Active 1997-2009 Battle honours Vislenskaya | ||
Decorations Order of the Red BannerOrder of Kutuzov 2nd classOrder of Suvorov 2nd class | ||
The 3rd Motor Rifle Division was a motorized infantry division of the Russian Ground Forces, active from 1997 to 2009. It was formed in the Moscow Military District at Novy in Nizhny Novgorod from the amalgamation of the 31st and 47th Guards Tank Divisions, inheriting the honors of the 31st Tank Division. In March 2009, it was disbanded and split into the 6th Separate Tank Brigade and the 9th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade.
History
The division formed as 3rd 'Vislenskaya (Russian for Vistula) Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov' Motor Rifle Division by amalgamation of 31st and 47th Guards Tank Divisions at Novyy in the Moscow Military District on 1 July 1997 gaining the honours of the 31st Tank Division. The Division was in 2004 under the command of General Major Aleksandr Konnov. Elements of the division, notably the two motor rifle regiments, participated in the First Chechen War and Second Chechen War.
Warfare.ru notes that 3 MRD was unit number 54046, and had constant readiness status. In 2000 the division had 10850 personnel, 244 T-80 tanks, 361 BMP/BTR, 36 2S19 Msta-S, 96 2s3 Akatsia, and 16 Grad multiple rocket launchers. It consisted of the 100th and 237th Tank Regiments, and the 245th and 752nd Motor Rifle Regiments, as well as the 99th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment.
In March 2009 the division was disbanded and reorganised as the 6th Separate Tank Brigade and the 9th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade. V/Ch 54046 became the 9th Independent Motorized Rifle Visla Red Banner Order of Suvorov Brigade.
In 2016, the 9th Motor Rifle Brigade moved to Boguchar. Its transition to the west wasn't easy. The 9th will become the new, reformed 3rd MRD, as announced On October 21, 2016, by Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu.
The post-Soviet 3rd MRD should not to be confused with 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division, active during the Cold War.