divisions to complete their establishments, so when the division left Moscow on July 15 it had 8,010 in the ranks, but little or no heavy equipment, motorized transport, or radios. The division was assigned to 32nd Army at Mozhaisk by July 19 and remained in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command in that Army until it was re-designated on September 26 as the new 140th Rifle Division with: 1305th Rifle Regiment – from 37th Militia Regiment 1307th Rifle Regiment – from 38th Militia Regiment 1309th Rifle Regiment – from 39th Militia Regiment 977th Artillery Regiment – from Militia Artillery Battalion (76mm guns) On the same day Col. Pavel Yefremovich Morozov was appointed to command, where he would continue through the 2nd formation. Since 32nd Army was in the second echelon of the forces defending Moscow it was not in the immediate front lines, but was nevertheless pocketed during Operation Typhoon just west of Vyasma by October 7. In the end the 140th was one of five divisions based on Moscow militia divisions that were encircled and destroyed in this offensive, although it was not officially disbanded until December 27. Owing to the division's position at the eastern extension of the pocket, enough personnel escaped from the encirclement to make a cadre for the next formation of the division. 3rd Formation The third formation of the 140th Rifle Division began in late December, based on escaped elements of the previous formation. The order of battle reverted to that of the first formation, except the howitzer regiment was no longer present, and the 309th was now a standard artillery regiment. Maj. Gen. Ivan Andreevich Kopyak was appointed divisional commander on January 29, 1942, and the unit remained in the Moscow Military District until May. In late May the 140th was transferred to the 24th Army in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command and sent south. 24th Army arrived in Southern Front just at the opening of the German summer offensive, Operation Blue, in June. In early July the division was transferred to the reserves of 9th Army. Retreating across the open steppes with the First Panzer Army in pursuit, the 140th was caught up in the encirclement south of Millerovo and effectively destroyed by the third week of July. It is listed as "reorganizing" in the Caucasus Region on August 1, and as of August 7 General Kopyak was listed