3rd Guards Volnovakhskaya Red Banner order of Suvorov Motorised Rifle Division

3-я гвардейская мотострелковая Волновахская Краснознаменная ордена Суворова дивизия

Military Unit: 61415

Activated 25.6.57 in Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR, from the 3rd Guards Rifle Division.

Organisation 1960:

• 9th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 13th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 273rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 277th Guards Tank Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 22nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1064th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 86th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 187th independent Guards Sapper Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 494th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 32nd independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)

19.2.62 re-organised:

• 299th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated
• 966th independent Missile Battalion was activated

In 3.63 the 13th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 24th Training Tank Division, and was replaced by the 287th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment from the 40th Guards Tank Division.

In 1968 the 187th independent Guards Sapper Battalion was renamed 187th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion.

Organisation 1970:

• 9th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 273rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 287th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 277th Guards Tank Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 22nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1064th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 966th independent Missile Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 86th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 187th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 494th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 299th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 32nd independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)

In 1972 the 000 independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 000 independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

15.11.72 re-organised:

• 1271st independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated
• 000 independent Reactive Artillery Battalion was activated - absorbed by the Artillery Regiment in 5.80

In 1.80 the 395th Motorised Rifle Regiment was activated from parts of the other three motorised rilfe regiments (mainly the 9th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment), and was transferred to Termez, where it became part of the 201st Motorised Rifle Division.

In 1980 the 000 independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1026th independent Material Supply Battalion.

Organisation 1980:

• 9th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 273rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 287th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 277th Guards Tank Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 22nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1064th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 966th independent Missile Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1271st independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 86th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 187th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 494th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 299th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 32nd independent Medical Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1026th independent Material Supply Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)

In 1988 the 000 independent Chemical Defence Battalion was reduced to the 102nd independent Chemical Defence Company.

Organisation 1988:

• 9th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 273rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 287th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 277th Guards Tank Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 22nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1064th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 966th independent Missile Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1271st independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 86th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Telsiai, Lithuanian SSR)
• 187th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 494th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 102nd independent Chemical Defence Company (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 299th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 32nd independent Medical Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)
• 1026th independent Material Supply Battalion (Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR)

12.10.89 transferred to the Baltic Fleet as the 3rd Guards Motorised Rifle Division for Coastal Defence (initially as the 282nd Guards Motorised Rifle Division for Coastal Defence).

1.9.93 disbanded.

Headquarters:

• Klaypeda, Lithuanian SSR, 6.57 - 9.93

Subordination:

• Baltic Military District, 6.57 - 10.89
• Baltic Fleet, 10.89 - 9.93

Equipment 12.85:

• 2300 men, 214 T-54/55, 149 BTR-60, 161 BTR-70, 30 BTR-152, 96 122mm M-30, 18 152mm D-1

Equipment 19.11.90 (CFE treaty holdings):

• 9th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 40 T-72, 157 BTR-70, 6 BTR-60, 6 BMP-1, 18 122mm D-30, 1 BMP-1KSh, 1 PRP-4, 3 R-145BM, 1 BTR-60PU, 2 PU-12, 3 1V18, 1 1V19 and 1 MTU-20
• 273rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 40 T-72, 132 BMP-1, 18 122mm D-30, 7 BMP-1KSh, 1 PRP-4, 3 R-145BM, 1 BTR-60PU, 2 PU-12, 1 BREM-4, 2 BREM-2, 18 MT-LBT and 1 MTU-20
• 287th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 40 T-72, 132 BMP-2, 3 BMP-1, 18 122mm D-30, 1 BMP-1KSh, 1 PRP-4, 3 R-145BM, 1 BTR-60PU, 2 PU-12, 3 BREM-2, 18 MT-LBT and 1 MTU-20
• 277th Guards Tank Regiment: 94 T-72, 16 BMP-1, 3 R-145BM, 2 PU-12, 1 BTR-60PU, 3 BMP-1KSh, 1 PRP-4, 18 MT-LBT and 4 MTU
• 22nd Guards Artillery Regiment: 66 152mm 2A65 Msta-B, 18 BM-21 Grad, 4 PRP-4, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 2 R-145BM and 1 BTR-60PU
• 1064th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment: ZRK Osa (SA-8), 2 PU-12, 1 BTR-60PUB and 2 R-145BM
• 126th independent Tank Battalion: 51 T-72, 14 BMP-2 and 1 MTU-20
• 1271st independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion: 22 MT-LBT
• 86th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion: 6 T-72, 17 BMP-1 and 2 R-145BM
• 494th independent Guards Communications Battalion: 4 R-145BM and 1 PU-12

Divisional coordinates:

• Klaypeda barracks [US designation: Klaipeda Army Barracks North AL 1]: 55 43 45N, 21 07 41E (Divisional HQ, 9th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment, 277th Guards Tank Regiment, 22nd Guards Artillery Regiment, 1064th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, 126th independent Tank Battalion, 1271st independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion, 494th independent Guards Communications Battalion, 187th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion, 102nd independent Chemical Defence Company, 299th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion, 32nd independent Medical Battalion and 1026th independent Material Supply Battalion)
• Telsiai barracks [US designation: Telsiai Army Barracks AL 1]: 55 59 23N, 22 14 15E (273rd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment, 287th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment and 86th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion)

The division was maintained as a Not Ready Division - Low-Strength Cadre (US terms: Category III).