201st Gatchinskaya twice Red Banner Motorised Rifle Division

201-я мотострелковая Гатчинская дважды Краснознамённая дивизия

Military Unit: 61452; from 2.80: 84397

Activated 4.60 in Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast, as the 124th Motorised Rifle Division, from the 451st independent Mountain Rifle Regiment.

Organisation 1960:

• 92nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 122nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Dushanbe, Khatlonskaya Oblast)
• 191st Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kurgan-Tyube, Khatlonskaya Oblast)
• 401st Tank Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 998th Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 990th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 783rd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 541st independent Sapper Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 252nd independent Communications Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 114th independent Chemical Defence Company (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 99th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)

19.2.62 re-organised:

• 340th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated
• 71st independent Missile Battalion was activated

11.1.65 renamed 201st Motorised Rifle Division.

In 1968 the 541st independent Sapper Battalion was renamed 541st independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion.

Organisation 1970:

• 92nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 122nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Dushanbe, Khatlonskaya Oblast)
• 191st Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kurgan-Tyube, Khatlonskaya Oblast)
• 401st Tank Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 998th Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 990th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 71st independent Missile Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 783rd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 541st independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 252nd independent Communications Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 114th independent Chemical Defence Company (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 340th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 99th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)

15.11.72 re-organised:

• 370th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated
• 00 independent Reactive Artillery Battalion was activated - absorbed by the Artillery Regiment in 5.80

In 12.79 mobilised for service in Afghanistan.

In 1980 the 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 636th independent Material Supply Battalion.

Organisation 1980:

• 92nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast) - not mobilised
• 122nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kulyab, Khatlonskaya Oblast) - mobilised with troops from the 30th Guards Motorised Rifle Division
• 191st Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kurgan-Tyube, Khatlonskaya Oblast) - mobilised with troops from the 93rd Guards Motorised Rifle Division (equipment from the Belorussian Military District)
• 401st Tank Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 998th Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 990th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 71st independent Missile Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 370th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 783rd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast) - mobilised with troops from the 3rd independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (6th Guards Tank Division)
• 541st independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast) - mobilised with troops from the 1st Guards Engineer-Sapper Brigade
• 252nd independent Communications Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 114th independent Chemical Defence Company (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 340th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 99th independent Medical Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 636th independent Material Supply Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)

In 1.80 the division began the transfer to Termez, and was re-organised with four motorised rifle regiments and one tank regiment:

• 92nd Motorised Rifle Regiment remained in Dushanbe, and became part of the new 134th Motorised Rifle Division
• 149th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment arrived in Termez from the 128th Guards Motorised Rifle Division in Mukachevo
• 395th Motorised Rifle Regiment arrived in Termez from the 3rd Motorised Rifle Division in Klaypeda
• 401st Tank Regiment remained in Dushanbe, and became part of the new 134th Motorised Rifle Division, and was replaced by the 285th Tank Regiment from the 60th Tank Division

14.2.80 crossed the border into Afghanistan.

7.4.80 the 191st Motorised Rifle Regiment left the division and 20.4.80 renamed 191st independent Motorised Rifle Regiment.

25.6.80 the 71st independent Missile Battalion returned to Dushanbe, while the 285th Tank Regiment was transferred to the 108th Motorised Rifle Division, and was replaced by the 234th Tank Regiment, which 1.9.80 was transferred to Samarkand, Samarkand Oblast.

1.3.85 the 114th independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 114th independent Flame-Throwing Company.

4.5.85 awarded the second Red Banner for service in Afghanistan.

20.10.86 the 990th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment returned to Dushanbe, where it was attached to the 134th Motorised Rifle Division.

Organisation 1988:

• 122nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Tashkurgan, Afghanistan) - equipped with BMP
• 149th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kunduz, Afghanistan) - equipped with BTR
• 395th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Puli-Khumri, Afghanistan) - equipped with BTR
• 234th Tank Regiment (Samarkand, Samarkand Oblast)
• 998th Artillery Regiment (Kunduz, Afghanistan)
• 990th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast) - equipped with 57mm S-60
• 71st independent Missile Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 370th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kunduz, Afghanistan)
• 783rd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Kunduz, Afghanistan)
• 541st independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Tashkurgan, Afghanistan)
• 252nd independent Communications Battalion (Kunduz, Afghanistan)
• 114th independent Flame-Throwing Company (Kunduz, Afghanistan)
• 340th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Kunduz, Afghanistan)
• 99th independent Medical Battalion (Kunduz, Afghanistan)
• 636th independent Material Supply Battalion (Kunduz, Afghanistan)

2.89 returned to Dushanbe, where it absorbed the 134th Motorised Rifle Division:

• 92nd Motorised Rifle Regiment returned to the division
• 191st Motorised Rifle Regiment returned to the division
• 122nd Motorised Rifle Regiment was disbanded
• 395th Motorised Rifle Regiment was disbanded
• 234th Tank Regiment was disbanded, while the 401st Tank Regiment returned to the division
• 114th independent Flame-Throwing Company was renamed 114th independent Chemical Defence Company

In 1.91 the 990th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was disbanded, and was replaced by the 1098th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, from the 93rd Guards Motorised Rifle Division.

Organisation 1992:

• 92nd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 149th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kulyab, Khatlonskaya Oblast)
• 191st Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kurgan-Tyube, Khatlonskaya Oblast)
• 401st Tank Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 998th Artillery Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 1098th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 783rd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 541st independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 252nd independent Communications Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 114th independent Chemical Defence Company (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 118th indeoendent Electronic Warfare Company (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 340th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 99th independent Medical Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)
• 636th independent Material Supply Battalion (Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast)

1992 remained under Russian control.

In 10.2004 renamed 201st Russian Military Base.

Headquarters:

• Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast, 4.60 - 2.80
• Kunduz, Afghanistan, 2.80 - 2.89
• Dushanbe, Dushanbe Oblast, 2.89 - today

Subordination:

• 33rd Army Corps, 4.60 - 4.68
• 17th Army Corps, 4.68 - 2.80
• 40th Combined Arms Army, 2.80 - 2.89
• 17th Army Corps, 2.89 - 5.92
• Group of Russian Forces in Tadzhikistan, 5.92 - 12.97
• Volga Military District, 12.97 - 3.01
• Volga-Ural Military District, 3.01 - today

Divisional coordinates:

• Dushanbe barracks [US designation: Dushanbe Army Barracks AL 2]: 38 35 07N, 68 46 48E (Divisional HQ and all attached units, except listed below)
• Dushanbe barracks [US designation: Dushanbe Army Barracks Northwest AL 1]: 38 34 43N, 68 46 48E (92nd Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Kurgan-Tyube barracks [US designation: Kurgan Tyube Army Barracks AL 1]: 37 50 29N, 68 47 29E (191st Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Afghanistan:
• Kunduz barracks [US designation: Kunduz Airfield]: 36 39 33N, 68 54 27E (Divisional HQ, 149th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment, 990th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, 370th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion, 783rd independent Reconnaissance Battalion, 99th independent Medical Battalion, 252nd independent Communications Battalion and 114th independent Flame-Throwing Company)
• Kunduz barracks [US designation: Kunduz Deployment Area]: 36 52 13N, 68 49 59E (285th/234th Tank Regiment, 998th Artillery Regiment, 541st independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion, 340th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion and 636th independent Material Supply Battalion)
• Tashkurgan barracks: 36 46 39N, 67 28 36E (122nd Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Puli-Khumri barracks: 35 52 46N, 68 48 11E (395th Motorised Rifle Regiment)

The division was maintained as a Not Ready Division - Low-Strength Cadre (US terms: Category III) - manning was about 15% (1800 men) - mobilised in 12.79, and served in Afghanistan as a Ready Division - First Line (US terms: Category I).