51st Tank Division

51-я танковая дивизия

Military Unit: 84693

Activated 12.11.68 in Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast.

Organisation 1970:

• 349th Tank Regiment (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 421st Tank Regiment (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 468th Tank Regiment (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 523rd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 1223rd Artillery Regiment (Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov Oblast)
• 1224th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 131st independent Missile Battalion (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 252nd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 547th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 1020th independent Communications Battalion (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 000 independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 1000 independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)
• 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast)

In 1980 the 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1085th independent Material Supply Battalion.

Organisation 1980:

• 349th Tank Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 421st Tank Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 468th Tank Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 523rd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Mandalgovi, Mongolia)
• 1223rd Artillery Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1224th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 131st independent Missile Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 252nd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia) [in Mandalgovi until 10.78]
• 547th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1020th independent Communications Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 000 independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1000 independent Medical Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1085th independent Material Supply Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)

In 1985 the 523rd Motorised Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 12th Motorised Rifle Division, and was replaced by the 189th Motorised Rifle Regiment, from the same division.

Organisation 1988:

• 349th Tank Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 421st Tank Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 468th Tank Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 189th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Erdenet, Mongolia)
• 1223rd Artillery Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1224th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia) with SA-8
• 131st independent Missile Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 252nd independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 547th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1020th independent Communications Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 000 independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1000 independent Medical Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)
• 1085th independent Material Supply Battalion (Ulan-Orkhon, Mongolia)

Disbanded 7.89 - the 189th Motorised Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 12th Motorised Rifle Division.

Headquarters:

• Novocherkassk (Kazachyi Lager), Rostov Oblast, 11.68 - 6.74 [47 33 55N, 40 07 44E]
• Ulan-Orkhon (Bulgan), Mongolia, 6.74 - 27.6.89
• Naushki, Chita Oblast, 6.89 - 7.89

Subordination:

• North Caucasus Military District, 11.68 - 6.74
• 39th Combined Arms Army, 6.74 - 6.89
• Transbaykal Military District, 6.89 - 7.89

Divisional coordinates:

• Ulan-Orkhon barracks [US designation: Bulgan Army Barracks West]: 48 35 19N, 103 24 49E (Divisional HQ, and all attached units, except listed below)
• Mandal-Gobi barracks [US designation: Mandalgovi Army Barracks AL 1]: 45 44 59N, 106 14 43E (189th Motorised Rifle Regiment to 1980 and 252nd independent Reconnaissance Battalion to 10.78)
• Erdenet barracks: 49 00 45N, 104 02 22E (189th Motorised Rifle Regiment)

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - First Line (US terms: Category I) - manning was almost 95%.