The 1st Leningrad Tank Red Banner and Order of Suvorov Brigade was a tank brigade of the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. The brigade was in the lines during 30 September 1941 to 8 December 1944.
History
The 1st Leningrad Tank Brigade was formed on 26 September 1941 in
Leningrad
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
as the 123rd Red Banner Tank Brigade from the disbanded
1st Tank Division (1st formation). When formed, the brigade had 43
KV-1s
The Kliment Voroshilov (KV) tanks are a series of Soviet heavy tanks named after the Soviet defence commissar and politician Kliment Voroshilov who operated with the Red Army during World War II. The KV tanks were known for their heavy armour pro ...
, 2
T-34
The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940. When introduced its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was less powerful than its contemporaries while its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against anti-tank weapons. The C ...
s, 26
BA-10s and 3
BA-20s.
From November 1941, the brigade fought near Leningrad, among other part of brigade had fought on the
Nevsky Pyatachok
Nevsky Pyatachok (russian: Не́вский пятачо́к) is the name of the Neva Bridgehead 50 km east south-east of Leningrad and 15 km south of Shlisselburg. It was the site of one of the most critical and costly campaigns dur ...
. 7 May 1942 123rd Tank Red Banner Brigade was renamed to 1st Leningrad Tank Red Banner Brigade. During 1942-1944 the Brigade proceeded to fight in the vicinity of Leningrad. In June 1944 the brigade fought in the
Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive, during which it advanced from Leningrad to Vyborg. During August 1944, the brigade fought in the advance into Estonia.
The brigade was reorganized as the 207th Self-Propelled Artillery Brigade on 8 December.
Order of battle
Since 30 September 1941:
* Staff;
* Staff company;
* 123rd Reconnaissance company;
* 123rd Tank Regiment (two battalions);
* 123rd Motorized rifle-machinegun battalion;
* 123rd Air-defence battalion;
* 123rd Repair company;
* 123rd Motor transport company;
* 123rd Medical platoon
Since 10 February 1942:
* Staff;
* Staff company;
* Reconnaissance company;
* 1st Tank Battalion;
* 2nd Tank Battalion;
* Motorized rifle-machinegun battalion;
* Repair company;
* Motor transport company;
* Medical platoon
Since 10 May 1942:
* Staff;
* Staff company;
* 1st Tank Battalion;
* 2nd Tank Battalion;
* Motorized rifle-machinegun battalion;
* Antiarmour battery;
* Air-defence battery;
* Equipment support company;
* Medical platoon
* Armored self-propelled gun battery
Since 7 July 1944:
* Staff;
* Staff company;
* 1st Tank Battalion;
* 2nd Tank Battalion;
* 3rd Tank Battalion;
* Motorized submachine battalion;
* Air-defence submachine company;
* Equipment support company;
* Medical platoon
Unit Relation
* 10.1941 — 7.1942:
Leningrad Front
* 8.1942:
42nd Army,
Leningrad Front
* 9.1942:
Leningrad Front
* 10.1942 — 1.1943:
42nd Army,
Leningrad Front
* 2.1943:
67th Army,
Leningrad Front
* 3.1943 — 4.1943:
Leningrad Front
* 5.1943 — 1.1944:
42nd Army,
Leningrad Front
* 2.1944 — 12.1944:
Leningrad Front
Honors and honorifics
* Leningrad (a regional designation, not an honorific)
*
Order of Red Banner
The Order of the Red Banner (russian: Орден Красного Знамени, Orden Krasnogo Znameni) was the first Soviet military decoration. The Order was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of th ...
(inherited from 1st Tank Division)
*
Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov () is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named in honor of Russian Generalissimo Prince Alexander Suvorov (1729–1800).
History
The Order of Suvorov was originally a Soviet award established on July 29, 19 ...
(22 October 1944, for capture of
Pärnu
Pärnu () is the fourth largest city in Estonia. Situated in southwest Estonia, Pärnu is located south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and west of Estonia's second largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet ...
)
References and notes
* Boevoi sostav Sovetskoi armii, chast' 1 (iiun'-dekabr' 1941 goda)
he combat composition of the Soviet Army, part 1 (June–December 1941) Moscow: Voroshilov Academy of the General Staff, 1963. Classified secret.
* Boevoi sostav Sovetskoi armii, chast' 2 (ianvar'-dekabr' 1942 goda)
he combat composition of the Soviet Army, part 2 (January–December 1942)Moscow: Voenizdat, 1966. Classified secret.
* {{Cite web, url=http://www.teatrskazka.com/Raznoe/Perechni_voisk/Perechen_07_03.html, title=Перечень № 7. XXI. Управления танковых бригад бригад, last=Pokrovsky, first=Alexander, date=1956, publisher=Voenizdat, location=Moscow, language=Russian, trans-title=List (Perechen) No. 7 Part IX. Tank Brigades, url-status=live, access-date=5 December 2017
Tank brigades of the Soviet Union
Red Army units and formations of World War II
Military units and formations established in 1941