12th Mechanised Division

12 Dywizja Zmechanizowana

Military Unit: 3427

Activated 1.11.58 in Szczecin, Poland, from the 12th Infantery Division.

Organisation 1960:

• 5th Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 9th Mechanised Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 41st Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 16th Medium Tank Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 2nd Artillery Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 22nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 22nd Rocket Artillery Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 59th Reconnaissance Company (Szczecin, Poland)
• 17th Engineer Battalion (Podjuchy, Poland)
• 33rd Communications Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 19th Chemical Defence Company (Szczecin, Poland)
• 46th Transport Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)

In 1961 the 45th Medical Battalion was activated.

In 1967 re-organised:

• 21st Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion was activated
• 46th Transport Battalion was renamed 14th Supply Battalion
• 59th Reconnaissance Company was renamed 16th Reconnaissance Battalion
• 12th Repair Battalion was activated from the various divisional workshops

30.9.67 the 16th Medium Tank Regiment was renamed 25th Medium Tank Regiment.

30.11.67 the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was renamed 124th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1970:

• 5th Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 9th Mechanised Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 41st Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 25th Medium Tank Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 2nd Artillery Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 124th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 22nd Missile Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 21st Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 16th Reconnaissance Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 17th Engineer Battalion (Podjuchy, Poland)
• 33rd Communications Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 19th Chemical Defence Company (Szczecin, Poland)
• 45th Medical Battalion (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 12th Repair Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 14th Supply Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)

1.10.72 the 99th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated.

Organisation 1980:

• 5th Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 9th Mechanised Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 41st Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 25th Medium Tank Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 2nd Artillery Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 124th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Szczecin, Poland) - from 1984 SA-8 missiles
• 22nd Missile Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 21st Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 99th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 16th Reconnaissance Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 17th Engineer Battalion (Podjuchy, Poland)
• 33rd Communications Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 19th Chemical Defence Company (Szczecin, Poland)
• 45th Medical Battalion (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 12th Repair Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 14th Supply Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)

Organisation 1988:

• 5th Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 9th Mechanised Regiment (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 41st Mechanised Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 25th Medium Tank Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 2nd Artillery Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 124th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Szczecin, Poland)
• 22nd Missile Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 21st Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 99th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 16th Reconnaissance Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 17th Engineer Battalion (Podjuchy, Poland)
• 33rd Communications Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 19th Chemical Defence Company (Szczecin, Poland)
• 45th Medical Battalion (Stargard Szczecinski, Poland)
• 12th Repair Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)
• 14th Supply Battalion (Szczecin, Poland)

In 1990 the 25th Medium Tank Regiment was disbanded.

Divisional coordinates:

• Szczecin barracks [US designation: Szczecin Army Barracks 003]: 53 26 39N, 14 29 27E (41st Mechanised Regiment, 22nd Missile Battalion and 12th Repair Battalion)
• Szczecin barracks [US designation: Szczecin Army Barracks 004]: 53 26 53N, 14 29 48E (2nd Artillery Regiment, 21st Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion and 99th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion)
• Szczecin barracks [US designation: Szczecin Army Barracks 005]: 53 27 48N, 14 29 29E (5th Mechanised Regiment, 33rd Communications Battalion and 14th Supply Battalion)
• Szczecin barracks [US designation: Szczecin Army Barracks 006]: 53 25 24N, 14 30 20E (25th Medium Tank Regiment and 124th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment)
• Szczecin barracks [US designation: Szczecin Army Barracks 007]: 53 25 22N, 14 32 40E (16th Reconnaissance Battalion and 19th Chemical Defence Company)
• Szczecin barracks [US designation: Szczecin Army Barracks 016]: 53 26 36N, 14 31 44E (Divisional HQ)
• Podjuchy barracks [US designation: Podjuchy Army Barracks 001]: 53 22 34N, 14 36 44E (17th Engineer Battalion)
• Stargard Szczecinski barracks [US designation: Stargard Szczecinski Army Barracks 001]: 53 20 19N, 14 59 56E (9th Mechanised Regiment and 45th Medical Battalion)

Equipment:

• 12.85: 9500 men, 201 T-54/55, 100 BMP-1, 250 OT-64, 72 122mm M-30, 12 152mm D-1

Subordination:

• Pomeranian Military District, 1958 - 1990

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