#fictional orbat

[davidshawnsown]

AFU Motorbike Battalions/Kurins

(based on real life Soviet formations during WW2)

(Inspired by Battle Order's video on Soviet Army motorcycle reconnaisance battalions under division during the Second World War as well as the real life US armored recon units of the same period)

IMU of stories the success of ad-hoc bicycle and motorbike formations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Russian invasion would result in the formation of motorcycle formations of battalion size (called in Ukrainian as Mototsykletnyy batalʹyon) in elements of the armed forces to regularize these. However they follow a Westernized form of the organization of the old Soviet motorbike battalions of mechanized and armored divisions. In cavalry divisions - those armored divisions with cavalry traditions and titles honoring the Ukrainian Cossacks - these units are titled as Kurins (Mototsykletnyy kurin) with its companies named as sotnias. These battalions are armed with primarily Western and locally produced motorcycles and tricycles for their mission as support to recon and combat operations. There's plans to integrate an infantry company to those battalions in the infantry divisions.

In mechanized infantry, assault infantry and mountain infantry divisions they are organized in 4 motorbike companies each with HQ platoon, 4 motorbike platoons (one squad each manned with electric motorcycles), and a mortar and weapons section each. The armored recon company operates M59s and M113s together with the M106 SP mortar and its light tank battalion uses M10 Bookers in its tank platoons and MT-LBs in its infantry and AT platoon. The AT battery uses Jeeps and similar vehicles for the transport of their crew and they are all supported by a forward support company from their parent division and other elements. In a mountain infantry division, an additional squad is tasked within platoons for ski capability.

In a motorized infantry division the motorbike company has no weapons section. The armored recon company is armed with BTR-4s and hand-me-down LAV-3s from the United States and the light tank company uses the M113 and Scorpion.

There's a different TO&E for the battalions in armored divisions. Motorbike battalions in these, alongside the weapons section, are reinforced with two bicycle platoons and a RPG/AT motorcycle section in the motorcycle companies, the armored recon company uses Bradleys, the light tank company, aside from its M10s, uses M113s as mechanized infantry element and there's a assault gun company using Centauros from Italy and the Ukrainian produced MT-LB-12 - inspired by the assault gun troops of cavalry recon squadrons of the United States during the Second World War.

The Motorcycle Kurin of the UGF cavalry division is modeled after the armored division motorcycle battalion but is named and organized in keeping with Ukrainian Cossack cavalry heritage. However it does not have a bicycle nor RPG/AT motorbike section and its AT battery is organized into 4 platoons instead of 3.

In the AAFU's two airmobile divisions, the motorcycle battalion's recon company is armed with M113s and BTR-3s, there's no infantry platoon in the tank company and an airborne transport and rigger platoon for parachute and air assault operations is added to the forward support company.

The two marine divisions of XXX Amphibious Corps UkrMC and the planned motorbike battalions of that Corps in Mykolaiv and Kherson are organized for both ground and amphibious operations as relfected in the addition of an amphious scout platoon. However it does have an added water transport platoon in the forward logistics company for the amphibious element there and the tank company uses M59 Scorpion TDs, AMX-10 RCs and AAVP-7s. Squads using electric bikes are to be transported to the shore via other vehicles in amphibious operations before they can be unloaded for use unlike those using normal motorbikes (and those squads using bicycles) which can land to the coast via landing craft. The same vehicles in an air assault motorbike battalion's armored recon company are used in a marine motorbike battalion.

@lukeexplorer

[lukeexplorer]

Ukraine AU - Ivan Bohun Special Purpose Brigade

Part of @davidshawnsown lore of fanfiction set on Ukraine, with a very real message on how the world must support it's struggle for independence, including by developing countries that profess to be democratic, as flawed as their institution are. (including my country, before anyone ask)

Ivan Bohun Brigade when it was still a UGF Brigade (Fictionalized ORBAT)

Our ORBAT story today will be the 1st Special Purpose Brigade named Ivan Bohun. The brigade has seen continuous fighting since its inception in February 2022, shortly after the Russian full-scale invasion. Soldiers of the brigade participated in battles for Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kherson oblasts, and also fought near Bakhmut. As of 4 March 2023, 146 servicemen of the brigade has been KIA and 484 servicemen were awarded distinctions for their courage and heroism in battle. This brigade was also one of the first to showcase Ukrainian-made wheeled SP Artillery system "Bohdana" in combat.

However, things went differently for the brigade afterwards in 2024. On February 2024 one of it's battalion, the 518th "Dyka Pole" was purged and disbanded with it's commander arrested. Still according to Militaryland, majority of it's personnel have been transferred to a newly formed 150th Reconnaissance Battalion of IX Army Corps, where they continue to defend Ukrainian land. I personally won't speculate why, with sources already linked and as always, DYOR.

However it does not meant that it's an end to their service, as the brigade was subsequently put under the aegis of the lore owner's VII Corps, part of Territorial Defense Forces.

Ivan Bohun brigade ORBAT as a "rapid response" rear area territorial defense brigade, story-wise.

Due to their role as rapid response unit within the TDF, their mechanization are still in the higher level compared to the rest of the command, hence I give them wheeled BTR APCs, such as indigenously upgraded BTR-60s called Khoruzniy, hulls predominantly supplied by Bulgaria, as well as BTR-7s, an upgraded version of BTR-70. They also still retained some T-72 tanks, including those captured from the russians.

[davidshawnsown]

Chilean Army 1st Cav Regt (Grenadiers)

Part of my Ukrainian War Universe

IMU the tensions in Peru and the ongoing armed forces modernization in Argentina under Millei, as well as Bolivian threats to the north and a growing pivot to BRICS, would lead to a renewed expansion of the Chilean Armed Forces planned under the final months of the late Sebastian Pinera presidency and now starting to bear fruit under Gabriel Boric who was the only leftist leader in South America to speak out in support of Ukraine to counteract all these especially given the leftist attitudes in Peru against the rightist presidency of the past years especially in the country's south.

IRL it is a one squadron/battalion (termed Group) regiment that maintains traditions of the Chilean Army cavalry and its a mainly mounted formation that for nearly two centuries, off an on, has provided the mounted travelling escort to the presidency and in wartime is operationally controlled by the 3rd Mountain Division. It also provides guards of honor for state visits. It reports as part of the Santiago Garrison Command alongside the 1st MP Regiment.

IMU such a commitment would allow thus the regiment to have a mixed role as both presidential guard and as a combat formation with two out of its 8 squadrons - the seventh being the training squadron OPCON under the Equestrian School in Quilotta's Camp San Isidro and the 8th being the dismounted honors squadron that provides dismounted public duties in the capital - being mounted ceremonial cavalry and the 3rd being mountain recon that in wartime is a part of the 3rd Division alongside the other two. All of the groups have a conscript company in keeping with the Chilean practice of conscription in the armed forces (the 4th armored group has two). The three mounted groups also have a veternary unit.

The Honors Group also hosts the Cuadro Negro exhibition team - a formation IMU mixed with personnel of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment in the 4th Division, since it is where it had been originated.

The 1st Group also hosts a vehicle company, motorbike company to provide force multipliers to the Carabineros in presidential events and a coach squadron which takes care of the presidential horse drawn coaches and the presidential cars.

Unlike the lancers IRL, each of the ceremonial mounted squadrons are organized as lancers and dragoons/mounted rifles to mirror the historical Chilean cavalry of years goneby. The mounted recon squadons of 3rd Group are trained as combat soldiers only - while the 2 other groups are trained in both combat operations and ceremonial roles, alongside the Horse Artillery Group of the Tacna Regiment - IMU a regimental OPCON unit in ceremonial events only due to its use of horses.

The regiment's other combat capabilities are 4 armoured groups - 2 armored and 1 cavalry and mechanized infantry each in support of elements of the 2nd Infantry Division (Mot) and the Santiago Garrison Command. The 1st Armored Group, which uses MBTs, operates M60s and Leopard 1s, the 2nd is a light formation armed with M10 Bookers, the 3rd is an armored cav unit with Marder 2s and the nationally produced MOWAG Piranhas via FAMAE which performs recon and light attack roles and the 4th is the largest of the groups performing mechanized infantry roles in a mix of IFVs and APCs in support of the cavalry and armor, with the M3 Bradley, M59s, Marder 2s and the Centauros in assault gun role also to provide support to the combat elements of the 2nd Division's two BCTs.

@lukeexplorer

[lukeexplorer]

Red Sun Rising Order of Battle - Nerima Division, Japan

Japan 1st Division "Nerima" (Mechanized)

In an alternative timeline, with support of the good ole' USA and more than less consent from its neighbor South Korea in response of the rise of PR Chinese military power, in 2001, Japan revised it's constitution, especially the article 9, and transformed the JSDF into a full fledged armed forces under the name "Imperial Defense Forces" (JIDF). The name "Imperial" was chosen due to the Emperor had been once more got designated as de jure Commander in Chief, although largely ceremonial akin to British Monarchs.

The following unit here, the 1st Division "Nerima" is a motorized area security division (Regional Deployment Division in JGSDF parlance) in real life, but in this timeline as part of the new JIGDF (Imperial Ground Defense Force), it's role is a heavy mechanized division, similar with it's South Korean counterpart the "Capital Mechanized Infantry Division"

Primarily equipped with home-grown systems such as tracked Type 89 IFV, Type 90 RCV (fictionalized version of Type 89 but for recon, kinda like M3 Bradley) and newer Type 22 IFV, as well as Type 10 tanks, Type 96 Middle-Range MPM, Type 93 Closed Arrow, Type 87 SPAAA, Type 11 Tan-SAM Kai II, and Type 99 Self-Propelled Howitzers, as well as license-produced systems as following:

Chunmoo MLRS (as Type 22)

Milrem-licensed ground combat drones

Unmanned Little Bird (as H-6JU)

Subaru-Bell 412EPX

Notable imported equipment included US-made HIMARS, an interim solution prior to the arrival of the Type 22 MLRS but still in use when WW III broke out in the spirit of interoperability within allies.

Rounding up the division are various support vehicles including home-grown directed energy weapon systems as well as swarming UAVs.

The 1st Division is also the only IGDF division with two heavy mechanized brigades in lieu of mix of mechanized and rapid deployment brigades.

Like in real life, the Nerima Division is responsible for defense of Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Chiba, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Saitama, Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, and in this timeline, due to it's capability it's strongly geared for counterattack mission alongside and in support of wheeled Medium Divisions and Brigades (Rapid Deployment), in which they executed in 2025 when World War III in the Pacific broke out and the subsequent PR China attempt to invade Japanese islands.

Your Lie in April main hero Arima Kousei served as tank platoon leader in the 11th Tank Regiment of the division, while his lover Kaori covered him as a mechanized infantry officer.

@davidshawnsown

[lukeexplorer]

Ukraine AU - 22nd Mechanized Brigade

We are in Kursk.

As always this is part of @davidshawnsown lore of fanfiction but with a very real message on Ukraine.

August 6th was a surprise for everyone who still followed the defense of Ukrainians against the invading Russians.

Ukrainians had seen weakness in Russia's Kursk oblast direction, further spurred by the reports of how russian military top brass including Gerasimov were ignoring their own intelligence warning beforehands. And so, from their starting position around Sumy oblast, they penetrated into Russian territory.

Unlike previous incursions by russian opposition forces under the banner of the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Legion of Free Russia, the main player is the regular ZSU - Ground Forces and Air Assault Forces alike and other support. So far, per August 12th, multiple geolocated footages showed that the Ukrainians are still there, occupying multiple border towns, albeit increasing vehicle losses particularly by Lancet drones.

This article is focusing on the regular army part - the 22nd Mechanized Brigade.

Their equipments are mostly Soviet-design including their armored vehicle and artillery, particularly in artillery and tanks, however their small arms and heavy crew served weapons were mostly NATO standard, including US-made anti-tank missiles.

The lore-wise upgrade of force structure means that the recon capability of this brigade had been improved with separate dismounted recon company and armored cavalry squadron or sotnia with a longer-term plan of expansion into a division.

[lukeexplorer]

Ukraine AU - 12th Special Purpose Brigade "Azov"

the unit that russia hates so much until this day.

As always, this post is part of @davidshawnsown's lore of fanfiction set in Ukraine.

You didn't see this coming, were you?

The Azov Brigade, the unit that russians persistently called as neo-Nazi.

Currently this unit is now engaging in Serebyansky Forest in the direction of Svatove-Kreminna, with confirmed reports of advance in favor of the Ukrainians.

This unit was formed as a movement forged by the turmoil of Euromaidan, initially based in Mariupol under leadership of a far right politico named Andriy Biletsky (currently commanding the 3rd Assault Brigade, a UGF unit born from the same bosom of Azov movement), later turned into a volunteer battalion under command of the Interior Ministry (MVS) in response of the invasion of Donbas and Crimea by Russia in 2014. Subsequently this unit was reorganized as part of the new National Guard, Ukrainian national gendarmerie force still under the MVS that replaced the Internal Troops, and subsequently engaged in clashes against pro-Russian separatists started from the First Battle of Mariupol.

"'In the past month, I have never asked a person that came to join us about his political views. Today, Ukrainians have only one option of political orientation: for or against Ukraine" - Andriy Biletsky

Even before the 2022 full-scale invasion, russian propaganda machine were, and still extensively targeting this movement as a far right terrorist group, using it as subsequent "denazification" reason of the invasion of Ukraine.

During the early days of the war in Donbas, mostly in 2015–2017, Azov was featured in various fabricated videos by Russia and Russia-linked groups. Shortly before 2016 Dutch Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement referendum, a video appeared of fighters supposedly from Azov. In it, the fighters burned a Dutch flag and threatened terrorist strikes if the referendum failed. They said "We will find you everywhere: in the cinema, at work, in your bedroom, public transport, we have our guys in the Netherlands, ready to follow any order." The video, according to a Bellingcat investigation, was produced and distributed by the Internet Research Agency and spread virally before being posted by the group that sponsored the referendum.[310][311] In another instance, CyberBerkut, which portrayed itself as disgruntled Ukrainians but was later linked to the GRU,[312] leaked a fabricated video portraying ISIS soldiers supposedly fighting in Azov. According to the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, this was part of a broader narrative surrounding Muslim soldiers in various of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, most notably the Crimean Tatars.[313][314] In another video, a follow-up to the atrocity propaganda Crucified boy-series of videos, acting as "punishers", members of Azov supposedly crucify and burn a separatist.[315] Some of these resurfaced once again after the 2022 invasion on social media.

Under leadership of Lt. Col. Denis Prokopenko (subsequently released and returned to Ukraine) the Azovites distinguished themselves in the famous Siege of Mariupol, only surrendering after an order from the Ukrainian government to do so. I won't retell their story from that period, through.

Now, we're go to the fictionalized lore of this unit after Mariupol and it's current disposition in Svatove-Kreminna.

Along with three maneuver "Special Purpose" line assault battalions, National Guard Offensive Guard Brigades in general possessed an armored cavalry kurin used for both reconnaissance and rear area as well as their law enforcement role, separate with the largely motorized and footmobile combat-centric reconnaissance battalion.

In addition, 12th Brigade has a fifth linear "commando" battalion called Lyubart, formerly under the Ukrainian SSO (Special Operations Forces).

Thanks to pro russian propaganda and lobbyists, the Azovites were barred to receive US weapons until recently. This also explained why lore-wise, their western weaponry were mostly non-American origin - Finnish Pasi APC, French ACMAT Bastion IMV and TRF155 towed guns and Turkish Kirpi IMV, side by side with old Soviet stocks and Ukrainian systems such as BTR-4 IFV and Novator IMV. Westernization also mean that several captured Russian weapons and ordnance by this unit are put under storage as reserve.

[lukeexplorer]

Ukraine AU - 117th Mechanized Brigade

This is part of @davidshawnsown's fanfiction lore involving American sports teams. Like in real life, this specific Ukrainian brigade is currently holding the line in the direction of Zaporizhzhia around a town called Robotyne. Other than the Ukrainians, a volunteer American unit called 202nd Brigade Combat Team are on the area, too. That brigade are drawn from American national-level basketball players, both men and women. (You're right, NBA and WNBA alike)

This front is maybe "forgotten" from media in large, but I don't want it to be so, hence I decided to create this order of battle related to Zaporizhzhia direction, it matters too!

Back to the Ukrainian unit of today's post. The 117th was created in February 2023 from the basis of 15th Separate Rifle Battalion for the 2023’s Ukrainian summer offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and is part of 10th Army Corps. Still according to Militaryland, at least one mechanized battalion of this brigade was trained in Czech Republic.

Still from the said source, the brigade is known to possess British AS90 self-propelled howitzers, MT-LB tracked armored personnel carrier, and Polish PT-91 Twardy main battle tank. However, with the currently defensive nature of the fighting, lore-wise the 117th will be further strengthened in time and westernized by infusion of NATO and local-made Ukrainian equipments as following:

KTO Rosomak wheeled APC from Poland, in both infantry carrier, 120mm Rak mortar carrier, and recon version for the armored cavalry kurin (battalion in Ukrainian cossack tradition).

Upgraded BM-21 Grads (Bastion and Verba) alongside original Soviet article.

MT-LBs modified as MT-LB-12, mounting 100mm MT-12 anti-tank gun, in practice used as a direct fire support gun.

BTR Otaman 6x6 for armored reconnaissance

Various jeeps and IMVs, like the Roshel Senator, used particularly in recon battalion.

Piorun MANPADS from Poland, and several models of anti-tank missiles such as locally made Stuhna and TOWs supplied from NATO stockpiles and other non-European operators of the system.

In addition, over time lore-wise they also managed to capture Iranian ordnances supplied to the russian army such as anti-aircraft system Misagh and even Iranian copy of the TOW called the Toophan. Furthermore, some TOWs in the brigade were also actually Toophans given by America, seized from smugglers in the Red Sea, or seized from Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East.

[davidshawnsown]

Ukrainian 1st Mot Inf Div UGF

Part of VII Army Corps UGF

(This is inspired by Battle Order's video on the experimental Soviet Army light infantry division of 1987 which was trained and formed in Ukraine.)

Raised as part of Westernization and expansion of the UGF in 2023-24, the 1st Mot Inf Div of VII Corps/OC North - one of a number of new divisions being activated along the revival of historic units - will soon be added with its planned light cavalry regiment to its ORBAT later due to NATO and Polish and US influence as part of the force's efforts to defend the nation. As of present just one armored cavalry element is present - the armored cav kurin assigned with the 1st Light Armored BCT.

It is organized into three motorized brigades, one mechanized brigade, one light armored brigade, one field artillery brigade, one air defense artillery brigade, a combat engineer regiment, an army aviation regiment using Western helicopters, support elements, a depot regiment and directly reporting formations including one rifle (Jaeger) infantry regiment and one tank destroyer regiment.

Its motorized brigades are armed with Novators, Humvees and JLTVs alongside a company each of truck-mounted infantry with its artillery battalions armed with the Humvee Hawkeye - an experimental SPG mounted on Humvee chassis, and M10 Bookers in the armored battalions. Their air defense battalions are a mix of towed and wheeled SPAGGs like the Viktor, which is the same systems used by the air defense brigade under divisional command.

However the main mechanized element - the 19th BCT - has a mix of wheeled and tracked infanty carriers in its mechanized infantry regiments and with the same vehicles of the motorized brigades in its motorized and rifle infantry regiments. The 19th Armored Regt operates mainly the T-64 and M48 Pattons as well as a company of Leopard 1s.

103rd FA Brigade operates 3 battalions of towed guns, an administrative regiment of two SPG battalions, each wheeled and tracked, and one MLRS battalion alongside a strike UAV battery under its command.

@lukeexplorer