Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" (MIB "Iron Wolf") (
Lithuanian: mechanizuotoji pėstininkų brigada "Geležinis Vilkas") is the core unit of the
Lithuanian Army and forms the country's contribution to
NATOcollective defence. The name of the brigade relates to the Lithuanian
mythical character from the medieval foundation legend of the
Vilnius city.
Function
MIB "Iron Wolf" main mission is to maintain required capabilities as stated in
national defense guide in order to defend
Republic of Lithuaniasovereignty, its
territorial integrity, participate in
NATO and international peace support operations,
plan and conduct brigade staff and units training, main effort preparation for peace support operations in accordance with international commitments.
Prepare
training and activity plans of MIB "Iron Wolf";
Organize, conduct, evaluate and analyze training of subunits in order to achieve specify tasks and essential tasks of the mission;
Control readiness of subunits of MIB "Iron Wolf" to conduct stated missions and essential tasks of the mission;
Coordinate main spheres of activity with the commander of MIB "Iron Wolf";
Take part in national and international military operations,
exercises and projects of the military cooperation;
Collect information on experience gathered during exercises and make suggestions to Brigade commander;
Provide information and reports to the higher
headquarters concerning implementation of training and activity plans;
Provide assistance to state and
municipal institutions by responding to threats of a non-military nature;
Maintain close relationship with
local society and participate in their activities.
Structure
MIB "Iron Wolf" is the largest unit of
land forces of the
Lithuania Armed Forces, consists of the command, its elements and six
battalions stationed across Lithuania and named after Lithuanian Great Dukes and Duchesses as the tradition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces goes:
Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion (
Lithuanian: Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Algirdo mechanizuotasis pėstininkų batalionas), in
Rukla
Duke Vaidotas Mechanized Infantry Battalion (
Lithuanian: Kunigaikščio Vaidoto mechanizuotasis pėstininkų batalionas), in
Rukla
February 22, 1991 – a Training Regiment (
Lithuanian: Mokomasis junginys) is created;
November 14, 1991 – the Training Regiment reorganized as Rapid Reaction Mechanized Infantry Brigade (
Lithuanian: Greitojo reagavimo motodesantinė brigada). Brigade's subunits, stationed in various parts of Lithuania, are considered equal to battalions;
Spring, 1992 – First draftees are assigned to the newly formed Brigade, with battalions stationed
Vilnius,
Kaunas,
Klaipėda,
Šiauliai,
Tauragė, and two companies are stationed in
Alytus and
Marijampolė (the two latter later growing into full battalions);
January 2, 1992 – Renamed as Field Infantry 1st Mechanized Brigade (
Lithuanian: Lauko kariuomenės 1-oji motodesantinė brigada);
June 6, 1992 – Unit's first parade in the
Cathedral Square, Vilnius; Brigade is awarded the name "Iron Wolf" (
Lithuanian: "Geležinis Vilkas");
April 1, 1995 –
Klaipėda's battalion is reassigned under the Navy command;
Kaunas's battalion reassigned under the Army HQ's command;
January 26, 1996 – Field Infantry Brigade reorganized as "Iron Wolf" Mechanized Infantry Brigade (
Lithuanian: Motorizuotoji pėstininkų brigada "Geležinis Vilkas");
October 27, 1996 – Brigade's battalions in Šiauliai (the "Grand Duke Vaidotas" battalion) and Tauragė (the "Grand Duke Kęstutis" battalion) are reassigned as separate units;
In 2004 – the bilateral project between Denmark and Lithuania
LITBRIG has started;
ARTBALT, a joint project with Denmark to create an
artillery battalion in Lithuania
BALTBAT, a multinational project aimed to create and train a joint infantry battalion between
Lithuania's,
Latvia's, and
Estonia's militaries. The project is executed in cooperation with several
Scandinavian nations,
Great Britain, and the United States.
LITPOLBAT, a project to create a joint battalion with
Poland's military.
LITBAT, a project aimed to reorganized the Grand Duke Algirdas Battalion into a mechanized infantry battalion, capable of operating together with
NATO forces. Executed with the help of Denmark's military instructors.
Grunwald Wind, a biannual military practice in
Poland. The Brigade's HQ and the Duchess Birtutė Battalion take part in those.
The biannual Amber Hope military practice, together with other
BALTBAT members.
The
NATO military practice Strong Resolve 2001 and Strong Resolve 2002 in
Poland.
The Cooperative Lantern 2002 military practice in the
Netherlands, attended by soldiers from the Brigade HQ and the King Mindaugas Battalion.