3rd Naval Infantry Regiment (Russia)

The 3rd Independent Krasnodarsko-Kharbinsky Twice Red Banner Naval Infantry Regiment is a regiment of the Russian Naval Infantry. It is based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy in the Russian Far East and has the Military Unit no. 10103. It has a rather unique history, tracing its origins to the formation of the 22nd Rifle Division of the Red Army before the beginning of Operation Barbarossa.

The division was first formed on 22 September 1918, as the 2nd Николаевской Infantry Division. It was based on the guerrilla groups Novouzensk, and Nicholas counties Malouzenskogo Samara and two volunteer units Balashov and Penza workers. C 02.10.1918 - Nicholas Infantry Division, from 11/24/1918 - The 30th Nicholas Soviet Infantry Division, with 13/01/1919 - Nicholas Infantry Division. After several redesignations it gained the number 22 on 25 March 1919 as the 22nd Rifle Division. It saw active service during the Second World War (in Russian military parlance, being part of the 'active army') from c 09.08.1945 to 03.09.1945 during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. With the 1st Red Banner Army of the independent coastal group in the Far East in May 1945.

Redesignated from 22nd Rifle Division to 22nd Motor Rifle Division in 1957. In 1988, V. I. Feskov et al. listed the division as part of the 51st Army, Far East Military District, and comprising the:
 * Division Headquarters (Dolinsk, Sakhalin Oblast)
 * 59th Tank Regiment
 * 211th Motor Rifle Regiment
 * 246th Motor Rifle Regiment
 * 304th Motor Rifle Regiment
 * 157th Artillery Regiment
 * 1006th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment

Until June 2002, it was designated the 22nd Motor Rifle Division; it then became the 40th Independent (twice Red Banner) Krasnodar-Harbin twice Red Banner Naval Infantry Regiment until 03.2009. It is reported that its current commander is Colonel Valery Zhila.

Today it is reported to include:
 * Assault Battalion
 * Naval Infantry Battalion
 * Artillery Battery
 * 186th Separate Naval Infantry Engineer Battalion

Coordinates:  53°1'14"N   158°42'7"E