The Polish 7th Pomeranian Coastal Defence Brigade is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Polish Army (based at Słupsk).
It was formed in 2001 from the 7th Pomeranian Mechanized Brigade (of the 8th Coastal Defence Division). Now it is a brigade of the 12th Mechanized Division based at Szczecin. It bears traditions of the disbanded 7th Coastal Defence Division (known as the Blue Berets), previously themselves the 23rd Landing Division (pl:23 Dywizja Desantowa) from 1958–63, therefore it is sometimes referred to the Marines of Poland. However, as of 2007 there are no plans by the Polish Army to create an active Marine unit. Therefore the 7th Brigade carries out only limited-scale exercises of amphibious assaults.
It consists of the following subunits:
- Command Battalion (containing Command, Reconnaissance, Engineer, Maintenance, Supply and Medical Companies)
- 1st Mechanized Battalion with BWP-1s (with limited Amphibious Assault capability)
- 36th Mechanized Battalion with BWP-1s
- Artillery Group with 2S1 122mm self-propelled howitzers
- Air Defence Group with ZU-23-2s and Zu23-2Ts
- 1st Reserve Infantry Battalion
Famous quotes containing the words defense and/or brigade:
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!”
—Barry Goldwater (b. 1909)
“Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on ahead and reconnoitre the ground which the heavy brigade of the orthodox will eventually occupy.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)