8th Mechanised Division

8 Dywizja Zmechanizowana

Military Unit: 2919

Activated 12.6.50 in Koszalin, Poland, from the 8th Infantery Division.

Organisation 1960:

• 32nd Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 39th Mechanised Regiment (Trzebiatow, Poland)
• 82nd Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 9th Medium Tank Regiment (Slupsk, Poland)
• 34th Artillery Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 88th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)
• 5th Reconnaissance Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)
• 19th Engineer Battalion (Uniescie, Poland)
• 28th Communications Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)
• 64th Chemical Defence Company (Koszalin, Poland)
• 31st Transport Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)

In 1961 the 5th Reconnaissance Battalion was renamed 33rd Reconnaissance Company, and moved to Kolobrzeg.

In 1964 the 1st Missile Battalion was activated.

In 1967 the 34th Artillery Regiment was renamed 4th Artillery Regiment.

14.3.67 the 8th Repair Battalion was activated fron the various divisional workshops.

4.5.67 the 39th Mechanised Regiment was renamed 36th Mechanised Regiment, and the 28th Communications Battalion was renamed 13th Communications Battalion.

30.9.67 the 9th Medium Tank Regiment was renamed 16th Medium Tank Regiment, and the 82nd Mechanised Regiment was renamed 28th Mechanised Regiment.

30.11.67 the 88th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was renamed 83rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1970:

• 28th Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 32nd Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 36th Mechanised Regiment (Trzebiatow, Poland)
• 16th Medium Tank Regiment (Slupsk, Poland)
• 4th Artillery Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 83rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Koszalin, Poland)
• 1st Missile Battalion (Trzebiatow, Poland)
• 33rd Reconnaissance Company (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 19th Engineer Battalion (Uniescie, Poland)
• 13th Communications Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)
• 64th Chemical Defence Company (Koszalin, Poland)
• 8th Repair Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)
• 39th Medical Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 31st Transport Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)

In 1970 the 31st Transport Battalion was renamed 8th Supply Battalion.

21.5.70 the 47th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion was activated.

10.7.70 the 33rd Reconnaissance Company was renamed 5th Reconnaissance Battalion.

In 1972 the 98th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated.

Organisation 1980:

• 28th Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 32nd Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 36th Mechanised Regiment (Trzebiatow, Poland)
• 16th Medium Tank Regiment (Slupsk, Poland)
• 4th Artillery Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 83rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Koszalin, Poland)
• 1st Missile Battalion (Trzebiatow, Poland)
• 47th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 98th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 5th Reconnaissance Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 19th Engineer Battalion (Uniescie, Poland)
• 13th Communications Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)
• 64th Chemical Defence Company (Koszalin, Poland)
• 8th Repair Battalion (Koszalin, Poland) - 12.80 moved to Kolobrzeg
• 39th Medical Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 8th Supply Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)

Organisation 1988:

• 28th Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 32nd Mechanised Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 36th Mechanised Regiment (Trzebiatow, Poland)
• 16th Medium Tank Regiment (Slupsk, Poland)
• 4th Artillery Regiment (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 83rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Koszalin, Poland)
• 1st Missile Battalion (Trzebiatow, Poland)
• 47th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 98th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 5th Reconnaissance Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 19th Engineer Battalion (Uniescie, Poland)
• 13th Communications Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)
• 64th Chemical Defence Company (Koszalin, Poland)
• 8th Repair Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 39th Medical Battalion (Kolobrzeg, Poland)
• 8th Supply Battalion (Koszalin, Poland)

20.11.89 the 16th Medium Tank Regiment was renamed 16th Mechanised Regiment.

In 1990 the 28th Mechanised Regiment, 1st Missile Battalion and 47th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion was disbanded.

Divisional coordinates:

• Koszalin barracks [US designation: Koszalin Army Barracks 001]: 54 11 49N, 16 12 46E (Divisional HQ)
• Koszalin barracks [US designation: Koszalin Army Barracks 002]: 54 11 10N, 16 12 34E (13th Communications Battalion, 8th Supply Battalion, 64th Chemical Defence Company and 83rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment; 8th Repair Battalion until 1980)
• Kolobrzeg barracks [US designation: Kolobrzeg Army Barracks 001/004]: 54 10 17N, 15 33 39E (28th Mechanised Regiment, 4th Artillery Regiment, 5th Reconnaissance Battalion, 47th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion and 98th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion)
• Kolobrzeg barracks [US designation: Kolobrzeg Army Barracks 002]: 54 10 42N, 15 36 17E (32nd Mechanised Regiment and 8th Repair Battalion)
• Kolobrzeg barracks [US designation: Kolobrzeg Army Barracks 005]: 54 10 24N, 15 33 47E (39th Medical Battalion)
• Trzebiatow barracks [US designation: Trzebiatow Army Barracks 001]: 54 03 08N, 15 15 34E (36th Mechanised Regiment and 1st Missile Battalion)
• Slupsk barracks [US designation: Slupsk Army Barracks 003]: 54 27 43N, 17 03 37E (16th Medium Tank Regiment)
• Uniescie barracks: 54 16 35N, 16 06 54E (19th Engineer Battalion)

Equipment:

• 12.85: 9500 men, 201 T-54/55, 40 BMP-1, 322 OT-64, 66 122mm M-30, 12 152mm D-1

Subordination:

• Pomeranian Military District, 1960 - 1990

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