Russian 201st Motor Rifle Division
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The Russian 201st Motor Rifle Division was originally raised as the 201st Rifle Division in World War II to replace the previous 201st which had been reformed as a Guards Division.
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[edit] History
[edit] World War II
The 201st Rifle Division served in the Leningrad and Baltic coast areas. The division received the title “Gatchina” for its role in breaking the siege of Leningrad and received its first Order of the Red Banner during the war.
[edit] Post War and Afghanistan
The 201st Rifle Division was converted to a Motor Rifle Division and was part of the Central Asian Military District until the invasion of Afghanistan in December of 1979. In 1985, the unit received a second Order of the Red Banner. The last Soviet vehicle to leave Afghanistan was a BTR-60 from the 201st. The BTR-60 is still kept to the present day as an memorial.
[edit] Collapse of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and at the time the 201st was stationed in Tajikistan. The newly independent Tajikistan fell apart in 1992. Most of the conscripts were raised in Tajikistan and deserted while the Russian officers kept control of the division’s equipment. In September of 1992, Russian president Yeltsin reinstated the division under firm Russian control. The CIS formed the Collective Peacekeeping Force in Tajikistan and the 201st formed its core.
[edit] Operations in Tajikistan
The 201st Motor Rifle Division, with the support of loyal Tajik forces, attacked Dushanbe. Russian and Tajik force entered and seized control of the city in December of 1992. After the capital was recaptured, offensives were launched Kofarnikhon and Kurgan-Tyube. Both cities fell quickly and the major concentrations of Islamist rebels were scattered. However, in 1995, Islamist insurgents assaulted one of the bases of the 201st at Badakhashan and ambushed a convoy near Kalashum, 200km east of Dushanbe. The division launched a counterattack supported by ground attack aircraft and attack helocopters. On April 19th, the 201st launched an offensive into Gorno-Badach and advanced 20 kilometres, forcing the Islamists out of several bases.
[edit] Present day
To replace the division’s mass desertions, the government has relied first on Russian conscripts and then on volunteers as of 1995. Even with the new volunteers, the division has only around 6,000 men or half the establishment of a standard Motor Rifle division. Some perks have been made to attract volunteers such as longer leave and double the pay of normal units. In 1999, the Russian and Tajik government agreed to convert the division into a military base. However, due to continued violence in the region the 201st remains a fully active division. Currently there is a 6 month training course for the division and a 6 month tour of duty in Tajikistan. This serves as the entire 2 year service requirement of Russian males, but manpower continues to be a problem. Equipment continues to be rather out of date as some of the division’s arms date to the Afghan war. The division maintains a line of static defensive posts along the Afghanistan border to prevent raids by rogue Taliban fighters. The Russians plan to form a battalion sized rapid reaction force in the region that could include elements of the 201st.
[edit] Latest news
August 13, 2003- The 201st Motor Rifle Division participated in a joint exercise with the Tajik military 10km southwest of Dushanbe at the Lyaur testing ground.
[edit] Trivia
At one point during the civil war in Tajikistan, soldiers of the 201st Motor Rifle Division safely escorted staff of the American Embassy in Dushanbe to the airport for evacuation. This marks the only time in history that Americans have officially asked for and been given protection by the Russian military.
[edit] Organization
201st Motor Rifle Division
- 92nd Motor Rifle Regiment- Giprozemgorodok Barracks, Dushanbe
- 149th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment- Kulyab
- 191st Motor Rifle Regiment- Kurgan/Tyube
- Tank Battlion
- Artillery Regiment
- Air Defense Regiment
[edit] Total strength
6,000-7,000 men
160 Tanks
300 Armoured Personnel Carriers
200 Artillery Pieces
1,100 other vehicles
[edit] Current Commander
Major General Yuri Perminov
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
1. Orr, M.J. The Russian Garrision in Tajikistan- 201st Gatchina Twice Red Banner Motor Rifle Division. The Conflict Studies Research Centre. Camberly Surrey, England 2001.
2. Cooper, Tom. Tajikistan 1992-1997 www.acig.org, September, 2003.
3. www.pravda.ru
