20th Tank Division

20 Dywizja Pancerna

Military Unit: 5897

Activated 3.9.55 in Szczcinek, Poland, from the 20th Mechanised Division.

Organisation 1960:

• 20th Medium Tank Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 28th Medium Tank Regiment (Czarne, Poland)
• 68th Medium Tank Regiment (Budowo, Poland)
• 49th Mechanised Regiment (Walcz, Poland)
• 105th Artillery Battalion (Choszczno, Poland)
• 30th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 7th Rocket Artillery Battalion (Choszczno, Poland) - 7.62 moved to Budowo
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Pila, Poland)
• 73rd Engineer Battalion (Zlocieniec, Poland) - 1961 moved to Gryfice
• 63rd Communications Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 63rd Chemical Defence Company (Czarne, Poland)
• 58th Medical Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 67th Transport Battalion, (Szczcinek, Poland)

In 1961 the 73rd Engineer Battalion was renamed 7th Engineer Battalion.

16.10.61 the 8th Reconnaissance Battalion was renamed 19th Reconnaissance Company, and moved to Czarne.

7.7.67 the 20th Repair Battalion was activated from the various divisional repair shops.

30.9.67 the 20th Medium Tank Regiment was renamed 24th Medium Tank Regiment.

30.11.67 the 30th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was renamed 104th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

In March 1968 the 19th Reconnaissance Company was renamed 8th Reconnaissance Battalion, and moved to Budowo.

In 1969 the 105th Artillery Battalion was expanded, and renamed 36th Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1970:

• 24th Medium Tank Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 28th Medium Tank Regiment (Czarne, Poland)
• 68th Medium Tank Regiment (Budowo, Poland)
• 49th Mechanised Regiment (Walcz, Poland)
• 36th Artillery Regiment (Budowo, Poland)
• 104th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 7th Missile Battalion (Budowo, Poland)
• 26th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Budowo, Poland)
• 7th Engineer Battalion (Gryfice, Poland) - 1970 moved to Stargard Szczecinski
• 63rd Communications Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 63rd Chemical Defence Company (Czarne, Poland)
• 20th Repair Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 58th Medical Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 20th Supply Battalion, (Szczcinek, Poland)

Organisation 1980:

• 24th Medium Tank Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 28th Medium Tank Regiment (Czarne, Poland)
• 68th Medium Tank Regiment (Budowo, Poland)
• 49th Mechanised Regiment (Walcz, Poland)
• 36th Artillery Regiment (Budowo, Poland)
• 104th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 7th Missile Battalion (Budowo, Poland)
• 26th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Budowo, Poland) - 4.82 moved to Stargard Szczecinski
• 7th Engineer Battalion (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 63rd Communications Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 63rd Chemical Defence Company (Czarne, Poland)
• 20th Repair Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 58th Medical Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 20th Supply Battalion, (Szczcinek, Poland)

In 1981 the 104th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (with 57mm S-60) was disbanded, and was replaced by the 75th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (with SA-6).

Organisation 1988:

• 24th Medium Tank Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 28th Medium Tank Regiment (Czarne, Poland) - 1990 moved to Braniewo
• 68th Medium Tank Regiment (Budowo, Poland) - 1989 renamed 33rd Mechanised Regiment
• 49th Mechanised Regiment (Walcz, Poland) - 1989 renamed 6th Mechanised Regiment
• 36th Artillery Regiment (Budowo, Poland)
• 75th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Rogowo, Poland) - 12.89 renamed 99th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
• 7th Missile Battalion (Budowo, Poland)
• 26th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 7th Engineer Battalion (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 63rd Communications Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 63rd Chemical Defence Company (Czarne, Poland)
• 20th Repair Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 58th Medical Battalion (Szczcinek, Poland)
• 20th Supply Battalion, (Szczcinek, Poland)

1989 renamed 20th Mechanised Division.

Divisional coordinates:

• Szczcinek barracks [US designation: Szczcinek Army Barracks 002]: 53 43 06N, 16 40 35E (Divisional HQ, 26th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion, 63rd Communications Battalion, 20th Repair Battalion, 58th Medical Battalion and 20th Supply Battalion)
• Stargard Szczecinski barracks [US designation: Stargard Szczecinski Army Barracks 002]: 53 20 09N, 15 01 51E (28th Medium Tank Regiment, 75th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, 7th Engineer Battalion and 8th Reconnaissance Battalion)
• Czarne barracks [US designation: Czarne Army Barracks 004]: 53 41 03N, 16 55 15E (28th Medium Tank Regiment and 63rd Chemical Defence Company)
• Walcz barracks [US designation: Walcz Army Barracks 002]: 53 16 55N, 16 29 34E (49th Mechanised Regiment)
• Budowo barracks [US designation: Zlocieniec Army Barracks 001/002/006]: 53 32 58N, 16 03 03E (68th Medium Tank Regiment, 7th Missile Battalion and 36th Artillery Regiment)
• Pila barracks [US designation: Pila Army Barracks 002]: 53 09 31N, 16 45 16E (8th Reconnaissance Battalion until 1961)
• Rogowo barracks: 54 08 57N, 15 20 10E (75th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment)

Equipment:

• 12.85: 7500 men, 283 T-54/55, 130 BMP-1, 42 OT-64, 54 122mm M-30

Subordination:

• Pommeranian Military District, 1955 - 1990

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