3rd Guards Tank Division

The 3rd Guards Tank Division was an armoured formation of the Soviet Ground Forces. It was established in 1945 from the earlier 3rd Guards Tank Corps, a wartime formation that had served on the Eastern Front. The division carried the honorary designation “Kotelnikovo,” as well as the Red Banner and Order of Suvorov distinctions associated with its history and service record. The division’s predecessor, the 3rd Guards Tank Corps, was active during the Second World War. At the beginning of the Battle of Narva in February 1944, the corps reported directly to the Leningrad Front and was commanded by Major General I. A. Vovchenko. The postwar division inherited the corps’ guards status and historical lineage, but the available reference material does not establish that Vovchenko later commanded the division itself. During the Cold War, the division was primarily stationed at Zaslonovo near Lepel in the Vitebsk region of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. It served within the Belorussian Military District and was associated with the 7th Tank Army. Its structure reflected the organization of a late-Soviet armoured division, combining tank, motor-rifle, artillery, air-defence, reconnaissance, communications, engineering, logistics, medical, maintenance, and support units. Before its reduction, the formation included a divisional headquarters, the 3rd, 18th, and 126th Guards Tank Regiments, the 296th Motorised Rifle Regiment, and the 733rd Artillery Regiment. Supporting elements included an independent communications battalion, a Guards reconnaissance battalion, a missile battalion, an anti-aircraft missile regiment, an engineer-sapper battalion, an equipment maintenance and recovery battalion, a materiel supply battalion, and a medical battalion. A chemical-defence company was also listed, although the available material does not provide its designation. The division was reduced in June 1989 to a weapons and equipment storage base, reflecting the broader late-Soviet reorganization and drawdown of military formations. It was disbanded completely in November 1989. Because this subject was a military formation rather than a commercial organization, concepts such as products, brand positioning, campaigns, and market operations are not applicable.

The 3rd Guards Tank Division belonged to the postwar Soviet armoured forces and was formed in 1945 from the 3rd Guards Tank Corps. The corps had been an operational formation of the Red Army during the Second World War. In February 1944, at the opening of the Battle of Narva, it reported directly to the Leningrad Front and was led by Major General I. A. Vovchenko. The available references identify Vovchenko as a wartime corps commander, but do not establish him as a commander of the later division. After its creation, the division retained the “Guards” designation and the historical honors associated with its predecessor. It was known as the 3rd Guards “Kotelnikovo” Tank Division and carried the Red Banner and Order of Suvorov distinctions. During the Cold War it was based mainly at Zaslonovo, in the Lepel area of the Vitebsk region of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Administratively and operationally, it served in the Belorussian Military District and was part of the 7th Tank Army. The division’s organization was characteristic of a Soviet armoured division. Its headquarters was supported by communications and reconnaissance units, while its principal combat elements consisted of three tank regiments, a motorised rifle regiment, and an artillery regiment. The formation also maintained missile and anti-aircraft missile units, engineers, maintenance and recovery capabilities, supply and medical services, and other specialist support. The listed pre-reduction structure included the 3rd, 18th, and 126th Guards Tank Regiments; the 296th Motorised Rifle Regiment; and the 733rd Artillery Regiment. Other listed components were the 430th Independent Communications Battalion, 33rd Independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion, 256th Independent Missile Battalion, 740th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, 154th Independent Engineer-Sapper Battalion, 92nd Independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion, 1018th Independent Materiel Supply Battalion, and 160th Independent Medical Battalion. In June 1989, the division was reduced to a weapons and equipment storage base. This marked the end of its active divisional organization. In November 1989, the remaining formation was disbanded completely. The division therefore existed as a Soviet military formation from its postwar establishment until the final dissolution of the unit during the late-Soviet force reductions.

• 1989

  Reduced to a storage base

  [1]3rd Guards Tank Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  In June, the division was reduced to a weapons and equipment storage base.

• 1989

  Disbanded

  [1]3rd Guards Tank Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The remaining formation was completely disbanded in November.

• 1945

  Division formed

  [1]3rd Guards Tank Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The 3rd Guards Tank Division was formed from the 3rd Guards Tank Corps as a Soviet postwar armoured division.

• 1944

  3rd Guards Tank Corps at Narva

  [1]3rd Guards Tank Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor 3rd Guards Tank Corps reported directly to the Leningrad Front at the beginning of the Battle of Narva and was commanded by Major General I. A. Vovchenko.

1. 13rd Guards Tank Divisionen.wikipedia.org
2. 23rd Guards Tank Divisionww2.dk