Operational Formation

the grouping of the forces and weapons of operational units, created at the beginning or during an operation for the fulfillment of operational missions.

In the Great Patriotic War (1941–45), depending on the available forces and weapons, the combat mission assigned, the nature of the defense, and the forces and weapons of the enemy, an operational formation of the troops of a front (army) would consist of one, two, or sometimes more echelons of combined-arms operational (strategic) units, artillery groups, an air army, and various types of reserves.