1st Armored Division "Old Ironsides"

Division Headquarters: Bad Kreuznach, Germany

Forward Headquarters: Tuzla, Bosnia

History: The 1st Armored is the US Army's first armored division, evolving from the 7th Cavalry Brigade in 1940.  The 1st Armored took part in Operation Torch in North Africa, then provided armor for US troops in Italy for the remainder of World War II. The 1st Armored Division was part of the US force in Europe during the Cold War, and was dispatched with VII Corps to participate in Desert Storm.

Current Status: This unit was originally the HQ of the 3rd Armored Division.  It absorbed the following units to create a new division: a) HQ, and one brigade of 3rd Armored Division b) one brigade of 8th Infantry Division; c) one brigade of old 1st Infantry Division at Ft Riley.

1st Armored Division formed the backbone for Task Force Eagle, the American portion of NATO's IFOR in Bosnia in 1996-1997.  The Division HQ forms the basis of the current Task Force Eagle in Bosnia for SFOR. 1st Armored Divison is also the American component of the NATO Rapid Reaction Corps.

Deployment:

Two brigades and the bulk of the division troops are deployed in Germany and are at full strength. One brigade is at Ft. Riley KS and is understrength to provide troops to fill out the other two brigades.  This brigade has equipment prepositoned in Germany and can fly in reinforcements in a matter of days.

Division Units

1st Brigade
Headquarters: Friedburg, Germany
Created from elements of the 3rd Armored Division in Germany.  Units are Desert Storm veterans.
 

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 37th Armored Tank 58 M1A1
2nd Bn, 37th Armored Tank 58 M1A1
1st Bn, 36th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2

 

2nd Brigade
Headquarters: Baumholder, Germany
Created from elements of the 8th Infantry Division in Germany.  

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 35th Armored Tank 58 M1A1
1st Bn, 12th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2
2nd Bn, 12th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2

3rd Brigade
Headquarters: Ft Riley, KS
Created from elements of the old 1st Infantry Division in Ft Riley.  Units are Desert Storm veterans  

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 13th Armored Tank 58 M1A1  
2nd Bn, 70th Armored Tank 58 M1A1  
1st Bn, 41st Infantry Tank 58 M2A2  
1st Bn, 4th Field Artillery Medium Artillery 24 M109A3 Direct Support for 3rd Brigade
70th Engineer Bn Combat Engineer M2, M728, AVLB support for 3rd Brigade
C Bat, 1-4th Air Defense Forward Air Defense M2 ADV, Avenger  

 Division Artillery (DIVARTY)
Headquarters: Baumholder, Germany  

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
2nd Bn, 3rd Field Artillery Medium Artillery 24 M109A3 Direct Support for 1st Bde; IN BOSNIA
4th Bn, 27th Field Artillery Medium Artillery 24 M109A3 Direct Support for 2nd Brigade
A Bat, 94th Field Artillery Rocket Artillery 9 MLRS General Support
C Bat, 333rd Field Artillery Target Acquistion    

Engineer Brigade
Headquarters: Hanau, Germany  

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon System
16th Engineer Bn Combat Engineer M2, M728, AVLB Supports 1st Brigade; IN BOSNIA
40th Engineer Bn Combat Engineer M2, M728, AVLB Supports 2nd Brigade

Avation Brigade
Headquarters: Hanau, Germany
Forward Headquarters: Tuzla, Bosnia
 

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Sqdn, 1st Cavalry Armored/Air Cavalry M3A2, M1A1, 16 OH-58D Divisional cavalry & recon IN BOSNIA
1st Bn, 501st Avation Attack Helicopter 24 AH-64 IN BOSNIA
2nd Bn, 501st Avation Support Helicopter UH-60, EH-60, OH-58 General Support Avation

Division Assets
 

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems Notes
1st Bn, 4th Air Defense Artillery Forward Air Defense M2 ADV, Avenger one Bat in KS; IN BOSNIA
501st Intelligence Bn Intel & Electronic Warfare   IN BOSNIA

 Previous Page