3rd Tank Brigade (Ukraine)

3rd Tank Brigade
3rd Tank Brigade
3-тя окрема танкова бригада; 3-tya okrema tankova bryhada
	3rd Tank Brigade shoulder sleeve patch
Active	2016–present
Country	Ukraine
Branch	Ground Forces
Type	Armoured Forces
Role	Armoured
Size	Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Yarmolyntsi
Nickname(s)	Iron Brigade
Motto(s)	Semper deinceps; (Always forward!)
Engagements	War in Donbas; Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Izium (2022); 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive; 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive; ;
Commanders
Current; commander	Colonel Roman Sheremet

The 3rd Independent Tank Brigade (Ukrainian: 3-тя окрема танкова бригада, romanized: 3-tya okrema tankova bryhada) is a reserve armored formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.^[1]

History

Formation

The brigade was formed in 2016. It was armed with T-72 tanks.^[1]

Russo-Ukrainian War

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

On the 24th of February, 2022, at the start of a large-scale invasion when Russia invaded Ukraine, the units of the brigade was sent to help defend Kyiv. They also took part in Battle of Izium and Zaporizhia directions, in Donetsk and Chernihiv region.^{[citation needed]}

In September 2022, during the counteroffensive operation in Kharkiv region, the brigade took part in the liberation of the settlements of Bairak, Shchurivka, Nova Husarivka, and the city of Balakliia.

Soldiers of the 3rd Tank Brigade have undergone training in training centers of Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Poland and the Baltic States.

During the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, the brigade's deputy commander, Yuri Kulish told bne IntelliNews that the brigade was struggling to deal with Russian helicopters and that Stinger anti-aircraft missiles were not effective against them.^[2]

Current structure

As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:^[3]

3rd Tank Brigade "Iron"
- Headquarters
  - 9th Separate Tank Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Tank Companies (T-72 variants, T-84 Oplot)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - 10th Separate Tank Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Tank Companies (T-72 variants, T-84 Oplot)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - 11th Separate Tank Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Tank Companies (T-72 variants, T-84 Oplot)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - Mechanized Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Mechanized Companies (BMP-1)
    - Grenade Launcher Platoon (AGS-17)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - 1st Rifle Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Rifle Companies
    - Fire Support Company
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Technical Support Platoon
    - Material Support Platoon
  - 2nd Infantry Battalion "Joker"
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Infantry Companies
    - Fire Support Company
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Technical Support Platoon
    - Material Support Platoon
  - 36th Separate Rifle Battalion "Steppe Wolves" (Attached)
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Infantry Companies
    - Fire Support Company
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
      - Rocket Artillery Platoon ("Soroka" MLRS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Technical Support Platoon
    - Material Support Platoon
  - Artillery Group
    - Headquarters & Target Acquisition Battery (Leleka-100 & A1-CM Furia drones)
      - BUAR UAV Group (Drops/Observation)
    - 1st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S1 Gvozdika)
    - 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S3 Akatsiya)
    - 30th Rocket Artillery Battalion (BM-21 Grad, Bastion-01)
    - Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (FGM-148 Javelin)
  - Sniper Platoon
  - Reconnaissance Platoon
  - Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion (ZU-23)
  - Engineer Battalion (BAT-2)
  - Transmissions Company
  - Radar Company
  - Medical Company
  - CBRN Protection Company
  - Commandant's Platoon
  - Repair and Restoration Battalion (BREM-1)
  - Logistics Battalion

References

^ ^a ^b David Axe (18 April 2022). "Ukraine Has Mobilized Its Tank Reserves. They're Already On The Attack". Forbes. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
^ https://www.intellinews.com/ukraine-s-3rd-tank-brigade-prepares-for-battle-282390/
^ "3rd-Tank-Orbat".

[axe-1] David Axe (18 April 2022). "Ukraine Has Mobilized Its Tank Reserves. They're Already On The Attack". Forbes. Retrieved 7 June 2022.

[2] ttps://www.intellinews.com/ukraine-s-3rd-tank-brigade-prepares-for-battle-282390/

[3] "3rd-Tank-Orbat".

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