Airborne troops are one of the strongest components of the army Russian Federation. IN last years, due to the tense international situation, the importance of the Airborne Forces is increasing. The size of the territory of the Russian Federation, its landscape diversity, as well as borders with almost all conflict states, indicate that it is necessary to have a large supply of special groups of troops that can provide the necessary protection in all directions, which is what the air force is.
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Because structure air forces is vast, the question often arises of the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Battalion, are they the same troops? The article examines the differences between them, the history, goals and military training of both organizations, composition.
Differences between troops
The differences lie in the names themselves. The DSB is an air assault brigade, organized and specialized in attacks close to the enemy rear in the event of large-scale military operations. Air assault brigades subordinate to the Airborne Forces - airborne troops, as one of their units and specialize only in assault captures.
Airborne Forces are airborne troops, whose tasks are the capture of the enemy, as well as the capture and destruction of enemy weapons and other air operations. The functionality of the Airborne Forces is much broader - reconnaissance, sabotage, assault. For a better understanding of the differences, let's consider the history of the creation of the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Shock Battalion separately.
History of the Airborne Forces
The Airborne Forces began its history in 1930, when an operation was carried out near the city of Voronezh on August 2, where 12 people parachuted from the air as part of a special unit. This operation then opened the eyes of the leadership to new possibilities for parachute airborne troops. Next year, at the base Leningrad Military District, a detachment is formed, which received a long name - airborne and numbered about 150 people.
The effectiveness of the paratroopers was obvious and the Revolutionary Military Council decided to expand it by creating airborne troops. The order was issued at the end of 1932. At the same time, in Leningrad, instructors were trained, and later they were distributed to districts according to special-purpose aviation battalions.
In 1935, the Kyiv military district demonstrated to foreign delegations the full power of the Airborne Forces by staging an impressive landing of 1,200 paratroopers, who quickly captured the airfield. Later, similar exercises were held in Belarus, as a result of which the German delegation, impressed by the landing of 1,800 people, decided to organize its own airborne detachment, and then a regiment. Thus, Soviet Union is rightfully the birthplace of the Airborne Forces.
In 1939, our airborne troops there is an opportunity to show yourself in practice. In Japan, the 212th brigade was landed on the Khalkin-Gol River, and a year later the 201, 204 and 214 brigades were involved in the war with Finland. Knowing that the Second World War would not pass us by, 5 air corps of 10 thousand people each were formed and the Airborne Forces acquired a new status - guards troops.
The year 1942 was marked by the largest airborne operation during the war, which took place near Moscow, where about 10 thousand paratroopers were dropped into the German rear. After the war, it was decided to annex the Airborne Forces to the Supreme High Command and appoint the commander of the Airborne Forces of the USSR Ground Forces, this honor falls to Colonel General V.V. Glagolev.
Big innovations in airborne the troops came with “Uncle Vasya”. In 1954 V.V. Glagolev is replaced by V.F. Margelov and held the position of commander of the Airborne Forces until 1979. At Margelov Airborne Forces is supplied with new military equipment, including artillery installations, combat vehicles, special attention is paid to working under conditions of a surprise attack with nuclear weapons.
Airborne troops took part in all the most significant conflicts - the events of Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh, North and South Ossetia. Several of our battalions carried out UN peacekeeping missions on the territory of Yugoslavia.
Nowadays, the ranks of the Airborne Forces include about 40 thousand fighters; during special operations, paratroopers form its basis, since the Airborne Forces are a highly qualified component of our army.
History of the formation of the DSB
Air assault brigades began their history after it was decided to rework the tactics of the Airborne Forces in the context of the outbreak of large-scale military operations. The purpose of such ASBs was to disorganize opponents through mass landings close to the enemy; such operations were most often carried out from helicopters in small groups.
Towards the end of the 60s in the Far East, it was decided to form 11 and 13 brigades with helicopter regiments. These regiments were deployed primarily in hard-to-reach areas; the first landing attempts took place in northern cities Magdachi and Zavitinsk. Therefore, in order to become a paratrooper of this brigade, strength and special endurance were needed, since weather were practically unpredictable, for example, in winter the temperature reached -40 degrees, and in summer there was abnormal heat.
Place of deployment of the first airborne gunships The Far East was chosen for a reason. It was time difficult relationships with China, which escalated further after a clash of interests on the island of Damascus. The brigades were ordered to prepare to repel an attack from China, which could attack at any time.
High level and importance of DSB was demonstrated during exercises in the late 80s on the island of Iturup, where 2 battalions and artillery landed on MI-6 and MI-8 helicopters. The garrison, due to weather conditions, was not warned about the exercise, as a result of which fire was opened on those who landed, but thanks to the highly qualified training of the paratroopers, none of the participants in the operation were injured.
In those same years, the DSB consisted of 2 regiments, 14 brigades, and about 20 battalions. One brigade at a time were attached to one military district, but only to those that had access to the border by land. Kyiv also had its own brigade, 2 more brigades were given to our units located abroad. Each brigade had an artillery division, logistics and combat units.
After the USSR ceased to exist, the country’s budget did not allow the massive maintenance of the army, so there was nothing else to do but disband some units of the Airborne Forces and Airborne Forces. The beginning of the 90s was marked by the removal of the DSB from subordination Far East and transfer to full subordination to Moscow. The air assault brigades are being transformed into separate airborne brigades - 13 Airborne Brigade. In the mid-90s, the airborne reduction plan disbanded the 13th Airborne Forces Brigade.
Thus, from the above it is clear that the DShB was created as one of the structural divisions of the Airborne Forces.
Composition of the Airborne Forces
The composition of the Airborne Forces includes the following units:
- airborne;
- air assault;
- mountain (which operate exclusively at mountainous heights).
These are the three main components of the Airborne Forces. In addition, they consist of a division (76.98, 7, 106 Guards Air Assault), brigade and regiment (45, 56, 31, 11, 83, 38 Guards Airborne). A brigade was created in Voronezh in 2013, receiving the number 345.
Airborne Forces personnel prepared in educational institutions military reserve of Ryazan, Novosibirsk, Kamenets-Podolsk, in Kolomenskoye. Training was carried out in the areas of parachute landing (air assault) platoon and commanders of reconnaissance platoons.
The school produced about three hundred graduates annually - this was not enough to satisfy the personnel requirements of the airborne troops. Consequently, it was possible to become a member of the Airborne Forces by graduating from airborne departments in special areas of schools such as general arms and military departments.
Preparation
The command staff of the airborne battalion was most often selected from the airborne forces, and battalion commanders, deputy battalion commanders, and company commanders were selected from the nearest military districts. In the 70s, due to the fact that the leadership decided to repeat their experience - to create and staff the DSB, planned enrollment in educational institutions is expanding, who trained future airborne officers. The mid-80s were marked by the fact that officers were released for service in the DShV, having been trained in educational program for the Airborne Forces. Also during these years, a complete reshuffle of officers was carried out; it was decided to replace almost all of them in the DShV. At the same time, excellent students went to serve mainly in the Airborne Forces.
To join the Airborne Forces, as in the DSB, it is necessary to meet specific criteria:
- height 173 and above;
- average physical development;
- secondary education;
- without medical restrictions.
If everything matches, then the future fighter begins training.
Particular attention is paid, of course, to the physical training of airborne paratroopers, which is carried out constantly, starting with a daily rise at 6 am, hand-to-hand combat (a special training program) and ending with long forced marches of 30–50 km. Therefore, every fighter has enormous endurance and endurance, besides, children who have been involved in any sport that develops that same endurance are selected into their ranks. To test it, they take an endurance test - in 12 minutes a fighter must run 2.4-2.8 km, otherwise there is no point in serving in the Airborne Forces.
It is worth noting that it is not for nothing that they are called universal fighters. These people can operate in various areas in any weather conditions absolutely silently, can camouflage themselves, own all types of weapons, both their own and the enemy’s, control any type of transport and means of communication. In addition to excellent physical preparation, psychological preparation is also required, since fighters have to overcome not only long distances, but also “work with their heads” to get ahead of the enemy throughout the entire operation.
Intellectual aptitude is determined using tests compiled by experts. Psychological compatibility in the team is necessarily taken into account; the guys are included in a certain detachment for 2-3 days, after which the senior officers evaluate their behavior.
Psychophysical preparation is carried out, which implies tasks with increased risk, where there is both physical and mental stress. Such tasks are aimed at overcoming fear. At the same time, if it turns out that the future paratrooper does not experience a feeling of fear at all, then he is not accepted for further training, since he is quite naturally taught to control this feeling, and is not completely eradicated. Airborne Forces training gives our country a huge advantage in terms of fighters over any enemy. Most VDVeshnikov already lead a familiar lifestyle even after retirement.
Armament of the Airborne Forces
As for technical equipment, the Airborne Forces use combined arms equipment and equipment specially designed for the nature of this type of troops. Some of the samples were created during the USSR, but the bulk were developed after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
To the cars Soviet period relate:
- amphibious combat vehicle - 1 (the number reaches 100 units);
- BMD-2M (approximately 1 thousand units), they are used in both ground and parachute landing methods.
These techniques have been tested for many years and took part in multiple armed conflicts that took place on the territory of our country and abroad. Nowadays, in conditions of rapid progress, these models are outdated both morally and physically. A little later, the BMD-3 model was released and today the number of such equipment is only 10 units, since production has ceased, they plan to gradually replace it with the BMD-4.
The Airborne Forces are also armed with armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, BTR-82AM and BTR-80 and the most numerous tracked armored personnel carrier - 700 units, and it is also the most outdated (mid-70s), it is gradually being replaced by an armored personnel carrier - MDM "Rakushka". There are also anti-tank guns 2S25 "Sprut-SD", an armored personnel carrier - RD "Robot", and ATGMs: "Konkurs", "Metis", "Fagot", and "Cornet". Air defense represented by missile systems, but a special place is given to a new product that recently appeared in service with the Airborne Forces - the Verba MANPADS.
Not long ago new models of equipment appeared:
- armored car "Tiger";
- Snowmobile A-1;
- Kamaz truck - 43501.
As for communication systems, they are represented by locally developed electronic warfare systems “Leer-2 and 3”, Infauna, system control is represented by air defense “Barnaul”, “Andromeda” and “Polet-K” - automation of command and control.
Weapon represented by samples, for example, the Yarygin pistol, PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The Soviet Ak-74 assault rifle is still the personal weapon of paratroopers, but is gradually being replaced by the newest AK-74M, and the silent Val assault rifle is also used in special operations. There are parachute systems of both Soviet and post-Soviet types, which can parachute large parties of soldiers and all of the above military equipment. Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 “Plamya” and AGS-30, SPG-9.
Armament of the DShB
The DShB had transport and helicopter regiments, which numbered:
- about twenty mi-24, forty mi-8 and forty mi-6;
- the anti-tank battery was armed with a 9 MD mounted anti-tank grenade launcher;
- the mortar battery included eight 82-mm BM-37s;
- the anti-aircraft missile platoon had nine Strela-2M MANPADS;
- it also included several BMD-1s, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers for each airborne assault battalion.
The armament of the brigade artillery group consisted of GD-30 howitzers, PM-38 mortars, GP 2A2 cannons, the Malyutka anti-tank missile system, SPG-9MD, and ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun.
Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 “Flame” and AGS-30, SPG-9 “Spear”. Aerial reconnaissance is carried out using the domestic Orlan-10 drone.
One interesting fact took place in the history of the Airborne Forces, for quite a long time, thanks to erroneous media information, special forces (Special Forces) soldiers were not rightfully called paratroopers. The thing is, what in Air Force our country In the Soviet Union, as in the post-Soviet Union, there were and do not exist Special Forces troops, but there are divisions and units of the Special Forces of the GRU of the General Staff, which arose in the 50s. Until the 80s, the command was forced to completely deny their existence in our country. Therefore, those who were appointed to these troops learned about them only after being accepted into service. For the media they were disguised as motorized rifle battalions.
Airborne Forces Day
Paratroopers celebrate the birthday of the Airborne Forces, like the DShB since August 2, 2006. This kind of gratitude for the efficiency of air units, the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation was signed in May of the same year. Despite the fact that the holiday was declared by our government, the birthday is celebrated not only in our country, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and most CIS countries.
Every year, airborne veterans and active soldiers meet in the so-called “meeting place”, each city has its own, for example, in Astrakhan “Brotherly Garden”, in Kazan “Victory Square”, in Kiev “Hydropark”, in Moscow “Poklonnaya Gora”, Novosibirsk "Central Park". IN major cities organize demonstrations, concerts and fairs.
Thanks to cinema and television, most Russians know about the existence of units special purpose, which are subordinate to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU special forces). However, these special units are far from the only ones in the Russian armed forces; it’s just that their “colleagues” are less known and not so “publicized.” At the same time, in their professionalism and combat experience they are hardly inferior to the famous GRU special forces. First of all we're talking about about special forces units of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation or special forces of the Airborne Forces.
Special units of the Airborne Forces appeared quite a long time ago, during the Great Patriotic War. In February 1994, a regiment was formed on the basis of two separate special-purpose battalions airborne special forces. Closer to our time, this unit took an active part in both campaigns in the North Caucasus, and was later involved in the war with Georgia in 2008. Its permanent location is Kubinka, near Moscow. At the end of 2014, the airborne regiment was deployed into a brigade.
Despite the fact that the tasks performed by the GRU special forces and the Airborne Special Forces are largely similar, there are still differences between these units. However, before talking about the airborne special forces, a few words should be said about the history of special forces in general.
History of special forces
Units for special operations were created in the USSR almost immediately after the Bolsheviks came to power. The units were engaged in reconnaissance and subversive work in hostile territory. IN neighboring countries pro-Soviet partisan detachments, whose work was supervised military intelligence from Moscow. In 1921, a special department was created in the Red Army, which was engaged in collecting intelligence information for the leadership of the Red Army.
Having survived several reorganizations, the intelligence department of the Red Army in 1940 was finally transferred to the subordination of the General Staff. The GRU special forces were created in 1950.
Special units of the Airborne Forces appeared in the 30s, immediately after the appearance of this type of troops in the USSR. First part of the Airborne Forces was formed in 1930 near Voronezh. Almost immediately, an obvious need arose to create our own airborne reconnaissance unit.
The fact is that the Airborne Forces are designed to perform specific functions - operations behind enemy lines, destruction of particularly important enemy targets, disruption of enemy communications, seizure of bridgeheads and other operations of a predominantly offensive nature.
To conduct a successful landing operation, preliminary reconnaissance of the landing site is necessary. Otherwise, the operation is in danger of failure - this happened many times during the Great Patriotic War, when poorly prepared landing operations cost the lives of thousands of paratroopers.
In 1994, on the basis of two separate airborne special forces battalions, the 901st and 218th, the 45th separate airborne special forces regiment was formed. A few words should be said about the units that made up the regiment.
The 218th battalion was formed in 1992, and before joining the airborne special forces regiment, it managed to take part in several peacekeeping missions: in Abkhazia, Ossetia and Transnistria.
The history of the 901st battalion is much longer and richer. It was formed in 1979 in the Transcaucasian Military District as a separate air assault battalion, then was transferred to Europe, to the site of the intended theater of operations. At the end of the 80s, the Baltic states became the location of the unit. In 1992, the 901st battalion was renamed a separate parachute battalion and transferred to the subordination of the Airborne Forces headquarters.
In 1993, during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, the 901st battalion was located on the territory of Abkhazia, after which it was transferred to the Moscow region. In 1994 the division became separate battalion special forces and became part of the 45th Special Forces Regiment.
The regiment's military personnel took part in both Chechen campaigns and in the operation to force Georgia to peace in 2008. In 2005, the 45th Special Forces Regiment received the honorary title “Guards,” and the unit was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky. In 2009 he was awarded the St. George Banner.
In 2014, based on the 45th separate regiment An airborne special forces brigade was formed.
More than 40 servicemen from the unit were killed in various conflicts. Many soldiers and officers of the regiment were awarded orders and medals.
Why do you need airborne special forces?
The functions of the Airborne Forces special forces are very similar to those performed by their colleagues from the Main Command units. intelligence agency. However, there are still differences. And they are associated with specific tasks that the Airborne Forces must solve.
Of course, airborne special forces can conduct sabotage and reconnaissance operations behind enemy lines, but first of all they must prepare the possibility of landing for the main airborne units. The concept of “prepare” in this case is interpreted very broadly. First of all, we are talking about reconnaissance of the landing area: management is obliged to have maximum information about where the paratroopers will land and what awaits them there.
In addition, scouts, if necessary, prepare a landing site. This could be the capture of an enemy airfield or a small bridgehead. If necessary, sabotage is carried out in the area, infrastructure is destroyed, communications are disrupted, chaos and panic are created. Airborne special forces can also conduct operations to capture and briefly hold important objects behind enemy lines. Most often, such work is carried out during offensive operations.
One more difference should be noted between the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces. Units of the Main Intelligence Directorate can operate anywhere on the planet (it’s not for nothing that they have a globe on their emblem). Airborne special forces usually operate closer, within the flight range of airborne transport aircraft, usually no further than two thousand kilometers.
Airborne special forces are rightfully considered the elite Russian army. Therefore, the requirements for training and equipment of fighters are very strict. Not everyone is able to pass the selection process and become a fighter in this unit. An airborne special forces fighter must be resistant to stress, endurance, and have excellent command of all types of weapons. The special forces have to operate deep behind enemy lines, without any support from the mainland, carrying tens of kilograms of weapons, ammunition and equipment.
The unit's fighters are equipped with the best types of weapons, ammunition, and equipment of Russian and foreign production. They don't spare money for special forces. It should be noted that any special forces (Russian or American) is a very expensive “pleasure”. The Vintorez sniper rifle, Kalashnikov assault rifles of the 100 series, large-caliber rifles of domestic production - this is not a complete list of small arms used by reconnaissance officers.
The Big Myth of Belonging intelligence units ground forces to parts Airborne Troops . (Airborne Forces) This is not the first time that all Associations of Airborne Forces Veterans of the Russian Federation have raised this issue. At first glance, it seems that there is nothing special here, but if you think deeply, it becomes clear that in the ranks of the Airborne Forces veterans there are real “mummers” (in disguise). "Mummed paratroopers" are mainly assigned to units and subunits of the ground forces to regiments and divisions of the Airborne Forces. This in turn causes a huge controversy in our circle. Taking into account the fact that reconnaissance airborne companies (RDR), separate reconnaissance battalions (ORB) are part of motorized rifle divisions and brigades, they have nothing to do with the Airborne Forces. The Airborne Forces today are an independent branch of the military (Reserve of the Supreme High Command) and are not subordinate to the command of the ground forces. Therefore, various units of the ground forces were not and cannot be part of the Airborne Forces. A striking example is that those who served (demobilization) in the 907th separate reconnaissance battalion ardently attribute themselves to the winged guard and shout at the top of their lungs that they served in the Airborne Forces. This cannot happen! The 907th separate reconnaissance battalion (ORB city of Totsk) is part of the 27th motorized rifle division (MSD) and is primarily a motorized rifle reconnaissance formation. Let me emphasize - motorized rifle! Since when are motorized rifles related to the Airborne Forces? If their training program includes parachute jumping, then this does not say anything. And the Marines make jumps from military transport aviation (MTA), but they do not consider themselves to be airborne forces. And it is not surprising that on August 2, “massed paratroopers” distort the moral image of the Airborne Forces. The composition of the airborne troops of the Russian Armed Forces includes three main components: air assault; airborne; air assault mountain Divisions 7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division (until January 2006 - airborne) (Novorossiysk) 76th Guards Air Assault Division (until January 2006 - airborne) (Pskov) 98- I Guards Airborne Division (Ivanovo) 106th Guards Airborne Division (Tula) Brigades 31st Guards Separate Air Assault Brigade (Ulyanovsk) (until May 1, 1998 - 328th and 337th Guards Parachute -airborne regiments of the 104th Guards Airborne Division) There are also air assault brigades of district subordination, which were not part of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces, but since the fall of 2013 they have been included in the Russian Airborne Forces. RF 11th separate airborne, 56th separate airborne, 83rd separate airborne, 100th guards separate airborne brigade, they are the equivalent of motorized rifle troops, part of the ground forces, which have nothing to do with the Airborne Forces, however, the Airborne Forces command resolves issues of personnel and material support. There are also companies and reconnaissance battalions of tank units and motorized rifle troops (907 ORB in the city of Totsk). These units have airborne training in their training program, but they are also not part of the Airborne Forces. Reconnaissance and landing companies Marine Corps, tank and motorized rifle troops are not an integral part of the Airborne Forces. Regiments 38th separate communications regiment (Monino) 45th separate guards regiment special purpose (Cuban) Educational establishments Ryazan Higher Airborne command school(Ryazan) 242nd The educational center Airborne Forces (Omsk) Ulyanovsk Guards Suvorov military school(Ulyanovsk) Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, Colonel General Vladimir Anatolyevich Shamanov
FlFlag Airborne Forces 162 ORR 7 Airborne Forces is dedicated to all brave reconnaissance officers - the true army elite. From this article you will learn about the past and present of this unit.
Characteristics
- 162 ORR
- 162 ORR
- Novorossiysk
- military unit 96686
Airborne flag 162nd separate reconnaissance company (162 ORR 7 Airborne Division)
Reconnaissance companies have always stood out for their special qualities, even in such elite troops as the airborne troops. Perhaps a little less is known about airborne reconnaissance officers than about other units. But this is not surprising; the specifics of reconnaissance companies’ combat missions are often secret. And the intelligence officers themselves are unlikely to shout loudly about their affiliation with these units. Otherwise they would not be scouts - shadows, terrifying on the enemy.
162 ORR 7th guards division Airborne Forces
Like all reconnaissance companies of divisional subordination, the fate of the 162nd reconnaissance unit largely follows the path of its division. The unit begins counting its days in October 1948, when the 7th Guards. The VDD was formed in the ancient Belarusian city of Polotsk.
A significant period of 162 ORR was associated with the city of Kaunas in the Lithuanian SSR, where the unit was transferred shortly after its formation. Despite the fact that the Great Patriotic War ended, the 162nd reconnaissance company had a lot of combat work in its main specialty. The fact is that on the territory of the Lithuanian SSR for a long time the group did not lay down their weapons " forest brothers" - Lithuanian nationalists who did not recognize Soviet power.
The late 40s and early 50s were a period of regular operations to identify and destroy these illegal armed groups. Despite the difficult wooded terrain, which the enemy knew very well, 162 ORR played a significant role in the destruction of bandit groups.
The Hungarian events of 1956 and the Czechoslovak events of 1968 also required active action from the “Seven” paratroopers, whose consolidated formations also included fighters of the 162nd airborne regiment.
Repeatedly, the 162nd reconnaissance company took part in large-scale command exercises, and personnel were seconded to various reconnaissance formations of the Airborne Forces for mountain training and other special purposes.
At the end of the 80s, 162 ORR was in Baku, carrying out tasks to restore order and prevent major interethnic clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
162 reconnaissance company in Novorossiysk
In August 1993, the 7th Guards. The airborne division, and with it the 162 ORR, leave the bases in Kaunas and Marijampole and are redeployed to Novorossiysk and Maykop.
From 1993 to 1996, the company's personnel were sent to the zone of settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.
During the first Chechen war 162 ORR carries out combat missions in Grozny, Shatoy and Vedeno.
From 1994 to 2004, the 162nd reconnaissance company was also located in Chechnya and Dagestan, where it took an active part in eliminating illegal gangs and radical Islamists.
From 1995 to 1996, the reconnaissance company was expanded to a battalion (162 orbs). This experiment, carried out in 5 airborne divisions, was considered unsuccessful and on September 24, 1996, 162 orb was again reorganized into 162 orr (military unit 96686).
From December 1, 2010, the 162nd reconnaissance company was introduced into the command of the 7th Guards. air assault division.
We briefly talked about the fate of such a little known to a wide circle of people interested in history Airborne units, as the 162nd separate reconnaissance company. For veterans of the 162 ORR, this is a good reason to remember their years of service, and the younger generation may be thinking about joining the 162 ORR.
