Formed in 1962 as the 5th Separate Tank Brigade, it was initially tasked with defending the East German Baltic coast.

[1] The brigade was activated in May 1962 in Schwerin, part of the 2nd Guards Tank Army.

[1] In 1980 the brigade was renamed the 138th Separate Tank Regiment, with the task of parachuting and airlanding assaults on Denmark.

The 24th, 45th and 58th Separate Tank Battalions were transferred to Mongolia and became part of the 12th, 41st and 91st Motor Rifle Divisions.

The regiment was also reequipped with T-55 and T-62 tanks, as well as BTR-60 armored personnel carriers.