Spetsnaz units have become victims of the fashion for their name. Day of units and subdivisions of special purpose GRU 19 separate company of special purpose

Now you probably do not know that this was. But-fact! True, it lasted less than a day.
Because it was the most, that neither is, the most typical "war by mistake"

In short:

1983
year. The "Kabul" special forces company, with the support of two DShB, was sent
disassemble the village located in the Zaranj region for building materials.
There was information that this locality used
"spirits" as a base camp, and at the same time the final point on
routes of large caravans from Iran. At such "points" the caravans
ceased to exist as a whole and disintegrated into many
small caravans, and catch 6-7 donkeys on the passes "berets" on
yuh not rested.

As usual, for information support
the operation was answered by the KHAD (Afghan bloody hebny, which, in contrast to
the Afghan army did any good to the Limited
Contingent). Agents thereof were supposed to place a day before the operation
in the mountains, triangular panels, the sharp ends of which would indicate
village. Further, the pilots use these landmarks to approach the target, "air
the cavalry "went and ....

At this stage, preliminary
preparation and misunderstandings happened. Either the KhAD people got lost and wandered into
the territory of a neighboring state, or the Iranians had a similar
the manner of marking border outposts - the truth, most likely, will not be recognized
no one else ... The pilots unanimously swore that the relief of what they saw
their terrain one to one corresponded to the demonstrated
before the operation aerial photographs and mock-up.

In short, the valiant Soviet special forces made a surprise attack on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Kishlak
crumbled in a few minutes and without loss - "guests" are clearly not here
were waiting. In the process of collecting trophies, the brave "Soviet Rambo" drew attention
the fact that some of the dead "spirits" are dressed in some kind of obviously unfamiliar
they are in uniform, and even with shoulder straps (the latter in a guerrilla war
- already obvious nonsense). Taking their eyes off the ground, the fighters were surprised
found in the middle of the village a house not indicated on their plans in
European style with tricolor flag on the roof - Iranian post
border guards. The interrogation of the prisoners finally clarified the situation -
"How is it in Leningrad?!?"

They "missed" by 15 kilometers,
and at the same time they also committed an act of aggression. The asset "Kabulskaya
company ", however, could write down the fact that
According to the rules, the village was still used by the Mujahideen as a transshipment
bases on the same caravan route - but for whom is it easier? because
in the morning the home team paid a friendly return visit to
as part of a motorized infantry battalion with the support of two Phantoms.

Fight
in this situation, the spetsnaz desire, of course, did not arise and the company
considered it useful to make the maneuver "accelerated withdrawal from the occupied
position ", to put it more simply - try VERY quickly to get out of place
international incident. Because the spetsnaz arsenal is designed
a lot for that - but not for the conduct of full-fledged hostilities
against the superior forces of the enemy, which also has aviation.

Necessary
say that in this operation, the "Kabul company" practically had no
losses. But the most grandiose ones were waiting for them "at home". Iran demanded
apologies, blood and convocation of an extraordinary assembly of the UN. Moscow "did
face "and apologized.

But these guys were heroes in Kabul. "If not for the order, we would have reached Tehran," yeah.

However, this is already from the field of "hunting tales" and "war songs".

A
on the account of the "Kabul company" in addition to the "Soviet-Iranian war" was
a lot of really successful and beautiful operations and 8 years "beyond the river"
- more than all units of the special forces of the Soviet Limited Contingent
troops in Afghanistan.

In just a few years, parts and special forces 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 the latest weapons and military equipment, communications equipment, reconnaissance and surveillance devices. But, even despite the successful actions " polite people»In Crimea, the Russian special forces have a lot of serious problems.

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

Wild-growing brigades

From the very beginning of the transition to a new look, announced by the ex-Minister of Defense and the former Chief of the General Staff, the special-purpose brigades were suddenly reduced and reorganized. Moreover, the units and subdivisions of the Special Forces by a strong-willed decision of the leadership of the military department were reassigned to the intelligence directorate of the Ground Forces, leaving the structure of the GRU General Staff. But the department in charge of the special forces remained in the GRU.

In 2009, the 12th (Asbest city) and 67th (Berdsk) special-purpose brigades were disbanded, and the 24th Special Forces brigade in just a year and a half managed to change several locations, first moving from Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk, and then to Berdsk, losing with each movement of the servicemen 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 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. Nevertheless, one of the brigade's detachments was transferred to the newly formed experimental 100th reconnaissance brigade.

In the rest of the special forces units and subdivisions, the positions of officers and warrant officers 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 contractors, for the implementation of which they were asked at every meeting.

According to the original plan, approved by the former NGSH, two or three contract servicemen were enough for a group of 12 people - the deputy commander of the group, 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 Omsb brigade, such a battalion is staffed with servicemen of Ingush nationality, and in the 18th and 8th brigades - mainly Chechens.

The Olympics in Sochi brought even greater chaos to the reform of special forces units. To provide it, the Ministry of Defense began to form a special-purpose brigade - the 346th special brigade and a separate regiment - the 25th special brigade. 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 to the post of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, there was only one special-purpose regiment in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the 45th Special Operations Forces of the Airborne Forces, although formally (despite the name) it was not part of the structure of the GRU special forces units and subunits. And the 25th regiment, stationed in Stavropol, became a unique military unit. According to some information, areas of responsibility in the mountains were “cut” into his companies even at the stage of formation. With the task of protecting the Olympics, the regiment coped with "excellent", however, as well as other involved units and subdivisions of the Special Forces.

Since 2013, the special forces, having returned under the wing of the GRU, began, as the servicemen themselves joke, "to multiply rapidly." In just two years, national special forces battalions appeared in the 4th and 7th military bases. It is noteworthy that these units are staffed mainly at the expense of 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.

In the reconnaissance battalions of 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 brigade, and in its place a reconnaissance battalion with two companies of special forces was formed. Until recently, the 33rd reconnaissance brigade (mountain) also existed in the same state. True, this military unit was once again reorganized, but already into an ordinary motorized rifle brigade.

It should be noted that each combined-arms, airborne assault brigade (regiment) has a company of snipers, which is also formally a special-purpose unit. At the same time, in the North Caucasian 8, 18, 19 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 special forces units and subunits 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 subordinate to brigade commanders, chiefs of reconnaissance of an army and a district, and in some cases to a chief of staff and personally to a district commander. At the same time, the GRU is responsible for their training, as well as, under certain conditions, for their combat use.

Every warrior is Rambo

In fact, in two years, a kind of special forces took place in the Russian Armed Forces, when special forces 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 snipers who must complete special courses, which until recently were held only in the Moscow region.

One of the attempts to solve the problem of training specialists was the expansion of the capabilities of specialized training centers for military intelligence and special forces in each district. For example, in the North Caucasian district, the Daryal center specializes in mountain training, and a similar military unit in the Central Military District - on operations in winter conditions, in particular in wooded and hilly areas.

But as the special forces officers admit, the main problem is the small proportion of contract servicemen, especially in the newly formed sniper companies, as well as companies and battalions of special forces. Often there are two or three contract soldiers for several dozen conscripts. Not much better with cadres and in special forces brigades, although there the commanders from the beginning of the creation of a new look have made every effort to preserve the backbone of the existing military collectives.

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

Until recently, out of four companies and separate platoons in special forces brigades, only one company was fully contract, not counting individual servicemen, in particular, armored personnel carriers, signalmen, miners, etc. All other units consisted of conscripts. It is clear that they tried not to involve conscripts to carry out combat missions, therefore, under the task of the brigade, they could hardly put one special forces detachment from three special-purpose companies, a company of special weapons and individual platoons.

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

One of the most pressing problems is the training of special forces snipers. Even in the companies of the snipers of the combined-arms brigades, several Austrian Steyr-Mannlicher SSG-04 rifles are currently in the state. prepare for several months in 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 servicemen under contract are sent to the courses, since the conscript at the end of the courses, most likely, will already be transferred to the reserve. The classes are quite difficult, they require not only physical endurance from candidates, but also a high level of intelligence. Alas, it is not always possible to find such a contingent. Often, servicemen 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, complex and expensive Austrian rifles were not entrusted to them.

Unconventional war soldiers

Not only the structure and composition of special forces units and subdivisions have undergone changes, but also tasks. Despite the fact that the documents regulating the combat use of special forces remain under the headings "Secret" and even "Top secret", from open sources you can find out that one of the main tasks of special forces units and subunits is to conduct so-called special intelligence. It is not only about observation, but also about carrying out ambushes, raids and searches deep behind enemy lines. Currently, these tasks have been supplemented with work in the zones of local conflicts.

If you look at the American charter FM 3-18 Special Forces Operations, adopted in May 2014, you will find that the so-called special intelligence is not included in the "short list" of American "green berets", whose main task, as indicated in Chapter 3 field manual, 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 much more wide range... According to some reports, the new combat charter of special forces units contains new sections regulating the assigned tasks.

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

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 did not send in for the purpose of conducting reconnaissance, but blocked military units, acted against hostile elements, organized local self-defense forces - in fact, they conducted the very unconventional warfare spelled out in the American charters. But, despite the tasks declared in the new Russian documents, the combat training program in most special forces units and subunits is still sharpened mainly for intelligence purposes.

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

Depending on the military specialty, the training of an American special forces soldier 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 fighting can a special-purpose company be led as part of a reconnaissance battalion, actually performing the task of previously existing reconnaissance and landing 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 overwhelming majority of the newly formed special forces units and subunits are rather not special forces, but some kind of military intelligence agency with increased capabilities. But the success of "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 special forces brigades and clearly distributing 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 staff structures of special forces units and subunits, most likely, the quantity is still beginning to turn into quality.

Return status

In less than six years of reductions and reorganization, the 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: no established structure, no trained specialists.

« There is never too much spetsnaz. This is a piece tool for difficult work "- such a phrase can summarize the opinion of many servicemen about what is happening now in the units and subdivisions of special forces.

And nevertheless, it cannot be denied that for several years in the Armed Forces of Russia, despite all the difficulties, excellently trained, capable of solving even such complex tasks as non-traditional military operations, special-purpose units have appeared, which was proved by the events in Crimea. The conclusion suggests itself: special forces should be the elite. And by definition, there cannot be much of it. So let the military intelligence remain intelligence, without any "specials". This will not diminish her authority.

Combat use military formations carrying out reconnaissance and special missions behind enemy lines have their own rich history. Today we can recall the horse-jaeger teams of General-Field Marshal P.A. Rumyantsev; renowned organizers partisan movement MI Kutuzov and Prince PI Bagration; actions behind enemy lines by D.V. Davydov; the civil war in Spain and saboteur No. 1 IG Starinov, and many, many others.

Modern special forces did not appear from scratch. During the 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 the event of a war in the border military districts, sabotage and partisan detachments and groups were trained on the basis of engineer-sapper units, which received the name "sapper-camouflage platoons." During the Great Patriotic War military intelligence agencies of the fronts created a significant number of special military formations to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage operations behind enemy lines. Everyone is well aware of the famous separate special-purpose brigade, in which he servedWWII hero Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya.

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

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

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

The new formation was assigned the following tasks: organizing and conducting reconnaissance, destroying any means of nuclear attack, identifying military formations andconducting special missions in the enemy's rear, organizing and conducting sabotage actions, creating behind enemy linesinsurgent (partisan) detachments, etc.

Over time, the structure and quantitative composition of the special forces 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 - in 1953, Z5 special-purpose companies were disbanded. General N.V. Ogarkov saved the 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:

The 18th separate special-purpose company of the Z6th combined-arms army of the Trans-Baikal Military District (in the area 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);
The 27th separate special-purpose company (district) in the Northern Group of Forces (Poland, Strzegom);
Z6th separate special-purpose company of the 1st combined arms army of the Carpathian military district (Khmelnitsky);
4th separate special-purpose company of the 7th Guards Army of the Transcaucasian Military District (Lagodekhi);
The 61st separate special-purpose company of the 5th combined arms army of the Primorsky military district (Ussuriysk);
The 75th separate special-purpose company in the Special Mechanized Army (Hungary, Nyiregyhaza);
The 76th separate special-purpose company of the 2nd combined arms army of the Leningrad military district (Pskov);
The 77th separate special-purpose company of the 8th mechanized army of the Carpathian military district (Zhitomir);
The 78th separate special-purpose company (district) in the Tavrichesky military district (Simferopol);
The 92nd separate special-purpose company of the 25th combined-arms army of the Primorsky military district (n. The item Fighter Kuznetsov).

Among the total number of disbanded special-purpose companies, mention should be made of companies that, in addition to general "spetsnaz" training, also had special conditions of service: for example, the soldiers of the 99th separate special-purpose company (district) of the Arkhangelsk Military District in combat training were focused on fulfilling tasks in the difficult conditions of the Arctic, scouts of the 200th separate special-purpose company of the Siberian Military District studied "Chinese. the theater of military operations, and the personnel of the 227th separate special-purpose company of the 9th combined-arms army of the North Caucasus 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 redeployed 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 came in the early 70s.

Apparently, at this 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 the internal military districts, which previously did not have special intelligence units. In particular, the 791st separate special-purpose company was formed in the Siberian military district. In the Western Group of Forces in Germany and the 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 to the DRA and will show itself in the best possible way. Another wave of formation of separate special-purpose companies came in the mid-1980s. Then companies were formed in all armies and corps, which until that moment did not have such units. Companies were formed even on such exotic (but completely justified) directions as Sakhalin (the 877th separate special-purpose company of the 68th army corps) and Kamchatka (the 571st separate special-purpose company of the 25th army corps).

In 1957, the leadership of the USSR Armed Forces 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 (Furstenberg);

· The 27th hotel battalion for special purposes of the SGV (Strzegom);

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

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

· 61st separate battalion of special purpose TurkVO (Kazandzhik);

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

· 75th separate special-purpose company YUGV (Nyiregyhaza);

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

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

At the same time, two companies were disbanded, the personnel of which went to staff the new battalions. For example, the 92nd separate special-purpose company of the 25th Army of the Far East Military District was urgently shipped to 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 a battalion structure made it possible to optimize the training 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 another in Central Asia.

There were three companies in the western direction, and only one special-purpose company at that time we had in the eastern direction as part of the Z6th Army of the Trans-Baikal Military District. Subsequently, after the creation of the brigades, the special-purpose battalions began to be called "detachments", and organizationally they were all part of the brigades. Since the 60s, battalions, as independent combat units, did not exist, except for individual brigade detachments that could be separated from the formation for actions in separate operational areas, but in peacetime continued to remain in the brigades.

The experience of conducting combat training and various exercises has shown the need to create formations in the GRU system that are much larger than the existing individual battalions, which could 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 partisan units in an occupied territory (or in a territory that could have been occupied). In the future, relying on these partisan formations, the special forces had to solve their tasks. It was the partisan orientation that was the priority combat mission of the created formations.

In accordance with the decree 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", the General Staff directive of February 5, 1962 in order to prepare and accumulate personnel for the deployment of the partisan movement in wartime, the commander of the military districts was ordered to select 1,700 reserve servicemen, bring them to the brigade and hold a thirty-day training session.

After the training camp, the personnel were assigned special military specialties. It was forbidden to book them for the national economy and not be used for their intended purpose.

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

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

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

Brigades were formed mainly by military personnel intelligence units airborne and ground forces... For example, the officers' backbone of the 14th brigade of the Far Eastern Military District, during its formation, was staffed with officers of the 98th Guards Airborne Division from Belogorsk (from which 14 officers came to the brigade - participants of the Second World War), and the conscripts were recruited from military enlistment offices.

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

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

brigade headquarters (about 30 people);
one deployed special forces detachment (164 people per staff);
a special radio communications detachment for a reduced staff (about 60 people);
three squadrons of special forces;
two skadrovany separate detachments of special forces;
economic support company;

in addition, the brigade included such curtailed units as:

company of special mining;
a group of special weapons (ATGM, RS "Grad-P, P3RK).

In peacetime, the size of the squadron brigade did not exceed 200-300 people, according to wartime states, a fully deployed special-purpose brigade had more than 2500 people.

At the beginning of their existence, the brigades were squadron, and in particular, in the 9th brigade, stationed in the Ukraine in the city of Kirovograd, initially there were 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. Yegorov was appointed the first commander of the 9th brigade, but soon he received a spinal injury on parachute jumps, and Colonel V.I.

By the end of 1963, the USSR Armed Forces had (some at the stage of formation):

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

Soon, the reorganization of special-purpose units and units was carried out, as a result of which the following remained in the USSR Armed Forces by the end of 1964:

six separate mouths for special purposes;
two separate special-purpose battalions (26th and 27th) in the western direction;
ten separate squadron special-purpose 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 guerrilla tactics, approved the "Manual on the organization and tactics of partisans."

At that time, the special-purpose brigades were perceived by everyone as a reserve for deploying partisan war behind enemy lines. The special forces were even called that - partisans. The experience of creating such formations, it seems, proceeded from the training of a partisan special reserve in the late 1920s - early 1930s, as you know, all participants were repressed in the late 1930s.

In 1966, the 165th Special Purpose Training Center was formed in the Odessa Military District to train specialists for foreign reconnaissance and sabotage units (and in fact - militants of the national liberation movements). The center was based in the Simferopol region and existed at least until 1990.

In 1966, in Furstenberg (Werder garrison, n.p. Neu-Timmen) on the basis of the 5th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Motorcycle Battalion (formerly 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 OBSN with the involvement of the forces of the 27th OBSN, the 48th and 166th orbs, a special-purpose unit of a new type was formed - the 3rd ObrSpN, which inherited the guards rank from the 5th Motorcycle Battalion ... Colonel R.P. Mosolov. The brigade received the code name of military unit 83149. The main difference between the new brigade and the existing ones was that the brigade, even during its formation, expanded to a full, special staff, and also the fact that the brigade had in its composition separate units - separate special-purpose detachments.

This brigade at that time was the most equipped (up to 1300 personnel) and was in constant combat readiness to perform tasks as intended. The brigade detachments were formed in a slightly different state than the brigade detachments that were stationed in the USSR. These units had 212 people each, while the "allied" brigades had units with only 164 people. The full name of the unit: 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 GRU officer of the General Staff, Colonel Shchelokov, the 9th company of special forces cadets was created in the Lenin Komsomol RVVDKU, consisting of three platoons, and in 1979 the company was deployed to a special forces battalion (1st and 14th companies) ...

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

In 1978 at the Military Academy. MV 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 special brigade of the Moscow Military District in the village of Chuchkovo, Ryazan Region, the GRU General Staff conducted an operational-strategic experimental exercise, the purpose of which was to work out the issues of the combat use of special-purpose units. To ensure the transfer of personnel and cargo to the rear of the enemy, military transport aviation was involved. Takeoff and landing airfield - Diaghilevo. To indicate nuclear and other means 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 were involved.

In 1970, a special training company was deployed in Pechory, which was later reorganized into a training battalion, and then into the 1071st training regiment for special purposes (military unit 51064), which trained junior commanders and specialists for special purpose units. Under the 1071th UPSPN, there was a school of warrant officers for special forces.

Since the mid-70s, the General Staff found the opportunity to deploy brigades, increasing the number of personnel in them. As a result of this decision, it was possible to staff the brigade units 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 Chief of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces approved the "Instructions for the Combat Use of Special Forces, Units and Subunits (Brigade, Detachment, Battalion)."

In 1972, as part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Mongolia, two brigades were formed, the numbering of which is in line with the numbers of the special-purpose brigades, but these brigades were named “separate reconnaissance brigades”. The new brigades included three separate reconnaissance battalions, armed with infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, and units combat support, which was due to the nature of the terrain in the zone of responsibility of the GSVM. However, each of these brigades had "jumping" reconnaissance and landing companies, and each brigade had its own separate helicopter squadron. Most likely, by creating these brigades, the General Staff tried to find the optimal organization of special forces, which were to operate in the mountainous desert area.

As a result, the 20th and 25th separate reconnaissance brigades were formed. Similar formations in Soviet army was nowhere else. In the mid-1980s, 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.

In the late 1970s, the General Staff found an opportunity to transfer special-purpose brigades from a cadre to a deployed composition, as well as find reserves for the formation of two more brigades. The 22nd Special Forces Brigade was formed on July 24, 1976 in the Central Asian Military District in the city of Kapchagai on the basis of one of the detachments of the 15th brigade, the 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 several times changed its location and in the given time located in the area of the city of Aksai, Rostov region (military unit 11659).

24th Special Forces Brigadewas formed in the Trans-Baikal Military District on November 1, 1977 on the basis of the 18th Special Forces and was deployed initially in the area of N. the village of Kharabyrka of the Chita region (2nd site), then in 1987 it was transferred to the n. the village of 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 Special Operations Forces was transferred to the subordination of the 14th Special Forces 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 Special Forces Brigade, the 67th Special Purpose Brigade is formed, which is deployed in the city of Berdsk, Novosibirsk Region (military unit 64655).

In 1985, during Afghan war, in Chirchik, on the site of the 15th brigade that had left for Afghanistan, the 467th Special Purpose Training Regiment (military unit 71201) was formed, which trained personnel for the 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, when selecting recruits for this regiment, an officer encountered any difficulties at the recruiting center, the issues that arose were resolved with one phone call to the GRU.

According to the state, special-purpose detachments that are part of the brigades deployed in 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 brigade, had next state:

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

In total, these detachments had 212 personnel each.

A separate army special-purpose company had at different times in the staff from 115 to 127 people.

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

Special Forces Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

10 separate special purpose squad (Kiev)

3rd separate special-purpose regiment (Kirovograd)

8th separate special-purpose regiment (Khmelnitsky)
50th separate training detachment of special training (as a separate battalion) (Kirovograd)
801st separate detachment to combat underwater sabotage, forces and means. (Sevastopol)
73rd Naval Special Operations Center of the Ukrainian Navy (Ochakov).

Congratulations, colleagues !!!

At the peak of its development, the GRU GSh special forces consisted of sixteen separate brigades (obrSpN) for special purposes (one in each military district or group of forces) and separate companies (oSpN) - one in each combined-arms army. With the exception of the Red Banner Transcaucasian Military District, where there were two (12th and 22nd, Kandahar) brigades.

The structure of each brigade was a separate company - a special mining company - the most formidable (and secret) special forces weapon - wearable nuclear bombs. To get to serve in such a company was equally difficult and honorable - a kind of elite of the elite ...

Specialists (signalmen and sappers), junior command staff, as well as warrant officers for special forces units were trained in the city of Pechora (Leningrad Military District) in the 1071st Special Purpose Training Regiment (disbanded in 1999). In 1985, the 467th separate special-purpose training regiment was formed in the city of Chirchik (Uzbek SSR, Turkestan military district). They trained both sergeants and many specialists - scout snipers, gunners-operators, AGS-17 grenade launchers, sappers and radio operators, as well as ordinary scouts.

Officers for special forces were trained on the basis of the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School. At first it was one company of cadets. Since 1981, in connection with the war in Afghanistan, on the basis of the platoons of the famous ninth company, the 13th and 14th companies were formed, later brought together into a battalion. Since 1994, the battalion in full strength was transferred to the Novosibirsk Higher Combined Arms Command School and deployed to a five-troop composition (the First Chechen War began). Before the collapse of the USSR, in 1991, officers for the special forces were trained by the intelligence faculty of the Kiev VOKu. For graduates of other combined arms (infantry, in other words) schools, the path to special forces was not closed. Graduates of Baku, Alma-Ata, Tashkent, Far Eastern and other schools served no less valiantly in special-purpose units.

Specialist officers came from specialized schools. Engineers were provided by the Tyumen Higher Military Engineering Command School. Signalers - Cherepovets Higher Military Command School of Communications. Perm Higher Military Command Engineering School missile forces supplied specialists to the special mining companies (as a joke, the commander of the special mining group was called "commander atomic bomb", the group was small - only four scouts.) Motorists came from Chelyabinsk, specialists of the airborne service - from Ryazan, from the engineering faculty.

Served in special forces units and naval officers. Each of the four fleets of the USSR Navy and the Caspian Flotilla had units naval special forces... Companies from separate brigades in the naval unit were regularly dispatched to undergo naval training. And the personnel of individual spetsnaz companies (as well as reconnaissance battalions of combined arms divisions) passed airborne training at the training base of individual brigades. In addition, there was the usual rotation of officers in the military districts. As a result, in the small officer corps, almost everyone knew everyone, if not personally, then through one handshake. This contributed to the formation of a special corporate spirit.

The retraining of special forces officers took place at the legendary "SHOT" courses in the city of Solnechnogorsk, Moscow region, for officers of the special mines companies - in Zagoryanskoye. Some of the officers could continue their studies at the Military Academy. Frunze or at the Military Academy of the Soviet Army (otherwise it was called the Military-Diplomatic Academy). Graduates of the latter often went to the Service External Intelligence GRU General Staff or in the corps of military attache.

The main purpose of the special forces is reconnaissance and sabotage activities in the rear of the enemy's regular troops. Primary targets are nuclear attack weapons, command and control posts, headquarters, precision weapons systems, airfields and facilities air defense... The concept of the combat use of special forces did not provide for its actions to combat partisans, bandit groups, illegal armed groups, militants, etc. However, it was the special forces units that turned out to be the most adapted to the counter-guerrilla war in the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan and Chechnya due to their high fighting spirit, professionalism and flexible tactics. The special forces had to carry out tasks that were not at all peculiar to them - the protection of arsenals and airfields, escort of columns, personal protection of senior officers of the district headquarters and the headquarters itself, the search and destruction of armed deserters. (There were also quite exotic tasks, such as the search for the missing artillery ammunition with a special charge) The assignment of typical tasks of infantry or commandant companies to the scouts was most often associated with the degradation of the personnel of motorized rifle units and, as a result, the inability to perform their tasks.

In the late 90s, special mining companies were abolished in the brigades. Separate companies were abolished. The training regiment and the school of warrant officers were disbanded. Since 2010, there has been no recruitment of cadets to the Novosibirsk VOKu at the faculty of special intelligence. The recruitment of officers from special-purpose units to military academies and special courses has been stopped. The military-political leadership of the country also decided to disband individual special forces brigades. As of today, there are four of them left in the country's Armed Forces! The Russian Federation is not the USSR, the territory is smaller and there seems to be no global enemy, but it is very reckless to do so, I think!

In fact, special forces units remained the only units capable of resisting irregular armed formations in local conflicts. The price of special forces' combat experience is more than eight hundred dead scouts! And it turns out that nobody needs it! And this is at a time when the Caucasus is blazing and sparks fly to the central part of the country. Personally, I do not understand such solutions. A gift for the holiday was the recent decision of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense to abolish the General Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. Military intelligence we don't need it! So Serdyukov decided. The Supreme Commander approved! Of course, the officers did not go anywhere - they joined the ranks of the FSB and FSO, Vympel and anti-terrorist regional centers, riot police, and so on. Others joined the orderly ranks of the personal protection of the oligarchs, someone went into business, someone went into crime. But that's another story, this is not the history of special forces.

Happy Holidays! Happy 61st anniversary of the Special Forces!

Dear colleagues, do you know anything about the differences between the Special Forces Regiment that has guarded the Kremlin since 1936? The official history indicates 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 encryption "ORSN" is visible (it is not yet clear to me what it could mean - a separate special-purpose company ?), later the cipher "PSN" is visible.

Yes, in general, everything is known "about the differences of the Special Forces 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 a military fire brigade. The ORSN was not part of the PSN, but was part of the Kremlin garrison. The garrison also included a separate motor transport battalion, the servicemen of which wore the OAB encryption on the shoulder straps, and the military construction battalion, the servicemen of which wore the code of the AFB. In addition, the Kremlin garrison included a separate officer battalion, nee, a separate battalion of the GUGB NKVD.

All of the above servicemen, except for the GUGB battalion, wore the uniform of the internal troops, of which they were:

36. The special-purpose regiment is completed with:
a) command and command personnel - by special selection from the border and internal troops of the NKVD
b) enlisted personnel - from the next draft contingents, with the obligatory condition of checking and studying the assigned composition during the year.
The coverage of the shortage in the period between conscriptions is carried out 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, the command and command personnel of the Kremlin garrison units, the year of service in the garrison is taken as 1.5 years.

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

40. A separate battalion of the Main Directorate of State Security of the NKVD of the USSR is assigned to serve in particularly responsible posts.

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

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

43. The personnel of the battalion serve on the same basis with all commanding personnel of the GUGB.

44. Service units of the battalion are completed and serve on a general basis with the personnel of the special-purpose regiment.