TEXT: Czechoslovak  
  Vehicle Guide 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 1
  Twilight:2000 
  Czechoslovak Vehicle Guide 
  version 1.1 
   
  a fan fiction effort by Chico 
  vehicle designs by Paul Mulcahy 
   
  Contents: 
   
  Order of Battle (October, 1996)..................................................................................................................................3 
  Unit History and Current Status (July, 2000):.............................................................................................................6 
  Tank Divisions....................................................................................................................................................... 6 
  Motor Rifle Divisions.............................................................................................................................................. 7 
  Motor Rifle Divisions.............................................................................................................................................. 8 
  Separate Regiments and Brigades ....................................................................................................................... 9 
  Border Guard Brigades ....................................................................................................................................... 14 
  Organization: ............................................................................................................................................................20 
  Composition of Czechoslovak People's Army units............................................................................................ 20 
  Tank and Motor Rifle Battalions.......................................................................................................................... 20 
  Cannon and Howitzer Artillery Battalions............................................................................................................ 21 
  Rocket, Missile and Air Defense Battalions ........................................................................................................ 21 
  Equipment Descriptions............................................................................................................................................23 
  Unarmored Cargo Vehicles................................................................................................................................. 23 
  Main Battle Tanks................................................................................................................................................ 25 
  Self Propelled Artillery......................................................................................................................................... 25 
  Armored Personnel Carriers ............................................................................................................................... 27 
  Light Combat Vehicles ........................................................................................................................................ 28 
  Engineer Vehicles ............................................................................................................................................... 29 
  Large Caliber Guns ............................................................................................................................................. 30 
  Ammunition ......................................................................................................................................................... 30 
  Large Caliber Rounds ......................................................................................................................................... 30 
  Fire Chart Data.................................................................................................................................................... 30 
  Map of Czechoslovak People’s Republic .................................................................................................................31 
   
   
  Credits: 
   
  developed by Chico, December 2006 
  basic order of battle information from obat.com forums and www.vojenstvi.cz.  Equipment holdings from those 
  sources and IISS Military Balance, 1990-1991. 
  formatting based on GDW’s Soviet Vehicle Guide and U.S. Army Vehicle Guide. 
  histories for some units adapted from GDW’s Black Madonna. 
  illustrations shamelessly stolen from around the internet, especially the Czech Army web site. 
   
   
  Special thanks to: 
   
  Paul Mulcahy for all his hard work in developing the stats for the Czechoslovak Army’s  
  vehicles for his web site and permitting me to include that information in this guide! 
  and 
  Jason Weiser for his valuable comments, insightful input 
  and for providing motivation and encouragement! 
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 2 
   
   
  The Twilight:2000 game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises.  Copyright 1981 - 2006 Far Future 
  Enterprises.  Twilight:2000 is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises.  Far Future permits web sites and 
  fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Far Future is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of 
  permission on 90 days notice.  The contents of this fan fiction are for personal, non-commercial use only.  Any use of 
  Far Future Enterprises's copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere in this work should not be viewed as a 
  challenge to those copyrights or trademarks.  In addition, any portion of this work cannot be republished or 
  distributed without the consent of the authors. 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 3
   
  SAU-122/2S1 self-propelled howitzers of the 1st Tank Division preparing to deliver 
  supporting fires for a Warsaw Pact spoiling attack into Bavaria, January 1997. 
  Order of Battle (October, 1996) 
   
  This section provides players and referees with an overview of the current position and approximate strength of 
  the Czechoslovak People’s Army forces as of July 1, 2000.  The order of battle provides a snapshot of the 
  Czechoslovak command system at the beginning of the war.  The divisional histories give a brief description of 
  the major units of the Czechoslovak Armed Forces.  Referees are encouraged to exercise considerable freedom 
  in manipulating this data to suit the needs of their campaign.  All strengths given for manpower have been 
  rounded to the nearest five hundred.  Tank strength is for main battle tanks only, and the numbers reflect the 
  current best estimate of operable numbers.  Most units have acquired an assortment of other vehicles including 
  lighter armored vehicles, soft-skinned vehicles, civilian vehicles, and a variety of captured equipment. 
   
  Soviet 1st Southwestern Front: 
   
  311th Heavy Artillery Brigade (Front)  
  7th Artillery Division 
   71st Cannon Artillery Brigade  
   75th Heavy Howitzer Artillery Brigade 
   313th Cannon Artillery Brigade 
  82nd SAM Brigade 
  1st Airborne Assault Brigade 
  22nd Special Assignment Airborne Brigade  
  10th Pontoon Brigade 
  31st Mixed Squadron of Command and Reconnaissance 
  311th Independent Training Tank Battalion 
  313th Independent Training Tank Battalion 
  7th Road Engineer Brigade  
  32nd Road Engineer Brigade  
  6th Guard Battalion 
   
   
  1st Czechoslovak Army 
   321st Heavy Artillery Brigade (SSM) 
   322nd Cannon Artillery Brigade 
   216th Antitank Regiment 
   171st SAM Regiment 
   51st Engineering Brigade 
   91st Pontoon Regiment 
   11th Helicopter Regiment 
   1st Squadron of Command and Reconnaissance 
   101st UAV Squadron 
   
   1st Tank Division 
    1st Tank Regiment 
    2nd Tank Regiment 
    21st Tank Regiment 
    3rd Motor Rifle Regiment 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 4 
    1st Artillery Regiment 
    5th SAM Regiment  
   
   2nd Motor Rifle Division 
    10th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    11th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    12th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    23rd Tank Regiment 
    8th Artillery Regiment 
    2nd SAM Regiment 
   
  18th Motor Rifle Division 
  (regimental assignments unknown, except for 29th artillery 
  regiment) 
   
   20th Motor Rifle Division 
    49th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    65th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    74th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    12th Tank Regiment 
    38th Artillery Regiment 
    12th SAM Regiment 
   
   
  4th Czechoslovak Army 
   331st Heavy Artillery Brigade (SSM) 
   332nd Cannon Artillery Brigade 
   217th Antitank Regiment 
   251st SAM Regiment 
   1st Engineer Brigade 
   72nd Pontoon Regiment 
   51st Helicopter Regiment 
   52nd Squadron of Command and Reconnaissance 
   104th UAV Squadron 
   
   4th Tank Division 
    7th Tank Regiment 
    8th Tank Regiment 
    13th Tank Regiment 
    9th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    6th Artillery Regiment 
    4th SAM Regiment 
   
   9th Tank Division 
    14th Tank Regiment 
    17th Tank Regiment 
    18th Tank Regiment 
    79th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    362nd Artillery Regiment 
    9th SAM Regiment 
   
   15th Motor Rifle Division 
    51st Motor Rifle Regiment  
    62nd Motor Rifle Regiment 
    68th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    20th Tank Regiment 
    36th Artillery Regiment 
    1st SAM Regiment 
   
  19th Motor Rifle Division 
    57th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    67th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    104th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    11th Tank Regiment 
    47th Artillery Regiment 
    11th SAM Regiment 
   
   
  2nd Czechoslovak Army 
   312th Heavy Artillery Brigade (SSM) 
   323rd Cannon Artillery Brigade 
   220th Antitank Regiment 
   6th Engineer Brigade 
   
   13th Tank Division 
    10th Tank Regiment 
    15th Tank Regiment 
    64th Tank Regiment 
    8th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    3rd Artillery Regiment 
    3rd SAM Regiment 
   
   14th Tank Division 
    60th Tank Regiment 
    103rd Tank Regiment 
    55th Motor Rifle Regiment 
    63rd Motor Rifle Regiment 
    49th Artillery Regiment 
    10th AAA Regiment 
   
  24th Motor Rifle Division 
  (regimental assignments unknown, except for 56th Artillery 
  Regiment) 
   
   26th Motor Rifle Division 
  (regimental assignments unknown, except for 329th Artillery 
  Regiment) 
   
   32nd Motor Rifle Division 
  (regimental assignments unknown, except for 41st Artillery 
  Regiment) 
   
   
  Soviet 2nd Far Eastern Front: 
   
  3rd Motor Rifle Division  
    4th Motor Rifle Regiment  
    5th Motor Rifle Regiment  
    6th Motor Rifle Regiment  
    33rd Tank Regiment  
    361st Artillery Regiment   
    13th SAM Regiment 
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 5
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  A BMP-A of the 15th MRD advances on NATO positions in southern East Germany, November 1996
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Pipeline troops inspect 4th Czechoslovak Army’s main fuel pipeline following  
  a NATO air strike, Northern Bohemia, July 1997. 
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 6 
  Unit History and Current Status (July, 2000): 
   
  Tank Divisions 
   
  1st TANK DIVISION 
  A prewar Category I tank division stationed west of Praha, 
  the 1st Tank Division was one of the Czechoslovak People 
  Army’s premier divisions.  It was the spearhead of the Soviet 
  1st Southwestern Front’s spoiling attack into southern 
  Germany in early 1997 and seized the city of Regensburg on 
  the Danube but was unable to expand its bridgehead beyond 
  the city limits.  In July it linked up with elements of the Italian 
  V Corps advancing from Austria and took part in the invasion 
  and 
  occupation 
  of 
  southern 
  Germany, 
  once 
  again 
  spearheading the September-October Pact offensive.  In 
  1998 the division became stalled outside Hanau, Germany 
  before executing a scorched-earth withdrawal back to 
  Czechoslovak territory.  It has settled into cantonments in 
  the vicinity of its prewar garrisons northwest of the ruins of 
  the capital. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Slany-Rakovnik-Zatec area 
  Manpower: 2,500 
  Tanks:  12 T-72, 9 T-55 
   
  4th CAVALRY DIVISION 
  A Category II tank division stationed on the Austrian border, 
  the 4th Tank was filled out with recalled reservists in 
  December 1996 and deployed to the border with East 
  Germany, where it was held in reserve to exploit a Pact 
  breakthrough that never came.  During the NATO advance 
  across Poland, it was used as a mobile fire brigade, 
  counterattacking 
  NATO 
  local 
  breakthroughs 
  of 
  4th 
  Czechoslovak Army’s lines.  4th Tank distinguished itself in 
  the fall 1997 Pact offensive that cleared Poland of NATO 
  troops.  It lost the last of its tanks defending Praha in 1998 
  and was converted to horse cavalry in early 1999.  It was 
  assigned to the interior of the country; helping to rebuild the 
  area around Brno and keeping the area clear of the bands of 
  marauders from throughout Europe that roam the valley of 
  the Danube and its tributaries. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: vicinity of Brno 
  Manpower: 3,500 
  Tanks: none 
   
  9th TANK DIVISION 
  A prewar Category I tank division stationed in the area 
  around Tabor, the 9th Tank led 4th Czechoslovak Army’s 
  redeployment to the northwest to counter the rebel East 
  German Army.  It entered combat in late November 1997, 
  attacking the East German 4th Motorized Rifle Division in an 
  attempt to relieve elements of the 2nd Polish Army, which 
  was roughly handled by the Germans.  It held the southern 
  junction of the Oder River Line (where it turned west with the 
  Czechoslovak border) until Operation Advent Crown broke 
  through the line farther north.  Elements of the US III Corps 
  remained in contact, preventing the 9th from penetrating the 
  NATO flank, and the USAF subjected the 9th’s assembly 
  areas to vicious air attacks.   Nevertheless, the 9th remained  
   
   
  Czechoslovak soldiers occupy Regensburg, Germany, 
  February 1997 
   
  intact and effective throughout the remainder of 1997, a 
  constant threat to the German Third Army’s southern flank.  
  In 1998 the division was redeployed to southern Germany 
  and stalled outside of Fulda before retreating back to 
  Czechoslovak territory, leaving many of its tanks behind due 
  to lack of fuel.  It is located in Pardubice, providing security 
  and engaged in reconstruction. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Pardubice 
  Manpower: 3,000 
  Tanks: 4 T-72, 5 T-55, 1 Leopard II 
   
  13th TANK DIVISION 
  A Category III tank division stationed in northwestern 
  Slovakia, the 13th Tank was tasked to provide training for 
  conscripts identified for promotion to sergeant and command 
  of a tank.  With the deployment of Czechoslovak units to 
  China in December 1995, the division started a period of 
  rapid training cycles, turning out fresh regiments of soldiers 
  every four months.  In the summer of 1997, as the situation 
  in Poland worsened, the 13th Tank was ordered to take its 
  current contingent of trainees and enter the field, holding the 
  northern border of Czechoslovakia.  It performed poorly, as 
  its equipment was worn out from years of harsh use and the 
  training of many of its soldiers was far from complete.  Many 
  were lost in the onslaught inflicted by the flank security units 
  of the German Third Army, and the division retreated before 
  the Abrams and Leopards – a retreat that spared the division 
  a tactical nuclear strike.  The division reformed around the 
  tank production plant at Martin and the surviving instructors 
  incorporated local militias, police and stragglers to rebuild 
  the unit.  The Front command has been reluctant to commit 
  it to further action, so the division has been assigned a 
  variety of relief and internal security duties in western 
  Slovakia. 
  Subordination: 2nd Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Martin-Zilina area 
  Manpower: 4,500 
  Tanks: 13 T-55, 5 T-72 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 7
  16th TANK DIVISION 
  A mobilization only division from the Plzen area, the 16th was 
  called up during the desperate late summer of 1997.  Due to 
  the losses suffered by the rest of the army, there were few 
  modern tanks available to outfit the division with and no 
  armored personnel carriers or tube artillery, so the division 
  (at only half strength) entered the field with T-34s, heavy 
  mortars and infantry mounted in trucks.  Assigned to the 
  heavily battered 4th Czechoslovak Army, the division 
  assumed responsibility for a sector on the East German 
  border to strengthen the Border Guard brigades that were 
  holding that sector of front.  When the NATO 1998 offensive 
  started the obsolete tanks of the division were completely 
  ineffective against the modern NATO armor and the division 
  was crushed.  The few survivors were reassigned to other 
  units. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  17th TANK DIVISION 
  A mobilization only division from eastern Slovakia, the 17th 
  was raised in the fall of 1997 for internal relief and security 
  duties within Czechoslovakia.  It received 50 T-34 tanks, a 
  motley collection of trucks and civilian transportation and a 
  generous allotment of 120mm mortars and was ordered to 
  duty with less than half of its assigned soldiers present.  In 
  the spring of 1998 the division was ordered into Austria to 
  replace Soviet units that were moving to the front for the 
  Pact offensive.  As the division’s vehicles deteriorated, the 
  2nd Czechoslovak Army commander decided to convert the 
  17th to a cavalry division, so the unit seized horses from 
  throughout the Army’s sector (including many of the famed 
  Lipizzaner stallions).  The division remained in Austria on 
  occupation duty when other Pact units moved to counter the 
  combined NATO-Jugoslav offensives in the summer of 1998 
  and was withdrawn back to the Slovak Republic following the 
  Pact withdrawal from southern Germany.  Upon its return, 
  the Czechoslovak high command decided that the unit’s men 
  and horses were better used in industry, mining and farming 
  and its weapons could reinforce more experienced units, so 
  the 17th was disbanded. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  A column of modernized T-55 tanks of the 24th Motor Rifle Division on occupation duty in Austria, November 1997.
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 8 
  Motor Rifle Divisions 
   
  2nd MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A prewar Category I division stationed on the German border 
  in western Bohemia, the 2nd Rifle was one of the 
  breakthrough units of the January 1997 Pact spoiling attack 
  into southern Germany.  It reached the Danube and 
  remained in defensive positions throughout the spring, 
  advancing in July as the Italian V Corps drove on Munich.  It 
  occupied Nuremburg in August and remained on occupation 
  duty there throughout the first half of 1998.  It was 1st 
  Czechoslovak Army’s rear guard for the scorched earth 
  retreat from southern Germany following NATO’s 1998 
  summer offensive, taking moderate casualties.  The 2nd Rifle 
  now occupies the area around the ruins of Plzen. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: vicinity of Plzen 
  Manpower: 4,500 
  Tanks: 4 T-72, 7 T-55, 2 T-84 
   
  3rd MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A Category II division stationed in the southeastern Czech 
  republic, the 3rd MRD was brought up to full strength in 
  December 1995 and deployed by rail to Manchuria, where it 
  was used to reinforce the battered Soviet 17th Army.  It 
  fought well, earning the commendation of its Soviet 
  commanders.  In July 1996, it absorbed the 14th Tank 
  Division’s 103rd Tank Regiment, replacing losses it had 
  received in the previous five months of hard fighting.  After 
  the fall of China, while the Soviet units of 17th Army were 
  redeployed to occupation duty in Mongolia, the 3rd was 
  released for service at home.  Unfortunately, the unit was 
  awaiting a change of trains in Sverdlovsk when the city was 
  destroyed by two 500kt nuclear weapons.  There were no 
  survivors from the packed troop trains. 
   
  14th MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  Originally a Category III tank division stationed in Slovakia, 
  the 14th detached its 103rd Tank Regiment in June 1996 for 
  service in China.  A new motor rifle regiment was raised with 
  recruits from northern Moravia, and the division was 
  rebadged as a motor rifle division.  The 14th MRD has been 
  in combat since 1997.  It took part in the Warsaw Pact 
  offensive into southern East Germany in 1997 and took 
  heavy casualties during the 1998 NATO counteroffensive.  It 
  was returned to Moravia in 1999 for rest and refitting 
  (including issue of the last new T-72 tanks produced by the 
  Martin tank works), and has been there ever since.  In July 
  2000, the 14th was moved to the city of Opava and the 
  surrounding countryside. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Opava 
  Manpower: 2,000 
  Tanks: 16 T-72 
   
  15th MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A Category II motor rifle division stationed in southern 
  Bohemia, the 15th Rifle was brought up to full strength in 
  November 1996 with recalled reservists and rushed to the 
  East German front.  Upon arrival, it advanced on Dresden, 
  covering elements of the 2nd Polish Army and the Soviet 1st 
  Guards Tank Army before being beaten back with heavy 
  losses by advancing US Army units.  In May 1997, the 15th 
  Rifles absorbed replacements from the interior and launched 
  an attack on the German Third Army’s exposed flank as it 
  advanced on Katowice.  The division advanced too far for 
  the rest of 4th Czechoslovak Army to support and it was cut 
  off by NATO airmobile troops and pounded by NATO tactical 
  airpower.  Once the division’s stocks of surface to air 
  missiles were expended, NATO commanders deployed B-52 
  bombers to carpet bomb the exposed troops.  After three 
  days the division commander surrendered to the commander 
  of the US 1st Infantry Division. 
   
  18th MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A Mobilization Only division from the Praha area, the 18th 
  MRD was hurriedly activated in the spring of 1997 to bring 
  1st Czechoslovak Army up to strength (replacing the 19th 
  MRD, which had been transferred to 4th Czechoslovak 
  Army).  It was rushed to the front in central Germany, where 
  it was roughly handled by Dutch regular troops and NATO 
  airpower.  Relieved by other elements of the 1st 
  Czechoslovak Army, one motor rifle regiment was disbanded 
  to restore the other regiments to strength and the division 
  was assigned to a quieter sector of the front.  It held a quiet 
  sector of the front during 1998 NATO offensive and 
  detached the remnants of its tank regiment for the Pact 
  counterattack that followed.  It has established a cantonment 
  in devastated southwestern Bohemia. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Klatovy-Janovice area 
  Manpower: 1,500 
  Tanks: 4 T-55 
   
  19th MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A prewar Category I division stationed in western Bohemia, 
  the 19th was the first Czechoslovak unit to enter the war in 
  the west when it clashed with Bundeswehr troops outside 
  Karl Marx Stadt in November 1996.  It was reassigned from 
  1t2 Czechoslovak Army to 4th Czechoslovak Army when the 
  4th was redeployed from the Austrian border to battle the 
  Germans.  It was used as the 4th Army’s reserve during the 
  Spring 1997 NATO offensive, and in late May the 4th Army 
  commander, Lieutenant-General Boleslav Myrec, deployed 
  the 19th (with a strength at the time of 6,000 men and 43 
  tanks) to Katowice, Poland to aid in its defense.  On June 1st, 
  as the 4th Army’s situation to the west deteriorated, the 4th 
  was recalled to Czechoslovakia.  The 19th and the 4th Border 
  Guard Brigade successfully defended Ostrava from NATO 
  flank units, but at great cost in men and material.  As the war 
  seesawed across Poland, logistic difficulties prevented it 
  from rebuilding or undertaking any action other than local 
  defense.  When the front in Poland moved west, the 19th 
  moved west with it, forming the second line of defense along 
  the border of the former East Germany.  During the 1998 
  NATO offensive, the 4th Border Guard Brigade collapsed, 
  leaving the 19th vulnerable to being cut off by advancing 
  NATO units.  The 19th fought its way out of the encirclement 
  and fell back towards Praha, where it strengthened the 
  defenses and held the NATO troops back.  Following the 
  NATO withdrawal from Czechoslovak territory, the 19th was 
  withdrawn for disaster relief and internal security duties in 
  the area around Hradec Kralove, absorbing local militia and 
  police units upon its arrival. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Hradec Kralove 
  Manpower: 4,000 
  Tanks: 3 T-72, 4 T-55 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 9
  20th MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A prewar Category I division stationed close to the German 
  border in western Bohemia, the 20th MRD has been worn 
  down by years of intense combat.  The 20th Rifle was used 
  to bash through the German defenses in southern Germany 
  in the initial spoiling attacks in early 1997 and in the joint 
  Czech-Italian offensive in the summer of 1997.  It lost a 
  regiment to NATO tactical nuclear strikes during the fall 1997 
  NATO retreat and was withdrawn to the area west of Brno 
  for rebuilding.  It spent 1998 on occupation duty in Austria 
  and was briefly attached to the 2nd Southwestern Front in 
  Hungary to squash the Jugoslav attack near Lake Balaton, 
  Hungary.  In 1999 it was withdrawn from Austria and took up 
  reconstruction and security duties in southern Bohemia. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army  
  Current Location: Tabor 
  Manpower: 1,500 
  Tanks: 3 T-72, 5 T-55 
   
  24th MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A Mobilization Only division from the Bratislava area, the 24th 
  was raised in December 1996 and deployed to the Austrian 
  border.  It spent several months there training and 
  organizing, which resulted in its selection to lead the 
  Czechoslovak force advancing on Vienna.  It occupied the 
  city after token resistance and linked up with the Italian V 
  Corps by July 1.  It remained on occupation duty in Austria, 
  where it suffered light casualties to insurgents and gained a 
  reputation for fairness and good conduct.  It was relieved of 
  occupation duty by Soviet units retreating from southern 
  Germany in the summer of 1998.  Scattered fighting broke 
  out with Soviet troops as the Czechoslovak commander 
  (never a friend of the USSR) refused to hand over scarce 
  vehicles and supplies.  The 24th’s subsequent withdrawal 
  back to eastern Slovakia was quick, and the division has 
  made quite a name for itself hunting down Soviet marauders 
  and deserters that attempt to cross the Carpathians into 
  Czechoslovakia. 
   
  The 
  Czechoslovak 
  high 
  command 
  considers the division unreliable for offensive operations. 
  Subordination: 2nd Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Michalovce 
  Manpower: 4,500 
  Tanks: 18 T-55, 2 T-72 
   
  26th MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A Mobilization Only division from the Brno area, the 26th was 
  brought to full strength in January 1997 and assigned to 2nd 
  Czechoslovak Army along the Austrian border.  Hampered 
  by a lack of modern transport, it played a supporting role in 
  the Pact invasion of Austria and southern Germany in 1997, 
  securing supply lines and rear areas and suffering light 
  casualties from Allied air power and German guerrillas.  In 
  the summer of 1998, the 26th was rushed from occupation 
  duty in southern Germany to northwestern Czechoslovakia 
  to counter the NATO offensive, where the soldiers of the 26th 
  acquitted themselves well but suffered heavy casualties.  
  The remaining troops were deployed on internal duties to the 
  northeast of Praha in 1999, battling bandits and marauders 
  and attempting to rebuild the area’s battered infrastructure.  
  There is an informal truce in place with the Soviet and NATO 
  troops still battling on the Polish-German border nearby. 
   
   
  A T-72 of the 20th Motor Rifle Division crosses into eastern 
  Bavaria, January 1997 as part of the Pact offensive into 
  southern Germany. 
   
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Liberec 
  Manpower: 1,000 
  Tanks: 4 T-55 
   
  32nd MOTOR RIFLE DIVISION 
  A Mobilization Only division from the Ostrava area, the 32nd 
  was called up in July 1997.  Within two weeks, while still 
  getting organized, the 32nd was ordered to the front to strike 
  the exposed southern flank of retreating NATO forces.  
  NATO reconnaissance aircraft detected the 32nd’s advance 
  and the division was destroyed by a tremendous 18-hour 
  barrage of NATO long-range artillery fire and tactical aerial 
  bombing, concluded by a nuclear air-launched cruise missile 
  strike.  The few dazed survivors were assigned to other 
  units. 
   
  Separate Regiments and Brigades 
   
  1st AIR ASSAULT BRIGADE 
  A prewar category I formation, the 1st Air Assault Brigade is 
  a premier unit of the Czechoslovak army.  The unit was used 
  to seize vital roads and bridges in the Pact offensives in 
  southern Germany.  After the nuclear exchange, the unit was 
  stationed in the Plzen area, where it conducted a number of 
  deep penetration raids against the NATO forces in southern 
  Germany.  These raids took a heavy toll, and the lack of 
  aircraft has grounded the paratroopers.  They were posted to 
  Opava in the fall of 1999 after Krakow declared itself a free 
  city.  Although few in number, the Czech paratroopers are 
  one of the most efficient fighting forces left in the 
  Czechoslovak Army. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Opava 
  Manpower: 100 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 10 
  Troops of the 1st Air Assault Brigade conduct an anti-
  marauder sweep, northern Moravia, March 2000. 
   
  22nd SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT AIRBORNE BRIGADE 
  A Category I brigade stationed in central Bohemia, the 22nd 
  Airborne was the Czechoslovak People’s Army special 
  operations unit.  It undertook a series of spectacular raids 
  deep in Germany and Austria throughout 1997 and 1998 in 
  support of the Soviet 1st Southwestern Front’s objectives.  
  Some of the 22nd’s operations include the assassination of 
  the commander of the German 4th Territorial Army Regional 
  Command immediately before the January 1997 Pact 
  spoiling attack, cratering the runway of the Luftwaffe 
  Ingolstadt air base and dropping two key bridges over the 
  Saale river in June 1998.  While the results achieved by the 
  22nd were significant, so were the casualties, and the 22nd 
  has been unable to replace its losses.  To enhance the 
  effectiveness of what remains of the brigade, the army’s 
  remaining helicopters (and attendant meager fuel supply) 
  have been assigned to it.  It serves as the Czechoslovak 
  Army High Command’s reserve, based out of an abandoned 
  Soviet airfield. 
  Subordination: Soviet 1st Southwestern Front 
  Current Location:  Melnik 
  Manpower: 75 
  Aircraft: 2 Mi-24, 3 Mi-17 
   
  7th ARTILLERY DIVISION 
  A prewar Category I division stationed in Pardubice, the 7th 
  was augmented with the Mobilization Only 313th Cannon 
  Artillery Brigade.  The division was involved in all the major 
  campaigns of the war, providing long range fire support and 
  interdiction fires.  In October 1997 it absorbed the 
  Czechoslovak Army’s remaining SS-21, FROG-7 and SS-23 
  missile assets, retaining the 321st Heavy Artillery Brigade in 
  the division as the headquarters for SSM units.  Since the 
  nuclear exchange it has suffered from lack of ammunition for 
  its big guns and many of the highly trained fire support 
  specialists had their lives frittered away as cannon-fodder 
  infantry.  The unit is now held in reserve, with duties to help 
  in security and disaster relief in their local area. 
  Subordination: Soviet 1st Southwestern Front 
  Current Location: Zatec 
  Manpower: 700 
  Systems: 3 SS-23, 4 SS-21, 1 FROG-7, 2 SAU-203, 2 
  2S4, 8 M-46, 3 Dana 
   
   
  311th HEAVY ARTILLERY BRIGADE (Front) 
  A Category I brigade stationed in Jince, southwest of Praha.  
  The 1st Southwestern Front’s only long-range missile 
  brigade, the 311th was tasked with long-range chemical and 
  nuclear strikes on targets deep in NATO’s rear areas.  
  (Nuclear warheads were provided by special KGB teams 
  that controlled use of the warheads).  Consequently, it was 
  augmented by troops from the 6th Guard Battalion (which 
  also provided security for Front HQ and the national HQ) to 
  protect the unit’s R-400 (SS-23) missiles from NATO special 
  operations forces.  The brigade’s integral SA-11 battalion 
  and 30-mm antiaircraft gun battalions warded off NATO 
  fighter-bombers.  Nonetheless, the brigade lost half of its 
  TELs prior to the outbreak of tactical nuclear war.  NATO 
  located the brigade headquarters in September 1997 and 
  struck it with a 60kt nuclear bomb dropped by a Dutch F-16.  
  The remaining three TELs and troops were absorbed by the 
  7th Artillery Division. 
   
  312th HEAVY ARTILLERY BRIGADE (SSM) 
  A Mobilization Only unit from the Olomouc area, the 312th 
  was formed in February 1997 to provide 2nd Czechoslovak 
  Army with operational missile support.  Equipped with 
  FROG-7 missiles from stores, the reservists of the 312th 
  attacked targets up to 70km in the NATO rear, using 
  conventional high explosive, chemical and tactical nuclear 
  warheads.  The 312th’s launchers were hunted by German 
  and American special operations forces and NATO tactical 
  aircraft, but a handful survived.  In October 1997, the army’s 
  remaining SSM units were consolidated into the 7th Artillery 
  Division and the 312th was disbanded. 
   
  321st HEAVY ARTILLERY BRIGADE (SSM)  
  A prewar Category I unit stationed near Plzen, the 321st 
  provided 
  the 
  1st 
  Czechoslovak 
  Army 
  commander 
  operational-level surface to surface missile support, using 
  SS-21 missiles.  The 321st struck critical transportation hubs, 
  NATO headquarters, assembly areas and airfields in support 
  of the Pact attacks into southern Germany in 1997.  When 
  the war crossed into the nuclear phase, a Soviet KGB 
  continent provided nuclear warheads and ultimate control of 
  targeting.  In October 1997, Soviet 1st Southwestern Front 
  ordered the army’s remaining SSM units to be consolidated 
  into the 7th Artillery Division.  The 321st’s HQ was kept intact 
  and became the headquarters within the 7th Artillery Division 
  as the SSM command element.  The unit retains a handful of 
  missiles, but the KGB detachment and the nuclear warheads 
  have been withdrawn back to the USSR.   
  Subordination: 7th Artillery Division  
  Current Location: Zatec 
  Manpower & Systems: included in 7th Artillery Division 
  above. 
   
  322nd CANNON ARTILLERY BRIGADE 
  A prewar Category I unit stationed outside Plzen, the 322nd 
  provides 
  long-range 
  artillery 
  fire 
  in 
  support 
  of 
  1st 
  Czechoslovak Army.  It has been involved in all of 1st Army’s 
  campaigns throughout the war and suffered losses from 
  NATO counterbattery fire and tactical airpower.  Damaged 
  and destroyed artillery pieces have been replaced by 
  whatever the brigade commander can acquire, so that by 
  1999 there was a NATO battery (equipped with captured 
  105mm and 155mm pieces and a MLRS rocket launcher) 
  and a battalion armed with 120mm mortars.   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 11
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army  
  Current Location: Kladno 
  Manpower: 400 
   
  323rd CANNON ARTILLERY BRIGADE 
  A Mobilization Only unit from the eastern Slovak republic, 
  the Second World War-vintage artillery pieces of this unit 
  provided the long-range fire support for 2nd Czechoslovak 
  Army.  It was brought to full strength in November 1996 
  when 2nd Czechoslovak Army relieved 4th Czechoslovak 
  Army along the Austrian border (so 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  could engage the renegade East German Army).  The 323rd 
  performed reasonably well, shelling downtown Vienna in the 
  early days of the Czech-Italian invasion, convincing the 
  Austrian government to flee the city.  It was then used for 
  occupation duty in southern Germany, and reinforced 1st 
  Czechoslovak Army’s artillery in the spring 1998 offensive.  
  With its prime movers converted from trucks to horses, it 
  moved too slowly to participate in the 1998 Pact 
  counteroffensive, instead providing fire support for Czech 
  units during their scorched-earth withdrawal from southern 
  and central Germany.  With the effective withdrawal of the 
  Czechoslovak army from the war in 1999, the 323rd (and the 
  rest of 2nd Czechoslovak Army) was assigned to security and 
  reconstruction tasks in the Slovak republic. 
  Subordination: 2nd Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Poprad 
  Manpower: 300 
   
  331st HEAVY ARTILLERY BRIGADE (SSM) 
  A Category II unit stationed at Jicin in eastern Moravia, the 
  332nd was the surface to surface missile brigade assigned to 
  4th Czechoslovak Army.  It was filled out with recently 
  released soldiers and fielded SS-21 missiles to strike 
  Bundeswehr rear areas during the Battle of Germany.  It 
  fired off its ready and reserve missiles against NATO 
  bridgeheads across the Oder River during February and 
  March 1997, and only received occasional replacement 
  missiles from the Soviet Union.  As a result, it was unable to 
  offer much support to its commander.  To divert NATO air 
  and special forces attention from more useful targets, the 4th 
  Army commander transferred all but two of his SS-21 
  launchers to his penal battalion, which then set up a series 
  of ambushes with the launchers as bait.  This succeeded 
  several times and provided additional protection for the 
  331st’s two remaining launchers.  In October 1997, all of the 
  Czechoslovak 
  army’s 
  remaining 
  SSM 
  units 
  were 
  consolidated in the 7th Artillery Division and the 331st was 
  disbanded. 
   
  332nd CANNON ARTILLERY BRIGADE 
  A Category II unit stationed at Jicin in eastern Moravia, the 
  332nd provided fire support for all of 4th Czechoslovak Army’s 
  major campaigns of the war.  The most notable action was 
  the dispatch of a battery of four M-46 130mm guns to 
  augment the defense of Czestochowa during Operation 
  Rampart, the 1997 NATO invasion of Silesia.  The 332nd was 
  forced to withdraw before it was able to have a decisive 
  effect on the battle.  Throughout the 1997 campaign it lost 
  many guns to NATO airpower and long-range counterbattery 
  fire, particularly from NATO ATACMS missiles and MLRS 
  rockets.  The commander of the 4th Czechoslovak Army was 
  determined to keep his heavy fire support assets intact, 
  however, and did so by stripping his divisions (and those of  
   
  Troops of the 331st Heavy Artillery Brigade reload their 
  SS-21 launcher vehicle, northern Bohemia, March 1997. 
   
  any nearby Soviet or non-Czechoslovakian divisions) of 
  howitzers. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Olomouc 
  Manpower: 400 
   
  216th ANTITANK REGIMENT  
  A prewar Category II regiment stationed in northwestern 
  Bohemia, the 216th was brought up to strength in October 
  1996 in response to the invasion of East Germany.  It took 
  part in 1st Czechoslovak Army’s attack into Bavaria in 
  January 1997, where it was rushed across the Danube to 
  reinforce the Regensburg bridgehead.  Its antitank guns and 
  missile systems suffered from NATO artillery fire throughout 
  the 1997 and 1998 campaign seasons, as the regiment 
  shrank to a weak battalion of experienced and proud tank 
  killers.  As tanks are somewhat rare these days, the 
  regiment’s anti-tank systems are dug in around its 
  cantonment while its horses are more frequently used to 
  drag plows than guns. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army  
  Current Location: Teplice 
  Manpower: 150 
   
  217th ANTITANK REGIMENT 
  A prewar Category II unit stationed south of Praha, the 217th 
  was brought up to full strength with new recruits and recalled 
  reservists in October 1996 and rushed to the Sudetenland.  
  During the Battle of Dresden, it provided flank anti-tank 
  defense for 4th Czechoslovak Army, saving the army from 
  disaster during a midnight attack launched by the US 2nd 
  Armored Cavalry Regiment during the height of a blizzard.  It 
  took heavy losses in that action, and, reduced to a battalion 
  in size, was withdrawn to form 4th Czechoslovak Army’s anti-
  tank reserve.  During Operation Advent Crown a few months 
  later the regiment was overrun south of Legnica, Poland, by 
  elements of German Third Army. 
   
  220th ANTITANK REGIMENT 
  A Mobilization Only unit from the Jihlava area, the 220th was 
  mobilized in May 1997 and stationed on the Austrian border.  
  It took part in the invasion of Austria, seeing little action 
  before the capitulation.  It was rushed into Hungary to halt 
  the Jugoslav offensive in the summer of 1998, where its 
  guns proved devastating to the few and obsolete armored 
  vehicles fielded by Jugoslav forces.  When Pact forces 
  withdrew from southern Germany the 220th withdrew into 
  Slovakia with the rest of the 2nd Czechoslovak Army, settling 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 12 
  down in the Zvolen area.  Upon arrival, it absorbed local 
  internal security troops, local militias and the surviving staff 
  of the nearby Sliac air force base.  While nominally loyal, the 
  commander of the 220th is gradually establishing himself as 
  a local warlord. 
  Subordination: 2nd Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Zvolen 
  Manpower: 800 
   
  82nd SAM BRIGADE 
  A Category II brigade stationed in central Bohemia, the 
  82nd’s long-range missiles provided an air defense umbrella 
  for Pact forces in southern Germany, operating a mix of SA-
  4 and SA-12 missiles protected by light AA guns.  The Wild 
  Weasels of NATO’s CENTAF quickly destroyed the 
  regiment’s SA-4 battalions, and the SA-12s were of limited 
  utility as the stocks of missiles dwindled.  The existence of 
  the brigade was of some use to the Soviet 1st Southwestern 
  Front, however, as NATO air planners were forced to divert 
  aircraft from strike duties to suppress the brigade’s missiles.  
  Once the war entered the nuclear phase, the brigade’s SA-
  12s were successful in defending the Front HQ from a NATO 
  nuclear-tipped ATACMS missile launched at it.  There were 
  no replacement SA-12s, however, so the brigade was 
  reorganized as light infantry and assigned occupation duties 
  in Ingolstadt, Germany.  The brigade withdrew in good order 
  from Germany in 1998, returning to central Bohemia, where 
  it became essentially a strong local militia. 
  Subordination: Soviet 1st Southwestern Front 
  Current Location:  Čáslav 
  Manpower: 200 
   
  171st SAM REGIMENT  
  A prewar Category I unit stationed near the West German 
  border, the 171st’s SA-11 missiles were assigned to protect 
  1st Czechoslovak Army from NATO airpower.  There first 
  major action was covering the seizure of Regensburg, 
  Germany in February 1997, where the regiment downed 
  three NATO aircraft at the cost of almost an entire battalion.  
  Replacement missiles and vehicles trickled in, but never at a 
  rate sufficient to make good the losses the regiment 
  suffered. 
   
  In 
  August 
  1997 
  the 
  Army 
  commander 
  concentrated all remaining anti-aircraft missiles from 
  throughout the 1st Czechoslovak Army in the regiment, 
  augmented by heavy anti-aircraft guns brought out of 
  mobilization stores.  The regiment succeeded in protecting 
  the Army headquarters and main logistic base from NATO 
  air attack, although the front-line troops were usually left 
  exposed (at a great cost in lives).  As NATO aircraft faded 
  from the skies following the nuclear strikes, the regiment’s 
  heavy guns were re-roled as heavy anti-tank guns, 
  hardening the Army’s front line positions.  The regiment was 
  removed from 1st Czechoslovak Army’s command in the 
  summer of 1998 and rushed to the defense of Praha, where 
  it provided both direct and indirect fire against NATO troops.  
  Following the stabilization of the lines, the regiment was 
  moved northeast of Praha, where it serves as a guard force 
  for 1st Czechoslovak Army headquarters. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army  
  Current Location: Mladá Boleslav 
  Manpower: 250 
   
   
   
  A SA-12 battery of the 82nd SAM Brigade moves across 
   the Bavarian countryside, February 1997. 
   
  251st SAM REGIMENT 
  A Category II unit stationed in southern Moravia, the 251st 
  was alerted and brought up to full strength in November 
  1996 prior to being committed against the Luftwaffe south of 
  Dresden.  Its SA-11s took a toll on Luftwaffe close air 
  support aircraft, downing a pair of Alphajets and a BO-105 
  helicopter in its first two days in action, earning the brigade 
  the designation “Sniper Regiment” from the Warsaw Pact 
  commander.  Throughout 1997 this honor ensured that it 
  received priority among non-Soviet units for replacement 
  missiles and vehicles, permitting the unit to remain at a 
  higher strength and level of effectiveness.  By the time 
  NATO aircraft disappeared from the skies over Europe, the 
  251st had downed 38 fixed wing aircraft and 18 helicopters, 
  at the cost of 15 launchers and 35% of the regiment’s 
  assigned personnel.  In late 1998 the unit converted to light 
  infantry and moved to southeastern Moravia where it 
  undertook anti-marauder operations and tried to rebuild the 
  local infrastructure. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Zlin 
  Manpower: 300 
   
  7th ROAD ENGINEER BRIGADE  
  A prewar Category III brigade stationed on the border 
  between the Czech and Slovak Republics, the 7th was 
  considered a dumping ground for men unfit for combat units 
  - a cesspool of criminals, incompetents, ethnic minorities and 
  those from families considered politically questionable or 
  dangerous.  It was brought up to strength by a cull of the 
  prisons and sweeps of Roma (Gypsy) encampments and 
  assigned to repair road damage behind advancing combat 
  troops.  The soldiers of the unit were not equipped with more 
  than a handful of small arms and no heavy weapons for fear 
  of a revolt.  The soldiers soon sorted themselves within the 
  brigade, with the 2nd and 4th battalions consisting of 
  hardened or petty criminals and the 1st and 3rd battalions 
  with honest and somewhat reliable soldiers.  As NATO 
  airpower devastated the Czech road network, the brigade 
  was withdrawn from duties in southern Germany (where the 
  roads were in better condition after combat than pre-war 
  Czech roads had ever been) and put to work repairing the 
  roads that were needed to carry reinforcements and supplies 
  from the USSR to the front.  In August 1997 the soldiers of 
  the 2nd and 4th battalions went on a drunken rampage (after 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 13
  looting a local brewery).  The next morning trucks carrying 
  troops of the 4th Border Guard brigade and SNB internal 
  troops arrived at the battalions’ encampments and machine 
  gunned the sleeping criminals.  The remaining, hard-working 
  soldiers of the brigade applauded and went to work harder 
  than ever, frequently joined by local civilians eager to restore 
  use of local roads.  The status of the brigade’s soldiers 
  changed from outcasts to heroes as the restoration work 
  continued throughout 1998 and 1999.  As the war wound 
  down, the soldiers of the 7th continued their restoration work, 
  traveling throughout Bohemia and western Moravia. 
  Subordination: Soviet 1st Southwestern Front 
  Current Location:  Benešov 
  Manpower: 600 
   
  32nd ROAD ENGINEER BRIGADE  
  A prewar Category III unit, the 32nd shared the reputation 
  and makeup of its sister 7th brigade.  The criminal element 
  within the 32nd did not concentrate itself as it did in the 7th, so 
  that the brigade commander eventually was forced to 
  request a battalion of SNB internal troops to maintain order 
  (usually through summary execution).  The 32nd took place in 
  the invasion of Austria, where confiscated construction 
  machinery more than made up for the loss of production 
  from executed soldiers.  As the war went on, the 32nd was 
  withdrawn from Austria (bringing the heavy equipment with 
  it) and given the mission to repair the roads in eastern 
  Moravia and the Slovak Republic.  The brigade has had a 
  higher desertion rate than its sister brigade, mostly due to 
  the poor morale that the battalion of internal troops 
  engenders.  As the heavy equipment wears out and fuel 
  becomes increasingly scarce, the brigade’s effectiveness is 
  declining rapidly.  The brigade commander is planning to use 
  POW labor and heavy-handed local recruitment to meet the 
  requirements he is given by front command. 
  Subordination: Soviet 1st Southwestern Front 
  Current Location:  Hodonin 
  Manpower: 450 
   
  1st ENGINEER BRIGADE 
  A Category II unit stationed in western Moravia, the 1st 
  Engineers supported 4th Czechoslovak Army through all the 
  major campaigns of the war.  It constructed a major portion 
  of the Czechoslovak sector of the Oder River line in 
  December and January of 1997, and closed several 
  mountain passes over the Tatra mountains to NATO troops 
  during their advance across Poland.  After the introduction of 
  tactical nuclear weapons, the brigade was in great demand 
  to dig deep and hard command posts and shelters for 4th 
  Czechoslovak Army’s troops.  The brigade took heavy 
  losses halting the NATO 1998 offensive, as the soldiers of 
  the brigade fought from the fortifications they had just thrown 
  up in the path of the NATO advance.  The remaining 
  specialists, vital assets for the 4th Czechoslovak Army now 
  operate throughout the Army sector in Moravia, engaged in a 
  wide variety of construction, recovery and repair projects. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Prostejov 
  Manpower: 150 
   
   
  6th ENGINEER BRIGADE 
  A Category III unit from western Slovakia, the 6th Engineers 
  was brought up to strength with recalled reservists and 
  students of the Bratislava Polytechnic Institute.  It was the 
  most effective unit in 2nd Czechoslovak Army during the 
  invasion of Austria, breaching the hasty obstacles thrown up 
  by the brigade’s Austrian counterparts and rapidly repairing 
  the damage inflicted by the fighting on roads, bridge and 
  other objects of importance to the invasion force.  Like its 
  sister 32nd Road Engineering Brigade, the 6th benefited from 
  construction equipment seized during the occupation of 
  Austria.  The 6th was able to construct effective fortifications 
  with appropriate minefields and obstacles in the summer of 
  1998 in the Lake Balaton sector, greatly assisting the 
  combined Warsaw Pact force that repulsed the Jugoslav 
  advance through Central Europe.  Following the Pact 
  withdrawal from southern Germany, the 6th withdrew from 
  Austria and began a never-ending series of reconstruction 
  tasks throughout the Slovak Republic. 
  Subordination: 2nd Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Nitra 
  Manpower: 400 
   
  51st ENGINEER BRIGADE  
  A Category II unit stationed northwest of Praha, the 51st 
  supported the1st Czechoslovak Army throughout the war.  It 
  was brought up to full strength in December 1996 and 
  deployed to the border with Bavaria.  Its troops were in the 
  lead echelons of the Pact spoiling attack in early 1997, 
  clearing obstacles and NATO minefields and playing a key 
  role in the seizure of Regensburg and the establishment and 
  support of the bridgehead over the Danube there.  The 51st 
  constructed fortifications all along the Danube River line in 
  the spring of 1997, and in July went over to the offensive 
  again, clearing the way for the joint Pact-Italian invasion of 
  Bavaria.  It tried to maintain lines of communications and 
  construct field fortifications during the occupation of 
  Germany, and the brigade was divided into task groups 
  during the scorched earth withdrawal from Germany in 
  August 1998 - one battalion went to reinforce Praha, another 
  prepared the evacuation route while the third supported the 
  retreating troops with obstacles and minefields to slow the 
  advancing NATO troops.  Since the withdrawal from 
  Germany it has played a role similar to the engineer 
  brigades in the other two armies, undertaking mobility 
  improvement, construction/reconstruction and repair tasks 
  throughout the 1st Czechoslovak Army sector. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army  
  Current Location: Jince 
  Manpower: 250 
   
  10th PONTOON BRIGADE 
  A Category II brigade stationed northeast of Praha, the 10th 
  was brought up to strength during the general mobilization 
  that followed German entry into the war.  The 10th was a 
  front-level asset, with a role to both support subordinate 
  armies that required supplemental bridging support and to 
  maintain 
  the 
  bridges 
  of 
  the 
  rear 
  area 
  lines 
  of 
  communications.  Battalions of the 10th Brigade supported all 
  the major offensives of the war, seeing action in the former 
  East Germany, Bavaria and Austria.  During 1997 the 
  brigade became adept at emplacing underwater bridges – 
  erecting them so the road surface was under 6 inches of 
  water, making them difficult to identify from the air.  
  Following the outbreak of nuclear war in the summer of 
  1997, the 10th was desperately needed to build bridges to 
  replace those that had been reduced to their constituent 
  atoms by NATO nuclear strikes.  Faced with a shortage of 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 14 
  bridging equipment, the 10th constructed roadways across 
  anchored barges and enlisted local civilians to cut lumber 
  and salvage materials.  The brigade’s role in restoring lines 
  of communication ensured that it was not committed to 
  combat during the 1998 offensives and counteroffensives, 
  and the brigade’s soldiers rejoiced at the disappearance of 
  NATO airpower which made it possible to work in daylight 
  and cut losses dramatically.  With the Czechoslovak army’s 
  withdrawal to home territory, the 10th’s mission has become 
  to continue to maintain and rebuild bridges damaged during 
  the war.  In early 2000 it began an effort to replace pontoon 
  bridges with more traditional bridges in order to reduce the 
  maintenance required in anchoring pontoons and to reopen 
  the waterways for transportation of vital goods. 
  Subordination: Soviet 1st Southwestern Front 
  Current Location:  Olomouc 
  Manpower: 200 
   
  72nd PONTOON REGIMENT 
  A prewar Category III unit stationed in central Bohemia, the 
  72nd was hurriedly mobilized as 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  moved towards the East German border.  The brigade threw 
  a half dozen bridges over the Elbe and Niesse rivers to 
  support not only the 4th Czechoslovak Army but also the 2nd 
  Polish Army and Soviet forces fighting the renegade National 
  Volksarmee troops.  When the US and western allies 
  entered the war the regiment’s bridges were selected for 
  special attention by NATO tactical airpower, with all of them 
  damaged or destroyed within two days and heavy losses 
  among the brigade’s troops.  The survivors withdrew for 
  rebuilding as the Pact forces retreated before NATO armies, 
  but the regiment never returned to full strength.  The 
  regiment 
  spent 
  1997 
  maintaining 
  bridges 
  in 
  4th 
  Czechoslovak Army’s rear area, keeping the flow of supplies 
  and reinforcements going.  In 1998 the regiment absorbed 
  all 
  bridging 
  and 
  river 
  crossing 
  elements 
  from 
  4th 
  Czechoslovak Army’s subordinate divisions and was tasked 
  with rebuilding bridges destroyed during the nuclear 
  exchange and the thaw that followed the harsh winter of 
  1997-1998.  By 2000 it had rebuilt all the major bridges 
  within its area of responsibility, although usually at greatly 
  reduced capacity.  It then began to concentrate on road 
  repair, building a cantonment adequate to feed the 
  remaining troops, and reconstructing smaller river crossings. 
  Subordination: 4th Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Prerov 
  Manpower: 125 
   
  A BMP-B crosses the upper Elbe River east of Praha on a 
  bridge repaired by troops of the 91st Pontoon Regiment, 
  April 1999. 
   
  91st PONTOON REGIMENT 
  A Category II unit stationed northwest of Praha, the 91st was 
  brought up to full strength in late 1996 with recalled 
  reservists and fresh draftees.  It spent 1997 in support of 1st 
  Czechoslovak Army’s offensives in southern Germany, 
  constructing a series of bridges across the Danube and Isar, 
  at heavy cost in equipment and personnel.  As the war 
  continued and Czechoslovakia’s transportation infrastructure 
  was shredded by NATO airpower, the 91st was recalled to 
  Czechoslovakia to maintain the lines of communications and 
  repair or replace bridges damaged by NATO attacks.  At 
  first, the regiment was able to make use of newly 
  manufactured replacement equipment or stockpiles of older 
  bridging systems that had been dispersed near major rivers.  
  As the war continued the regiment was forced to improvise 
  when making repairs and limit the capacity of the 
  replacement bridges, as materials have grown scarce.  In 
  2000, the 91st has concentrated on rebuilding the bridges 
  over the Elbe and Vltava rivers in northern Bohemia.  It 
  provides a core of experienced engineers, who rely on local 
  recruiting for raw labor for each restoration project.  Despite 
  these labor levies, it is one of the Czechoslovak army’s most 
  popular units among the local populace, who are grateful for 
  the reconstruction performed by the regiment’s soldiers. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army  
  Current Location:  Melnik 
  Manpower: 200 
   
  Border Guard Brigades 
   
  3rd BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  The 3rd was formed in early 1997 by splitting the 7th Border 
  Guard Brigade in two and bringing both organizations up to 
  strength with members of the Interior Ministry’s SNB internal 
  security troops.  The unit remained in Czechoslovakia when 
  the 7th deployed into southern Germany, performing rear 
  area security duties.  In late 1997 it joined other Border 
  Guard brigades in the Sudetenland facing withdrawing 
  NATO troops.  In August of 1998, the brigade was virtually 
  destroyed during the NATO offensive.  After the front 
  stabilized, it was withdrawn to Opava, where it remained 
  through 2000.  The commander is Captain Miklos Bily. 
  Subordination: 2nd Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Opava 
  Manpower: 300 
   
  4th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  This unit, like the other Border Guard brigades, started the 
  war under the command of the Interior Ministry rather than 
  the Ministry of National Defense.  Stationed in Znojmo on 
  the Austrian Border, the 4th was brought under military 
  control in March 1997 and deployed to northern Moravia to 
  undertake 
  internal 
  security 
  duties 
  protecting 
  key 
  transportation hubs, radar sites and industrial facilities from 
  NATO raiding forces.  In June it entered combat against 
  NATO troops advancing on Ostrava, reinforcing the 19th 
  MRD.  As 1998 began, the 4th was stationed along the 
  border with the former East Germany.  It was overrun in the 
  NATO 1998 offensive, and survivors were absorbed by the   
  19th MRD. 
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 15
  5th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  Based in Cheb on the border with West Germany, the 5th 
  was one of the strongest border guard brigades in 
  Czechoslovak service at the outbreak of war.  It split in two, 
  forming the 8th Border Guard brigade, and was brought back 
  up to strength with volunteers from the Communist Party 
  Youth league and recalled reservists.  While in the process 
  of reorganizing, the 5th was brought under military control 
  and tasked to provide rear area security for the Pact 
  offensive 
  into 
  southern 
  Germany 
  in 
  early 
  1997.  
  Nonetheless, it was committed to action and performed 
  adequately (mostly due to the limited extent of the Pact 
  penetration into southern Germany.)  During the NATO 
  offensive into Poland in summer, 1997, the 5th was recalled 
  back to Czechoslovakia to guard the border with the former 
  East Germany as the 4th Czechoslovak Army spread farther 
  east.  It remained northwest of Praha throughout late 1997 
  and the first half of 1998 before being smashed by the NATO 
  1998 offensive.  The remnants were withdrawn to the interior 
  for reconstruction and internal security duties, stationed in 
  the vicinity of Pardubice 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Pardubice 
  Manpower: 300 
   
  7th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  Based at Susice on the West German border, the 7th was 
  brought under military control at the outbreak of the war.  It 
  split in two, forming the 3rd Border Guard Brigade and 
  returning to full strength with recalled reservists and 
  members of the Interior Ministry’s SNB internal security 
  forces.  It received all new equipment, including a 
  consignment of Alligator armored cars, and was sent into 
  Germany on occupation duties.  It hunted German Territorial 
  Army stragglers and NATO paratroopers throughout the 
  spring and summer of 1997.  During the winter of 1997-
  1998, the 7th became the occupation force in Augsburg, 
  Germany.  During the Pact spring 1998 offensive, the 
  brigade was struck by several tactical nuclear weapons while 
  advancing on Frankfurt and was destroyed, the survivors 
  being absorbed by other Czechoslovak units. 
   
  8th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  The 8th was formed in early 1997 by splitting the 5th Border 
  Guard Brigade in two and bringing both organizations up to 
  strength with volunteers from the Czechoslovak Communist 
  Party’s Youth League.  It performed internal security tasks in 
  western Bohemia, and in late 1997 was assigned a sector of 
  the border in the Sudetenland.  In August 1998 it was hit with 
  the full brunt of the NATO offensive and took heavy 
  casualties.  The remnants of the brigade were posted to the 
  interior around the area of Dvorce, with Lieutenant Piotyr 
  Marczak, the highest-ranking officer to survive, in command.  
  When the Soviet 9th TD mutinied a year later, Marczak took 
  the act as inspiration to a greater deed, and defected (with 
  his entire unit) to the US military government, renaming his 
  unit Marczak's Legion. 
  Subordination: none 
  Current Location: south of Gluchohlazy, Poland 
  Manpower: 214 
  Tanks: none 
   
   
   
  9th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  Based at Domazlice on the West German border, the 9th was 
  brought under military control in January 1997 and took part 
  in the Pact stalling attack into Bavaria shortly thereafter.  It 
  protected the southern flank of 1st Czechoslovak Army and 
  was the first Czechoslovak unit to link up with the advancing 
  Italian V Corps in the summer of 1997.  Led by a hard core 
  communist, it remained in southern Germany on occupation 
  duty, where it gained a reputation for brutality and extreme 
  violence.  During the scorched earth withdrawal following the 
  1998 NATO offensive, the 9th was used to maintain discipline 
  by shooting deserters (in addition to being the most prolific 
  looters and destroyers of German property).  Upon return to 
  Czechoslovakia, the 9th was recognized for its revolutionary 
  zeal by assignment to serve as a praetorian guard for the 
  Communist Party headquarters bunker complex. 
  Subordination: Czechoslovak Army High Command 
  Current Location: Vrchlabi 
  Manpower: 500 
   
  10th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  The 10th Border Guard Brigade was formed at the outbreak 
  of war from students and cadre of the 12th Border Guard 
  Brigade (the Border Guard force’s training unit).  It was 
  assigned to the 4th Czechoslovak Army to provide rear area 
  and flank security along the border with the former East 
  Germany.  The brigade’s sector kept stretching east as 
  NATO forces advanced into Poland and 4th Czechoslovak 
  Army tried to maintain the Czechoslovak state’s northern 
  border.  The 10th performed well in clashes with the US 38th 
  Infantry Division and other NATO flank units.  It was 
  withdrawn from the front to perform internal security tasks 
  north of Praha in the fall of 1997 and was spared the full 
  brunt of the NATO 1998 attacks.  It held a key position in the 
  defense of Praha and pursued the retreating NATO troops 
  back to the German border.  After the restoration of the 
  border, the brigade was withdrawn to western Slovakia, 
  assigned to security and restoration efforts in the Vah river 
  valley northeast of Bratislava, anchored on a chain of small 
  hydroelectric power plants.  
  Subordination: 2nd Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Trencin/Puchov, Slovakia 
  Manpower: 450 
   
  11th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  Based at Bratislava, the 11th was assigned to the 2nd 
  Czechoslovak Army with responsibility for protecting the 
  Austrian border.  During the invasion of Austria, the 11th 
  provided flank security and undertook raids to the west, 
  disrupting columns of fleeing civilians to prevent Austrian 
  units from reaching the front.  After the fall of Austria, the unit 
  was tasked to patrol Pact lines of communication between 
  Vienna and the Czech and Hungarian borders to the east.  In 
  1998, the 11th was deployed to the south to defeat Jugoslav 
  forces advancing on Lake Balaton. Following the Pact 
  withdrawal from southern Germany, the 11th was withdrawn 
  from Austria and it was sent to secure the small oilfield near 
  Gbely, the largest operating oilfield in Czechoslovakia and 
  the sole source of petroleum products under government 
  control.  The brigade has set up a primitive “teapot’ refinery, 
  which turns out small quantities of avgas, asphalt, gasoline, 
  diesel, lubricating oil and furnace oil.  Due to the importance 
  of this facility, the brigade has been reinforced with 
  experienced troops from the army, tanks and one of the 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 16 
  Czechoslovak army’s remaining helicopters, flown and 
  maintained by pre-war Border Guard pilots and ground crew. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Gbely 
  Manpower: 800 
  Tanks: 8 T-72, 6 T-55 
  Helicopters: 1 W-3 Sokol 
   
  12th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  Stationed west of Praha near the West German border, the 
  12th served as the Border Guard force’s peacetime training 
  unit.  At the outbreak of war, the 12th’s current class of 
  students formed the 10th Border Guard Brigade (led by a 
  portion of the instructors) and entered the field, while the 12th 
  began high-intensity abbreviated training of new conscripts 
  as replacements for losses in other Border Guard units.  
  When the war entered the nuclear phase, the flow of recruits 
  diminished markedly and the 12th became responsible for 
  local area security.  In 1998, it deployed from its home 
  station 
  to 
  counter 
  the 
  NATO 
  offensive, 
  performing 
  adequately.  With the NATO withdrawal, it became 
  responsible for border security in the western end of the 
  country, not far from its peacetime garrison. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Karlovy Vary 
  Manpower: 600 
   
  15th BORDER GUARD BRIGADE 
  Based at České Budějovice on the Austrian border, the 15th 
  was brought under military control in January 1997.  It split 
  the 4th Border Guard Brigade’s sector with the 11th Border 
  Guard Brigade until the invasion of Austria, when it 
  advanced on and occupied Linz.  It provided rear area 
  security for the Pact forces in Austria throughout 1997 and 
  early 1998.  In September 1998 it was relieved by retreating 
  Soviet units and was withdrawn back to Czechoslovakia.  It 
  provides security along the Praha-Brno highway. 
  Subordination: 1st Czechoslovak Army 
  Current Location: Jihlava 
  Manpower: 450 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Gunners of the 15th Motor Rifle Division’s 36th Artillery Regiment try to repulse an attack by  
  VII US Corps, vicinity of Dresden, Germany, December 1996. 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 17
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   A Czech infantryman and his AGS-17 grenade launcher overlooking a  
  Central European town, date and location unknown. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  A M-53-59 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun emplaced near Plzen, November 1998. 
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 18 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Recalled reservists of the 24th Motor Rifle Division by their OT-810 APC before invading Austria, Summer 1997. 
   
   
  A platoon of T-55s of the 4th Tank Division prior to entering combat against the British 2nd Armoured 
   Division as part of the Warsaw Pact counterattack, northeast of Praha, September 1998. 
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 19
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  BMPs of the 19th Motor Rifle Division under NATO attack south of Katowice, Poland  
  during Operation Rampart, May 28, 1997. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  RM-70 rocket launcher system of the 1st Tank Division in action against NATO 
  counterattack, Regensburg, Germany, January 1997. 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 20 
  BMPs of the 14th Tank Division en route to China, June 1996. 
  Organization: 
   
  The Czechoslovak People’s Army was organized along standard Soviet lines.  (Use the tables of organization 
  and equipment contained in the Soviet Vehicle Guide).  It was equipped with some weapons of indigenous 
  design and manufacture – the OT-64, OT-62 and OT-810 APCs (equivalent to the Soviet BTR-70 and BTR-50 
  and Second World War German SdKfz.251 respectively), the Dana 152mm self-propelled howitzer in lieu of the 
  SAU-152/2S3 Soviet system and the RM-70 mounting for the Soviet BM-21 multiple-launch rocket system, in 
  addition to the products of Czechoslovakia’s historically strong small arms industry.  Czechoslovakia actually 
  spent more per capita on its military than the USSR, which is reflected by the standard of equipment provided to 
  its army.  For example, the Czechoslovak Army’s Category I and II motor rifle divisions were equipped with two 
  BMP regiments and one OT-64 regiment – a standard of equipment achieved by only select Red Army Category 
  I motor rifle divisions.  In addition, the Czechoslovak Category II and III divisions differed from their Soviet 
  counterparts in having complete equipment sets, although usually of older generation equipment such as BMP-
  A AIFVs and T-55 tanks.  (See the description of readiness categories contained in the Organization chapter in 
  the Soviet Vehicle Guide). 
   
  Composition of Czechoslovak People's Army units 
  Tank and Motor Rifle Battalions 
   
  Tank Battalions 
  Motor Rifle Battalions 
   
  T-72 
  T-55M 
  T-34 
  BMP-B 
  BMP-A 
  OT-64 
  OT-62 
  OT-810 
  truck 
  1st Tank Division 
  10 
   
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
   
  4th Tank Division 
   
  11 
   
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  9th Tank Division 
  10 
   
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
   
  13th Tank Division 
   
  11 
   
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  14th Tank Division 
   
  9 
   
   
  5 
  3 
   
   
   
  16th Tank Division 
   
   
  4 
   
   
   
   
   
  5 
  17th Tank Division 
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
   
  5 
  2nd Motor Rifle Division 
  6 
   
   
   
  7 
  3 
   
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 21
  3rd Motor Rifle Division 
   
  7 
   
   
  7 
  3 
   
   
   
  15th Motor Rifle Division 
  6 
   
   
   
  7 
  3 
   
   
   
  18th Motor Rifle Division 
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2 
  7 
  19th Motor Rifle Division 
  6 
   
   
   
  7 
  3 
   
   
   
  20th Motor Rifle Division 
  6 
   
   
   
  7 
  3 
   
   
   
  24th Motor Rifle Division 
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2 
  7 
  26th Motor Rifle Division 
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2 
  7 
  32nd Motor Rifle Division 
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2 
  7 
  Cannon and Howitzer Artillery Battalions 
   
  Artillery Battalions 
   
  SAU-203 & 2S4 
  Dana 
  SAU-122 
  D-30 
  M-30 
  M-46 
  ML-20 
  A-19 
  M-53 
  1st Tank Division 
   
  3 
  4 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  4th Tank Division 
   
  2 
   
  4 
   
   
   
   
   
  9th Tank Division 
   
  3 
  2 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  13th Tank Division 
   
  1 
   
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  14th Tank Division 
   
  1 
   
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
  2nd Motor Rifle Division 
   
  1 
  1 
  6 
   
   
   
   
   
  3rd Motor Rifle Division 
   
  1 
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
   
  15th Motor Rifle Division 
   
  1 
   
  6 
   
   
   
   
   
  18th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  2 
   
   
   
  3 
  19th Motor Rifle Division 
   
  1 
  2 
  4 
   
   
   
   
   
  20th Motor Rifle Division 
   
  1 
  2 
  4 
   
   
   
   
   
  24th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  2 
   
   
   
  3 
  26th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
  4 
  32nd Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
  4 
  7th Artillery Division 
  1 
  1 
   
   
   
  4 
   
   
   
  313th Cannon Arty Brigade 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2 
   
  322nd Cannon Arty Brigade 
   
  2 
   
   
   
  2 
   
   
   
  323rd Cannon Arty Brigade 
   
  2 
   
   
   
   
   
  2 
   
  332nd Cannon Arty Brigade 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2 
   
  Rocket, Missile and Air Defense Battalions 
   
   
  Rocket & Missile Battalions 
  Air Defense Battalions 
   
  SS-23 
  FROG-7 
  SS-21 
  RM-70 
  M-51 
  SA-11 
  SA-8 
  SA-6 
  SA-12 
  SA-4 
  Vz.53 AA 
  1st Tank Division 
   
   
   
  2 
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
   
  4th Tank Division 
   
   
   
  1 
   
  3 
   
   
   
   
   
  9th Tank Division 
   
   
   
  2 
   
  3 
   
   
   
   
   
  13th Tank Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
  14th Tank Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
  16th Tank Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
   
  1 
  17th Tank Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2nd Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
  1 
   
  3 
   
   
   
   
   
  3rd Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
  15th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
  18th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
   
  3 
  19th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
  20th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
  1 
   
  3 
   
   
   
   
   
  24th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
   
  3 
  26th Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
   
  3 
  32nd Motor Rifle Division 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
   
  3 
  311th Heavy Arty Brigade 
  2 
   
   
   
   
  1 
   
   
   
   
  1 
  312th Heavy Arty Brigade 
   
  2 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  321st Heavy Arty Brigade 
   
   
  2 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  331st Heavy Arty Brigade 
   
   
  2 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 22 
   
  SS-23 
  FROG-7 
  SS-21 
  RM-70 
  M-51 
  SA-11 
  SA-8 
  SA-6 
  SA-12 
  SA-4 
  Vz.53 AA 
  82nd SAM Brigade 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  1 
  2 
  1 
  171st SAM Regiment 
   
   
   
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
   
   
  251st SAM Regiment 
   
   
   
   
   
  3 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Czechoslovak Dana howitzers fire from hasty positions, Bohemia, fall 1997 
   
   
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 23
  Equipment Descriptions 
   
  The following material supplements the VEHICLES section 
  and other sections of the equipment list, Soviet Vehicle 
  Guide and Heavy Weapons Guide. 
   
  Unarmored Cargo Vehicles 
   
  Tatra 805:  The Tatra 805 was introduced to replace 
  the Praga A150 in the mountain transport role.  It has 
  exceptional high-altitude performance, but was phased 
  out due to a number of unspecified problems.  The 
  805’s very high ground clearance contributes to its off-
  road mobility, particularly in rocky terrain. 
   
  Price: $6,334 (-/R) Tr Mov: 158/64 Com Mov: 40/16 
  Fuel Cap:  120 Fuel Cons: 54 Fuel Type: G, A Load:  
  1.5 tons Veh Wt:  2.75 tons Mnt:  2 Crew:  2 + 6 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Open Config: Stnd 
  Susp: W(2) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Avia TNK: This is a new Czech truck introduced in 
  1993.  The vehicle has a cabover design with a two-
  man cab.  The TNK is designed to fill a number of 
  roles, such as cargo/troop carrier, shelter carrier, and 
  container carrier.  For loading, the entire vehicle can 
  be lowered by 200mm.  It is possible to carry both 
  NATO and Pact shelters and containers.  Standard 
  equipment issued with each vehicle includes a 
  decontamination kit, 3kW generator, WL spotlight, and 
  snow chains.   
  Price: $6,500 (-/S) Tr Mov: 142/56 Com Mov: 36/14 
  Fuel Cap:  195 Fuel Cons: 31 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  
  2.5 tons Veh Wt:  3.5 tons Mnt:  2 Crew:  2 + 10 Night 
  Vision: Headlights, WL Spot Radiological: Open 
  Config: Stnd Susp: W(2) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Praga V3S: Czechoslovakia first produced this vehicle 
  in the early 1950s.  Its replacement was the Zil-131, 
  but large numbers of the V3S were still being used at 
  the time of the war.  It is a conventional-layout, 6x6 
  truck.  Two jerry cans may be stowed behind the front 
  bumper, and some also have a winch with a 3.5-ton 
  capacity.  There is a hatch with a machinegun mount 
  over the passenger position in the cab; however, no 
  weapon is provided with the vehicle.  The rear cargo 
  area has a tarpaulin cover with bows, and other 
  variants include a crane truck, dump truck, workshops, 
  tanker, and tractor-trailer.  The chassis is also used to 
  mount a 32-round 130mm MRL or an M53/59 
  antiaircraft gun. (Statistics refer to 98hp and 110hp 
  versions) 
  Price: $8,600  (R/S) Tr Mov: 130-135/50-55 Com Mov: 
  32-34/12-13 Fuel Cap:  120 Fuel Cons: 35/40 Fuel 
  Type: D, A Load: 3 tons Veh Wt: 5.4 tons Mnt: 4 Crew:   
  2+13 Night Vision: Headlights Radiological: Open 
  Config: Stnd Susp: W(3) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
   
  Praga V3S truck  
  Tatra 111:  For some time, this truck series was the 
  most powerful truck used by the Czechs.  Originally 
  produced during the Second World War, they were 
  replaced in service by the TATRA 138.  However, at 
  the outbreak of the war, many were still found in 
  civilian roles and were pressed into service in 
  mobilization-only units.  The TATRA 111NR has a 
  winch with a capacity of 6 tons.  Variants include 
  several tractor trucks, a crane-shovel, several crane 
  trucks, several tankers, and a dump truck. 
  Price: $11,733 (-/R) Tr Mov: 125/50 Com Mov: 31/13 
  Fuel Cap:  135 Fuel Cons: 65 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  8 
  tons Veh Wt:  8.6 tons Mnt:  6 Crew: 3 + 32 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Open Config: Stnd 
  Susp: W(3) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Tatra 138: This truck replaced the TATRA 111, and 
  was in turn replaced by the TATRA 148.  It is an 
  evolutionary development of the TATRA 111.  It is a 
  conventional-layout truck, with a cargo area that has 
  drop sides.  Variants include several crane trucks, a 
  tractor truck, a crane/shovel, a couple of dump trucks, 
  and an airfield lighting truck with a large signal light. 
  Price: $12,388 (S/C) Tr Mov: 114/46 Com Mov: 29/12 
  Fuel Cap: 150 Fuel Cons: 65 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  8 
  tons Veh Wt:  8.75 tons Mnt:  7 Crew:  3 + 32 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Open Config: Stnd 
  Susp: W(3) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Tatra 148: This is a somewhat old Czech truck, first 
  produced in 1972.  It is a basic cargo vehicle with a 
  conventional layout, and variants include the TZ-74 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 24 
  decontamination vehicle, the CAS-32 fire engine, the 
  TATRA 148S series dump trucks, the NT series 
  tractor-trailers, and a variety of hard bodies and 
  tankers. 
  Price: $10,400 (R/S) Tr Mov: 112/44 Com Mov: 28/ 11 
  Fuel Cap:  200 Fuel Cons: 78 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  
  9.1 tons Veh Wt:  11.1 tons Mnt:  8 Crew:  3 + 36 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Open Config: Stnd 
  Susp: W(3) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Tatra 813 heavy truck 
  Tatra 813: The first vehicles of this type were 
  produced in Czechoslovakia in 1968.  The chassis is 
  related to the OT-64 APC, and is an 8x8 truck with 
  good off-road performance.  The cab is large, allowing 
  for the seating of 7 persons including the driver.  The 
  cab is pressurized and has two hatches in the roof, 
  one of which has a weapon mount.  The rear cargo 
  area has drop sides and rear, and is made of steel.  
  The TATRA 813 has a 22-ton winch at the front, and 
  some are mounted with a snowplow.  This vehicle is 
  used to move pontoon bridges or scissors bridges, and 
  some are used as the basis for the RM-70 40-round 
  122mm MRL.  There are also versions of this truck 
  that tow semi-tractor trailers (65 tons), dump trucks, 
  and crane trucks.  Only non-Soviet Warsaw Pact 
  armies and India use the TATRA 813. 
  Price: $13,700 (R/C) Tr Mov: 130/50 Com Mov: 32/13 
  Fuel Cap:  520 Fuel Cons: 91 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  
  8.2 tons Veh Wt:  13.8 tons Mnt:  7 Crew:  7 + 28 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Enclosed (Cab only) 
  Config: Stnd Susp: W(4) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Tatra T815 4x4: This is the smallest of the T815 
  family, with 4 wheels and a smaller bed and load 
  capability.  It is otherwise similar to the T815 8x8, 
  except that the cab may only hold 4 people 
  comfortably.  Variants include cargo/troop carrier, 
  workshop carrier, launcher for reconnaissance drones, 
  fire truck, and a civilian model.  Czechoslovakia and 
  India use the T815 4x4.   
  Price: $12,900 (-/S) Tr Mov: 160/ 65 Com Mov: 40/16 
  Fuel Cap:  230 Fuel Cons: 98 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  
  5.8 tons Veh Wt:  9.2 tons Mnt:  5 Crew:  4 +20 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Enclosed (Cab only) 
  Config: Stnd Susp: W(2) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Tatra T815 6x6: This is a smaller version of the Kolos 
  listed below, with 6 wheels and a smaller cargo bed 
  and load capability.  It is otherwise similar to the T815 
  8x8.  Versions of this vehicle include cargo/troop 
  carrier, tanker, decontamination vehicle, container 
  carrier, bridging carrier, radar or antenna carrier, 
  command post carrier, NBC reconnaissance vehicle, 
  recovery vehicle, and fire truck.  The T815 6x6 is also 
  the chassis for the TATRApan APC.  Czechoslovakia 
  and India use the T815 6x6. 
  Price: $14,170 (R/S) Tr Mov: 125/50 Com Mov: 31/13 
  Fuel Cap: 460 Fuel Cons: 86 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  8 
  tons Veh Wt: 12.8 tons Mnt:  7 Crew: 4 + 28 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Enclosed (Cab only) 
  Config: Stnd Susp: W(3) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Tatra 815 6x6 truck 
  Tatra T815 8x8 Kolos: This replaced the TATRA 813 
  in Czech service (though the TATRA 813 is still being 
  used).  It is an 8x8 truck with independent suspension 
  for each wheel, and has good off-road performance.  
  The cab is fully enclosed and has room for six people 
  including the driver, and has a roof hatch with a 
  weapon mount.  The cab is NBC sealed and has a 
  heater.  The cargo area has drop sides and rear, and 
  can be covered by a tarpaulin.  There is a winch 
  mounted in the front bumper that has a capacity of 12 
  tons, and has 85m of cable.  The Kolos may be 
  equipped with an arrow-type snowplow or a dozer 
  blade.  Variants include a tractor-trailer (may tow 25 
  tons, or 100 tons on hard roads), pontoon or ribbon 
  bridge 
  carrier, 
  RM-70 
  122mm 
  MRL 
  carrier, 
  decontamination vehicle, command post carrier, 
  minelayer, radar vehicle, and recovery vehicle.  The 
  TATRA T815 is also the chassis for the Dana and 
  Ondova SP howitzers.  Czechoslovakia, other non-
  Soviet Warsaw pact nations, India, Saudi Arabia, and 
  the UN use the Kolos. 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 25
  Price: $15,650 (R/S) Tr Mov: 120/48 Com Mov: 30/12 
  Fuel Cap:  460 Fuel Cons: 97 Fuel Type: D, G, AvG, A 
  Load:  10 tons Veh Wt:  15.9 tons Mnt:  9 Crew: 6 + 44 
  Night Vision: Headlights Radiological: Enclosed (Cab 
  only) Config: Stnd Susp: W(4) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
  Tatra 
  AV-15 
  Heavy 
  Recovery 
  Truck: 
  This 
  Czechoslovakian recovery vehicle is based on the 
  TATRA T815 Kolos 8x8 truck.  It is equipped with a 
  telescoping boom crane that can lift 12 tons at 3 
  meters, or 4 tons at 5 meters reach.  The AV-15 is 
  equipped with two winches; the front winch has a 
  capacity of 27.5 tons, while the rear winch has a 
  capacity of 29.6 tons, both with 150 meters of cable.  
  The AV-15 has a front-mounted dozer blade to brace 
  the vehicle during winching or heavy lifting operations.  
  There is a third, auxiliary winch with a capacity of 7 
  tons, also pulling to the rear.  This winch has 320 
  meters of cable.  The AV-15 carries tow bars and 
  cables, and may tow a vehicle of 65 tons weight, or 
  half that cross-country.  Other equipment normally 
  carried by the AV-15 includes a welding and cutting 
  set and basic, wheeled vehicle, and excavating tools. 
  Price: $33,500 (-/R) Tr Mov: 155/93 Com Mov: 27/16 
  Fuel Cap:  460 Fuel Cons: 77 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  8 
  tons Veh Wt:  15.8 tons Mnt: 5 Crew:  6 Night Vision: 
  Headlights Radiological: Enclosed (Cab only) Config: 
  Stnd Susp: W(4) Armor: HF1 HS1 HR1 
   
  Main Battle Tanks 
  T-55AM2:  This is a modernized T-55.  The T-55 was 
  sold to and manufactured in Czechoslovakia from the 
  1950s by the thousands; by the early 1990s, 
  Czechoslovakia had come up with an upgrade 
  package that basically carried out almost every 
  modification done on Warsaw Pact tanks through the 
  decades.  They then offered this upgrade package for 
  export, and modified a large number of their T-55s to 
  this standard. 
  The upgrades begin with appliqué armor to the turret 
  and hull; for the turret, this is similar to the "horseshoe" 
  armor first fielded by the Soviets in the 1960s, but is 
  also spaced.  The added hull armor consists of spaced 
  steel plates for the glacis and lower nose, and side 
  skirts that also incorporate spaced armor; in addition, 
  extra belly protection is provided.  The gun is the same 
  100mm rifled gun, but a thermal sleeve is added to 
  prevent warping under sustained fire.  Rubber parts 
  are largely replaced with hard vulcanized rubber, 
  ceramic, or metal to increase protection against 
  napalm-type flammables and Molotov cocktails.  A 
  screen is provided for the engine for the same reason.  
  On either side of the rear of the turret is a bank of 
  seven smoke grenade launchers.  The engine has 
  been modified to increase the output to 610 
  horsepower.  The suspension is modified to provide a 
  smoother ride; this also contributes to firing on the 
  move.  The tracks have been redesigned to nearly 
  double their life.  Finally, a laser rangefinder has been 
  added, and the gun given more stabilization. 
  Price: $356,500 (R/S) Fire Control: +2 Stabilization: 
  Fair Armament: 100mm gun, PK, DShK (C) Ammo: 34 
  x 100mm, 3000 x 7.62L, 500 x 12.7B Tr Mov: 56/40 
  Com Mov: 16/10 Fuel Cap:  812 + 380 Fuel Cons: 350 
  Fuel Type: D, A Load: 400 kg Veh Wt: 38.5 tons Mnt:  
  13 Crew:  4 Night Vision: Act/Pass IR, WL or IR 
  searchlight Radiological: Shielded Config: Trtd Susp: 
  T(6) Armor: TF43Sp TS12Sp TR11 HF54Sp HS10Sp 
  HR8 
  T-72M3CZ:  The T-72M1CZ is a Czechoslovak copy of 
  the Soviet T-72.  The Czechs, as they tend to do, 
  further upgraded the T-72, producing the T-72M3CZ.  
  The T-72M3CZ adds a thermal imager for the 
  commander and gunner; the driver retains a passive 
  IR viewer.  The laser rangefinder is supplemented with 
  a computerized gunnery system.  The T-72M3CZ also 
  has an inertial land navigation capability and an 
  automatic fire extinguishing system.   
  Price: $503,000 (-/R) Fire Control: +3 Stabilization: 
  Fair Armament: 125mm gun, PK, NSV(C) Ammo: 37 x 
  125mm, 2000 x 7.62mmL, 720 x 12.7mmB Tr Mov: 
  117/82 Com Mov: 25/ 20 Fuel Cap:  1000 + 400 Fuel 
  Cons: 362 Fuel Type: D, G, AvG, A Load:  500 kg Veh 
  Wt:  46 tons Mnt:  15 Crew:  3 Night Vision: WL/IR 
  Searchlight, 
  Thermal 
  Imaging, 
  Passive 
  IR 
  Radiological: Shielded Config: Trtd Susp: T(6) Armor: 
  TF103 TS24 TR19 HF129Cp HS17Sp HR 12 
   
   
  Self Propelled Artillery 
  Dana (Vzor 77):  The Dana is an extensively modified 
  Tatra T-815 Kolos truck chassis with a turret in the 
  center mounting a 152mm howitzer.  Aside from the 
  turret, the most extensive modification is the fully 
  armored body and the engine that has been moved to 
  the rear of the vehicle.  The turret may be traversed 
  112.5 degrees to the right and left of center.  There is 
  a modification of this vehicle with a longer barreled 
  howitzer (the Ondava), as well as a version with the 
  turret mounted on the chassis of a T-72 tank.  The cab 
  of the Dana has roof hatches for the driver and 
  commander. 
   
  The 
  turret 
  is 
  divided 
  into 
  two 
  compartments due the combination of small turret and 
  large gun, and each of these compartments has a door 
  on the side of the turret and a roof hatch.  In addition, 
  on the right compartment of the turret (the smaller 
  one), there is a small cupola mounting a heavy 
  machinegun.  This vehicle is in service with 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 26 
  Czechoslovakia, Libya, and (in relatively small 
  numbers) Poland.  An overload of 60 howitzer rounds 
  may be carried, but Travel Move and Combat Move is 
  reduced by 10%.  The Ondova is a Dana with a longer 
  53-caliber barrel, allowing for extended range.  It is 
  otherwise the same as the Dana.  It is very rare. 
  Price: $243,750/$283,400 (-/R) Fire Control: +1 
  Stabilization: Basic Armament: 152mm L/37 Howitzer, 
  NSV (C) / 152mm L/53 Howitzer, NSV (C) Ammo:  40 
  x 152mm, 300 x 12.7mmB Tr Mov: 120/73 Com Mov: 
  29/17 Fuel Cap:  690 Fuel Cons: 126 Fuel Type: D, G, 
  AvG, A Load:  500 kg Veh Wt:  28.1/28.9 tons Mnt:  8 
  Crew: 5 Night Vision: Active/Passive IR Radiological: 
  Enclosed Config: Trtd Susp: W(4) Armor: TF6 TS6 
  TR6 HF6 HS5 HR4 
   
  Ondova T-72M1: This is the turret of the Ondova 
  replacing the normal turret of a T-72M1 tank.  This 
  modification was done to meet a need for a new Indian 
  tracked self-propelled howitzer.  The advantage of the 
  tracked chassis is greater cross-country mobility; 
  however, 
  the 
  tracked 
  chassis 
  is 
  heavier 
  and 
  mechanically more complex than the wheeled chassis.  
  The Ondova T-72M1 has a 5kW auxiliary power unit to 
  operate the mechanisms and radios while the engine 
  is shut down.  The howitzer is equipped with an 
  autoloader that doubles the normal rate of fire.  The 
  hoped-for sale to India did not occur; however, the 
  Czechs are actively shopping the design around to 
  other countries.  When the War began in earnest, the 
  Ondova T-72M1 was placed into service with the 
  Czech military in small numbers, until the plant was 
  shut down by allied bombing in 1997. 
  Price: $313,500 (-/R) Fire Control: +1 Stabilization: 
  Basic Armament: 152mm L/53 Howitzer, NSV (C) 
  Ammo: 40 x 152mm, 300 x 12.7mmB Tr Mov: 142/100 
  Com Mov: 30/20 Fuel Cap:  1000 + 400 Fuel Cons: 
  289 Fuel Type: D, G, AvG, A Load: 750 kg Veh Wt:  38 
  tons Mnt:  16 Crew:  4 Night Vision: Active/Passive IR 
  Radiological: Shielded Config: Trtd Susp: T(6) Armor: 
  TF6 TS6 TR6 HF100 HS14 HR8 
  Ondava Self-propelled 152mm howitzer  
  RM-70: This is a Czech multiple rocket launcher, using 
  the same launcher as the Soviet BM-21 MRL on a 
  Tatra T-815 Kolos heavy truck, and also carrying an 
  extra pack of rockets in the cargo bed.  The MRL has 
  typical, but not advanced, fire control systems, and is 
  equipped with front-mounted winch with a capacity of 
  12 tons and 85 meters of cable.  The cab has an 
  integral NBC filter system that the crew may plug their 
  vehicular protective masks into.  Some of these 
  vehicles are fitted with a front-mounted dozer blade.  
  The cargo area is largely taken up by the MRL and 
  extra rocket pack, but there is a small space between 
  the cab and extra rocket pack for crew equipment.  
  Former East German RM-21 systems were used by 
  Germany during the war. 
  Price: $91,000 (R/S) Fire Control: none Stabilization: 
  none Armament: 40-round 122mm Rocket Launcher 
  Ammo: 80x122mm Rockets Tr Mov: 105/65 Com Mov: 
  20/10 Fuel Cap:  460 Fuel Cons: 99 Fuel Type: D, G, 
  AvG, A Load: 800 kg Veh Wt:  25.3 tons Mnt:  12 
  Crew:  6 Night Vision: Headlights Radiological: 
  Enclosed (Cab Only) Config: Stnd Susp: W(4) Armor: 
  HF2 HS2 HR2 
   
  PRAM-S Mortar Carrier: This is a Czech vehicle 
  based upon a BMP-2 chassis.  The turret of the BMP-2 
  is removed and the roof has been raised.  The chassis 
  has been lengthened, and now has seven road 
  wheels.  The mortar is mounted in the forward part of 
  the vehicle behind the driver position and engine 
  compartment.  The commander is seated to the right 
  of the mortar with a hatch overhead.  To the rear of the 
  commander’s hatch is a mount, which normally has an 
  NSV machinegun.  In the rear of the vehicle is a door 
  through which ammunition can be relayed to a 
  conveyor.  The mortar can be laid and fired with 
  complete armor protection.  Only 20 of these vehicles 
  were built by the November nuclear strikes so they are 
  very rare. 
  Price: $101,500 (-/-) Fire Control: none Stabilization: 
  none Armament: 120mm breech-loading mortar, NSV 
  (C) Ammo: 80 x 120mm, 500 x 12.7mmB Tr Mov: 
  125/88 Com Mov: 25/20/3 Fuel Cap:  462 Fuel Cons: 
  110 Fuel Type: D, G, AvG, A Load:  400 kg Veh Wt:  
  17 tons Mnt:  7 Crew:  4 Night Vision: Active/Passive 
  IR Radiological: Shielded Config: Stnd Susp: T(3) 
  Armor: HF8 HS4 HR4 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 27
  PRAM-S mortar carrier 
  M-53/59: This older Czech self-propelled antiaircraft 
  gun is mounted on an armored and much-modified 
  Praga V3S truck (see Unarmored Cargo Vehicles).  
  The guns are fed from vertical magazines holding 50 
  rounds for each gun.  The entire gun platform can be 
  removed and deployed away from the carrier vehicle, 
  but this was not normally done unless the vehicle was 
  damaged beyond moving.  The M-53-59 is a clear 
  weather system, as no radar or night vision equipment 
  is provided.  Czech reserve forces, Jugoslavia, and 
  Libya use this vehicle. 
  Price: $50,000 (-/R) Fire Control: +1 Stabilization: 
  Basic Armament: two 30mm M-53 Autocannons 
  Ammo: 800 x 30mm Tr Mov: 125/50 Com Mov: 31/13 
  Fuel Cap:  120 Fuel Cons: 32 Fuel Type: D, A Load: 1 
  ton Veh Wt: 10.3 tons Mnt: 3 Crew:  5 Night Vision: 
  Headlights Radiological: Enclosed (Open for Gun 
  Crew) Config: Trtd Susp: W(3) Armor: TF1 TS1 TR1 
  HF3 HS2 HR2 
  BVP-1 Strop: As Czechoslovakia’s M-53/59 self-
  propelled antiaircraft guns based on an armored truck 
  chassis were getting old and the truck chassis were 
  not very mobile off-road, Czechoslovakia decided to 
  start, in the mid-1980s, to remove the antiaircraft guns 
  from the M-53/59s and placing them on the chassis of 
  BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, which were being 
  phased out in favor of BVP-2s.  A new commander’s 
  hatch is installed to the front right of the turret, which is 
  further to the rear than on a BVP-1.  The turret is a 
  two-man version, but it has no hatches, and the crew 
  enters through the rear doors.  In addition to 
  Czechoslovakia, this vehicle has also been seen in the 
  hands of Angolan and Cuban soldiers. 
  Price: $798,000 (-/R) Fire Control: +2 Stabilization: fair 
  Armament: two 30mm M-53 Autocannons Ammo: 
  1000 x 30mm Tr Mov: 125/90 Com Mov: 32/22/3 Fuel 
  Cap:  460 Fuel Cons: 111 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  400 
  kg Veh Wt:  14.7 tons Mnt:  6 Crew:  4 Night Vision: 
  Active/Passive IR Radiological: Shielded Config: Trtd 
  Susp: T(2) Armor: TF3 TS3 TR2 HF8 HS4 HR4 
   
  Snezka: The Snezka is an advanced fire direction 
  vehicle to spot and designate targets for artillery.  The 
  Snezka features a sensor pack on a lifting arm, 
  containing a laser designator, a laser warning detector, 
  counterbattery radar, ground surveillance radar, 
  thermal imager, a TV camera, and a wind velocity 
  indicator.  The TV camera has a range of 5000 meters 
  during the day and 1000 meters at night.  The laser 
  rangefinder/designator has a range of 20 km.  The 
  Snezka is also fitted with an inertial land navigation set 
  and computers for determining position, direction, and 
  fire solutions.  The chassis of this system is the BMP-
  2.  This vehicle was introduced just after the war 
  started, and few actually made it into production 
  (perhaps 40 or so). 
  Price: $194,500 (-/R) Fire Control: none Stabilization: 
  none Armament: NSV (C) Ammo: 750 x 12.7mmB Tr 
  Mov 108/75 Com Mov: 25/15/2 Fuel Cap: 462 Fuel 
  Cons: 93 Fuel Type: D, G, AvG, A Load: 700 kg Veh 
  Wt: 17.4 tons Mnt:  14 Crew:  4i Night Vision: Radar, 
  Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification Radiological: 
  Shielded Config: CiH Susp: T(2) Armor: HF8 HS4 HR4 
  TF2 TS2 TR2 
   
  Armored Personnel Carriers 
  OT-62: This vehicle was conceived by Czechoslovakia 
  and Poland as an upgraded version of the BTR-50PK, 
  entering service in 1964 with Czechoslovakia and 
  1966 with Poland.  The improvements over the BTR-
  50 include an NBC system, higher speeds, a fully 
  enclosed weapon station, and doors in the sides of the 
  passenger compartment.  There are at least 8 
  variants, including several APCs with different 
  armament, a recovery vehicle, an ambulance, and 
  several command versions.  They are still in service 
  with the Czechs and Polish, as well as Bulgaria, Iraq, 
  India, and several African nations.  In addition, Israel 
  captured almost 100 of them during several past wars 
  and equipped some of their reserve units with OT-62s.  
  The T-21 is a Czech/Polish version of the Soviet B-10 
  recoilless rifle. 
  OT-62B: Price: $65,500 (R/S) Fire Control: none 
  Stabilization: none Armament: PK, T-21 Recoilless 
  Rifle Ammo: 1250x7.62mmL, 12x82mm Tr Mov: 
  130/90/22 Com Mov: 30/20/5 Fuel Cap: 417 Fuel 
  Cons: 88 Fuel Type: D, A Load: 1 ton Veh Wt:  15 tons 
  Mnt: 
  9 
  Crew: 
  2+18 
  Night 
  Vision: 
  Active 
  IR 
  Radiological: enclosed Config: Stnd Susp: T(3) Armor: 
  HF3 HS2 HR2 
  OT-62C: Price: $70,500 (R/S) Fire Control: +1 
  Stabilization: basic Armament: KPV, PK Ammo: 
  500x14.5mm, 2000x7.62mmL Tr Mov: 120/84/20 Com 
  Mov: 25/20/4Fuel Cap:  520 Fuel Cons: 88 Fuel Type: 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 28 
  D, A Load:  400 kg Veh Wt:  16.4 tons Mnt:  9 Crew: 
  3+12 Night Vision: Active IR Radiological: enclosed 
  Config: CiH Susp: T(3) Armor: TF2 TS2 TR2 HF3 HS2 
  HR2 
  TATRApan Armored All-Terrain Vehicle: This Czech 
  vehicle is based upon the chassis of the TATRA T-815 
  VP 21 265 truck (8-ton).  The vehicle has had sales in 
  the Middle East.  The basic truck has welded steel 
  armor, including a heavily armored cab.  The windows 
  have armored shutters, and the vehicle has an NBC 
  system.  There is a ring mount over the commander’s 
  position, and another ring mount in the middle of the 
  roof of the cargo hold.  Two other hatches are 
  provided on the roof of the cargo area, and there is a 
  hatch in the rear with a firing port, as well as hatches 
  on either side between the second and third wheels, 
  both with firing ports.  The Czechs began to use the 
  TATRApan en masse as they were easy to build or 
  modify from existing trucks. 
  Price: $39,000 (R/S) Fire Control: none Stabilization: 
  none Armament: NSV, PK (C) Ammo: 500x12.7mmB, 
  500x7.62mmL Tr Mov: 160/95 Com Mov: 55/15 Fuel 
  Cap: 460 Fuel Cons: 133 Fuel Type: D, A Load: 2.5 
  tons Veh Wt: 20.6 tons Mnt: 6 Crew: 2 + 12 Night 
  Vision: Headlights Radiological: Shielded Config: Stnd 
  Susp: W(3)  Armor: HF6 HS4 HR3 
   
  OT-64: The OT-64 (known as the SKOT to the Poles) 
  is a joint product of Poland and Czechoslovakia used 
  by those countries in place of the BTR-60 and BTR-70.  
  There are several variants available, but the main 
  version is a basic wheeled APC with a turret in the 
  center of the hull mounting a KPV and a PK 
  machinegun.  This turret is the same one as mounted 
  on the BRDM-2 and BTR-70.  The next most common 
  variant is the OT-64C(1)/SKOT-2AP; this has a new 
  turret of a different shape than the BTR-70 and BRDM-
  2 turrets, and the weapons have a much higher 
  elevation (capable of firing almost straight up).  After 
  that, there is another variant of the OT-64C(2)/SKOT-
  2AP; this version has a launcher for an AT-3 Sagger 
  ATGM on either side of the turret or a double launcher 
  to the left side and to the rear of the turret.  There are 
  at least 10 other variants for differing roles, from 
  recovery vehicles to command post carriers.  Besides 
  Czechoslovakia and Poland, the OT-64 is used by 11 
  other nations, including Cambodia, India, Iraq, Syria, 
  and several African countries.  (multiple statistics refer 
  to OT-64A/OT-64C(1)/OT-64C(2).) 
  Price: $38,750/54,000/99,500 (S/C) Fire Control: none 
  Stabilization: none Armament: KPV, PK/KPV, PK, 2 x 
  AT-3 
  Ammo: 
  1250x7.62mmL/500x14.5mm, 
  2000 
  x7.62mm/500x14.5mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xAT-3 ATGM 
  Tr Mov: 120/72 Com Mov: 30/18/3 Fuel Cap: 330 Fuel 
  Cons: 66 Fuel Type: D, A Load: 1.7 tons Veh Wt: 14.3 
  tons Mnt: 4 Crew:  3+10 Night Vision: Active/Passive 
  IR Radiological: enclosed Config: CiH Susp: W(3)  
  Armor: TF4 TS4 TR4 HF6 HS4 HR3 
  OT-810C:  The OT-810 is a 3-ton armored halftrack 
  armored personnel carrier.  It is a post-Second World 
  War Czech modification of the German wartime SdKfz 
  251 armored personnel carrier.  Changes were 
  relatively minor - most importantly the gasoline engine 
  was replaced with a diesel one.  Although thoroughly 
  obsolete, a few hundred of these vehicles were held in 
  reserve by the Czechoslovak army and saw service 
  with mobilization-only units during the war.  There is 
  an armored gun shield (AV:2) for the Commanders 
  machine gun mounted at the front of the open crew 
  compartment and a second machine gun mounted on 
  the top of the rear hull wall. A large door is provided in 
  the rear hull for exit along with the driver and front 
  passengers side doors. 
  Price: $35,000 Fire Control: none Stabilization: none 
  Armament: 2 Vz.59 (C), (P) Ammo: 5,000x 7.62mmL 
  Tr Mov: 115/65 Com Mov: 25/15 Fuel Cap:  185 Fuel 
  Cons: 40 Fuel Type: D, A Load: 3 tons Veh Wt: 8.2 
  tons Mnt: 8 Crew: 3+10 Night Vision: Headlights 
  Radiological: open Config: Stnd Susp: T(1) Armor: 
  HF3 HS2 HR2 
   
  Light Combat Vehicles 
  Alligator 4x4:  This is a common vehicle, which has 
  been sold to numerous countries in Warsaw Pact-held 
  Europe.  In Czechoslovakia it was issued to Border 
  Guard Brigades to replace the OT-65.  The vehicle is 
  amphibious at one-quarter its cross-country speed, is 
  NBC-sealed, and is fast.  The Alligator is usually 
  encountered as a scout or patrol vehicle depending 
  upon its role.  It can be equipped with explosive 
  reactive armor (HF, HS) upon request; without it, the 
  vehicle is designed to shield against shell fragments 
  and small arms fire.  There is a firing port on each 
  side. 
  Price: $14,139 (R/C) Fire Control: none Stabilization: 
  none 
  Armament: 
  PK 
  or 
  NSV 
  (C) 
  Ammo:  
  1000x7.62mm or 12.7mm Tr Mov: 206/ 82 Com Mov: 
  52/21 Fuel Cap:  150 Fuel Cons: 70 Fuel Type: D, A 
  Load:  500 kg Veh Wt:  6.5 tons Mnt:  2 Crew:  2 + 4 
  Night Vision: 
  Headlights 
  Radiological: 
  Shielded 
  Config: Stnd Susp: W(2)  Armor: HF4 HS2 HR2 
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 29
  Engineer Vehicles 
  MT-55A:  This Czech AVLB is based on the T-55A 
  chassis.  It is used in place of the MTU-20 in Czech 
  service and alongside the MTU-20 in the Soviet Union, 
  India, Iraq, Yugoslavia, and in some Middle Eastern 
  countries.  It uses a stronger bridge that can support 
  50 tons.  If necessary, a bridge from an MT-72 or 
  MTU-72 can be substituted for the normal bridge 
  carried by the MT-55A.  The normal bridge can span a 
  gap of 18 meters, weighs 6.5 tons, takes 3 minutes to 
  lay, and 3-8 minutes to recover.  The bridge can 
  support a vehicle weighing 50 tons. 
  Price: $94,000 (R/R) Tr Mov: 110/75 Com Mov: 25/15 
  Fuel Cap:  960 Fuel Cons: 214 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  
  500 kg Veh Wt:  36 tons Mnt: 15 Crew:  2 Night Vision: 
  Headlights Radiological: Shielded Config: CiH Susp: 
  T(6) Armor: TF4 TS4 TR4 HF67 HS16 HR8 
  VT-55A: This vehicle was type standard in the Czech 
  Army until the advent of the VT-72B; it is still used to 
  recover lighter tanks and other armored vehicles.  It is 
  based on the chassis of the T-55 tank, and is similar to 
  the Soviet BTS-T-55-T recovery vehicle.   
  The turret of the T-55 is removed, and the opening 
  replaced with steel plate and a cupola for the 
  commander.  On the right side of the hull roof is a 
  crane that can lift 1.5 tons.  On the rear of the hull 
  deck is a platform that can carry a load of 3 tons.  
  There are two winches; the main winch is driven by the 
  engine, and can pull 25 tons with 200 meters of cable.  
  The auxiliary winch has its own motor, can pull 800 kg, 
  and has 400 meters of cable.  The front of the vehicle 
  mounts a full-width dozer blade that can excavate 150 
  cubic meters per hour.  The VT-55A can normally ford 
  water of 1.4 meters depth, but can be equipped with a 
  snorkel allowing the vehicle to ford 5 meters for 1000 
  meters.  These vehicles typically carry several tow 
  bars and a 4.2 meter tow cable, as well as welding 
  equipment and toolkits appropriate to its purpose of 
  recovering and repairing smaller tanks and armored 
  vehicles.  The crew compartment has a heater. 
  Price: $112,500 (-/R) Fire Control: none Stabilization: 
  none Armament: PK (C) Ammo: 3000 x 7.62mm Tr 
  Mov: 107/75 Com Mov: 25/15 Fuel Cap:  812 Fuel 
  Cons: 215 Fuel Type: D, A Load: 3 tons Veh Wt: 36.45 
  tons Mnt:  8 Crew:  3 Night Vision: Active/Passive IR 
  Radiological: Shielded Config: Stnd Susp: T(6) Armor: 
  HF67 HS16 HR8 
   
  VT-72B: The VT-72B is a recovery vehicle based on 
  the T-72 chassis, built by Czechoslovakia.  It is very 
  similar to the BREM-1 in many respects; visually, the  
  VT-55A Armored Recovery Vehicle 
  biggest difference is that the VT-72B's crane is on the 
  right side of the superstructure instead of the left. 
  The T-72's turret is removed and replaced with an 
  armored, raised superstructure.  The crane can lift 19 
  tons and has a reach of 7.6 meters, and there is a load 
  platform on the rear of the superstructure that can 
  carry a load of 4 tons.  The winch is located in the 
  center of the vehicle, has 200 meters of cable and can 
  pull 40 tons.  There is also a secondary winch that can 
  pull 2.5 tons and has 400 meters of cable.  Its full 
  width dozer blade located at the front of the vehicle 
  can brace the vehicle.  The dozer is also used to dig 
  defensive positions for itself and other vehicles.  There 
  is also a rack at the rear of the vehicle for fuel drums 
  and jerry cans.  The VT-72B carries a 5kW generator 
  for use with power tools or the welding equipment and 
  air compressor (both issued with the vehicle).  Other 
  equipment also includes tools appropriate for working 
  on tanks, excavating tools, and a tow bar. 
  Czechoslovakia uses the VT-72B in place of the 
  BREM-1; the vehicle is also used by India. 
  Price: $136,000 (-/R) Fire Control: +1 Stabilization: 
  none Armament: NSV (C) Ammo: 500 x 12.7mmB Tr 
  Mov: 125/88 Com Mov: 25/20 Fuel Cap:  1000 + 400 
  Fuel Cons: 311 Fuel Type: D, A Load:  4 tons Veh Wt:  
  46.5 
  tons 
  Mnt: 
  17 
  Crew: 
  2+3 
  Night 
  Vision: 
  Active/Passive IR Radiological: Shielded Config: Stnd 
  Susp: T(6) Armor: HF120 HS18Sp HR8 
   
  VPV: This Czech vehicle is used for support of BMP-
  series, BRDM-series, and BTR-series vehicles, and 
  other vehicles with weights up to 15 tons.  It is based 
  on the BVP-2 chassis (the Czech version of the BMP-
  2), and is very similar in layout and equipment carried 
  to the Soviet BREM-2.  The turret is removed and 
  replaced with a cable drum and a hatch to access the 
  winch and crew compartment.  The winch can pull 17 
  
  Czechoslovak Army Guide 
  Page 30 
  tons, or double that with the use of return pulleys; this 
  winch has 120 meters of cable.  The VPV has a dozer 
  blade that is lowered to brace the vehicle in winching 
  operations.  The VPV has a crane mounted at the rear 
  of the vehicle that can lift 5.2 tons and has a reach of 
  4.5 meters.  The vehicle is equipped with full tool sets 
  for work on tracked and wheeled vehicles, as well as a 
  tow bar, welding set and cutting tools, and an air 
  compressor.   
  The VPV retains the amphibious capability of the BVP-
  2, but will swamp if waves more than 100mm or 
  currents over 1.2 meters per second are encountered.  
  Czech forces use the VPV, as does Hungary (where it 
  is known as the BMP-1VPV); a few are also used by 
  the Soviet Union to supplement their BREM-2s. 
  Price: $113,000 (-/R) Armament: PK (C) Ammo: 2000 
  x 7.62L Tr Mov: 135/95 Com Mov: 30/ 20/3 Fuel Cap:  
  480 Fuel Cons: 105 Fuel Type: D, G, AvG, A Load:  3 
  tons Veh Wt: 14 tons Mnt:  9 Crew:  2 + 1 Night Vision: 
  Active/Passive IR, Image Intensification Radiological: 
  Shielded Config: Stnd Susp: T(2) Armor: HF8 HS4 
  HR4 
   
   
  Large Caliber Guns 
   
  M-53: Like many such things, the Czechs developed 
  their own light antiaircraft gun system.  In this case, 
  the twin 30mm autocannon M-53 is used to replace 
  the ZU-23-2 in Czechoslovak service.  It is heavier 
  than the ZU-23-2 and has a lower rate of fire, but the 
  range and punch are greater.  There is no provision for 
  radar control, but a telescopic periscope is provided. 
   
  Price: $20,000 (R/R) RF: +5 Wt: 2100 kg Mnt: 2 Crew: 
  4 Set Up Time: 4 minutes 
   
  M-52: This Czech 85mm field gun had been long out 
  of production by the time of the war, and was in 
  service only with reserve formations.  It may be fitted 
  with a variety of sights and night vision devices.  In 
  addition to Czechoslovakia, this weapon is used by 
  Austria.  With the war, the M-52 was pressed into 
  service, usually as a support weapon for infantry 
  formations rather than as an antitank weapon.  There 
  is an armored gun shield (AV:2). 
   
  Price: $9,800 (R/R) Fire Control: +1 Wt: 2.1 tons Mnt: 
  2 Crew: 4 Set Up Time: 4 minutes 
   
  M-53: This is a Czech 100mm antitank field gun that 
  can also be used for indirect fire.  The weapon has a 
  greater indirect fire range than its Soviet counterpart, 
  the 
  M-1944, 
  because 
  it 
  may 
  be 
  raised 
  to 
  approximately twice the elevation of that weapon.  Its 
  indirect fire range is thus 15,400 meters.  The M-53 
  may be fitted with a variety of sights and night vision 
  devices.  There is an armored gun shield (AV:2). 
   
  Price: $19,700 (-/S) Fire Control: varies Wt: 4.3 tons 
  Mnt: 2 Crew: 4 Set Up Time: 4 minutes 
   
  AMMUNITION 
  Large Caliber Rounds 
  30mm M-53 API: Weight 3kg each, 1500kg per 500-
  round belt; Price $1025 per 500-round belt (R/S) 
  30mm M-53 HE: Weight 3kg each, 1500kg per 500-
  round belt; Price $1025 per 500-round belt (R/S) 
   
  Fire Chart Data 
   
  Weapon 
  ROF 
  Magazine 
  Range 
  Round 
  Damage 
  Penetration
  M-53 
  10 
  10 Clip (x2) 
  520 
  API 
  7 
  5/4/3/2 
    
  10 
  10 Clip (x2) 
  390 
  HEI 
  C1 B5 
  -3C 
   
  
  Czechoslovak Army Vehicle Guide 
  Page 31
   
  Map of Czechoslovak People’s Republic 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Twilight 2000/3rd party/Twilight 2000 - Czechoslovak Vehicle Guide.pdf