23rd Guards Brandenburgskaya order of Lenin Red Banner order of Suvorov Motorised Rifle Division

23-я гвардейская мотострелковая Бранденбургская ордена Ленина Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия

Military Unit: 06715

Activated 25.6.57 in Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR, as the 25th Guards Motorised Rifle Division, from the 31st Guards Mechanised Division.

Organisation 1960:

• 366th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 368th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 370th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 131st Guards Tank Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1071st Artillery Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1057th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 768th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 773rd independent Guards Sapper Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 220th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 642nd independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)

19.2.62 re-organised:

• 347th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated
• 958th independent Missile Battalion was activated

17.11.64 renamed 23rd Guards Motorised Rifle Division.

In 1968 the 773rd independent Guards Sapper Battalion was renamed 773rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion.

Organisation 1970:

• 366th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 368th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 370th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 131st Guards Tank Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1071st Artillery Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1057th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 958th independent Missile Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 768th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 773rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 220th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 347th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 642nd independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)

In 1972 the 000 independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 622nd independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

15.11.72 re-organised:

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

In 1980 the 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1543rd independent Material Supply Battalion.

Organisation 1980:

• 366th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 368th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 370th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 131st Guards Tank Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1071st Artillery Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1057th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 958th independent Missile Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 000 independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 768th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 773rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 220th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 622nd independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 347th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 642nd independent Medical Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1543rd independent Material Supply Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)

Organisation 1988:

• 366th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 368th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 370th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 131st Guards Tank Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1071st Artillery Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1057th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 958th independent Missile Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 000 independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 768th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 773rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 220th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 622nd independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Stepanakert, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 347th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 642nd independent Medical Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)
• 1543rd independent Material Supply Battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR)

In 8.90 the 1057th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment was disbanded, and was replaced by the 1041st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, from the 75th Motorised Rifle Division.

Disbanded 7.92, after having been forced to hand over all weapons to Azerbaizhan - traditions, honors and awards were transferred to the 13th Motorised Rifle Division.

Headquarters:

• Kirovabad, Azerbaizhan SSR, 6.57 - 7.92 [1989 renamed Gyandzha]

Subordination:

• 4th Combined Arms Army, 6.57 - 7.92

Equipment 12.85:

• 1300 men, 133 T-54/55, 105 BMP-1, 2 BTR-50, 128 BTR-152, 36 122mm M-30

Equipment 19.11.90 (CFE treaty holdings):

• 366th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 13 T-72, 41 BMP-2, 72 BMP-1, 5 BRM-1K, 2 BTR-70, 12 122mm D-30, 4 PM-38, 2 BMP-1KSh, 1 R-145BM, 1 MTP, 6 BREM-2, 1 MTU-20 and 15 MT-LBT
• 368th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 10 T-72, 46 BTR-70, 4 BTR-60, 2 BMP-1, 2 BRM-1K, 12 122mm D-30, 2 R-145BM and 15 MT-LBT
• 370th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 7 T-72, 2 BMP-1, 2 BRM-1K, 2 BTR-60, 12 122mm D-30, 2 BTR-50PUM, 3 R-145BM and 2 MTU-20
• 131st Guards Tank Regiment: 31 T-72, 25 T-54, 6 BMP-2, 10 BMP-1, 5 BRM-1K, 1 MT-55A and 2 MTU-20
• 1071st Artillery Regiment: 38 122mm D-30, 14 BM-21 Grad and 1 PRP-3
• 1041st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment: ZRK Kub (SA-6) and 1 R-145BM
• 768th independent Reconnaissance Battalion: 1 R-145BM
• 220th independent Guards Communications Battalion: 7 R-145BM

Divisional coordinates:

• Kirovabad barracks [US designation: Kirovabad Army Barracks East AL 1]: 40 40 33N, 46 22 59E (Divisional HQ, and all attached units, except listed below)
• Stepanakert barracks [US designation: Stepanakert Army Barracks AL 1]: 39 48 43N, 46 44 48E (366th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment, 622nd independent Chemical Defence Battalion)
• Nakhichevan barracks: 39 13 34N, 45 24 18E (1041st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment after 8.90)

The division was maintained as a Not Ready Division - Low-Strength Cadre (US terms: Category III).