8th Mixed Artillery Brigade (Romania)

From 1 November 2010 it current name is the 8th LAROM Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza". The 8th LAROM Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" (Brigada 8 LAROM "Alexandru Ioan Cuza") is a Multiple Rocket Launcher brigade of the Romanian Land Forces. It was formed 1 July 1916 (as the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade), and was named after the Romanian Domnitor and politician Alexandru Ioan Cuza.

The Brigade is subordinated to the Romanian Land Forces and has its headquarters in Focşani. The high professionalism of the personnel in this unit is the reason why a large number of soldiers in the brigade were, or still are present in various theaters of operations, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Since October 2004, there are no more conscripts in the structures subordinated to the Brigade; all the personnel is professional.

World War I
During World War I and World War II, the 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade was designated as the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade with its main subordinated units being the 1st and 5th Heavy Artillery Regiments. The 1st regiment participated in the Battle of Mărăşeşti, while the 5th regiment took part of the Battle of Turtucaia.

World War II
During World War II, both the 1st and 5th regiments made part of the Romanian forces invading Odessa, the 5th regiment cannons were the first Romanian Army’s cannons to hit Odessa. The 1st regiment was also involved in the Battle of Stalingrad (starting with October 1942), and the Battle of Budapest.

Structure

 * 8th LAROM Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" - Focşani
 * BATALION 81.jpg LAROM Battalion "Maior Gheorghe Şonţu" - Focşani
 * BATALION 83.jpg Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion "Bogdan I" - Bârlad
 * BATALION 96.jpg Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion "Mircea Voievod" - Ploieşti
 * BATALION 84.jpg Data Acquisition Battalion "Mărăşti" - Focşani
 * BATALION 85.jpg Logistics Support Battalion "General Mihail Cerchez" - Bârlad

Equipment

 * LAROM multiple rocket launchers;
 * other supporting/transport vehicles;