2nd Mechanized Brigade (Slovakia) explained

Unit Name:	2nd Mechanized Brigade
Native Name:	2. mechanizovaná brigáda
Dates:	2000–present
Country:	Slovakia
Allegiance:	Slovak Armed Forces
Type:	Mechanized brigade
Role:	Operational, territorial and tactical activities
Command Structure:	Slovak Armed Forces Headquarters
Garrison:	Prešov
Nickname:	Prešov Mechanized Brigade ^[1]
Patron:	Rudolf Viest^[2]
Motto:	Honor et munus / Česť a povinnosť ("Honour and Duty")
Colours Label:	-->
Current Commander:	1 star general Slavomír Verčimák

The 2nd Mechanized Brigade of general Rudolf Viest is a subordinate component of the Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic. The headquarters of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade is located in Prešov.

Main task

The main task of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade is to "participate in the tasks of defense and protection of vital interests of Slovak republic and its allies against military and non-military threats by conducting military and non-military operations. With regard to organizational structure and armament, the 2nd MechBde is designed to fulfill full spectrum operations against lightly armored enemy units in high battle rhythm."^{[3] [4]}

History

18 June 1945	creation of the 10th infantry division in Košice
1956–1966	18th motorised rifle division
1960	relocation from Košice to Prešov
1966–1990	reorganization into the 14th tank division
1991–1994	reorganization into the 14th mechanized division
1994–2000	reorganization into the 2nd army corps
1 April 2000	creation of HQ of the 1st mechanized brigade
1 October 2000	creation of the 1st mechanized brigade
1 October 2003	reorganization of the 1.mb to a mechanized brigade
1 October 2006	reorganization to a mechanized brigade
3 September 2007	received honorary title referring to General Rudolf Viest^[5]
1 October 2010	adoption of battle flag^[6]

Commanders

1945–1948	Brigadier General
1948–1949	Brigadier General Ľudevít Sozanský
1949–1951	Brigadier General Ján Malár
1951–1955	Brigadier General Jaroslav Palička
1955–1956	Colonel
1956–1957	Lieutenant Colonel Peter Andrejčík
1957–1960	Colonel Josef Kudrnovský
1960–1964	Colonel
1964–1967	unknown
1967–1972	Major General
1972–1974	Colonel
1974–1978	Major General
1978–1982	Colonel Imrich Andrejčák
1982–1985	Major General
1985–1987	Major General
1987–1990	Colonel
1990–1991	Colonel
1991–1992	Major General
1997–1999	Major General
2000–2002	Colonel
2002–2005	Brigadier General
2005–2006	Colonel
2006–2007	Brigadier General
2007–2010	Brigadier General
2010–2012	Colonel
2012–2015	Colonel
2015–present	Brigadier General ^[7] ^[8]

Organizational structure

• HQ of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade (Prešov)
• 21st Mixed Mechanized Battalion (Trebišov)
• (Michalovce)
• Self-propelled artillery section (Michalovce)
• Battalion logistics support (Prešov)
• CIMIC and PSYOPS unit (Martin)
• Directly subordinate units

Equipment and weapon systems

Small arms and portable artillery

• • • • • • • Pistol CZ 82 Model 58 assault rifle Universal machine gun model 59 Sniper rifle SVDN 1 Sniper rifle AW-50 Rocket-propelled grenade RPG-7 OZ 9P135 M anti-tank missile launcher
• Mortar 81mm
• Mortar 82mm
• Mortar 98mm

Armoured fighting vehicles

• BVP/1 infantry fighting vehicle (Czechoslovak and Slovak variants)
• OT-90 infantry fighting vehicle (Czechoslovak and Slovak BMP variant) with 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank missile system

Artillery vehicles

• Self-propelled gun howitzer ZUZANA

Utility and transport vehicles

• Off-road vehicle Land Rover Defender 110 (utility and patrol vehicle)
• Mercedes-Benz G-Class (utility and patrol vehicle)
• Off-road vehicle UAZ-469 B (utility and patrol vehicle, gradually decommissioned)
• Mercedes-Benz G-300 (military ambulance)
• Volkswagen Transporter (T4) (military ambulance)
• AKTIS 4x4 off-road transport vehicle (military transport truck)
• Tatra T-815 VVN heavy off-road transport (military transport truck)
• Tatra T-815-7 heavy off-road transport (military transport truck)
• Tatrapan T1 ZASA armoured personnel carrier / armoured truck (transport, logistics)
• Praga V3S off-road transport vehicle (military transport truck, gradually decommissioned)

Engineering and specialist vehicles

• Tatra T-815 Multilift container loader
• Crane vehicle AV-15
• Bridgelayer vehicles
• Božena 3 mine flail and de-mining equipment

Reconnaissance drone

• Innocon Microfalcon UAV

Portable radiolocator

• FLIR Ranger R20

Insignia

The insignia of the 2nd mechanized Brigade and its individual battalions includes coat of arms style emblems for each of the major components. The 2nd Mechanized Brigade also has an honorary battle flag.^{[9] [10]}

See also

• 1st Mechanized Brigade of the Slovak Ground Forces

Further reading

• Štaigl, J. a kolektív: Generáli - slovenská vojenská generalita 1918 – 2009 ("Generals: Slovak Military Generals 1918 - 2009"), Magnet Press, Slovakia 2009, str. 68

External links

• Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic
• General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces
• Ground Forces HQ
• 2nd Mechanized Brigade
• 21st mixed Mechanized Battalion
• 22nd Mechanized Battalion of general Mikuláš Markuš
• Self-propelled Artillery Section
• Logistics Support Battalion

Notes and References

1. Web site: Historický názov 2. mechanizovanej brigády ("The Historical Title of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade") . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 9 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209172524/https://mbpo.mil.sk/45232/ . 9 February 2022 . live.
2. Web site: Čestný názov 2. mechanizovanej brigády - Mechanizovaná brigáda generála Rudolfa Viesta ("Honorary Title of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade - The Mechanized Brigade of general Rudolf Viest") . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 9 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190219183452/https://mbpo.mil.sk/29876/ . 19 February 2019 . live.
3. Web site: Poslanie 2. mechanizovanej brigády . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 2016-06-11 . podieľať sa na plnení úloh obrany a ochrany životných záujmov Slovenskej republiky a jej spojencov pred vojenskými a nevojenskými hrozbami vedením bojových a nebojových operácií. S ohľadom na organizačnú štruktúru a výzbroj je predurčená na vedenie ofenzívnych, defenzívnych a stabilizačných aktivít proti ľahko obrneným jednotkám nepriateľa vo vysokom tempe . https://web.archive.org/web/20160616162216/http://www.mbpo.mil.sk/942/poslanie-a-hlavne-ulohy.php . 2016-06-16 . dead .
4. Web site: 2nd Mechanized brigade mission . 2.mb Prešov . 2016-06-11 .
5. Web site: Čestný názov 2.mb: Mechanizovaná brigáda generála Rudolfa Viesta . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 2016-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160616161126/http://www.mbpo.mil.sk/32803/ . 2016-06-16 . dead .
6. Web site: Bojová zástava 2.mb . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 2016-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160616162213/http://www.mbpo.mil.sk/32802/ . 2016-06-16 . dead .
7. Web site: Velitelia v histórii 2.mb . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 2016-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224700/http://www.mbpo.mil.sk/30128/ . 2016-03-03 . dead .
8. Web site: Veliteľ 2. mechanizovanej brigády: brigádny generál Ing. Martin STOKLASA, MSc. . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 2016-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160504020913/http://www.mbpo.mil.sk/263/ . 2016-05-04 . dead .
9. Web site: Znak 2. mechanizovanej brigády ("Emblem of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade") . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 9 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141202231819/http://www.mbpo.mil.sk/29878/ . 2014-12-02 . live.
10. Web site: Bojová zástava 2. mechanizovanej brigády ("Battle Flag of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade") . 2.mb Prešov . Slovak . 9 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613210857/https://mbpo.mil.sk/29202/ . 13 June 2021 . live.