Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" ("Iron Wolf" Brigade) (Lithuanian: 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.
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.
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:
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 army 1st Mechanized Airborne 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.
Lithuania
Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade, in Rukla
King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion (Lithuanian: Karaliaus Mindaugo husarų batalionas), in Panevėžys
Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion (Lithuanian: Didžiosios kunigaikštienės Birutės ulonų batalionas), in Alytus
Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion (Lithuanian: Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Algirdo pėstininkų batalionas), in Rukla
Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion (Lithuanian: Kunigaikščio Vaidoto pėstininkų batalionas), in Rukla
General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion (Lithuanian: Generolo Romualdo Giedraičio artilerijos batalionas), in Rukla
Reconnaissance Company, in Rukla
Signal Company, in Rukla
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Land
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