A Modest Proposal (this time with pictures!): Part 2: Soviets 4th-Ya Tank Division

**4th Guards Tank Division**


**Hey, guys! Back again with my "modest" proposal. Yeah, the last one didn't include like... 70% of the images I found, and we all love our Cold War photos, don't we? Plus, I decided to make some more changes to this, and... you know what? I'll make this a two-parter so that each division can get its time to shine and maybe any issues with what I have here could be addressed there. I really love the feedback, and hopefully we could eventually get something a little like this.**

**So, of note, the idea for this proposal would be to have 2 new heavy divisions for Pact and NATO that also bring in additional elements from an allied nation not just the one the division is under. For NATO, it'd be the US 1st Armored Division with an element of West Germans and a smaller mixture of Canadians. For Pact, it'd be the Soviets' 4th-Ya with a serious East German element.**

**This post will focus on the Warsaw Pact idea for this division and what it would look like in-game.**

**Hope it's enjoyable! I will add a link to the NATO Division in the comments.**

The 4th Guards Tank Division was originally formed in Stalingrad in 1942 as the German invasion into the Soviet Union began. It did not as a tank division but as the 17th Tank Corps, distinguishing itself during Operation Little Saturn. After an immensely decorated record during the Second World War, the 4th Guards became an official Tank Division in 1945.


It would parade in Moscow and deploy to areas in Berlin throughout the Cold War. In 1991, it was one of the tank divisions deployed to Moscow during the hardline communist coup.

In Warno’s setup, the situation has gone a little differently, so what would it look like here?

Given Warsaw Pact Standardization, there may not be too much new equipment, but the mixture and quality will hopefully make for an interesting division. Similar to 1st Armored, the 4th Guards would not be participating alone, and while in real life it was kept at about 80% strength, here it would be at full capacity, supplemented by nearby allied divisions, mainly East German but also elements from other Red Army tank divisions, as they'd be relieving any of the other attacking forces with renewed vigor in this push.


Paired with their decorated history, this division should include a number of units with the Resolute Trait, but more than that, as it is pressing an advance, it would have some slight and unique support available from East German forces in the area.

Let's go!

**Log**

A good if boring, category for an armored division.

* A **FOB** to support their artillery. * Several cards of **Ural and KrAZ trucks** to deliver these supplies.  * A lone card of **Mi-6A** Gruzovoi will also be available.


* The East Germans bring in a few cards of **MI-8s.**

In terms of CVs, there will be a typical selection of **BMPs** and a lone card of **East German Mi-9s**, but not much else, at least available in the logistics tab.

**Infantry**

Not bad, but pretty average for an armored division, and not a whole lot new here.

* The division comes with a full selection of mechanized Soviet infantry, including **PULEMETCHIKI and MOTOSTRELKI** in standard BTR options, as well as a new RPO-equipped motorized squad, ***Motostrelki-RPO.***  * A typical selection of **Saperi**.  * **Konkurs, PKM, and AGS** all return with standard availability. * A few cards of a new squad of ***KGB Officer-led Pulemetchiki*** similar to those in 2-Ya will **feature the Resolute trait alongside the security trait.**

Additionally, a few cards of paratrooper squads will be available in the infantry tab to show 4th Guards has successfully linked up with forward-deployed elements deeper into West Germany, including some East German elements.


* This includes a small selection (one card each) of Soviet **Desantniki and Spetsgruppa.** * Lastly, the East German element includes a few cards of **FALLSCHIRMJÄGER** including the **Metis, s. MG, and PKM** variants, albeit lacking command units.


**Artillery**

A very good category. Having access to some of Moscow’s storages as well as support from nearby divisions, 4th Guards will be equipped with a serious mix of capable artillery and a set of slots to match.

* Starting small, a selection of Soviet Mortar crews, limited to infantry. It would effectively be a couple of cards of **2S12 120mm** in standard and paratrooper variants. * A couple of cards of the 122-millimeter **D-30** will be available. * The East Germans bring a couple of cards of **SFL-H 2S1.**


* The Soviet Paratroopers also bring along a single card of **2S9 NONA-S.** * A couple of cards of **2S5 GIATSINT** will be available. * The 152 millimeter **D-20** returns with a few cards including a new variant, two cards of the ***new D-20 HE/CLU munition variant.*** This round was available to Pact forces, and would be employed here.  * The iconic **BM-21 Grad** returns but this time, and as a first for a Soviet division, exclusively in the **Napalm variant**.


* Lastly, and also for the first time in a Soviet division, a single card of the mighty **BM-30 Smerch.**


**Tank**

As expected of a tank division, a very good category, with a fairly diverse roster. Given 4th Guards continues its push into West Germany alongside other Pact divisions, it would have some access to the latest T-80 variants. That would include...

* A diverse but limited selection of **T-80BVs, T-80Us, and T-80UDs.** They would come in lesser numbers compared to her fellow tank divisions, meaning each of these would only come at two cards each.

This is because the backbone of this division will be made up of older and new to Warno, ***original T-80****s* for support. Though less armored, their main guns still carry the same penetration as their heavier counterparts and feature increased speed, making them deadly if somewhat fragile (by comparison).


* They will come in two variants, the ***original Base T-80, and a T-80 ERA version,*** with added ERA on its front to help bolster its survivability. * Both versions will include a single card of ***CV T-80 variant***. * A small selection of **East German SPW-40P2 and Soviet BDRM-2s** in tank destroyer roles. * Lastly, a lone card of **T-72AV and T-64A** to provide additional support, **both featuring the Resolute trait**, as these would be manned by veterans.


**Recon**

Not great.

While not bad by any means, 4th Guard’s “picking up” elements from other divisions, including paratroopers, it would mean their recon elements would mainly be whatever is necessary to not overburden the division’s logistics, so as a result, it is fairly mediocre in terms of slots.Pretty interesting in terms of selection, though!

Starting with recon vehicles, there's not much of anything new, albeit the mixture is unique to this division.

* The 4th Guards brought along an entire battalion of communications, meaning SIGINT units aplenty, including **RPS-6 and MTLB Taran SIGINT units.**   * The **BDRM-2** returns in recon configuration. * **MOT. RAZVEDKA** would arrive in its typical selection. * A couple of **T-64Bs** in Recon configuration will be included here.


Infantry-based recon, however, has the East Germans and KGB bring in the more interesting scouting units in the form of a few new False Flag units.

* The KGB comes in with a lone card of the ***new variant of the False Flag unit Alfa Group***. Here, it would be a six man team bringing in five AK-74Us, one SVD, and two RPOs instead of satchel charges. They can arrive in either **Mi-8Ts or Gaz 8s.**