19th Special Purpose Company. Special Purpose Regiment. Whatever the warrior, then Rambo

In just a few years of part and SPN units experienced an amazing round of development: from a serious reduction and reassignment to the formation of new brigades and even battalions, re-equipment with latest designs weapons and military equipment, means of communication, reconnaissance and surveillance devices. But, even despite the successful actions of "polite people" in the Crimea, the Russian special forces have a lot of serious problems.

Everything that has been happening in units and subdivisions since 2009 special purpose, received from the special forces themselves a rather apt name "chaotic throwing" or even simpler - "chaos". As they joke in the units and subunits of the Special Forces: “ At first they withered, but now we are trying to bloom in a new way. But everything is somehow unsuccessful».

wild brigades

From the very beginning announced by the ex-Minister of Defense and former boss The General Staff of the transition to a new look of the special forces brigades underwent a sudden reduction and reorganization. Moreover, units and subunits of the Special Forces, by a strong-willed decision of the leadership of the military department, were reassigned to the intelligence department of the Ground Forces, leaving the structure of the GRU of the General Staff. But the department responsible for the special forces remained in the GRU.

In 2009, the 12th (city of Asbest) and 67th (Berdsk) special-purpose brigades were disbanded, and the 24th special forces brigade managed to change several locations in just a year and a half, moving first from near Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk, and then to Berdsk, losing with each movement of military personnel who did not want to continue serving in the new garrisons.

According to some reports, it was planned to disband the youngest brigade - the 10th brigade from the Krasnodar Molkino, created in 2003 to solve special tasks in the North Caucasus. True, the situation in the region forced them to abandon these plans. But still, one of the detachments of the brigade was transferred to the newly formed experimental 100th reconnaissance brigade.

In other units and subunits of special forces, the positions of officers and ensigns were reduced, and the number of conscripts who replaced contract soldiers increased significantly. At one time, unit commanders had a special schedule for the dismissal of contract soldiers, for which they were asked at each meeting.

According to the original plan, approved by the former National Guard, two or three contract servicemen were enough for a group of 12 people - a deputy group commander, a sniper and a signalman. As the soldiers of the special forces themselves say, at first they broke everything, and then they began to build new system, not fully understanding what they want in the end.

In 2009, the so-called national special-purpose battalions appeared in several combined arms brigades. In particular, in the 19th brigade such a battalion is staffed by servicemen of Ingush nationality, and in the 18th and 8th brigades - mainly by Chechens.

Even more chaos in the reform of special forces units brought the Olympics in Sochi. To ensure it, the Ministry of Defense began the formation of a special-purpose brigade - the 346th obrSpN and separate regiment- 25th opSpN. According to some reports, the main task of these military units was to protect the Sochi region from possible terrorist raids from the Greater Caucasus Range.

It is noteworthy that until 2012, before the appointment of Sergei Shoigu to the post of Defense Minister, there was only one special-purpose regiment in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the 45th Special Forces Airborne Forces, however, formally (despite the name) was not part of the structure of the units and subunits of the GRU special forces. And the 25th regiment stationed in Stavropol became unique military unit. According to some reports, at the stage of formation, his companies were “cut into” areas of responsibility in the mountains. The regiment coped with the task of protecting the Olympics "excellently", however, like other units and subunits of the Special Forces involved.

Since 2013, the special forces, having returned under the wing of the GRU, began, as the servicemen themselves joke, “to multiply rapidly.” Literally in two years, the national battalions of the Special Forces appeared as part of the 4th and 7th military bases. It is noteworthy that these units are recruited mainly from residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, although, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, only those who have passports of citizens of the Russian Federation.

AT reconnaissance battalions x several brigades, in particular the 34th motorized rifle (mountain), special-purpose companies appeared. After an unsuccessful experiment from the 100th reconnaissance brigade, the Special Forces detachment returned to the 10th special forces brigade, and in its place a reconnaissance battalion with two special forces companies was formed. Until recently, the 33rd reconnaissance brigade (mountain) also existed on the same staff. True, this military unit was once again reorganized, but already into an ordinary motorized rifle brigade.

It should be noted that as part of each combined arms, air assault brigade(regiment) is a company of snipers, also formally a special forces unit. At the same time, in the North Caucasian 8th, 18th, 19th motorized rifle brigades, in addition to sniper companies and special forces battalions, there are also groups of snipers - as they say in the North Caucasus Military District, motorized rifle-special forces brigades.

Despite the return of units and subunits of the Special Forces to the structure of the Main Intelligence Directorate, a paradoxical situation arose with their subordination. For example, Special Forces brigades are subordinate to the GRU, and various battalions and companies are simultaneously subordinate to brigade commanders, chiefs of intelligence of the army and the district, and in some cases, to the chief of staff and personally to the commander of the district. At the same time, the GRU is responsible for their training, and also, under certain conditions, for combat use.

Whatever the warrior, then Rambo

In fact, in two years, a kind of special forces took place in the Russian Armed Forces, when special forces units appeared even in motorized rifle and tank brigades. It is clear that the need not only for trained intelligence officers, but also for signalmen, special miners, etc. has increased many times over. We must not forget about the snipers, who must complete special courses, until recently held only in the suburbs.

One of the attempts to solve the problem of training specialists was the expansion of opportunities specialized centers training of military reconnaissance personnel and Special Forces soldiers in each district. For example, in the North Caucasus District, the Daryal center specializes in mountain training, and a similar military unit in the Central Military District specializes in operations in winter conditions especially in wooded and hilly areas.

But as special forces officers admit, the main problem- a small proportion of military personnel under the contract, especially in the newly formed sniper companies, as well as companies and battalions of the Special Forces. Often, there are two or three contractors for several dozen conscripts. Not much better with personnel in the brigades of the Special Forces, although there the commanders from the beginning of the creation of a new look made every effort to preserve the backbone of the established military teams.

It is worth noting that despite the widespread belief that all Special Forces brigades were contract brigades before the new look, the percentage of recruits in Special Forces units was quite large. Only the North Caucasian 10th and 22nd Special Forces units could boast of a high proportion of professionals. Although in August 2008 urgently transferred to South Ossetia The 108th detachment of the Special Forces of the 22nd brigade had to be reinforced with consolidated reconnaissance groups of contract servicemen from other parts of this detachment of Special Forces.

Until recently, of the four companies and individual platoons in the detachments of the Special Forces of the brigades, only one company was fully contracted, not counting individual military personnel, in particular, armored personnel carrier drivers, signalmen, miners, etc. All other units consisted of conscripts. It is clear that they tried not to attract conscripts to perform combat missions, therefore, for the task of the brigades, they could hardly put up one Special Forces detachment from three special forces companies, a special weapons company and individual platoons.

True, by now it has been decided not to “spread a thin layer” of contract servicemen throughout the entire brigade (battalion), but to form a so-called contract detachment or company.

One of the most acute problems is the training of special forces snipers. Even in the companies of snipers of combined arms brigades, several Austrian Steyr-Mannlicher SSG-04 rifles are currently in the state. they train for several months at courses in the Moscow region, where they not only master Steyr, but also undergo special tactical training, topography, camouflage, etc.

So far, only officers and contract servicemen are being sent to the courses, since the conscript will most likely be transferred to the reserve upon completion of the courses. Classes are quite complex, require candidates not only physical endurance, but also high level intellect. Alas, it is not always possible to pick up such a contingent. Often, military personnel return to their units expelled. It is noteworthy that the snipers of one of the motorized rifle brigades received certificates of completion of the courses, but according to the results of the training, they were not trusted with complex and expensive Austrian rifles.

Soldiers of unconventional warfare

Not only the structure and composition of the units and subunits of the Special Forces, but also the tasks, have undergone changes. Despite the fact that the documents regulating the combat use of special forces remain classified as "Secret" and even "Top Secret", you can learn from open sources that one of the main tasks of the units and subunits of the Special Forces is to conduct so-called special intelligence. It is not only about observation, but also about conducting ambushes, raids and searches deep behind enemy lines. At present, these tasks have been supplemented by work in zones of local conflicts.

If you look at the US charter FM 3-18 Special Forces Operations, adopted in May 2014, you will find that the so-called special intelligence is not on the short list of the US Green Berets, whose main task, as indicated in chapter 3 field charter, conducting unconventional warfare, literally - unconventional hostilities. The second most important task is the training of foreign specialists, and the third is counterinsurgency.

The experience of counter-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus has proved that it is time for special forces units to move from special intelligence to work in a much more a wide range. According to some reports, the new combat regulations of the Special Forces units have new sections that regulate the assigned tasks.

However, such an expansion of functions does not always find understanding not only among the special forces themselves, but also, and more importantly, among the military command and control bodies responsible for planning the combat use of units and subunits of the Special Forces, which traditionally believe that their main task is to conduct reconnaissance, as well as protect headquarters , mobile command and control posts.

Although the annexation of Crimea to Russia last year once again proved that special forces are not only intelligence behind enemy lines, but also a tool for solving complex military-political tasks. The special forces were not abandoned for the purpose of reconnaissance, but blockaded military units, acted against hostile elements, organized local self-defense forces - in fact, they waged the same unconventional warfare prescribed in American charters. But, despite the tasks declared in the new Russian documents, the combat training program in most units and subunits of the Special Forces is still focused mainly on reconnaissance.

It is worth noting that in the US Army, the "green berets" are grouped into special forces assigned to certain regions. the globe. In particular, the 1st Special Forces Group based in Fort Lewis operates in the Pacific region, the 10th is focused on Europe, the Balkans, etc.

Depending on the military specialty, the training of an American commando takes from one year (engineer, heavy weapons specialist) to two years (medic). The structure of not only groups, but the entire command special operations optimized for unconventional warfare.

The question is whether such special forces are expedient in Russian army? What unconventional combat operations can be carried out by a special-purpose company as part of a reconnaissance battalion, which actually performs the task of previously existing reconnaissance and airborne companies, or a sniper company of a combined arms or even an airborne assault brigade, moreover, staffed mainly by conscripts?

It must be admitted that the vast majority of the newly formed units and subunits of the Special Forces are more likely not special forces, but some kind of military intelligence agency with increased capabilities. But the success of the “polite people” in Crimea led the leadership of the Ministry of Defense to a paradoxical conclusion: instead of structuring a chaotic mass of various companies, battalions, regiments and brigades of special forces and clearly allocating tasks and areas of responsibility between them, special forces continue.

True, judging by the latest decisions of the military department, in particular, the reorganization of the 45th reconnaissance regiment of the Airborne Forces into a separate reconnaissance brigade, as well as changes in the organizational and staffing structures of units and subunits of the Special Forces, most likely, quantity is still beginning to turn into quality.

Return status

In less than six years of cuts and reorganization, units and subunits of the Special Forces have grown, even becoming part of the combined arms brigades. True, special forces have so far created a large number of difficulties: there is no established structure, no trained specialists.

« There are never too many special forces. This is a handy tool for hard work ”, - such a phrase can summarize the opinion of many servicemen about what is happening now in special forces units and subunits.

Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that in the course of several years the Russian Armed Forces, in spite of all the challenging tasks, as unconventional military operations, special forces units, which was proved by the events in the Crimea. The conclusion suggests itself: the special forces must be the elite. And by definition, there can't be too many. So that military intelligence let it remain intelligence, without any "special". It will not diminish her authority.

Combat use military formations performing reconnaissance and special tasks behind enemy lines, have their own rich history. Today we can recall the horse-chasseur teams of Field Marshal P.A. Rumyantsev; famous organizers of the partisan movement M.I.Kutuzov and Prince P.I.Bagration; actions behind enemy lines by DV Davydov; civil war in Spain and saboteur No. 1 I. G. Starinov, and many, many others.

Modern special forces did not appear from scratch. In the years civil war in a number of armies and fronts, special military units were created to train saboteurs, transfer them to the rear of the enemy and lead them. In the 1930s, in case of war in the border military districts, on the basis of engineering and sapper units, sabotage and partisan detachments and groups were prepared, which received the name "sapper-camouflage platoons." During the Great Patriotic War, organs military intelligence fronts, a significant number of special military formations were created to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage operations behind enemy lines. Everyone is well aware of the famous separate special-purpose brigade in which he served.WWII hero Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya.

With change military-political situation in the world after the end of the Second World War and the emergence nuclear weapons a decision was made to create special-purpose companies under combined-arms and mechanized armies, in the airborne army and in military districts that did not have armies. October 24, 1950 Minister of Defense of the USSR Marshal Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky signed Directive No. ORG / 2/395/832, ordering the formation of 46 special-purpose companies with a staff strength of 120 people by May 1, 1951, in all military districts, groups of troops and fleets. This day is considered to be the birthday of the GRU special forces and subunits.

The personnel of the first units were selected from army intelligence. The rich experience of reconnaissance and sabotage activities of Soviet partisans and intelligence saboteurs was widely used.

By May 1, 1951, 46 companies were formed with a staff strength of 120 people. All of them were subordinate to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. In fact, special-purpose companies could be called "companies of miners-paratroopers", but due to the special focus of the tasks, they received the name they received.

The following tasks were set before the new formation: organizing and conducting reconnaissance, destroying any means of nuclear attack, identifying military formations andcarrying out special missions behind enemy lines, organizing and conducting sabotage actions, creating behind enemy linesrebel (partisan) units, etc.

Over time, structure and quantitative composition spetsnaz has changed more than once, but the essence of its mission has always remained the same.

At the very beginning of the 50s, the Soviet Army suffered a large reduction. Divisions, brigades and regiments were reduced by tens and hundreds, many corps, armies and districts were disbanded. The GRU special forces did not escape the fate of reductions either - in 1953, the 35th special-purpose company was disbanded. General N.V. Ogarkov saved special intelligence from a complete reduction, who was able to prove to the government the need to have such formations in the USSR Armed Forces.

In total, 11 special-purpose companies were retained. Companies remained in the most important operational areas:

• 18th separate company special forces of the 36th Combined Arms Army of the Trans-Baikal Military District (near the town of Borzya);
• 26th separate special-purpose company of the 2nd Guards Mechanized Army of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany (garrison in Furstenberg);
• 27th separate special-purpose company (district) in the Northern Group of Forces (Poland, Strzegom);
• 36th separate special-purpose company of the 13th combined arms army of the Carpathian military district (Khmelnitsky);
• 43rd separate special-purpose company of the 7th Guards Army of the Transcaucasian Military District (Lagodekhi);
• 61st Separate Special Purpose Company of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the Primorsky Military District (Ussuriysk);
• 75th separate special-purpose company in the Special Mechanized Army (Hungary, Nyiregyhaza);
• 76th separate special-purpose company of the 23rd combined arms army of the Leningrad Military District (Pskov);
• 77th separate special-purpose company of the 8th mechanized army of the Carpathian military district (Zhytomyr);
• 78th separate special-purpose company (district) in the Taurida military district (Simferopol);
• 92nd separate special-purpose company of the 25th combined-arms army of the Primorsky military district (n. p. Fighter Kuznetsov).

Among total number of the disbanded special forces companies, we should mention the companies that, in addition to the general “special forces” training, also special conditions services: for example, the fighters of the 99th separate special-purpose company (district) of the Arkhangelsk military district in combat training focused on performing tasks in the difficult conditions of the Arctic, scouts of the 200th separate special-purpose company of the Siberian military district studied “Chinese. theater of operations, and the personnel of the 227th separate special-purpose company of the 9th combined arms army of the North Caucasian military district underwent mountain training.

In 1956, the 61st separate special-purpose company of the 5th combined arms army of the Far Eastern military district was relocated to the Turkestan military district in the city of Kazandzhik. Probably, the leadership of the General Staff decided to pay attention to the southern "Islamic" direction. The second wave of the formation of separate special-purpose companies took place at the beginning of the 70s.

Apparently, at that time the fathers of the General Staff decided to give a "special purpose tool" not only to the fronts (districts), but also to some combined arms formations. As a result, several separate companies were formed for armies and army corps. Several companies were formed for internal military districts that did not previously have special intelligence units. In particular, the 791st separate special-purpose company was formed in the Siberian Military District. AT Western Group troops in Germany and Far East separate companies were formed in each army.

In 1979, the 459th separate special-purpose company was formed as part of the Turkestan military district for the purpose of subsequent use in Afghanistan. The company will be introduced into the DRA and will show itself as the most the best way. Another wave of formation of separate special-purpose companies occurred in the mid-80s. Then companies were formed in all armies and corps, which until that moment did not have such units. Companies were formed even in such exotic (but quite justified) areas as Sakhalin (877th separate special-purpose company of the 68th Army Corps) and Kamchatka (571st separate special-purpose company of the 25th Army Corps).

In 1957, the leadership of the Armed Forces of the USSR decided to reorganize five special-purpose companies into battalions. By the end of the year, the USSR Armed Forces included five special-purpose battalions and four separate special-purpose companies:

· 26th Separate Special Purpose Battalion GSVG (Fürstenberg);

· 27th Special Purpose Hotel Battalion of the SGV (Stregom);

· 36th separate special-purpose battalion of the PrikVO (Khmelnitsky);

· 43rd separate special-purpose battalion 3akVO (Lagodekhi);

· 61st Separate Special Purpose Battalion TurkVO (Kazandzhik);

· 18th separate special-purpose company 36th od 3aBVO (Borzya);

· 75th separate special-purpose company of the South GV (Nyiregyhaza);

· 77th separate special-purpose company of the 8th TD PrikVO (Zhytomyr);

· 78th separate special-purpose company of the OdVO (Simferopol).

At the same time, two companies were disbanded, the personnel of which went to staff new battalions. For example, the 92nd separate special-purpose company of the 25th Far Eastern Army was immersed in urgently on the echelon and sent to Poland - on the basis of this company and the 27th company of the Northern Group of Forces, the 27th separate special-purpose battalion was formed in the SGV. The transfer of special-purpose units to the battalion structure made it possible to optimize the educational process, freeing a significant part of the personnel from carrying out garrison and guard duty. Three battalions were concentrated in the western (European) direction, one was in the Caucasus and one more in Central Asia.

There were three companies in the western direction, and at that time we had only one special-purpose company in the eastern direction as part of the 36th Army of the Trans-Baikal Military District. Subsequently, after the creation of the brigades, the special-purpose battalions became known as detachments, and organizationally they were all part of the brigades. Since the 60s, battalions, as independent combat units, did not exist, except for separate detachments of brigades, which could be allocated from the formation for operations in separate operational areas, but in peacetime continued to remain in brigades.

The experience of conducting combat training and various exercises showed the need to create formations in the GRU system that are much larger than the existing separate battalions, which would be able to solve an expanded range of tasks.

In particular, during the threatened period, special forces were supposed to engage not only in reconnaissance and sabotage behind enemy lines, but also in the formation of partisan detachments in the occupied territory (or in the territory that could be occupied). In the future, relying on these partisan formations, the special forces had to solve their problems. It was the partisan orientation that was the priority combat mission of the formations being created.

In accordance with the resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU of August 20, 1961 "On the training of personnel and the development of special equipment for organizing and equipping partisan detachments" by the directive of the General Staff of February 5, 1962, in order to train and accumulate personnel for the deployment of the partisan movement in war time the commanders of the military districts were ordered to select 1,700 reserve servicemen, bring them into a brigade and conduct a thirty-day training camp.

After the training camp, the personnel were assigned special military registration specialties. They were not allowed to be booked national economy and not be used for its intended purpose.

By the directive of the General Staff of March 27, 1962, drafts of the states of special-purpose brigades for peacetime and wartime were developed.

Since 1962, the creation of 10 cadre brigades began, the formation and arrangement of which was basically completed by the end of 1963:

• 2nd obrSpN(military unit 64044), formed on December 1, 1962 (according to other sources, in 1964) on the basis of the collapsed 76th Special Forces Special Forces of the LenVO and the personnel of the 237th Guards Airborne Regiment, first commander - D.N. Grishakov; Leningrad Military District, Pechory, Promezhitsy;
• 4th obrSpN(military unit 77034), formed in 1962 in Riga, first commander - D.S. Zhizhin; Baltic Military District, then transferred to Viljandi;
• 5th obrSpN(military unit 89417), formed in 1962, first commander - I.I. Kovalevsky; Belarusian military district, Maryina Gorka;
• 8th obrSpN(military unit 65554), formed in 1962 on the basis of the 36th OBSPN, Carpathian Military District, Izyaslav, Ukraine;
• 9th obrSpN(military unit 83483), formed in 1962, the first commander - L.S. Egorov; Kyiv Military District, Kirovograd, Ukraine;
• 10th obrSpN(military unit 65564), formed in 1962, Odessa military district, Old Crimea, Pervomaisky;
• 12th obrSpN(military unit 64406), formed in 1962 on the basis of the 43rd OBSPN, the first commander was I.I. Geleverya; 3 Caucasian Military District, Lagodekhi, Georgia;
• 14th obrSpN(military unit 74854), formed on January 1, 1963 on the basis of the 77th orb, first commander - P.N. Rymin; Far Eastern Military District, Ussuriysk;
• 15th obrSpN(military unit 64411), formed on January 1, 1963 on the basis of the 61st Special Operations Division, first commander - N.N. Lutsev; Turkestan Military District, Chirchik, Uzbekistan;
• 16th obrSpN(military unit 54607), formed on January 1, 1963, first commander - D.V. Shipka; Moscow military district, Chuchkovo.

The brigades were formed mainly by military personnel of the reconnaissance units of the airborne and ground forces. For example, the officer backbone of the 14th Special Forces Special Forces of the Far Eastern Military District during the formation was staffed by officers of the 98th Guards Airborne Division from Belogorsk (from which 14 officers - participants in the Second World War came to the brigade), and the personnel military service was recruited from the military.

Basically, the formation of the first ten brigades ended on the 7th beginning of 1963, but, for example, the 2nd Special Forces, according to some sources, was finally formed only in 1964.

The organizational and staffing structure of a separate special-purpose brigade in 1963 was as follows:

• brigade headquarters (about 30 people);
• one deployed Special Forces detachment (164 people in the state);
• a reduced-staff special radio communications detachment (about 60 people);
• three cadre detachments of the Special Forces;
• two framed separate detachments of Special Forces;
• economic support company;

in addition, the brigade included such collapsed units as:

• company of special mining;
• Group special weapons(ATGM, RS Grad-P, P3RK).

In peacetime, the size of a cadre brigade did not exceed 200-300 people; according to the wartime states, a fully deployed special-purpose brigade had more than 2,500 people.

At the beginning of its existence, the brigades were cadre, and in particular, in the 9th Special Forces, stationed in Ukraine in the city of Kirovograd, there were initially six detachments, in which only the first detachment had two special forces companies, a special weapons platoon and a special radio communications platoon. The other five detachments had only commanders. The command, headquarters and political department of the brigade consisted of thirty people. Colonel L.S. Egorov was appointed the first commander of the 9th brigade, but soon he received a spinal injury on parachute jumps, and Colonel V.I. Arkhireev was appointed commander of the brigade.

By the end of 1963, the USSR Armed Forces included (some in the process of formation):

• twelve separate special purpose companies;
• two separate special-purpose battalions;
• ten separate brigades special purpose (frame).

Soon, special forces units and units were reorganized, as a result of which, by the end of 1964, the composition of the USSR Armed Forces remained:

• six separate special purpose companies;
• two separate special-purpose battalions (26th and 27th) in the western direction;
• ten separate framed special forces brigades.

In August 1965, the Chief of the General Staff for generals and officers of military intelligence and special forces engaged in combat training of personnel in the tactics of partisan actions approved the "Manual on the organization and tactics of partisans."

At that time, special forces brigades were perceived by everyone - as a reserve for deployment behind enemy lines guerrilla war. The special forces were even called that - partisans. The experience of creating such formations, it seems, came from the training of the partisan special reserve in the late 20s - early 30s, as you know, all its members were repressed in the late 30s.

In 1966, in the Odessa military district, the 165th Training Center special purpose. The center was based in the Simferopol region and existed at least until 1990.

In 1966, in Furstenberg (Werder garrison, Neu-Timmen) on the basis of the 5th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Motorcycle Battalion (former during the war, the 5th Guards Warsaw-Berlin Reconnaissance Motorcycle Regiment, which was formed in 1944) by the directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the GSVG, on the basis of the 26th OBSpN, with the involvement of the forces of the 27th OBSPN, the 48th and 166th orbs, a special-purpose unit of a new type was formed - the 3rd obrSpN, which inherited from the 5th motorcycle battalion got the guards rank . Colonel R.P. was appointed commander of the new brigade. Mosolov. The brigade received code name military unit 83149. The main difference between the new brigade and the existing ones was that the brigade, even during formation, was deployed to a full, special staff, as well as the fact that the brigade included separate units - separate special forces.

This brigade at that time was the most complete (up to 1300 personnel) and was in constant combat readiness to perform tasks as intended. The detachments of the brigade were formed in a slightly different state than the detachments of the brigades that were stationed in the USSR. These detachments had a staff of 212 people, while the "allied" brigades had detachments with a staff of only 164 people. The full name of the formation: 3rd Separate Guards Red Banner Warsaw-Berlin Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class Special Purpose Brigade.

As part of the brigade, special forces were formed: 501st, 503rd, 509th, 510th, 512th.

In 1968, under the leadership of the senior officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, Colonel Shchelokov, the 9th company of special forces cadets was created in the Lenin Komsomol RVVDKU as part of three platoons, and in 1979 the company was deployed into a special forces battalion (13th and 14th companies) .

Also, the training of personnel for special forces was carried out by the Kiev combined arms command school, which produced officers with the specialty "referent-translator".

In 1978 at the Military Academy. M.V. Frunze was created at the intelligence faculty of the 4th training group of special forces officers. In 1981, the first release of the "special forces" group took place.

In 1969, on the basis of the 16th detachment of Special Forces of the Moscow Military District in the village of Chuchkovo Ryazan region The Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff conducted an operational-strategic experimental exercise, the purpose of which was to work out the issues of the combat use of special forces. To ensure the transfer of personnel and cargo to the rear of the enemy, military transport aviation. Take-off and landing airfield - Dyagilevo. To designate nuclear and other means of mass destruction, their protection and defense, as well as to counter the landing, collect and store their parachutes, personnel of six (2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th) special purpose brigades.

In 1970, a special purpose training company was deployed in Pechory, which was later reorganized into a training battalion, and then into the 1071st Special Purpose Training Regiment (military unit 51064), which trained junior commanders and specialists for special purpose units. At the 1071st UpSpN, a school of ensigns functioned for special forces.

Since the mid 70s General base found an opportunity to deploy brigades, increasing the number of personnel in them. As a result of this decision, it was possible to complete the detachments of brigades by 60-80%. From this period, special-purpose brigades became combat-ready and were no longer considered only as a partisan reserve.

On June 12, 1975, the head of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces approved the "Instructions for combat use formations, units and subunits (brigade, detachment, battalion) for special purposes.

In 1972, as part of the Group Soviet troops in Mongolia, two brigades were formed, the numbering of which is in the same row as the numbers of special forces brigades, however, these brigades were called "separate reconnaissance brigades". The new brigades included three separate reconnaissance battalions each, armed with infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, and combat support units, which was due to the nature of the terrain in the responsibility zone of the GSM. However, each of these brigades had "jumping" reconnaissance and airborne companies, and each brigade also had its own separate helicopter squadron. Most likely, when creating these brigades, the General Staff tried to find the optimal organization of special forces units that were to operate in the mountainous desert area.

As a result, the 20th and 25th separate reconnaissance brigades. Similar formations in Soviet army was nowhere else. In the mid-80s, these brigades were reorganized into separate mechanized brigades and became part of the newly formed 48th Guards Army Corps, and with the collapse of the USSR, after the withdrawal of troops from Mongolia, they were disbanded.

At the end of the 1970s, the General Staff found an opportunity to transfer special forces brigades from staffed to deployed, as well as to find reserves for the formation of two more brigades. The 22nd Special Purpose Brigade was formed on July 24, 1976 in the Central Asian Military District in the city of Kapchagay on the basis of one of the detachments of the 15th Brigade, a company of the Special Radio Communications Detachment of the 15th Brigade, the 525th and 808th separate special purpose companies Central Asian and Volga military districts. Until 1985, the brigade was in Kapchagai, later changed its location several times and in given time located in Aksai Rostov region(military unit 11659).

24th Special Purpose Brigadewas formed in the Trans-Baikal Military District on November 1, 1977 on the basis of the 18th Special Forces and was initially deployed in the area of ​​​​n. the village of Kharabyrka, Chita region (23rd site), then in 1987 it was transferred to the village. Kyakhta, and in 2001 was transferred to Ulan-Ude (military unit 55433), and then to Irkutsk. When the brigade was transferred to Kyakhta, the 282nd ooSpN was transferred to the 14th detachment of the Far Eastern Military District and relocated to the city of Khabarovsk.

Later, in 1984, in the Siberian Military District, on the basis of the 791st OrdnSpN, the 67th Special Forces Brigade was formed, which is deployed in the city of Berdsk Novosibirsk region(military unit 64655).

In 1985, during afghan war, in Chirchik, in place of the 15th brigade that had gone to Afghanistan, the 467th special-purpose training regiment (military unit 71201) was formed, which trained personnel for special-purpose units operating in Afghanistan. The regiment consisted of training battalions and support units. The training regiment had great privileges in the selection of personnel. If during the selection of conscripts for this regiment, the officer encountered any difficulties at the recruiting station, the issues that arose were resolved with one telephone call to the GRU.

According to the state, special forces that are part of the brigades stationed on the territory of the USSR included:

• three special-purpose companies (42 people each);

In total, the detachment consisted of 164 people.

Special Forces, which are part of the 3rd Guards ObrSpN, had next state:

• detachment management (6 people);
• three special-purpose companies (58 people each);
• company of special radio communications (32 people).

In total, these detachments had 212 personnel each.

A separate army company for special purposes had in different time in the state from 115 to 127 people.

Soviet special forces were involved in combat operations abroad. The first major foreign operation of special forces was carried out in 1968 in Prague (Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic). Presumably, units of the 3rd, 8th and 9th special forces brigades took part in the hostilities in Czechoslovakia. Army special forces also participated in combat operations in Angola, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Cuba and Vietnam, and in Afghanistan. In total, the army special forces sent their units to two dozen countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Parts of the special purpose of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

• 10 separate special forces detachment (Kyiv)

• 3rd separate regiment special purpose (Kirovograd)

• 8th Separate Special Purpose Regiment (Khmelnitsky)
• 50th separate training detachment special training(as a separate battalion) (Kirovograd)
• 801st separate detachment for combating underwater sabotage, forces and means. (Sevastopol)
• 73rd Naval Special Operations Center of the Ukrainian Naval Forces (Ochakiv).

Congratulations, colleagues!!!

The Ministry of Defense decided to return the special-purpose reconnaissance companies. Scouts will work behind enemy lines, and then report the coordinates of targets for missile systems"Iskander" and precision systems volley fire "Hurricane". Moreover, each army of the RF Armed Forces will have its own company.

Soviet special forces had similar tasks during the wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya - scouts coordinated the fire of artillery and the Air Force and brought great benefits to the army.

In those days, separate special-purpose companies (OrSpN) operated. But after the end of the first Chechen war and the crisis of 1998, military reform followed - combat units began to be reduced. And individual companies of special forces were no exception. Now, 20 years later, Russia has decided to recreate the elite combat units.

According to Izvestia, citing its source at the headquarters of the ground forces, the first companies have already been formed in the combined arms armies of the Southern Military District. In other districts, it is still in process. It is also known that the scouts were given new armored vehicles "Tiger", "Lynx" and "Typhoon".

So far, nothing has been reported about the organization of the company - this information is kept secret. But it can be assumed that the unit is formed on the model of a separate GRU special-purpose company of the early 1990s.

OrSpN consisted of 110-120 personnel and consisted of four reconnaissance platoons. As well as platoons of support and special communications. Could be included in the company and training unit where scouts or a whole squad of snipers were trained. Special companies could have different purposes.

Now we are talking about the formation of full-fledged deep reconnaissance companies.

According to military expert Vladislav Shurygin, this is happening as part of the transition to high-precision weapons.

“In order to use Hurricanes or Iskanders, you need to have accurate information. And basically this is a tactical level. Images from space in this case are ineffective, since the targets are constantly moving,” says Vladislav Shurygin. to be protected mobile command posts, they need to be identified and targeted in time."

Drones are also far from always able to help scouts. UAVs have learned to shoot down and disable means electronic warfare, but it is impossible to do this with a human. Reconnaissance companies will report the coordinates of targets not only to Iskanders with Hurricanes, but also to aviation.

Photo: Valery Matytsin / TASS

In Syria, this work has long been carried out by the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Federation (SOF). Photos of the fighters of this unit spread around the world after the liberation of Palmyra. Then the MTR transmitted the coordinates to the VKS command posts and military equipment of militants. Including tanks hidden in concrete hangars. Satellites and drones simply will not detect such targets.

“In the 90s of the last century, a gross mistake was made,” recalls Vladislav Shurygin. “The GRU, in order to retain its personnel, liquidated individual special-purpose companies. And these were well-organized teams of professionals.”

Indeed, by the end of 1998, only two companies remained on vital important directions: 75th, subordinate to the Kaliningrad defensive region, and 584th, as part of the 205th motorized rifle brigade in Budennovsk, which actively participated in both Chechen campaigns.

But now, almost 20 years later, spetsnaz companies are returning to the Russian armed forces. Moreover, their range of tasks has become much wider, taking into account the fact that during this time rocket troops and artillery went forward with leaps and bounds. The same Iskanders are capable of hitting 500 km, replacing an entire group of bombers in terms of efficiency, which means that the scouts will have to go deep behind enemy lines in order to aim at targets. Or modern "Hurricane-1M", from which you can fire 300-millimeter shells of the "Smerch" systems. When attacking with a weapon of such destructive power, it is necessary to have the most accurate coordinates. Therefore, scouts have a great responsibility.

"Hussars" in Bamut.

We flew to Chechnya in the fall and a turntable picked us up, there were 6 of us, and 6 two-hundredths were unloaded from the turntable and the pilot said smiling, "And what about you to replace this or something?" But we returned alive, it did not come true.
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876 Separate special-purpose company, based in the Costa region of Vladikavkaz, first took Active participation in the elimination of the consequences of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. Chermen, Chermen circle, Tarskoe, Vladikavkaz. Patrol at the border, demining, protection of important people such as: Lozovoy, Kvashnin, Troshev and Shamanov. Then a business trip to Chechnya, I stayed there for 9 months. Basically, the unit was in Khankala and, by order, they were sent to the mountains by helicopter, then they processed squares in the mountains on foot, search and destruction of the irreconcilable, either by artillery or by aircraft, liquidation of oil refineries, search and release of prisoners, and capture of the Mujahideen. Bamut was a demobilization chord for me.
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"Hussars" in Bamut.
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We got to Bamut for two or three weeks. Our task was: to blockade the village and continue to save the prisoners during the assault, if any. This was the only time when we acted with the reconnaissance company of the 166th Motorized Rifle Brigade (with the "Mad Company") to Bamut, we walked from the other side of the pass, there was such a moment: we confused them with militants and called artillery on them.

“My radio battery died, it only worked for reception. And I heard how someone with the call sign "Hussar" contacts our artillery and asks to send 3-5 "cucumbers" (min), they say they are watching some kind of body. At the same time, our coordinates are called. The god of war was not stingy, sent 5 "cucumbers", and, most surprisingly, they did not miss this time.
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Left: Nikolay "Svyaz" and Yura "Moroz" in Bamut.

Near Bamut, we did not have skirmishes with militants, except for a single shelling, where we managed with one wounded. It was like this: We were walking from the bottom, and the militants were higher, they were noisy, we heard and lay down under the leaves of the fern (probably), in principle, the bearded men could see in the sight, but if they entered the battle, they would have killed many of us. Our position was not favorable. We waited ... someone apparently noticed something from them and gave a turn through the foliage in our direction. One bullet entered our guy, who was with VSS, in the arm, in the pulp. He was in front of me, I only saw how he clenched his teeth on the belt of the machine gun. More shooting did not have.

Later, we tried to contact the Lunatics, but they turned off the radio. "cucumbers" flew at us and at them, well, they apparently decided that they were detecting and beating by communication. We also turned off for a while (in fact, the radio operator Nikolai Svyaz simply ran out of battery on the radio and he worked only for reception).

The moment of the meeting and its details with the "Mad Company" was not remembered. We had a delay the day before, the turntable didn't arrive on time. And since yesterday evening we have been “on the easy side”, the fighters have not eaten anything. And then the guys shared with us dry rations.

"Hussars".

On the armor of the BMP "Hussars", on the right are the guys from the "Mad Company".

Then we went down from the hills, it was already completely dark. An order was given that to spend the night by the stream, if paired patrols appeared, then clean up silently - with knives and silent weapon. At night, when it started to rain, we ended up in a stream, and we wallowed in the water all night. In my opinion, something happened at night, but it's like "like drinking tea." Somewhere it’s noisy, you’re in line, then it seems like they answered, well, a couple more people will join you. On the morning of May 25, together with the Lunatics, they entered Bamut. As such, I don’t remember the battle, small skirmishes are not clear at whom, or rather we shot, before entering the house or courtyards, there were underground passages between the houses, grenades were thrown there, and so the whole village was plowed up by artillery. So the whole day passed, then we occupied some house and spent the night there. Then I had a little fight with the officers, we were tired, all the berets were covered in clay, and they let us drive like spirits, well, we sort of "pulled the shutters" a little. On the second day of our stay in Bamut, we went to the dungeons, missile silos, there was nothing interesting there, garbage was dirt and crap, then they brought sappers, Shamanov flew in and then they rushed these mines at the entrance, the entrance was filled up and everyone went home. I don’t remember years ago, it seems, on the turntable “Korova” in Khankala, the order for demobilization has long been. From Khankala by turntable back to Vladikavkaz and then home by train.

Dear colleagues, do you know anything about the differences of the Special Purpose Regiment that has guarded the Kremlin since 1936? AT official history it is indicated that the uniform of the internal guard was worn. However, a number of photographs show officers in caps with light bands and dark crowns (circa 1940-1941), and in the photo of the issuance of shoulder straps in 1943, the cipher "ORSN" is visible (it is not yet clear to me what it could mean - Separate Special Purpose Company ?), later the encryption "PSN" is visible.

Yes, everything is known "on the differences of the Special Purpose Regiment, which has guarded the Kremlin since 1936".

ORSN, as you guessed correctly, is a separate special-purpose company, which until August 1942 was called the military fire brigade. ORSN was not part of the PSN, but was part of the Kremlin garrison. The garrison also included a separate motor transport battalion, the military personnel of which wore the OAB cipher on shoulder straps, and a military construction battalion, the military personnel of which wore the ASB cipher. In addition, the Kremlin garrison included a separate officer battalion, nee Separate battalion GUGB NKVD.

All of the above military personnel, except for the GUGB battalion, wore a uniform internal troops, of which were:

36. The special purpose regiment is equipped with:
a) command and command staff - by special selection from the border and internal troops of the NKVD
b) ordinary staff - from the next draft contingents with obligatory condition verification and study of the assigned composition during the year.
Coverage of shortages in the period between calls is made by special selection from units of the border and internal troops.

37. Service life in a special purpose regiment is set at 3 years.

38. When calculating the length of service for retirement to the commanding and commanding staff of the Kremlin garrison units, a year of service in the garrison is taken as 1.5 years.

39. The military fire brigade is equipped with:
a) rank and file - according to a special selection from among the Red Army and junior command personnel and extra-long-term employees of the border and internal troops of the NKVD who have undergone special training;
b) commanding and commanding staff - by special selection from among the commanding and commanding staff of the border and internal troops of the NKVD, who have undergone special training;
c) specialists - by special selection from among those who graduated from the school of the paramilitary fire brigade of the NKVD

40. Separate battalion of the Main Directorate state security The purpose of the NKVD of the USSR is to serve in especially responsible positions.

41. The battalion is equipped with:
a) from among the Red Army soldiers and junior command and command staff of the special purpose regiment, subject to dismissal on long-term leave;
b) from among the junior and middle command and command staff of the border and internal troops of the NKVD.
c) from among the commanding staff of the GUGB.
Acquisition is made by special selection on a voluntary basis.

42. All selected Red Army and junior command personnel are preliminarily trained in GUGB schools.
The personnel of the battalion are assigned special ranks of the commanding staff of the GUGB.

43. The personnel of the battalion serve on common grounds with all commanding personnel of the GUGB.

44. The service units of the battalion are completed and serve on a common basis with the personnel of the special purpose regiment.