Tank Corps (Soviet)
Encyclopedia
A tank corps was a Soviet armoured formation used since the beginning of World War II
.
, the so called armored forces (броневые силы) preceded the Tank Corps. They consisted of the motorised armored units (автобронеотряды) made of armored vehicles and armored trains. The country did not have its own tanks during the Civil War
of 1918-1920.
In January 1918, the Red Army established the Soviet of Armored Units (Совет броневых частей, or Центробронь), later renamed to Central Armored Directorate and then once again to Chief Armored Directorate (Главное броневое управление). In December 1920, the Red Army
received its first light tanks, assembled at the Krasnoye Sormovo Factory. In 1928, it began the production of the MS-1 tanks (Малый Сопровождения -1, where M stands for "small" and S – for "convoy"). In 1929, it established the Central Directorate for Mechanization and Motorization of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. Tanks became a part of the mechanised corps at this point.
During this time, and based on the experience of the Civil War with its sweeping movements of horse-mobile formations, Soviet military theorists such as Vladimir Triandafillov
and Konstantin Kalinovsky elaborated the principles of combat use of armored units, which envisioned a large-scale use of tanks in different situations in cooperation with various army units. In the mid-1930s, these ideas found their reflection in the so called Deep Operation and deep combat theories. From the second half of the 1920s, tank warfare development took place at Kazan
, where the German
Reichswehr
was allowed to participate.
In 1930, the First Mechanised Brigade had its own tank regiment of 110 tanks. In 1932, the First Mechanised Corps had over 500 tanks, and it was probably the first armoured unit of operational significance anywhere in the world. That same year, the Red Army established the Military Academy of Mechanisation and Motorisation of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (which became the Malinovskiy Mechanised Force Academy and is today part of the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
).
In 1931-1935, the Red Army adopted light, medium, and later heavy tanks of different types. By the beginning of the 1936, it had already had four mechanised corps, six separate mechanised brigades, six separate tank regiments, fifteen mechanised regiments within cavalry divisions and considerable number of tank battalions and companies. The creation of mechanised and tank units marked the dawn of a new branch of armed forces, which would be called armored forces. In 1937, the Central Directorate of Mechanisation and Motorisation was renamed to Directorate of Automated Armored Units (Автобронетанковое управление) and then to Chief Directorate of Automated Armored Units (Главное автобронетанковое управление). Soviet armored units gained some combat experience during the Battle of Lake Khasan
(1938), Battle of Khalkhin Gol
(1939) and Winter War
with Finland
(1939–1940).
Besides the operational armoured and mechanised formations, separate tank battalions within rifle divisions existed. These were meant to reinforce rifle units for the purpose of breaching enemy defenses. They had to act in cooperation with the infantry without breaking away from it and were called tanks for immediate infantry support (танки непосредственной поддержки пехоты).
at this stage in the war. It was soon found that this was too weak, and a third tank brigade was added. The final organisation which was published in 1944 included additional heavy tank/heavy SU self-propelled gun regiments, a medium, and a light SU self-propelled gun regiment.
A total of 31 Tank Corps were formed during the war, and 12 of them became Guards
Tank Corps. Due to the destruction of 21st Tank Corps in the Second Battle of Kharkov
, and the use of some tank corps to form mechanised corps, no more than 24 of them actually saw combat. The tank corps were the basic building block of the Tank Armies (see List of Soviet armies#Tank Armies).
Most tank corps were converted to Tank Divisions in 1945-6. See List of Soviet Army divisions 1989-91.
Honorifics and Awards: “Kiev.” “Berlin,” Order of Lenin, Twice Red Banner, Suvurov and Kummv. Deactivation Site. Moscow MD
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Pre-War Development of Soviet Mechanised Forces
In Soviet RussiaRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
, the so called armored forces (броневые силы) preceded the Tank Corps. They consisted of the motorised armored units (автобронеотряды) made of armored vehicles and armored trains. The country did not have its own tanks during the Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
of 1918-1920.
In January 1918, the Red Army established the Soviet of Armored Units (Совет броневых частей, or Центробронь), later renamed to Central Armored Directorate and then once again to Chief Armored Directorate (Главное броневое управление). In December 1920, the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
received its first light tanks, assembled at the Krasnoye Sormovo Factory. In 1928, it began the production of the MS-1 tanks (Малый Сопровождения -1, where M stands for "small" and S – for "convoy"). In 1929, it established the Central Directorate for Mechanization and Motorization of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. Tanks became a part of the mechanised corps at this point.
During this time, and based on the experience of the Civil War with its sweeping movements of horse-mobile formations, Soviet military theorists such as Vladimir Triandafillov
Vladimir Triandafillov
Vladimir Kiriakovitch Triandafillov was a Soviet military commander and theoretician.-Biography:He was born on March 14, 1894 in Magaradzhik in Kars of Pontic Greek parents. The family name derives from triantáfyllo, Modern Greek for the rose flower. His family moved to Russia...
and Konstantin Kalinovsky elaborated the principles of combat use of armored units, which envisioned a large-scale use of tanks in different situations in cooperation with various army units. In the mid-1930s, these ideas found their reflection in the so called Deep Operation and deep combat theories. From the second half of the 1920s, tank warfare development took place at Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
, where the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
was allowed to participate.
In 1930, the First Mechanised Brigade had its own tank regiment of 110 tanks. In 1932, the First Mechanised Corps had over 500 tanks, and it was probably the first armoured unit of operational significance anywhere in the world. That same year, the Red Army established the Military Academy of Mechanisation and Motorisation of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (which became the Malinovskiy Mechanised Force Academy and is today part of the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
The Combined Arms Order of Lenin Order of the October Revolution Red Bannered Order of Suvorov Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation-Center for Military Education and Science of the Russian Ground Forces is a military academy in Moscow which prepares commissioned officers for...
).
In 1931-1935, the Red Army adopted light, medium, and later heavy tanks of different types. By the beginning of the 1936, it had already had four mechanised corps, six separate mechanised brigades, six separate tank regiments, fifteen mechanised regiments within cavalry divisions and considerable number of tank battalions and companies. The creation of mechanised and tank units marked the dawn of a new branch of armed forces, which would be called armored forces. In 1937, the Central Directorate of Mechanisation and Motorisation was renamed to Directorate of Automated Armored Units (Автобронетанковое управление) and then to Chief Directorate of Automated Armored Units (Главное автобронетанковое управление). Soviet armored units gained some combat experience during the Battle of Lake Khasan
Battle of Lake Khasan
The Battle of Lake Khasan and also known as the Changkufeng Incident in China and Japan, was an attempted military incursion of Manchukuo into the territory claimed by the Soviet Union...
(1938), Battle of Khalkhin Gol
Battle of Khalkhin Gol
The Battles of Khalkhyn Gol was the decisive engagement of the undeclared Soviet–Japanese Border Wars fought among the Soviet Union, Mongolia and the Empire of Japan in 1939. The conflict was named after the river Khalkhyn Gol, which passes through the battlefield...
(1939) and Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
with Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(1939–1940).
Besides the operational armoured and mechanised formations, separate tank battalions within rifle divisions existed. These were meant to reinforce rifle units for the purpose of breaching enemy defenses. They had to act in cooperation with the infantry without breaking away from it and were called tanks for immediate infantry support (танки непосредственной поддержки пехоты).
Great Patriotic War
Tank Corps were reformed in March 1942 on a smaller scale than the pre-war Tank Corps. They at first usually consisted of two-three Tank Brigades and one motorised rifle brigade, with some Corps elements such as reconnaissance, anti-tank, or pioneers added. This made them essentially a division size formation with ca. 120 to 180 tanks, slightly weaker than a German Panzer divisionPanzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
at this stage in the war. It was soon found that this was too weak, and a third tank brigade was added. The final organisation which was published in 1944 included additional heavy tank/heavy SU self-propelled gun regiments, a medium, and a light SU self-propelled gun regiment.
A total of 31 Tank Corps were formed during the war, and 12 of them became Guards
Russian Guards
Guards or Guards units were and are elite military units in Imperial Russia, Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. The tradition goes back to the retinue of a knyaz of medieval Kievan Rus' and the streltsy, the Muscovite harquebusiers formed by Ivan the Terrible by 1550...
Tank Corps. Due to the destruction of 21st Tank Corps in the Second Battle of Kharkov
Second Battle of Kharkov
The Second Battle of Kharkov, so named by Wilhelm Keitel, was an Axis counter-offensive against the Red Army Izium bridgehead offensive conducted from 12 May to 28 May 1942, on the Eastern Front during World War II. Its objective was to eliminate the Izium bridgehead over Seversky Donets, or the...
, and the use of some tank corps to form mechanised corps, no more than 24 of them actually saw combat. The tank corps were the basic building block of the Tank Armies (see List of Soviet armies#Tank Armies).
Most tank corps were converted to Tank Divisions in 1945-6. See List of Soviet Army divisions 1989-91.
List of Tank Corps
- 1st Tank Corps
- 2nd Tank Corps
- 3rd Tank Corps - renamed 9th Guards Tank Corps after Battle of Radzymin (1944)Battle of Radzymin (1944)The Battle of Radzymin was one of a series of engagements between the Red Army's 1st Byelorussian Front and the Wehrmacht Heer's XXXIXth Panzer Corps that occurred as part of the Lublin-Brest Offensive between August 1 and August 10, 1944 at the conclusion of the Belorussian strategic offensive...
. - 4th Tank Corps - March 42-Feb 43 - converted to 5th Guards Tank Corps
- 5th Tank Corps - formed April 1942. Equipped largely with British-built Valentine tankValentine tankThe Tank, Infantry, Mk III, Valentine was an infantry tank produced in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. More than 8,000 of the type were produced in 11 different marks plus various purpose-built variants, accounting for approximately a quarter of wartime British tank production...
s, 5 TC was badly handled in the early stages of the 1943 Smolensk operation, being mauled both from the air and from the ground. However the deflection of German units necessitated by the sacrifice of 5 TC meant that Spas Demensk fell on 13 August 1943. - 6th Tank Corps - see 11th Guards Tank Corps
- 7th Tank Corps
- 8th Tank Corps
- 9th Tank Corps - the 9th Tank Division9th Tank DivisionThe 9th Tank Division was a division of the Red Army that saw action briefly in 1941. It was formed in the Central Asian Military District in the summer of 1940. In April 1941 the Division joined the newly formed 27th Mechanised Corps...
can trace its history back to 12 May 1942 when the 9th Tank Corps (:ru:9-й танковый корпус (СССР)) was formed in the Moscow Military District. It took part in the Battle of Kursk, then across Ukraine with the Central, Belorussian, and 1st Belorussian Fronts. It ended the war in Berlin. As part of the occupation forces, it was assigned to the 1st Guards Tank Army (also 1st Guards Mechanised Army). In 1957, it was reorganized into a Heavy Tank Division and re-designated the 13th Heavy Tank Division. This lasted until 1965, when it was returned to its original 9th Tank Division designation. This it retained until its withdrawal from the GDR in 1991 when it was disbanded. Its divisional headquarters was at RiesaRiesaRiesa is a town in the district of Meißen in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located at the river Elbe, approx. 40 km northwest of Dresden.The world's first 110 kV power line was inaugurated between Riesa and Lauchhammer in 1912....
. - 10th Tank Corps (Soviet Union)10th Tank Corps (Soviet Union)The 34th Tank Division was a formation of the Red Army and Soviet Ground Forces that was formed twice.-First formation:The first formation was with 8th Mechanized Corps in June 1941. The formation began to be formed on June 4, 1940...
- 11th Tank Corps
- 12th Tank Corps
- 13th Tank Corps - began in April 1942 with 65th, 85th, and 88th Tank Brigades and 20th Motor Rifle(?) Brigade. In July 1942 brigades assigned were the 85th, 158th, and 167th Tank and 20th Motor Rifle(?) Brigade. It was "an oddball in the Soviet Army. 13th Tank Corps had been so shot up that most of its tank brigades were removed in September–October 1942, and when Mechanised Brigades were substituted at the beginning of November, it should have been redesignated as a Mechanised Corps with a new number, as had happened to other tank corps in similar situations. Instead, the corps retained the number '13' and even the Soviet sources get confused on what to call it: a tank corps or a mechanised corps. It had the subordinate units of a mechanised corps when it went into battle in late November and December 1942. It fought as a mechanised corps with 57th, 51st51st Army (Soviet Union)The 51st Army was a field army of the Red Army that saw action against the Germans in World War II on both the southern and northern sectors of the front. In particular, it was involved in the Crimean debacle of May 1942, and the final cutting-off of German forces in the Courland area next to the...
and 2nd Guards Armies during December in the mobile battles against German Panzers south of Stalingrad, and in recognition of its actions there on 9 January 1943 the 13th Mechanised Corps was redesignated as the 4th Guards Mechanised Corps." See :ru:13-й танковый корпус (СССР). Later 4th Guards Mechanised Division, and 4th Guards Motor Rifle Division. - 14th Tank Corps
- 15th Tank Corps - fought in Battle of GrodnoBattle of Grodno (1939)The Battle of Grodno took place between 21 September and 24 September 1939, during the Soviet invasion of Poland. It was fought between improvised Polish units under Gen...
1939 during Invasion of Poland. Became 7th Guards Tank Corps - 16th Tank Corps - was part of 2nd Tank Army2nd Guards Tank Army (Soviet Union)The Second Tank Army of the Red Army was formed in January - February, 1943 on the basis of the 3rd Reserve Army of the Bryansk Front.Originally the Army comprised 11th and 16th Tank Corps, 60th, 112th and 194th Rifle Divisions, the 11th Guards Separate tank brigade, 115th Rifle Brigade, the 28th...
on formation. Became 12th Guards Tank Corps (1943) and 12th Guards Tank Division12th Guards Tank DivisionThe 12th Guards Uman, Orders of Lenin, Red Banner and Suvorov Tank Division was a tank division of the Soviet Ground Forces. It drew its history from the World War II 16th Tank Corps. It was redesignated successively as 12th Guards Tank Corps and 12th Guards Tank Division .The division was...
(1946). - 17th Tank Corps - became 4th Guards Tank Corps after Operation Little Saturn.
- 18th Tank Corps
- 19th Tank Corps
- 20th Tank Corps - the 20th Tank Division can trace its history back to 12 December 1942 when the 20th Tank Corps was formed in the Moscow Defense Zone. It took part in the counter-offensives in the winter of 1942/43 and the summer 1943 offensives in the southern Ukraine. After taking part in the offensives in 1944 and early 1945, it was in Stavke Reserves when the war ended. It was allocated to the Northern Group of Forces by Directive No. 11096, where it remained through the Cold War. In later 1945, it was reorganized into the 20th Tank Division. Between 1949 and 1955, it was known as the 7th Tank Division, although as a cadre unit. IN 1955, it was restored to full strength and renamed the 20th Tank Division. It would remain in southern Poland until 1991 when it was disbanded.
- 21st - 24th Tank Corps (see also http://stalingrad.ic.ru/s22tcorp.html for 22nd Tank Corps)
- 25th Tank Corps - formed June 1942 in the Moscow Defence Zone. Originally formed previously as 25th Mechanised Corps in Kiev MD, 1941. Participated in the 'Liberation of Western Ukraine” and fought at Stalingrad, Kursk, Belgorod-Kharkov, Zhitimir-Berdichev, Rovno-Lutsk, Lvov, Vistula-Oder, Czestochowa, Berlin, Prague and other operations and actions. Converted to 25th Tank Division after the end of the war. Postwar assignment to 4th Guards Mechanised Army in the 1940s and 1950s; Withdrawn From Group of Soviet Forces, Germany/ Western Group of Forces, 20th Guards Army. Regiments (formerly brigades) designated “Novogorod.” Deactivation site: Kiev MD.
- 26th Tank Corps
- 27th Tank Corps - formed in the Moscow Defense Zone. The 27th was never committed to combat, but instead on 8 September 1942 it was reorganized into the 1st Mechanised Corps.
- 28th Tank Corps
- 29th -30th Tank Corps
- 31st Tank Corps - eventually became 31st Tank Division. Raised in the Moscow Military DistrictMoscow Military DistrictThe Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
, 1943. Associated with 1st Tank Army. Participated in fighting at KurskKurskKursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
, Belgorod-Kharkov, Lvov-Sandomir, Carpathian-D.khmk,y, Sandomir bridgehead, Vistula-Oder, Prague and other operations and actions. Withdrawn From Central Group of ForcesCentral Group of ForcesThe Central Group of Forces was a Soviet military formation used to control Soviet troops in Central Europe on two occasions: in Austria and Hungary from 1945-55 and troops stationed in Czechoslovakia after the Prague Spring of 1968....
, Czechoslovakia. Eventually amalgamated with 47th Guards Tank Division at MulinoMulinoMulino may refer to:*Mulino, Kirov Oblast, a village in Kirov Oblast, Russia*Mulino, Kostroma Oblast, a village in Kostroma Oblast, Russia*Mulino , Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, a settlement in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia...
to become 3rd Motor Rifle Division3rd Motor Rifle DivisionThe Soviet Army's 3rd Rifle Division was an infantry division active from 1921 to 1946 and from 1955 to 1956. It was formed 5 June 1921 in the Ukraine Military District. It appears that Order No. № 724/284 created the division from the 3rd and 46th Separate Rifle Brigades. At the beginning of...
after the fall of the Soviet Union. - 1st Guards Tank Corps
- 2nd Guards Tank Corps2nd Guards Tank CorpsThe 2nd Tatsinskaya Guards Tank Corps was a Red Army armoured formation that saw service during World War II on the Eastern Front. After the war it continued to serve with Soviet occupation forces in Central Europe. It was originally the 24th Tank Corps...
- 3rd Guards Tank Corps
- 4th Guards Tank Corps - now 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank DivisionThe 4th Guards "Kantemirovskaya" Tank Division , more usually known as the Kantemirovskaya Division or Kantemir Division, is an elite armoured division of the Russian Ground Forces...
- 5th Guards Tank Corps
- 6th Guards Tank Corps - Raised in the Baltic MD, 1941, re-formed m Moscow MD, 1942. Formed as 12th Tank Corps and successively redesignated as 6th Guards Tank Corps (1943) and 6th Guards Tank Division (1946). Participated in fighting at at Km&k, Omogozkk.Rmsosh, Warkov, Kmsncgrad, Kursk, Gel and other operations and actions. Past-war assignment to 3d Guards Mechanized Army in the 1940s and 1950s. Honorifics and Awards included 'Kiev' “Bedm,” Orders of Lenin, Red Banner, Suvorov and Bogdan KJdem’nmku. Withdrawn from Group of Soviet Forces, Germany 1st Guards Tank Army in 1982.
- 7th Guards Tank Corps - Withdrawn from Group of Soviet Forces in GermanyGroup of Soviet Forces in GermanyThe Group of Soviet Forces in Germany , also known as the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany and the Western Group of Forces were the troops of the Soviet Army in East Germany....
Western Group of Forces, 1st Guards Tank Army. Raised: Initially in L3elormswmMD, 1938; broken up and re-formed m Moscow MD, 1942. Initially designated as 15th Tank Crops, becoming successively the 7th Guards Tank Corps (1943) and 7th Guards Tank Division ( 1946). Participated in “Liberation of Western Ukraine” and fighting at Gstrogozhsk. Rm.msh, Kharkov, Kursk, Gel and other opamom and actions. Postwar assignment to 3rd Guards Mechanised Army in the 1940s and 1950s.
Honorifics and Awards: “Kiev.” “Berlin,” Order of Lenin, Twice Red Banner, Suvurov and Kummv. Deactivation Site. Moscow MD
- 8th Guards Tank Corps
- 9th Guards Tank Corps - 3rd Tank Corps was formed at Tula in the Moscow Military District. It took part in the winter counter-offensives in 1942/1943, the Battle of Kursk, then across Ukraine and then the summer offensive in 1944, Operation Bagration, with the Central, Belorussian, and 1st Belorussian Fronts. On 20 November 1944, after the Battle of RadzyminBattle of Radzymin (1944)The Battle of Radzymin was one of a series of engagements between the Red Army's 1st Byelorussian Front and the Wehrmacht Heer's XXXIXth Panzer Corps that occurred as part of the Lublin-Brest Offensive between August 1 and August 10, 1944 at the conclusion of the Belorussian strategic offensive...
, it was awarded ‘Guards’ status and re-designated the 9th Guards Tank Corps. - 10th Guards Tank Corps: ex 30th Tank Corps. Now 10th Guards Uralsko-Lvovskaya Tank Division10th Guards Uralsko-Lvovskaya Tank DivisionThe 10th Guards Uralsko-Lvovskaya Volunteer Tank Division, also known at the Ural-Lvov Tank Division, is a tank division of the Russian Ground Forces and part of the Moscow Military District's 20th Army, under the command of Lt. General Andrey Tretyak. The division traces its heritage back to 1943,...
. - 11th Guards Tank Corps - The 11th Guards Tank Division can trace its history back to 10 April 1942 when the 6th Tank Corps was formed in the Moscow Defense Zone. It took part in the Battle of KurskBattle of KurskThe Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
, then across Ukraine with the Central, Belorussian, and 1st Belorussian Fronts. On 23 October 1943, it was awarded ‘Guards’ status and redesignated the 11th Guards Tank Corps. It ended the war in the Berlin area. As part of the occupation forces, it was assigned to the 1st Guards Tank Army (also 1st Guards Mechanised Army). For the occupation period and post-war era, it was mainly uneventful until 1968 when it took part in the invasion of Czechoslovakia. In 1992 it was withdrawn from Germany and landed in Slonim the newly independent Belarus. It would eventually be reorganized into the 11th Guards Mechanised Brigade. Division Headquarters was at DresdenDresdenDresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
in the 1980s. - 12th Guards Tank Corps - former 16th Tank Corps. 16 TC was formed on 1 June 1942 in the Moscow Defense Zone. On 20 November 1944, it was awarded ‘Guards’ status and re-designated the 12th Guards Tank Corps. In later 1945, it was reorganized into the 12th Guards Tank Division12th Guards Tank DivisionThe 12th Guards Uman, Orders of Lenin, Red Banner and Suvorov Tank Division was a tank division of the Soviet Ground Forces. It drew its history from the World War II 16th Tank Corps. It was redesignated successively as 12th Guards Tank Corps and 12th Guards Tank Division .The division was...
. During the occupation period and post-war era, its assignments remain unclear.
Composition of a Tank Corps
- 29 May 1942
- Corps HQ
- Signal Company
- AAMG Section
- Heavy Tank Brigade with KV-1 or KV-2 tanks (Replaced by a third 'medium' tank brigade in July 1942)
- 2 (Medium) Tank Brigades with two battalions of T-34T-34The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
and one of T-70T-70The T-70 was a light tank used by the Red Army during World War II, replacing both the T-60 scout tank for reconnaissance and the T-50 light infantry tank for infantry support. The T-80 light tank was a more advanced version of the T-70 with a two-man turret—it was only produced in very small...
tanks each. - Motorized Rifle Brigade
- Antiaircraft Battalion
- Guards Mortar Battalion with Katyusha rocket launchers
- Motorcycle Battalion (for reconnaissance)
- Engineer-Mine Company
- Truck Company
- Motorized Vehicle Repair Battalion
- Armored Vehicle Repair Battalion
- Snipers
- Corps HQ
Books
- Zaloga, Steven & Ness, Leland 'The Red Army Handbook'
- Charles Sharp, Soviet Order of Battle in World War II Vol 1: The Deadly Beginning: Soviet Tank, Mechanized, Motorized Divisions and Tank Brigades of 1940-1942,
- David Glantz, The Initial Period of War on the Eastern Front, 22 June - August 1941, 19
- Page, J. and Bean, Tim 'Russian Tanks of World War II', Zenith Press
