Cold War tank formations explained
During the Cold War, NATO and the Warsaw Pact both had large tank formations present in Europe.
The following gives the number of armoured formations and tank strength as of 1981/1982 for Warsaw Pact and NATO member countries. These include formations and vehicles deployed outside Europe, such as in North America or the Asiatic USSR.
NATO
Grand Total: 35,000+ Tanks
- German Army Formations
- 6 Tank Divisions (Panzerdivisionen) (Mostly had Leopard 2s, but in very little amount.)
- 4 Armored Infantry Divisions (Panzergrenadierdivisionen) (Mainly had Leopard 1s, due the scarcity of Leopard 2s)
- 1 Mountain Division (Gebirgsdivision)
- 6 Home Defense Tank Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzerbrigaden) (Armed with older M48A2C/ M48A2G2s.)
- 6 Home Defense Armored Infantry Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzergrenadierbrigaden (not complete)
Total: 4000+ tanks [2]
(Total: 5000+ including Jagdpanzer)
United States
- Formations as of 1981/1983
- 4 Armored Divisions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th)(Most of them had M60A3s and each had about 150 M1 tanks)
- 6 Mechanized Divisions (Had mainly M1 Abrams Tanks)
- 4 Infantry Divisions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th)
- 1 Airborne Division (incl. 1 Tank Battalion) (Had 50 Sheridan tanks)
- 1 independent Tank Brigade (194th Armored) (Had mostly M1s.)
- 4 independent Infantry Brigades
- 3 Cavalry Regiments (Reconnaissance) (Generally only had 10–12 tanks, mainly Sheridans/ but some had M1s)
- 3 ACAV Regiments (2nd, 3rd and 11th ACAV)
- Number of tanks:
Total: 19,225+ tanks (min. 330 for training only)[3]
CENTAG mainly consisted of the US 5th and 7th corps along with more mech divisions. The US army had a fair amount of tanks, making up for the shortcomings of NATO tank numbers.
In 1984 :
- Formations
- 6 Tank divisions (divisions blindées – the 2nd, 7th, 10th in France, the 1st, 3rd and 5th in West Germany)
- 4 Light Armoured Divisions – the 6th, 9th, 12th, 14th
- 2 Mechanised Infantry Divisions – the 8th and 15th
Total: 1,868 tanks[5]
- Formations
Total: 1,901 tanks and armoured cars[7]
Before the 1980s, equipment included the Conqueror tank (1955–1966) and FV4101 Charioteer (TA 1950s). Initially containing three armoured divisions, BAOR was reformed by 1960 into three mixed divisions and additional brigade groups. Then in the 1970s, as four smaller armoured divisions before reorganization as 3 armoured divisions in 1981–83.
As of 1981/83:
- Formations
- 1 Tank Division
- 2 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
- 14 Infantry Divisions (some with tank battalions attached)
Total: 3,500 Tanks[9]
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- 5 Armored Brigades[10] (two tank battalion each, 49 tanks each battalion))
- 9 Mechanized Brigades[11] (one 49 tanks battalion each)
- 4 Motorized Brigades[12] (one armored battalion each, with 33 tanks)
- 2 Armored Carabinieri (gendarmerie) battalions[13]
- 2 Armored independent battalions[14]
- 4 Recce independent battalions[15] (31 tanks each)
- Armored Troops School with the 31st Tank battalion
- Armored Training Camp with the 1st Armored Regiment
- Number of tanks:
Total: 1,620 tanks[16]
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- 1 armoured division
- 2 mechanised divisions (1 of which reserve)
- Number of Tanks:
Total: 918 tanks
As of 1983:
- Formations
- 1 Mechanised Division (Jutland)The Jutland division/Jyske division.
- 1 Light Battlegroup/Jyske kampgruppe. (Jutland) 3 Motorized battalions with 8 Centurion tanks with 105 mm guns and a battalion of 24 105mm light howitzers.
- 2 Independent Mechanised Brigades (Zealand)
- 4 Light Battlegroups (Zealand)Each battlegroup with 8–10 Centurion with 84 mm gun and a field artillery battalion. Plus motorized infantry battalions.
- 1 Battlegroup (Bornholm) Motorized infantry and a battalion of 24 light artillery pieces.
- 1 Battlegroup/Kampgruppe Funen/ 2 motorized infantry battalions. Light artillery battalion of 24 howitzers 105mm.
- Number of Tanks:JutlandThe Jutland Division/Jyske division.
- 120 MBT Leopard 1A3 (40 in each Brigade x3)
- 18 light tank M41 Walker Bulldog (Recon Battalion)
- 50 Centurion tank Mk.V with 84 mm gun in the tank destroyer battalion of the division. 10 Centurion with 105 mm gun with the motorized infantry battalion of the Jutland division. 6 × Anti-tank Squadrons in reserve in four regions and one Light-Battlegroupe with 10 centurion with 105 mm gun. In each 3 regions of Jutland there was an infantry battalion. 1 of 3 also with a battalion of light howitzers. Jyske Kampgruppe/Jutland battlegroup with its tanks and artillery was to assist each region if overwhelmed and the strongest force in Jutland. The Jutland division was in Sleswig/Holstein.
Zealand
- 90 MBT Centurion tank MK.V2 with 105 mm L7A1 gun (50 in one Brigade, 40 in the other. All with 105 mm gun)
- 36 Centurion tank MK.V with 84 mm gun (4 tank Squadrons in 4 Light-Battlegroups)
- 18 light tank M41 Walker Bulldog (Recon Battalion)
- Region IV Funen. Battlegroup 20 centurion with 84 mm gun.
Bornholm
- 16 light tank M41 Walker Bulldog (1 Light Tank Squadron and 1 Recon Squadron)
- Possibly a number om M10 tank destroyers, when taking absolutely all reserves into account. I have not listed a number
Total: 350 tanks
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- 1 Armoured Brigade (17 Ps Bde – Spich-Altenrath)
- 3 Mechanised Brigades (1 PsInf Bde – Leopoldsburg, 4 PsInf Bde – Soest, 7 PsInf Bde – Marche-En-Famenne)
- 1 Reserve Mechanised Brigade
- Number of tanks:
Total: 766 tanks
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
The Leopards and Cougars came into service in the late 1970s and replaced 274 Centurion Tanks used by Royal Canadian Armoured Corps units (The Canadian Centurion tanks served in Germany for 25 years, from January 1952 to January 1977).
Total: 114 MBT (+195 FSV) = 309 tanks
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- Independent Armoured Squadrons
- Number of tanks:
Total: 186 tanks
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- 1 Tank Regiment
- 2 Cavalry Regiments
- Number of tanks:
Total: ~80 tanks
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- 1 Armoured Division
- 2 Independent Armoured Brigades
Total: 1,310 tanks
Members of NATO from 30 May 1982:
- Formations
- 1 Armoured Division
- 1 Mechanised Division
- 3 Armoured Cavalry Brigades
- 1 Light Cavalry Regiment
- Number of tanks:
Total: 830 tanks
Warsaw Pact
Grand Total: 59,100+ Tanks
- FormationsAs of 1981/82 the Soviet Ground Forces had:
- 36 Tank Divisions, including six Tank Armies with four tank divisions each.
- 85 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
- 6 Airborne Divisions
- 2 Naval Infantry Divisions
- 3 Naval Infantry Brigades
- Tank strength
- 20000+ Medium Tanks, T-54/55 and T-62, 1000+ T-10A/M Heavy tanks (reserve) T-10 / T-10M / T-54 / T-55 / T-62
- 15,000 MBT T64A/B, T-72 Ural/T-72A, T-80/T-80B T-64 / T-72 / T-80
- 870 amphibious Reconnaissance Tanks PT-76/85 PT-76 (Plavayushchiy Tank)
- 1,800 med. tank T-34 (At the Chinese border – most used for driver training; withdrawn in 1979)
Total: 40000 tanks[18]
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- 2 Tank Division
- 4 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
- Number of tanks:
- 1,500 MBT T-54 / T-55 / T-72 (further 1600 tanks stored)
- 120 Reconnaissance tanks PT-76
Total: 1,620+ tanks[19]
As of 1981/82:
- Formations
- 5 Tank Divisions
- 8 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
- 1 Amphibious Assault Division
- Number of Tanks:
Total: 4,010 tanks[20]
As of 1980
- Formations
- 7 Tank Divisions (2 on full numbers, 3 on reduced numbers, 2 created by mobilization)
- 8 Motor-Rifle Divisions (3 on full numbers, 2 on reduced numbers, 3 created by mobilization)
- Number of Tanks as of year 1980:
Total in 1980: 4,223 tanks[21]
As of 1981/82
- Formations of the Bulgarian People's Army
- 5 Tank Brigades (in Sofia, Kazanlak, Karlovo, Sliven and Aytos)
- 8 Motor Rifle Divisions[22]
- Number of Tanks:
Total: 2,400 tanks
As of 1981/82
- Formations
- 1 Tank Division (in Tata)
- 5 Motor Rifle Divisions (in Gyöngyös, Kiskunfélegyháza, Zalaegerszeg, Kaposvár and Nyíregyháza)
- Number of Tanks:
Total: 1,100 tanks
As of 1981/82
- Formations
- 2 Tank Divisions (in Targu-Mures and Bucuresti)
- 8 Mechanised Infantry Divisions (in Iasi, Braila, Constanta, Bucuresti, Craiova, Timișoara, Oradea and Dej)
- Number of Tanks:
- 935 medium tanks T-34-85
- 31 MBT T-72 Ural-1
- 758 MBT T-55,
Total: 1,845 tanks
Other
As of ca 1980
- Formations
- 4 Armoured Brigades, type PB 63
- 1 Armoured Brigade, type Gotland[23]
- 1 Mechanized Brigade, type MekB 10 (under development)
- 2 Independent Armoured Battalions, I 19/P 5[24]
- Number of tanks
- 264 MBT Stridsvagn 103 (72 per brigade, plus two independent battalions with 24 each)
- 192 MBT Centurion tank (72 per brigade, plus a future mechanized brigade with 48)[25]
The Swedish army was in the process of forming a mechanized brigade, type MekB 10, which became active in 1983/84.[26] This brigade was only equipped with 48 MBT's (Centurions) compared to the 72 MBT's of the regular armoured brigades, but instead received 24 Infanterikanonvagn 91 infantry support vehicles.[25]
Total: 456 tanks
References
- Armed Forces 1981/82 In: The Military Balance of the International Institute for Strategic Studies London (Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Munich 1982.)
- Book: Ferdinand von Senger und Etterlin . Tanks of the World . Arms and Armour Press . London . 1983.
- Book: John Weeks . Armies of the World . Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. London . 1981.
Notes and References
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 73
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 73
- Armed Forces 1981/82. Page 20
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 76
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 76
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 84
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 84
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 102
- Armed Forces 1981/82. Page 102
- Curtatone, Manin, Mameli, Vittorio Veneto, Pozzuolo del Friuli
- Goito, Legnano, Garibaldi, Brescia, Trieste, Gorizia, Granatieri di Sardegna, Isonzo, Pinerolo
- Cremona, Friuli, Aosta, Acqui
- 7th "Petrucelli" and 13th "Gallo"
- 3rd "Savoia Cavalleria" and 8th "Lancieri di Montebello"
- 7th "Lancieri di Milano" 12th "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo", 15th "Cavalleggeri di Lodi", 19th "Cavalleggeri Guide"
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 90
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 102
- Armed Forces 1981/82
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 54
- Armed Forces 1981/82 Page 57
- Francev, Vladimir."Ceskoslovenske tankove sily 1945–1992". page 135. Grada Publishing, 2012.
- Web site: Bulgarian Army.
- Book: Hugemark . Bo . Den stora invasionen: svenskt operativt tänkande under det kalla kriget . Publikation, 1652-5388 ; nr 47 . 2017 . Medströms bokförlag i samarbete med forskningsprojektet Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FoKK) . Stockholm . sv . 9789173291385 . . 248.
- Book: Kjellander . Bo . Pansartrupperna 1942-1992 . The Swedish Armoured Troops 1942-1992 . 1992 . Arméns pansarcentrum . Skövde . sv . 9163012537 . . 405–411.
- Book: Hugemark . Bo . Den stora invasionen: svenskt operativt tänkande under det kalla kriget . Publikation, 1652-5388 ; nr 47 . 2017 . Medströms bokförlag i samarbete med forskningsprojektet Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FoKK) . Stockholm . sv . 9789173291385 . . 247.
- Web site: Södermanlandsbrigaden – Sveriges första pansarbrigad . sv . Södermanlandsbrigaden – Sweden's first armored brigade . www.mekb10.mil.se . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/19991009205255/http://www.mekb10.mil.se/hist.html . 9 October 1999.
