56th independent Guards order of the Patriotic War Landing-Assault Brigade

56-я отдельная десантно-штурмовая ордена Отечественной войны бригада

Military Unit: 33079; from 6.80: 44585; from 6.88: 33079; from 1992: 74507

Activated 1.10.79 in Azadbash (Chirchik), Tashkent Oblast, from the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment.

13.12.79 transferred to Termez, Surkhandar'inskaya Oblast, for operations on Afghanistan - the first battalion crossed the border 25.12.79, followed by the rest of the brigade in 1.80.

1980 the second battalion became attached to the 70th independent Motorised Rifle Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

• 1st Landing Assault Battalion
• 2nd Landing Assault Battalion
• 3rd Landing Assault Battalion
• 4th Airborne Battalion
• Artillery Battalion
• Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion

4.5.85 awarded the order of the Patriotic War.

Due to the troubles in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the brigade was temporarily deployed to Baku, Azerbaizhan SSR, from 12.1.90 to 2.90 - for patrols along the border areas.

1.6.90 transferred to the VDV, and renamed 40th independent Airborne Brigade.

6.6.90 deployed to Fergana, Fergana Oblast, for security operations in the region (including Andizhan, Andizhan Oblast, and Jalal-Abad, Osh Oblast).

Organisation 1990:

• 1st Airborne Training Battalion (foot)
• 2nd Airborne Training Battalion (foot)
• 3rd Airborne Training Battalion (foot)
• Artillery Training Battalion
• Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Battery

Took part in Chechen operations 12.94 to 10.96.

1996 renamed 56th Guards Airborne Regiment.

1.5.09 renamed 56th Guards Airborne Brigade, and from 1.7.2010 56th Guards Airborne Brigade (light).

Bases:

• Azadbash (Chirchik), Tashkent Oblast, 10.79 - 1.80 [41 30 58N, 69 37 31E] [US designation: Chirchik Army Barracks AL 1]
• Kunduz, Afghanistan, 1.80 - 12.82 [36 39 27N, 68 55 12E - possibly]
• Gardez, Afghanistan, 16.12.82 - 6.88 [33 37 15N, 69 11 45E]
• Yolotan, Mary Oblast, 14.6.88 - 1992 [37 17 45N, 62 22 00E] [US designation: Iolotan Army Barracks AL 1]
• Podgorny, Rostov Oblast, 1992 - 7.98 [47 34 42N, 42 20 43E]
• Kamyshin, Volgograd Oblast, 7.98 - today [50 04 04N, 45 24 14E]

Subordination:

• Turkestan Military District, 10.79 - 1.80
• 40th Combined Arms Army, 1.80 - 6.88
• Turkestan Military District, 6.88 - 1.6.90
• HQ VDV, 1.6.90 - 1997
• 20th Guards Motorised Rifle Division, 1997 - 1.5.09
• HQ VDV, 1.5.09 - today