When did 2 MG per soviet section become standard?

[runequester]

THis is more a question really.

I know Soviet equipment were often in a state of flux, particularly between different category units, but does anyone have a reasonable guide to when it started becoming standard to have 2 machine guns per infantry section ?

[Mobhack]

probably depends on what was to hand -
Both an RPK SAW, and a full-bore 7.62 LMG in a section was not unheard of, and 2xRPK was very common.

Afghanistan seems to be when they became more interested in putting full-bore LMG back in the rifle platoon, and also they beefed up the battalion support weapons coy with the GPMG platoons and AGL platoons. (Pre Afghanistan, the BN support platoon was quite lean, only a couple of RCL and saggers and a section of 3x82mm mortars as far as I recall). The AGL/MG platoons typically get attached down to company HQS as standard protocol, I believe.

Afghanistan was also the time that grenade launchers appeared for the individual assault rifles (GP-25).

So - its a WAG - but Afghanistan (75+) would be the time frame methinks.

Andy

[runequester]

That probably seems reasonable. Most sources I've read that discuss the organizations after the BMP was introduced mention 2 squad automatics being common, but I've had a hard time finding hard info in the period before then.

Im playing a late 40s USSR campaign currently, and there's a tempting 2x RP46 squad option, but for this period, it'd feel a little cheesy to kit out all 3 sections that way