8th Tactical Operational Missile Brigade (Romania)

The 8th Tactical Operational Missile Brigade (Brigada 8 Rachete Operativ Tactice "Alexandru Ioan Cuza"), former 8th LAROM Brigade, is a Multiple Rocket Launcher brigade of the Romanian Land Forces. The brigade was named after the Romanian Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 2006. It is the successor of three units: the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade, the 1st and 4th Heavy Artillery Regiments.

The Brigade is subordinated to the General Staff of the Romanian Land Forces and has its headquarters in Focșani. Soldiers of the Brigade were deployed to various operation theatres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Since October 2004, the unit no longer uses conscripts.

2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade
On 1 July 1916, the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade was formed within the Bucharest Garrison, with the 3rd and 4th Heavy Artillery Regiments under its command. The Brigade was subordinated to the Bucharest Fortress Command. The Brigade, participated in the Romanian 1916 campaign during the First World War, with the 3rd Regiment taking part in the Battle of Turtucaia and in the Battle of Bucharest, and later in the 1917 campaign.

The Brigade was reestablished in 1948 as the Mixed Artillery Brigade based in Slobozia. A year later, it was moved to Focșani.

1st and 4th Heavy Artillery Regiments
The 1st Siege Artillery Regiment (Regimentul 1 Artilerie Asediu) was formed on 1 March 1915, with its garrison at the Jilava Fort. Its name was changed to the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment (Regimentul 1 Artilerie Grea) in 1916. It participated in both the 1916 and 1917 campaigns.

The 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment participated in the Battle of Transylvania and in the battles on the Prahova Valley and Buzău. In 1928, the Regiment changed its name to the 5th Heavy Artillery Regiment, with its garrison being moved to Focșani.

During World War II, both the 1st and 5th Regiments were part of the Romanian forces that fought at the Siege of Odessa in 1941; the 5th Regiment was the first artillery regiment to hit Odessa. The 1st Regiment also participated in the Battle of Stalingrad (starting with October 1942) and in the Battle of Budapest in 1945.

After the war, the 1st Regiment was moved to Pitești, then to Focșani in 1948. Both regiments merged with the former 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade into the 8th Heavy Artillery Brigade in 1949. During the 1950s, the Brigade changed its name several times, settling on the 8th Artillery Gun Brigade in 1959 and keeping the name until 1995 when it was changed to the 8th Artillery Brigade.

In 2001, the Brigade became the 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade, then on 1 November 2010, it was renamed to the 8th LAROM Brigade following the modernization plan of the Romanian Army.

Organization

 * 8th Tactical Operational Missile Brigade "Alexandru Ioan Cuza", in Focșani
 * 81st ROT Battalion "Maior Gheorghe Șonțu", in Focșani
 * 83rd ROT Battalion "Bogdan I", in Bârlad
 * 96th LAROM Battalion "Mircea Voievod", in Ploiești
 * 84th Data Acquisition Battalion "Mărăști", in Focșani
 * 85th Logistic Support Battalion "General Mihail Cerchez", in Bârlad

Equipment

 * LAROM multiple rocket launchers
 * M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers
 * Other supporting/transport vehicles