15th Tank Corps
| 15th Tank Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active |
|
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Engagements |
1st formation: Soviet invasion of Poland 2nd formation: German-Soviet War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
|
1st formation: Soviet invasion of Poland
2nd formation: German-Soviet War
The 15th Tank Corps was a tank corps of the Soviet Union's Red Army. It was first formed in 1938 from a mechanized corps and fought in the Soviet invasion of Poland before being disbanded in January 1940. During its first formation, it participated in the capture of the city of Grodno and Augustów Forest from Poland, and the corps finished its service at Wilno and Soleczniki.
The corps was formed for a second time in 1942 under the command of Major General Vasily Koptsov and became part of the 3rd Tank Army. It first saw combat in the unsuccessful Kozelsk Offensive of late August and early September, a relatively small operation to encircle a German salient, which resulted in the corps taking heavy losses in proportion to the territory gained. After spending the rest of the year in reserve, receiving new supplies and equipment, the corps was transferred to the southern front in southwestern Russia to fight in the Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive during January 1943, in which it played a key role by forming part of the forces that encircled thousands of Axis troops on the Middle Don River.
In February, the unit fought in Operation Star, whose objective was the capture of the important city of Kharkov in eastern Ukraine, and participated in the capture of that city. As the Soviet advance outran its supply lines, the corps was slowly worn down and was virtually destroyed after being surrounded by a German counteroffensive in the Third Battle of Kharkov during late February and early March. Corps commander Koptsov was among those killed in the fierce fighting. The corps was rebuilt in the following months and became part of the new 3rd Guards Tank Army, fighting in Operation Kutuzov during late July, the Soviet counteroffensive after the Battle of Kursk. For its actions in the offensive, the corps was converted into the 7th Guards Tank Corps.
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Wikipedia