The 92nd Armored Division, also called 92nd Armored Division of Ahvaz or 92nd Armored Division of Khuzestan (), is an
armored division of the
Islamic Republic of Iran Army, first formed during the reign of the
Shah.
In September 1980, among the units garrisoned along the Iraqi border, the IRIA had the 92nd Armored "Khuzestan" Division, with three armored brigades equipped with
M60A1 MBTs and
M113 APCs (including the 283rd Armored Cavalry Battalion), including the 1st Brigade west of
Khorramshahr and south of
Ahvaz, 2nd Brigade west of
Dezful, and 3rd west of
Ahvaz. The division fought in the
Battle of Dezful
Operation Nasr, fought in early January 1981, was a major battle of the Iran–Iraq War. It was the biggest tank battle of the Iran–Iraq War.
Three Iranian armored regiments advanced towards Iraqi forces that had invaded Iranian territory bet ...
in 1981 and
Operation Ramadan in 1982. The division was later used in the
Battle of the Marshes in 1984, mid-way through the
Iran–Iraq War.
After the tank battle at
Susangerd, captured British
Chieftains of the 92nd Armoured Division were taken back to Baghdad for trials. According to retired General Aladdin Hussein Makki Khamas, attached to the
3rd Corps headquarters at the time, Iraqi tank
sabot rounds "went through the front armour of the Chieftain and came out the backside".
Today the 92nd Armored Division is the only Iranian division that has enough tanks to be considered a true armored division, even by regional standards.
[Anthony H. Cordesman, ''Iran's Military Forces in Transition: Conventional Threats and Weapons of Mass Destruction'', Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999, p.111] Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments says 'equipped with
T-72 tanks, this division is seen as the premier Iranian armored division. It is considered one of the best units in the
Iranian Army , both in equipment and in combat capability. Personnel have been involved in patrolling the border with Iraq.' Jane's says the division is part of the Army's South West Sector and is based at
Ahvaz in
Khuzestan
Khuzestan Province (also spelled Xuzestan; fa, استان خوزستان ''Ostān-e Xūzestān'') is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the southwest of the country, bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Its capital is Ahvaz and it covers ...
Province.
See also
*
Hasan Aghareb Parast
Hasan Aghareb Parast ( fa, حسن اقارب پرست) (1946 – 1984) was an Iranian commander in the Ground Forces of Islamic Republic of Iran Army. He was deputy commander of the 92 armored division and killed in the Iran–Iraq War.
Biograp ...
References
{{NEZAJA
Armored divisions of Ground Forces of Islamic Republic of Iran Army