81st Mechanized Brigade (Romania)

The 81st Mechanised Brigade (Brigada 81 Mecanizată) is a mechanised brigade of the Romanian Land Forces, established on 1 March 1995. The unit is subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division "Gemina". Between 1995 and 2000 its headquarters were located in Dej, and since December 2000 in Bistriţa. The brigade became completely operational in April 2002. Part of Fourth Army, HQ Cluj-Napoca:

81st Mechanized Brigade "General Grigore Bălan"
Brigada 81 Mecanizată "General Grigore Bălan"
Active1 March 1995 – present
CountryRomania
BranchRomanian Land Forces
TypeMechanized
Size6 battalions + other supporting companies
Part of4th Infantry Division "Gemina"
Garrison/HQBistriţa
Anniversaries1 March
Commanders
Current
commander		General de brigadă Mircea Gologan

Founded in Dej in September 1968, as a consequence of the decision of the Romanian leadership following the invasion of the armies of the socialist states in Czechoslovakia, in August 1968, the 81st Mechanized Division would become operational in September 1969. Initially equipped with a limited number of T-34-85 tanks and transport trucks, will later receive T-55 tanks and wheeled armoured personnel carriers.

In 1989 the division will have the following structure:

  • 81st Mechanised Division "Somes" -Dej :
    • 221st Mech. Rgt. -Bistrita : with T-55/A tanks, TAB-71/-71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and −665T trucks, TER-580 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
    • 223rd Mech. Rgt. -Dej -same
    • 227th Mech. Rgt. -Cluj -with TR-85M tanks, MLI-84 ifv-s, TAB-71/-71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and −665T trucks, TER-800 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
    • 230th Tank Rgt. -Baia Mare : with T-55/A/AM2 tanks, BTR-60PB and PU apc-s, BRDM-2 recon vehicles, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, SR-114/-132, DAC-443T and −665T trucks, T-55T evacuation tanks, MTP-2/BTR-60 recovery apc-s,
    • 315th Artillery Regiment -Simleu Silvaniei : with M-30 122mm how., Md.1981 152mm how., APR-40 122mm mrls, SR-114 and DAC-444 trucks, TMA-83 arty tractors, TAB-77A-PCOMA command vehicles,
    • 422nd Recon Battalion -Satu Mare : with TABC-79 recon vehicles and DAC-444T trucks,
    • 424th Communication Battalion -Dej :
    • 55th Antiaircraft Battalion -Dej :[1]

Since 1995, the structure is:

  • 81st Mechanized Brigade "General Grigore Bălan"– Bistriţa
    • 811th Infantry Battalion "Transylvanian Dragons" in Dej
    • 812th Infantry Battalion "Carpathian Hawks" in Bistriţa
    • 191st Infantry BatTalion „Collonel Radu Golescu" in Arad
    • 814th Tank Battalion "Mihai Vodă" in Turda
    • 817th Artillery Battalion "Petru Rareş" in Prundu Bârgăului
    • 3rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion "Potaissa" in Turda
    • 405th Logistic Battalion "Năsăud" in Bistriţa

International Missions
  • Between 1996 and 1998 the 812th Infantry Battalion participated to peacekeeping missions in Angola;
  • The 191st, 811th and 812th Battalions participated since 2001 to peacekeeping missions in the Balkans (Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina);
  • Since 2003, the 811th and 812th Battalions participated to the Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF in Afghanistan, as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

References
  1. www.worldwar2.ro
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