The Kantemirovskaya division, despite some shortcomings of its command regarding interethnic relations, remains a military unit of the Russian Army, which can safely be called an elite one.
The very word "division" in the name was, apparently, a military trick. In fact, in 1942, a whole tank corps was formed under the number 17. Needless to say, its regular equipment is much superior to the divisional one.
As of 1943, the number of tanks in the Wehrmacht division was 200, but the reality showed much less equipment, by about a third, which was caused by constant combat losses and technical malfunctions.
The 17th Panzer Corps, on the basis of which the Kantemirovskaya Division was formed, was armed with 180 tanks, with their absolute qualitative superiority over the German ones. The number of T-34s fluctuated between 55-70, and there were also heavy KVs and light T-60s that outnumbered the German tanks that formed the basis of the Wehrmacht's technical fleet. But the situation on the military scene was dramatic, despite the technical superioritySoviet tank troops. Air supremacy at that time was held by the Nazi troops, which greatly hampered the successful work of our armored forces.
The corps received its formidable name, as well as the rank of guards, in honor of a small settlement, liberated by it with heavy battles, at the same time the number was changed to the 4th.
There were heavy battles ahead, and the glorious tradition of giving honorary names in honor of cities and villages liberated by the corps continued at the battalion level. Stalingrad, Western Ukraine, Krakow, Dresden, Elba and, finally, Prague - this is a brief battle path that the Kantemirovskaya Panzer Division has passed.
Thirty-two soldiers of the division were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, 5 became full holders of the Order of Glory, and more than 20,000 people were awarded in total.
A separate parade in 1946 was dedicated to Soviet tank crews, and Kantemirov's tanks marched across Red Square. It was September 8, and since then another glorious tradition has arisen - to celebrate the tankmen's holiday on this day.
In the post-war period, the Kantemirovskaya division was repeatedly reformed. The name of Yu. V. was added to its name. Andropov. The armament was changed, additional units responsible for air defense were introduced into the combat strength (according to the experience of the Great Patriotic War). Self-propelled guns were added, including the Akatsiya long-range howitzers, capable of hitting targets with high accuracy at distances up to 24.5 kilometers, and the Msta self-propelled guns. did not go unnoticed andmotorized infantry, without the support of which tanks in modern warfare are indispensable.
As for the Tor mobile air defense system, there are practically no equals to it. Data on the number of these all-weather stations possessed by the Kantemirovskaya division is modestly kept silent. The photo only demonstrates the presence of them in its combat composition. Unmanned reconnaissance vehicles are also in service.
In today's, unfortunately, not always peaceful conditions, the division has demonstrated its combat capability and ability to defend the interests of Russia and its territorial integrity.
During the military reform in 2009, the Kantemirovskaya division was renamed. Now it is the 4th Separate Tank Brigade. However, there is hope that the glorious and formidable name will be returned to her. You can't refuse this.
