured Cars. Scorpion units had less vehicles, so probably 1 Scorpion stand or 2 Ferret or Fox Stands.

[2] SPAA Companies can be equipped either with ZSU-23-4 Shilka or ZSU-57-2.

[3] Some Engineer Companies may be 2 or 3-M113 Engineer Combat Teams.

[4] MBTs can be either Chieftain (Mk.3 or 5) equipping about 12 to 14 Battalions, M60A1 equipping 3 or 4 Battalions, M48A5 equipping 2 or 3 Battalions, or the Iranian manufactured M47M equipping 1 to 3 Battalions (previously 6 to 8 Battalions had been equipped with these before all the Chieftains arrived ). It is possible the M60A1’s and M48A5’s and even the M47M’s are in mixed Battalions, as the Iranian M47’s are a modified versions using M48A3 & M60 componentry, retaining only M47 Turrets and 90mm Guns. The older M47’s may alternatively be in the Tank Battalions of some of the Mechanised Brigades. Armoured Brigades are probably equipped with the same vehicles in each Battalion, and probably the Chieftains are concentrated in the “Armoured” Brigades of 3 of the 4 Armoured Divisions, the other Division’s Brigades having Chieftains and M60A1’s.

[5] The Combat Teams in each Battalion can be in M113 or BMP-1.[6] Normally M113 transport; the BMP equipped units may have used M113’s also, or may have just used Jeep mounted 106mm RR (or not had them at all as superfluous) and used Truck transported Mortars.

It is unclear what assets were present at “Divisional” level. Divisions appear to have been organised as administrative units only and the Brigades held all the fighting troops.

The Iranian army had 4 Armoured and 2 Mechanised Divisions prior to the Shah’s overthrow, Mechanised Divisions are believed to have probably been a reversal of this organisation (1-Tank and 2-Mechanised Battalions per Brigade). There are a total of approximately 24 Armoured Battalions so may have been 3 Brigades in a couple of the Armoured Divisions for example.

At the time of the Shah’s overthrow units were known to be understrength. After the Revolution unit strengths were further reduced, but otherwise they are believed to have continued on and fought in the Iran/Iraq war. Divisions may have ceased to exist or been reorganised, however it is likely the Brigades continued on, possibly as independent units. Units represented at or after the Revolution should always use the lowest number of stands listed.

Mechanised strength dwindled fairly quickly, especially for the Chieftains and US supplied equipment. Likewise trained manpower also dwindled. After the Revolution treat Divisions/Brigades as 1/3 Regular, 2/3 Green. After 6-12 months of the Iran/Iraq war they probably should all be treated as Green – after 12 months of the war all equipment levels should be reduced to 1/2 or 3/4 the number of stands for a Btn (based on the lowest numbers above as full strength)… Treat Iranians as Warpac 1 before the revolution, Warpac 2 after it, and Third World 12 months or so after the start of the Iran/Iraq war.

This is a guideline TO&E so is subject to further research.

Pasdaran Brigade

• Brigade HQ (Mullah, Jeep, Truck)
• Engineer company: 1-2 Eng on lorry
• AA Battery: 1 ZU23-2 or 37mm A39, truck
• Recce Company: 2-3 Jeep/Landrover/pickup + infantry
• AT Battery: 1 85mm AT or Jeep/SS11 or Jeep/recoiless.
  
• 3-4 Pasdaran Infantry Battalions (1982-1990) (300-325 men)
  
  • HQ (Jeep+Mullah)
  • 3 coys: 1-4 Infantry platoons + 0-2 support platoons (if 2 are used, they must be different, choose from: 60-81mm mortar, HMG, 57mm recoiless, 75mm recoilless, jeep/106mm recoiless or ZU23-2 23mm AA)
• 0-1 Attached Armoured Battalion (rare)
  
  • BHQ (Type 59 or T55)
    
  • 3-6 (Type 59 or T55
• 2-3 Basij battalions (less than 200 men)
  • 3-6 infantry platoons.
• 0-1 Artillery Battalion: BHQ: trucks,
  • 1 FAO
  • 3 batteries 75mm M116 or 105mm M56 pack howitzers, mules or camels or trucks.

Divisional Support

• Up to: 0-3 Artillery Battalions
  • BHQ: lorry, radio van
  • 1 FAO
  • 3 batteries: 120mm M43 mortars or 105mm M101 or 122mm D30 howitzers, trucks
  • 0-1 Attached Rocket Battery:
    • 1 107mm Type 63, truck,
    • 1 Assigned FAO
      

Notes
a) Radios are in all Tanks, infantry CHQs and other PHQ.
b) Infantry have no known A/T grenades or disposable LAW.
c) The 24 or so Pasdaran Revolutionary Guard Infantry Divisions each have 3-4 Infantry Brigades each of three Infantry Battalions. A few divisions have an attached Armoured Battalion (12% chance).

d) There are at least 10 Independent Infantry Brigades, some being Special Forces or Commando, Paratroops or border guards and “Martyrs” volunteer units.

e) Pack artillery probably only used in rough terrain and mountain regions.

f) Most infantry are on foot, using human wave tactics. Some are
motorised in lorries, buses or BTR-60PB.

g) Can use Corps and Army support.

h) Use this List for Pasdaran infantry units after 1991, with Corps and Army support from List IR29M.

IRANIAN CORPS AND ARMY SUPPORT

• 5 AA Batteries@ 1 twin 35mm Oerlikon, truck or static
• 4 SAM Batteries@ 1 IHAWK 3-round launchers, static, FC radars
• 3 AA Batteries@ 1 57mm S60 or 40mmL70 Bofors, static, FC radars
• Helicopter Battalion
  • BHQ: Bell 214A
  • 3 Attack Squadrons: 1 Troop Bell 206
  • 1 Aviation Battalion: 3 Troops AH-1J SeaCobra@ (20mm, RP, TOW)
  • 1 Transport Squadron: SHQ: 3 Bell 214A each
• 1 Artillery Battalion:
  • BHQ: lorry
  • Assigned FAO
  • 2 batteries 175mm M107
  • 1 battery 203mm M110
• 1 Rocket Battalion:
  • BHQ: lorry,
  • Assigned FAO
  • 3 batteries@ 122mm RM70 or 122mm BM-11 or Type 81
• 2 Artillery Battalions@
  • BHQ: lorry,
  • Assigned FAO 1986+
  • 3 batteries@ 155mm GHN45 or 155mm G5 or 130mm Type 59
• 1 ‘Missile’ Battalion:
  • BHQ: 6 AR squads, lorry, radio van 1987+
  • 3 batteries@ Oghab 273mm Type 83 MRL, single rail on lorry
• 3 Engineer Companies@
  • 3 Engineer platoons, lorries
  • 1 Bridge Company: pontoons, rafts, ferries, assault boats and dingies
• 2. Army Support Includes:
  • 2 Transport Squadrons@ 2x CH-47C Chinook
• 3 Missile Battalions@ 1987+
  • BHQ: lorry, radio vans, pre-planned fire
  • 2 batteries@ Scud launchers
• 3 Artillery Battalions@
  • BHQ: lorry,
  • Assigned FAO
  • 3 batteries@ 203mm M115 howitzers, 4 lorries
• 3 Coastal Batteries@ CSS-N-2 Silkworm launchers, radio vans 1987+
• 3 Marine Battalions
  • 9+ Engineer Companies@
    • 3 platoons@ 3-4 AR/engineer squads (LMG, RPG-7)
• 1 Artillery Battalion: 1985+
  • BHQ: BTR-50PU
  • Assigned FAO
  • 3 batteries@ 175mm M1978 Koksan
• 1 Special Forces Division AT3
  • 3 Brigades of light infantry armed with AK47, AK74, M16, SVD, RPG-7

3. Notes

a) Radios are in all PHQ and above.

b) Infantry have no known A/T grenades or disposable LAW.

c) There is an equivalent to three Corps.

d) The Special Forces Division has troops from the regular army, Pasdaran and Bassidji volunteer irregulars. It was more of an assault force and did not have elite
special forces training in the Western sense.

Special Rule: Fanatic

This rule may apply to mainly Basiji and some Pasdaran units in some periods of the war, to better model human wave tactics.It is taken from Forgotten Battles SH supplement, with very minor modifications (no +1 in combat due to poor equipment)

1. A fanatic unit is exempt from testing morale, but is destroyed after 2/3 losses on 1D6=3-6.
2. Platoons must use Assault Movement against any
   spotted enemy.
3. A “Suppression” result against a Fanatic has
   no effect but is not “rolled off’ at the end of the turn. Another
   Suppression on a succeeding turn results in a Kill.
4. Target Proximity is in effect for
   Fanatics, Target Priority is not.