127th Machine Gun Artillery Division
Encyclopedia
The 127th Order of Kutuzov Second Degree Machine-Gun Artillery Division (127 пулемётно-артиллерийская дивизия) was a division
of the Russian Ground Forces
, which traced its history to the 66th Rifle Division of World War II.
The division was originally formed on 14 May 1932 in village Lutkovka-medical in the Veditsky Shmakovsky raion of the Ussuriisk Oblast, Far Eastern Military District
, as the 1st or 2nd (sources differ) Collective Farm Division. It was renamed the 66th Rifle Division on 21 May 1936.
In 1945 the division, as a part of 1st Far East Front, participated in the Soviet operation against Japan. On August, 9th, 1945 the division began operations, probably as part of 35th Army
, advancing 12 kilometers, having forced the river Sungach in northern Manchuria. The division fought on the Ussuri River
at Hotunsky (Хотунского), Mishansky (Мишаньского), Boundary (Пограничного), and Duninsky Ur (Дунинского УР), capturing the cities of Mishan
, Girin, Jantszy, and Harbin
. With the 35th Army of the independent coastal group in the Far East in May 1945. For its valour in combat and courage on 19 September 1945 the 66th Rifle Division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov
, Second Degree. Three Hero of the Soviet Union
medals, 1266 awards, and 2838 medals were given to the division's personnel.
A year after the war it was reorganised as the 2nd Tank Division, but was renamed again in 1957 as the 32nd Tank Division and in 1965 as the 66th Tank Division. In 1974 the division became the 277th Motor Rifle Division.
In May 1981 the division headquarters was relocated to Sergeevka (Сергеевка). Since 1 July 1990 the 277th Motor Rifle Division was reorganised as the 127th Machine Gun Artillery Division. It incorporated the 114th and 130th Machine Gun Artillery Regiments, the 314 мсп, 218th Tank Regiment, 872nd Artillery Regiment, and 1172nd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment.
In mid 2008 the division, under a new commander, Sergey Ryzhkov, replaced some of its former cadre units with higher-readiness units. A regiment arrived from Sergeevka and two regiments of constant readiness from Kamen-Rybolov
(438th Motor Rifle Regiment?) on the western shore of Khanka Lake
, and Ussuriysk
(the 231st Motor Rifle Regiment). These changes effectively made the division a motor rifle formation though its designation was still that of a static defence formation.
In 2009, as part of the Russian Ground Forces
' transition to brigades, the division appears to have been reorganised as the 59th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (с. Сергеевка, Primorsky Krai
), from the main body of the division, equipped with BMPs, and the 60th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (п. Lipovtsy, Primorsky Krai
), from the 218th Tank Regiment of the division, also equipped with BMPs.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Russian Ground Forces
Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces are the land forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. The formation of these forces posed economic challenges after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and required reforms to professionalize the force...
, which traced its history to the 66th Rifle Division of World War II.
The division was originally formed on 14 May 1932 in village Lutkovka-medical in the Veditsky Shmakovsky raion of the Ussuriisk Oblast, Far Eastern Military District
Far Eastern Military District
The Far Eastern Military District was a military district of the Russian Ground Forces. In 2010 it was merged with the Pacific Fleet and part of the Siberian Military District to form the new Eastern Military District....
, as the 1st or 2nd (sources differ) Collective Farm Division. It was renamed the 66th Rifle Division on 21 May 1936.
In 1945 the division, as a part of 1st Far East Front, participated in the Soviet operation against Japan. On August, 9th, 1945 the division began operations, probably as part of 35th Army
35th Army (Soviet Union)
The 35th Red Banner Army is a field army of the Russian Ground Forces.The 35th Army was originally formed within the Soviet Red Army in July 1941 on the basis of 18th Rifle Corps, and joined the Far Eastern Front. Within Far Eastern Front it comprised 35th, 66th, 78th Rifle Divisions, the 109th...
, advancing 12 kilometers, having forced the river Sungach in northern Manchuria. The division fought on the Ussuri River
Ussuri River
The Usuri ula is a river in the south of the Outer Manchuria and east of Inner Manchuria . It rises in the Sikhote-Alin range, flowing north, forming part of the Sino-Russian border based on the Sino-Russian Convention of Peking in 1860, until it joins the Amur River at Khabarovsk . It is...
at Hotunsky (Хотунского), Mishansky (Мишаньского), Boundary (Пограничного), and Duninsky Ur (Дунинского УР), capturing the cities of Mishan
Mishan
Mishan is a Chinese city in the province of Heilongjiang. It is under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Jixi.- Early medieval history :...
, Girin, Jantszy, and Harbin
Harbin
Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...
. With the 35th Army of the independent coastal group in the Far East in May 1945. For its valour in combat and courage on 19 September 1945 the 66th Rifle Division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov is a Soviet and Russian military award, named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov ....
, Second Degree. Three Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
medals, 1266 awards, and 2838 medals were given to the division's personnel.
A year after the war it was reorganised as the 2nd Tank Division, but was renamed again in 1957 as the 32nd Tank Division and in 1965 as the 66th Tank Division. In 1974 the division became the 277th Motor Rifle Division.
In May 1981 the division headquarters was relocated to Sergeevka (Сергеевка). Since 1 July 1990 the 277th Motor Rifle Division was reorganised as the 127th Machine Gun Artillery Division. It incorporated the 114th and 130th Machine Gun Artillery Regiments, the 314 мсп, 218th Tank Regiment, 872nd Artillery Regiment, and 1172nd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment.
In mid 2008 the division, under a new commander, Sergey Ryzhkov, replaced some of its former cadre units with higher-readiness units. A regiment arrived from Sergeevka and two regiments of constant readiness from Kamen-Rybolov
Kamen-Rybolov
Kamen-Rybolov is a village on the shore of Khanka Lake, and the administrative center of Khankaysky District, Primorsky Krai, Russia. It was founded by peasants who migrated from the Western areas of Russia and by the Cossacks in 1865. Population: 11,769 ....
(438th Motor Rifle Regiment?) on the western shore of Khanka Lake
Khanka Lake
Khanka Lake , is a transboundary freshwater body located on the border between Primorsky Krai, Russia and Heilongjiang province, Northeast China . At its closest point, it is situated east of the city of Jixi, Heilongjiang...
, and Ussuriysk
Ussuriysk
Ussuriysk is a city in Primorsky Krai, Russia, located in the fertile valley of the Razdolnaya River, north of Vladivostok and about from both the Chinese border and the Pacific Ocean. Population: -Medieval history:...
(the 231st Motor Rifle Regiment). These changes effectively made the division a motor rifle formation though its designation was still that of a static defence formation.
In 2009, as part of the Russian Ground Forces
Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces are the land forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. The formation of these forces posed economic challenges after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and required reforms to professionalize the force...
' transition to brigades, the division appears to have been reorganised as the 59th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (с. Сергеевка, Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai , informally known as Primorye , is a federal subject of Russia . Primorsky means "maritime" in Russian, hence the region is sometimes referred to as Maritime Province or Maritime Territory. Its administrative center is in the city of Vladivostok...
), from the main body of the division, equipped with BMPs, and the 60th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (п. Lipovtsy, Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai , informally known as Primorye , is a federal subject of Russia . Primorsky means "maritime" in Russian, hence the region is sometimes referred to as Maritime Province or Maritime Territory. Its administrative center is in the city of Vladivostok...
), from the 218th Tank Regiment of the division, also equipped with BMPs.