1970-1980s Threat Ranking According to the JGSDF and other Sources
NOTE: University of Maryland has a near complete copy of the English versions of Japanese Defence White Papers from 1972 to 1993. Unfortunately, due to COVID, I cannot access them.
According to
EvanDP on
TANKNET, when he talked with a former JGSDF servicemember from the 1970s, they ranked their greatest fears at the time (in order of danger):
1.) Global Thermonuclear Exchange.
2.) Spetsnaz Units
3.) Airborne Units
4.) Naval Infantry
By 1988, the Soviet Far Eastern Military District (Дальневосточный военный округ) had the following forces within "striking range" of Hokkaido:
51st Combined Arms Army
18th Machine Gun and Artillery Division (18-я пулемётно-артиллерийская дивизия) (Iturup Island)
33rd Red Banner Mot. Rifle Division (33-я мотострелковая Краснознаменная дивизия) (Southern portion of Sakhalin Island)
79th Sakhalin Mot. Rifle Division (79-я мотострелковая Сахалинская дивизия) (Middle portion of Sakhalin Island)
Motor Rifle Divisions had either an independent helicopter detachment (2 to 4 HIP and 6 to 8 Mi-2 HOPLITE) or a combat support squadron (4 to 6 HIND, 4-6 HIP, and 4-6 Mi-2 HOPLITE). In 1983, a Combat Support Squadron was at Burevestnik Airfield in the Sakhalins, according to the CIA.
Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, they apparently moved a Mi-24 HIND regiment (35 to 40 A/C) to Sakhalin, from whence they made fake attack runs on Japanese radar stations.
Meanwhile, the 68th Transport Helicopter Regiment was assigned to the Far Eastern Military District and was based at Birofeld (Бирофельд) in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast; some 400 nautical miles from Sakhalin. According to the CIA, a Transport Helicopter Regiment of 20-25 HOOKs and 35-45 HIPs can transport 2,200+ troops (one MRR) or 240 metric tons of materiel or any combination of both, over a 100 nautical mile radius in one regimental sortie.
The distance from the middle portion of Sakhalin where the 79th Motor Rifle Division was based in the 1980s is about 100 nautical miles from Hokkaido.
As for sea lift; the Soviets apparently did not have serious lift until the mid-1970s; when the
22nd Naval Landing Division (22-я дивизии морских десантных сил) was activated. This unit was composed of the following subunits, per
http://www.ww2.dk/new/navy/22dimds.htm
14th Landing Ship Brigade
100th Landing Ship Brigade
77th Landing Ship Battalion
Individual subunits are detailed below:
-------------------------------
14th Landing Ship Brigade (14-я Бригада десантных кораблей) was activated in 1978 and was located in Novik Bay, Russky Island.
Generally the 14th LSB had the following craft assigned to it via:
http://www.ww2.dk/new/navy/14brdk.htm
Project 1174 (Ivan Rogov class)
4 x Ka-29 helicopters, 6 Project 1176 / Project 1785 landing craft or 3 Project 1206/ Project 1205 landing craft, (20 BTR-60P or 19 MBTs) and 500 troops
or
53 x MBT and 500 troops
or
80 x BTR-60P and 500 troops
or
1730 tonnes cargo
Ivan Rogov, 1.79 - 1994
Aleksandr Nikolaev, 4.83 - 1994
Project 1171 (Alligator class)
20 x MBT and 313 to 440 troops
or
47 BTR and 313 to 440 troops
or
52 trucks and 313 to 440 troops
or
1000 tonnes cargo
NOTE: Variance in troop numbers is due to there being two major subsets of Pr 1171, Group 1/2 and 3/4 with differing troop capacities.
Tomskiy Komsomolets, 1.68 - 5.7.94
Sergey Lazo, 1.69 - 5.7.94
50-Let Shefstva VLKSM, 1.70 - 5.7.94
Aleksandr Tortsev, 4.72 - 5.7.94
Nikolay Vilkov, 1.75 - 1994
-------------------------------
100th Landing Ship Brigade (100-я Бригада десантных кораблей) was activated in 1951 and was located in Novik Bay, Russky Island from 1951 to 1994. This is about 500~ nautical miles (33~ hours at 15 knots) to Northern Hokkaido.
Generally the 100th LSB had the following craft assigned to it via:
http://www.ww2.dk/new/navy/100brdk.htm
Project 775 (Ropucha class)
450 tonnes of cargo
or
10 medium tanks and 340 infantry
or
12 heavy tanks and 340 infantry
BDK-48, 10.75 - 5.7.94
BDK-63, 10.75 - 5.7.94
BDK-90, 3.76 - 5.7.94
BDK-119, 6.79 - 9.79
BDK-181, 2.77 - 5.7.94
BDK-197, 1.78 - 5.7.94
BDK-11 (Peresvet), from 8.91
BDK-14, 12.81 - 3.5.01
BDK-98 (Admiral Nevelskoy), from 1.83
BDK-101 (Oslyabya), from 4.82
Project 771A (Polnochny B class)
6 x T-54A and 204 troops
or
10 x trucks and 204 troops
SDK-73, 8.70 - 5.7.94
SDK-74, 9.70 - 15.4.80
SDK-84, 10.67 - 4.8.77
SDK-89, 12.67 - 1.94
SDK-96, 1.68 - 30.6.93
SDK-99, 2.68 - 5.7.94
SDK-111, 1.70 - 30.6.93
SDK-112, 2.70 - 4.1.80
SDK-171, 10.68 - 1980(?)
SDK-172, 9.68 - 19.3.92
Project 1176 (Ondatra class) (LCI clones)
1 x T-72 tank
or
2 x GAZ-66 Trucks
or
20 troops
or
50 tonnes cargo
D-282, 11.78 - 3.5.01
D-70, from 1983
D-704, 1979(?) - 12.2006
-------------------------------
77th Landing Ship Battalion
Project 1205 (Gus class) LCAC
200 nmi at 49 kts
40 troops or 4 tonnes of cargo
D-219, ? - 1994
D-226, ? - 1.9.95
D-228, ? - 1.9.95
D-318, ? - 31.7.96
D-337, 5.75 - 30.6.93
D-369, 4.70 - 19.3.92
D-419, ? - 25.11.94
D-421, ? - 25.11.94
D-423, 2.75 - 25.11.94
D-424, 2.75 - 5.7.94
D-425, ? - 31.7.96
D-426, 2.75 - 25.11.94
D-429, ? - 25.11.94
D-433, ? - 25.11.94
D-434, ? - 25.11.94
D-437, ? - 25.11.94
D-442, ? - 25.11.94
D-446, ? - 25.11.94
D-702, 5.76 - 30.6.93
D-227, ? - 19.3.92
D-555, ? - 24.6.91
D-556, ? - 24.6.91
Project 1206 (Lebed class) LCAC
100 nmi at 50 knts
1 x T-54 tank
or
2 x PT-76 tanks
or
120 troops
or
37 tonnes of cargo
D-52, 1.81 - 30.6.93
D-277, 11.78 - 30.6.93
D-348, 10.80 - 30.6.93
D-379, 9.2.79 - 1988
D-435, 9.2.79 - 19.3.92
D-633, 1979 - 1988
D-703, 9.2.79 - 19.4.90
D-347, 1979 - 30.6.93
Project 12061 (Tsaplya class) LCAC
Lengthened version of LEBED class LCACs with heavier armament.
D-142, 1991 - 25.11.94
D-143, 1992 - 25.11.94
D-259, 12.87 - 25.11.94
D-285, 1988 - 25.11.94
D-323, 1990 - 25.11.94
D-447, 1989 - 25.11.94
D-453, 1985 - 25.11.94
D-458, 6.87 - 25.11.94
D-733, ? - 30.7.96