CZECHOSLOVAKIAN MOBILIZATION UNITS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82T00709R000100280001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 25, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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CZECHOSLOVAKIAN MOBILIZATION UNITS (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. (S/D) This report, covering the period from December 1972 through December 1981,
provides the first comprehensive analysis of mobilization divisions in the Czechoslovakian Peo-
ple's Army (CPA). This detailed analysis revealed that a mobilization division previously reported
with the 1st Tank Division* is a mobilization tank division. The maneuver elements of the mobili-
zation tank division were located. Also, a mobilization division previously reported with the 4th
Tank Division is a mobilization motorized rifle division (MRD). The maneuver elements of this
MRD were located. A possible mobilization MRD forming with the 3rd MRD was tentatively
identified, and four additional mobilization units-two tank regiments, a reconnaissance battal-
ion, and an antiaircraft artillery (AAA) regiment-were identified in the Eastern Military District
(MD). Included in this report are three maps, eight annotated photographs, and a table listing the
CPA mobilization divisions, their major maneuver elements, their locations, and their key pieces
of equipment identified from imagery.
*All specific unit designators are from referenced document 1.
Table 1.
Czechoslovakian Mobilization Units
This table in its entirety is classified SECRET/WNINTEL
Unit Type Location and BE No
Unidentified Mobilization TD Collocated With 1st TD, 1st Army (Figure 1)
Key Equipment
Rakovnik AB Dukla 1 73 tanks, 4 MT-55s
Dobricany Military Inst 108 tanks, 6 MT-55s
Horovice AB SE 96 heavy tanks, 4 MT-55s
Louny AB 1 34 prob OT-65 APCs,
17 OT-62 APCs, 43 prob
APCs, 40 tanks, 4 AM-50s
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Unidentified Mobilization MRD Collocated With 4th TD, 4th Army (Figure 4)
Tk regt
Recon bn
FROG bn
Jindrichuv Hradec AB Zizkove 1
Jihlava Training Area 405
Znojmo Firing Range
Caslav Vehicle Park
Jindrichuv Hradec AB Zizkove 1
Milovice/Jirice AB
59 OT-62s, 38 tanks
4 AM-50s
60-80 OT-81 Os,
40 tanks, 4 AM-50s
47 OT-64s, 42 tanks
89 tanks, 5 MT-55s
10 PT-76s
3 20-ton trailers
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Unidentified Possible Mobilization MRD Collocated With 3rd MRD, 4th Army (Figure 8)
Hodonin AB 001
Mikulov AB 1
Uherske Hradiste AB Zizka 001
Kromeriz AB Rybalkovy 2
36 OT-65s, howitzer bn,
poss tank bn, 4 AM-50s
25 OT-64s, 8 tanks,
6 M-53/59 SPAA guns
34 OT-64s, 4 AM-50s,
6 M-53/59s
At least 81 tanks, shed
space for 160 vehicles
At least 67 tanks,
4 MT-34s
Unit mixed with active
tank regt; at least of 136 tanks,
4 MT-55s, 3 MT-34s,
25 OT-810s
sheds for another
120 vehicles
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FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF MOBILIZATION TANK DIVISION WITH THE 1ST TANK DIVISION, 1ST ARMY, CZECHOSLOVAKIA
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DISCUSSION
2. (S/D) Czechoslovakian mobilization units are units in conserved status, having most of
their major pieces of equipment but almost no personnel. Of the 14 identified maneuver regi-
ments, nine are collocated with-active ground force units, two are within 2 nautical miles (nm) of
an associated ground force unit, and three are separately located. The mobilization units are
inactive in peacetime and would probably be manned by reservists in wartime. It is probable that
the associated active divisions-the 1st Tank Division, 4th Tank Division, and possibly the 3rd
MRD-are responsible for maintaining the equipment of the mobilization divisions in their areas.
Mobilization Tank Division With 1st Tank Division, 1st Army
3. (S/D) A mobilization tank division is with the 1st Tank Division. (Figure 1 shows the
locations of mobilization tank division units with the 1st Tank Division, 1st Army.) The tank
regiment at Rakovnik is with the 2nd Tank Regiment in a separately secured area of the installa-
tion. The tank regiments at Dobricany (Figure 2) and Horovice are at separate installations in the
1st Tank Division area. NPIC previously reported that the motorized rifle regiment (MRR) at
Louny was a reserve unit with the 3rd MRR, 1st Tank Division. By June 1979, however, equipment
in the MRR had been moved to a separately secured area outside the main installation (Figure 3).
It is now possible to identify this equipment as being for a mobilization MRR.
4. (S) Collateral sources' identified a FROG battalion at Terezin.
Mobilization MRD With the 4th Tank Division, 4th Army
5. (S/D) A mobilization MRD is with the 4th Tank Division. (Figure 4 shows the locations of
mobilization MRD units with the 4th Tank Division, 4th Army.) NPIC previously reported a
mobilization tank regiment at Jindrichuv. However, since the arrival of 59 OT-62 armored person-
nel carriers (APCs) and four AM-50 truck-launched bridges in September 1980, it is now possible
to identify the unit as a mobilization MRR. The 7th Tank Regiment and 4th Reconnaissance
Battalion for the 4th Tank Division are also housed at Jindrichuv. The mobilization reconnaissance
battalion is parked in open storage within the vehicle park of the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion.
The mobilization MRR at Jihlava (Figure 5) has been present since at least 1978 but was not
previously reported. This installation also houses elements of the 8th Tank Regiment.
6. (S/D) NPIC previously reported that the mobilization MRR at Znojmo Firing Range (Fig-
ure 6) was an element of the 9th MRR housed at Znojmo Army Barracks Mala 3
However, BMP APCs recently replaced OT-64s at Znojmo Mala 3 with no corresponding replace-
ment in the conserved unit at Znojmo Firing Range. This APC replacement indicates that the unit
at the firing range is a mobilization MRR.
7. (S/D) The mobilization tank regiment at Caslav Vehicle Park is in a secured open storage
area (Figure 7). Caslav contains reserve storage capacity for approximately 300 vehicles and houses
possible mobilization support units. NPIC previously identified a mobilization tank regiment with
the 13th Tank Regiment at Caslav Army Barracks Prokopa Holeho 002 500 meters
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northwest of Caslav Vehicle Park. This identification was based on the presence of two tank
battalions in open conserved stora e. 25X1
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Possible Mobilization MRD With 3rd MRD, 4th Army
8. (S/D) The presence of a mobilization MRD with the 3rd MRD, 4th Army, has not been
confirmed. However, while the activity observed in this division may be the result of atypical
equipment storage patterns, it may also indicate a forming mobilization MRD. (Figure 8 shows
possible mobilization MRD units with the 3rd MRD, 4th Army.)
9. (S/D) A mix of OT-64 and -65 APCs, eight AM-50s, and two howitzer battalions at Ho-
donin have indicated that some of the equipment may constitute a mobilization MRR. Only one
type of APC, four AM-50s, and one howitzer battalion are normally in CPA MRRs. Beginning in
August 1978, the 5th MRR at Mikulov was reequipped with BMP APCs, and the old OT-64 APCs
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were moved to an open storage area within the installation. By August 1979, 25 OT-64s-parked
with eight tanks and six M-53/59 self-propelled antiaircraft (SPAA) guns-were still in the open
storage area. It is unusual for replaced equipment to remain at an installation for a year. Possibly,
this equipment is the nucleus for a mobilization MRR.
10. (S/D) The 6th MRR at Uherske Hradiste has been present since at least 1973. Sufficient
covered storage for the MRR's equipment has always existed. Since early 1980, however, one
motorized rifle battalion, an SPAA battery, and four AM-50s have been parked on one of the
parade fields in this installation (Figure 9). While it is possible that the equipment belongs to the
6th MRR, the reason for moving the vehicles out of covered storage has not been determined.
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Keyed to Table 1
FIGURE 8. LOCATION OF POSSIBLE MOBILIZATION MRD WITH THE 3RD MRD, 4TH ARMY, AND MOBILIZATION UNITS IN
THE EASTERN MD
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11. (S/D) The tank regiment for the 3rd MRD is at Koucourevec Army Barracks 1 25X1
The mobilization tank regiment for the possible mobilization MRD is not at this installa- 25X1
tion; it is 25 nm northeast, at Kromeriz (Figure 10), and has been present since at least 1974.
Equipment for an additional tank regiment is in conserved storage at Koucourevec, but it is not
part of a mobilization unit. The 23rd Tank Regiment-housed at Koucourevec-appears to have a
training function, and the additional equipment is probably intended for wartime reserve. The
presence of a confirmed tank regiment at Kromeriz suggests a mobilization MRD with the 3rd
MRD. The other mobilization units in the Western MD are organized into divisions, and it is
possible that the recent developments in the MRRs of the 3rd MRD indicate a move toward
operating a previously planned mobilization MRD.
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Eastern MD Mobilization Units
12. (S/D) Possibly, the Eastern MD mobilization units are the core elements for a mobiliza-
tion tank division in the Eastern MD. The mobilization tank regiment at Kezmarok is with the 60th
Tank Regiment, 14th Tank Division (Figure 11). Ground photography shows that the tank storage
sheds are occupied and that four older MT-34 tank-launched bridges are present as well as four
newer MT-55 tank-launched bridges.3 Their presence indicates that two tank regiments occupy
the installation, since four tank-launched bridges are a signature for a CPA tank regiment.
13. (S/D) The mobilization tank regiment at Levice is with the 54th Tank Regiment. The
Category III status of the 54th Tank Regiment makes it difficult to distinguish between the two
units; however, at least 136 tanks, four MT-55s, three MT-34s, and 25 OT-810 APCs are present, as
well as covered storage for another 120 vehicles. The mobilization reconnaissance battalion is
within a secured enclosure in the vehicle park housing the 13th Reconnaissance Battalion, 13th
Tank Division. The mobilization AAA regiment at Nitra is with the AAA regiment for the 13th
Tank Division. -
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(S/D) All satellite imagery acquired from December 1972 through December 1981 was used in the
preparation of this report.
DOCUMENTS
1. DIA. DDB-1100-CZ-80, Ground Order of Battle: Czechoslovakia (U), Aug 80 (SECRET)
2. DoD. IIR 2 218 6766 80, Caslav: 13th Tank Regiment, 28 Oct 80 (CONFIDENTIAL)
3. DIA Ground Photographs 19-G and 20-G, 6 824 5108 79/C/30, May 79 (CONFIDENTIAL)
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Warsaw Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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