18th Guards Insterburgskaya Red Banner order of Suvorov Motorised Rifle Division

18-я гвардейская мотострелковая Инстербургская Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия

Military Unit: 01908; from 10.68: 34901

Activated 25.6.57 in Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, as the 30th Guards Motorised Rifle Division, from the 30th Guards Mechanised Division.

Organisation 1960:

19.2.62 re-organised:

11.1.64 renamed 18th Guards Motorised Rifle Division.

In 1968 the 234th independent Guards Sapper Battalion was renamed 234th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion, while the 149th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated.

Mobilised 7.68 for action in Czechoslovakia, and was transferred through Poland into East Germany - 20.8.68 crossed into Czechoslovakia, and was deployed near Prague six days later.

19.10.68 officially subordinated to the new Central Group of Forces.

In 10.68 the 86th independent Tank Battalion was activated.

Organisation 1970:

In 1972 the 431st independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 106th independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

In 1980 the 744th independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 898th independent Material Supply Battalion, and the 2nd  independent Reactive Artillery Battery was absorbed by the Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

Organisation 1988:

In 7.89 the 360th Tank Regiment was transferred to the 15th Tank Division, and was replaced by the 210th Motorised Rifle Regiment, based at Rokytnice v. Orlicky - at the same time the 86th independent Tank Battalion was transferred to Milovice, where it absorbed parts of the 244th Guards Tank Regiment.

10.90 began transfer to Gusev, Kaliningrad Oblast - completed 3.91.

In 1992 the 280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was disbanded, and was replaced by the new 321st Tank Regiment.

1.5.98 renamed 18th Guards Motorised Rifle Division (Cadre).

19.11.01 renamed 19th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion.

1.6.02 renamed 79th independent Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade.

Headquarters:

Subordination:

Equipment:

Equipment 19.11.90 (CFE treaty holdings):

Divisional coordinates:

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - First Line (US terms: Category I) - manning was 100% (1968 to 1991).