Motorized rifle division
The motorized rifle division of the NVA ( MSD ): - Alternative spelling: NVA = motorized rifle division ; NATO = MotSchützendivision / motor rifle division ; CA = motostrelkowaja divisia - was a general tactical association of troops and units of the armed forces , special troops and services of the land forces of the NVA of the GDR from 1956 to 1990; whereby the proportion of motorized rifle regiments (MSR) predominated. A motorized rifle division of the NVA consisted of three motorized rifle regiments, a tank, an artillery, an anti-aircraft missile and a replacement regiment, a missile division, as well as several special battalions (each with a reconnaissance, pioneer, intelligence , Medical, chemical defense, material security and repair battalion, as well as a projectile and an artillery department).
historical development
The establishment of the first associations took place from 1956 and was based on experiences and knowledge of Soviet military science. In terms of structure, armament and equipment, a new type of large formation emerged as a further development of the infantry division and mechanized division . The MSD was fully motorized from the start and equipped with heavily armored forces. The basic inventory included:
- motorized riflemen - troop units (troop unit in the sense of regiment )
- Panzer troops
- artillery -Truppenteile
- Anti- aircraft troops
- other units or facilities of the special forces and services
From the 1960s onwards, the MSD were constantly adapted to the contemporary requirements of modern combat operations and combat tasks. This was done through more efficient training, as well as increasing firepower and mobility. New weapons and weapon systems were procured. In this way, the MSD were enabled to act within the operational groupings of the United Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact . In addition to the modernization and retrofitting of existing tank technology, as well as the introduction of 23 BMP-2 armored personnel carriers with improved combat value in some units, the MSD was further strengthened by units of the rocket troops and the air defense . The workforce was around 10,000 to 15,000 men.
assignment
The motorized rifle division of the NVA acted as part of a large unit (usually General Army , Shock Army or Tank Army ) and was intended to conduct combat activities in cooperation with other forces and resources of the armed forces and armed forces involved in the military operation . If a motorized rifle division was intended to carry out combat operations independently, this could be done with special support from the air forces , missile troops and airborne troops .
Due to its structure, armament and equipment, the motorized rifle division was able to act independently in all types of combat over a longer period of time .
resolution
When the NVA was decommissioned in 1990, the MSD was taken over and dissolved by the Bundeswehr Command East under Lieutenant General J. Schönbohm .
literature
- Dictionary of German military history , 1st edition (Liz.5, P189 / 84, LSV: 0547, B-No. 746 635 0), Military Publishing House of the GDR , Berlin, 1985, Volume 2, p. 655 “mot. Rifle Division (MSD) ".
- Military Lexicon , 2nd ed. 1973, L-No .: 5, ES-No .: 6C1, BstNr: 745.303.1, page 261 “mot. Rifle troops ”.