20th Zvenigorodskaya Red Banner Tank Division

20-я танковая Звенигородская Краснознамённая дивизия

Military Unit: 70413

Activated 4.7.45 in Swietoszów, Poland, from the 20th Tank Corps.

Organisation 1946:

• 8th Guards Tank Regiment
• 80th Tank Regiment
• 155th Tank Regiment
• 7th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment
• 76th Guards Heavy Tank Self-Propelled Regiment
• 291st Guards Mortar Regiment
• 1711th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment
• 000 independent Howitzer Artillery Battalion
• 406th independent Guards Mortar Battalion
• 96th independent Motorcycle Battalion
• 206th independent Sapper Battalion
• 710th independent Communications Battalion
• 219th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion
• 681st independent Auto-Transport Battalion
• 70th independent Tank Training Battalion

6.5.54 re-organised:

• 7th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was renamed 137th Guards Mechanised Regiment
• 1052nd Guards Artillery Regiment was activated from the 291st Guards Mortar Regiment and the 000 independent Howitzer Artillery Battalion
• 96th independent Motorcycle Battalion was renamed 96th independent Reconnaissance Battalion
• 488th independent Chemical Defence Company was activated

In 4.55 the 1711th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was renamed 459th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

25.6.57 reorganised (ordered 12.3.57):

• 137th Guards Mechanised Regiment was renamed 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment
• 80th Tank Regiment was disbanded
• 76th Guards Heavy Tank Self-Propelled Regiment was renamed 76th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment

In 1960 the 70th independent Tank Training Battalion was disbanded.

Organisation 1960:

• 8th Guards Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 76th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment (Strachów, Poland) - 1962 renamed 76th Guards Tank Regiment
• 155th Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 1052nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Swidnica, Poland)
• 459th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Swidnica, Poland)
• 96th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 206th independent Sapper Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 710th independent Communications Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 488th independent Chemical Defence Company (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 219th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Swidnica, Poland)
• 681st independent Motor Transport Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)

In 1961 the 595th independent Missile Battalion was activated.

19.2.62 the 70th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated.

22.2.68 awarded the Red Banner.

In 1968 the 206th independent Sapper Battalion was renamed 206th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion.

Organisation 1970:

• 8th Guards Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 76th Guards Tank Regiment (Strachów, Poland)
• 155th Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 1052nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Swidnica, Poland)
• 459th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Swidnica, Poland)
• 595th independent Missile Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 30th independent Reactive Artillery Battery (Swidnica, Poland)
• 96th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 206th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 710th independent Communications Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 488th independent Chemical Defence Company (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 70th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 219th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Swidnica, Poland)
• 681st independent Motor Transport Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)

In 1972 the 488th independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 539th independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

In 1980 the 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1082nd independent Material Supply Battalion, and the 30th independent Guards Reactive Artillery Battery was absorbed by the Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

• 8th Guards Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 76th Guards Tank Regiment (Strachów, Poland)
• 155th Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 1052nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Swidnica, Poland) - 1985 to Swietoszów
• 459th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Swidnica, Poland) - 1985 to Swietoszów
• 595th independent Missile Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 96th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 206th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 710th independent Communications Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 539th independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 70th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 219th independent Medical Battalion (Swidnica, Poland)
• 1082nd independent Material Supply Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)

30.10.82 the 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 82nd Motorised Rifle Division, and was replaced by the 144th Motorised Rifle Regiment, from the same division.

In 1985 the 539th independent Chemical Defence Battalion was renamed 336th independent Chemical Defence Company.

Organisation 1988:

• 8th Guards Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 76th Guards Tank Regiment (Strachów, Poland)
• 155th Tank Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 144th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 1052nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 459th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 595th independent Missile Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 96th independent Reconnaissance Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 206th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 710th independent Communications Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 336th independent Chemical Defence Company (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 70th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)
• 219th independent Medical Battalion (Swidnica, Poland)
• 1082nd independent Material Supply Battalion (Swietoszów, Poland)

Disbanded 5.91.

Headquarters:

• Swietoszów, Poland, 7.45 - 4.91 [51 28 14N, 15 23 43E]
• Kharkov, Kharkov Oblast, 4.91 - 5.91

Subordination:

• Northern Group of Forces, 7.45 - 4.91
• Kiev Military District, 4.91 - 5.91

Equipment:

• 1974: 325 T-54/55
• 12.85: 9800 men, 319 T-62, 230 BMP-1, 24 BTR-60, 36 122mm 2s1, 36 122mm D-30, 36 152mm 2s3

Equipment 19.11.90 (CFE treaty holdings):

• Divisional HQ: 1 R-145BM, 1 R-156BTR and 1 PU-12
• 8th GuardsTank Regiment: 92 T-80, 25 BMP-2, 29 BMP-1, 2 BRM-1K, 10 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 6 2s12 Sani, 2 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3, 3 RKhM, 2 R-145BM, 2 PU-12 and 3 MT-55A
• 76th Guards Tank Regiment: 94 T-80, 22 BMP-2, 30 BMP-1, 2 BRM-1K, 2 BTR-60, 18 122mm D-30, 6 2s12 Sani, 2 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3, 3 RKhM, 2 R-145BM, 2 PU-12, 1 MTP-1, 3 MT-55A and 20 MT-LBT
• 155th Tank Regiment: 92 T-80, 42 BMP-2, 12 BMP-1, 2 BRM-1K, 2 BTR-60, 18 122mm D-30, 6 2s12 Sani, 2 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3, 3 RKhM, 2 R-145BM, 2 PU-12, 1 MTP-1, 3 MT-55A and 20 MT-LBT
• 144th Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-80, 49 BMP-2, 40 BMP-1, 2 BRM-1K, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 12 2s12 Sani, 2 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3, 1 R-145BM, 2 PU-12, 2 MTP-1 and 1 MT-55A
• 1052nd Guards Artillery Regiment: 20 T-80, 1 BTR-60, 36 2s3 Akatsiya, 18 BM-21 Grad, 4 PRP-3, 3 1V18, 1 1V19 and 1 RKhM
• 459th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment: ZRK Osa (SA-8) and 5 PU-12
• 595th independent Missile Battalion: 3 R-145BM
• 96th independent Reconnaissance Battalion: 6 T-80, 10 BMP-2, 7 BRM-1K, 6 BTR-60, 1 R-145BM and 1 R-156BTR
• 710th independent Communications Battalion: 19 R-145BM and 1 R-156BTR
• 206th independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion: 4 BTR-60, 1 IRM and 2 UR-67

Divisional coordinates:

• Swietoszów barracks (US designation: Swietoszów Army Barracks 201): 51 28 20N, 15 23 48E (Divisional HQ and all units, except listed below)
• Strachów barracks (US designation: Pstraze Army Barracks 210): 51 26 40N, 15 33 57E (76th Guards Tank Regiment)
• Swidnica barracks [US designation: Swidnica Army Barracks 202]: 50 51 02N, 16 29 28E (1052nd Guards Artillery Regiment until 1985 and 30th independent Reactive Artillery Battery)
• Swidnica barracks [US designation: Swidnica Army Barracks 205]: 50 50 21N, 16 28 33E (459th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment until 1985)
• Swidnica barracks [US designation: Swidnica Army Barracks 021]: 50 51 06N, 16 29 14E (219th independent Medical Battalion)

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