The first formation of the division had been destroyed in the Battle of Uman in early August 1941.

In accordance with Order of the NKO number 104 dated March 1, 1943 173rd Rifle Division was converted to 77th Guards Rifle Division – for successful combat operations on the Stalingrad front.

Reduced to 10th Brigade 1946–52, became 77th Guards Motor Rifle Division 1957 at Arkhangelsk.

[2] Matvey Burlakov commanded the division from September 1973 to December 1975.

Reformed as 77th Brigade in December 2000,[5] but disbanded in March 2009, though it appears the two separate subordinate Naval Infantry battalions remained.