8th Mixed Artillery Brigade (Romania)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=8th Mixed Artillery Brigade
"Brigada 8 Artilerie Mixtă"


caption=Official insignia of the 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade
nickname=
motto=
colors=
march=
ceremonial_chief=
type=Artillery
branch=Romanian Land Forces
dates=16 August 1916 - present
country=Romania
allegiance=
command_structure=1st Territorial Army Corps
size=6 battalions + other supporting companies
specialization=
current_commander=Colonel Florinel Damian
garrison=Focşani
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=1st July

The 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" ("Brigada 8 Artilerie Mixtă "Alexandru Ioan Cuza") is a mixed artillery brigade of the Romanian Land Forces. It was formed on 1st 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 1st Infantry Division "Dacica" 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.

tructure

*8th Mixed Artillery Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" - Focşani
**81st Artillery Battalion "Maior Gheorghe Şonţu" - Focşani
**
**" - Bârlad
**
**" - Focşani
**85th Logistics Battalion "General Mihail Cerchez" - Bârlad

Equipment

*152mm M85 howitzers;
*100mm antitank cannons;
*LAROM multiple rocket launchers;
*other supporting/transport vehicles;

External links

* [http://www.en.forter.ro/ Official Site of the Romanian Land Forces]
* [http://www.brigada8art.ro/en/default_en.html Official Site of the 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade]
* [http://www.corpul1a.forter.ro/ Official Site of the 1st Territorial Army Corps]