16th Guards Umanskaya order of Lenin Red Banner order of Suvorov Tank Division

16-я гвардейская танковая Уманская ордена Ленина Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия

Military Unit: 59308; from 3.47: 58880

Activated 10.7.45 in Neustrelitz, East Germany, as the 9th Guards Tank Division, from the 9th Guards Tank Corps.

Organisation 1946:

• 47th Guards Tank Regiment
• 50th Guards Tank Regiment
• 65th Guards Tank Regiment
• 33rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment
• 67th Guards Heavy Tank Self-Propelled Regiment
• 234th Guards Mortar Regiment
• 66th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
• 000 independent Howitzer Artillery Battalion
• 126th independent Guards Mortar Battalion
• 17th independent Guards Motorcycle Battalion
• 135th independent Guards Sapper Battalion
• 185th independent Guards Communications Battalion
• 192nd independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion
• 000 independent Auto-Transport Battalion
• 57th independent Tank Training Battalion

6.5.54 re-organised:

• 33rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was renamed 33rd Guards Mechanised Regiment
• 724th Guards Artillery Regiment was activated from the 234th Guards Mortar Regiment and the 000 independent Howitzer Artillery Battalion
• 17th independent Guards Motorcycle Battalion was renamed 17th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company was activated

In 6.57 reorganised (ordered 12.3.57):

• 50th Guards Tank Regiment became independent as the 220th Guards Tank Regiment, and was replaced by the 67th Guards Tank Regiment
• 65th Guards Heavy Tank Self-Propelled Regiment became 65th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment - one battalion was renamed 111th independent Battalion of Tank Destroyers
• 33rd Guards Mechanized Regiment was renamed 204th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment

In 1960 the 57th independent Tank Training Battalion was disbanded.

Organisation 1960:

• 47th Guards Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 65th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany) - in 1962 renamed 65th Guards Tank Regiment
• 67th Guards Tank Regiment (Rathenov, East Germany)
• 60th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Ravensbrück, East Germany)
• 724th Guards Artillery Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 66th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 17th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 111th independent Battalion of Tank Destroyers (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 135th independent Guards Sapper Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 185th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 192nd independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 673rd independent Motor Transport Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)

In 1961 the 668th independent Missile Battalion was activated

3.5.61 the 111th independent Battalion of Tank Destroyers was detached, and renamed 221st Guards independent Tank Regiment.

19.2.62 the 59th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated.

11.1.65 renamed 16th Guards Tank Division.

11.67 the 204th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was replaced by the 60th Motorised Rifle Regiment.

In 1968 the 135th independent Guards Sapper Battalion was renamed 135th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion.

Organisation 1970:

• 47th Guards Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 65th Guards Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 67th Guards Tank Regiment (Rathenov, East Germany)
• 60th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Ravensbrück, East Germany)
• 724th Guards Artillery Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 66th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 17th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 668th independent Missile Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 126th independent Reactive Artillery Battery (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 135th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 185th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 59th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 192nd independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 673rd independent Motor Transport Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)

In 1972 the 000 independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 541st independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

In 1980 the 673rd independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1075th independent Material Supply Battalion, and the 126th independent Reactive Artillery Battery was absorbed by the Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

• 47th Guards Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 65th Guards Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 67th Guards Tank Regiment (Rathenov, East Germany)
• 60th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Ravensbrück, East Germany)
• 724th Guards Artillery Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 66th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 17th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 668th independent Missile Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 135th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 185th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 59th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 541st independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 192nd independent Medical Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 1075th independent Material Supply Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)

In 9.87 the 668th independent Missile Battalion was transferred to the 448th Missile Brigade.

Organisation 1988:

• 47th Guards Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 65th Guards Tank Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 67th Guards Tank Regiment (Rathenov, East Germany)
• 60th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Ravensbrück, East Germany)
• 724th Guards Artillery Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 66th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 17th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 135th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 185th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 59th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 541st independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany) - 1990? moved to Wulkow bei Neuruppin
• 192nd independent Medical Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)
• 1075th independent Material Supply Battalion (Neustrelitz, East Germany)

In 7.89 the 67th Guards Tank Regiment was renamed 723rd Motorised Rifle Regiment - the division now had two tank regiments and two motorised rifle regiments.

12.97 renamed 5967th Guards Weapons and Equipment Storage Base.

Disbanded 2009.

Headquarters:

• Neustrelitz, East Germany, 7.45 - 9.93 [53 22 37N, 13 03 50E]
• Markovskiy, Perm Oblast, 9.93 - 2009

Subordination:

• 2nd Guards Tank Army, 7.45 - 12.6.46
• 2nd Guards Mechanized Army, 12.6.46 - 29.4.57
• 2nd Guards Tank Army, 29.4.57 - 11.93
• 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army, 11.93 - 6.98
• Ural Military District, 6.98 - 3.01
• Volga-Ural Military District, 3.01 - 9.01
• 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army, 9.01 - 2009

Equipment:

• 1974: 325 T-62 and T-54/55 (the 60th Motorised Rifle Regiment was still equipped with T-54/55 tanks)
• 1979: T-64 (all TP and MSP), 122mm 2s1 (60 MSP), 152mm 2s3 (artillery regiment), 122mm D-30 (artillery regiment), SA-6 (SAM regiment)
• 12.85: 9500 men, 279 T-64A, 40 T-64B, 188 BMP-1, 45 BMP-2, 17 BTR-60, 7 BTR-60 or 70, 36 122mm 2s1, 36 122mm D-30, 36 152mm 2s3

Equipment 19.11.90 (CFE treaty holdings):

• Divisional HQ: 7 BTR-80, 8 BTR-60, 1 PRP-3, 1 R-145BM, 1 R-156BTR

• 47th Guards Tank Regiment: 94 T-80, 21 BMP-2, 35 BMP-1, 4 BRM-1K, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 6 BMP-1KSh, 3 RKhM, 3 PRP-3/4, 1 BREM-2, 1 R-145BM, 2 PU-12, 3 MT-55A

• 65th Guards Tank Regiment: 94 T-80, 21 BMP-2, 36 BMP-1, 4 BRM-1K, 2 BTR-70, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 6 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3/4, 1 BREM-2, 3 RKhM, 1 R-145BM, 2 PU-12

• 60th Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-80, 99 BMP-2, 44 BMP-1, 7 BRM-1K, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 18 2s12 Sani, 9 BMP-1KSh, 3 PRP-3/4, 3 RKhM, 1 BREM-2, 1 R-145BM, 2 PU-12, 1 MT-55A, 7 MT-LBT

• 723rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-80, 99 BMP-2, 42 BMP-1, 7 BRM-1K, 2 BTR-70, 2 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 18 2s12 Sani, 9 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3/4, 3 RKhM, 2 BREM-2, 1 R-145BM, 2 PU-12, 3 MT-55A, 7 MT-LBT

• 724th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment: 54 2s3 Akatsiya, 18 BM-21 Grad, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 5 PRP-3/4, 1 R-145BM, 1 R-156BTR

• 66th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment: 1 R-156BTR

• 17th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion: 16 BMP-2, 7 BRM-1K, 1 BMP-1KSh, 1 R-156BTR, 2 R-145BM

• 185th independent Guards Communications Battalion: 10 R-145BM and 1 R-2AM

• 135th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion: 1 IRM

Equipment 1.1.2000 (CFE treaty holdings):

• 261 T-80B, 50 BMP-2, 127 BMP-1, 27 BRM-1K, 96 122mm D-30, 36 152mm D-20, 20 2s1 Gvozdika, 12 BM-21 Grad, 25 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3, 7 PRP-4, 11 R-145BM, 4 PU-12, 5 R-156BTR, 8 RKhM, 22 MT-LBT, 3 BREM-4, 5 MT-55A

Divisional coordinates:

• Neustrelitz barracks (Neue Infanterie Kaserne) [US designation: Neustrelitz Army Barracks 221]: 53 22 46N, 13 03 28E (47th Guards Tank Regiment, 65th Guards Tank Regiment, 724th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment, 66th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, 668th independent Missile Battalion, 541st independent Chemical Defence Battalion and 192nd independent Medical Battalion)
• Neustrelitz barracks [US designation: Neustrelitz Army Barracks 223]: 53 21 14N, 13 03 16E (1075th independent Material Supply Battalion)
• Neustrelitz barracks (Glambecker See) [US designation: Neustrelitz Army Barracks 226]: 53 21 54N, 13 04 11E (Divisional HQ)
• Neustrelitz barracks (Sportslager) [US designation: Neustrelitz Army Barracks 231]: 53 22 07N, 13 04 28E (135th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion)
• Neutrelitz barracks (Lager Domjüch) [US designation: Neustrelitz Army Barracks 232]: 53 19 53N, 13 07 36E (17th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion)
• Neutrelitz barracks (Sperrgebiet) [US designation: Neustrelitz Army Barracks 234]: 53 21 28N, 13 04 44E (185th independent Guards Communications Battalion and 126th independent Reactive Artillery Battery)
• Neustrelitz barracks [US designation: Neustrelitz Barracks 536]: 50 20 48N, 13 02 25E (59th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion)
• Rathenow barracks (Infanterie Kaserne) [US designation: Ratenow Army Barracks 241]: 52 37 10N, 12 21 25E (67th Guards Tank Regiment)
• Ravensbrück barracks [US designation: Ravensbrück Army Barracks 283]: 53 11 45N, 13 09 59E (60th Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Markovskiy barracks: 56 37 46N, 54 06 16E

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