56 Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Airborne Forces. Combat use: Afghanistan
Airborne troops are one of the strongest components of the army Russian Federation. AT 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 the borders with almost all conflict states, indicate that it is necessary to have a large supply of special groupings of troops that can provide the necessary protection in all directions, which is the air force.
In contact with
Because structure air force extensive, the question often arises of the Airborne Forces and the DSB are the same troops? The article analyzes the differences between them, the history, goals and military training of both organizations, the composition.
Differences between troops
The differences lie in the names themselves. The DShB is an air assault brigade organized and specializing in attacks on the enemy's close rear in the event of large-scale military operations. Air assault brigades subordinate to the Airborne Forces - airborne troops, as one of their divisions and specialize only in assault seizures.
Airborne Forces are landing 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 wider - reconnaissance, sabotage, assault. For a better understanding of the differences, consider the history of the creation of the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Forces 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 opportunities for paratroopers. The following year, based Leningrad Military District, a detachment is being formed, which received a long name - airborne and consisted of about 150 people.
The effectiveness of the paratroopers was obvious and the Revolutionary Military Council decides to expand it by creating airborne troops. The order saw the light at the end of 1932. In parallel, in Leningrad, instructors were trained, and later they were distributed to the districts by special-purpose aviation battalions.
In 1935, the military district of Kyiv demonstrated to foreign delegations the full power of the Airborne Forces, arranging an impressive landing of 1200 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 their own airborne detachment, and then a regiment. In this way, The Soviet Union is rightfully the birthplace of the Airborne Forces.
In 1939, our landing troops there is an opportunity to show themselves in practice. In Japan, the 212th brigade was landed on the Khalkin Gol River, and a year later the 201st, 204th and 214th brigades will be involved in the war with Finland. Knowing that the Second World War would no longer 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 years, which took place near Moscow, where about 10 thousand paratroopers were dropped into the German rear. After the war, it was decided to attach the Airborne Forces to the Supreme High Command and appoint Commander of the Airborne Forces SV USSR, this honor falls to Colonel General V.V. Glagolev.
Big innovations in airborne troops came with "Uncle Vasya". In 1954 V.V. Glagolev is replaced by V.F. Margelov and holds the post of commander of the Airborne Forces until 1979. At Margelov Airborne Forces is supplied with new military equipment, including artillery mounts, combat vehicles, special attention is paid to work under the conditions of a surprise attack by nuclear weapons.
Airborne units took part in all the most significant conflicts - the events of Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh, Northern and South Ossetia. Several of our battalions carried out UN peacekeeping missions in Yugoslavia.
In our time, the ranks of the Airborne Forces include about 40 thousand fighters, when conducting special operations - paratroopers form its basis, since the Airborne Forces are a highly qualified component of our army.
The history of the formation of the DShB
Air assault brigades began their history after it was decided to rework the tactics of the Airborne Forces in the context of the unleashing of large-scale hostilities. The purpose of such air defenses was to disorganize opponents by mass landings close to the enemy, such operations were most often carried out from helicopters in small groups.
Toward the end of the 60s in the Far East, it was decided to form the 11th and 13th brigades with helicopter regiments. These regiments were involved mainly in hard-to-reach areas, the first attempts at landings took place in the northern cities of Magdachi and Zavitinsk. Therefore, in order to become a paratrooper of this brigade, strength and special endurance were needed, since the weather conditions were almost unpredictable, for example, in winter the temperature reached -40 degrees, and in summer there was abnormal heat.
The location of the first DShB not just because the Far East was chosen. It was a time of difficult relations with China, which became even more aggravated after the 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.
The high level and significance of the 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 exercises, as a result of which they opened fire on the landers, but thanks to the highly qualified training of the paratroopers, none of the participants in the operation was injured.
In the same years, the DSB consisted of 2 regiments, 14 brigades, about 20 battalions. One brigade attached to one military district, but only to those who 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 battalion, rear and combat units.
After the USSR ceased to exist, the country's budget did not allow the mass maintenance of the army, so there was nothing left to do but to disband some parts of the DSHB and the 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. Air assault brigades are being transformed into separate airborne brigades - 13 OVDbr. In the mid-90s, the plan to reduce the Airborne Forces disbanded the composition of the 13th Airborne Brigade.
Thus, from the foregoing, it can be seen that the DSB was created as one of the structural divisions Airborne.
Composition of the Airborne Forces
The composition of the Airborne Forces includes the following units:
- airborne;
- air assault;
- mountain (which operate exclusively on mountain hills).
These are the three main components of the Airborne Forces. In addition, they consist of a division (76.98, 7, 106 Guards Air Assault), brigades and regiments (45, 56, 31, 11, 83, 38 Guards Airborne). In Voronezh, a brigade was created in 2013, which received the number 345.
Personnel of the Airborne Forces prepared in educational institutions military reserve of Ryazan, Novosibirsk, Kamenetz-Podolsk, in Kolomenskoye. The training was conducted in the areas of paratrooper (airborne assault) platoon, 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. Therefore, get into Airborne troops could have finished landing faculties in special areas of such schools as combined arms and military departments.
Training
commander DShB composition most often they were selected from the Airborne Forces, and battalion commanders, deputy battalion commanders, company commanders 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 DShB, expanding the plan set in educational establishments who trained future officers of the Airborne Forces. The middle of the 80s was marked by the fact that officers were issued for service in the DShV, having been trained according to educational program for the Airborne Forces. Also in these years, a complete rearrangement of officers was underway, 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 get into the service in the Airborne Forces, as in the DSB, you must 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, begins with a daily rise at 6 in the morning, hand-to-hand combat (special program training) and ends with long forced marches of 30–50 km. Therefore, each fighter has a huge endurance and endurance, besides, guys who were engaged in any kind of sport that develops that very endurance are selected into their ranks. To check it, they pass an endurance test - in 12 minutes a fighter must run 2.4-2.8 km, otherwise there is no point in the Airborne Forces service.
It is worth noting that it is not for nothing that they are called universal fighters. These people can operate on various terrains in any weather conditions absolutely silently, can disguise themselves, own all types of weapons of both their own and the enemy, manage any type of transport, means of communication. In addition to excellent physical training, psychological is also required, since the 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 fitness is determined using tests compiled by experts. It is mandatory to take into account psychological compatibility in the team, the guys are included in a certain detachment for 2-3 days, after which the old-timers evaluate their behavior.
Psychophysical training is being 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, in general, a feeling of fear, then he is not accepted for further training, since this feeling is quite naturally taught to control him, and not completely eradicated. Airborne training gives our country a huge advantage in the face of fighters over any enemy. Most of the VDVeshnikov lead an already familiar lifestyle even after retirement.
Armament of the Airborne Forces
Concerning technical equipment, combined arms equipment and specially designed for the nature of this type of troops are involved in the Airborne Forces. Some of the samples were created during the USSR, but the bulk was developed after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
To cars Soviet period relate:
- landing combat vehicle - 1 (the number reaches - 100 units);
- BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units), they are used both in ground and in parachute landing methods.
These techniques were tested over many years and took part in multiple armed conflicts that took place on the territory of our country and abroad. In our time, in conditions of rapid progress, these models are outdated both morally and physically. A little later, the BMD-3 model came out, and today the number of such equipment is only 10 units, since production has been discontinued, 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 anti-tank systems: "Competition", "Metis", "Fagot", and "Cornet". air defense represented by missile systems, but special place is given to a novelty, which not so long ago appeared in service with the Airborne Forces - MANPADS "Verba".
Not so long ago, new models of technology appeared:
- armored car "Tiger";
- Snowmobile A-1;
- truck KAMAZ - 43501.
As for communication systems, they are represented by locally developed electronic warfare complexes "Leer-2 and 3", Infauna, system control is represented by air defense "Barnaul", "Andromeda" and "Flight-K" - automation of command and control.
Weapon represented by samples, for example, the Yarygin pistol, the PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The Soviet Ak-74 assault rifle is still the personal weapon of the paratroopers, but is gradually being replaced by the latest AK-74M, and the silent Val assault rifle is also used in special operations. There are both Soviet and post-Soviet parachute systems that can parachute large batches of soldiers and all of the above military equipment. Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30, SPG-9.
Armament DShB
DShB had transport and helicopter regiments which included:
- about twenty mi-24s, forty mi-8s and forty mi-6s;
- the anti-tank battery was armed with a mounted anti-tank grenade launcher 9 MD;
- the mortar battery included eight 82mm BM-37s;
- in the anti-aircraft missile platoon, there were nine Strela-2M MANPADS;
- also included several BMD-1s, infantry fighting vehicles, 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 the 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 airborne history, for quite a long time, thanks to erroneous information from the media, special forces soldiers (SpN) were not rightfully called paratroopers. The fact, what is in the Air Force of our country in the Soviet Union, as well as in the post-Soviet Union, there were no special forces troops and there are no special forces, but there are units and units of the Special Forces of the GRU General Staff that emerged in the 1950s. Until the 1980s, 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 they were 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 DSB since August 2, 2006. This kind of gratitude for efficiency 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 of the CIS countries.
Every year, veterans of the Airborne Forces and active soldiers meet in the so-called "meeting place", in each city it has its own, for example, in Astrakhan "Brotherly Garden", in Kazan "Victory Square", in Kyiv "Hydropark", in Moscow "Poklonnaya Gora", Novosibirsk Central Park. AT major cities arrange demonstration performances, concerts and fairs.
In May 1943, the 7th Separate Guards was formed in the Moscow Military District. airborne brigade. The number of the brigade in the state was 5800 people.
The brigade was staffed with privates and sergeants from carefully selected young people aged 18-20. These were physically developed, devoted to the cause of the party and the homeland of the young man. This selection was far from random. After all, paratroopers must be in constant readiness for complex combat operations behind enemy lines, in isolation from their troops, for initiative, courageous, daring and decisive actions.
Officers were also selected strictly on an individual basis - the best of the best, physically healthy, with high moral and fighting qualities.
A strong grouping of the Airborne Forces was on the 4th Ukrainian Front (4th, 6th and 7th Guards Airborne Brigade), which they wanted to use during the liberation of Crimea.
In December 1943, the 4th and 7th Guards Airborne Brigade were redeployed to the Moscow Military District.
On January 15, 1944, in accordance with the order of the commander of the Red Army Airborne Forces No. 00100 dated December 26, 1943, in the city of Stupino, Moscow Region, on the basis of the 4th, 7th and 17th separate guards airborne brigades (the brigades were stationed in Vostryakovo, Vnukovo, Stupino) the 16th Guards Airborne Division was formed.
There were 12,000 people in the division by state.
Parts of the division were staffed mainly by young people aged 18-20, fit for service in the Airborne Forces, Komsomol members and cadets-graduates of military schools, equipped with the latest weapons, equipment, including off-road vehicles. 90% of the division's officers had combat experience of participating in battles, many of them arrived from hospitals after being treated for wounds.
As part of the division, a significant part of the personnel had experience in conducting combat operations behind enemy lines. Hundreds of paratroopers had state awards, and such soldiers as lieutenant colonel Gavrov, majors Lyutov and Zhatko, captain Orobets, foreman Grigoryan, sergeant Ivanov and others were awarded medals "Partisan of the Great Patriotic War».
In August 1944, the division was redeployed to the city of Starye Dorogi, Mogilev Region, and on August 9, 1944, became part of the newly formed 38th Guards Airborne Corps.
Despite the fact that the military camps where the division was stationed were badly destroyed, all the soldiers, 5 days after the unloading, began planned combat training.
In October 1944, the 38th Guards Airborne Corps became part of the newly formed Separate Guards Airborne Army.
On December 8, 1944, the army was reorganized into the 9th Guards Army. The corps became the Guards Rifle Corps.
By order of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander No. 0047 dated 12/18/1944, the 16th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized into the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards rifle corps. The 4th Guards Ovdbr was reorganized into the 347th Guards rifle regiment, 7th Guards Ovdbr - to the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment, 17th Guards Ovdbr - to the 355th Guards Rifle Regiment.
The division included:
347th Guards Rifle Regiment;
351st Guards Rifle Regiment;
356th Guards Rifle Regiment;
107th Separate Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion;
193rd Separate Guards Communications Battalion;
123rd separate guards anti-tank division;
139th separate guards sapper battalion;
113th separate guards reconnaissance company;
117th separate guards chemical company;
234th Separate Guards Medical Battalion.
The 57th artillery brigade of three regiments was introduced into the division:
205th cannon artillery regiment;
28th howitzer artillery regiment;
53rd mortar regiment.
At the end of 1944, a review of the readiness and coherence of the soldiers of the division took place. The commander of the 9th Guards Army, Colonel-General V. Glagolev gave appreciated verified departments.
In January 1945, the division, consisting of the 38th Guards Corps, was redeployed along railway to Hungary and by February 26 concentrated east of Budapest in the area: Szolnok - Abon - Soyal - Teriel and in early March became part of the 3rd Ukrainian front.
Until the beginning of March 1945, the soldiers of the division were intensively preparing to break through the heavily fortified positions of the enemy. In March 1945, the division received the task of reaching its starting positions for an offensive in the area of Versheg - Budakessi - Fat - Bichke. The march took place in the difficult conditions of the spring thaw and only in the dark.
From March 13 to March 16, 1945, intensified reconnaissance of the enemy and the terrain in the direction of the offensive was carried out. A sniper movement unfolded among the personnel.
On March 16, 1945, having broken through the German defenses, the 351st Regiment reached the Austro-Hungarian border.
In March-April 1945, the division participated in the Vienna operation, advancing in the direction of the main attack of the front. Division in cooperation with formations of the 4th guards army broke through the enemy defenses north of the city of Szekesfehervar, went to the flank and rear of the main forces of the 6th SS Panzer Army, which wedged into the defense of the front troops between the lakes Velence and Balaton. In early April, the division struck in a northwestern direction around Vienna and, in cooperation with the 6th Guards Tank Army, broke the enemy’s resistance, advanced to the Danube and cut off the enemy’s retreat to the west. The division successfully fought in the city, which continued until April 13.
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 29, 1945, for participation in the defeat of eleven enemy divisions southwest of Budapest and the capture of the city of Mor, the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov II degree.
For breaking through the fortified line of defense and capturing the city of Mor, all personnel received the gratitude of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 04/26/1945 "for participation in the capture of Vienna", the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
Since then, April 26 has been considered the unit's annual holiday.
During the Vienna operation, the division fought over 300 kilometers. On some days, the rate of its advance reached 25-30 kilometers per day.
From May 5 to May 11, 1945, the division, as part of the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, took part in the Prague offensive operation.
On May 5, the division was alerted and marched to the Austro-Czechoslovak border. Having come into contact with the enemy, on May 8 she crossed the border of Czechoslovakia and immediately captured the city of Znojmo.
On May 9, the division continued fighting to pursue the enemy and successfully developed an offensive on Retz, Pisek. The division made a march, pursuing the enemy, and in 3 days fought 80-90 km. At 12.00 on May 11, 1945, the advance detachment of the division reached the river. Vltava and in the area of the village of Oleshnya met with the troops of the 5th American tank army. Here the combat path of the division in the Great Patriotic War ended.
During the period of hostilities, the soldiers of the division destroyed and captured 64 thousand enemy soldiers and officers, as well as a large number of tanks, self-propelled guns, vehicles and other equipment.
During the Great Patriotic War, many soldiers of the division were awarded orders and medals.
The division during the war years was commanded by: Guards Major General Kazankin (01.1944 - 11/10/1944), Guards Colonel, since 1945 Guards Major General K.N. Windush (since 11/10/1944).
At the end of hostilities, the division from Czechoslovakia returned to Hungary under its own power. From May 1945 to January 1946, the division was camped in the woods south of Budapest. Planned classes were held in combat and political training, gatherings of all specialists of units, as well as gatherings of commanders of all degrees.
On the basis of the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1154474ss of 06/03/1946 and the directive of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. org / 2/247225 of 06/07/1946, by June 15, 1946, the 106th Guards Rifle Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division was reorganized into 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division.
From July 1946, the division was stationed in the city of Tula. The division was part of the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps (corps headquarters - Tula).
On December 3, 1947, the division was awarded the Guards Battle Banner.
In 1956, the corps was disbanded and the division became directly subordinate to the commander of the Airborne Forces.
Based on the directives of the General Staff of September 3, 1948 and January 21, 1949, the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division as part of the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps became part of the Airborne Army.
In April 1953, the Airborne Army was disbanded.
On the basis of the directive of the General Staff of January 21, 1955, by April 25, 1955, the 106th Guards Airborne Division withdrew from the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps, which was disbanded, and moved to a new staff of three regimental personnel with cropped battalion in each parachute regiment.
From the disbanded 11th Guards airborne division The 137th Guards Airborne Regiment was accepted into the 106th Guards Airborne Division. The point of deployment is the city of Ryazan.
The personnel of the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment participated in military parades on Red Square in Moscow, took part in large exercises of the Ministry of Defense and in 1955 parachuted near the city of Kutaisi (Transcaucasian Military District).
In 1957, the regiment conducted demonstration exercises with landing for the military delegations of Yugoslavia and India.
Based on the directives of the Minister of Defense of the USSR of March 18, 1960 and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of June 7, 1960 to November 1, 1960:
The 351st Guards Airborne Regiment (city of Efremov Tula region);
The 105th Guards Airborne Division (without the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment) was redeployed to the Turkestan military district in the city of Ferghana, Uzbek SSR. The 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was deployed in the city of Chirchik, Tashkent region.
In 1961, after the earthquake in Tashkent, the personnel of the 351st regiment assisted the residents of the city affected by the disaster, helped the local authorities in maintaining order.
In 1974, the 351st regiment parachuted into one of the districts Central Asia and participates in large-scale exercises TurkVO. Being the cutting edge part of the Airborne Forces Central Asian region of the country, the regiment participates in parades in the capital of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
On the basis of the Directive of the General Staff of August 3, 1979, by December 1, 1979, the 105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division was disbanded.
From the division remained in the city of Ferghana the 345th separate guards airborne regiment of the Order of Suvorov, much larger than the usual and the 115th separate military transport aviation squadron. The rest of the personnel of the division turned to replenish the shortfall in other airborne formations and to resupply the newly formed airborne assault brigades.
The 56th Guards Airborne Assault Brigade was formed on the basis of the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment of the 105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division in the village of Azadbash (a district of the city of Chirchik) of the Tashkent region of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
On December 13, 1979, the units of the brigade plunged into trains and were redeployed to the city of Termez, Uzbek SSR.
In December 1979, the brigade was put into Democratic Republic Afghanistan and became part of the 40th Combined Arms Army.
On the morning of December 25, 1979, the 4th battalion of the brigade was the first in the 40th Army to enter Afghanistan to guard the Salang Pass.
From Termez, the 1st and 2nd battalions in helicopters, and the rest in the convoy, were redeployed to the city of Kunduz. The 4th battalion remained at the Salang pass. Then, from Kunduz, the 2nd battalion was transferred to the city of Kandahar (was there until 1986).
In January 1980, the entire brigade was introduced. She was stationed in the city of Kunduz. Since 1982, the brigade has been stationed in the city of Gardez.
The initial task of the brigade units was to protect and defend the largest highway in the area of the Salang pass, to ensure advances Soviet troops in the central and southern regions of Afghanistan.
In January 1980, the entire brigade was introduced. It is deployed in the area of the city of Kunduz.
From January 1980 to December 1981, the brigade destroyed more than 3,000 rebels, about 400 spooks were taken prisoner, a large amount of weapons were destroyed and captured.
From December 1981 to May 1988, the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade is stationed in the area of the city of Gardez, conducting combat operations throughout Afghanistan: Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Khanabad, Panjshir, Logar, Aliheil. During this period, about 10,000 rebels from gang detachments were destroyed, a large number of artillery systems and easel weapons were destroyed and captured. For the successful completion of combat missions, many paratroopers were awarded government awards from the Soviet government and the leadership of the Republic of Afghanistan, and Senior Lieutenant S. Kozlov became a Hero Soviet Union.
In 1984, the brigade was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the TurkVO for the successful completion of combat missions.
In 1986, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class.
From December 16, 1987 to the end of January 1988, the brigade took part in Operation Magistral. In April 1988, the brigade took part in Operation Barrier. The paratroopers blocked the caravan routes from Pakistan in order to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the city of Ghazni.
In May 1988, the brigade, after fulfilling its international duty, was withdrawn to the city of Yolotan, Turkmen SSR.
During the years of the Afghan war, over 400 soldiers died in the brigade, 15 people went missing.
Planned combat training has begun: the training and material base is being improved and created, parachute jumps are being made, assistance is being provided local residents in harvesting.
At the end of 1989, the brigade was reorganized into a separate airborne assault brigade (OVDBR).
The brigade passed "hot spots": Afghanistan (12.1979-07.1988), Baku (12-19.01.1990 - 02.1990), Sumgayit, Nakhichevan, Migri, Julfa, Osh, Fergana, Uzgen (06.06.1990), Chechnya (12.94-10.96, Grozny, Pervomaisky, Argun and since 09.1999).
On January 15, 1990, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, after a detailed study of the situation, adopted a decision "On declaring a state of emergency in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and some other regions." In accordance with it, the Airborne Forces began the operation, which was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, from January 12 to 19, units of the 106th and 76th airborne divisions, the 56th and 38th airborne brigades and the 217th airborne regiment landed on airfields near Baku, and in Yerevan 98th Airborne Division. The 39th Airborne Brigade entered Nagorno-Karabakh. At this stage, intelligence was actively conducted, its data was analyzed, interaction, communication and control were organized. All units were assigned specific tasks and methods for their implementation, routes of movement were determined. The second stage began on the night of January 19-20 with the simultaneous sudden entry of landing units from three sides into Baku.
Having entered the city, the paratroopers "cut" it into pieces, isolated the main centers of resistance, unblocked military units and camps of military families, took under protection the main administrative and economic facilities. Having quickly assessed the situation, having found out the tactics of the actions of the militants, it was decided to launch a fight against mobile detachments of militants and snipers. Mobile groups were set up to seize them, which, acting prudently and professionally, "filmed" and "cleansed" of extremists house by house, district by district. Having found out the main places of concentration of extremist forces, their headquarters, warehouses and communication centers, on January 23, the paratroopers began operations to eliminate them. A large group of militants, weapons depots and a radio station were located in the seaport, and the PFA headquarters was based on the ship Orudzhev. The PFA leadership decided to burn the ships in the Baku Bay, after blocking the ships military flotilla. On January 24, the paratroopers carried out an operation to free the ships from the militants.
On January 23, airborne units began operations to restore order in other parts of Azerbaijan. In the area of Lankaran, Priship and Jalilabad they were carried out jointly with border troops who restored the state border.
In February 1990, the brigade returned to the place of permanent deployment.
From March to August 1990, units of the brigade maintained order in the cities of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
On June 6, 1990, landings began at airfields in the city. Fergana and Osh of the 104th parachute regiment of the 76th airborne division, the 56th airborne brigade, and on June 8 - the 137th parachute regiment of the 106th airborne division in the city of Frunze. Having made a march on the same day through the mountain passes of the border of the two republics, the paratroopers occupied Osh and Uzgen. The next day, the 387th separate airborne regiment and units of the 56th airborne brigade took control of the situation in the area of the cities of Andijan, Jalil-Abad, occupied Kara-Suu, mountain roads and passes throughout the conflict.
At the first stage of the operation, the places of concentration of combat groups were localized, the warring parties were separated, and the paths of movement of mobile bandit groups were blocked. All economic, administrative and social facilities. At the same time, fires had to be extinguished, hundreds of wounded were rescued, and even the dead were buried. It came to the point that the paratroopers taught the traffic police to organize checkpoints on the roads, the procedure for inspecting cars, methods of using weapons in the event of an attack, etc.
Organizational structure of the 56th Guards Ovdbr for 1990-91:
- brigade management
- three (1st, 2nd, 3rd) airborne (foot) battalions:
o three airborne companies (ATGM "Metis", 82-mm M, AGS-17, RPG-7D, GP-25, PK, AKS-74, RPKS-74)
o anti-tank battery (ATGM Fagot, SPG-9MD)
o mortar battery (82 mm M)
o platoons: anti-aircraft missile (Strela-3 / Igla), communications, support, first-aid post.
- howitzer artillery battalion:
o three howitzer batteries (122 mm G D-30)
o platoons: management, support.
- mortar battery (120 mm M)
- anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery (ZU-23, Strela-3/Igla)
- anti-tank battery (ATGM "Fagot")
- anti-aircraft battery (23 mm ZU-23, MANPADS Strela-2M)
- reconnaissance company (UAZ-3151, PK, RPG-7D, GP-25, SBR-3)
- communication company
- engineering sapper company
- landing support company
- automobile company
- medical company
- repair company
- material support company
- radiochemical biological protection company
- command platoon of the chief of artillery
- commandant's platoon
- orchestra.
In 1992, in connection with the sovereignization of the republics of the former Soviet Socialist Republic, the brigade was relocated to the Stavropol Territory, from where it marched to the place of permanent deployment in the village of Podgori near the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov Region. The territory of the military camp was a former shift camp of the builders of the Rostov nuclear power plant, located 3 kilometers from the nuclear power plant.
In 1992, the brigade was awarded the MoD challenge pennant for the successful completion of government assignments.
From December 1994 to August - October 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade fought in Chechnya.
On November 29, 1994, an order was sent to the brigade to form a combined battalion and transfer it to Mozdok. In November - December 1994, the process of dismissal and conscription was underway, the brigade was understaffed even in peacetime states.
The combined battalion of the brigade under its own power passed a 750-kilometer march and by December 1, 1994 concentrated on the Mozdok airfield.
From the middle of 1995, the 2nd PDR of the combined battalion stood in the village. Berkart-Yurt 5 km away from the settlement. Argun, closer to the station. Petropavlovskaya - 1 pdr, isr, headquarters of the combined battalion, platoon of the RHBZ, minbatr. In n.p. Argun stood ptbatr and 3 pdr between the 1st and 2nd.
The artillery division of the brigade took part in late 1995 - early 1996 in the operation near Shatoi.
In December 1995 - January 1996, the brigade was withdrawn from composition of the Airborne Forces and reassigned to the command of the Red Banner North Caucasian Military District. In March - April 1996, the brigade was finally transferred to the command of the North Caucasus Military District. The equipment of the brigade with heavy weapons began. The equipment came from Prokhladny, the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, from the 135th separate motorized rifle brigade, which was being reorganized into a regiment.
From January 7 to January 21-22, 1996, a consolidated company (50 people, including 3 officers (2 KV and 1 KR - Major Silchenko) from the combined battalion of the brigade participated in the operation near the village of Pervomaiskoye of the Republic of Dagestan.
In April-May 1996, the brigade received 9 BRDMs (1 each in 1, 2, 3 separate reconnaissance platoons, the rest in reconnaissance), from August 1 to September 1, 1996, the brigade received 21 MT-LB (in 1, 2, 3 battalions of 6 pieces, 2 pieces in the ISR, 1 piece in the RKhBZ company).
In October-November 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade was withdrawn from Chechnya.
In 1997, the brigade was reorganized into the 56th Guards air assault regiment, which became part of the 20th Guards Moto rifle division.
In July 1998, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, in connection with the resumption of the construction of the Rostov NPP, the regiment began redeployment to the city of Kamyshin Volgograd region. The regiment was placed in the buildings of the Kamyshin Higher Military Construction Command and Engineering School, which was disbanded in 1998. By August 1, 1998, half of the units were transferred to a new location. One battalion of the regiment remained in the village of Podgori until the last vehicle of the regiment left.
On August 19, 1999, an air assault detachment from the regiment was sent to reinforce the combined regiment of the 20th Guards MSD and was sent by a letter military echelon to the Republic of Dagestan. On August 20, 1999, the DSho arrived in the city of Botlikh.
Later he took part in hostilities in the Republic of Dagestan and in Chechen Republic.
The battalion tactical group of the regiment fought in the North Caucasus (the location of the city of Khankala).
In December 1999, units of the regiment and the DShMG FPS covered the Chechen section of the Russian-Georgian border.
Paratroopers and border guards completely blocked roads and mountain paths in the area. Attempts by the bandit formations to bypass the units of the federal forces in order to strike at them from the Georgian side were not successful.
For courage and heroism shown in the performance of combat missions from 1994 to 2000, 3 servicemen of the unit were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
On December 13, 1979, the units of the brigade plunged into trains and were redeployed to the city of Termez, Uzbek SSR.
In December 1979, the brigade was introduced to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and became part of the 40th Combined Arms Army.
On the morning of December 25, 1979, the 4th battalion of the brigade was the first in the 40th Army to enter Afghanistan to guard the Salang Pass.
From Termez, the 1st and 2nd battalions in helicopters, and the rest in the convoy, were redeployed to the city of Kunduz. The 4th battalion remained at the Salang pass. Then, from Kunduz, the 2nd battalion was transferred to the city of Kandahar (was there until 1986).
In January 1980, the entire brigade was introduced. She was stationed in the city of Kunduz. Since 1982, the brigade has been stationed in the city of Gardez.
The initial task of the brigade units was to protect and defend the largest highway in the Salang Pass area, to ensure the advance of Soviet troops in the central and southern regions of Afghanistan.
In January 1980, the entire brigade was introduced. It is deployed in the area of the city of Kunduz.
From January 1980 to December 1981, the brigade destroyed more than 3,000 rebels, about 400 spooks were taken prisoner, a large amount of weapons were destroyed and captured.
From December 1981 to May 1988, the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade is stationed in the area of the city of Gardez, conducting combat operations throughout Afghanistan: Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Khanabad, Panjshir, Logar, Aliheil. During this period, about 10,000 rebels from gang detachments were destroyed, a large number of artillery systems and easel weapons were destroyed and captured. For the successful completion of combat missions, many paratroopers were awarded government awards from the Soviet government and the leadership of the Republic of Afghanistan, and Senior Lieutenant S. Kozlov became a Hero of the Soviet Union.
In 1984, the brigade was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the TurkVO for the successful completion of combat missions.
In 1986, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class.
From December 16, 1987 to the end of January 1988, the brigade took part in Operation Magistral. In April 1988, the brigade took part in Operation Barrier. The paratroopers blocked the caravan routes from Pakistan in order to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the city of Ghazni.
In May 1988, the brigade, after fulfilling its international duty, was withdrawn to the city of Yolotan, Turkmen SSR.
During the years of the Afghan war, over 400 soldiers died in the brigade, 15 people went missing.
Planned combat training has begun: the training and material base is being improved and created, parachute jumps are carried out, and assistance is provided to local residents in harvesting.
At the end of 1989, the brigade was reorganized into a separate airborne assault brigade (OVDBR).
The brigade passed "hot spots": Afghanistan (12.1979-07.1988), Baku (12-19.01.1990 - 02.1990), Sumgayit, Nakhichevan, Migri, Julfa, Osh, Fergana, Uzgen (06.06.1990), Chechnya (12.94-10.96, Grozny, Pervomaisky, Argun and since 09.1999).
On January 15, 1990, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, after a detailed study of the situation, adopted a decision "On declaring a state of emergency in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and some other regions." In accordance with it, the Airborne Forces began the operation, which was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, from January 12 to 19, units of the 106th and 76th airborne divisions, the 56th and 38th airborne brigades and the 217th airborne regiment landed on airfields near Baku, and in Yerevan 98th Airborne Division. The 39th Airborne Brigade entered Nagorno-Karabakh. At this stage, intelligence was actively conducted, its data was analyzed, interaction, communication and control were organized. All units were assigned specific tasks and methods for their implementation, routes of movement were determined. The second stage began on the night of January 19-20 with the simultaneous sudden entry of landing units from three sides into Baku.
Having entered the city, the paratroopers "cut" it into pieces, isolated the main centers of resistance, unblocked military units and camps of military families, took under protection the main administrative and economic facilities. Having quickly assessed the situation, having found out the tactics of the actions of the militants, it was decided to launch a fight against mobile detachments of militants and snipers. Mobile groups were set up to seize them, which, acting prudently and professionally, "filmed" and "cleansed" of extremists house by house, district by district. Having found out the main places of concentration of extremist forces, their headquarters, warehouses and communication centers, on January 23, the paratroopers began operations to eliminate them. A large group of militants, weapons depots and a radio station were located in the seaport, and the PFA headquarters was based on the ship Orudzhev. The leadership of the Popular Front decided to burn the ships in the Baku Bay, having previously blocked the ships of the military flotilla. On January 24, the paratroopers carried out an operation to free the ships from the militants.
On January 23, airborne units began operations to restore order in other parts of Azerbaijan. In the area of Lankaran, Prship and Jalilabad, they were carried out jointly with the border troops, who restored the state border.
In February 1990, the brigade returned to the place of permanent deployment.
From March to August 1990, units of the brigade maintained order in the cities of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
On June 6, 1990, landings began at airfields in the city. Fergana and Osh of the 104th parachute regiment of the 76th airborne division, the 56th airborne brigade, and on June 8 - the 137th parachute regiment of the 106th airborne division in the city of Frunze. Having made a march on the same day through the mountain passes of the border of the two republics, the paratroopers occupied Osh and Uzgen. The next day, the 387th separate airborne regiment and units of the 56th airborne brigade took control of the situation in the area of the cities of Andijan, Jalil-Abad, occupied Kara-Suu, mountain roads and passes throughout the conflict.
At the first stage of the operation, the places of concentration of combat groups were localized, the warring parties were separated, and the paths of movement of mobile bandit groups were blocked. All economic, administrative and social facilities were taken under protection. At the same time, fires had to be extinguished, hundreds of wounded were rescued, and even the dead were buried. It came to the point that the paratroopers taught the traffic police to organize checkpoints on the roads, the procedure for inspecting cars, methods of using weapons in the event of an attack, etc.
Organizational structure of the 56th Guards Ovdbr for 1990-91:
- brigade management
- three (1st, 2nd, 3rd) airborne (foot) battalions:
o three airborne companies (ATGM "Metis", 82-mm M, AGS-17, RPG-7D, GP-25, PK, AKS-74, RPKS-74)
o anti-tank battery (ATGM Fagot, SPG-9MD)
o mortar battery (82 mm M)
o platoons: anti-aircraft missile (Strela-3 / Igla), communications, support, first-aid post.
- howitzer artillery battalion:
o three howitzer batteries (122 mm G D-30)
o platoons: management, support.
- mortar battery (120 mm M)
- anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery (ZU-23, Strela-3/Igla)
- anti-tank battery (ATGM "Fagot")
- anti-aircraft battery (23 mm ZU-23, MANPADS Strela-2M)
- reconnaissance company (UAZ-3151, PK, RPG-7D, GP-25, SBR-3)
- communication company
- engineering sapper company
- landing support company
- automobile company
- medical company
- repair company
- material support company
- radiochemical biological protection company
- command platoon of the chief of artillery
- commandant's platoon
- orchestra.
In 1992, in connection with the sovereignization of the republics of the former Soviet Socialist Republic, the brigade was relocated to the Stavropol Territory, from where it marched to the place of permanent deployment in the village of Podgori near the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov Region. The territory of the military camp was a former shift camp of the builders of the Rostov nuclear power plant, located 3 kilometers from the nuclear power plant.
In 1992, the brigade was awarded the MoD challenge pennant for the successful completion of government assignments.
From December 1994 to August - October 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade fought in Chechnya.
On November 29, 1994, an order was sent to the brigade to form a combined battalion and transfer it to Mozdok. In November - December 1994, the process of dismissal and conscription was underway, the brigade was understaffed even in peacetime states.
The combined battalion of the brigade under its own power passed a 750-kilometer march and by December 1, 1994 concentrated on the Mozdok airfield.
From the middle of 1995, the 2nd PDR of the combined battalion stood in the village. Berkart-Yurt 5 km away from the settlement. Argun, closer to the station. Petropavlovskaya - 1 pdr, isr, headquarters of the combined battalion, platoon of the RHBZ, minbatr. In n.p. Argun stood ptbatr and 3 pdr between the 1st and 2nd.
The artillery division of the brigade took part in late 1995 - early 1996 in the operation near Shatoi.
In December 1995 - January 1996, in accordance with the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 070 dated December 26, 1995 "On improving the leadership of troops (forces)" was withdrawn from the Airborne Forces and reassigned to the command of the Red Banner North Caucasus Military District. In March - April 1996, the brigade was finally transferred to the command of the North Caucasus Military District. The equipment of the brigade with heavy weapons began. The equipment came from Prokhladny, the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, from the 135th separate motorized rifle brigade, which was being reorganized into a regiment.
From January 7 to January 21-22, 1996, a consolidated company (50 people, including 3 officers (2 KV and 1 KR - Major Silchenko) from the combined battalion of the brigade participated in the operation near the village of Pervomaiskoye of the Republic of Dagestan.
In April-May 1996, the brigade received 9 BRDMs (1 each in 1, 2, 3 separate reconnaissance platoons, the rest in reconnaissance), from August 1 to September 1, 1996, the brigade received 21 MT-LB (in 1, 2, 3 battalions of 6 pieces, 2 pieces in the ISR, 1 piece in the RKhBZ company).
In October-November 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade was withdrawn from Chechnya.
In 1997, the brigade was reorganized into the 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment, which became part of the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division.
In July 1998, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, in connection with the resumption of the construction of the Rostov NPP, the regiment began redeployment to the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region. The regiment was placed in the buildings of the Kamyshin Higher Military Construction Command and Engineering School, which was disbanded in 1998. By August 1, 1998, half of the units were transferred to a new location. One battalion of the regiment remained in the village of Podgori until the last vehicle of the regiment left.
“At the end of March 1980, I received an order to prepare my air assault battalion (dshb) for combat operations in Panjshir. The battalion then stood between Jabal-us-Siraj (exit from the south - to the Salang pass, from the east - to Panjshir) and Charikar.
The task was set for the battalion: to pass along the valley to the last village of the Panjshir gorge, which is under the control of the field commander Ahmad Shah, and return back. He was also called Masud (fortunate), but I learned about this much later. I was then struck by the very formulation of the task - not to capture and stay, holding this territory with settlements, mines, residents, but to come and go. "Who will come after me?" I asked myself and could not find an answer. And according to the logic of things, after all, someone had to come to the territory cleared of the enemy, be it our internal troops or units of government troops - our allies. Perhaps these will be coalition forces capable of holding the territory of Panjshir and establishing new order? Let them leave the gorge to me as a battalion commander, and I would already begin to think about how to take and hold it, establish a peaceful life for people, organize communications, supplies, and most importantly, to isolate it from the Mujahideen. And I need to minimize the loss of my soldiers. So I reasoned then, naively believing that our leadership is wise and will provide for all measures to consolidate the actions of the troops, since it was decided to carry out such an operation. However, as time has shown, I was deeply mistaken about the wisdom of my leadership.
The battalion has already encountered in Afghanistan how to organize and conduct defense in the mountains with small units and inflict significant losses on the enemy, we have already experienced this in our own skin, since we entered first and were attacked by the Mujahideen. Several months of previous work in the mountains at Salanga also gave us all some experience - from a soldier to a battalion commander.
Advisor to the commander stationed in Jabal-us-Siraj infantry regiment government forces lieutenant colonel Nosov Mikhail Fedorovich oriented me that the work for the battalion, albeit an air assault, but without reinforcement, without the support of artillery, aviation and special forces, would be extremely dangerous and hot. In the gorge, a number of bridges have been blown up or prepared for blowing up, roads are mined. There are blockages on the roads, which are also mined. Mountain passes are undermined in many places. Movement in most of the valley is possible only on horseback, on foot, or at best in some places on UAZs. Emerald is mined in the gorge, there is gold, however, of low standard. Here are all the initial data that I knew at that time.
It took about a week to prepare for the operation. We studied maps of the combat area (Panjshir Gorges), collected information about the enemy and the terrain. We made a decision on military operations and organized planned preparations for them. Conducted reconnaissance, prepared equipment and weapons, created the necessary supplies.
Although the battalion commander did not share his revelations with his subordinates, the officers and soldiers understood that the work would probably be one of the most serious and difficult. A general nervous prelaunch excitement reigned.
A day before going to the "combat" I gave the battalion a rest, except for those who were in combat guards. Dress code - with a naked torso, to soak up, sunbathe under the already gaining strength of the mountainous Afghan March sun. But the weapon, as usual, was with him - this is an integral part of every warrior, always and everywhere.
On the last day before leaving, a general meeting was held in one of the hollows where the battalion was located. Everyone was preparing internally for a difficult and extremely serious battle. They understood that the ways of the Lord are inscrutable.
But I had no doubts about my guys. The most severe punishment in the battalion for each of them was the deprivation of the opportunity to participate in the upcoming hostilities. I remember in preparation for the operation junior sergeant Movchan was told that he had been suspended from entering the fighting (someone had to guard the camp). He comes up to me on the eve of the exit and says: “Comrade captain, don’t take me, I’ll shoot myself.” I had to take it, but, unfortunately, he became the very first to die in this operation near Bazarak (one of the villages in Panjshir). So don't believe in fate after that.
In the period of preparation for the operation, I came to the conclusion that if you believe the characterization of Ahmad Shah, he is a smart, tough, prudent, prudent commander, he must have good agents at all levels. This means that he will be aware of all our plans in advance. Something had to be done to mislead him. I again began to study the map of the upcoming hostilities.
All work began from Jabal-us-Siraj: to the north - to Salang, to the east - to Panjshir, to the west - to Bamiyan (to the historically famous Bamiyan Valley) and to the south - to Kabul, we saddled this road with a battalion, not reaching kilometers five to seven to Charikar.
Since it was absolutely impossible to hide the preparations for hostilities, especially since the Afghans had to be involved in the plans, I came up with an option when the commanders of government troops were explained that we were only simulating preparations for the operation in Panjshir, but in fact, at the last moment, covertly, unexpectedly, with all our might, we will turn to Bamiyan. Figuratively speaking, as the driver, who turned on the right turn, turned left.
In the course of preparations, we deliberately conducted conversations among ourselves, as well as with an adviser close to Afghan officers and soldiers who understood Russian, the meaning of which boiled down to imitating, they say, with all our might and means a performance on Panjshir, while we ourselves went to Bamiyan.
On the eve of the operation on the “UAZ” of the adviser, as if reconnaissance of the road to Panjshir, we drove from Jabal-us-Siraj almost to Rukhi (a settlement in Panjshir), where the advanced battalion of the Afghan infantry regiment was located. Ahmad Shah put up with this, since the foot soldiers acted only according to his instructions.
The fact that the "UAZ" with an adviser, a battalion commander and two Afghan officers went to Rukha, of course, could not go unnoticed. Having reached Rukhi, we immediately turned around and drove back. This, it seems to me, strengthened the opinion of the Afghan agents of Ahmad Shah that the Panjshir was an imitation of the upcoming operation and the Shuravi would go to Bamiyan. I reported my thoughts to the army headquarters, asked for funds and reinforcement units, items of equipment. He snapped when, at the request to include bulletproof vests in the equipment, he heard something like: “Khabarov, won’t you be ashamed to wear bulletproof vests on your eagles, on vests?”
After these words, I clearly realized that the fulfillment of the combat mission, the lives of soldiers and officers would depend only on me, on my ability or inability to carry out this upcoming operation. On the night before the exit, 3-4 hours before getting up, the command “Set aside!” came from the army headquarters. They gave us more time to prepare, and granted requests for reinforcements. The battalion was given a tank platoon, a battery of 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers, a motorized rifle company and two platoons of sappers.
The infantry regiment of government troops, which was stationed in Jabal-us-Siraj, was also attached to me for the period of hostilities. Of course, the regiment sounded very loud, but only about 50-60 people went with us.
The paratrooper battalion of the 345th Opdp from Bagram under the command of Major Alexander Tsyganov also operated with us. Aviation support was carried out at our request, on call.
From our 56th separate air assault brigade(odshbr) brigade commander, colonel Alexander Petrovich Plokhikh flew from Kunduz with a control group. He led the operation, acting directly with the battalion.
We've been getting ready for a week. Bridgelayers erected crossings, the equipment of the battalion, attached and supporting funds arrived along them. The soldiers practiced combat in the nearby mountains. Naturally, all this was done with pre-set outposts.
Just before the performance, the head of the operation, the deputy commander of the army, Major General Pechev, arrived in Panjshir with a control group. He was located in Jabal-us-Siraj and was supposed to lead the fighting from there, through a relay. Abstractly representing the conditions in which we had to operate, he sometimes gave awkward commands, which led to unjustified additional losses.
So, everything was basically ready. But it seems to me that all these repeated preparations did not convince Ahmad Shah that we were going to Panjshir, he continued to consider them a distraction.
At 5 am on April 9, 1980, the operation began. We, like a red-hot knife through butter, entered the Panjshir. The first battles began near Bazarak, the first losses appeared.
The actions worked out in advance made it possible to advance with minimal delays, at a fairly fast pace. Shooting from the tank mined blockages on the roads, building bridges across small mountain rivers with the help of tank bridges and eliminating destruction on the roads, knocking down, in general, as I think, the unorganized resistance of the Mujahideen, we went forward along the valley.
At the end of the day, the battalion of Major Tsyganov, according to the plan of operation, turned into a branch of the gorge going to the right. On April 11, the battalion commander was seriously wounded.
Where it was impossible to advance along the destroyed roads or quickly restore the blown up sections, we advanced on vehicles, if possible - along the riverbed. Artillerymen and helicopter pilots worked on a tip from reconnaissance platoons and my commands.
The last settlement we managed to reach by vehicle was Pasishah-Mardan, where the headquarters of Ahmad Shah, the prison and his administration were located.
Such a rapid advance and the rapid suppression of the weak resistance of individual firing points caught the militants by surprise. The Mujahideen were leaving the village in a hurry. They did not even have time to take out folders with documents, lists and certificates, photographs of members of the ILA party and armed detachments from their headquarters. Everything was hastily abandoned 100-300 meters from the building. Apparently, the NURS helicopter pilots walked over the rebels who scattered in different directions.
Then, leaving the equipment under cover, we advanced along the mountain path to the very last settlement. At night, having posted outposts, they gave the personnel the opportunity to rest.
The scouts were tasked with moving out at night by bypass paths and blocking the retreat of the Mujahideen from the last locality which has been clearly implemented. And with the dawn, the main forces moved to the last village. A group of elders with red and white flags came out to meet us. “Shuravi, stay, we will obey, we are peasants, it doesn’t matter to us, so long as they don’t kill us, our families,” they said.
All! Panjshir is ours. Victory! Next, it was necessary to establish garrisons, communication, interaction with the elders. By the actions of reconnaissance and airborne assault units, special forces, with the support of helicopters, to catch or destroy all the scattered still unorganized groups of Mujahideen. Create new authorities and ensure their security.
But alas! They did everything differently. In the afternoon, an order was received from the head of the operation, General Pechevoi: to urgently withdraw, advance to the Pasishah-Mardan area, where the equipment remained. I don’t know what he was guided by when giving such an order, because we had to walk more than 30 km along a mountain path, which was impossible to do before nightfall. The radio batteries are dead. Requests to deliver food for radio stations by helicopters were not responded to. Delivered only dry rations. They returned back at night, without communication, without helicopter cover, along a single mountain path. As a result, the reconnaissance patrol was ambushed. The guys and I rushed to the rescue of the scouts. A fierce battle ensued. Of course, we fought back, but there were losses. I got it too. Explosive bullet interrupted the forearm of the right hand, and once again hooked. I was given first aid, and I continued to command the battalion. FROM with great difficulty managed to get to the location of our armored vehicles. We moved back without meeting the resistance of the Mujahideen, another battalion was advancing towards us. Then I was sent to the Tashkent military hospital, and then transferred to Moscow, to the Burdenko Central Clinical Military Hospital.
It was said that after this operation, Ahmad Shah was also treated with a wound in his hand in France.
Officers and soldiers who were leaving came to see me at the hospital in Tashkent, then in Moscow at Burdenko and asked in bewilderment: “Why did we leave Panjshir so hastily? What was the point of this operation?
What could I answer them for the question that tormented me all the sleepless nights in hospitals? At the cost of the lives and health of soldiers and officers, we completed the combat mission assigned to us, and then those who set this task for us ineptly disposed of its results. They just didn't know what to do next. And in the future, throughout this war, almost all operations ended in a similar way. Combat actions were unleashed, our soldiers and officers died, military personnel of government forces died, Mujahideen and civilians died. After the end of the operation, the troops left the area of its conduct, and everything returned to normal. Our elderly and weak-willed rulers risked other people's lives and received "heroes" by conducting senseless combat operations on the principle of “came - left”, pouring from empty to empty.
I have never been angry with Ahmad Shah. In general, he is a worthy adversary. When meeting in battle, it would be flattering to fight him. Outside of combat, I would gladly drink tea with him. To those against whom he fought, he never felt hatred. The Mujahideen were a worthy adversary.
Before the Afghans - the “greens”, as we called the government troops, whom we betrayed and sold out of Afghanistan, leaving them and their families to be torn to pieces - I was left with a feeling of guilt and bitterness.
By the end of the fourth day, the units participating in the operation united in the area of the settlement of Haaru and completed combat operations. As a result of the operation, the rebels were dispersed and suffered losses in manpower and weapons, which weakened Ahmad Shah's grouping and contributed to the cessation of sabotage and shelling in South Salang. After "cleansing" the villages, dispersing or destroying the resisting Mujahideen, the troops that took part in the operation returned to their places of permanent deployment. The losses of the Soviet and Afghan troops were insignificant.
And although the Soviet troops in the first battles acted quite successfully, they were controlled with great miscalculations. Reporting to Marshal of the Soviet Union S.L. Sokolov on April 12 his comments on the work of the operational group of the 40th Army, Colonel-General V.P. Shutov, who led the fighting in the Panjshir Gorge in this operation, noted: “Major General L.N. the development of hostilities reported indistinctly. There is no work card in the task force. The position of the units is indicated on the combat plan and does not reflect the actual development of events. The clarification of tasks for subdivisions is not reflected on the map. There is no rigid management of divisions. There is no close interaction between battalions and supporting aircraft. On April 10, the commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 345th Opdp lost his bearings and could not set aviation tasks, as a result of which the battalion lost air support and suffered losses, although at that time three pairs of combat helicopters were in the air.
The rate of advance of units is small, from 0.4 to 1.25 km per hour. When moving to actions on foot, the 2nd battalion of the 345th opdp did not take mortars with it, as a result, having met organized resistance from the enemy, it did not advance for four hours. When positioned for a night's rest, the vehicles remain in the column, all-round defense is not organized. When operating in the gorge, communication with units is carried out through repeaters (P-145, helicopters) 7 ".
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
The 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War of the First Class, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Brigade, originates from the 351st Guards Landing Airborne Regiment, formed from June 3 to July 28, 1946 on the basis of units of the 351st and 355th 1st Guards Rifle Regiments and included in the 106th Guards Airborne Division of the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps.
The annual holiday of the brigade set the date of the formation of the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment - January 5, 1945.
In 1949, the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was renamed the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment.
In 1960, the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was transferred from the 106th Guards Airborne Division to the 105th Guards Airborne Division.
In 1979, the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade.
In 1989, the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War First Class Airborne Assault Brigade was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War First Class Airborne Brigade.
In 1997, the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, the Don Cossack Airborne Brigade was reorganized into the 56th Guards, Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Regiment, which became part of the 20th Guards Motorized Rifle Division.
In 2009, the 56th Guards Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Regiment, was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Brigade.
On July 1, 2010, it was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Brigade (light).
II. PARTICIPATION IN CAMPAIGNS, BATTLE, OPERATIONS
From February 20 to 25, 1945, the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment as part of the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps was transferred to Hungary, where it fought as part of the 9th Guards Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front.
March 30, 1945, pursuing the retreating units of the enemy, the regiment crossed the Austro-Hungarian border. Acting on the left flank of the corps, in cooperation with other parts of the corps, he captured several cities and took part in the battles to capture the capital of Austria, the city of Vienna.
On April 23, 1945, the regiment was relieved by units of the 4th Guards Army and taken to rest on the outskirts of the city of Vienna.
On May 5, 1945, the regiment entered the territory of Czechoslovakia with a forced march and participated in the encirclement and defeat of a significant group of Germans.
On May 11, 1945, the regiment went to the banks of the Vltava River (Czechoslovakia), where it met with American troops. Here the combat path of the unit in the Great Patriotic War ended.
During the fighting, the regiment killed 1956, captured 633 enemy soldiers and officers, destroyed 26 tanks, 255 self-propelled guns and guns of various calibers, 11 armored personnel carriers, 1 aircraft and 18 enemy vehicles. 10 tanks, 16 self-propelled guns and guns of various calibers, 3 aircraft, 4 armored personnel carriers, 115 vehicles, 37 warehouses with military equipment were captured.
From June 1945 to November 1979, the regiment (brigade) did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
1979 opened a new page in combat way formations: Soviet troops entered Afghanistan to provide military assistance to the Afghan government in the fight against rebel gangs.
December 28, 1979 4th dshb brigade As part of the 40th Army, he was introduced into the territory of Afghanistan with the task of guarding and defending the Salang Pass and the Salange-Somalia tunnel to ensure the advance of Soviet troops into the southern regions of Afghanistan.
In January 1980, the entire brigade was introduced into the territory of Afghanistan. It is deployed in the area of the city of Kunduz, conducting combat operations throughout Afghanistan.
During the period from January 1980 to December 1981, about 3000 rebels, 3 guns, 6 mortars, 12 cars, 44 pillboxes were destroyed during the fighting. More than 400 rebels were captured, more than 600 infantry units were captured.
From December 1 to December 5, 1981, the brigade was relocated to the area of the city of Gardez, from where it continued to conduct military operations throughout Afghanistan.
During the period from January 1982 to June 1988, about 10,000 rebels, over 40 fortified areas and strongholds, more than 200 guns, rocket launchers and mortars, 47 vehicles, 83 pillboxes, 208 warehouses with military equipment, were destroyed during the hostilities, 45 caravans. Over 1000 rebels captured, over 1200 units captured small arms and grenade launchers, about 40 guns and mortars, 7 vehicles, 2 tanks, 85 warehouses with military equipment.
From June 12 to June 14, 1988, the brigade, after fulfilling its international duty, returned to its homeland.
For the successful completion of combat missions, many paratroopers were awarded government awards of the Soviet government and the leadership of the Republic of Afghanistan, and the commander parachute company Guards Senior Lieutenant Sergey Pavlovich Kozlov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
From July 1988 to December 1989, the brigade did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
During 1990, the brigade performed special tasks in a state of emergency: from January 12 to March 26 - to maintain order in the cities of Baku, Meghri, Lankaran, Kurdamir of the Azerbaijan SSR; from June 5 to August 21 - to maintain order in the city of Uzgen, Kirghiz SSR.
From September 1990 to November 1994, the brigade did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
From December 11, 1994 to October 25, 1996, the battalion tactical group of the brigade carried out combat missions to restore constitutional order in the Chechen Republic.
From November 1996 to July 1999, the brigade (regiment) did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
From August 1999 to June 2000, the regiment, and from June 2000 to November 2004, the battalion tactical group of the regiment carried out combat missions during the counter-terrorist operation in the Chechen Republic.
For courage and heroism shown in the performance of combat missions, three servicemen of the unit were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation:
the commander of the reconnaissance company of the guard, Sergeant Vornovskoy Yuri Vasilyevich (posthumously);
Deputy Commander of the Airborne Battalion of the Guards, Major Cherepanov Alexander Leonidovich;
the commander of the reconnaissance company of the guard, Captain Petrov Sergey Vasilievich.
From November 2004 to the present, the regiment (brigade) has not taken part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
III. AWARDS AND DIFFERENCES
The name "Guards", previously assigned to the 351st Rifle Regiment, when it was reorganized into the 351st Landing Airborne Regiment, was also retained by this regiment.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces No. 034 dated November 21, 1984, the brigade was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the Military Council of the Ground Forces for high results in combat and political training and strengthening military discipline.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 4, 1985, for great merits in the armed defense of the Socialist Motherland, successes in combat and political training, and in connection with the 40th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, I degree.
Order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. 0139 of July 11, 1990 for courage and military prowess shown in the performance of tasks of the Soviet government and the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the brigade was awarded the Pennant of the Minister of Defense of the USSR.
By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 353-17 of April 22, 1994, the brigade was given the name Don Cossack.
IV. DISPOCATION CHANGES
From January to March 1945 - metro Starye Dorogi of the Byelorussian SSR (Belarusian Military District).
From March to June 1945 - Pisek, Czechoslovakia.
From June 1945 to January 1946 - Budapest, Hungary.
From March to May 1946 - the city of Teikovo (Obolsunovo camp) of the Ivanovo region (Moscow military district).
From May to October 1946 - Tesnitskoye camp in the Tula region (Moscow military district).
From October 1946 to August 1960 - the city of Efremov, Tula Region (Moscow Military District).
From August 1960 to December 1979 - the city of Chirchik, Tashkent region of the Uzbek SSR (Turkestan military district).
From December 1979 to January 1980 - the Kokaity airfield of the Jarkurgan district of the Surkhan-Darya region of the Uzbek SSR (40th army).
From January 1980 to December 1981 - Kunduz airfield, DRA (40th Army).
From December 1981 to June 1988 - the city of Gardez, DRA (40th Army).
From June 1988 to October 1992 - the city of Iolotan, Mary region of the Turkmen SSR (Turkestan military district, Airborne Forces).
From October 1992 to June 1993 - art. Zelenchukskaya, Karachay-Cherkessia (VDV).
From June 1993 to August 1998 - the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov Region (VDV, North Caucasian Military District).
From August 1998 to the present - the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region (North Caucasian Military District).
The main purpose of the light assault brigade is the combined arms reserve. To increase mobility and speed of movement, the brigade has been completely re-equipped with vehicles. The main method of movement is the transfer of personnel and light weapons by air (helicopters), while equipment arrives under its own power. In the presence of a sufficient number of heavy helicopters, the transfer of equipment by air is also possible. In particular, this method of transportation was practiced in 2008 during exercises at the Ashuluk training ground, when GAZ-66 vehicles and D-30 howitzers were transferred to Mi-26s.
The issue of giving helicopters to the brigade is being worked out.
The main type of equipment - UAZ cars
In this case - model 315108 based on Hunter. Machines delivered in August 2010
In "winter clothes"
UAZ-3152 "Hussar" is also in service.
This car was produced in 2006, in the 56th brigade since the winter of 2010 (before that it was operated in the 22nd special forces brigade)
On asphalt, the car eats 18 liters of 92nd gasoline per 100 km, off-road - 23-25 liters
There were no complaints about the permeability
At the autodrome
205-horse Toyota engine under the hood
The engine is covered with such armor plates. Front - armored blinds. The tank is also armored.
Inside view
The roof is very ascetic and shines with bare foam
Landing squad. According to the state, there should be 5 troops and 1 driver in the car
I traveled several kilometers in the troop compartment of the Hussar and have great sympathy for the soldiers whose vehicle it is. Firstly, because of the machine gunner’s platform, one or two paratroopers have to sit like this
You can sit sideways in the direction of travel, but then you need to lean with your back on a friend. Secondly, with my height of 180 cm, I either had to hunch over and bend down, or my head turned out to be in pursuit of the "tower", and in the presence of a spinning machine gun, this is fraught with injuries. I think from the legs of the machine gunner, who will spin around, the legs and eggs of the landing will also not be good
Thirdly, of course, there is a stove in the car, but in reality it warms only the people sitting in front (driver, commander), the rest are quite cool. Not least because of the doors in motion noticeably blowing. The gaps between the awning and the roof are also a good source of drafts, and in the dry season - dust.
Fourthly, we recall that in addition to people in the car, it is also necessary to transport their property, i.e. 6 duffel bags, entrenching tool, tent, etc.
It is possible to install three types of weapons - an automatic grenade launcher of the AGS-17 type, a 6P50 "Kord" machine gun or a PKP "Pecheneg" machine gun
In the foreground is the turret under the Kord. Sections for machine gun boxes are provided under the seats
Mounts for various equipment and weapons are provided on the back door, but the first row of belts falls just at the level of the seats and rests against them, so it’s completely incomprehensible to me what can be placed there.
The side doors are equipped with folding windows, so that in the summer you can ride with a breeze, and if you wish, you can fire
To replace unarmored UAZ vehicles, protected vehicles should be supplied to the brigade. If earlier IVECO 65E19WM was planned for this, now it seems that the scales have tipped in favor of domestic "Tigers".
In 2011, the brigade underwent experimental military operation of 10 Scorpio-LSHA vehicles of the Zashchita corporation
The car is 40 cm wider than a regular UAZ, it has an independent suspension. It eats 13 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km on asphalt and about 17 liters off-road. The driver on a 5-point scale rated the cross-country ability as a solid four. He especially noted that it goes very smoothly on the road, especially when the troops are sitting behind, it does not fly on potholes like an UAZ.
Engine armor, like the "Hussar", the car does not have
Inside view.
At the commander's seat there is an opportunity to install a radio station in front, etc. equipment, there is an analogue of a table lamp. If necessary, the frame, together with the windshield, leans back onto the hood and you can fire directly in the direction of travel
For landing, the tailgate leans back
Step
The vehicle can accommodate 7 troops and 1 driver. One of the paratroopers, due to the placement of a spare wheel in the cabin, sits in the direction of travel. Seat belts for paratroopers are not provided.
I suggest changing the upholstery of the seats right away, because. in the driver's seat, after two or three months of operation, it simply rubbed off (see the view below)
On this copy of the machine-gun turret is not installed, there is only a shoulder strap under it. I don’t quite understand what the machine gunner will stand on, either on the reclining back of his seat (will there be supports from below?), Or will there be a separate platform, but this is again a wild inconvenience for the rest of the paratroopers
Inside view on video
No automatic tire inflation
Side door
Let me remind you once again that the car was undergoing trial operation, the task of which was to identify shortcomings, which would then be corrected. One of the main problems is the awning: cool in winter and dusty in summer. At the beginning of this year, the delivery of the next batch of hard-top Scorpion vehicles to the team is expected for trial operation. What specific model it will be, they could not tell me.
Almost all of the brigade's vehicles are new, received in 2009-2010.
KAMAZ-5350 with a set of additional protection
Staff vehicle based on KAMAZ-5350
With staff trailer for officers' rest
The interior of the headquarters module
Camp trailer for recreation
On the left side of the entrance is a washbasin.
Technical assistance vehicle MTP-A2
Repair and mechanical workshop MRM-MZR
Car in the foreground Maintenance MTO-AM