78th Tank Division (Soviet Union)
| 78th Tank Brigade (1942–1945) 78th Tank Regiment (1945–1949) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Active | 1942–2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Soviet Union (1942–1992) Kazakhstan (1992–2003) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch | Soviet Army (1942–1992) Kazakh Ground Forces (1992–2003) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Armored | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Garrison/HQ | Ayaguz (1970–2003) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engagements | World War II
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| Decorations |  Order of the Red Banner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battle honours | Nevel Kabanbai Batyr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Notable commanders | Kazakh Ground Forces , and soon after became the 78th Mechanized Division.
In 1992 it became a mechanized division. In 2000, it received the honorific "Kabanbai Batyr".[3] In 2003, the division disbanded due to the reorganization of the Kazakh Ground Forces into brigades. The 369th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment became the 3rd Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade. The 180th and 156th Tank Regiments became the 11th Kabanbai Batyr Tank Brigade. The 1030th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment became the 34th Artillery Brigade. HistoryThe 78th Tank Brigade began forming in accordance with a directive of the NKO dated 11 February 1942, in the city of Vladimir as part of the Moscow Military District. The brigade included the 263rd and 264th Tank Battalions and a technical support company. Major Aleksey Dmitrievich Loktionov became brigade commander. Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Chigin took command of the brigade on 3 March 1943 and commanded it until 30 April.[4] In the autumn of 1943, the 78th Tank Brigade took part in the Nevel Offensive . One Soviet report said the brigade only lost seven tanks in the offensive. For distinction in battles during this operation, by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on September 7, 1943, the brigade was given the honorary name "Nevelskaya". On April 4, 1944 it was reassigned to the 10th Guards Army of the 2nd Baltic Front.
On February 10, 1945, it was withdrawn from the 10th Guards Army and subordinated to the 42nd Army of the 2nd Baltic Front. Cold WarBetween 1 and 2 November 1945 the 78th Separate Tank Brigade left the Baltic Military District, and entrained for the station of Chardzhou, where it became part of the Turkestan Military District. By an order dated 11 August 1949 the regiment, with a strength of 811 men and 65 T-34 tanks was expanded to form the new 15th Tank Division. The 78th Tank Regiment itself formed the 143rd Tank Regiment (v/ch 01287) at Chardzhou, as well as the 156th and 167th Tank Regiments, the 180th Heavy Tank Self-Propelled Gun Regiment, 608th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, and 94th Guards Mortar Battalion (MLRS). Except for the 143rd Tank Regiment, the division was stationed at Kogon from 1949.[4]
In accordance with a directive dated 12 March 1957, the 15th Tank Division was reorganized along a new table of organization and equipment. The division included the 143rd, 156th, and 180th Heavy Tank Regiments, the 608th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, 194th Separate Signals Battalion, 103rd Separate Sapper Battalion, 19th Separate Medical-Sanitary Company, 120th Separate Auto-Transport Company, 406th Armored Repair Workshop, 407th Auto-Transport Workshop, and 8th Separate Training Tank Battalion. On 5 August 1961 the 180th Heavy Tank Regiment was redesignated as the 180th Tank Regiment.[4] The division relocated to Ashgabat in 1958.[4] In October 1960, the division became part of the 1st Army Corps. On 19 February 1962 the 345th Separate Missile Battalion and separate equipment maintenance and recovery battalion were activated.[2] On 11 January 1965, the division was redesignated as the 78th Tank Division, restoring its original World War II number. On 1 January 1968, it had a total strength of 7,404 men including 886 officers..During the Cold War it was maintained at 65% strength. Kazakh serviceIn March 1992, it was taken over by Kazakhstan.[2] On 7 May 1992, it officially became part of the Kazakh Ground Forces. On 14 May 1999, the division was reorganized into the 3rd Mechanized Division. The full name of the division after the reorganization was the 3rd Mechanized Red Banner Nevelsk Division. At the same time, the 180th Tank Regiment was renamed to the 31st Tank Regiment. On 20 October 2000, it was named after Kabanbai Batyr.[5] In connection with the transition of the Ground Forces to a brigade formation in 2003, the division was disbanded. On 15 May 2005, the 31st Tank Regiment was reorganized into the 11th Separate Mechanized Brigade. On 1 December 2007, the 11th Mechanized Brigade was reorganized into the 11th Tank Brigade.[6] Commanders
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