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Soviet Union [USSR] Rear Services
In 1989 a deputy minister of defense served as chief of Rear
Services for the Soviet armed forces. The Rear Services supplied
the armed forces with ammunition, fuel, spare parts, food,
clothing, and other matériel. In 1989 the chief of the Rear
Services had nine main and central directorates and four supporting
services under his command. The deputy commanders in chief for rear
services of the armed services, the deputy commanders for rear
services of territorial commands, and nearly 1.5 million soldiers
reported to him.
The Central Military Transportation Administration was the
primary traffic management organization for the armed forces,
coordinating and planning supply movements by all means of
transport. The Central Food Supply Administration both procured
food from civilian agricultural enterprises and operated a military
state farm (see Glossary) system to supply troops, particularly
those serving in remote areas. Similarly, the Central Clothing
Supply Administration had its own clothing factories to manufacture
uniforms and specialized gear. The main and central directorates
operated post exchange, health care, and recreational facilities
for military personnel. The Rear Services also provided financial
reports on armed forces activities to party and government organs.
The chief of the Rear Services commanded the Railroad Troops,
Road Troops, Pipeline Troops, and Automotive Troops. The mission of
these supporting service was to construct and maintain the Soviet
Union's military transport infrastructure. The Automotive Troops,
for example, provided the drivers and mechanics needed to maintain
and drive cargo trucks loaded with supplies from railheads to
operational units in the field. After the initial airlift of Soviet
forces and equipment into Afghanistan in December 1979, these
troops built permanent rail lines, roads, and pipelines between the
Soviet Union and Afghanistan to resupply the Soviet forces in that
country.
Formerly divided among independent maintenance, medical, and
motor transport companies, the provision of rear services in Soviet
regiments has become the responsibility of unified matériel support
units. As in most armies, these matériel support units were
subordinate to operational commanders, although they worked with
the next highest chief of rear services on technical matters.
Construction and Troop Billeting was an independent supporting
service, similar to the Rear Services, headed by another deputy
minister of defense. Construction and Troop Billeting served as a
large, mobile force of cheap labor to erect military bases and
troop quarters as well as civilian and government buildings. The
service has been used to complete high-priority projects and to
work in harsh environments. Construction and Troop Billeting has
built military installations in the Soviet Far East since 1969,
major airports, and the Moscow Olympics complex. The service has
also worked on Siberian natural gas pipeline and the Baykal-Amur
Main Line.
Data as of May 1989
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