Azerbaijan SSR 1939

Fleet * The naval doctrine calls for a powerful ocean-going navy to protect trade routes and project power.

• Battleships (ironships): *4 units. The core of the surface fleet, designed for general engagement.

• Heavy cruisers: *6 units. Universal ships for raiding operations and convoy cover.

• Light cruisers and destroyers: *About 30 ships for patrol, escort and minelaying.

• Submarine fleet: *About 80 submarines of various classes for operations against enemy communications.

• Air Defense Forces (AD) * The air defense system is echeloned and protects both the army on the march and the deep rear.

• Small and medium-caliber anti-aircraft artillery: *Thousands of barrels (20-mm, 37-mm, 88-mm), integrated into the structure of land armies to cover columns and field airfields.

• Large-caliber anti-aircraft artillery: *Hundreds of fixed positions of heavy anti-aircraft guns (105-mm and above) around industrial centers, capitals and communication nodes.

• Early warning service: An extensive network of sound-detecting stations and searchlight units for detecting enemy aircraft at night.

Ground Forces * This is the main striking force, built on the principle of mass armies with an emphasis on mechanization.

• Infantry: *About 1,800,000 soldiers. Organizationally consolidated into 120-140 infantry divisions of standard composition (16,000-17,000 men each), as well as separate mountain rifle and motorized brigades.

• Tank forces: *About 4,500 tanks. The vehicle fleet is mixed:

• Light tanks (reconnaissance): about 1,500 units. *Medium tanks (main battle tank): about 2,500 units.

• Heavy breakthrough tanks: about 500 units.

• *Artillery: *More than 12,000 guns with a caliber from 75 mm to super-heavy siege systems. Includes divisional artillery, corps regiments and high-power army groups.

• Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): *The first serial rocket mortars (analogous to Katyusha or Nebelwerfer) are in service - about 200 units.

• Air Force (VVS) * Aviation plays a key role as a means of gaining air superiority and supporting ground troops.

• Total fleet size: *About 4,000 combat aircraft.

• Fighters: *~1,500 vehicles. The backbone of air defense, highly maneuverable aircraft for escorting bombers and intercepting the enemy.

• Bombers: *~1,200 aircraft. The fleet consists of dive bombers for tactical strikes and long-range strategic bombers for strikes against the enemy's rear and industrial centers.

• Attack and reconnaissance aircraft: ~1,300 specialized aircraft for direct support of infantry on the battlefield and

It may be a small country, but it has oil, gold, diamonds, forests, seas, and many other riches.