131st Rocket Brigade

The 131st Rocket Brigade was a tactical ballistic missile brigade of the Soviet Army and Russian Ground Forces from 1960 to 1993. Based at Luga, Leningrad Oblast, it was part of the Leningrad Military District.^[1][2] It was formed from an anti-aircraft artillery regiment.^[3]

131st Rocket Brigade
Active	1960–1993
Country	Soviet Union (1960–1991) Russia (1992–1993)
Branch	Soviet Army (1960–1991) Russian Ground Forces (1992–1993)
Type	Tactical ballistic missile brigade
Part of	Leningrad Military District
Garrison/HQ	Luga
Decorations	Order of Suvorov 3rd class
Battle honours	Rezekne

History

The 240th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was part of the 10th Guards Army at the beginning of August 1943, the first time it appears in the Combat composition of the Soviet Army.^[4] The regiment remained with the 10th Guards Army for the rest of the war. ^[5]

The regiment helped capture Rezekne in July 1944 under command of Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Petrovich Kazantsev. For its actions the regiment was awarded the honorific "Rezekne".^[6] During World War II, the regiment also received the Order of Suvorov 3rd class. Between 1945 and 1960 it was known as the 240th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.^[3]

R-17 Elbrus missiles of the type used by the 131st Rocket Brigade

The brigade was formed in 1960 in Luga with the Leningrad Military District,^[2] apparently from parts of the 240th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment. ^[3] Other elements of the regiment became the 59th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade.^[7] It included three separate rocket battalions and a technical battery. It was equipped with R-11 Zemlya and R-17 Elbrus tactical ballistic missiles. The brigade was disbanded in 1993.^[1]