61st independent Kirkenesskaya Red Banner Naval Infantry Brigade

61-я отдельная Киркенесская Краснознаменная бригада морской пехоты

Military Unit: 38643

Activated 14.5.66 in Sputnik, Murmansk Oblast, as the 61st independent Naval Infantry Regiment, from the 61st Motorised Rifle Regiment.

20.11.79 renamed 61st independent Naval Infantry Brigade.

15.9.82 the 876th independent Naval Infantry Battalion was renamed 876th independent Naval (Air Landing) Infantry Battalion.

Organisation 1988:

• 874th independent Naval Infantry Battalion (military unit: 63969)
• 875th independent Naval Infantry Battalion (military unit: 70134)
• 876th independent Naval (Air Landing) Infantry Battalion (military unit: 81285)
• 883rd independent Naval Infantry Battalion (cadre) (disbanded 1993)
• 111th independent Tank Battalion
• 886th independent Reconaissance Battalion (military unit: 49212)
• 1611th independent Artillery Battalion (military unit: 63866)
• 1617th independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (military unit: 70200)
• 1614th independent Multi-Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion
• 1620th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion

When the 175th independent Naval Infantry Brigade was disbanded in 1993, the brigade took over the following units:

• 317th independent Naval Infantry Battalion (cadre)
• 318th independent Naval Infantry Battalion (cadre)
• 215th independent Tank Battalion (cadre)
• 1591st independent Artillery Battalion (cadre)

while the 875th independent Naval Infantry Battalion, 111th independent Tank Battalion, 1614th independent Multi-Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion and 1620th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion were disbanded.

1.6.09 renamed 61st independent Naval Infantry Regiment (conversion begun 1.12.08).

Equipment 1990: 40 T-55, 26 PT-76, 132 BTR-80, 5 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 24 2s9 Nona, 18 BM-21 Grad, 113 MT-LBT, 2 BMP-1KSh, 3 PRP-3, 4 PU-12, 6 R-145BM, 8 1V119, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 1 UR-67, 1 ZS-82B and 1 MTU-20.

Equipment 2000: 1270 men, 74 T-80, 59 BTR-80, 12 2s1 Gvozdika, 22 2s9 Nona, 11 2s23, 134 MT-LBT, 3 BMP-1KSh, 4 PRP-3, 3 PRP-4, 10 PU-12, 2 R-145BM, 15 1V119, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 1 BTR-PUM and 1 ZS-88 (BTR-80).

Bases:

• Sputnik, Murmansk Oblast, 5.66 - today [69 30 40N, 31 18 46E]