7th Guards Red Banner order of Kutuzov Airborne Division

7-я гвардейская воздушно-десантная Краснознаменная ордена Кутузова дивизия

Military Unit: 61756

Activated 1.10.48 in Polotsk, Vitebsk Oblast, from the 322nd Guards Air Landing Regiment.

14.10.48 transferred to Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR.

Organisation 1948:

• 108th Guards Parachute Regiment (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 119th Guards Air Landing Regiment (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1137th Guards Artillery Regiment (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 744th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 72nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Communications Company (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 143rd independent Guards Engineering Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Supply Truck Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 00 independent Air-Landing Security Company (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Medical & Sanitary Company (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Training Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)

18.2.49 the 119th Guards Air Landing Regiment were converted and renamed 119th Parachute Regiment.

1949 the independent Landing Security Company was disbanded.

15.11.53 re-organized:

• the independent Communications Company became the 743rd independent Guards Communications Battalion
• the independent Medical & Sanitary Company became the 1681st independent Medical & Sanitary Battalion
• the independent Guards Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was disbanded
• the 72nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company was disbanded

Organization 1953:

• 108th Guards Parachute Regiment (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 119th Guards Parachute Regiment (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1137th Guards Artillery Regiment (Kalvariya, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion (Kalvariya, Lithuanian SSR)
• 744th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 743rd independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 143rd independent Guards Engineering Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Supply Truck Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 313th independent Medical & Sanitary Battalion (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Training Battalion (Kalvariya, Lithuanian SSR)

The 80th Guards Parachute Regiment was activated 1955 in Gayzhunay, Lithuanian SSR.

30.4.55 an independent Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated, and the 000 independent Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion became the 83rd independent Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion (military unit: 11007).

4.6.57 the 185th independent Military-Transport Aviation Squadron was activated with 10 An-2 aircraft.

In 1959 the 80th Guards Parachute Regiment was transferred to the 104th Guards Airborne Division, and was replaced by the 97th Guards Parachute Regiment from the same division.

Re-organized 15.8.60:

• the 1137th Guards Artillery Regiment was renamed 816th independent Guards Artillery Battalion
• the independent Tank Destroyer Battalion was reduced to a independent Tank Destroyer Battery

Organisation 1961:

• 97th Guards Parachute Regiment (Alitus, Lithuanian SSR)
• 108th Guards Parachute Regiment (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 119th Guards Parachute Regiment (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 816th independent Guards Artillery Battalion (Kalvariya, Lithuanian SSR)
• 83rd independent Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion (Kalvariya, Lithuanian SSR)
• 00 independent Tank Destroyer Battery (Kalvariya, Lithuanian SSR)
• 744th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 743rd independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 143rd independent Guards Engineering Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1681st independent Material Supply Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 313th independent Medical Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 185th independent Military-Transport Aviation Squadron (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)

27.4.62 again re-organized:

• 816th independent Guards Artillery Battalion was renamed 1141st Guards Artillery Regiment
• independent Tank Destroyer Battery was disbanded
• 880th independent Rocket Artillery Battalion was activated
• 72nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company was activated

In 1971 the 1692nd Air-Landing Security Battalion was activated.

1.10.76 the 880th independent Rocket Artillery Battalion was disbanded, and was absorbed by the Artillery Regiment, while the 6th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated from the independent repair shop.

4.5.85 awarded the Red Banner.

In 1986 the 83rd independent Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion was disbanded, and was absorbed by the Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1990:

• 97th Guards Parachute Regiment (Alitus, Lithuanian SSR)
• 108th Guards Parachute Regiment (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 119th Guards Parachute Regiment (Mariampole, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1141st Guards Artillery Regiment (Kalvariya, Lithuanian SSR)
• 72nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) - military unit: 86788
• 744th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) - military unit: 33817
• 743rd independent Guards Communications Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) - military unit: 02050
• 143rd independent Guards Engineering Battalion (Kazlu-Ruda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1692nd independent Air-Landing Security Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) - military unit: 96536
• 1681st independent Material Supply Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 6th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) - military unit: 58356
• 313th independent Medical Battalion (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)
• 185th independent Military-Transport Aviation Squadron (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)

8.93 the division was transferred to Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Kray.

In 8.93 the 345th Guards Parachute Regiment joined the division, replacing the 119th Guards Parachute Regiment.

In 1995 the 72nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company was renamed the 162nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company, but reverted back to it's old designation in 1996.

1.5.98 the 345th Guards Parachute Regiment was disbanded.

1.5.98 the 143rd independent Guards Engineering Battalion was renamed the 309th independent Guards Engineering Company, and the 744th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was renamed the 188th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Battery.

1.5.98 the 97th Guards Parachute Regiment was disbanded, and was replaced by the 247th Air-Landing Assault Regiment (had been attached to the division since 1.1.98).

In 6.98 renamed 7th Guards Air Landing Assault Division.

1.12.99 the 309th independent Guards Engineering Company was renamed the 629th independent Guards Engineering Battalion, and the 188th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Battery was renamed the 30th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.

Organisation 2010:

• 108th Guards Parachute Regiment (Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Kray)
• 247th Air-Landing Assault Regiment (Stavropol, Stavropol Kray)
• 1141st Guards Artillery Regiment (Anapa, Krasnodar Kray)
• 162nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company (Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Kray) - military unit: 96686
• 30th independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Kray)
• 743rd independent Guards Communications Battalion (Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Kray) - military unit: 96527
• 629th independent Engineering Battalion (Temryuk, Krasnodar Kray) - military unit: 96404
• 1681st independent Material Supply Battalion (Anapa, Krasnodar Kray) - military unit: 75302
• 6th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Kray) - military unit: 75327
• 185th independent Military-Transport Aviation Squadron (Krymsk, Krasnodar Kray)

Equipment 12.85:

• 7250 men, 24 BMD-1K, 243 BMD-1, 30 122mm D-30

Equipment 19.11.90:

• Divisional HQ: 8 BMD-2, 12 BTR-D, 1 BTR-3D and 1 BMD-1KSh
• 97th Guards Parachute Regiment: 40 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1, 32 BTR-D, 18 2s9 Nona, 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-3D, 8 BMD-1KSh, 10 1V119
• 108th Guards Parachute Regiment: 40 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1, 32 BTR-D, 18 2s9 Nona, 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-3D, 8 BMD-1KSh, 10 1V119
• 119th Guards Parachute Regiment: 40 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1, 32 BTR-D, 18 2s9 Nona, 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-3D, 8 BMD-1KSh, 10 1V119
• 1141st Guards Artillery Regiment: 18 2s9 Nona, 6 D-30, 6 BTR-D, 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-3D, 3 BMD-1KSh, 10 1V119
• 744th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion: 4 BTR-3D, 1 BMD-1KSh
• 185th independent Military-Transport Aviation Squadron: 1 Mi-8
• 143rd independent Guards Engineering Battalion: 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
• 743rd independent Guards Communications Battalion: 3 BTR-3D, 10 BMD-1KSh, 3 R-440odb
• 6th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion: 1 BTR-D

Equipment 1.1.2000:

• Divisional HQ: 2 BMD-1KSh, 1 1V119, 1 BTR-3D, 9 BMD-2, 1 BTR-D
• 108th Guards Parachute Regiment: 39 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1, 35 BTR-D, 19 2s9 Nona, 13 BTR-3D, 9 BTR-RD, 7 BMD-1KSh, 1 BMD-1R, 8 1V119, 1602 men
• 247th Air-Landing Assault Regiment: 72 BMP-2, 36 BTR-80, 26 BTR-D, 18 2s9 Nona, 13 BTR-3D, 9 BTR-RD, 8 1V119, 1583 men
• 1141st Guards Artillery Regiment: 18 2s9 Nona, 12 D-30, 5 BTR-D, 3 BTR-3D, 9 BTR-RD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 9 1V119, 598 men
• 30th independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion: 8 BTR-3D, 4 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh, 158 men
• 629th independent Engineering Battalion: 8 BTR-3D, 1 BMD-1KSh, 110 men
• 743rd independent Guards Communications Battalion: 2 BTR-3D, 8 BMD-1KSh, 6 BMD-1R, 3 R-440odb, 246 men
• 6th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion: 4 BTR-D, 1 BREM-D, 181 men
• 185th independent Military-Transport Aviation Squadron: 160 men

Headquarters:

• Polotsk, Vitebsk Oblast, 1.10.48 - 14.10.48
• Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, 14.10.48 - 8.93
• Maykop, Krasnodar Kray, 8.93 - 6.94 [44 34 19N, 40 07 36E]
• Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Kray, 6.94 - today [44 43 59N, 37 43 43E]

Subordination:

• 8th Guards Airborne Corps, 10.48 - 4.4.56
• GK VDV, 4.56 - today

Divisional coordinates:

• Kaunas barracks [US designation: Kaunas Army Barracks South AL 1]: 54 51 57N, 23 56 35E (Divisional HQ, 72nd independent Guards Reconnaissance Company, 744th independent Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion, 1692nd independent Air-Landing Security Battalion, 1681st independent Material Supply Battalion, 313th independent Medical Battalion and 185th independent Military-Transport Aviation Squadron)
• Kaunas barracks [US designation: Kaunas Army Barracks Southeast AL 2]: 54 51 37N, 23 57 40E (108th Guards Parachute Regiment)
• Alitus barracks [US designation: Alytus Army Barracks AL 1]: 54 22 45N, 24 03 19E (97th Guards Parachute Regiment)
• Mariampole barracks [US designation: Marijampole Army Barracks AL 1]: 54 32 30N, 23 20 29E (119th Guards Parachute Regiment)
• Kalvariya barracks [US designation: Kalvarija Army Barracks AL 1]: 54 24 13N, 23 13 25E (1141st Guards Artillery Regiment)
• Kazlu-Ruda barracks [US designation: Kazlu-Ruda Army Barracks AL 1]: 54 47 54N, 23 28 30E (143rd independent Guards Engineering Battalion)

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