81st Mechanized Brigade (Romania)

The 81st Mechanised Brigade (Romanian: Brigada 81 Mecanizată "General Grigore Bălan") is a mechanised brigade of the Romanian Land Forces, established on 1 March 1995. The unit's headquarters are in Bistrița, and it is subordinated to the 4th Infantry Division "Gemina", with headquarters in Cluj-Napoca. It is named after Grigore Bălan, a brigadier general in World War II, who was killed in action during the liberation of Transylvania in 1944.

81st Mechanized Brigade "General Grigore Bălan"
Romanian: Brigada 81 Mecanizată "General Grigore Bălan"
Insignia of the 81st Mechanized Brigade "General Grigore Bălan"
Active1 March 1995 – present
CountryRomania
BranchRomanian Land Forces
TypeMechanized infantry
Size7 battalions + other supporting companies
Part of4th Infantry Division "Gemina"
Garrison/HQBistrița
Anniversaries1 March
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier general Mircea Gologan

The unit was founded in Dej in September 1968, as a consequence of the decision of the Romanian leadership following the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. The 81st Mechanized Division became operational in September 1969. Between 1995 and 2000, the headquarters of the 81st Mechanised Brigade were located in Dej, and since December 2000 in Bistrița. The brigade became completely operational in April 2002 and is currently in the process of becoming a NATO certified unit.

Organization 1989

Initially equipped with a limited number of T-34-85 tanks and transport trucks, the division would later receive T-55 tanks and wheeled armoured personnel carriers. In 1989 the unit had the following structure:

  • 81st Mechanised Division "Someș" -Dej :
    • 221st Mech. Rgt. -Bistrita : with T-55/A tanks, TAB-71/71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and −665T trucks, TER-580 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
    • 223rd Mech. Rgt. -Dej -same
    • 227th Mech. Rgt. -Cluj -with TR-85M tanks, MLI-84 ifv-s, TAB-71/-71M apc-s, TABC-79 recon vehicles, SU-76 sp guns, ZiS-3 76mm field guns, Md.1982 120mm mortars, ?? TAB-71AR with 82mm mortars, AG-9 rr-s, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, DAC-443T and −665T trucks, TER-800 evacuation tank, TERA-71L recovery apc-s,
    • 230th Tank Rgt. -Baia Mare : with T-55/A/AM2 tanks, BTR-60PB and PU apc-s, BRDM-2 recon vehicles, MR-4 quad 14,5mm aa hmg-s, SR-114/-132, DAC-443T and −665T trucks, T-55T evacuation tanks, MTP-2/BTR-60 recovery apc-s,
    • 315th Artillery Regiment -Șimleu Silvaniei : with M-30 122mm how., Md.1981 152mm how., APR-40 122mm mrls, SR-114 and DAC-444 trucks, TMA-83 arty tractors, TAB-77A-PCOMA command vehicles,
    • 422nd Recon Battalion -Satu Mare : with TABC-79 recon vehicles and DAC-444T trucks,
    • 424th Communication Battalion -Dej :
    • 55th Antiaircraft Battalion -Dej :

Organization 2023

International Missions

References
  1. Trustul de Presă al MApN (12 June 2020). "Mai aproape de Kandahar". presamil.ro. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. "Concursul aplicativ-militar de iarnă - etapa pe Brigada 81 Mecanizată „General Grigore Bălan"". forter.ro. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. "Batalionul 811 Infanterie "Dej"" (PDF). Revista Infanteriei. No. (31) 1-2/2023. Făgăraș: Centrul de Instruire Manevră. 2023. p. 16.
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