40th Naval Infantry Brigade


The 40th Independent Krasnodarsko-Kharbinsky Twice Red Banner Naval Infantry Brigade is a brigade of the Russian Naval Infantry. It is based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy in the Russian Far East and has the Military Unit Number 10103.
It is part of the North-East Group of Troops and Forces, a joint command directed by the headquarters of the Navy's Kamchatka Flotilla.

History

The brigade has a rather unusual history, in that it can trace its origins to a Red Army division formed in 1918, which became best known as the 22nd Rifle Division.

Historical names

2nd Infantry Division
Nikolayevsky Infantry Division
30th Nikolayevsky Soviet Infantry Division
3rd Independent Naval Infantry Regiment
40th Independent Naval Infantry Brigade
40th Independent Motor Rifle Brigade
22nd Motor Rifle Division
22nd Rifle Division

Early history

The division was first formed on 22 September 1918, as the 2nd Infantry Division. It was based on guerrilla groups from Nikolayevsk , Novouzensk and :ru:Малоузенская волость|Malousensk Volost , and two volunteer workers' units, from Balashov and Penza.
From 2 October 1918 it was known as the Nikolayevsky Infantry Division, from 24 November 1918 as the 30th Nikolayevsky Soviet Infantry Division and from 13 January 1919 as the Nikolayevsky Infantry Division. After the previous redesignations, on 25 March 1919, it was named the 22nd Rifle Division.

Second World War

In May 1945, the 22nd Rifle Division became part of with the 1st Red Banner Army, an independent coastal formation, in the Russian Far East. It saw active service during the Battle of Lake Khasan during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria.

Cold War

In late 1945, the 22nd Rifle Division became part of the 137th Rifle Corps at Kamchatka. It was re-designated from 22nd Rifle Division to 22nd Motor Rifle Division in 1957, part of the 43rd Army Corps. In 1980 it became part of the new 25th Army Corps. In 1982, its 168th Tank Regiment became the 59th Independent Tank Battalion.
During the late 1980s, the division included the following units:
Until 1 June 2002, it was designated the 22nd Motor Rifle Division. It then became the 40th independent Motorised Rifle Brigade. In September 2007 it became the 40th Independent Krasnodar-Harbin twice Red Banner Naval Infantry Brigade. This situation lasted until March, 2009 when it became the 3rd Naval Infantry Regiment. It is reported that its current commander is Colonel Valery Zhila.
Today it is reported to include:
In 2013, the regiment was redesignated back to become the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade.