2nd Mechanized Brigade (Slovakia)

The 2nd Mechanized Brigade of general Rudolf Viest is a subordinate component of the Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic. The headquarters of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade is located in Prešov.

2nd Mechanized Brigade
2. mechanizovaná brigáda
Palace of Justice in Prešov, headquarters building of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade
Active	2000–present
Country	Slovakia
Allegiance	Slovak Armed Forces
Type	Mechanized brigade
Role	Operational, territorial and tactical activities
Part of	Slovak Armed Forces Headquarters
Garrison/HQ	Prešov
Nickname(s)	Prešov Mechanized Brigade [1]
Patron	Rudolf Viest[2]
Motto(s)	Honor et munus / Česť a povinnosť ("Honour and Duty")
Commanders
Current commander	1 star general Slavomír Verčimák

Main task

The main task of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade is to "participate in the tasks of defense and protection of vital interests of Slovak republic and its allies against military and non-military threats by conducting military and non-military operations. With regard to organizational structure and armament, the 2nd MechBde is designed to fulfill full spectrum operations against lightly armored enemy units in high battle rhythm."^[3][4]

History

2nd Mechanized Brigade's Zuzana 2 155 mm howitzer fires a projectile during a US-Slovak live-fire exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, November 30, 2021.

18 June 1945	creation of the 10th infantry division in Košice
1956–1966	18th motorised rifle division
1960	relocation from Košice to Prešov
1966–1990	reorganization into the 14th tank division
1991–1994	reorganization into the 14th mechanized division
1994–2000	reorganization into the 2nd army corps
1 April 2000	creation of HQ of the 1st mechanized brigade
1 October 2000	creation of the 1st mechanized brigade
1 October 2003	reorganization of the 1.mb to a mechanized brigade
1 October 2006	reorganization to a mechanized brigade
3 September 2007	received honorary title referring to General Rudolf Viest[5]
1 October 2010	adoption of battle flag[6]

Commanders

1945–1948	Brigadier General Emil Perko [sk]
1948–1949	Brigadier General Ľudevít Sozanský
1949–1951	Brigadier General Ján Malár
1951–1955	Brigadier General Jaroslav Palička
1955–1956	Colonel Alexander Mucha [sk]
1956–1957	Lieutenant Colonel Peter Andrejčík
1957–1960	Colonel Josef Kudrnovský
1960–1964	Colonel Pavol Papač [sk]
1964–1967	unknown
1967–1972	Major General Zoltán Jakuš [sk]
1972–1974	Colonel Stanislav Weinlich [sk]
1974–1978	Major General Josef Einšpigl [sk]
1978–1982	Colonel Imrich Andrejčák
1982–1985	Major General František Radimský [sk]
1985–1987	Major General Jan Ščudlík [sk]
1987–1990	Colonel Marián Horský [sk]
1990–1991	Colonel Emil Vestenický [sk]
1991–1992	Major General Ján Čmilanský [sk]
1997–1999	Major General František Butko [sk]
2000–2002	Colonel Jaroslav Vývlek [sk]
2002–2005	Brigadier General Miroslav Kováč [sk]
2005–2006	Colonel Ján Salaganič [sk]
2006–2007	Brigadier General Štefan Mečár [sk]
2007–2010	Brigadier General Ondřej Novosad [sk]
2010–2012	Colonel Karol Navrátil [sk]
2012–2015	Colonel Martin Michalko [sk]
2015–present	Brigadier General Martin Stoklasa [sk][7][8]

Organizational structure

• HQ of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade (Prešov)
• 21st Mixed Mechanized Battalion (Trebišov)
• 22nd Mechanized Battalion Mikuláš Markuš [sk] (Michalovce)
• Self-propelled artillery section (Michalovce)
• Battalion logistics support (Prešov)
• CIMIC and PSYOPS unit (Martin)
• Directly subordinate units

Equipment and weapon systems

Small arms and portable artillery

• Pistol CZ 82
• Model 58 assault rifle
• Universal machine gun model 59
• Sniper rifle SVDN 1
• Sniper rifle AW-50
• Rocket-propelled grenade RPG-7
• OZ 9P135 M anti-tank missile launcher
• Mortar 81mm
• Mortar 82mm
• Mortar 98mm

Armoured fighting vehicles

• BVP/1 infantry fighting vehicle (Czechoslovak and Slovak variants)
• OT-90 infantry fighting vehicle (Czechoslovak and Slovak BMP variant) with 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank missile system
• T-72M1 main battle tank

Artillery vehicles

• Self-propelled gun howitzer ZUZANA

Utility and transport vehicles

• Off-road vehicle Land Rover Defender 110 (utility and patrol vehicle)
• Mercedes-Benz G-Class (utility and patrol vehicle)
• Off-road vehicle UAZ-469 B (utility and patrol vehicle, gradually decommissioned)
• Mercedes-Benz G-300 (military ambulance)
• Volkswagen Transporter (T4) (military ambulance)
• AKTIS 4x4 off-road transport vehicle (military transport truck)
• Tatra T-815 VVN heavy off-road transport (military transport truck)
• Tatra T-815-7 heavy off-road transport (military transport truck)
• Tatrapan T1 ZASA armoured personnel carrier / armoured truck (transport, logistics)
• Praga V3S off-road transport vehicle (military transport truck, gradually decommissioned)

Engineering and specialist vehicles

• Tatra T-815 Multilift container loader
• Crane vehicle AV-15
• Bridgelayer vehicles
• Božena 3 mine flail and de-mining equipment

Reconnaissance drone

• Innocon Microfalcon UAV

Portable radiolocator

• FLIR Ranger R20

Insignia

The insignia of the 2nd mechanized Brigade and its individual battalions includes coat of arms style emblems for each of the major components. The 2nd Mechanized Brigade also has an honorary battle flag.^[9][10]

• 
  Tank Battalion (Trebišov)
• 
  22nd Mixed Mechanized Battalion (Michalovce)

See also

• 1st Mechanized Brigade of the Slovak Ground Forces