18th Guards Insterburgskaya Red Banner order of Suvorov Motorised Rifle Division

18-я гвардейская мотострелковая Инстербургская Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия

Military Unit: 01908; from 10.68: 34901

Activated 25.6.57 in Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, as the 30th Guards Motorised Rifle Division, from the 30th Guards Mechanised Division.

Organisation 1960:

• 275th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 278th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 360th Tank Regiment (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 52nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Chernyakhovsk Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 139th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 45th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 234th independent Guards Sapper Battalion (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 27th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 431st independent Chemical Defence Company (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 386th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)
• 744th independent Motor Transport Battalion (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast)

19.2.62 re-organised:

• 80th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated
• 185th independent Missile Battalion was activated

11.1.64 renamed 18th Guards Motorised Rifle Division.

In 1968 the 234th independent Guards Sapper Battalion was renamed 234th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion, while the 149th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated.

Mobilised 7.68 for action in Czechoslovakia, and was transferred through Poland into East Germany - 20.8.68 crossed into Czechoslovakia, and was deployed near Prague six days later.

19.10.68 officially subordinated to the new Central Group of Forces.

In 10.68 the 86th independent Tank Battalion was activated.

Organisation 1970:

• 275th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia)
• 278th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Zakupy, Czechoslovakia)
• 280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Bohosudov, Czechoslovakia)
• 360th Tank Regiment (Straz pod Ralskem, Czechoslovakia)
• 52nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 139th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Sveborice, Czechoslovakia) - until 1969 in Dechin
• 86th independent Tank Battalion (Straz pod Ralskem, Czechoslovakia)
• 185th independent Missile Battalion (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 149th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia) - initially in Hvezdov
• 2nd independent Reactive Artillery Battery (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 45th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Dechin, Czechoslovakia)
• 234th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)
• 27th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)
• 431st independent Chemical Defence Company (Sveborice, Czechoslovakia) - later to Dechin
• 80th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 386th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Dechin, Czechoslovakia)
• 744th independent Motor Transport Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)

In 1972 the 431st independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 106th independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

In 1980 the 744th independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 898th independent Material Supply Battalion, and the 2nd  independent Reactive Artillery Battery was absorbed by the Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

• 275th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia)
• 278th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Zakupy, Czechoslovakia)
• 280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Bohosudov, Czechoslovakia)
• 360th Tank Regiment (Straz pod Ralskem, Czechoslovakia)
• 52nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 139th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Sveborice, Czechoslovakia)
• 86th independent Tank Battalion (Straz pod Ralskem, Czechoslovakia)
• 185th independent Missile Battalion (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 149th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)
• 45th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Straz pod Ralskem, Czechoslovakia) - there since 1978
• 234th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)
• 27th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)
• 106th independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Dechin, Czechoslovakia) - 5.88 to Kurivody
• 80th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 386th independent Medical Battalion (Dechin, Czechoslovakia)
• 898th independent Material Supply Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)

Organisation 1988:

• 275th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia)
• 278th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Zakupy, Czechoslovakia)
• 280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Bohosudov, Czechoslovakia)
• 360th Tank Regiment (Straz pod Ralskem, Czechoslovakia)
• 52nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 139th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Sveborice, Czechoslovakia)
• 86th independent Tank Battalion (Straz pod Ralskem, Czechoslovakia)
• 185th independent Missile Battalion (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 149th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)
• 45th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Sveborice, Czechoslovakia) - there since 1984
• 234th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)
• 27th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia)
• 106th independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia) - 1989 to Straz pod Ralskem
• 80th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Hvezdov, Czechoslovakia)
• 386th independent Medical Battalion (Dechin, Czechoslovakia)
• 898th independent Material Supply Battalion (Kurivody, Czechoslovakia)

In 7.89 the 360th Tank Regiment was transferred to the 15th Tank Division, and was replaced by the 210th Motorised Rifle Regiment, based at Rokytnice v. Orlicky - at the same time the 86th independent Tank Battalion was transferred to Milovice, where it absorbed parts of the 244th Guards Tank Regiment.

10.90 began transfer to Gusev, Kaliningrad Oblast - completed 3.91.

In 1992 the 280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was disbanded, and was replaced by the new 321st Tank Regiment.

1.5.98 renamed 18th Guards Motorised Rifle Division (Cadre).

19.11.01 renamed 19th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion.

1.6.02 renamed 79th independent Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade.

Headquarters:

• Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, 6.57 - 7.68
• Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia, 9.68 - 3.91
• Gusev, Kaliningrad Oblast, 3.91 - today

Subordination:

• 11th Guards Combined Arms Army, 6.57 - 10.68
• Central Group of Forces, 10.68 - 3.91
• 11th Guards Combined Arms Army, 3.91 - 8.97
• Army and Coastal Forces Blatic Fleet, 8.97 - today

Equipment:

• 1974: 197 T-62
• 12.85: 11400 men, 188 T-62, 83 T-72M, 146 BMP-1, 293 BTR-60, 1 BTR-60 or 70, 12 BTR-70, 18 152mm 2s1, 72 122mm D-30, 36 152mm 2s3

Equipment 19.11.90 (CFE treaty holdings):

• 210th Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-72, 5 BMP-1, 4 BRM-1K, 14 BTR-60, 18 122mm D-30, 6 2s12 Sani, 1 PRP-3, 2 PRP-4, 9 R-145BM and 2 MT-55A
• 275th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-72, 2 BMP-2, 4 BMP-1, 4 BRM-1K, 20 BTR-60, 12 2s12 Sani, 2 PRP-4, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 11 R-145BM, 2 PU-12 and 2 MT-55A
• 278th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-72, 6 BMP-2, 29 BMP-1, 5 BRM-1K, 16 2s1 Gvozdika, 4 2s12 Sani, 8 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-4, 1 PRP-3, 3 BREM-4, 2 PU-12 and 2 MT-55A
• 280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-72, 7 BMP-2, 5 BRM-1K, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 6 2s12 Sani, 8 BMP-1KSh, 1 PRP-4, 2 PRP-3, 3 BREM-4, 2 PU-12, 1 MTU-20 and 2 MT-55A
• 52nd Guards Artillery Regiment: 16 2s3 Akatsiya, 15 BM-21 Grad, 5 PRP-3, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 2 R-145BM, 1 R-156BTR and 11 MT-LBT
• 27th independent Guards Communications Battalion: 10 R-145BM and 1 R-156BTR
• 234th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion: 2 IRM and 3 UR-67
• additional equipment already arrived in Chernyakhovsk: 31 T-72, 44 BMP-2, 49 BMP-1, 7 BRM-1K, 101 BTR-60, 33 2s3 Akatsiya, 18 122mm D-30, 44 2s12 Sani, 2 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3, 5 R-145BM, 2 R-156BTR, 4 PU-12, 2 MT-55A and 112 MT-LBT (139th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, 86th independent Tank Battalion, 149th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion, 45th independent Reconnaissance Battalion and 106th independent Chemical Defence Battalion)

Divisional coordinates:

• Bohosudov barracks [US designation: Bohosudov Army Barracks 201]: 50 40 47N, 13 52 22E (280th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Mlada Boleslav barracks [US designation: Mlada Boleslav Army Barracks 201]: 50 24 43N, 14 55 13E (Divisional HQ, 275th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment and 27th independent Guards Communications Battalion)
• Zakupy barracks [US designation: Zakupy Army Barracks 201]: 50 42 06N, 14 39 29E (278th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Straz pod Ralskem barracks [US designation: Straz pod Ralskem Army Barracks 201]: 50 41 46N, 14 49 35E (360th Tank Regiment, 106th independent Chemical Defence Battalion)
• Hvezdov barracks [US designation: Mimon Army Barracks East-Southeast 221]: 50 38 22N, 14 46 47E (52nd Guards Artillery Regiment and 2nd  independent Reactive Artillery Battery)
• Hvezdov barracks [US designation: Mimon Army Barracks East-Southeast 221]: 50 37 58N, 14 47 03E (185th independent Missile Battalion and 80th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion)
• Sveborice barracks [US designation: Mimon Army Barracks 222/SAM Support Facility 3]: 50 39 03N, 14 47 50E (139th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment and 45th independent Reconnaissance Battalion)
• Dechin barracks [US designation: Decin Army Barracks 202]: 50 46 38N, 14 12 34E (386th independent Medical Battalion)
• Kurivody barracks [US designation: Kurivody Army Barracks 221]: 50 34 58N, 14 47 50E (149th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion)
• Kurivody barracks [US designation: Kurivody Army Barracks 221]: 50 35 03N, 14 48 16E (234th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion)
• Kurivody barracks [US designation: Kurivody Army Barracks 221]: 50 35 19N, 14 48 13E (898th independent Material Supply Battalion)
• Gusev B barracks: 54 35 16N, 22 12 11E
• Gusev C barracks: 54 35 49N, 22 11 30E
• Chernyakhovsk barracks [US designation: Chernyakhovsk Army Barracks Angrapa River AL 1]: 54 38 17N, 21 49 43E
• Chernyakhovsk barracks [US designation: Chernyakhovsk Army Barracks West AL 8]: 54 38 23N, 21 48 00E

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - First Line (US terms: Category I) - manning was 100% (1968 to 1991).