CENTAG wartime structure in 1989 explained

The Central Army Group (CENTAG) was a NATO military formation comprising four Army Corps from two NATO member nations comprising troops from Canada, West Germany and the United States. During the Cold War, CENTAG was NATO's forward defence in the southern half of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The northern half of the FRG was defended by the four Army Corps of NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG). During wartime, CENTAG would command four frontline corps (II German, III German, V US, and VII US). Air support was provided by Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force.

In addition to these forces, the French Forces in Germany (made up of the 1st Army Corps and 2nd Army Corps) were associated with the Army Group. In 1966, France had withdrawn from the NATO Command Structure, but it still wished to take part in the defence of Western Europe. A series of secret US-French agreements, the Lemnitzer-Ailleret Agreements, made between NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the French Chief of the Defence Staff detailed how French forces would reintegrate into the NATO Command Structure in case of war.[1] [2] Three armored divisions of the First Army were based within Germany and held yearly maneuvers with their allies to train for the moment French units would be committed to CENTAG (see also: Structure of the French Army in 1989).

The estimated wartime structure of CENTAG in the fall of 1989 at the end of the Cold War follows below. The main source for U.S. entries is Book: Johnson. Andy. NATO Order of Battle 1989. Callahan. Pat. 2012. .

56th Field Artillery Command

The 56th Field Artillery Command was organized to always report directly to the highest commander in Europe at the time. Therefore, during peacetime, it reported to the United States Army Europe, whereas, during heightened tension or war, command passed to NATO, with Allied Air Forces Central Europe as the next higher headquarters.[3] The Pershing systems were eliminated after the ratification of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on 27 May 1988.[4] The missiles began to be withdrawn in October 1988 and the last of the missiles were destroyed by the static burn of their motors and subsequently crushed in May 1991 at the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant near Caddo Lake, Texas.

HQ CENTAG

18th Engineer Brigade

32nd Army Air Defense Command

The army's 32nd Army Air Defense Command fell operationally under Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force.

1st Canadian Division

note 1: In case of war approximately 1,400 men from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group would have been sent to Germany to bring 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group to full wartime strength.
note 2: Each of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group's mechanized battalions fielded the following equipment: 2x M577, 65x M113, 11x Lynx, 18x M113 TUA with TOW, 24x M125 with a 81mm mortar.
note 3: This brigade had formed the Canadian Air-Sea Transportable Brigade Group and would in wartime have supported NATO forces in Norway. In case of war, Canada thus would have had to support one brigade each in two far apart theatres of war. In 1987, the Canadian government therefore decided to make 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group a wartime support for the German theatre, bringing its contribution there to division strength.[7]

III German Corps

2nd Panzergrenadier Division

5th Panzer Division

12th Panzer Division

26th Airborne Brigade

V US Corps

3rd Armored Division

4th Infantry Division (Mechanized)

8th Infantry Division (Mechanized)

194th Armored Brigade

197th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized)

11th Armored Cavalry

V Corps Artillery

3rd Corps Support Command

VII US Corps

1st Armored Division

1st Infantry Division (Mechanized)

3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)

2nd Armored Cavalry

VII Corps Artillery

2nd Corps Support Command

II German Corps

4th Panzergrenadier Division

1st Mountain Division

10th Panzer Division

25th Airborne Brigade

21st Theater Army Area Command

59th Ordnance Brigade, circa 1990

See also

NORTHAG wartime structure in 1989

Sources

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: . After 43 Years, France to Rejoin NATO as Full Member . March 12, 2009 . Edward . Cody . December 19, 2011.
  2. https://archives.nato.int/exchange-of-letters-between-saceur-and-the-french-commander-in-chief-concerning-cooperation-with-french-forces-in-germany-lemnitzer-ailleret-agreement
  3. Pershing Keeps Soviet Bear at Bay . Pershing Cable . 25 . 1 . 1986 . 27 November 2007 .
  4. Web site: The Pershing Weapon System and Its Elimination . United States Army . 2020-06-25 . 2015-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150712012515/http://history.redstone.army.mil/miss-pershing.html . dead .
  5. Web site: McKenney . Janice E. . Field Artillery - Army Lineage Series - Part 1 . US Army Center of Military History . 21 June 2020.
  6. Book: Challenge and Commitment - A Defence Policy for Canada. June 1987. Ministry of Defence Canada. Ottawa. 14 October 2016.
  7. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/dn-nd/D2-73-1987-eng.pdf Challegen and Commitment: A Defence Policy for Canada
  8. Richter, Oliver et al. "Chronik Panzerbataillon 363, 2006, p.277 "the [received] tanks were from the fourth production batch [=2A3]"
  9. Web site: 1st Battalion 77th Field Artillery Lineage . US Army Center of Military History . 15 June 2020.
  10. Web site: 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Lineage . US Army Center of Military History . 15 June 2020.
  11. Web site: 2d Battalion 69th Armor Lineage . US Army Center of Military History . 15 June 2020.
  12. Web site: 1st Battalion 18th Infantry Lineage . US Army Center of Military History . 15 June 2020.
  13. Web site: 2d Battalion 18th Infantry Lineage . US Army Center of Military History . 15 June 2020.
  14. Web site: History of the 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment . US Army . 15 June 2020 . 11 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511102254/https://home.army.mil/huachuca/index.php/units-tenants/b-troop/history-4th-us-cavalry-regiment . dead .
  15. Web site: 72d Engineer Company Lineage . US Army Center of Military History . 15 June 2020.
  16. Web site: Field Artillery - February 1990 . 1990. US Army Field Artillery School . 18 June 2020.
  17. Web site: 1st Infantry Division (Forward) . US Army Germany . 12 June 2020.
  18. Web site: Transportation Corps Cold War Order of Battle . US Army Transportation Corps . 11 June 2020 . 13 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170113210924/http://www.transportation.army.mil/historian/cold%20war%20ob.html . dead .

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