__NOTOC__ Airmobile Operations Division (''Division Luftbewegliche Operationen'') was a division of the

German Army The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...

. The division was founded on 1 July 2002 and reported for duty 8 October 2002. Airmobile Operations Division consisted of approximately 14,500 soldiers, 350 of which were stationed at divisionary headquarters in Veitshöchheim, Germany. In October 2011 the German Federal Ministry of Defence announced a reorganisation/reduction of the German Armed Forces. As a consequence, Airmobile Operations Division was dissolved and those units not being disbanded altogether were either transferred to other parts of the armed forces or incorporated into a different command structure. The division itself was officially disbanded on 26 June 2014 and was integrated into the

10th Armoured Division 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

which relocated from Sigmaringen to Veitshöchheim.

Tasks

The tasks of the division were unique within the modern German military in that it was able to provide air mobility as well as ground-based fire support, aerial defence and counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear assets to all parts of the German military. With an additional infantry component, it was also capable of limited air assault operations. The division's command was prepared to fulfil a role as Framework Headquarters for NATO and EU operations. Troops of Airmobile Operations Division also render assistance to civilian authorities during disaster relief operations.

Coat of arms and motto

The coat of arms of Airmobile Operations Division depicts a flying black

eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...

, with its wings turned upright, holding a sword in its claws on a argent. Below the eagle a red arrow is shown. The argent symbolises dedication and the eagle strength, courage and bravery. The eagle's upturned wings, somewhat unusual in

heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch ...

, represent the lunging out for new power. The sword stands for strike capability and penetration depth. The red arrow illustrates the third dimension, the depth of space and the dynamics of the division. The framing silver cord shows the status as a division. The

maroon Maroon ( US/ UK , Australia ) is a brownish crimson color that takes its name from the French word ''marron'', or chestnut. "Marron" is also one of the French translations for "brown". According to multiple dictionaries, there are var ...

coloured seam corresponds with the traditional beret colour of the Army Aviation Corps and

airborne forces Airborne forces, airborne troops, or airborne infantry are ground combat units carried by aircraft and airdropped into battle zones, typically by parachute drop or air assault. Parachute-qualified infantry and support personnel serving in ai ...

. The division's motto was the same as the German Army Aviation Corps': ''Nach vorn!'' which translates as either "Forward!" or "To the front!".

Deployment

Units of Airmobile Operations Division were deployed in a number of missions under the aegis of either the United Nations, the European Union or NATO. * SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ended 2003) *

KFOR KFOR may refer to: * KFOR (AM), a radio station (1240 AM) licensed to Lincoln, Nebraska, United States * KFOR-TV, a television station (channel 4 analog/27 digital) licensed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States * KFOR-TV (Nebraska), a defunct ...

(ended 2003) *

Disaster relief Emergency management or disaster management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actuall ...

following the earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan (2005-2006)) * EUFOR RD Congo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2006) * ISAF in Afghanistan (from 2002)

Structure

Airmobile Operations Division's staff was based at Veitshöchheim. The division incorporated units from various branches of the German Army. These units were stationed all over Southern and Central parts of Germany. The following units were directly subordinate to Airmobile Operations Division: The following units were subordinate to Airmobile Brigade 1:

Commanders

Equipment

Armoured Vehicles

* Light air-transportable armoured fighting vehicle Wiesel 1 and Wiesel 2 * Air-transportable, armoured multirole transport vehicle Mungo * Anti-aircraft cannon tank Gepard *

Surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...

light armoured tank

Ozelot The ocelot (''Leopardus pardalis'') is a medium-sized spotted wild cat that reaches at the shoulders and weighs between on average. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Two subspecies are recognized. It is native to the southwes ...

* Armoured Howitzer 2000

Helicopters

* Light

transport helicopter A military transport aircraft, military cargo aircraft or airlifter is a military-owned transport aircraft used to support military operations by airlifting troops and military equipment. Transport aircraft are crucial to maintaining supply l ...

Bell UH-1D * Medium transport helicopter Sikorsky CH-53 G/GS * Light anti-tank helicopter Bo 105P/PAH-1A1 * Light liaison- and reconnaissance helicopter Bo 105 P1M *

Attack helicopter An attack helicopter is an armed helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the offensive capability of engaging ground targets such as enemy infantry, military vehicles and fortifications. Due to their heavy armament they ...

Tiger * Medium transport helicopter

NH-90 The NHIndustries NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter. It was developed in response to NATO requirements for a battlefield helicopter which would also be capable of being operated in naval environments. The NH90 ...

File:Panzer Wiesel 1.jpg, Light armoured fighting vehicle Wiesel 1 File:Ozelot.jpg, Surface-to-air missile light armoured tank Ozelot File:MungoBW.jpg, Transport vehicle Mungo in Afghanistan File:Gepard 1a2 overview.jpg, Anti-aircraft cannon tank Gepard File:PzH2000 houwitser.jpg, Armoured Howitzer 2000 File:Bell UH-1D 06.jpg, Bell UH-1D File:Bolkow Bo 105 1.jpg, Bo 105 PAH-1 File:Eurocopter Tiger 2.jpg, Eurocopter Tiger File:84+34 German Army CH-53 ILA 2012 01.jpg, CH-53G File:NH-90 ILA-2006 2.jpg, NH-90