1st Tank Division

1. tanková divize

Military Unit: 3858

Activated 1.10.58 in Slaný, Czechoslovakia, from the 1st Mechanised Division.

Organisation 1970:

In 1977 the 5th Chemical Defence Company was renamed 5th Chemical Defence Battalion.

1.9.77 the 1st Maintenance Battalion was formed from the various divisional workshops.

Organisation 1980:

1st Tank Regiment (Strašice, Czechoslovakia)
2nd Tank Regiment (Rakovnik, Czechoslovakia)
21st Tank Regiment (Žatec, Czechoslovakia)
3rd Motorised Rifle Regiment (Louny, Czechoslovakia)
1st Artillery Regiment (Terezin, Czechoslovakia)
5th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Žatec, Czechoslovakia) - 1984 converted to SA-8 missiles
1st independent Missile Battalion (Terezin, Czechoslovakia)
16th independent Missile Battalion (Terezin, Czechoslovakia)
1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
3rd Engineer Battalion (Terezin, Czechoslovakia)
2nd Communications Battalion (Slaný, Czechoslovakia)
5th Chemical Defence Battalion (Slaný, Czechoslovakia)
1st Maintenance Battalion (Žatec, Czechoslovakia)
5th Medical Battalion (Terezin, Czechoslovakia)
5th Motor Transport Battalion (Postoloprty, Czechoslovakia)

18.11.82 the 16th independent Missile Battalion was replaced by the 13th independent Missile Battalion.

1.11.83 the 5th Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1st Supply Battalion.

Organisation 1988:

1.10.89 the 1st Tank Regiment was transferred to the 19th Motorised Rifle Division.

31.12.92 disbanded.

Divisional coordinates:

Slaný barracks (Dukelsky Hrdinu barracks) [US designation: Slany Army Barracks 001]: 50 14 00N, 14 04 04E (Divisional HQ, 2nd Communications Battalion and 5th Chemical Defence Battalion)
Strašice barracks [US designation: Strasice Army Barracks 001]: 49 43 56N, 13 45 47E (1st Tank Regiment)
Rakovnik barracks [US designation: Rakovnik Army Barracks Dukla 001]: 50 06 41N, 13 42 13E (2nd Tank Regiment)
Žatec barracks (Volynsky Cehu barracks) [US designation: Zatec Army Barracks 001]: 50 19 29N, 13 33 56E (21st Tank Regiment, 5th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment and 1st Maintenance Battalion)
Louny barracks [US designation: Louny Army Barracks 001]: 50 21 10N, 13 49 07E (3rd Motorised Rifle Regiment)
Terezin barracks (Johann Ziska barracks) [US designation: Terezin Army Barracks 001]: 50 30 34N, 14 09 02E (1st Artillery Regiment, 1st independent Missile Battalion, 16th independent Missile Battalion and 3rd Engineer Battalion)
Terezin barracks [US designation: Terezin Army Barracks 006]: 50 30 36N, 14 08 30E (5th Medical Battalion)
Postoloprty barracks (Dukla barracks) [US designation: Postoloprty Army Barracks 002]: 50 21 49N, 13 41 33E (5th Motor Transport Battalion)
Bílina barracks [US designation: Bilina Army Barracks 501]: 50 33 46N, 13 46 25E (1st Supply Battalion)
Čihadla barracks: 50 14 31N, 14 47 36E (13th independent Missile Battalion)

Equipment:

12.85: 7700 men, 124 T-54/55, 322 T-72, 126 BMP-1, 30 BMP-2, 36 122mm 2s1, 36 122mm D-30, 18 152mm DANA - additional mobilisation equipment (16th Tank Division): 100 men, 327 T-54/55, 62 OT-62, 10 OT-64, 60 122mm M-30

Subordination:

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - Reduced Strength I (US terms: Category I) - manning was about 75%.