1st Guards Tank Army explained

Unit Name:1st Tank Army (1942 – April 1944)
1st Guards Tank Army (1944–1999), (2014–present)
Native Name:Russian: 1-я гвардейская танковая Краснознамённая армия
Dates: (1942–1991)
(1991–1999, 2014–present
Type:Armoured
Role:Breakthrough and Exploitation in Deep Operations
Garrison:Bakovka, Odintsovo
Command Structure:Western Military District (Until 2024)
Moscow Military District (2024–present)
Battles:
Decorations:
    Notable Commanders:Kirill Moskalenko
    Mikhail Katukov

    The 1st Guards Tank Red Banner Army is a tank army of the Russian Ground Forces (Military Unit Number 73621).[4]

    The army traces its heritage back to the 1st Tank Army, formed twice in July 1942 and in January 1943 and converted into the 1st Guards Tank Army in January 1944. The army fought as part of the Red Army on the Eastern Front during World War II. The army was commanded throughout most of the war by Mikhail Katukov.

    It fought on the defensive during Case Blue, ultimately being partially destroyed and disbanded. After its reformation in 1943, it participated in the Battle of Kursk, the Proskurov-Chernovtsy Operation, the Lvov-Sandomierz Operation, the Vistula-Oder Offensive and the Battle of Berlin. After the war, the army was stationed in East Germany as part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

    After the end of the Cold War and the resultant withdrawal of Soviet units in Germany, the army was relocated to Smolensk, and disbanded in 1999. The army was reformed in 2014 as part of Russia's military expansion. This reformed army fought in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it was claimed to have suffered heavy casualties following its eventual retreats from the north and later Kharkiv.

    First formation

    The 1st Tank Army was first formed within the Stalingrad Front from the 38th Army in July 1942, under the command of Major General Kirill Moskalenko. The army was encircled and partially destroyed. It was disbanded as a result in August 1942, its headquarters becoming the Southeastern Front headquarters.[5]

    Second formation

    The 1st Tank Army was formed a second time on 30 January 1943 (order No.46021) from the headquarters of the 29th Army, under the command of famous armoured troops commander Lieutenant General of Tank Troops Mikhail Katukov, personally appointed by Stalin. The army was transferred to the North-Western Front. The 3rd Mechanised Corps (later to become 8th Guards Mechanised Corps) and 6th Tank Corps (later to become 11th Guards Tank Corps) joined it on formation, and served with the army throughout the war.[6] It was quickly transferred to the Voronezh Front for the defense of the Kursk salient's southern shoulder, adding the newly formed 31st Tank Corps to its subordinate commands.

    Its order of battle prior to Operation Citadel was as follows:

    1st Tank Army[7]

    First Guards Tank Army

    After Kursk, 1st Tank Army participated in the Proskurov-Chernovtsy Operation, the Lvov-Sandomierz Operation, the Vistula-Oder Offensive, and the Battle of Berlin. It was awarded a Guards title and became the 1st Guards Tank Army in April 1944, and Katukov was promoted to Colonel General.

    On 1 January 1945, the Army's principal combat formations were:[11]

    Cold War

    The 1st Guards Tank Army was awarded the Order of the Red Banner postwar. It became part of the Soviet occupation force in Germany, known as Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, with its headquarters in Dresden. In 1968, it, along with the 11th Guards Tank and 20th Guards Motor Rifle Divisions, took part in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, after which the units returned to their garrisons.[12]

    In the late 1980s the Army included the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division, 9th Tank Division, and 11th Guards Tank Division. The headquarters was withdrawn to Smolensk, in the Moscow Military District in the early 1990s, and lost the 'Tank' from its title in 1995. In its last period within the Russian Army it comprised the 4th Guards 'Kantemir' Tank Division and the 144th Motor Rifle Division (which had been withdrawn from Tallinn in Estonia).

    In July 1992 the 336th Independent Helicopter Regiment returned from Germany to Oreshkovo airfield and was placed under the Moscow Military District. The regiment then came under 1st Guards Tank Army from 31 December 1992.[13]

    1st Guards Tank Army was disbanded in 1998.

    1988 structure

    The army's composition in 1988 was (with main equipment), with honorific titles in italics:[14] [15]

    Reactivation

    After a 15-year hiatus, the Army was reconstituted in November 2014,[16] probably on 13 November 2014.

    The army was formed as the main ground forces manoeuvre and reserve operational formation of the Western Military District, in addition to the 6th Combined Arms Army (headquartered in Saint Petersburg) and the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army (headquartered in Voronezh). It is considered an elite formation of the Russian Ground Forces. The army carries on the traditions of the chronologically first army of the Soviet Union to reach 'Guards status.

    It commands the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle and the 4th Tank Divisions, which are considered the elite formations of their respective combat arms. The most decorated divisions of the Soviet Army, they were garrisoned the closest to Moscow for the city's defense.[17] Due to their proximity to the capital, extra scrutiny was applied to personnel of these formations, making these postings especially prestigious. These units received the latest hardware and were thus known as the 'household' divisions of the Soviet Army. Their loyalty to the government was demonstrated by their involvement in the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt. The divisions retained their elite status within the Russian Army. The army also included the 27th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade. While the 4th Guards Tank Division uses T-80 tanks, the rest of the Army uses T-72B and T-90 tanks, and Kurganets-25 fighting vehicles.[17]

    the Army was composed of:[18]

    Structure

    Units identified in 2023 in 1GTA

    Russo-Ukrainian War

    During the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, elements of the 1st Guards Tank Army were reported to have forward deployed to the Pogonovo training ground south of Voronezh. Main battle tanks, self-propelled and towed artillery, and long-range multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), reportedly drawn from the 4th Guards Tank Division and the 2nd Motorised Rifle Division, were reported to have been positioned in the vicinity of Voronezh.[25] A few months before the invasion, the 47th Guards Tank Division was formed from the 6th Separate Guards Tank Brigade.[26] [27]

    Members of the 1st Guards Tank Army's 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division were sentenced in absentia to imprisonment by Ukrainian courts for alleged war crimes including the shelling of the city hospital of Trostianets[28] [29] and ordering the killing of a civilian in Boromlia, both in Sumy Oblast.[30] [31] Units of the army's 4th Guards Tank Division, including the 12th and 13th Guards Tank Regiments, were also reported to have been among the Russian forces which occupied Trostianets.[32] [33] By the beginning of April 2022, elements of the 1st Guards Tank Army had been redeployed from Sumy Oblast to Izium in the Kharkiv Oblast.[34]

    Ukraine reported in May 2022 that the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate had obtained documents showing that after 3 weeks of fighting the 1st Guards Tank Army had sustained 409 casualties (61 KIA, 209 WIA, 44 missing, 96 surrendered), and 308 units of military equipment had been seized.[35]

    The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence reported on 19 May 2022 that army commander General-Lieutenant Sergey Kisel had been suspended for his failure to capture Kharkiv. Kisel was transferred to serve as chief of staff of the Russian troops in Syria.[36] On 13 September 2022, UK Defence Intelligence identified 1st Guards Tank Army as the primary force that retreated from Kharkiv Oblast during the Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive. Having suffered "heavy casualties", the Ministry claimed that the army as "severely degraded" and its ability to counter NATO "severely weakened."[37] By December, the UK MoD reported that the Army had been replenished with recruits, and was active on the Luhansk Oblast front.[38]

    Commanders of the Army

    1. Katukov, Mikhail Yefimovich – Guard[39] ColGen, 1943–1947
    2. Belov, Yeftikhin Emelyanovich – Guard LtGen, 1947–1951
    3. Govorunenkov, Pyotr Dmitrievich – Guard GenLt, 1951–1953
    4. Yakubovsky, Ivan Ignatyevitch – Guard GenLt, 1953–1957
    5. Tolubko, Vladimir Fyodorovich – Guard MajGen, 1957–1958
    6. Ukhov, Vladimir Dmitrievich – Guard MajGen, 1958–1961
    7. Ivanovski, Yevgeny Filippovich – Guard MajGen, 1961–1964
    8. Kotsasnov, Konstantin Grigoryevich – Guard GenLt, 1964–1968
    9. Gerasimov, Ivan Aleksandrovich – Guard GenLt, 1968–1971
    10. Lushev, Pyotr Georgievich – Guard GenLt, 1971–1973
    11. Snetkov, Boris Vasilievich – Guard LtGen, 1973–1975
    12. Popov, Nikolai Ivanovich – Guard LtGen, 1975–1979
    13. Sovotskin, Roman Mikhailovich – Guard LtGen, 1979–1981
    14. Osipov, Vladimir Vasilyevich – Guard LtGen, 1981–1983
    15. Shein, Boris Pertovich – Guard LtGen, 1983–1986
    16. Tchernitsov, Anatoli Kupyanovich – Guard LtGen, 1986–1990
    17. Kolchkin, Gennadi Andreevich – Guard LtGen, 1990–1992
    18. Shevtsov, Leonti Pavlovich – Guard LtGen, 1992–1993
    19. Sosyedov, Vasili Petrovich – Guard LtGen, 1993–1995
    20. Roshchin, Viktor Mikhailovich – Guard LtGen, 1995–1999
    21. Did not exist (1999–2014)
    22. Aleksandr Chaiko – Guard LtGen, 2014–2018
    23. Kisel, Sergei Aleksandrovich - Guard LtGen, 2018–2020[40]

    References

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Who was Russian Colonel Nikolay Ovcharenko Killed in Ukraine? . 23 March 2022 .
    2. Web site: Institute for the Study of War .
    3. News: Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv 'working with UN to demilitarise Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant' – as it happened . The Guardian . 8 December 2022 . Chao-Fong . Léonie . Taylor . Harry . Lock . Samantha .
    4. Web site: RUSSIAN REGULAR GROUND FORCES ORDER OF BATTLE . October 2023.
    5. Book: Glantz . David M. . Companion to Colossus Reborn: Key Document and Statistics . 2005 . University press of Kansas . Lawrence . 0-7006-1359-5 . 65.
    6. Bonn, 2005, p.351, 354
    7. Book: Glantz . David M. . Companion to Colossus Reborn: Key Document and Statistics . 2005 . University press of Kansas . Lawrence . 0-7006-1359-5 . 247.
    8. Book: Glantz . David M. . Companion to Colossus Reborn: Key Document and Statistics . 2005 . University press of Kansas . Lawrence . 0-7006-1359-5 . 93.
    9. Book: Glantz . David M. . Companion to Colossus Reborn: Key Document and Statistics . 2005 . University press of Kansas . Lawrence . 0-7006-1359-5 . 85.
    10. Book: Glantz . David M. . Companion to Colossus Reborn: Key Document and Statistics . 2005 . University press of Kansas . Lawrence . 0-7006-1359-5 . 90.
    11. Web site: 1-я гвардейская Краснознаменная танковая армия . 2018-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091025162453/http://tankfront.ru/ussr/ta/gvta1.html . 2009-10-25 . live.
    12. Central Group of Forces [Czechoslovakia] (II Formation)]. Crofoot. Craig R.. 3.0.0. 17 February 2007. Micro Armor Mayhem.
    13. Web site: 336th independent Helicopter Regiment . The Luftwaffe, 1933-45 . 11 February 2024.
    14. Web site: 1st Guards Tank Army. www.ww2.dk. 2020-03-30.
    15. Web site: Western Military District History. 2011-09-28. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928131544/http://www8.brinkster.com/vad777/sssr-89-91/districts/zgv.htm. 2011-09-28. 2020-03-30.
    16. Web site: ВЗГЛЯД / Россия закрывает "черную дыру" на границе с Украиной. vz.ru.
    17. Web site: Russian Forces in the Western Military District . 6, 10 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20221015235329/https://www.cna.org/archive/CNA_Files/pdf/russian-forces-in-the-western-military-district.pdf . 15 October 2022 . June 2021 . live.
    18. Web site: Benya. Russian Army: Military districts, units (Locations, equipment and re-armaments). Russia Defence Forum. 12 February 2017. First posted 17 July 2016.
    19. Web site: 2-я гвардейская Таманская мотострелковая дивизия (в/ч 23626) . 2023-07-21 . Войсковые Части России . ru.
    20. Web site: 4-я гвардейская Кантемировская танковая дивизия (в/ч 19612) . 2023-07-21 . Войсковые Части России . ru.
    21. Web site: RUSSIAN REGULAR GROUND FORCES ORDER OF BATTLE . October 2023.
    22. Web site: Conflict Intelligence Team Sitrep for Oct. 13-16, 2023 (as of 8:30 a.m.). 17 October 2023.
    23. Web site: Крецул . Роман . Минобороны вновь сформирует 245-й гвардейский мотострелковый полк . Известия . 10 December 2023 . ru . 26 April 2023.
    24. Web site: Замполит спрятался от войны в Беларуси и готовит чмобиков к верной смерти в Украине. Опричники. 14 June 2023 . 2023-07-23. ru.
    25. Web site: Russia builds up forces on Ukrainian border . 9 December 2021. Politico . 4 January 2022.
    26. News: Baklanova . Tatyana . 10 December 2021 . Военные тоже учатся . ru . Znamya . 17 May 2022.
    27. Web site: bmpd . 2022-05-17 . Telegram.
    28. Web site: Заочно повідомили про підозру. Прокуратура підозрює російських військових в обстрілі лікарні Тростянця. 10 June 2024. Suspilne. uk. 20 May 2022. Юлія. Марковська.
    29. Web site: Suspilne. uk. 11 років позбавлення волі — у Тростянці винесли вирок двом військовим РФ, які обстріляли з танка місцеву лікарню. Діана. Крахматова. Андрій. Крамченков. Юлія. Марковська. 10 June 2024. 9 May 2023.
    30. Web site: Під час окупації наказав вбити цивільного: на Сумщині до 10 років позбавлення волі заочно засудили військового РФ. Вікторія. Грамм. 10 June 2024. 4 June 2024. uk. Suspilne.
    31. Web site: Під час окупації Сумщини наказав стріляти в цивільного, який відмовився закопати в ямі тіло знайомої – до 10 років позбавлення волі заочно війскового РФ. 10 June 2024. 4 June 2024. uk. Сумська обласна прокуратура.
    32. Web site: На Сумщині українець понад рік зберігав на подвір'ї трофейний танк РФ (фото) . 2023-07-30 . УНІАН . uk.
    33. Web site: uk. 2024-05-01. 2022-03-29. Suspilne. П'ятий тиждень повномасштабної війни Росії проти України: що відбувається на Сумщині. Онлайн.
    34. https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-1 RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, APRIL 1
    35. News: Intelligence confirms large-scale losses of Russia's 1st Tank Army in Ukraine . Ukrinform . 16 May 2022.
    36. Web site: 2023-04-27 . Генерала Сергея Киселя допросили по делу о незаконной свалке в Сормово . 2023-07-14 . Коммерсантъ . ru.
    37. 1569550906202415108. DefenceHQ. (4/4) With 1 GTA and other WEMD formations severely degraded, Russia's conventional force designed to counter NATO is severely weakened. It will likely take years for Russia to rebuild this capability.. U.K. Ministry of Defence. September 13, 2022. September 13, 2022.
    38. Web site: Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv 'working with UN to demilitarise Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant' – as it happened . . en . 8 December 2022.
    39. Military personnel of the Soviet Armed Forces, assigned to service in a guards units or formations, added to the particular rank designation the wording Guard …, e.g. Guard Lieutenant General. This tradition is continued in the Russian Federation.
    40. Web site: Myroniuk . Anna . First Russian soldier standing trial for war crime in Ukraine asks for forgiveness, faces life imprisonment . The Kyiv Independent . 19 May 2022 .

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "1st Guards Tank Army".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.