Subordinate to the Airborne Forces. The structure and composition of the airborne troops
Taken from http://ryadovoy.vif2.ru/militarizm/dds&antidds/dds_vdv_1a.htm
Text notes:
1. All separate brigades had the status of a compound and, therefore, their battalions (dshb) were called separate. They should not be confused with separate battalions that were not part of the brigades (odshb proper).
2. All airborne troops were guards troops. They, in fact, were formed on the basis of guards formations. In the text, their guard distinction and honorary titles are omitted.
Period 1946-68 Revival and formation.
Despite the generally unsuccessful experience of using our airborne assault forces in the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet leadership remained enviably faithful to the idea. (It is possible that the airborne assaults somewhat rehabilitated themselves in the Manchurian operation, where they showed themselves brilliantly.) Therefore, six months after the end of the war, a decision was made on the new formation of full-fledged airborne forces. A number of elite guards rifle divisions formed during the war years on the basis of guards airborne divisions are involved in this. It should be noted here that these divisions, despite the name, were reinforced rifle divisions in terms of organizational structure and weapons, and in fact were elite rifle divisions - a guard within a guard.
So, in June 1946 - by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the rare remaining "real" Airborne Forces were withdrawn from the Air Force (where they were from the moment of formation), included in the reserve of the Supreme High Command and subordinated directly to the Minister of the Armed Forces. Five guards were sent to form troops. rifle corps consisting of ten guards. rifle divisions (with the preservation of numbers, guards rank, honorary titles and military awards). In addition, the existing 1st and 12th air transport divisions were included in the troops and the 3rd, 6th and 281st divisions were formed.
Corps and divisions - Location and composition
8th Guards Neman Red Banner VDK, Polotsk
103rd Guards. Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Airborne Forces, Polotsk, Belarus
114th Guards. Vienna Red Banner Airborne Forces, Art. Borovukha Belarus
15th Guards VDK, Rakvere, Krechevits, Novoselytsya
104th Guards. Order of Kutuzov VDD, Narva and Kingisepp (Leningrad region, Estonia) - 332nd (Rakverne) and 349th (Yehvi) pdp
76th Guards. Chernihiv Red Banner Airborne Forces, Novgorod
37th Guards. Svirsky Red Banner VDK, pos. Monastery (Primorye)
98th Guards. Svir Red Banner Airborne Forces, Art. Pokrovka (Primorsky Territory)
99th Guards. Svirskaya Order of Kutuzov VDD, Art. Manzovka and Flour (Primorsky Territory) - 297th and 300th pdp
38th Guards Vienna VDK, Tula
106th Guards. Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Airborne Forces, Tula
105th Guards. Vienna Red Banner Airborne Forces, Kostroma
39th Guards. Vienna VDK, Belaya Tserkov
100th Guards. Svir Red Banner Airborne Forces, Belaya Tserkov
107th Guards. Pervomaiskaya Red Banner Order of Suvorov Airborne Forces, Chernihiv
Aviation transport units were located in the same areas of deployment.
In 1947, the 100th Airborne Division was relocated to the city of Kirovograd (Ukraine).
In the summer of 1948, the deployment of five more airborne forces began:
7th (Lithuania, 8th VDK),
11th (presumably on the territory of the Moscow Military District, 38th VDK),
13th (Transbaikalia, 37th VDK),
21st (Estonia, Valga, 15th Airborne Forces)
31st (Prikarpattya, 39th Airborne Forces) - each on the basis of one of the already existing parachute regiments. New divisions were distributed, one per corps.
The 2nd Air Transport Division was also formed and separate battalion communications of the Airborne Forces in the village. Bear Lakes near Moscow.
At the same time, all available forces formed the Airborne Army. Thus, the Airborne Forces had 5 corps headquarters, 15 (!!!) airborne and 6 air transport divisions. A total of 30 parachute regiments.
In April 1953, the Directorate of the Airborne Forces was reorganized into the Directorate of the Airborne Forces, all airborne divisions (except the 103rd and 114th) were transferred to a three-regiment structure [before that they had two regiments each]. In this way, total number parachute regiments reached 43.
All R. In the 1950s, due to the general reduction of the Armed Forces, the Airborne Forces were also reduced and reformed:
Con. 1955 - beginning. 1956 - the 11th, 21st, 100th and 114th Airborne Division and the Airborne Forces Administration were disbanded [Apparently, only the headquarters and divisional units were disbanded, and the parachute regiments, at least some of them, were transferred to other divisions. The number of divisions was thus reduced to 11.
April 1955 - airborne aviation was withdrawn from the Airborne Forces and the VTA VVS was created on its basis
1956 - the Airborne Forces were transferred to the Main Command of the SV.
1959 - the 31st and 107th airborne divisions were disbanded
October 1960 - the 44th school was formed. VDD
1964 - The Airborne Forces were again withdrawn from the SV and subordinated directly to the Minister of Defense.
The troops gained combat experience in the suppression of the anti-Soviet rebellion in Hungary. The 7th Airborne Division as part of the 80th and 108th Airborne Regiment and the 31st Airborne Division as part of the 114th and 381st Airborne Regiment took part in those events (the rest of the regiments of divisions did not participate in hostilities, they did not leave the territory of the USSR).
Two divisions changed their places of permanent deployment: the 104th in 1960 was relocated to the city of Kirovobad (Azerbaijan), and the 105th in 1961 to Fergana (Uzbekistan) and Osh (Kyrgyzstan).
In addition to these divisions, in con. In the 1950s, it was decided to deploy another training division. Such a division is the 44th training airborne division, consisting of three updp (226th, 285th and 301st) and one UAP, was formed in the city of Ostrov, Pskov Region. in the autumn of 1960 and redeployed, after being formed in the PPD on the territory of Lithuania.
Thus, from 1960 to 1967, the Soviet Airborne Forces consisted of nine combat and one training airborne divisions of three regiments, i.e. there were 30 parachute regiments.
7th Guards VDD - Kaunas, Lithuania (PribVO) - 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas) and 97th (Alytus) pdp
13th Guards. VDD- ZabVO- ???
76th Guards. VDD - Pskov region. (LenVO) - 104th (since 1959, Cherekha), 234th and 237th (both in the Pskov region) pdp
98th Guards. VDD- gg. Bolgrad and Chisinau (OdesVO) - 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) pdp
99th Guards. VDD - Primorsky Territory (DalVO) - incl. 297th and 305th pdp
103rd Guards. VDD - Vitebsk (BelVO) - 317th, 350th and 357th (all in Vitebsk) pdp
104th Guards. VDD- Kirovobad (ZakVO) - 80th, 328th and 332nd checkpoints (all in Kirovobad)
106th Guards VDD - Tula, Ryazan (MVO) - 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st (Narofominsk) pdp
44th account. guards Airborne Forces - Lithuania (PBVO) - 226th, 285th and 301st updp
Period 1968-79 Rise.
At the end of the 1960s, the 13th (Transbaikalia) and 99th (Primorsky Territory) airborne divisions were disbanded and two (11th and 13th, respectively) separate air assault brigades were deployed at their base. B - 21st brigade in the WKVO. All new ovshbr are part of the SV GK. In 1968, the 98th Guards. the airborne division was transferred to the new PPD in OdVO (Bolgrad-Chisinau). Thus, from the late 60s to 1979, the Airborne Forces consisted of:
7th Guards Airborne Forces - Kaunas, Lithuania (PribVO) - 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas), 97th airborne division (Alytus), and 1137th ap (Kalvaria).
76th Guards. VDD - Pskov region. (LenVO) - 104th (Cherekha), 234th, 237th (both in Pskov) pdp.
98th Guards. VDD-Bolgrad-Chisinau (OdVO) - 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) pdp
103rd Guards. Airborne Forces - Vitebsk (BelVO) - 317th, 350th and 357th (all in Vitebsk) pdp
104th Guards. VDD- Kirovobad (ZakVO) - incl. 80th pdp
105th Guards. VDD- Fergana, Osh (SAVO) - 345th, 351st (both in Fergana) and 383rd (Osh) pdp
106th Guards. VDD - Tula, Ryazan (MVO) - 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st (Narofominsk) pdp
44th account. guards Airborne Forces - Jonava (Lithuania) - Composition: 301st (Gaizhunai), 226th and 285th (both in Jonava) updp, as well as UAP.
Period 1979-89. Apogee.
In 1979, the 105th Guards. VDD (345th, 351st and 383rd PDP; 730th obs, etc.) was disbanded. Only the 345th opdp (Fergana) was left. Thus, there were seven airborne divisions, incl. one educational; in total - 22 parachute regiments (of which 3 are training and 1 separate).
Number
7th Guards VDD
Location: headquarters and 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas), 97th infantry regiment (Alytus), 1137th ap (Kalvaria).
44th account. guards VDD
Location: Gaižiūnai (Lithuania). Composition: 301st (Gaijunai), 226th and 285th (both in Rukla) UPDP, as well as UAP. In 1987 it was reorganized into the 242nd Training Center of the Airborne Forces.
76th Guards. VDD
Location: Pskov. Composition: 104th, 234th, 237th pdp.
98th Guards. VDD
Location: Bolgrad and Chisinau. Composition: 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) pdp.
103rd Guards. VDD
Location: Vitebsk (Belarus). From 1979 to 1989 she fought in Afghanistan. Training units remained in Vitebsk. Composition: 317th, 350th and 357th infantry regiment (in Afghanistan there is also the 62nd detachment).
104th Guards. VDD
Location: Ganja (then - Kirovabad, Azerbaijan). Composition: 28th, 382nd, 227th pdp; since 1990, it may have also had the 10th pdp.
106th Guards. VDD
Location: headquarters and 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st infantry regiments (Narofominsk).
345th OPDP
Remained from the 105th Airborne Division. Location: Ferghana (Uzbekistan), since December 1979 - in Afghanistan, Kabul district, Bagram. Served as a training center. After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, in 1990 it was renamed the 10th OPDP and transferred to the Transcaucasus, and there, possibly, it was merged into the 104th Airborne Division.
387th OUPDP
Formed in Afghanistan on the funds of the 345th OPDP as educational part. After the withdrawal from Afghanistan - disbanded.
171st OBR
Dislocation - town. Bear Lakes.
332nd ensign school
Gaižiūnai (Lithuania)
included in composition of the Airborne Forces a separate communications brigade (OBRS) stationed in Bear Lakes, had, in addition to communications units, also separate company special intelligence.
Period from 1989-1991 An association..
Most important events this period became:
1989 - Renaming the air assault brigades into airborne as part of the High Command of the Ground Forces.
1988-89 - Withdrawal of airborne units from Afghanistan with their respective restructuring and rearmament. (For example, in Afghanistan, the 103rd Airborne Division had a separate tank battalion, which, after the withdrawal, was disbanded.)
Transfer of the 103rd Airborne Division to the KGB PV.
1990 - Reassignment of airborne brigades from the High Command of the Ground Forces to the Command of the Airborne Forces.
The composition of the Airborne Forces took the following form:
Number
Location, composition and notes
7th Guards VDD
Location: headquarters and 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Mariampole-Kapsukas) and 97th infantry regiment (Alytus), 1137th ap (Kalvaria).
76th Guards. VDD
Location: Pskov. Composition: 104th, 234th, 237th pdp.
98th Guards. VDD
Location: Bolgrad and Chisinau (since 1968). Composition: 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th pdp and ap (Chisinau).
103rd Guards. VDD
Location: Vitebsk (Belarus). Composition: 317th, 350th and 357th pdp. From January 1990 to August 1991 - as part of the KGB of the USSR. During this period it was called the 103rd Guards. VDD PV KGB.
104th Guards. VDD
Location: Ganja (then - Kirovabad, Azerbaijan). Composition: 28th, 382nd, 227th pdp and?
106th Guards. VDD
Location: headquarters and 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st infantry regiments (Narofominsk).
242nd Training Center of the Airborne Forces
Location: Gaižiūnai (Lithuania). Composition: 301st (Gaijunai), 226th and 285th (both in Rukla) updp, as well as UAP.
345th Guards. OPDP
After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, in 1990 he was transferred to the Western Military District and later the 10th OPDP was additionally deployed at its base.
11th Guards. VDBR
Location - Mogocha. ZabVO.
13th Guards. VDBR
Dislocation - In 1994, she was transferred from Usuriisk (Far Eastern Military District) to Orenburg. PurVO. In 1997 - disbanded.
14th Guards VDBR
Location - Cottbus (GDR), ZGV. In 1990, it was bred to Kazakhstan (Alma-Ata region).
21st Guards VDBR
Location - Kutaisi. ZakVO.
23rd Guards VDBR
Location - Kremenchug. QUO.
35th Guards. VDBR
Location - Kapchegay. TurkVO.
36th Guards. VDBR
Location - pos. Garbolovo (Vsevolozhsk district, Leningrad region). LenVO.
37th Guards. VDBR
Location - Chernyakhovsk (Kaliningrad region). PribVO.
38th Guards. VDBR
Location - Brest (Belarus). BVI.
39th Guards VDBR
Dislocation - Khyriv, (Lviv region). Since 1990, when transferred to the Airborne Forces, it was reorganized into the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces. PrikVO.
40th Guards. VDBR
Location: Nikolaev (Ukraine). OdVO.
56th Guards. VDBR
Deployment - from Afghanistan, in 1988, was withdrawn to Iolotan (Turkmenistan). SAVO.
83rd Guards VDBR
In 1990, she was relocated from Magdagachi to Ussuriysk (Primorsky Territory). DVO.
95th Guards. VDBR
Dislocation - Zhytomyr (Zhytomyr region, Ukraine). QUO.
100th Guards. VDBR
Location - Abakan, Krasnoyarsk Territory.
171st OBR
Dislocation - town. Bear Lakes, MVO
332nd ensign school
Gaizhunai (Lithuania), PrikVO
Thus, on ser. 1991, there were a total of (deployed, spares do not count): 22 parachute regiments (including 1 separate and 3 training) and 15 airborne brigades (including 1 training). In addition, the 38th communications brigade (renamed 171st), the Ryazan military school, and others remained.
The strength of the Airborne Forces on:
Mid-1991 - 77,036 people, including 20 generals 11,445 officers
At the end of 1991 - early. 1992, in connection with the collapse of the USSR for Armed Forces hard times have come. They also spoke to the Airborne Forces. With a landslide overall reduction of the Armed Forces, the Airborne Forces were no less landslide reduced. On the basis of the Soviet Airborne Forces located on their territory, such countries as Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan formed their own troops of a similar type. The idea of the existence of some "strategic forces" common to the post-Soviet states leading role in which the Airborne Forces were supposed to play, could not stand even a six-month test of time and quickly ordered a long life. An idea of this situation is provided by the following country data.
7th Guards VDD-(since 1998 - DShD)
Completely withdrawn from Lithuania in August 1993 and redeployed to Novorossiysk. At the same time, the 237th RPD was disbanded, and the 119th RPD was transferred to the 106th Airborne Division. Instead, they transferred the 345th opdp. In 1993 on a short time(2 months) the division was given the 901st Ordb. In the summer of 1998: the 97th and 345th infantry regiments were disbanded, and the newly formed 247th infantry fighting regiment was introduced in Stavropol. Thus, in the composition of the division for 1999 there were: 108th Guards. Kuban Kaz. pdp (Novorossiysk); 247th Guards. kaz. dshp (Stavropol) and 1137th Guards. art. regiment (Anapa). It is possible that - the 10th pdp (in Abkhazia) is also part of it.
76th Guards. VDD
The location has remained unchanged. Pskov district. The composition includes: 104th, 234th and 237th pdp, 1140th ap. In 1998, it was planned to reorganize into the DSHD.
98th Guards. VDD
The forces stationed in Ukraine are divided between Russia and Ukraine - 50/50. Almost all equipment in Chisinau was left to Moldova. What was left to the Russian Federation was withdrawn to Kostroma (217th RPT) and Abakan (300th RPT). Abakansky, approximately, in 1998, was disbanded, and on the basis of the 331st (from the 106th Airborne Division) and the 217th Airborne Division, the division was re-formed. Current deployment: headquarters and the 331st infantry fighting unit in the region of the city of Ivanovo (Teikovsky district, Ivanovo region), and the 217th infantry fighting unit in Kostroma.
103rd Guards. VDD
Completely ceded to Belarus in 1992.
104th Guards. VDD
Bred in the Volga region (Ulyanovsk); at the same time, a significant part of the equipment was left to Azerbaijan. It was disbanded in 1996, and the 31st airborne brigade was deployed on its basis, and part of the equipment was transferred to the 98th airborne division.
106th Guards. VDD
One of the regiments (331st) was transferred to the 98th Airborne Division, and the 119th Airborne Division from the 7th Airborne Division arrived instead. The final composition: the headquarters and the 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 119th infantry regiment (Narofominsk), as well as the 1182nd ap (Efremov).
In February-September 1993, he was transferred to the city of Omsk in full force. The 301st UPDP was soon disbanded.
45th ORP Special Forces
Formed in 1993-94. on the basis of two separate rb spn - 218th and 901st.
10th Guards opdp
Peacekeeping. It was formed in May 1998, in Gudauta (Abkhazia) on the basis of the disbanded 345th RPD of the 7th Airborne Division. Non-standard. The recruitment was carried out on the basis of rotation from other units of the Airborne Forces. (In the summer of 2001, a decision was made to disband this regiment).
1st Guards OVDB
It was formed in 1994 on the basis of the 331st PDP as a peacekeeping force to be sent to Slavonia - and is stationed there to this day. time.
31st Guards OVDBr
Formed in 1996 on the basis of the disbanded 104th Airborne Division. It is deployed in Ulyanovsk. Has battalions with their own numbers - 91st, 54th ...
11th Guards. OVDBr
In the beginning. 90s transferred to Ulan-Ude. In 1997-98 - disbanded.
13th Guards. OVDBr
In 1994 she was transferred from Ussuriysk to Orenburg. In 1997 - disbanded.
14th Guards OVDBr
It was bred from Cottbus to Alma-Ata. Transferred to Kazakhstan in 1992
21st Guards OVDBr
From Kutaisi, in 1992, bred to Stavropol. In 1993 it received the name "Cossack". In the summer of 1998, it was reorganized into the 247th Airborne Regiment, introduced into the 7th Guards. DShD.
23rd Guards OVDBr
Location: Kremenchug. Withdrawn to Ukraine in 1992.
35th Guards. OVDBr
Stationed in the city of Kapchegay, it was transferred to Kazakhstan in 1992.
36th Guards. OVDBr
Location: pos. Garbolovo (Vsevolozhsk district, Leningrad region). LenVO. Disbanded in 1995-96.
37th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Chernyakhovsk (Kaliningrad region). PribVO. Disbanded in 1995-96
38th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Brest (Belarus). BelVO. Withdrawn to Belarus in 1992.
39th Guards OVDBr
Location: Khyrov, (Starosamborsky district, Lviv region). Since 1990, when transferred to the Airborne Forces, it was reorganized into the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces. Withdrawn to Ukraine in 1992.
40th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Nikolaev (Ukraine). OdVO. Withdrawn to Ukraine in 1992.
56th Guards. OVDBr
Since 1993 - pos. Podgora (Volgodonsk district, Rostov region). SKVO. In July 1998, it was reorganized into the DSHP and introduced into the 20th MSD of the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region.
83rd Guards OVDBr
Location: Ussuriysk, since 1990 (Primorsky Territory) Far East. Apparently disbanded in 1998. It is possible that the 635th opdb was formed on its basis and exists.
95th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Zhytomyr (Zhytomyr region, Ukraine). QUO. Went to Ukraine.
100th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Abakan (Krasnoyarsk Territory) Siberian Military District. In 1996, it was merged with the 300th opdp. Disbanded in May 1998
38th OBR
Stationed in the village. Bear Lakes. In the 90s. reorganized into the 38th OPS Airborne Forces.
332nd ensign school
In 1992 relocated to Mitino (Moscow region)
UKRAINE
On the basis of the units and formations of the Airborne Forces remaining after the division in 1992-93. Airborne Troops were formed. For some time, the names of the brigades had the addition "SpN" - special assignments, although they were not such.
Location - Bolgrad (Odessa region). Formed in 1992 on the basis of the Soviet 98th Guards. VDD. It had in its composition, initially two, and then three (1st, 25th and 45th) ambergris.
23rd OAMBR
It was formed on the basis of the 23rd airborne brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing its location - the city of Kremenchug (Poltava region). And on 07/01/95 transferred to the Border Troops and reorganized into the 23rd airmobile. neg. special forces (AMOSpN) of the Border Troops of Ukraine.
6th OAMBR
It was formed in 1995 on the basis of the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces of the USSR without changing its location - the city of Khyrov (Lvov region, Starosamborsky district). In the beginning. 1999 reorganized into the 80th oamp.
80th OAMP
Until 1999 - 6th Oambr.
40th OAMBR
It was formed in 1992 on the basis of the 40th airborne brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing its location - the district of Nikolaev. In the beginning. 1999 reorganized into the 79th oamp.
79th OAMP
Until 1999 - 40th Oambr.
95th OAMBR
It was formed on the basis of the 95th airborne brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing its place of deployment - the outskirts of the city of Zhytomyr.
BELARUS
On the basis of the existing airborne formations, the Mobile Forces were formed as part of the so-called. "mobile brigades" - in fact - airmobile or airborne.
Remained from the Airborne Forces of the USSR. In 1996, it was disbanded, and two AMBRs were deployed at its base.
317th Motorized Brigade
G. Vitebsk. Deployed on the basis of the 317th airborne infantry regiment of the 103rd airborne division.
350th Motorized Brigade
G. Vitebsk. Deployed on the basis of the 350th airborne infantry regiment of the 103rd airborne division.
38th Motorized Brigade
Formed on the basis of the 38th airborne brigade of the USSR without changing the PPD - Brest.
KAZAKHSTAN
On the basis of the existing formations of the Soviet Airborne Forces, their own Airborne Forces were formed.
35th OVDbr
Deployed on the basis of the 35th brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the PPD - town. Kapchegay. The number is conjectural.
14th OVDbr
Deployed on the basis of the 14th brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the PPD - the district of Alma-Ata (Almaty). This brigade was withdrawn from Cottbus (GDR). The number is conjectural.
In total, more than 18 thousand people, 5216 units of military and other equipment, 60.5 thousand tons of ammunition and stocks of material resources. The redeployed formations and units lost 58% of training facilities: 9 regular and 10 non-standard training grounds were left in their former locations.
In mid-1998, the number of Russian Airborne Forces was 32,000 people. Staffing - up to 75%.
By the middle of 2000 there was:
Russia - four divisions (76th airborne division, 106th airborne division, 98th airborne division and 7th airborne division), one (31st) brigade, two regiments (45th opspn and 38th ops) and Training Center(242nd UTs). (In addition, in Yugoslavia there is the 1st consolidated brigade).
7th Guards DSHD - Novorossiysk - 108th Guards. kaz. Kuban PDP (Novorossiysk); 247th Guards. PDP (Stavropol) and 1137 (1141-?) Guards. ap (Anapa).
76th Guards. VDD-Pskov- 104th, 234th and 237th pdp, 1140th ap.
98th Guards. VDD- Ivanovo- 331st (Kostroma), 299th and 217th (Novo-Talitsy village, Ivanovo district) pdp, 1065th app.
106th Guards. VDD-Tula- 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 119th (Narofominsk) pdp.
242nd UC - Omsk 226th and 285th updp.
31st Guards OVDBr-Ulyanovsk- Includes battalions with "own" numbers. All R. The 90s were planned to be deployed in a division.
1st OVDbr (consolidated) - on the territory of the former Yugoslavia - In the Peacekeeping Forces.
10th OPDP - Gudauta (Georgia-Abkhazia) - In the Peacekeeping Forces. In July 2001, the disbandment of the regiment began.
45th ORP spn-r-n Moscow - Location: 218th special forces orb in Bear Lakes, and 901st special forces orb - in Kubinka.
38th OBR - Bear Lakes
The total number is approx. 40.5 thousand people (Staffing is 90-95%). In 2001-02 it is planned to reduce the number by 5.5 thousand, namely, to disband two RAPs (10th and 237th).
Ukraine - one division (1st AMD), one separate brigade (95th ambr) and two separate regiments (79th and 80th oamp).
Belarus - three separate (38th, 317th and 350th), so-called. mobile brigade.
COMPLETE.
The most healthy and physically developed draft contingent was allocated for the recruitment of the l / s of the Airborne Forces. High selection requirements (height - not less than 175 cm; physical development- not below average; education - not lower than secondary, lack of medical restrictions, etc.) high possibilities in combat training.
The training of officers was carried out at first in two, and since the 70s, in one - the Ryazan school. In addition, the officer corps was staffed with officer graduates from other schools, especially for the positions of commanders of special units - artillery, sapper, automobile, communications, etc.
RVVDKU (RVVDI)
G. Ryazan
Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School. Lenin Komsomol (RVVDKU). Now - Ryazan airborne institute(RVDI) them. V. Margelov
AAVVDKU
Alma-Ata
Alma-Ata Higher Airborne Command School. Reorganized into combined arms in the 70s. Went to Kazakhstan in 1992.
332nd Ensign School
G. Mitino (Moscow region)
Valid.
ADDITIONS and NOTES.
1) Supplement for the 7th division. Formed in 1948 on the basis of the 322nd RAP from the 103rd Guards. VDD 8th VDK. The division included: 108th RAP (Kaunas); 119th RAP (Marijampole); 1137th AP (the city of Marijampole then - in the city of Kalvaria).
Since 1954 attached to the 80th RAP (Gaijunai). In 1959, the 80th RAP was transferred to the 104th Guards. VDD (Kirovabad-Ganja); and in return they transferred the 97th RAP from the 76th Guards. VDD. In the 70s. the division had: 108th RAP (Kaunas) 119th RAP (Kapsukas) 97th RAP (Alytus) 1137th AP (Kalvaria).
2) Regarding the transfer of airborne units to the KGB ...
I can say that it took place. The 103rd Guards was transferred to the composition of the KGB PV. VDD, which became known as Guards. airborne division of the border troops! The servicemen were dressed in border uniforms, and, due to unrest among the rank and file, it was decided to introduce in the border troops a uniform similar to a vede: he takes a bright green color and a green vest. However, the resigning soldiers were constantly trying to get landing berths.
The reason for the resubordination, apparently, lies in the internal political situation of that time. Constant unrest on national grounds and the lack of reliable troops to restore order led to the need to use the most trained Soviet infantry - paratroopers from the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Troops - in restoring order. (The operational units of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were then too few in number and were by no means as prepared as they are now, combat discipline was lame and there was no specific fighting spirit ...). In general, if we take into account the role of the KGB in provoking nationalist uprisings, and even in the covert leadership of their course, then such a resubordination looks like a mockery.
3) The 901st Odshb (since 1989 - Ordb) was withdrawn from Mongolia, in 1993 - temporarily subordinated to the 7th Airborne Forces, from 1994 - to the 901st Airborne Special Forces and introduced into the 45th OPSpN Airborne Forces.
4) The 218th obspn was formed on July 25, 1992, and before that - a special intelligence company as part of the 171st / 38th OBR in Medvezhye Ozyory. In 1993, the 45th ORP of the Special Forces deployed at its base.
5) 103rd Guards. VDD had regiments with the following honorary titles:
317th Guards Ord. Alexander Nevsky RAP
350th Guards Ord. Suvorov RAP
357th Guards Ord. Suvorov PDP.
airborne troops
Self Management airborne troops The Red Army, which was in charge of the airborne corps of the brigade organization and other airborne units created in the spring of 1941, was created on June 12, 1941.
During the Great Patriotic War, the use of formations formed as part of the Airborne Forces was determined by the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, and most of them, heading to the front, were reorganized into rifle divisions.
In October 1944, from four divisions returned from the active army, and airborne formations that were in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, a Separate Guards Airborne Army was created as part of the 37th Svirsky, 38th and 39th Guards Airborne airborne corps (each of which included three airborne divisions).
At the end of December 1944, the Separate Guards Airborne Army, which united most of the formations of the airborne troops, was transformed into the combined arms 9th Guards Army.
The remaining airborne formations (primarily separate guards airborne brigades) and the Directorate Commander of the Airborne Forces were subordinated to the commander of the Red Army Air Force.
The 9th Guards Army included the following formations (underlined remained in the Airborne Forces in the post-war period):
37th Guards Svir Rifle Corps:
- 98th Guards Svir SD;
- 99th Guards Svir SD;
- 103rd Guards Rifle Division (b. 13th Guards Airborne Division of the second formation, deployed at the base
3rd Guards vdbr);
38th Guards Rifle Corps:
- 104th Guards Rifle Division (b. 11th Guards Airborne Division);
- 105th Guards Rifle Division (b. 12th Guards Airborne Division);
- 6th Guards Rifle Division (former 16th Guards Airborne Division);
39th Guards Rifle Corps:
-100th Guards Svir SD;
-107th Guards May Day cd;
- 114th Guards Rifle Division (b. 14th Guards Airborne Division of the second formation, deployed at the base
8th Guards vdbr);
In February 1945, the 9th guards army was introduced into the army with the task of strengthening offensive capabilities Soviet troops in Hungary. Not participating in repulsing the counterattack of the German troops in the area of Lake Balaton, the formations of the 9th Guards Army were introduced into fighting in mid-March 1945 and completed the Great Patriotic War
war in the Vienna and Prague offensive operations.
In addition to the divisions transferred to the 9th Guards A, in the active army, divisions also fought as part of rifle corps, which retained the names of the airborne. These were airborne divisions formed at the end of 1942 and operating at the front since February 1943: 1st Guards. Zvenigorod-Bucharest, 2nd guards. Proskurovskaya, 3rd Guards. Umanskaya, 4th Guards. Ovruch. 5th Guards Zvenigorodskaya, 6th Guards. Kremenchug-Znamenskaya, 7th Guards. Cherkasy: 9th Guards. Poltava, 10th Guards. Krivoy Rog.
At the end of the hostilities of the Great Patriotic War, part of the airborne divisions operating at the front as part of rifle corps (in particular, the 4th Guards Ovruchskaya and the 7th Guards Cherkasy Airborne Forces) returned to the subordination of the airborne troops, and part was reorganized (in particular, on the basis of the 9th Guards Poltava Airborne Division, which remained part of the troops of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany, the 14th Guards Poltava Mechanized Division was formed).
In June 1946, in accordance with the highest level By decision, the leadership of the airborne troops was entrusted to the command and staff, formed on the basis of the command and staff of the 9th Guards Army (transformed into the Airborne Army), and the airborne troops as a whole were withdrawn from the Air Force and subordinated directly to the Minister of the Armed Forces Forces of the USSR.
In the first post-war period, the army (Airborne Army) and corps (in particular, the 38th Guards Vienna Airborne Corps) units remained in the leadership of the airborne troops, and then the airborne divisions began to report directly to the Command of the Airborne Forces.
In October 1956, the parachute regiments of the 7th and 31st Guards Airborne Divisions were involved in the operation of the Soviet troops in Hungary, and in August 1968, the 7th Guards Airborne Division actively participated in the operation "Danube "on the entry of troops of the Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia. The 99th Guards Airborne Svirskaya Red Banner Division was stationed in the Far Eastern Military District (see FEB)
In the 1980s As part of the airborne troops, in addition to separate brigades, there were 7 airborne divisions, of which one, in Lithuania, was training (besides it, another airborne division was stationed in Lithuania).
Since the places of permanent deployment of the divisions remaining in the airborne forces in the post-war period were quite stable (which, among other circumstances, was due to the "binding" to the airfield network of military transport aviation), unofficial names were assigned to combat divisions;
"Kaunasskaya" - 7th Guards. Cherkasy Airborne Division;;
"Pskovskaya" - 76th Guards. Chernihiv Airborne Division;
"Kishinevskaya" - 98th Guards. Svirskaya airborne division;
"Vitebsk" - 103rd Guards. vdd;
"Kirovobadskaya" - 104th airborne division;
"Tulskaya" - 106th Guards. vdd.
From the end of December 1979, the 103rd "Vitebsk" division, stationed in the area of the Kabul airfield, was a connection of a limited continent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. In addition, a separate parachute regiment was deployed in Afghanistan (see "VIZH", 1993, No. 11, p.33).
In the late 1980s. the training division in Lithuania was transformed into the 272nd Guards Training Center of the Airborne Forces, and the 103rd Guards "Vitebsk" Airborne Division, which returned from Afghanistan to Belarus, at the end of 1989 in connection with preparations for the conclusion of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe transferred to the border troops of the KGB of the USSR (The structure and armament of the 103rd airborne division remained "regular" for an airborne formation and in independent Belarus it became, retaining the numbering, an airborne division subordinate directly to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus).
After the transfer of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division in the zone "to the Urals" to the KGB of the USSR, on November 19, 1990, the Soviet airborne troops had 2712 armored combat vehicles (BMD, BTR-D), 846 vehicles based on BMD and BTR-D, 595 self-propelled guns, guns and mortars.
The divisions of the Airborne Forces in terms of numbers were kept in a state close to deployed (a little more than 7.2 thousand people, including about 700 officers). In 1991, they numbered about 6 thousand people. personnel personnel each. The number of personnel of the Airborne Forces as a whole was about 75 thousand people (In the first half of the 1990s, after some reduction - 68 thousand people).
Compared to the 1970s, there have been certain changes in the parachute regiments. If earlier the regiment was based on 3 airborne battalions, self-propelled artillery, mortar and anti-aircraft batteries, then with the arrival of self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona" and vehicles based on the BTR-D (with ATGM "Konkurs" and MANPADS "Strela"), all the equipment of the Airborne Forces was unified on a single tracked chassis BMD / BTR-D, and the need for mortars, given the fire capabilities of the Nona self-propelled guns, disappeared. As for the latest BMD-3 airborne combat vehicles, the serial vehicles entered the troops after 1991, when they were armed with a battalion of one of the regiments of the 76th Guards Airborne Division.
HQ VDV - Moscow
58th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Ryazan): 3 Mi-8s
171st separate communications brigade (in the Moscow region)
Ryazan higher airborne school: 136BMD (20 BMD-2, 116BMD-1), 10 BTR-D; 3-2S9 "Nona", 1 D-30; 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BTR-RD, 3 BMD-1KSh
242nd Guards Training Center
(Gaižunai, Lithuania)
Management: 1 R-440 odb
The 4th (later - the 44th) Guards Airborne Ovruch Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky division in the post-war period was a linear and training formation of the airborne troops, in the last period of the deployment of Soviet troops in Lithuania - the 242nd Guards training airborne center.
Training guards parachute regiments of the 242nd guards. The training centers were stationed in Gaizhunai, and the training artillery regiment in Prenau, having the following weapons:
226th updp - 100 BMD-1, 10 BTR-D;
285th updp - 100 BMD (28 BMD-2, 62 BMD-1), 10 BTR-D;
301st updp - 43 BMD-1, 90 BTR-D; 2 BTR-RD;
1120th an - 22 - 2S9 "Nona", 9 D-; BTR-D, 1 BMD-1; 12BTR~RD,4 1V119.
The existing rapse as part of the training center of the 743rd UPDP was curtailed, like other parts, with the exception of the following:
- 367th separate training anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Gayzhunay): 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BTR-D
- 45th separate training repair and restoration battalion (Gayzhunay): 1 BTR-D
- 148th separate training battalion transportation of airborne equipment (Kaunas): 1 BMD-1,1 BTR-D
In total, on 11/19/90, the 242nd Guards. UC has:
245 BMDs (38 BMD-2s, 207 BMD-1s);
157 BTR-D;
22 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
14 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
3 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
9 guns D-30.
7th Guards Airborne Cherkasy Division (Kaunas)
Division Command: 8 BMD-2, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 MBD-1KSh
In the second half of 1942, the 5th Airborne Corps was formed in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, in December 1942 it was reorganized into the 7th Guards Airborne Division.
In early February 1943, the 7th Guards. the airborne division was sent to the North-Western Front, where it fought heavy battles as part of the 1st shock army, and in August 1943 was transferred to the Kharkov region as part of the 52nd army. Later, as part of this and the 4th Guards Armies, the 7th Guards. the airborne division participated in hostilities in Ukraine, in Romania, Hungary and completed its combat path in Austria, in the region of Amstetten.
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 7th Guards Airborne Division Cherkasy were stationed in Lithuania. In October 1956, two regiments of the 7th Guards. airborne troops were transferred by aircraft to Hungary, where they actively participated in the hostilities of the Soviet troops in August 1968. The 7th Guards. The airborne division was involved in Operation Danube to bring troops from the Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia.
97th (Alytus), 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Mariampole) Guards Airborne Regiments: in each regiment: 110 BMD (40 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1), 32 BTR-D; 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD; 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119
1141st Guards Artillery Regiment (Kalvaria): 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 D-30s; 6 BTR-D; 18 BTR-RD,
3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, IO-1B119
744th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Kaunas): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
185th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Kaunas): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 7th Guards. vdd included:
- 143rd separate engineer-sapper battalion (Kaunas): 1 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 743rd separate communications battalion (Kaunas): 3 BTR-ZD, 10 BMD-1KShch, 3 R-440odb 6th separate repair and restoration battalion (Kaunas): 1 BTR-D
- 1692nd separate road maintenance battalion
- 1681st separate battalion of material support
- 313th separate medical battalion
In total, on 11/19/90, the 7th Guards. VDD had:
328 BMD (138BMD-2, 210 BMD-1);
129 BTR-D;
72 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (carriers 1GTUR);
47 BTR-ZD (carriers of MANPADS);
6 guns D-30.
76th Guards Airborne Chernihiv Red Banner Division (Pskov)
The unit was formed in August-September 1939 in the North Caucasus Military District as the 157th Rifle Division. During the Great Patriotic War, the division participated in the defense of Odessa, fought in the Crimea, and after the evacuation in May 1942 from the Kerch Peninsula, the unit, the few surviving soldiers of which retained their battle flags, was staffed again within a month.
From the beginning of June 1942, the 157th Rifle Division fought in the Rostov region, participated in further hostilities near Stalingrad, incl. in defeating the enemy directly in the city. By order of the NPO of the USSR dated 03/01/43, the formation was transformed into the 76th Guards Rifle Division.
Later as part of the 61st Army, and from March 1944 - as part of the 114th rifle corps 70th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front 76th Guards. sd participated in the summer 1943 offensive of Soviet troops in the Orel region, liberated Chernigov, Brest, Warsaw and completed the combat path of the Great Patriotic War in Wismar on the Baltic coast of Germany.
In the winter of 1945-46 76th Guards. The SD returned to the territory of the Soviet Union, to the Leningrad Military District, where it was subsequently reorganized into a formation of airborne troops.
Respectively combat way formations, regiments of the 76th Guards. the airborne forces were the most fought in the Great Patriotic War units in the post-war Soviet airborne forces.
104th (Pskov), 234th Order of Kutuzov (Pskov), 237th Torun Red Banner (Pskov) Guards Airborne Regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMDs (31 BMD-2s, 70 BMD-1s), 23 BTR-Ds (29 units in the 237th BMD); 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD (in the 237th pdp - 7 units), 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119
1140th Guards Artillery twice Red Banner Regiment (Pskov): 18-2С9 "Nona",
6 D-30; 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, 4-1V119, and 6 BTR-D
290th Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket-Artillery Battalion (Pskov): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
242nd Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Pskov): 1 Mi-8
As part of the 76th Guards. vdd included:
- 83rd separate guards engineer-sapper order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky battalion (Pskov): And BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 728th Separate Guards Order of the Red Star Communications Battalion (Pskov): 3 BTR-D,
10BMD-1KSh, ZR-440odb
7th separate repair and restoration battalion (Pskov): 1 BTR-D
- 608th separate battalion of road support
- 1682nd separate battalion of material support 82nd separate medical battalion
In total, on 11/19/90, the 76th Guards Airborne Division had: 3L2 BMD (93BMD-2, 219BMD-1); 108 BTR-D; 72 SAU2S9 "Nona"; 36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers); 41 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers); 6 guns D-30.
98th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division (Bolgrad)
Division Command: 9 BMD-2, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1943, the 13th Guards Airborne Division was formed in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, which was reorganized in January 1944 into the 98th Guards Rifle Division of the 37th Guards Rifle Corps. In June-July 1944, formations of the 37th Guards. sk fought as part of the Karelian Front, and the further combat path of the 98th guards division was associated with the Separate Guards Airborne - 9th Guards Army.
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 98th Guards Airborne Svir Division were deployed in the Moldavian SSR and in the south of the Odessa region, on the territory of the OdVO.
217th (Bolgrad), 299th (Bolgrad), 300th (Chisinau) Guards Airborne Regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMD (37 BMD-2, 64 BMD-1), 23 BTR-D; 18-2S9 "Nona" (20 units in the 299th pdp); 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD; 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119
1065th Guards Artillery Regiment (Merry Kut): 18-2S9 "Nona", 8 D-30s; 6 BTR-D,
18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, 4-IB119
100th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Bolgrad): 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh 243rd separate military transport aviation squadron (Bolgrad): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 98th Guards. vdd included:
- 112th separate engineer-sapper battalion (Bolgrad): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 674th separate communications battalion (Bolgrad): 3 BTR-D, 10 BMD-1KSh, 3 R-440odb
- 15th separate repair and restoration battalion (Bolgrad): 1 BTR-D
- 613th separate battalion of road support
- 1683rd separate battalion of material support
- 176th separate medical battalion
In total, on 11/19/90, the 98th Guards. airborne division had: 312 BMD (120 BMD-2, 192 EMD-1);
102 BTR-D;
74 SAU2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
47 BTR-ZD (carriers of MANPADS);
8 guns D-30.
104th Guards Airborne Division (Ganja)
Division Command: 9 BMD-1, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1944 January 1945. The 11th Guards Airborne Division, formed somewhat earlier in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, was reorganized into the 104th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Guards Army, with whose troops it completed the combat path of the Great Patriotic War in Czechoslovakia .
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 104th Guards Airborne Division were stationed in the Azerbaijan SSR, in the city of Kirovobad (Ganja), on the territory of the ZakVO.
328th (Ganja), 337th (Ganja), 345th (Ganja) Guards Airborne Regiments: in each regiment: 101 BMD (31 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1), 23 BTR-D (in 345th pdp - 28 units); 18-2S9 "Nona"; 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD (in the 345th pdp - 8 units); 9 BMD-1KSh (in the 345th pdp - 8 units), 10-1V119
1080 - Guards Artillery Regiment (Shamkhor): 18-2S9 "Nona", 6-D-ZO; 6 BTR-D, 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD, 2 BMD-1KSh, 10-1VP9
103rd Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket and Artillery Battalion (Ganja): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
116th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Ganja): 1 Mi-8
In addition, the 104th Guards Airborne Division included:
- 132nd separate engineer-sapper battalion (Ganja): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 729th separate communications battalion (Ganja): 3 BTR-D, 10 BMD-1KSh, 2 R-440odb
- 24th separate repair and restoration battalion (Ganja): 1 BTR-D
- 611th separate battalion of road support
- 1684th separate battalion of material support
- 180th separate medical battalion
In total, as of 11/19/90, the 104th Guards Airborne Division had: 312 BMDs (93 BMD-2s, 219 BMD-1s);
107 BTR-D;
72 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
42 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
6 guns D-30.
106th Guards Airborne Division (Tula)
Division Command: 9 BMD-1, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1944 - January 1945. The 16th Guards Airborne Division, formed a little earlier in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, was reorganized into the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Guards Army, with whose troops it completed the fighting of the Great Patriotic War in Czechoslovakia .
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 106th Guards Airborne Division were stationed in the Moscow Military District, and the division's headquarters were in Tula.
51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan), 331st (Kostroma) Guards Airborne Regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMDs (in addition to 30 BMD-2s in the 331st BMD), 23 BTR-Ds; 18-2S9 "Nona" (in 51-mpdp-20 unit); 6BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD, 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-Sh119
1182nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Efremov): 18-2S9 "Nona", 8 D-30; 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD, ZBMD-1KSh, 10-1V119, and 6 BTR-D
107th Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket and Artillery Battalion (Donskoy): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
110th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Tula): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 106th Guards. vdd included:
- 139th separate engineer-sapper battalion (Tula): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 731st separate communications battalion (Tula): 3 BTR-D; 10 BMD-1KSh, 4 R-440odb
- 43rd separate repair and restoration battalion (Tula): 1 BTR-D
- 610th separate battalion of road support
- 1060th separate battalion of material support
- 234th separate medical battalion
In total, on 11/19/90, the 106th Guards. VDD had:
342 BMDs (30 BMD-2s, 312 BMD-1s);
102 BTR-D;
74 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
47 BTR-ZD (carriers of MANPADS);
8 guns D-30
In addition to the above-mentioned training center and 5 airborne divisions (all of which were deployed in the "zone up to the Urals"), the Airborne Forces included brigades - formations equipped, as a rule, with lighter weapons.
In groups of troops in the 1980s. airborne assault brigades were deployed, of which in the "zone to the Urals" in 1991 there was one subordinate to the Airborne Forces - airborne assault regiments and brigades (for military districts and groups of troops) and airborne assault battalions (for army associations) were created since the 1970s how formations ground forces, designed for the landing of tactical and operational-tactical airborne assault forces (see "History military strategy Russia ". M., 2000, p. 424); for 1990, the only airborne brigade remaining in the "zone to the Urals" was subordinate to the command of the Airborne Forces, and the four remaining separate airborne brigade were still subordinate to the SV
35th brigade (in the Western Group of Forces, Cottbus): 18 D-30 guns, 30 2S12 "Sani" mortars.
Separate airborne brigades, which were supposed to have 18 D-30 guns from heavy weapons.
In the zone "to the Urals" these were the following brigades:
21st brigade (in ZakVO, Kutaisi);
23rd brigade (in KVO, Kremenchug);
36th brigade (in the LVO, Garbolovo);
37th brigade (in PribVO, Chernyakhovsk);
38th brigade (in BVO, Brest);
39th brigade (in PrikVO, Khyrov, Lviv region) - In the second half of 1991, the brigade was transformed into the 22nd training center, and the number of D-30 guns was reduced to one;
40th brigade (in OdVO, Nikolaev).
In the zone "beyond the Urals" formations of airborne troops were deployed, in particular, in Uzbekistan (a separate parachute regiment equipped with BMD-I and BTR-D) and Kazakhstan (a separate airborne assault brigade).
Airborne troops. The history of the Russian landing Alekhin Roman Viktorovich
PARATROOPERS
PARATROOPERS
In the mid-60s, due to the active development of helicopters (with their amazing ability to land and take off almost anywhere), the idea of creating special military units that could land by helicopters behind enemy tactical lines in order to assist the advancing ground forces was born. Unlike the Airborne Forces, these new units were supposed to land only by landing, and unlike the Special Forces of the GRU, they had to operate with fairly large forces, including using armored vehicles and other heavy weapons.
To confirm (or refute) the theoretical conclusions, it was necessary to conduct large-scale practical exercises that would put everything in its place.
In 1967, during the Dnepr-67 strategic exercises, an experimental 1st air assault brigade was formed on the basis of the 51st Guards PDP. The brigade was led by the head of the combat training department of the Directorate Airborne Major General Kobzar. The brigade landed on helicopters on the bridgehead on the Dnieper and completed the task assigned to it. According to the results of the exercises, appropriate conclusions were drawn, and starting from 1968, the formation of the first air assault brigades in the Far Eastern and Trans-Baikal military districts began as part of the ground forces.
Based on directive General Staff from May 22, 1968 to August 1970 in settlements Nikolaevna and Zavitinsk, Amur Region, the 13th Air Assault Brigade was formed, and in the village of Mogocha, Chita Region, the 11th Air Assault Brigade.
Again, as in the very first airborne unit (airborne assault detachment of the Leningrad Military District), the "land" unit received aviation under its control - two helicopter regiments with an air base each, which included an airfield support battalion and a separate Division of Communications and Radio Engineering.
The structure of the air assault brigades of the first formation was as follows:
Brigade management;
Three air assault battalions;
Artillery battalion;
Anti-aircraft artillery division;
Combat helicopter regiment with an air base;
Transport Helicopter Regiment with Air Base;
The rear of the brigade.
The air assault units mounted on helicopters were able to land in the form of a landing assault on any sector of the operational-tactical theater of operations and solve the assigned tasks on their own with fire support from combat helicopters. Experimental exercises were conducted with these brigades to develop tactics for the use of air assault units. Based on the experience gained, the General Staff gave recommendations for improving the organizational and staffing structure of such units.
It was assumed that the air assault brigades would operate in the tactical defense zone of the enemy. The range at which the battalions of air assault brigades were supposed to land did not exceed 70-100 km. In particular, as a confirmation, this is evidenced by the range of the communications equipment that entered service with the air assault formations. However, if we consider the specific theater of operations in which the brigades were deployed, it can be assumed that the purpose of the 11th and 13th brigade was to quickly close the poorly guarded section of the border with China in the event of a Chinese military invasion. On helicopters, brigade units could be landed anywhere, while those located in that area (from Mogocha to Magdagachi) motorized rifle regiments The 67th motorized rifle division could only move under its own power along the only rocky road, which was very slow. Even after the helicopter regiments were withdrawn from the brigades (at the end of the 80s), the task of the brigades did not change, and the helicopter regiments were always deployed in close proximity.
In the early 70s, a new name for the brigades was adopted. From now on, they began to be called "airborne assault".
On November 5, 1972, by directive of the General Staff, and on November 16, 1972, and by order of the commander of the Transcaucasian Military District, by February 19, 1973, it was decided to form an air assault brigade in the Caucasian operational direction. In the city of Kutaisi, the 21st separate airborne assault brigade was formed.
Thus, by the mid-70s, the so-called Airborne Forces of the ground forces included three brigades:
11th brigade (military unit 21460), ZabVO (settlement of Mogocha, Chita region), consisting of: 617th, 618th, 619th brigade, 329th and 307th OVP;
13th Airborne Brigade (military unit 21463), Far Eastern Military District (settlement of Magdagachi, Amur Region), consisting of: 620th, 621st (Amazar), 622nd Airborne Brigade, 825th and 398th OVP ;
21st brigade (military unit 31571), ZakVO (Kutaisi, Georgia), consisting of: 802nd (military unit 36685, Tsulukidze), 803rd (military unit 55055), 804th (in / h 57351) odshb, 1059th oadn, 325th and 292nd ovp, 1863rd one siRTO, 303rd obo.
An interesting fact was that the battalions in these formations were separate units, while in the Airborne Forces only the regiment was a separate unit. From the moment of its formation and until 1983, parachute training was not provided for in these brigades and was not included in the combat training plans, and therefore the personnel of the air assault brigades wore the uniform of motorized rifle troops with the corresponding insignia. Airborne assault units received the form of the Airborne Forces only with the introduction of parachute jumps into their combat training.
In 1973, the air assault brigades included:
Management (in the state of 326 people);
Three separate air assault battalions (according to the state, each battalion has 349 people);
Separate artillery battalion (171 staff members);
Aviation group (only 805 people in the state);
Separate division of communications and radio-technical support (190 employees);
A separate battalion of airfield technical support (410 people in the state).
New formations began active combat training. Not without accidents and disasters. In 1976, during the major exercises a tragedy occurred in the 21st brigade: two Mi-8 helicopters collided in the air and crashed to the ground. As a result of the disaster, 36 people died. Similar tragedies occurred from time to time in all brigades - probably this was the terrible tribute that had to be paid for the possession of such highly mobile military units.
The experience gained by the new brigades turned out to be positive, and therefore, by the end of the 70s, the General Staff decided to form several more air assault brigades of front (district) subordination, as well as several separate air assault battalions of army subordination. Since the number of newly formed units and formations was quite large, in order to complete them, the General Staff went to the disbandment of one airborne division.
Based on the directive of the General Staff of August 3, 1979 No. 314/3/00746 by December 1, 1979, the 105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division (111th, 345th, 351st, 383rd Guards PDP) , stationed in the city of Fergana, Uzbek SSR, was disbanded. The 345th regiment was reorganized into a separate airborne regiment and left in the southern operational direction. The personnel of the disbanded regiments and separate parts went to the formation of air assault units and formations.
On the basis of the 111th Guards PDP in the city of Osh, the Kyrgyz SSR, the 14th Guards Airborne Brigade of the Western Group of Forces was formed with redeployment to the city of Cottbus of the German Democratic Republic. In December 1979, the brigade was renamed the 35th Guards Oshbr. From 1979 to November 1982, the personnel of the brigade wore the uniform of motorized rifle troops. In 1982, the brigade was awarded the Battle Banner. Prior to that, the brigade had the Battle Banner of the 111th Guards Infantry Regiment.
On the basis of the 351st Guards Infantry Regiment, the 56th Guards Airborne Brigade of the TurkVO was formed with a deployment in the village of Azadbash (a district of the city of Chirchik) of the Uzbek SSR. On the basis of the officers of the 105th Guards Airborne Division, the 38th Separate Guards Vienna Red Banner Airborne Assault Brigade was formed in the Belarusian Military District in the city of Brest. The brigade was given the Battle Banner of the disbanded 105th Guards Vienna Red Banner Airborne Division.
On the basis of the 383rd Guards Airborne Regiment in the village of Aktogay, Taldy-Kurgan Region, Kazakh SSR, the 57th Separate Air Assault Brigade was formed for the Central Asian Military District, and the 58th Brigade was formed for the Kyiv Military District in Kremenchug (however, it was decided to leave it as a framed part).
For the Leningrad Military District in the village of Garbolovo, Vsevolozhsk District Leningrad region with the participation of the personnel of the 234th and 237th Guards Airborne Regiments of the 76th Guards Airborne Division, the 36th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade was formed, and the 37th Airborne Assault Brigade was formed for the Baltic Military District in the city of Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Region separate air assault brigade.
On August 3, 1979, the 80th Airborne Regiment of the 104th Guards Airborne Forces in the city of Baku was disbanded. The released personnel were turned to the formation of new brigades - in the city of Khyrov, Staro-Sambirsky district of the Lviv region, the 39th separate air assault brigade of the Order of the Red Star was formed for the Carpathian military district, and in the city of Nikolaev for the Odessa military district the 40th separate air assault brigade.
Thus, in total, in 1979, nine separate air assault brigades were formed, which became part of the Western and Asian military districts. By 1980, there were a total of twelve air assault brigades in the ground forces:
11th brigade (military unit 32364), ZabVO, Mogocha;
13th brigade (military unit 21463), Far Eastern Military District, Magdagachi, Amazar;
21st brigade (military unit 31571), ZakVO, Kutaisi;
35th brigade (military unit 16407), GSVG, Cottbus;
36th brigade (military unit 74980), LenVO, Garbolovo;
37th brigade (military unit 75193), PribVO, Chernyakhovsk;
38th brigade (military unit 92616), BelVO, Brest;
39th brigade (military unit 32351), PrikVO, Khyrov;
40th brigade (military unit 32461), OdVO, Nikolaev;
56th brigade (military unit 74507), TurkVO, Azadbash, Chirchik;
57th brigade (military unit 92618), SAVO, Aktogay, Kazakhstan;
58th detachment of the KVO frame, Kremenchug.
New brigades were formed as lightweight, 3-battalion composition, without helicopter regiments. Now these were ordinary "infantry" units that did not have their own aviation. In fact, these were tactical units, while until that time the first three brigades (11th, 13th and 21st brigade) were tactical formations. From the beginning of the 80s, the battalions of the 11th, 13th and 21st brigades ceased to be separate and lost their numbers - brigades from formations became units. However, the helicopter regiments remained under the control of these brigades until 1988, after which they were withdrawn from the control of the brigades to the control of the districts.
The structure of the new brigades was as follows:
Management (headquarters) of the brigade;
Two parachute battalions;
One air assault battalion;
Howitzer artillery battalion;
Anti-tank battery;
Anti-aircraft artillery battery;
Communication company;
Reconnaissance and landing company;
RHBZ company;
Engineering and sapper company;
Company of material support;
Medical company;
Landing Support Company.
The number of personnel in the brigades was about 2800 people.
Starting from 1982-1983, airborne training began in the airborne assault brigades, in connection with which there were some organizational changes in the structure of the formations.
In addition to the brigades, separate air assault battalions were formed in December 1979, which were supposed to act in the interests of the armies and solve tactical tasks in the enemy's near rear. In the mid-80s, an additional formation of several more battalions took place. In total, more than twenty such battalions were formed, a complete list of which I have not yet been able to establish - there were several cadre battalions, the numbers of which do not come across in the open press. By the mid-80s, the combined arms and tank armies of the Armed Forces of the USSR included:
899th odshb (military unit 61139), 20th guards OA, GSVG, Burg;
900th odshb (military unit 60370), 8th Guards OA, GSVG, Leipzig;
901st odshb (military unit 49138), TsGV, Riechki, then PribVO, Aluksne;
902nd odshb (military unit 61607), South GV, Hungary, Kecskemét;
903rd odshb 28th OA, BelVO, Brest (until 1986), then in Grodno;
904th odshb (military unit 32352), 13th OA, PrikVO, Vladimir-Volynsky;
905th odshb (military unit 92617), 14th OA, OdVO, Bendery;
906th odshb (military unit 75194), 36th OA, ZabVO, Borzya, Khada-Bulak;
907th odshb (military unit 74981), 43rd AK, Far East Military District, Birobidzhan;
908th odshb 1st guards OA, KVO, Konotop, since 1984 Chernigov, Goncharovskoye settlement;
1011th odshb 5th guards TA, BelVO, Maryina Gorka;
1039th odshb 11th guards OA, PribVO, Kaliningrad;
1044th odshb (military unit 47596), 1st guards TA, GSVG, Koenigsbrück, after 1989 - PribVO, Taurage;
1048th odshb (military unit 45476), 40th OA, TurkVO, Termez;
1145th odshb 5th OA, Far Eastern Military District, Sergeevna;
1151st odshb 7th TA, BelVO, Polotsk;
1154th odshb 86th AK, ZabVO, Shelekhov;
1156th odshb 8th TA, PrikVO, Novograd-Volynsky;
1179th ODShB (military unit 73665), 6th OA, LenVO, Petrozavodsk;
1185th odshb (military unit 55342), 2nd guards TA, GSVG, Ravensbrück, then PribVO, Vyru;
1603rd odshb 38th OA, PrikVO, Nadvirna;
1604th odshb 29th OA, ZabVO, Ulan-Ude;
1605th odshb 5th OA, Far Eastern Military District, Spassk-Dalniy;
1609th odshb 39th OA, ZabVO, Kyakhta.
Also in 1982, their own air assault battalions were created in the Marine Corps of the USSR Navy. In particular, in the Pacific Fleet, such a battalion was created on the basis of the 1st Marine Battalion of the 165th Marine Regiment of the 55th Division. Then similar battalions were created in other regiments of the division and separate brigades in other fleets. These Marine air assault battalions received airborne training and parachute jumps. That is why I have included them in this story. The air assault battalions that were part of the 55th division did not have their own numbers and were named only according to continuous numbering within their regiment. Battalions in brigades, as separate units, received their own names:
876th odshb (military unit 81285) 61st brigade, Northern Fleet, Sputnik settlement;
879th odshb (military unit 81280) 336th guards brigade, BF, Baltiysk;
881st odshb 810th brigade, Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol;
1st dshb 165th infantry regiment 55th dmp, Pacific Fleet, Vladivostok;
1st dshb 390th infantry regiment 55th dmp, Pacific Fleet, Slavyanka.
Based on the composition of weapons, individual air assault battalions were divided into "light", which did not have armored vehicles, and "heavy", which were armed with up to 30 infantry fighting vehicles or landing. Both types of battalions were also armed with 6 mortars with a caliber of 120 mm, six AGS-17 and several anti-tank systems.
The brigades were composed of three airborne battalions on infantry fighting vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles or GAZ-66 vehicles, an artillery battalion (18 D-30 howitzers), an anti-tank battery, an anti-aircraft missile battery, a mortar battery (six 120-mm mortars), a reconnaissance a company, a communications company, a sapper company, an airborne support company, a chemical protection company, a material support company, a repair company, an automobile company and a medical center. A separate paratrooper battalion of the brigade consisted of three parachute companies, a mortar battery (4–6 82-mm mortars), a grenade launcher platoon (6 AGS-17 grenade launchers), a communications platoon, an anti-tank platoon (4 SPG-9 and 6 ATGMs) and a support platoon.
During the passage of airborne training, the parachute service of the airborne assault battalions and brigades was guided by the documents of the PDS of the Airborne Forces.
In addition to brigades and battalions, the General Staff also tried another organization of air assault units. By the mid-80s, two army corps of the new organization were formed in the USSR. These corps were created for the purpose of their use in expanding the operational breakthrough (if something happened to break through). The new corps had a brigade structure and consisted of mechanized and tank brigades, and besides this, the corps included air assault regiments two-battalion composition. The regiments were intended to be a tool for "vertical coverage", and in the corps they were used in conjunction with a helicopter regiment.
In the Belarusian Military District, the 5th Guards Combined Arms Army Corps was formed on the basis of the 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division, and in the Trans-Baikal Military District in Kyakhta, the 48th Guards Combined Arms Army Corps was formed on the basis of the 5th Guards Tank Division.
The 5th Guards AK received the 1318th air assault regiment(military unit 33508) and the 276th Helicopter Regiment, while the 48th Guards Army Corps received the 1319th Air Assault Regiment (military unit 33518) and the 373rd Helicopter Regiment. However, these parts did not last long. Already in 1989, the guards army corps were again folded into divisions, and the air assault regiments were disbanded.
In 1986, in connection with the creation of the Headquarters of the High Commands of the directions, another wave of formations of air assault brigades took place. In addition to the existing formations, four more brigades were formed - according to the number of directions. Thus, in the subordination of the reserve of the Rates of operational directions by the end of 1986, the following were formed:
23rd brigade (military unit 51170), GK of the South-Western direction, Kremenchug;
83rd Airborne Brigade (military unit 54009), Civil Code of the Western Direction, Bialogard;
128th detachment of the cadre of the Civil Code of the Southern direction, Stavropol;
130th detachment of the frame (military unit 79715), GK of the Far East direction, Abakan.
In total, by the end of the 80s, the USSR Armed Forces had sixteen air assault brigades, of which three (58th, 128th and 130th airborne brigade) were kept on a reduced staff or were cropped. In any case, this was a significant addition to the existing airborne forces and formations. special purpose GRU. No one in the world had such a large number of landing troops.
In 1986, large-scale airborne assault exercises were held in the Far East, in which the personnel of the 13th airborne assault brigade were involved. In August, on 32 Mi-8 and Mi-6 helicopters, an air assault battalion with reinforcements was landed at the Burevestnik airfield on Iturup Island in the Kuril Range. In the same place, parachute landing of the reconnaissance company of the brigade was carried out from the An-12 aircraft. The disembarked subdivisions fully fulfilled the tasks assigned to them. Supporters of the entry of the Kuriles into the USSR could sleep peacefully.
In 1989, the General Staff decides to disband the separate air assault battalions of the combined arms and tank armies, and separate air assault brigades district subordination are reorganized into separate airborne brigades and transferred to the command of the commander of the airborne forces.
By the end of 1991, all separate airborne assault battalions (with the exception of the 901st Airborne Battalion) were disbanded.
In the same period, in connection with the collapse of the USSR, strong changes affected the existing air assault formations. Part of the brigades was transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Kazakhstan, and part was simply disbanded.
The 39th Airborne Brigade (by this time already called the 224th Airborne Training Center), the 58th Airborne Brigade and the 40th Airborne Brigade were transferred to Ukraine, the 35th Airborne Brigade was withdrawn from Germany to Kazakhstan, where it became part of the armed forces of the republic . The 38th brigade was transferred to Belarus.
The 83rd brigade was withdrawn from Poland, which was transferred across the country to a new point of permanent deployment - the city of Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai. At the same time, the 13th brigade, which was part of the Far Eastern Military District, was transferred to Orenburg - again almost across the country, only in the opposite direction (a purely economic question - why?).
The 21st brigade was transferred to Stavropol, and the 128th brigade located there was disbanded. The 57th and 130th brigades were also disbanded.
Looking ahead a little, I will say that in the "Russian time" by the end of 1994, the Russian Armed Forces included the following units:
11th brigade of the Trans-Baikal Military District (Ulan-Ude);
13th brigade of the Ural Military District (Orenburg);
21st brigade of the North Caucasian military district (Stavropol);
36th brigade of the Leningrad Military District (Garbolovo);
37th brigade of the North-Western group of troops (Chernyakhovsk);
From the book 100 great aviation and astronautical records author Zigunenko Stanislav NikolaevichThe first paratroopers Since 1929, parachutes have become mandatory equipment for pilots and aeronauts. It was necessary to organize a parachute service in the country, to educate paratroopers, to break the wall of disbelief in the silk dome. One of the first to start this work in our country
From the book Encyclopedia of Delusions. Third Reich author Likhacheva Larisa BorisovnaSA. Were stormtroopers real men? Well, what can I say to you, my friend? There are still contrasts in life: There are so many girls around, And you and I are buggers. The harsh truth of life as presented by Joseph Raskin - Comrade commander, appeared in our company
Airborne troops
(VDV)
From the history of creation
The history of the Russian Airborne Forces is inextricably linked with the history of the creation and development of the Red Army. A great contribution to the theory of combat use of airborne assaults was made by Marshal of the Soviet Union M.N. Tukhachevsky. Back in the second half of the 1920s, he was the first among Soviet military figures to deeply study the role of airborne assault forces in a future war, and substantiated the prospects of the Airborne Forces.
In the work "New Questions of War" M.N. Tukhachevsky wrote: “If a country is prepared for the widespread production of airborne assault forces capable of capturing and stopping activities railways the enemy in decisive directions, paralyze the deployment and mobilization of his troops, etc., then such a country will be able to reverse the previous methods of operational operations and give the outcome of the war a much more decisive character.
A significant place in this work is given to the role of airborne assault forces in border battles. The author believed that during this period of the battle it would be more profitable to use airborne assault forces to disrupt mobilization, isolate and tie down border garrisons, defeat local enemy troops, capture airfields, landing sites and solve other important tasks.
Much attention was paid to the development of the theory of the use of the Airborne Forces by Ya.I. Alksnis, A.I. Egorov, A.I. Cork, I.P. Uborevich, I.E. Yakir and many other military leaders. They believed that the most trained soldiers should serve in the Airborne Forces, ready to complete any task, while showing determination and stamina. Airborne assault forces must deliver sudden attacks on the enemy where no one is waiting for them.
Theoretical studies led to the fact that combat activity The airborne troops should be of an offensive nature, bold to the point of insolence and extremely maneuverable in carrying out quick, concentrated strikes. Airborne assault forces, making maximum use of the suddenness of their appearance, must swiftly strike at the most sensitive points, achieve hourly success, thereby increasing panic in the ranks of the enemy.
Simultaneously with the development of the theory of the combat use of the Airborne Forces in the Red Army, bold experiments were carried out on the landing of airborne assault forces, an extensive program was conducted to create experimental airborne units, questions of their organization were studied, a system of combat training was developed.
For the first time, an airborne assault was used to perform a combat mission in 1929. On April 13, 1929, the Fuzaili gang made another raid from Afghanistan to the territory of Tajikistan. The plans of the Basmachi included capturing the Garm district and in the future to ensure the invasion of the Alai and Ferghana valleys of larger bands of the Basmachi. Cavalry detachments were sent to the Basmachi invasion area with the task of destroying the gang before it captured the Garm district. However, the information received from the city testified that they would not have time to block the path of the gang, which had already defeated a detachment of Garm volunteers in the oncoming battle and threatened the city. In this critical situation, the commander of the Central Asian military district P.E. Dybenko made a bold decision: to transfer a detachment of fighters through the air and with a sudden blow to destroy the enemy on the outskirts of the city. The detachment consisted of 45 people armed with rifles and four machine guns. On the morning of April 23, two platoon commanders flew to the combat area on the first plane, followed by the commander of the cavalry brigade T.T. Shapkin, brigade commissar A.T. Fedin. The platoon commanders were supposed to capture the landing site and ensure the landing of the main forces of the detachment. The task of the brigade commander was to study the situation on the spot and then, returning back to Dushanbe, report the results to the commander. Commissar Fedin was supposed to take command of the landing force and lead the actions to destroy the gang. An hour and a half after the first plane took off, the main landing forces took off. However, the detachment's plan of action planned earlier was canceled immediately after the plane landed with the commander and commissar. Half of the city was already occupied by the Basmachi, so it was impossible to delay. Having sent a plane with a report, the brigade commander decided to immediately attack the enemy with available forces, without waiting for the landing force to arrive. Having obtained horses in the nearest villages and splitting into two groups, the detachment moved to Garm. Having burst into the city, the detachment unleashed powerful machine-gun and rifle fire on the Basmachi. The bandits were confused. They knew about the size of the city's garrison, but they were armed with rifles, and where did the machine guns come from? The bandits decided that a division of the Red Army had broken into the city, and, unable to withstand the onslaught, retreated from the city, losing about 80 people in the process. The approaching cavalry units completed the defeat of the Fuzaili gang. District Commander P.E. Dybenko, during the analysis, highly appreciated the actions of the detachment.
The second experiment took place on July 26, 1930. On this day, under the leadership of military pilot L. Minov, the first training jumps were made in Voronezh. Leonid Grigorievich Minov himself later told how the events unfolded: “I didn’t think that one jump could change a lot in life. I loved flying with all my heart. Like all my comrades, at that time I was distrustful of parachutes. and did not think. In 1928, I happened to be at a meeting of the leadership of the Air Force, where I made my report on the results of work on "blind" flights at the Borisoglebsk school of military pilots. After the meeting, Pyotr Ionovich Baranov, head of the Air Force, called me and asked: "In your report, you said that you must fly blind without fail with a parachute. Leonid Grigorievich, what do you think, are parachutes needed in military aviation?" What could I say then! Of course, parachutes are needed. The best proof of this was the forced parachute jump of test pilot M. Gromov. Recalling this incident, I answered Pyotr Ionovich in the affirmative. Then he suggested that I go to the USA and get to know how they are doing with the rescue service in aviation. Frankly, I reluctantly agreed. I returned from the United States of America "small": with a "diploma" in my pocket and three jumps. Pyotr Ionovich Baranov put my memorandum in a skinny folder. When he closed it, on the cover I saw the inscription: "Parachuting business." I left Baranov's office two hours later. A lot of work had to be done on the introduction of parachutes in aviation, on the organization various studies and experiments aimed at improving flight safety. It was decided to hold classes in Voronezh in order to familiarize the flight crew with parachutes and the organization of jumps. Baranov suggested thinking about the possibility of training 10-15 paratroopers at the Voronezh training camp to perform a group jump. On July 26, 1930, participants in the training camp of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District gathered at the airfield near Voronezh. I had to perform a demonstration jump. Of course, everyone who was on the airfield considered me an ace in this matter. 'Cause I've been here the only person who has already received an air parachute baptism and jumped more than once, not two, but had as many as three jumps! And the prize-winning place I took at the competitions of the strongest skydivers in the USA, apparently, seemed to be something inaccessible to those present. Together with me, the pilot Moshkovsky, who was appointed my assistant at the training camp, was preparing to jump. There were no more applicants. My jump was really successful. I landed lightly, not far from the audience, I even stood on my feet. Met with applause. A girl who came from somewhere handed me a bouquet of field daisies. - "And how is Moshkovsky?"... The plane enters the course. His figure is clearly visible in the doorway. It's time to jump. It's time! But he is still standing in the doorway, apparently not daring to rush down. Another second, second. Finally! A white plume shot up over the falling man and immediately turned into a tight canopy of a parachute. - "Hurrah-ah-ah! .." - there was a sound around. Many pilots, seeing Moshkovsky and me alive and unharmed, expressed a desire to jump too. On that day, the squadron commander A. Stoilov, his assistant K. Zatonsky, pilots I. Povalyaev and I. Mukhin made jumps. And three days later there were 30 people in the ranks of paratroopers. After listening to my report on the course of the training by phone, Baranov asked: "Tell me, is it possible to prepare, say, ten or fifteen people for a group jump in two or three days?" Having received a positive answer, Pyotr Ionovich explained his thought: "It would be very good if it were possible during the Voronezh exercise to demonstrate the release of a group of armed paratroopers for sabotage operations on the territory of the" enemy "."
Needless to say, we accepted this original and interesting task with great enthusiasm. It was decided to launch the landing from the Farman-Goliath aircraft. In those days it was the only aircraft we had mastered for jumping. Its advantage over the TB-1 bombers available in the air brigade was that a person did not need to get out onto the wing - the paratroopers jumped directly into the open door. Moreover, all trainees were in the cockpit. The feeling of a comrade's elbow reassured everyone. In addition, the releaser could watch him, cheer him up before the jump. Ten volunteers who had already completed training jumps were selected to participate in the landing. In addition to the landing of fighters, the plan of the landing operation included the dropping of weapons and ammunition (light machine guns, grenades, cartridges) from aircraft on special cargo parachutes. For this purpose, two soft mail bags and four light-heavy boxes designed by K. Blagin were used. The landing group was divided into two detachments, since no more than seven paratroopers fit in the cockpit. After the landing of the first paratroopers, the plane returned to the airfield for the second group. During the break between jumps, it was planned to drop six cargo parachutes with weapons and ammunition from three P-1 aircraft. As a result of this experiment, I wanted to get an answer to a number of questions: to establish the degree of dispersion of a group of six people and the time of separation from the aircraft of all fighters; fix the time it will take to descend the paratroopers to the ground, receive the dropped weapons and bring the landing force into full readiness for combat operations. In order to expand the experience, the drop of the first detachment was planned from a height of 350 meters, the second - from 500 meters, dropping cargo - from 150 meters. Preparations for the landing operation were completed on 31 July. Each fighter knew his place on the plane and his task on the ground. The paratroopers' equipment, consisting of the main and reserve parachutes, was stowed and carefully fitted to the soldier's figure, weapons and ammunition were packed in hanging bags and cargo parachute boxes.
On August 2, 1930, at exactly 9 o'clock, a plane took off from the base airfield. On board is the first detachment of paratroopers. Together with us and the head of the second group Ya. Moshkovsky. He decided to see where the place of separation of our group was, so that later he could accurately parachute his guys. We were followed by three R-1 planes, under the wings of which cargo parachutes were suspended on bomb racks.
Having made a circle, our plane turned to the landing site, located about two kilometers from the airfield. The landing area is a field free from crops measuring 600 by 800 meters. She adjoined a small farm. One of the buildings, located on the outskirts of the farm, was designated as a landmark for collecting paratroopers after landing and as a starting point for the start of military operations of the landing force in the rear of the "enemy". - "Get ready!" - trying to shout over the rumble of engines, I commanded. The guys immediately got up and stood one after another, clutching the pull ring in their right hand. Faces are tense, focused. As soon as they crossed the site, I gave the command: "Go!" ... - the fighters literally poured out of the plane, I dived last and immediately pulled the ring. I counted - all the domes opened normally. We landed almost in the center of the site, not far from each other. The soldiers quickly gathered their parachutes and ran up to me. In the meantime, the R-1 link passed overhead and dropped six parachutes with weapons on the edge of the farm. We rushed there, unpacked the bags, took out machine guns, cartridges. And now our "Farman" with the second group reappeared in the sky. As planned, Moshkovsky's group left the plane at an altitude of 500 meters. They landed next to us. It took only a few minutes, and 12 paratroopers, armed with two light machine guns, rifles, revolvers and grenades, were in full readiness for combat operations ... "
So the world's first parachute landing was dropped.
In the order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR dated October 24, 1930, People's Commissar K. Voroshilov noted: “Successful experiments in organizing airborne assaults should be noted as achievements. Airborne operations should be comprehensively studied from the technical and tactical side by the Headquarters of the Red Army and they were given appropriate instructions on the spot.
It is this order that is the legal evidence of the birth of the "winged infantry" in the Land of Soviets.
Organizational structure of the airborne troops
- Command of the Airborne Troops
- Airborne and air assault formations:
- 98th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Division
- 106th Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Airborne Division
- 7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Division;
- 76th Guards Air Assault Chernihiv Red Banner Division;
- 31st Separate Guards Airborne Assault Order of Kutuzov, 2nd Class Brigade;
- Military unit of special purpose:
- 45th Separate Guards Order of Kutuzov Order of Alexander Nevsky Special Purpose Regiment;
- Military support units:
- 38th separate regiment communications of the Airborne Troops;
Airborne Troops- a type of troops intended for combat operations behind enemy lines.
Designed for airborne landings behind enemy lines or for rapid deployment in geographically remote areas, often used as a rapid reaction force.
The main method of delivery of the Airborne Forces is parachute landing, they can also be delivered by helicopter; during World War II, glider delivery was practiced.
- The Airborne Forces consist of:
- paratroopers
- tank
- artillery
- self-propelled artillery
- other units and divisions
- from units and subunits of special troops and rear.
The personnel of the Airborne Forces are parachuted along with their personal weapons.
Tanks, rocket launchers, artillery guns, self-propelled guns, ammunition and other materiel are dropped from aircraft using airborne equipment (parachutes, parachute and parachute-rocket systems, cargo containers, platforms for installing and dropping weapons and equipment) or delivered by aircraft behind enemy lines to captured airfields.
- The main combat properties of the Airborne Forces:
- ability to quickly reach remote areas
- strike suddenly
- successfully conduct combined arms combat.
The Airborne Forces are armed with airborne self-propelled guns ASU-85; self-propelled artillery guns "Octopus-SD"; 122-mm D-30 howitzers; airborne combat vehicles BMD-1/2/3/4; armored personnel carriers BTR-D.
Part of the Armed Forces Russian Federation may be part of the joint armed forces (for example, the CIS Joint Forces) or be under joint command in accordance with the international treaties of the Russian Federation (for example, as part of the UN peacekeeping forces or the CIS collective peacekeeping forces in zones of local military conflicts).
Airborne troops of the Russian Federation- This is a separate branch of the Russian Armed Forces, which is in the reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the country and is directly subordinate to the Commander of the Airborne Forces. At the moment, this position is held (since October 2016) by Colonel General Serdyukov.
The purpose of the airborne troops- these are actions behind enemy lines, carrying out deep raids, capturing important enemy facilities, bridgeheads, disrupting enemy communications and enemy control, conducting sabotage in his rear. The Airborne Forces were created primarily as an effective tool for offensive warfare. To cover the enemy and operate in his rear, the Airborne Forces can use both parachute and landing landings.
The airborne troops of Russia are rightfully considered the elite of the armed forces, in order to get into this branch of the military, candidates must meet very high criteria. First of all, it concerns physical health and psychological stability. And this is natural: the paratroopers carry out their tasks behind enemy lines, without the support of their main forces, the supply of ammunition and the evacuation of the wounded.
The Soviet Airborne Forces were created in the 30s, the further development of this type of troops was rapid: by the beginning of the war, five airborne corps were deployed in the USSR, with a strength of 10 thousand people each. USSR Airborne Forces played important role in the victory over the Nazi invaders. The paratroopers actively participated in Afghan war. The Russian airborne troops were officially created on May 12, 1992, they went through both Chechen campaigns, participated in the war with Georgia in 2008.
The flag of the Airborne Forces is a blue panel with a green stripe at the bottom. In its center is an image of an open golden parachute and two planes of the same color. The flag of the Airborne Forces was officially approved in 2004.
In addition to the flag of the airborne troops, there is also the emblem of this type of troops. The emblem of the airborne troops is a flaming gold-colored grenada with two wings. There is also a medium and large airborne emblem. The middle emblem depicts a double-headed eagle with a crown on its head and a shield with George the Victorious in the center. In one paw, the eagle holds a sword, and in the other, a flaming grenada of the Airborne Forces. On the large emblem, grenada is placed on a blue heraldic shield framed by an oak wreath. In its upper part is a double-headed eagle.
In addition to the emblem and flag of the Airborne Forces, there is also the motto of the Airborne Forces: "No one but us." The paratroopers even have their own heavenly patron - Saint Elijah.
The professional holiday of the paratroopers is the Day of the Airborne Forces. It is celebrated on August 2nd. On this day in 1930, the first parachute landing of a unit was made to perform a combat mission. On August 2, Airborne Forces Day is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
The airborne troops of Russia are armed with both conventional types of military equipment and models developed specifically for this type of troops, taking into account the specifics of the tasks that it performs.
It is difficult to name the exact number of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation, this information is secret. However, according to unofficial data obtained from Russian Ministry defense, it is about 45 thousand fighters. Foreign estimates of the number of this type of troops are somewhat more modest - 36 thousand people.
Story creation of the Airborne Forces
Soviet Union, without a doubt, is the birthplace of the Airborne Forces. It was in the USSR that the first airborne unit was created, this happened in 1930. At first it was a small detachment, which was part of an ordinary rifle division. On August 2, the first parachute landing was successfully carried out during exercises at the training ground near Voronezh.
However, the first use of paratroopers in military affairs occurred even earlier, in 1929. During the siege of the Tajik city of Garm by anti-Soviet rebels, a detachment of Red Army soldiers was parachuted there, which made it possible to unblock the settlement as soon as possible.
Two years later, a special purpose brigade was formed on the basis of the detachment, and in 1938 it was renamed the 201st Airborne Brigade. In 1932, by decision of the Revolutionary Military Council, special-purpose aviation battalions were created, in 1933 their number reached 29 units. They were part of the Air Force, and their main task was to disorganize the rear of the enemy and carry out sabotage.
It should be noted that the development of the landing troops in the Soviet Union was very rapid and rapid. No expense was spared on them. In the 1930s, the country was experiencing a real "parachute" boom, parachute towers were in almost every stadium.
During the exercises of the Kyiv military district in 1935, a massive parachute landing was practiced for the first time. The following year, an even more massive landing was carried out in the Belarusian military district. Foreign military observers who were invited to the exercises were amazed at the scale of the landings and the skill of Soviet paratroopers.
According to the Field Charter of the Red Army of 1939, the airborne units were at the disposal of the main command, they were planned to be used to deliver strikes behind enemy lines. At the same time, it was instructed to clearly coordinate such strikes with other branches of the armed forces, which at that moment were inflicting frontal strikes on the enemy.
In 1939, Soviet paratroopers managed to gain their first combat experience: the 212th airborne brigade also took part in the battles with the Japanese at Khalkhin Gol. Hundreds of its fighters were awarded government awards. Several parts of the Airborne Forces participated in the Soviet-Finnish war. The paratroopers were also involved during the capture of Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia.
On the eve of the start of the war, airborne corps were created in the USSR, each of them included up to 10 thousand fighters. In April 1941, by order of the Soviet military leadership, five airborne corps were deployed in the western regions of the country, after the German attack (in August 1941), the formation of five more airborne corps began. A few days before the German invasion (June 12), the Directorate of the Airborne Forces was created, and in September 1941, the paratrooper units were withdrawn from the command of the fronts. Each corps of the Airborne Forces was a very formidable force: in addition to well-trained personnel, it was armed with artillery and light amphibious tanks.
Information:In addition to the landing corps, the Red Army also included mobile landing brigades (five units), spare regiments of the Airborne Forces (five units) and educational establishments who trained paratroopers.
Airborne units made a significant contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders. The airborne units played a particularly important role in the initial - the most difficult - period of the war. Despite the fact that the airborne troops are intended for offensive operations and have a minimum of heavy weapons (compared to other branches of the military), at the beginning of the war, paratroopers were often used to “patching holes”: in defense, to eliminate sudden German breakthroughs, to release surrounded by Soviet troops. Due to this practice, the paratroopers suffered unreasonably high losses, and the effectiveness of their use decreased. Often, the preparation of landing operations left much to be desired.
Airborne units took part in the defense of Moscow, as well as in the subsequent counteroffensive. The 4th Corps of the Airborne Forces was parachuted in the winter of 1942 during the Vyazemsky landing operation. In 1943, during the crossing of the Dnieper, two airborne brigades were thrown behind enemy lines. Another major landing operation was carried out in Manchuria in August 1945. In its course, 4,000 fighters were parachuted by landing.
In October 1944, the Soviet Airborne Forces were transformed into a separate guards airborne army, and in December of the same year - to the 9th Guards Army. Airborne divisions have become ordinary rifle divisions. At the end of the war, the paratroopers took part in the liberation of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. The 9th Guards Army ended its glorious military career on the Elbe.
In 1946, the landing units were introduced into the Ground Forces and were subordinate to the country's Minister of Defense.
In 1956, Soviet paratroopers participated in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising, and in the mid-60s they played key role in pacifying another country that wanted to leave the socialist camp - Czechoslovakia.
After the end of the war, the world entered the era of confrontation between the two superpowers - the USSR and the USA. The plans of the Soviet leadership were by no means limited only to defense, so the airborne troops developed especially actively during this period. Emphasis was placed on increasing the firepower of the Airborne Forces. For this, a whole range of airborne equipment was developed, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, automobile transport. The fleet of military transport aircraft was significantly increased. In the 1970s, large-capacity wide-body transport aircraft were created, which made it possible to transport not only personnel, but also heavy military equipment. By the end of the 80s, the state of the military transport aviation of the USSR was such that it could ensure the parachute drop of almost 75% of the personnel of the Airborne Forces in one sortie.
At the end of the 60s, a new type of units that were part of the Airborne Forces was created - airborne assault units (DShCh). They were not much different from the rest of the Airborne Forces, but they were subordinate to the command of groups of troops, armies or corps. The reason for the creation of the DShCh was a change in the tactical plans prepared by Soviet strategists in the event of a full-scale war. After the start of the conflict enemy defense planned to "break" with the help of massive landings landed in the immediate rear of the enemy.
In the mid-1980s, the USSR Ground Forces included 14 air assault brigades, 20 battalions and 22 separate air assault regiments.
In 1979, the war in Afghanistan began, and the Soviet Airborne Forces took an active part in it. During this conflict, the paratroopers had to engage in counter-guerrilla struggle, of course, there was no talk of any parachute landing. The delivery of personnel to the place of combat operations took place with the help of armored vehicles or vehicles, landing by landing method from helicopters was less often used.
The paratroopers were often used to guard the numerous outposts and roadblocks scattered throughout the country. Typically, airborne units performed tasks more suitable for motorized rifle units.
It should be noted that in Afghanistan, the paratroopers used military equipment of the ground forces, which was more suitable for the harsh conditions of this country than their own. Also, parts of the Airborne Forces in Afghanistan were reinforced with additional artillery and tank units.
Information:After the collapse of the USSR, the division of its armed forces began. These processes also affected the paratroopers. They were able to finally divide the Airborne Forces only by 1992, after which the Russian Airborne Forces were created. They included all units that were located on the territory of the RSFSR, as well as part of the divisions and brigades that were previously located in other republics of the USSR.
In 1993, the Russian Airborne Forces included six divisions, six air assault brigades and two regiments. In 1994, in Kubinka near Moscow, on the basis of two battalions, the 45th Special Forces Regiment of the Airborne Forces (the so-called special forces of the Airborne Forces) was created.
The 1990s became a serious test for the Russian landing troops (as well as for the entire army, by the way). The number of the Airborne Forces was seriously reduced, some of the units were disbanded, the paratroopers became subordinate to the Ground Forces. The army aviation of the SV was transferred to the air force, which significantly worsened the mobility of the airborne forces.
The airborne troops of the Russian Federation took part in both Chechen campaigns, in 2008 the paratroopers were involved in Ossetian conflict. The Airborne Forces have repeatedly taken part in peacekeeping operations (for example, in the former Yugoslavia). Airborne units regularly participate in international exercises, they guard Russian military bases abroad (Kyrgyzstan).
The structure and composition of the troops
Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces consist of command and control structures, combat units and units, as well as various institutions that provide them.
- Structurally, the Airborne Forces have three main components:
- Airborne. It includes all airborne units.
- Air assault. Consists of air assault units.
- Mountain. It includes air assault units designed to operate in mountainous areas.
At the moment, the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation include four divisions, as well as separate brigades and regiments. Airborne troops, composition:
- 76th Guards Air Assault Division, stationed in Pskov.
- 98th Guards Airborne Division, located in Ivanovo.
- 7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division, stationed in Novorossiysk.
- 106th Guards Airborne Division - Tula.
Regiments and brigades of the Airborne Forces:
- 11th Separate Guards Airborne Brigade, stationed in the city of Ulan-Ude.
- 45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade (Moscow).
- 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Place of deployment - the city of Kamyshin.
- 31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Based in Ulyanovsk.
- 83rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade. Location - Ussuriysk.
- 38th separate guards regiment airborne communications. Located in the Moscow region, in the village of Medvezhye Ozera.
In 2013, the creation of the 345th Airborne Assault Brigade in Voronezh was officially announced, but then the formation of the unit was postponed to a later date (2017 or 2018). There is information that in 2017 an airborne assault battalion will be deployed on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, and in the future, a regiment of the 7th airborne assault division, which is currently deployed in Novorossiysk, will be formed on its basis.
In addition to combat units, the Russian Airborne Forces also include educational institutions that train personnel for the Airborne Forces. The main of them and the most famous is the Ryazan Higher Airborne command school, which also trains officers for the Russian Airborne Forces. Also, the structure of this type of troops includes two Suvorov School(in Tula and Ulyanovsk), Omsk cadet corps and the 242nd training center located in Omsk.
Armament and equipment of the Airborne Forces
The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use both combined arms equipment and samples that were created specifically for this type of troops. Most types of weapons and military equipment of the Airborne Forces were developed and manufactured back in the Soviet period, but there are also more modern models created in modern times.
The most popular models of airborne armored vehicles at present are the airborne combat vehicles BMD-1 (about 100 units) and BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units). Both of these vehicles were produced back in the Soviet Union (BMD-1 in 1968, BMD-2 in 1985). They can be used for landing both by landing and by parachute. These are reliable vehicles that have been tested in many armed conflicts, but they are clearly outdated, both morally and physically. This is openly stated even by representatives of the top leadership of the Russian army.
More modern is the BMD-3, the operation of which began in 1990. Currently, 10 units of this combat vehicle are in service. Serial production has been discontinued. The BMD-3 is to replace the BMD-4, which was put into service in 2004. However, its production is slow, today there are 30 BMP-4s and 12 BMP-4Ms in service.
Also, the airborne units are armed with a small number of BTR-82A and BTR-82AM armored personnel carriers (12 pieces), as well as the Soviet BTR-80. The most numerous armored personnel carrier currently used by the Russian Airborne Forces is the tracked BTR-D (more than 700 pieces). It was put into service in 1974 and is very outdated. It should be replaced by the BTR-MDM "Shell", but so far its production is moving very slowly: today in combat units there are from 12 to 30 (according to various sources) "Shells".
The anti-tank weapons of the Airborne Forces are represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled anti-tank gun (36 units), BTR-RD Robot self-propelled anti-tank systems (more than 100 units) and a wide range of different ATGMs: Metis, Fagot, Konkurs and "Cornet".
Is on armament of the Airborne Forces Russian Federation and self-propelled and towed artillery: Nona self-propelled guns (250 units and several hundred more units in storage), D-30 howitzer (150 units), as well as Nona-M1 mortars (50 units) and Tray (150 units).
The air defense means of the Airborne Forces consist of portable missile systems (various modifications of Igla and Verba), as well as the Strela short-range air defense system. Special attention should be paid to the newest Russian MANPADS "Verba", which was only recently put into service and now it has been put into trial operation in only a few units of the RF Armed Forces, including the 98th Airborne Division.
Information:The Airborne Forces also operate self-propelled anti-aircraft guns BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (150 units) of Soviet production and towed anti-aircraft guns ZU-23-2.
AT last years The Airborne Forces began to receive new models of automotive equipment, of which the Tigr armored car, the A-1 Snowmobile all-terrain vehicle and the KAMAZ-43501 truck should be noted.
The airborne troops are sufficiently equipped with communication, control and electronic warfare systems. Among them, modern Russian developments should be noted: electronic warfare systems "Leer-2" and "Leer-3", "Infauna", the control system for air defense systems "Barnaul", automated command and control systems "Andromeda-D" and "Flight-K".
In service airborne troops worth a wide range small arms, among which there are both Soviet samples and newer Russian developments. The latter include the Yarygin pistol, the PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The main personal weapon of the fighters remains the Soviet AK-74 assault rifle, but deliveries of the more advanced AK-74M to the troops have already begun. To carry out sabotage missions, paratroopers can use the Val silent assault rifle.
The Airborne Forces are armed with machine guns "Pecheneg" (Russia) and NSV (USSR), as well as a heavy machine gun "Kord" (Russia).
Among the sniper systems, it should be noted SV-98 (Russia) and Vintorez (USSR), as well as the Austrian Steyr SSG 04 sniper rifle, which was purchased for the needs of special forces of the Airborne Forces. The paratroopers are armed with automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30, as well as an easel grenade launcher SPG-9 "Spear". In addition, a number of hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers of both Soviet and Russian production are used.
To conduct aerial reconnaissance and adjust artillery fire, the Airborne Forces use Russian-made Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles. The exact number of Orlans in service with the Airborne Forces is unknown.
The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use a large number of different parachute systems of Soviet and Russian production. With their help, landing of both personnel and military equipment is carried out.
Airborne troops are one of the strongest components of the army of the Russian Federation. In recent years, due to the tense international situation, the importance of the Airborne Forces has been growing. 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 air force structure 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 the commander of the Airborne Forces of the USSR SV, 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 withdrawal of the DSB from the subordination of the Far East and the 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 of the 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
The commanders of the DShB were most often selected from the Airborne Forces, and the 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, the planned enrollment in educational institutions is expanding 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 fitness, psychological training 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
As for the 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.
The machines of the Soviet period include:
- 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 the history of the Airborne Forces, 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, but there are units and units of the Special Forces of the GRU of the General Staff, which arose in the 50s. 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 the effectiveness of the 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.