20th Motorised Rifle Division

20. motostřelecká divize

Military Unit: 8038

Activated 1.10.58 in Karlovy Var, Czechoslovakia, from the 20th Rifle Division.

Organisation 1970:

• 49th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia)
• 65th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Cheb, Czechoslovakia)
• 74th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Tank Regiment (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 38th Artillery Regiment (Sokolov, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia) - 1978 converted to the SA-6 missile
• 20th independent Tank Battalion (Dolní Žandov, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th independent Missile Battalion (Stružná, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th Reconnaissance Battalion (Cheb, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Engineer Battalion (Kadaň, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Communications Battalion (Karlovy Var, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Chemical Defence Company (Karlovy Var, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Medical Battalion (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 62nd Motor Transport Battalion (Ostrov nad Ohří, Czechoslovakia)

1.9.71 the 20th independent Tank Battalion was disbanded.

1.9.74 the 20th Maintenance Battalion was formed from the various divisional workshops.

1.9.79 the 12th Chemical Defence Company was renamed 12th Chemical Defence Battalion.

Organisation 1980:

• 49th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia)
• 65th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Cheb, Czechoslovakia)
• 74th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Tank Regiment (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 38th Artillery Regiment (Sokolov, Czechoslovakia) - 10.82 moved to Kynšperk nad Ohří
• 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th independent Missile Battalion (Stružná, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th Reconnaissance Battalion (Cheb, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Engineer Battalion (Kadaň, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Communications Battalion (Karlovy Var, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Chemical Defence Battalion (Karlovy Var, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th Maintenance Battalion (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Medical Battalion (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 62nd Motor Transport Battalion (Ostrov nad Ohří, Czechoslovakia)

In 10.84 the 62nd Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 20th Supply Battalion.

Organisation 1988:

• 49th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia)
• 65th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Cheb, Czechoslovakia)
• 74th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Tank Regiment (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 38th Artillery Regiment (Kynšperk nad Ohří, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th independent Missile Battalion (Stružná, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th Reconnaissance Battalion (Cheb, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Engineer Battalion (Kadaň, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Communications Battalion (Karlovy Var, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Chemical Defence Battalion (Karlovy Var, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th Maintenance Battalion (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 12th Medical Battalion (Podbořany, Czechoslovakia)
• 20th Supply Battalion (Ostrov nad Ohří, Czechoslovakia)

1.11.89 the 20th independent Missile Battalion was disbanded.

31.10.91 renamed 20th Mechanised Division.

Divisional coordinates:

• Karlovy Var barracks (Dvory 1 barracks) [US designation: Karlovy Var Army Barracks 001]: 50 13 37N, 12 50 26E (74th Motorised Rifle Regiment - parts, 12th Communications Battalion and 12th Chemical Defence Battalion)
• Karlovy Var barracks (Dvory 2 barracks) [US designation: Karlovy Var Army Barracks 002]: 50 13 10N, 12 49 34E (74th Motorised Rifle Regiment - main part)
• Karlovy Var barracks [US designation: Karlovy Var Army Barracks 004]: 50 14 06N, 12 52 24E (Divisional HQ)
• Mariánské Lázně barracks (Hamrniky barracks) [Marianske Lazne Army Barracks 001]: 49 57 00N, 12 41 48E (12th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment)
• Mariánské Lázně barracks (Klimentov barracks) [Marianske Lazne Army Barracks 005]: 49 58 09N, 12 40 02E (49th Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Cheb barracks (9 Mei barracks) [Cheb Army Barracks 002]: 50 04 15N, 12 22 11E (65th Motorised Rifle Regiment - main part)
• Cheb barracks (Jul Fucika barracks) [Cheb Army Barracks 003]: 50 05 09N, 12 22 00E (65th Motorised Rifle Regiment - parts and 20th Reconnaissance Battalion)
• Podbořany barracks [US designation: Podborany Army Barracks 001]: 50 13 24N, 13 23 47E (12th Tank Regiment, 20th Maintenance Battalion and 12th Medical Battalion)
• Sokolov barracks (25 Unora barracks) [US designation: Sokolov Army Barracks 001]: 50 10 07N, 12 38 41E (38th Artillery Regiment)
• Kynšperk nad Ohří barracks: 50 07 23N, 12 32 00E (38th Artillery Regiment after 1982)
• Stružná barracks [US designation: Struzna Army Barracks 001]: 50 11 07N, 13 00 09E (20th independent Missile Battalion)
• Kadaň barracks (Novy barracks) [US designation: Kadan Army Barracks 001]: 50 22 32N, 13 16 44E (12th Engineer Battalion)
• Ostrov nad Ohří barracks [US designation: Ostrov Army Barracks 001]: 50 18 25N, 12 56 11E (20th Supply Battalion)

Equipment:

• 12.85: 9000 men, 214 T-54/55, 126 BMP-1, 249 OT-64, 18 122mm 2s1, 36 122mm D-30, 36 122mm M-30, 18 152mm DANA

Subordination:

• 1st Army, 1.10.58 - 1.9.65
• Western Military District, 1.9.65 - 1.9.69
• 1st Army, 1.9.69 - 30.10.91

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