Georgian Abkhazian Conflict Ground Units 92 - 93?

I'm trying to build a few missions based on what I've read of the Georgian Abkhazian conflict of 92 - 93. I've found some excellent information from the book Su-25 "Frogfoot" Combat Missions. Unfortunately, it doesn't go into much detail of what ground units were used by both sides. I know the Abkhazian force had T-72, BM-21 Rocket Launchers as well as later OSA and BUK SAM systems. Did either side use BMP-2 or BRDM? If not, what infantry fighting vehicles were used? What supply trucks were commonly used? What tanks did the Geogian side have? What artillery units etc. Would appreciate some insight from anyone knowledgeable on the topic or even some good links where I can find the right information for myself.

 

My aim is to remove as much fantasy as possible when mission/campaign building.

I was collecting similar information for the mission bilding purpose. Quite a long time ago by searching through the internet - so don't ask me if those are correct or what is the reference. Assume the information is not exact but unless you're aiming to build a mission that would be an exact historical reproduction (which I assume not ;) ) this information should be more than good enough to setup quite an realistic "environment" in the mission.

 

I.) Georgia

1. Air Force

The Georgian Air Force counted some 2,000 men by mid-2008, including: the Headquarters and Aviation Operational Center, the Marneuli Airbase (with a Squadron of Su-25 attack planes and a Squadron of L-39 trainers), the Alekseevka Airbase (with a Squadron of Mi-8 helicopters and a Squadron of UH-1H and Bell 212 helicopters), a Combined Helicopter Squadron (Mi-8, Mi-14, and Mi-24 helicopters), a Training Center that included a Squadron of An-2 aircraft, a Squadron of UAV's, six radar stations, a ELINT detachment , an Air-Defense Base, including two S-125M (SA-3B) SAM systems batallions near Tbilisi and Poti and one (probably, second formed) Buk-M1 (SA-11) SAM system batallion in Gori.

• Su-25KM and Su-25UB. Total 11-12 aircrafts (6xKM). Senaki, Vaziani
  
• L-39, 4 aircrafts, Senaki
  
• L-29, 4 aircrafts, Senaki
  
• An-12, 5 aircarfts
  
• An-24, 2 aircrafts,
  
• An-28, 2 aircrafts
  
• An-32, 1 aircraft
  
• An-72, 3 aircrafts
  
• Tu-134, 5 aircrafts
  
• Mi-18, 16 helicopters
  
• Mi-14, 18 helicopters
  
• UH-1H 40 helicopters
  
• Super Puma, 4 helicopters
  
• Mi-24V, 12 helicopters
  

2.) Air Defence

 

• 9K33 Osa, x 18

  
  

• 9K35 Strela-10, x 18

  
  

• SA-3, Poti and Tbilisi (2 batalions)
  
  

• SA-11 Buk-M1. 2007 – Three batteries, each 2x launcher + 1x loader-launcher, Initially Gori (1'st Ossetian conflict), later Senaki and Kutaisi. 1 more in 2008

  
  

  
  

• ZSU-23-4 Shilka, x15

  
  

• ZU-23-2 , x30

  
  

• Early warning radars in Tbilisi, near Poti, 1 East of Gori - South to Shavshvebi, (?) near Senaki,
  
• Rumours about a Kolchuga passiwe RWR
  
  

3.) Navy

Main base in Poti, naval base in Batumi

 

 

• 2 x fast attack craft (missile) - Tbilisi and Dioskuria-
  
• 8 x patrol boats,
  
• 2 x small landing ships,
  
• 2 x landing boats
  
• up to 6 small crafts.
  

4.) Army

 

• 191 T-72 main battle tanks in several versions (of which probably up to 120 were upgraded to the T-72-SIM-1 version);
  
• 56 T-55AM main battle tanks;
  
• 80 BMP-1 armoured infantry fighting vehicles (of which 15 were upgraded to the BMP-1U version);
  
• 74 BMP-2 armoured infantry fighting vehicles;
  
• 11 BRM-1K armoured combat reconnaissance vehicles;
  
• 5 BRDM-2 armoured scout vehicles;
  
• 17 BTR-70 armoured personnel carriers (of which two were upgraded to the BTR-70DI version);
  
• 35 BTR-80 armoured personnel carriers;
  
• 86 MT-LB armoured multipurpose tracked vehicles;
  
• Six 203 mm 2S7 Pion self-propelled guns;
  
• One 152 mm 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer;
  
• 13 152 mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers;
  
• 24 152 mm Dana self-propelled gun-howitzers;
  
• 11 152 mm 2A65 Msta-B towed howitzers;
  
• Three 152 mm 2A36 Giatsint-B towed guns;
  
• 109 122 mm D-30 towed howitzer;
  
• 15 100 mm MT-12 anti-tank guns;
  
• 40 85 mm D-44 and D-48 anti-tank guns;
  
• Five 262 mm M-87 Orkan MLRS (uncorfirmed);
  
• Four or eight 122 mm/160 mm GradLAR/LAR-160 MLRS;
  
• Six 122 mm RM-70 MLRS;
  
• 16 122 mm BM-21 Grad MLRS;
  
• About 80 120 mm towed mortars and up to 300 mortars with calibers of 60, 81, and 82 mm;
  
• 15 57 mm S-60 towed anti-aircraft guns;
  

 

 

II.) Abkhazia

1.) Air Force

Main airbase - Gudauta

 

 

• Su-25, x2
  
• MiG-21, x1 (2001-2007)
  
• L-39, x5 (since 1992)
  
• Mi-8, x3
  
• Mi-24, x3 since 1992, x7 since 2007
  
• An-12, x2
  

 

 

My aim is to remove as much fantasy as possible when mission/campaign building.

That was exactly the same motivation I had. I mean we have the Georgian so it seems natural to try to understand the history of the region.
Edited November 25, 2017 by firmek

I was hoping to find what they had during '92 and '93. I see some of these units arrived later in time. Thanks for posting though, it gives me something to work from.

Don't consider units I've marked as obtained after '92-'93. Otherwise generally everything remaining should match the early 90's. From advanced AA include only a single Sa-11 battery unit located somewhere close to Gori.

If you're interested specificly in the first, S Ossetia war try to search for battle of Tskhinvali (another link). There is quite a lot of information, including an overal description of OOB - though take it with a grain of salt as it seems one of the characteristics of the conflict was a (miss)information war in electronic media.