A branch of the Armed Forces, which is a reserve of the Supreme High Command and is specially designed to cover the enemy by air and perform tasks in his rear to disrupt troop control, capture and destroy ground elements of high-precision weapons, disrupt the advance and deployment of reserves, disrupt the work of the rear and communications, as well as to cover (defend) certain areas, areas, open flanks, blockade and destroy airborne assault forces that have broken through, enemy groupings that have broken through, and perform many other tasks.
In peacetime, the Airborne Forces perform the main tasks of maintaining combat and mobilization readiness at a level that ensures their successful use as intended.
The Russian Armed Forces are a separate branch of the military.
Also, the Airborne Forces are quite often used as a rapid reaction force.
The main method of delivery of the Airborne Forces is parachute landing, they can also be delivered by helicopters; during World War II, glider delivery was practiced.
Airborne Forces of the USSR
Pre-war period
At the end of 1930, near Voronezh, in the 11th rifle division, a Soviet airborne unit was created - an airborne squadron. In December 1932, he was deployed to the 3rd Special Forces Aviation Brigade (OsNaz), which from 1938 became known as the 201st Airborne Brigade.
The very first use of airborne assault forces in the history of military affairs occurred in the spring of 1929. In the city of Garm besieged by the Basmachs, a group of armed Red Army men was landed from the air, and with the support of local residents completely defeated a gang that had invaded Tajikistan from abroad. But still, the Day of the Airborne Forces in Russia and a number of other countries is considered to be August 2, in honor of the parachute landing at the military exercise of the Moscow Military District near Voronezh on August 2, 1930.
In 1931, on the basis of an order dated March 18, a non-standard, experienced aviation motorized landing detachment (airborne landing detachment) was formed in the Leningrad Military District. It was intended to study the issues of operational-tactical use and the most advantageous organizational forms of airborne (airborne) subunits, units and formations. The detachment consisted of 164 personnel and consisted of:
One rifle company;
-separate platoons: engineer, communications and light vehicles;
- heavy bomber aviation squadron (air squadron) (12 aircraft - TB-1);
- one corps aviation detachment (squadron) (10 aircraft - R-5).
The detachment was armed with:
Two 76-mm Kurchevsky dynamo-reactive cannons (DRP);
-two tankettes - T-27;
-4 grenade launchers;
-3 light armored vehicles (armored vehicles);
-14 light and 4 heavy machine guns;
-10 trucks and 16 cars;
-4 motorcycles and one scooter
E. D. Lukin was appointed the commander of the detachment. Subsequently, in the same air brigade, a contingency paratrooper detachment was formed.
In 1932, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR issued a decree on the deployment of detachments to special aviation battalions (bOSNAZ). By the end of 1933, there were already 29 airborne battalions and brigades that became part of the Air Force. The Leningrad Military District (Leningrad Military District) was entrusted with the task of training instructors in airborne operations and the development of operational and tactical standards.
By the standards of that time, airborne units were an effective means of disorganizing enemy command and control. They were to be used where other types of troops (infantry, artillery, cavalry, armored forces) cannot currently solve this problem, and were also intended to be used by the high command in cooperation with troops advancing from the front, airborne assault forces were to help encirclement and defeat of the enemy in this direction.
State number 015/890 1936 of the "airborne brigade" (ADBR) in wartime and peacetime. The name of the units, the number of wartime personnel (in brackets, the number of peacetime personnel):
Office, 49 (50);
- company of communications, 56 (46);
- musician platoon, 11 (11);
-3 airborne battalions, in each, 521 (381);
-school of junior command staff, 0 (115);
-service, 144 (135);
Total: in the brigade, 1823 (1500); Personnel:
Command staff, 107 (118);
-The heading staff, 69 (60);
- Junior command and control personnel, 330 (264);
- Private, 1317 (1058);
-Total: 1823 (1500);
Material part:
45 mm PTO cannon, 18 (19);
-Hand machine guns, 90 (69);
-Radio stations, 20 (20);
-Automatic carbines, 1286 (1005);
-Light mortars, 27 (20);
-Cars, 6 (6);
-Trucks, 63 (51);
-Special cars, 14 (14);
-Cars "Pickup", 9 (8);
-Motorcycles, 31 (31);
-Tractors ChTZ, 2 (2);
-Tractor trailers, 4 (4);
In the pre-war years, a lot of forces and means were allocated for the development of the airborne troops, the development of the theory of their combat use, as well as practical training... In 1934, 600 paratroopers were involved in the exercises of the Red Army. In 1935, during the maneuvers of the Kiev Military District, 1,188 paratroopers were parachuted and a landing force of 2,500 people landed along with military equipment.
In 1936, 3,000 paratroopers were parachuted in the Belarusian Military District, 8,200 people with artillery and other military equipment were landed. The invited foreign military delegations who were present at these exercises were amazed at the size of the landings and the skill of the landing.
"31. Parachute units, as a new type of air infantry, are a means of disorganizing enemy command and control. They are used by the high command.
In cooperation with the troops advancing from the front, the air infantry helps to encircle and defeat the enemy in a given direction.
The use of airborne infantry must be strictly tailored to the conditions of the situation and requires reliable provision and compliance with measures of secrecy and surprise. "
- Chapter two "Organization of the Red Army troops" 1. The branches of the army and their combat use, Field Manual of the Red Army (PU-39)
The paratroopers gained experience in real battles. In 1939, the 212th Airborne Brigade took part in the defeat of the Japanese at Khalkhin Gol. For their courage and heroism, 352 paratroopers were awarded orders and medals. In 1939-1940, during the Soviet-Finnish war, the 201st, 202nd and 214th airborne brigades fought together with rifle units.
On the basis of the experience gained in 1940, new brigade staffs were approved, consisting of three combat groups: parachute, glider and landing-landing.
In preparation for the operation to annex Bessarabia to the USSR, occupied Romania, as well as Northern Bukovina, the command of the Red Army enlisted the 201st, 204th and 214th airborne brigades in the Southern Front. In the course of the operation, the 204th and 201st ADBRs received combat missions and troops were thrown into the area of Bolgrad and Izmail, and after the closure of the state border for the organization of Soviet command and control bodies in settlements.
The Great Patriotic War
By the beginning of 1941, on the basis of the existing airborne brigades, airborne corps were deployed, the number of which exceeded 10 thousand people each.
On September 4, 1941, by order of the People's Commissar, the Airborne Forces Directorate was transformed into the Directorate commander of the airborne forces The Red Army, and the formations and units of the Airborne Forces were removed from the subordination of the commanders of the active fronts and transferred to the direct subordination of the Commander of the Airborne Forces. In accordance with this order, the formation of ten airborne corps, five maneuverable airborne brigades, five reserve airborne regiments and an airborne school (Kuibyshev) was carried out. At the beginning of World War II, the Airborne Forces were an independent branch of the forces (troops) of the Red Army Air Force.
In the counteroffensive near Moscow, conditions appeared for the widespread use of the Airborne Forces. In the winter of 1942, the Vyazemsk airborne operation was carried out with the participation of the 4th Airborne Corps. In September 1943, an airborne assault force consisting of two brigades was used to help the troops of the Voronezh Front in crossing the Dnieper River. In the Manchurian strategic operation in August 1945, more than 4 thousand personnel of rifle subunits were landed for landing operations by landing method, which quite successfully completed the assigned tasks.
In October 1944, the Airborne Forces were transformed into a separate Guards Airborne Army, which became part of long-range aviation. In December 1944, this army was, on the basis of the order of the Supreme Command Headquarters dated December 18, 1944, transformed into the 9th Guards Army, based on the control of the 7th Army and formations of a separate Guards Airborne Army with direct subordination to the Supreme Command Headquarters. Airborne divisions were reorganized into rifle divisions.
At the same time, a directorate of the Airborne Forces was created with direct subordination to the commander of the Air Force. The Airborne Forces retained three airborne brigades, a training airborne regiment, advanced training courses for officers and an aeronautical division. At the end of the winter of 1945, the 9th Guards Army, consisting of the 37th, 38th, 39th Guards Rifle Corps, was concentrated in Hungary southeast of Budapest; On February 27, she became part of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, on March 9 she was reassigned to the 3rd Ukrainian Front. In March - April 1945, the army took part in the Vienna strategic operation (March 16 - April 15), advancing in the direction of the front's main attack. In early May 1945, the army, as part of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, took part in the Prague operation (May 6-11). The 9th Guards Army ended its combat path with an exit to the Elbe. The army was disbanded on May 11, 1945. The army commander was Colonel-General Glagolev V.V. (December 1944 - until the end of the war). On June 10, 1945, in accordance with the order of the Supreme Command Headquarters of May 29, 1945, the Central Group of Forces was formed, which included the 9th Guards Army. Later it was withdrawn to the Moscow District, where in 1946 its directorate was transformed into the Airborne Forces Directorate, and all its formations again became guards airborne troops - the 37th, 38th, 39th corps and 98, 99, 100, 103, 104 , 105, 106, 107, 114 airborne divisions (airborne division).
Post-war period
Since 1946, they were transferred to the ground forces of the Armed Forces of the USSR, were directly subordinate to the Minister of Defense of the USSR, being the reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
In 1956, two airborne divisions took part in the Hungarian events. In 1968, after the capture of two airfields near Prague and Bratislava, the 7th and 103rd Guards Airborne Divisions were landed, which ensured the successful completion of the task by formations and units of the Joint Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact countries during the Czechoslovak events.
In the post-war period, the Airborne Forces carried out a lot of work to increase the firepower and mobility of personnel. Numerous samples of airborne armored vehicles (BMD, BTR-D), automotive vehicles (TPK, GAZ-66), artillery systems (ASU-57, ASU-85, 2S9 "Nona", 107-mm recoilless gun B-11) were made. Complex parachute systems were created for the landing of all types of weapons - "Centaur", "Reaktavr" and others. The fleet of military transport aviation was also greatly increased, designed for the massive transfer of amphibious forces in the event of large-scale hostilities. Large-body transport aircraft were made capable of parachuting military equipment (An-12, An-22, Il-76).
In the USSR, for the first time in the world, airborne troops were created, which had their own armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery. At large army exercises (like Shield-82 or Druzhba-82), personnel with standard equipment numbering no more than two paratrooper regiments were landed. The state of the military transport aviation of the USSR Armed Forces at the end of the 1980s made it possible to parachute 75% of the personnel and standard military equipment of one airborne division in just one general sortie.
By the fall of 1979, the 105th Guards Vienna Red Banner Airborne Division, specially designed for military operations in mountainous desert areas, was disbanded. Parts of the 105th Guards Airborne Division were stationed in the cities of Fergana, Namangan and Chirchik of the Uzbek SSR and in the city of Osh of the Kirghiz SSR. As a result of the dissolution of the 105th Guards Airborne Division, 4 separate airborne assault brigades (35th Guards, 38th Guards and 56th Guards), 40th (without the status of "Guards") and 345th guards separate parachute regiment.
The entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, which followed after the disbanding of the 105th Guards Airborne Division, in 1979, showed a deep error in the decision taken by the leadership of the USSR Armed Forces - an airborne unit specially adapted for warfare in mountainous desert areas in an ill-considered and rather hasty manner was disbanded, and the 103 Guards Airborne Division was ultimately sent to Afghanistan, the personnel of which had no training at all to conduct hostilities in such a theater of operations:
105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division (mountain-desert) .:
“... in 1986, the Commander of the Airborne Forces, General of the Army Sukhorukov DF, arrived, he said then what fools we were, having disbanded the 105th Airborne Division, because it was specially designed for military operations in mountainous desert areas. And we had to spend huge amounts of money to deliver the 103rd Airborne Division to Kabul by air ... "
By the mid-1980s, the airborne troops of the USSR Armed Forces included 7 airborne divisions and three separate regiments with the following names and locations:
7th Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov II degree airborne division. Based in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Baltic VO.
-76th Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov II degree Chernigov airborne division. It was stationed in the city of Pskov, RSFSR, Leningrad VO.
-98th Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov II degree Svir Airborne Division. Based in Bolgrad, Ukrainian SSR, KODVO and in Chisinau, Moldavian SSR, KODVO.
-103rd Guards Red Banner Order of Lenin Order of Kutuzov II degree Airborne Division named after the 60th anniversary of the USSR. It was stationed in the city of Kabul (Afghanistan) as part of the OKSVA. Until December 1979 and after February 1989, it was stationed in the city of Vitebsk, Byelorussian SSR, Byelorussian VO.
-104th Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov II degree airborne division, specially designed for military operations in mountainous areas. It was stationed in the city of Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, Transcaucasian VO.
-106th Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov II degree airborne division. It was stationed in the city of Tula and in the city of Ryazan of the RSFSR, Moscow VO.
-44th training Red Banner Orders of Suvorov II degree and Bogdan Khmelnitsky II degree Ovruch airborne division. Located in the village. Gayzhunai, Lithuanian SSR, Baltic VO.
-345th Guards Vienna Red Banner Order of Suvorov III degree Airborne Regiment named after the 70th anniversary of the Leninist Komsomol. It was located in the city of Bagram (Afghanistan) as part of the OKSVA. Until December 1979 he was based in the city of Fergana of the Uzbek SSR, after February 1989 - in the city of Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, Transcaucasian VO.
-387th training separate parachute regiment (387th airborne regiment). Until 1982, he was part of the 104th Guards Airborne Division. In the period from 1982 to 1988, in the 387th OPDA, training was carried out for young reinforcements to be sent to the airborne and airborne assault units as part of the OKSVA. In cinematography, in the film "9th Company", the educational part means precisely the 387th OPDU. Based in the city of Fergana, Uzbek SSR, Turkestan VO.
-196th separate communications regiment of the Airborne Forces. Located in the village. Bear Lakes of the Moscow Region of the RSFSR.
Each of these divisions had in its composition: management (headquarters), three parachute regiments, one self-propelled artillery regiment and combat support and logistics support units.
In addition to parachute units and formations, the airborne troops also had airborne assault units and formations, but they were directly subordinate to the commanders of military districts (groups of forces), armies or corps. They practically did not differ in anything, except for tasks, subordination and OSHS (organizational and staff structure). The methods of combat use, combat training programs for personnel, weapons and uniforms of military personnel were the same as for parachute units and airborne forces (central subordination). The airborne assault formations were represented by separate airborne assault brigades (oshbr), separate airborne assault regiments (odshp) and separate airborne assault battalions (odshb).
The reason for the creation of airborne assault formations in the late 60s was the revision of tactical techniques in the fight against the enemy in the event of a full-scale war. The stake was placed on the concept of using massive assault forces in the enemy's near rear, capable of disorganizing the defense. The technical capability for such a landing was provided by the significantly increased fleet of transport helicopters in the army aviation by this time.
By the mid-1980s, the USSR Armed Forces included 14 separate brigades, two separate regiments and about 20 separate battalions. The brigades were based on the territory of the USSR according to the principle - one brigade for one military district, having a land access to the State border of the USSR, one brigade in the inner Kiev Military District (23rd brigade in the city of Kremenchug, subordinate to the High Command of the south-western direction) and two brigades for the group Soviet troops abroad (35th Guards brigade in the GSVG in the city of Cottbus and 83odshbr in the SGV in the city of Bialogard). 56ogdshbr in OKSVA, located in the city of Gardez, Republic of Afghanistan, belonged to the Turkestan Military District, in which it was created.
Separate airborne assault regiments were subordinate to the commanders of individual army corps.
The difference between the airborne and airborne assault formations of the Airborne Forces was as follows:
In the presence of standard airborne armored vehicles (BMD, BTR-D, self-propelled guns "Nona", etc.). In the airborne assault units, only a quarter of all subunits were supplied with it - in contrast to the 100% complement of it in the paratrooper units.
-In the subordination of the troops. Airborne assault units, in operational terms, were directly subordinate to the command of military districts (groups of forces), armies, and corps. The airborne units were subordinate only to the command of the Airborne Forces, whose headquarters were in Moscow.
-In the assigned tasks. It was assumed that airborne assault units, in the event of the start of large-scale hostilities, would be used to land in the enemy's near rear, mainly by landing from helicopters. The parachute units were supposed to be used in the deeper rear of the enemy with parachute landing from the VTA (military transport aviation) aircraft. At the same time, airborne training with planned training parachute landings of personnel and military equipment was mandatory for both types of airborne forces.
-In contrast to the guards airborne units of the Airborne Forces deployed in full staff, some airborne assault brigades were squadron (incomplete) and were not guards. The exception was three brigades, which received the name of the Guards, created on the basis of the Guards parachute regiments, the 105th Vienna Red Banner Guards Airborne Division, which was disbanded in 1979 - the 35th, 38th and 56th. 40th air assault brigade created on the basis of the 612th separate airborne support battalion and the 100th separate reconnaissance company of the same division - the status of "guards" - did not receive.
In the mid-80s, the following brigades and regiments were part of the Airborne Forces of the SV Armed Forces of the USSR:
11th separate airborne assault brigade in the Trans-Baikal VO (Chita region, Mogocha and Amazar),
-13th separate airborne assault brigade in the Far Eastern Military District (Amur Region, Magdagachi and Zavitinsk),
-21st separate airborne assault brigade in the Transcaucasian VO (Georgian SSR, Kutaisi),
-23rd separate airborne assault brigade of the Southwest direction (on the territory of the Kiev military district), (Ukrainian SSR, Kremenchug),
-35th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (German Democratic Republic, Cottbus),
-36th separate airborne assault brigade in the Leningradsky VO (Leningrad region, village Garbolovo),
-37th separate airborne assault brigade in the Baltic Military District (Kaliningrad Region, Chernyakhovsk),
-38th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade in the Belorussian Military District (Belorussian SSR, Brest),
-39th separate airborne assault brigade in the Carpathian military district (Ukrainian SSR, Khyrov),
-40th separate airborne assault brigade in the Odessa Military District (Ukrainian SSR, village Bolshaya Korenikha, Nikolaev region),
-56th Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade in the Turkestan Military District (created in the city of Chirchik of the Uzbek SSR and introduced to Afghanistan),
-57th separate airborne assault brigade in the Central Asian Military District (Kazakh SSR, Aktogay town),
-58th separate airborne assault brigade in the Kiev military district (Ukrainian SSR, Kremenchug),
-83rd separate airborne assault brigade in the Northern Group of Forces, (Polish People's Republic, Bialogard),
-1318th separate airborne assault regiment in the Belorussian military district (Belorussian SSR, Polotsk) subordinate to the 5th separate army corps (5oak)
-1319th separate airborne assault regiment in the Trans-Baikal VO (Buryat ASSR, Kyakhta) subordinate to the 48th separate army corps (48oak)
These brigades had in their composition management, 3 or 4 airborne assault battalions, one artillery division and combat support and logistical support units. The personnel of fully deployed brigades ranged from 2,500 to 3,000 troops.
For example, the staffing of the 56GDSBR personnel as of December 1, 1986 was 2,452 servicemen (261 officers, 109 warrant officers, 416 sergeants, 1,666 soldiers).
The regiments differed from the brigades in the presence of only two battalions: one airborne and one airborne assault (on the BMD), as well as a slightly reduced composition of the regimental set subunits.
Participation of the Airborne Forces in the Afghan War
In the Afghan war, from the airborne and airborne assault formations of the USSR Armed Forces, one airborne division (103 Guards Airborne Forces), one separate airborne assault brigade (56th Airborne Assault Brigade), one separate paratrooper regiment (345th Guards Airborne Regiment) and two air assault battalions as part of separate motorized rifle brigades (in the 66th OMRBR and in the 70th OMRBR). In total, in 1987, these were 18 "line" battalions (13 airborne and 5 airborne assault), which amounted to a fifth of the total number of all "line" battalions of OKSVA (which included 18 more tank and 43rd motorized rifle battalion).
Almost throughout history Afghan war not a single situation arose that would justify the use of parachute landing for the transfer of personnel. The main reasons for this were the complexity of the mountainous terrain, as well as the unreasonableness of material costs in using such methods in counter-guerrilla warfare. The delivery of the personnel of the airborne and airborne assault units to the mountainous areas of hostilities, impassable for armored vehicles, was carried out only by the landing method using helicopters. Therefore, the division of line battalions of the Airborne Forces in OKSVA into airborne assault and paratrooper battalions should be considered conditional. Both those and other types of battalions operated according to the same scheme.
As in all motorized rifle, tank and artillery units in the OKSVA, up to half of all units of the airborne and airborne assault formations were distributed to outposts along the outposts, which made it possible to control the roads, mountain passes and the vast territory of the country, significantly constraining the the very actions of the enemy. For example, the battalions of the 350th Guards RAP were often based in various points of Afghanistan (in Kunar, Girishka, Surubi), controlling the situation in these areas. The 2nd paratrooper battalion from the 345th Guards Division was distributed among 20 outposts in the Panjshir Gorge near the Anava village. By doing this, the 2pdb 345opdp (together with the 682nd motorized rifle regiment of the 108th mechanized infantry division stationed in the village of Rukha) completely blocked the western exit from the gorge, which was the enemy's main transport artery from Pakistan to the strategically important Charikar Valley.
The most massive military airborne operation in the USSR Armed Forces, in the period after the Great Patriotic War, must be considered the 5th Panjshir Operation in May-June 1982, during which the first mass landing of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division was carried out in Afghanistan: only during the first three days, over 4 thousand people were parachuted from helicopters by landing method. In total, about 12 thousand servicemen of different types of troops took part in this operation. The operation took place simultaneously for the entire 120 km deep into the gorge. As a result of the operation, most of the Panjshir gorge was taken under control.
In the period from 1982 to 1986, in all airborne divisions of the OKSVA, a systematic replacement of standard airborne armored vehicles (BMD-1, BTR-D) with armored vehicles standard for motorized rifle units (BMP-2D, BTR-70) was carried out. First of all, this was due to the rather low security and low service life of the structurally lightweight armored vehicles of the Airborne Forces, as well as the nature of the hostilities, where the combat missions performed by the paratroopers will not differ much from the tasks assigned to the motorized riflemen.
Also, to increase the firepower of the airborne units, additional artillery and tank units will be introduced into their composition. For example, the 345opdp, modeled on a motorized rifle regiment, will be supplemented with an artillery howitzer battalion and a tank company, in the 56th regiment the artillery battalion was deployed to 5 fire batteries (instead of the required 3 batteries), and the 103rd Guards Airborne Division will be reinforced by the 62nd separate tank battalion, which was unusual for the organizational structure of the Airborne Forces units on the territory of the USSR.
Training of officers for the airborne forces
The officers were trained by the following military educational institutions in the following military specialties:
Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School - commander of an airborne (airborne assault) platoon, commander of a reconnaissance platoon.
- Airborne Faculty of the Ryazan Military Automobile Institute - commander of an automobile / transport platoon.
- Airborne faculty of the Ryazan Higher Military Command School of Communications - commander of a communications platoon.
- Airborne Department of the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School - deputy company commander for political affairs (educational work).
- Airborne faculty of the Kolomna Higher Artillery Command School - commander of an artillery platoon.
-Poltava Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command Red Banner School - commander of an anti-aircraft artillery, anti-aircraft missile platoon.
- Airborne faculty of the Kamyanets-Podolsk Higher Military Engineering Command School - commander of an engineering platoon.
Except data alumni educational institutions, in the Airborne Forces, they were often appointed to the positions of platoon commanders, graduates of higher general military schools (VOKU) and military departments, who poured the commanders of a motorized rifle platoon. This was due to the fact that the specialized Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, which graduated an average of about 300 lieutenants every year, was simply not able to fully meet the needs of the Airborne Forces (at the end of the 80s, they had about 60,000 personnel) in platoon commanders. For example, the former commander of the 247th Guards Rifle Regiment (7th Guards Airborne Division), Hero Russian Federation Em Yuri Pavlovich, who began his service in the Airborne Forces as a platoon commander in the 111th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 105th Guards Airborne Division, graduated from the Alma-Ata Higher Combined Arms Command School.
For quite a long time, servicemen of units and units of the Special Forces (the so-called now army special forces) were mistakenly and / or deliberately called paratroopers. This circumstance is connected with the fact that in the Soviet period, as now, there were no special forces in the Russian Armed Forces, but there were and are special forces units and units of the GRU of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. In the press and in the media, the phrases "special forces" or "commandos" were mentioned only in relation to the troops of a potential enemy ("Green Berets", "Rangers", "Commandos").
Starting with the formation of these units in the USSR Armed Forces in 1950 until the end of the 80s, the existence of such units and units was completely denied. It got to the point that conscripts learned about their existence only when they were accepted into the personnel of these units and units. Officially, in the Soviet press and on television, the units and units of the Special Forces of the GRU of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces were declared either parts of the Airborne Forces - as in the case of the GSVG (officially there were no special forces in the GDR), or, as in the case of OKSVA, separate motorized rifle battalions (Omsb). For example, the 173rd separate special-purpose detachment (173ooSpN), based near the city of Kandahar, was called the 3rd separate motorized rifle battalion (3omsb)
In everyday life, servicemen of special forces units and units wore ceremonial and field uniforms, adopted in the Airborne Forces, although they did not belong to the Airborne Forces either by subordination or by the assigned tasks of reconnaissance and sabotage activities. The only thing that united the Airborne Forces and subunits and units of the Special Forces was a large part of the officer corps - graduates of the RVVDKU, airborne training and possible combat use in the rear of the enemy.
Russian Airborne Forces
The decisive role in the formation of the theory of combat use and the development of weapons of the airborne troops belongs to the Soviet military leader Vasily Filippovich Margelov, commander of the Airborne Forces from 1954 to 1979. The name of Margelov is also associated with the positioning of the airborne forces as highly maneuverable, covered with armor and possessing sufficient fire efficiency units to participate in modern strategic operations in various theaters of military operations. On his initiative, a start was given to the technical re-equipment of the Airborne Forces: the serial production of landing equipment was launched at defense enterprises, modifications of small arms designed specifically for paratroopers were made, new military equipment was modernized and created (including the first tracked combat vehicle BMD-1), were adopted at weapons and new military transport aircraft entered the troops, and finally, their own symbols of the Airborne Forces were created - vests and blue berets. His personal contribution to the formation of the Airborne Forces in their modern form formulated by General Pavel Fedoseevich Pavlenko:
"In the history of the Airborne Forces, and in the Armed Forces of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union his name will remain forever. He personified a whole era in the development and formation of the Airborne Forces, their authority and popularity are associated with his name not only in our country, but also abroad ...
…V. F. Margelov realized that in modern operations, only highly mobile assault forces capable of wide maneuvering would be able to successfully operate deep behind enemy lines. He categorically rejected the installation of holding the area captured by the landing force until the approach of the troops advancing from the front by the method of hard defense as harmful, because in this case the landing force will be quickly destroyed. "
During the Second World War, the largest operational-tactical formations of the airborne troops (forces) - the army - were formed. The Airborne Army (VDA) was specially designed to carry out large operational and strategic missions behind enemy lines. It was first created at the end of 1943 in Nazi Germany as part of several airborne divisions. In 1944, the Anglo-American command also created such an army, consisting of two airborne corps (a total of five airborne divisions) and several formations of military transport aviation. These armies never took part in hostilities in full force.
-During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, tens of thousands of soldiers, sergeants, officers of the airborne units of the Red Army Air Force were awarded orders and medals, and 126 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
-After the end of the Great Patriotic War and for several decades, the Airborne Forces of the USSR (Russia) were and probably remain the most massive airborne troops on Earth.
-Only Soviet paratroopers in full combat gear were able to land on the North Pole, back in the late 40s
-Only Soviet paratroopers dared to jump from a height of many kilometers in airborne combat vehicles.
-The abbreviation of the Airborne Forces is sometimes deciphered as "Two hundred options are possible", "Uncle Vasya's troops", "Your girls are widows", "I will hardly return home", "All the paratrooper will withstand", "Everything for you", "Troops for war", etc. .d.
Designed to operate behind enemy lines, destroy nuclear attack weapons, command posts, capture and hold important areas and objects, disrupt the control system and operation of the enemy's rear, assist the Ground Forces in the development of the offensive and forcing water obstacles. They are equipped with self-propelled air transportable artillery, missile, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, armored personnel carriers, combat vehicles, automatic small arms, communication and control equipment. The available paratrooper equipment makes it possible to drop troops and cargo in any weather and terrain conditions, day and night from different heights. Organizationally, the airborne troops consist of (Fig. 1) airborne formations, an airborne brigade, and military units of special forces.
Rice. 1. The structure of the Airborne Forces
The Airborne Forces are armed with self-propelled airborne installations ASU-85; self-propelled artillery pieces "Sprut-SD"; 122 mm D-30 howitzer; BMD-1/2/3/4 airborne combat vehicles; armored personnel carriers BTR-D.
Part of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation may be part of the joint armed forces (for example, the Joint Armed Forces of the CIS) or be under joint command in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation (for example, as part of the UN peacekeeping forces or the CIS collective peacekeeping forces in zones of local military conflicts ).
Branch
The smallest military formation in - branch. The squad is commanded by a junior sergeant or sergeant. Usually there are 9-13 people in a motorized rifle department. In the departments of other branches of the military, the number of the personnel of the department is from 3 to 15 people. Usually a squad is part of a platoon, but it can also exist outside of a platoon.
Platoon
Several branches make up platoon. Usually there are 2 to 4 squads in a platoon, but more are possible. The platoon is headed by a commander in an officer's rank - junior lieutenant, lieutenant or senior lieutenant. On average, the number of platoon personnel ranges from 9 to 45 people. Usually in all branches of the military the name is the same - platoon. Usually a platoon is part of a company, but it can also exist independently.
Company
Several platoons make up company. In addition, a company may include several independent squads that are not included in any of the platoons. For example, a motorized rifle company has three motorized rifle platoons, a machine gun squad, and an anti-tank squad. Usually a company consists of 2-4 platoons, sometimes more platoons. The company is the smallest formation of tactical importance, i.e. formation capable of independently performing small tactical tasks on the battlefield. The company commander is captain. On average, the size of a company can be from 18 to 200 people. Motorized rifle companies are usually about 130-150 men, tank companies 30-35 men. Usually a company is part of a battalion, but companies often exist as independent formations. In artillery, a formation of this type is called a battery, in a cavalry squadron.
Battalion consists of several companies (usually 2-4) and several platoons that do not belong to any of the companies. The battalion is one of the main tactical formations. A battalion, like a company, a platoon, or a squad is named after its type of troops (tank, motorized rifle, engineer-sapper, communications). But the battalion already includes formations of other types of weapons. For example, in a motorized rifle battalion, in addition to motorized rifle companies, there is a mortar battery, a material support platoon, and a communications platoon. The battalion commander is a lieutenant colonel. The battalion already has its own headquarters. Usually, an average battalion, depending on the type of troops, can number from 250 to 950 people. However, there are battalions of about 100 people. In artillery, this type of formation is called a division.
Regiment
Regiment- This is the main tactical formation and completely autonomous in the economic sense of the formation. The regiment is commanded by a colonel. Although the regiments are named according to the types of troops (tank, motorized rifle, communications, pontoon-bridge, etc.), in fact, this is a formation consisting of subunits of many types of troops, and the name is given according to the prevailing type of troops. For example, in a motorized rifle regiment there are two or three motorized rifle battalions, one tank battalion, one artillery battalion (read battalion), one anti-aircraft missile battalion, a reconnaissance company, an engineering company, a communications company, an anti-tank battery, a chemical defense platoon , a repair company, a logistics company, an orchestra, a medical center. The number of the regiment's personnel is from 900 to 2000 people.
Brigade
Just like the regiment, brigade is the main tactical formation. Actually, the brigade occupies an intermediate position between the regiment and the division. The structure of the brigade is most often the same as that of the regiment, but there are much more battalions and other units in the brigade. So in a motorized rifle brigade, motorized rifle and tank battalions are one and a half to two times more than in a regiment. A brigade can also consist of two regiments, plus battalions and auxiliary companies. On average, the brigade has from 2 to 8 thousand people. The brigade commander, as well as in the regiment, is a colonel.
Division
Division- the main operational-tactical formation. As well as the regiment is named according to the dominant branch of the army. However, the predominance of this or that kind of troops is much less than in the regiment. A motorized rifle and a tank division are identical in structure with the only difference that in a motorized rifle division there are two or three motorized rifle regiments and one tank, and in a tank division, on the contrary, there are two or three tank regiments, and one motorized rifle. In addition to these main regiments, the division has one or two artillery regiments, one anti-aircraft missile regiment, a rocket battalion, a missile division, a helicopter squadron, an engineer battalion, a communications battalion, an automobile battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, an electronic warfare battalion, a logistics battalion, repair - a recovery battalion, a health battalion, a chemical defense company and several different companies and auxiliary platoons. Divisions can be tank, motorized rifle, artillery, airborne, missile and aviation. In other types of troops, as a rule, the highest formation is a regiment or brigade. On average, a division has 12-24 thousand people. Division commander Major General.
Frame
As a brigade is an intermediate formation between a regiment and a division, so frame is an intermediate formation between the division and the army. A corps is a combined-arms formation, that is, it usually lacks the attribute of one type of troops, although there may be tank or artillery corps, that is, corps with a complete predominance of tank or artillery divisions in them. The combined arms corps is commonly referred to as the "army corps". There is no single body structure. Each time a corps is formed on the basis of a specific military or military-political situation, and may consist of two or three divisions and a different number of formations of other combat arms. Usually a corps is created where it is impractical to create an army. It is impossible to talk about the structure and size of the corps, because as many corps exist or have existed, so many of their structures existed. Corps Commander Lieutenant General.
Army
Army Is a large operational military formation. The army includes divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. Typically, armies are no longer subdivided by type of service, although there may be tank armies dominated by tank divisions. An army may also have one or more corps. It is impossible to talk about the structure and size of the army, because as many armies exist or have existed, so many of their structures existed. A soldier at the head of an army is no longer called a "commander" but "an army commander". The usual rank of army commander is Colonel General. In peacetime, armies are rarely organized as military formations. Usually divisions, regiments, battalions are directly part of the district.
Front
Front (district) Is the highest military formation of a strategic type. Larger formations do not exist. The name "front" is used only in wartime for a formation conducting combat operations. For such formations in peacetime, or located in the rear, the name "district" (military district) is used. The front includes several armies, corps, divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. The composition and size of the front may vary. Fronts are never subdivided by combat arms (i.e., there can be no tank front, artillery front, etc.). At the head of the front (district) is the commander of the front (district) with the rank of General of the Army.
The art of war in Russia, as well as throughout the world, is subdivided into three levels:
- Tactics(the art of fighting). Squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment solve tactical tasks, that is, they fight.
- Operational art(the art of conducting a battle, battle). The division, corps, and army are solving operational tasks, that is, they are fighting.
- Strategy(the art of waging war in general). The front solves both operational and strategic tasks, that is, it wages major battles, as a result of which the strategic situation changes and the outcome of the war can be decided.
Taken from http://ryadovoy.vif2.ru/militarizm/dds&antidds/dds_vdv_1a.htm
Notes to the text:
1. All separate brigades had the status of a formation and, therefore, their battalions (dshb) were called separate. They should not be confused with separate battalions that were not part of the brigades (odshb itself).
2. All Airborne Forces were guards troops. They, in fact, were formed on the basis of the guards formations. In the text, their guards distinction and honorary names are omitted.
Period 1946-68 Revival and formation.
Despite the generally unsuccessful experience of using our airborne assault forces in the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet leadership remained enviable loyalty to the idea. (It is possible that the airborne assault forces somewhat rehabilitated themselves in the Manchurian operation, where they showed themselves brilliantly.) Therefore, six months after the end of the war, a decision is made on the new formation of full-fledged airborne forces. A number of elite guards rifle divisions formed during the war years on the basis of the guards airborne divisions are involved in this. It should be noted here that these divisions, despite the name, were reinforced rifle divisions in terms of their organizational structure and a set of weapons and, in fact, were elite rifle divisions - guards in the guard.
So, in June 1946 - by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the rare remaining "real" Airborne Forces were removed from the Air Force (where they were from the moment of formation), included in the reserve of the Supreme Command and are directly subordinate to the Minister of the Armed Forces. Five Guards were sent to form the troops. rifle corps of ten guards. rifle divisions (retaining numbers, guards rank, honorary titles and military awards). In addition, the existing 1st and 12th air transport divisions were included in the troops and the 3rd, 6th and 281st divisions were formed.
Corps and Divisions - Deployment and Composition
8th Guards. Neman Red Banner VDK, Polotsk
103rd Guards. Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Airborne Division, Polotsk, Belarus
114th Guards. Vienna Red Banner Airborne Division, Art. Borovukha Belarus
15th Guards. VDK, Rakvere, Krechevits, Novoselitsy
104th Guards. Orders of Kutuzov VDD, Narva and Kingisepp (Leningrad region, Estonia) - 332nd (Rakvern) and 349th (Yehvi) PDP
76th Guards Chernigov Red Banner Airborne Division, Novgorod
37th Guards. Svirsky Red Banner VDK, pos. Monastery (Primorye)
98th Guards. Svirskaya Red Banner Airborne Division, Art. Pokrovka (Primorsky Territory)
99th Guards Svirskaya Order of Kutuzov VDD, Art. Manzovka and Flour (Primorsky Territory) - 297th and 300th traffic police
38th Guards. Vienna VDK, Tula
106th Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov VDD, Tula
105th Guards. Vienna Red Banner Airborne Division, Kostroma
39th Guards. Vienna VDK, Belaya Tserkov
100th Guards Svirskaya Red Banner Airborne Division, Belaya Tserkov
107th Guards. May Day Red Banner Order of Suvorov VDD, Chernigov
Air transport units were located in the same deployment areas.
In 1947, the 100th Airborne Division was redeployed to Kirovograd (Ukraine).
In the summer of 1948, the deployment of five more airborne divisions was started:
7th (Lithuania, 8th VDK),
11th (presumably on the territory of the Moscow Military District, 38th Airborne Command),
13th (Transbaikalia, 37th VDK),
21st (Estonia, Valga, 15th VDK)
31st (Prykarpattya, 39th VDK) - each based on one of the already existing paratrooper regiments. New divisions were distributed, one per corps.
Also, the 2nd air transport division and a separate airborne communications battalion were formed in the village. Bear Lakes near Moscow.
At the same time, all the available forces formed the Airborne Army. Thus, the Airborne Forces had 5 corps headquarters, 15 (!!!) airborne and 6 air transport divisions. A total of 30 parachute regiments.
In April 1953, the Airborne Administration was reorganized into the Airborne Forces Directorate, all airborne divisions (except for the 103rd and 114th) were transferred to a three-regiment structure (before that they had two regiments each). In this way, total number parachute regiments reached the 43rd.
All R. 1950s, due to the general reduction of the Armed Forces, the Airborne Forces were also reduced and reformed:
Con. 1955 - early. 1956 - the 11th, 21st, 100th and 114th Airborne Division and VDK directorates were disbanded other divisions.]. The number of divisions was thus reduced to 11.
April 1955 - airborne aviation was withdrawn from the Airborne Forces and the VTA of the Air Force was created on its basis
1956 - the Airborne Forces were transferred to the Main Command of the SV.
1959 - the 31st and 107th airborne divisions were disbanded
October 1960 - the 44th school was formed. VDD
1964 - The Airborne Forces were again withdrawn from the Army and subordinate directly to the Minister of Defense.
The troops gained combat experience in suppressing the anti-Soviet rebellion in Hungary. The 7th Airborne Division took part in those events as part of the 80th and 108th Infantry Regiments and the 31st Airborne Division as part of the 114th and 381st Infantry Regiments (the remaining regiments of the divisions did not participate in hostilities, did not leave the territory of the USSR).
Two divisions changed their places of permanent deployment: the 104th in 1960 was relocated to Kirovobad (Azerbaijan), and the 105th in 1961 to Fergana (Uzbekistan) and Osh (Kyrgyzstan).
In addition to these divisions, in the end. 50s, it was decided to deploy another training division. Such a division - the 44th training airborne division, consisting of three UPDPs (226th, 285th and 301st) and one UPD, was formed in the city of Ostrov, Pskov region. in the fall of 1960 and transferred after the formation of the PPD on the territory of Lithuania.
Thus, from 1960 to 1967, the Soviet Airborne Forces consisted of nine combat and one training airborne divisions of three-regimental composition, i.e. there were 30 parachute regiments.
7th Guards. VDD- Kaunas, Lithuania (PribVO) - 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas) and 97th (Alytus) traffic police
13th Guards VDD- ZabVO- ???
76th Guards VDD - Pskov region (LenVO) - 104th (since 1959, Cherekha), 234th and 237th (both in the Pskov region) traffic police
98th Guards. VDD- years. Bolgrad and Chisinau (OdesVO) - 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) PDP
99th Guards VDD- Primorsky Territory (FarVO) - incl. 297th and 305th traffic police
103rd Guards. VDD- Vitebsk (BelVO) - 317th, 350th and 357th (all in Vitebsk) traffic police
104th Guards. VDD- Kirovobad (ZakVO) - 80th, 328th and 332nd PDP (all in Kirovobad)
106th Guards Airborne Forces - Tula, Ryazan (MVO) - 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st (Narofominsk) PDP
44th account guards VDD-Lithuania (PBVO) - 226th, 285th and 301st UPDP
Period 1968-79 Flourishing.
At the end of the 1960s, the 13th (Transbaikalia) and 99th (Primorsky Territory) airborne divisions were disbanded and two (11th and 13th, respectively) separate air assault brigades were deployed on their base. B - 21st ovshbr in ZKVO. All new ovshbr are part of the SV GK. In 1968, the 98th Guards. The airborne division was transferred to a new PPD in the OdVO (Bolgrad-Chisinau). Thus, from the late 60s to 1979, the Airborne Forces consisted of:
7th Guards. VDD- Kaunas, Lithuania (PribVO) - 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas), 97th PDP (Alytus), and 1137th ap (Kalvariya).
76th Guards VDD - Pskov region (LenVO) - 104th (Cherekha), 234th, 237th (both in Pskov) PDP.
98th Guards. VDD-Bolgrad-Chisinau (OdVO) - 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) traffic police
103rd Guards. VDD- Vitebsk (BelVO) - 317th, 350th and 357th (all in Vitebsk) traffic police
104th Guards. VDD- Kirovobad (ZakVO) - incl. 80th PDP
105th Guards. VDD-Fergana, Osh (SAVO) - 345th, 351st (both in Fergana) and 383rd (Osh) traffic police
106th Guards VDD-Tula, Ryazan (MVO) - 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st (Narofominsk) PDP
44th account guards VDD- Ionava (Lithuania) - Composition: 301st (Gayzhunai), 226th and 285th (both in Ionava) UPDP, as well as UAP.
The period 1979-89. Apogee.
In 1979, the 105th Guards. VDD (345th, 351st and 383rd PDP; 730th observatory, etc.) was disbanded. Only the 345th ODP (Fergana) was left. Thus, there were seven airborne divisions, incl. one educational; in total - 22 parachute regiments (of which 3 training and 1 separate).
Number
7th Guards. VDD
Location: headquarters and 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas), 97th PDP (Alytus), 1137th ap (Kalvariya).
44th account guards VDD
Location: Gayzhunai (Lithuania). Composition: 301st (Gayzhunay), 226th and 285th (both in Rukla) UPDP, as well as UAP. In 1987, it was reorganized into the 242nd Training Center of the Airborne Forces.
76th Guards VDD
Location: Pskov. Composition: 104th, 234th, 237th PDP.
98th Guards. VDD
Location: Bolgrad and Chisinau. Composition: 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) PDP.
103rd Guards. VDD
Location: Vitebsk (Belarus). From 1979 to 1989 she fought in Afghanistan. Training units remained in Vitebsk. Composition: 317th, 350th and 357th infantry brigades (in Afghanistan there is also the 62nd brigade).
104th Guards. VDD
Location: Ganja (then - Kirovabad, Azerbaijan). Composition: 28th, 382nd, 227th PDP; since 1990 it may have also had the 10th PDP.
106th Guards VDD
Location: headquarters and 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st PDP (Narofominsk).
345th OPDP
Remained from the 105th Airborne Division. Location: Fergana (Uzbekistan), since December 1979 - in Afghanistan, Kabul region, Bagram. Served as a training center. After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, in 1990, it was renamed the 10th Airborne Division and transferred to the Transcaucasus, and there, possibly, it was poured into the 104th Airborne Division.
387th OUPDP
Formed in Afghanistan on the funds of the 345th OPDP as a training unit. After withdrawal from Afghanistan, it was disbanded.
171st brigade
Dislocation - town. Bear Lakes.
332nd Warrant Officer School
Gayzhunai (Lithuania)
A separate communications brigade (OBRS), which was part of the Airborne Forces, stationed in Medvezhye Ozyory, had, in addition to communications units, a separate special intelligence company.
The period from 1989-1991 An association..
The most important events of this period were:
1989 - Renaming of airborne assault brigades into airborne brigades as part of the High Command of the Ground Forces.
1988-89 - Withdrawal of airborne forces from Afghanistan with their corresponding restructuring and rearmament. (For example, in Afghanistan, the 103rd Airborne Division had a separate tank battalion, which, after the withdrawal, was disbanded.)
Transfer of the 103rd Airborne Division to the KGB PV.
1990 - Reassignment of airborne brigades from the High Command of the Ground Forces to the Command of the Airborne Forces.
The composition of the Airborne Forces took the following form:
Number
Location, composition and notes
7th Guards. VDD
Location: headquarters and 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Mariampole-Kapsukas) and 97th PDP (Alytus), 1137th ap (Kalvariya).
76th Guards VDD
Location: Pskov. Composition: 104th, 234th, 237th PDP.
98th Guards. VDD
Location: Bolgrad and Chisinau (since 1968). Composition: 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th PDP and AP (Chisinau).
103rd Guards. VDD
Location: Vitebsk (Belarus). Composition: 317th, 350th and 357th PDP. From January 1990 to August 1991 - as part of the KGB of the USSR. During this period, it was called the 103rd Guards. VDD PV KGB.
104th Guards. VDD
Location: Ganja (then - Kirovabad, Azerbaijan). Composition: 28th, 382nd, 227th PDP and?
106th Guards VDD
Location: headquarters and 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st PDP (Narofominsk).
242nd Training Center of the Airborne Forces
Location: Gayzhunai (Lithuania). Composition: 301st (Gayzhunay), 226th and 285th (both in Rukla) updp, as well as uap.
345th Guards. OPDP
After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, in 1990, it was transferred to the ZKVO and later, on its base, the 10th OPDP was additionally deployed.
11th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Mogocha. ZabVO.
13th Guards VDBr
Dislocation - In 1994, from Usuriysk (Far East Military District) was transferred to Orenburg. PurVO. In 1997 it was disbanded.
14th Guards VDBr
Dislocation - Cottbus (GDR), WGV. In 1990 it was brought to Kazakhstan (Alma-Ata region).
21st Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Kutaisi. ZakVO.
23rd Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Kremenchug. KVO.
35th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Kapchegay. TurkVO.
36th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - pos. Garbolovo (Vsevolozhsky District, Leningrad Region). LenVO.
37th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Chernyakhovsk (Kaliningrad region). PribVO.
38th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Brest (Belarus). BVO.
39th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Khyrov, (Lviv region). Since 1990, when transferred to the Airborne Forces, it was reorganized into the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces. PrikVO.
40th Guards. VDBr
Location: Nikolaev (Ukraine). ODVO.
56th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - from Afghanistan, in 1988, was withdrawn to Iolotan (Turkmenistan). SAVO.
83rd Guards. VDBr
In 1990 she was relocated from Magdagachi to Ussuriysk (Primorsky Territory). FEB.
95th Guards. VDBr
Dislocation - Zhitomir (Zhytomyr region, Ukraine). KVO.
100th Guards VDBr
Dislocation - Abakan, Krasnoyarsk Territory.
171st brigade
Dislocation - town. Bear Lakes, Moscow Military District
332nd Warrant Officer School
Gayzhunai (Lithuania), PrikVO
Thus, on ser. 1991, there were in total (deployed, spare not counting): 22 parachute regiments (including 1 separate and 3 training) and 15 airborne brigades (including 1 training). In addition, the 38th communications brigade (renamed 171st), the Ryazan military school, and others remained.
The numerical strength of the Airborne Forces on:
Mid 1991 - 77,036 people, including 20 generals 11,445 officers
At the end of 1991 - beginning. 1992, in connection with the collapse of the USSR, difficult times came for the Armed Forces. They also affected the Airborne Forces. With a landslide general reduction of the aircraft, the airborne forces were also reduced like a landslide. On the basis of the Soviet airborne forces located on their territory, such countries as Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan formed their own troops of a similar type. The idea of the existence of some common "strategic forces" for the post-Soviet states, in which the Airborne Forces were supposed to play the main role, could not stand the six-month test of time and quickly ordered a long life. An idea of this situation is given by the following country data.
7th Guards. VDD- (from 1998 - DShD)
It was completely withdrawn from Lithuania in August 1993 and relocated to Novorossiysk. At the same time, the 237th PDP was disbanded, and the 119th PDP was transferred to the 106th Airborne Division. Instead, they transferred the 345th OPDP. In 1993, for a short time (2 months), the division was assigned the 901st order. In the summer of 1998: the 97th and 345th PDPs were disbanded, and the newly formed 247th PDP was introduced in Stavropol. Thus, in the structure of the division for 1999 there were: 108th Guards. Kuban Kaz. PDP (Novorossiysk); 247th Guards. kaz. dshp (Stavropol) and 1137th Guards. art. regiment (Anapa). It is possible that the 10th PDP (in Abkhazia) is also part of it.
76th Guards VDD
The location remained unchanged - the Pskov region. The composition includes: 104th, 234th and 237th PDP, 1140th ap. In 1998, it was planned to reorganize into the DShD.
98th Guards. VDD
The forces stationed in Ukraine are divided between Russia and Ukraine - 50/50. Almost all equipment in Chisinau was left to Moldova. The delivered RF was withdrawn to Kostroma (217th PDP) and Abakan (300th PDP). Abakansky, approximately in 1998, was disbanded, and on the basis of the 331st (from the 106th Airborne Division) and the 217th Infantry Regiment, the division was re-formed. Current deployment: the headquarters and the 331st traffic regiment in the region of Ivanovo (Teykovsky district, Ivanovo region), and the 217th traffic regiment in Kostroma.
103rd Guards. VDD
Completely ceded to Belarus in 1992.
104th Guards. VDD
Displayed in the Volga region (Ulyanovsk); at the same time, a significant part of the equipment was left to Azerbaijan. It was disbanded in 1996, and on its base the 31st Airborne Brigade was deployed, and part of the equipment was transferred to the 98th Airborne Division.
106th Guards VDD
One of the regiments (331st) was transferred to the 98th Airborne Division, and the 119th Infantry Regiment from the 7th Airborne Division arrived in its place. The final composition: headquarters and 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 119th PDP (Narofominsk), as well as 1182nd AP (Efremov).
In February-September 1993 he was transferred to Omsk in full force. The 301st UPDP was soon disbanded.
45th ORP SPN
Formed in 1993-94. on the basis of two separate RB SPN - 218th and 901st.
10th Guards. opdp
Peacekeeping. Formed in May 1998, in Gudauta (Abkhazia) on the basis of the disbanded 345th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Airborne Division. Non-standard. The recruitment was carried out on the basis of rotation from other airborne units. (In the summer of 2001, a decision was made to disband this regiment).
1st Guards OVDBR
Formed in 1994 on the basis of the 331st Infantry Regiment as a peacekeeping unit to be sent to Slavonia - it is deployed there until the present. time.
31st Guards. OVDBr
Formed in 1996 on the basis of the disbanded 104th Airborne Division. Deployed to Ulyanovsk. It has battalions with their own numbers - 91st, 54th ...
11th Guards. OVDBr
In the beginning. 90s transferred to Ulan-Ude. In 1997-98 it was disbanded.
13th Guards OVDBr
In 1994 she was transferred from Ussuriysk to Orenburg. In 1997 it was disbanded.
14th Guards OVDBr
Was withdrawn from Cottbus to Alma-Ata. Transferred to Kazakhstan in 1992
21st Guards. OVDBr
From Kutaisi, in 1992, it was withdrawn to Stavropol. In 1993 it received the name "Cossack". In the summer of 1998, it was reorganized into the 247th Airborne Assault Regiment introduced into the 7th Guards. DShD.
23rd Guards OVDBr
Location: Kremenchug. Withdrew to Ukraine in 1992
35th Guards. OVDBr
Stationed in the city of Kapchegay, it was transferred to Kazakhstan in 1992.
36th Guards. OVDBr
Location: pos. Garbolovo (Vsevolozhsky District, Leningrad Region). LenVO. Disbanded in 1995-96.
37th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Chernyakhovsk (Kaliningrad region). PribVO. Disbanded in 1995-96.
38th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Brest (Belarus). BelVO. Withdrew to Belarus in 1992
39th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Khyrov, (Starosamborskiy district, Lviv region) Since 1990, when transferred to the Airborne Forces, it was reorganized into the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces. Withdrew to Ukraine in 1992
40th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Nikolaev (Ukraine). ODVO. Withdrew to Ukraine in 1992
56th Guards. OVDBr
Since 1993 - pos. Podgora (Volgodonsk district, Rostov region). SKVO. In July 1998, it was reorganized into a DShP and introduced into the 20th MSD in Kamyshin, Volgograd Region.
83rd Guards. OVDBr
Location: Ussuriysk, since 1990 (Primorsky Territory) FarVO. Apparently it was disbanded in 1998. It is possible that on its basis the 635th brigade was formed and exists.
95th Guards. OVDBr
Location: Zhytomyr (Zhytomyr region, Ukraine). KVO. Withdrawn to Ukraine.
100th Guards OVDBr
Location: Abakan (Krasnoyarsk Territory) Siberian Military District. In 1996 it was merged with the 300th police department. Disbanded in May 1998
38th brigade
Dislocated in the village. Bear Lakes. In the 90s. reorganized into the 38th OPS of the Airborne Forces.
332nd Warrant Officer School
In 1992 relocated to Mitino (Moscow region)
UKRAINE
Based on the units and formations of the Airborne Forces remaining after the division in 1992-93. the Airmobile Troops were formed. For some time, the names of the brigades had the addition of "Special Forces" - assignments, although they were not.
Dislocation - Bolgrad (Odessa region). Formed in 1992 on the basis of the Soviet 98th Guards. VDD. It had in its composition, initially two, and then three (1st, 25th and 45th) amber.
23rd OAMBR
Formed on the basis of the 23rd Airborne Brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the place of deployment - the city of Kremenchug (Poltava region). On 07/01/95, it was transferred to the Border Troops and reorganized into the 23rd airmob. neg. special forces (AMOSpN) of the Border Troops of Ukraine.
6th OAMBR
It was formed in 1995 on the basis of the 224th Training Center of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the place of deployment - the city of Khyrov (Lviv region, Starosamborsky district). In the beginning. 1999 reorganized into the 80th oamp.
80th OAMP
Until 1999 - 6th OAMBR.
40th OAMBR
Formed in 1992 on the basis of the 40th Airborne Brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the place of deployment - the city of Nikolaev. In the beginning. 1999 reorganized into the 79th oamp.
79th OAMP
Until 1999 - 40th OAMBR.
95th OAMBR
Formed on the basis of the 95th Airborne Brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the place of deployment - the outskirts of Zhitomir.
BELARUS
On the basis of the existing airborne forces, the Mobile Forces were formed as part of the so-called. "mobile brigades" - in fact - airborne or airborne.
Remained from the USSR Airborne Forces. In 1996 it was disbanded, and two AMBRs were deployed on its base.
317th OMBr
G. Vitebsk. Deployed on the basis of the 317th PDP of the 103rd Airborne Division.
350th OMBr
G. Vitebsk. Deployed on the basis of the 350th PDP of the 103rd Airborne Division.
38th OMBr
Formed on the basis of the 38th Airborne Brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the PPD - Brest.
KAZAKHSTAN
On the basis of the existing formations of the Soviet airborne forces, their own airborne forces were formed.
35th Airborne Brigade
Deployed on the basis of the 35th Airborne Brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the PPD - town. Kapchegai. The number is tentative.
14th Airborne Brigade
Deployed on the basis of the 14th Airborne Brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the PPD - the region of the city of Alma-Ata (Almaty). This brigade was withdrawn from Cottbus (GDR). The number is tentative.
In total, from the neighboring countries to the territory of Russia were withdrawn: twenty-two military units of the Airborne Forces with weapons and equipment, with families of servicemen and household property, more than 18 thousand people in total, 5216 units of military and other equipment, 60.5 thousand tons of ammunition and stocks of material resources. The redeployed formations and units have lost 58% of training facilities: 9 regular and 10 non-standard training grounds were left in the former locations.
In mid-1998, the number of Russian airborne forces was 32,000. The staffing level is up to 75%.
In the middle of 2000. there was:
Russia - four divisions (76th Airborne Division, 106th Airborne Division, 98th Airborne Division and 7th Airborne Division), one (31st) brigade, two regiments (45th Airborne Division and 38th Airborne Division) and a training center (242nd UC). (In addition, in Yugoslavia there is the 1st consolidated ovdbr).
7th Guards. DShD- Novorossiysk- 108th Guards. kaz. Kuban PDP (Novorossiysk); 247th Guards. PDP (Stavropol) and 1137 (1141 -?) - th Guards. ap (Anapa).
76th Guards VDD-Pskov- 104th, 234th and 237th PDP, 1140th ap.
98th Guards. VDD- Ivanovo- 331st (Kostroma), 299th and 217th (Novo-Talitsy village, Ivanovo district) traffic police, 1065th ap.
106th Guards VDD - Tula - 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 119th (Narofominsk) PDP.
242nd UC-Omsk 226th and 285th UPDP.
31st Guards. OVDBr - Ulyanovsk - It has battalions with "own" numbers. All R. The 90s were planned to be deployed into a division.
1st ATSB (consolidated) - on the territory of the former Yugoslavia - In the Peacekeeping Forces.
10th OPDP - Gudauta (Georgia-Abkhazia) - In the Peacekeeping Forces. In July 2001, the regiment began to disband.
The 45th Orb SPN-rn of Moscow- Dislocation: the 218th orb of the SPN in Medvezhye Ozyory, and the 901st orb of the SPN - in Kubinka.
38th OBRS - Bear Lakes
The total number is approx. 40.5 thousand people (Staffing is 90-95%). In 2001-02. it is planned to reduce the number by 5.5 thousand people, namely, to disband two RAP (10th and 237th).
Ukraine - one division (1st AMD), one separate brigade (95th amber) and two separate regiments (79th and 80th oamp).
Belarus - three separate (38th, 317th and 350th), the so-called. "mobile" brigades.
COMPLETE SET.
The most healthy and physically developed recruiting contingent was allocated to recruit the airborne forces. High selection requirements (height - not less than 175 cm; physical development - not lower than secondary; education - not lower than secondary, no medical restrictions, etc.) determined high opportunities in combat training.
The training of officer cadres was carried out first in two, and since the 70s, in one - Ryazan school... In addition, the officer corps was staffed with graduate officers and other schools, especially for the positions of commanders of special units - artillery, sapper, automobile, communications, etc.
RVVDKU (RVVDI)
Ryazan
Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School named after Lenin Komsomol (RVVDKU). Now - the Ryazan Airborne Institute (RVDI) them. V. Margelova
AAVVDKU
G. Alma-Ata
Alma-Ata Higher Airborne Command School. Reformed into a combined-arms service in the 70s. Sent to Kazakhstan in 1992
332nd Warrant Officer School
G. Mitino (district of Moscow)
It works.
SUPPLEMENTS and NOTES.
1) Supplement for the 7th division. Formed in 1948 on the basis of the 322nd RAP from the 103rd Guards. VDD 8th VDK. The division included: 108th RAP (Kaunas); 119th RAP (Marijampole); 1137th AP (town of Marijampole then - in town of Kalvaria).
Since 1954, the 80th RAP (Gayzhunai) has been attached. In 1959, the 80th PDP was transferred to the 104th Guards. VDD (Kirovabad-Ganja); and in exchange they transferred the 97th RAP from the 76th Guards. VDD. In the 70s. the division had: 108th PDP (Kaunas) 119th PDP (Kapsukas) 97th PDP (Alytus) 1137th AP (Kalvariya).
2) Regarding the transfer of airborne forces to the KGB ...
I can say that it took place. The 103rd Guards was transferred to the KGB PV. VDD, which became known as the Guards. airborne division of the border troops! The servicemen were disguised in border uniforms, and, due to the unrest among the rank and file, it was decided to introduce a uniform in the border troops, similar to that of a venerable one: he takes a bright green color and a green vest. However, the retiring soldiers were constantly trying to get hold of landing piers.
The reason for the reassignment, apparently, lies in the internal political situation of that time. Constant unrest on ethnic grounds and the lack of reliable troops to restore order, led to the need to use the most trained Soviet infantry - paratroopers from the Airborne Forces and Airborne Forces of the SV - in restoring order. (The operational units of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were then too small in number and were by no means as prepared as they are now, combat discipline was lame and there was no specific fighting spirit ...). In general, if we take into account the role of the KGB in provoking nationalist protests, and even in secretly guiding their course, then such a reassignment looks like a mockery.
3) The 901st ODSB (since 1989 - the Ordb) was withdrawn from Mongolia, in 1993 it was temporarily subordinated to the 7th Airborne Forces, from 1994 - the 901st Special Forces of the Airborne Forces and entered into the 45th Special Forces of the Airborne Forces.
4) The 218th brigade was formed on July 25, 1992, and before that - a special reconnaissance company as part of the 171st / 38th brigade in Medvezhye Ozyory. In 1993, the 45th ORP of the Special Forces was deployed on its base.
5) 103rd Guards. The VDD had regiments with the following honorary names:
317th Guards Horde. Alexander Nevsky RAP
350th Guards Horde. Suvorov PDP
357th Guards Horde. Suvorov PDP.
Airborne Troops
The independent Directorate of the Airborne Forces of the Red Army, which was in charge of the airborne corps of the brigade organization and other formations of the Airborne Forces, created in the spring of 1941, was created on June 12, 1941.
During the Great Patriotic War, the use of formations formed as part of the Airborne Forces was determined by the Supreme Command Headquarters, and most of them, heading to the front, were reorganized into rifle divisions.
In October 1944, out of four divisions returned from the active army, and airborne forces that were in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, a Separate Guards Airborne Army was created as part of the 37th Svirsky, 38th and 39th Guards Airborne airborne corps (each of which included three airborne divisions).
At the end of December 1944, the Separate Guards Airborne Army, which united most formations of the airborne troops, was transformed into the combined arms of the 9th Guards Army.
The remaining airborne formations (first of all, separate guards airborne brigades) and the Office of the Airborne Forces commander were subordinated to the commander of the Red Army Air Force.
The 9th Guards Army included the following formations (underlined are those remaining in the Airborne Forces in the post-war period):
37th Guards Svirsky Rifle Corps:
- 98th Guards Svirsk SD;
- 99th Guards Svirskaya SD;
- 103rd Guards Rifle Division (b. 13th Guards Airborne Division of the second formation, deployed at the base
3rd Guards. vdbr);
38th Guards Rifle Corps:
- 104th Guards Rifle Division (former 11th Guards Airborne Division);
- 105th Guards Rifle Division (former 12th Guards Airborne Division);
- 6th Guards Rifle Division (b. 16th Guards Airborne Division);
39th Guards Rifle Corps:
-100th Guards Svirsk SD;
-107th Guards May Day SD;
- 114th Guards SD (b. 14th Guards Airborne Division of the second formation, deployed at the base
8th Guards. vdbr);
In February 1945, the 9th Guards Army was included in the active army with the task of strengthening the offensive capabilities of the Soviet troops in Hungary. Not participating in repelling the counterstrike German troops in the area of Lake Balaton, the formations of the 9th Guards Army were introduced into hostilities in mid-March 1945 and completed the Great Patriotic War
the war in the Vienna and Prague offensive operations.
In addition to the divisions transferred to the 9th Guards A, in the active army, divisions that retained the names of the airborne divisions also fought in the rifle corps. These were the airborne divisions formed at the end of 1942 and operating at the front since February 1943: 1st Guards. Zvenigorod-Bucharest, 2nd Guards. Proskurovskaya, 3rd Guards Umanskaya, 4th Guards. Ovruchskaya. 5th Guards. Zvenigorodskaya, 6th Guards. Kremenchug-Znamenskaya, 7th Guards Cherkasskaya: 9th Guards. Poltava, 10th Guards. Krivoy Rog.
At the end of the hostilities of the Great Patriotic War, part of the airborne divisions operating at the front as part of rifle corps (in particular, 4th Guards Ovruch and 7th Guards Cherkassk Airborne Division) returned to the subordination of the airborne troops, and part was reorganized (in particular, on the basis of the 9th Guards. Poltava Airborne Division, which remained in the forces of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany, the 14th Guards. Poltava Mechanized Division was formed).
In June 1946, in accordance with a decision adopted at the highest level, the leadership of the airborne troops was entrusted to the command and control headquarters, formed on the basis of the command and staff of the 9th Guards Army (reorganized into the Airborne Army), and the airborne troops in general, they were withdrawn from the Air Force and subordinate directly to the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR.
In the first post-war period, the army (Airborne Army) and corps (in particular, the 38th Guards Vienna Airborne Corps) links remained in the leadership of the airborne troops, and then the airborne divisions became directly subordinate to the Airborne Forces Command.
In October 1956, the parachute regiments of the 7th and 31st Guards Airborne Divisions were involved in the operation of Soviet troops in Hungary, and in August 1968 the 7th Guards Airborne Division took an active part in Operation Danube "on the entry of troops of the Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia. The 99th Guards Airborne Svirskaya Red Banner Division was stationed in the Far Eastern Military District (see DVO)
In the 1980s. As part of the airborne troops, in addition to individual brigades, there were 7 airborne divisions, of which one, in Lithuania, was a training division (in addition to it, another airborne division was stationed in Lithuania).
Since the places of permanent deployment of the divisions that remained in the Airborne Forces in the post-war period were quite stable (which, among other circumstances, was due to the "attachment" to the airfield network of military transport aviation), unofficial names were assigned to combat divisions;
"Kaunas" - 7th Guards. Cherkasy airborne division ;;
"Pskovskaya" - 76th Guards. Chernihiv Airborne Division;
"Chisinau" - 98th Guards. Svirskaya airborne division;
"Vitebsk" - 103rd Guards. airborne division;
"Kirovobadskaya" - 104th Airborne Division;
"Tulskaya" - 106th Guards. airborne
Since the end of December 1979, the 103rd "Vitebsk" division, stationed in the area of the Kabul airfield, was a formation of a limited continent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. In addition, a separate paratrooper regiment was deployed in Afghanistan (see "VIZH", 1993, No. 11, pp. ЗЗ).
At the end of the 1980s. the training division in Lithuania was transformed into the 272nd Guards Training Center of the Airborne Forces, and the 103rd Guards "Vitebsk" Airborne Division that returned from Afghanistan to Belarus at the end of 1989 in connection with preparations for the conclusion of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe transferred to the border troops of the KGB of the USSR (The structure and armament of the 103rd Airborne Division remained "regular" for the airborne formation, and in independent Belarus it became, retaining the numbering, an airborne division directly subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus).
After the transfer of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division to the subordination of the KGB of the USSR in the zone "to the Urals", the Soviet airborne troops as of November 19, 1990 had 2,712 armored combat vehicles (BMD, BTR-D), 846 vehicles based on BMD and BTR-D, 595 self-propelled guns, guns and mortars.
Airborne divisions in terms of numbers were kept in a state close to deployed (amounting to slightly more than 7.2 thousand people, including about 700 officers). In 1991 they numbered about 6 thousand people. personnel each. The number of personnel of the Airborne Forces as a whole was about 75 thousand people (In the first half of the 1990s, after some reduction - 68 thousand people).
Compared to the 1970s, there have been certain changes in the parachute regiments. If earlier the regiment was based on 3 airborne battalions, self-propelled artillery, mortar and anti-aircraft batteries, then with the arrival of the 2S9 "Nona" self-propelled guns and vehicles based on the BTR-D (with ATGM "Konkurs" and MANPADS "Strela") all the equipment of the Airborne Forces was unified on a single tracked chassis BMD / BTR-D, and the need for mortars, given the fire capabilities of the self-propelled guns "Nona", disappeared. As for the newest BMD-3 airborne combat vehicles, the production vehicles entered the troops after 1991, when they were armed with a battalion of one of the regiments of the 76th Guards Airborne Division.
Headquarters of the Airborne Forces - Moscow
58th separate military transport aviation squadron (Ryazan): 3 Mi-8
171st separate communications brigade (in the suburbs)
Ryazan Higher Airborne School: 136BMD (20 BMD-2, 116BMD-1), 10 BTR-D; 3-2S9 "Nona", 1 D-30; 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BTR-RD, 3 BMD-1KSh
242nd Guards Training Center
(Gaizhunai, Lithuania)
Management: 1 R-440 odb
The 4th (later - 44th) Guards Airborne Assault Ovruch Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Division in the post-war period was a line and training unit of the airborne troops, in the last period of the deployment of Soviet troops in Lithuania - the 242nd Guards training center of the Airborne Forces.
Training guards parachute regiments of the 242th Guards. The training center was stationed in Gayzhunai, and the training artillery regiment in Prenau, having the following weapons:
226th UPDP -100 BMD-1, 10 BTR-D;
285th UPDP - 100 BMD (28 BMD-2, 62 BMD-1), 10 BTR-D;
301st UPDP - 43 BMD-1, 90 BTR-D; 2 BTR-RD;
1120th an - 22 - 2C9 "Nona", 9 D-; BTR-D, 1 BMD-1; 12BTR ~ RD, 4 1V119.
The existing rapeseed as part of the training center, the 743rd UPDP was closed, like other parts, with the exception of the following:
- 367th separate training anti-aircraft missile and artillery battalion (Gayzhunai): 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BTR-D
- 45th separate training repair and restoration battalion (Gayzhunai): 1 BTR-D
- 148th separate training battalion for transporting airborne equipment (Kaunas): 1 BMD-1,1 BTR-D
In total, on November 19, 1990, the 242nd Guards. The UC had:
245 BMD (38 BMD-2, 207 BMD-1);
157 BTR-D;
22 ACS 2S9 "Nona";
14 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
3 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
9 guns D-30.
7th Guards Airborne Cherkasy Division (Kaunas)
Division management: 8 BMD-2, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 MBD-1KSh
In the second half of 1942, the 5th Airborne Corps was formed in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, in December 1942 it was reorganized into the 7th Guards Airborne Division.
In early February 1943, the 7th Guards. The Airborne Division was sent to the North-Western Front, where it fought heavy battles as part of the 1st Shock Army, and in August 1943 was transferred to the Kharkov region as part of the 52nd Army. In the future, as part of this and the 4th Guards Armies, the 7th Guards. The Airborne Division took part in hostilities in Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and completed the combat path in Austria, in the area of Amstätten.
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 7th Guards Airborne Division of the Cherkasy Division were deployed in Lithuania. In October 1956, two regiments of the 7th Guards. Airborne divisions were airlifted to Hungary, where they actively participated in the hostilities of Soviet troops in August 1968. 7th Guards. The Airborne Division was involved in Operation Danube to bring the troops of the Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia.
97th (Alytus), 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Mariampole) guards parachute regiments: in each regiment: 110 BMD (40 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1), 32 BTR-D; 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD; 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119
1141st Guards Artillery Regiment (Kalvariya): 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 D-30; 6 BTR-D; 18 BTR-RD,
3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, IO-1B119
744th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Kaunas): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
185th separate military transport aviation squadron (Kaunas): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 7th Guards. Airborne Division included:
- 143rd separate engineer battalion (Kaunas): 1 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 743rd separate communications battalion (Kaunas): 3 BTR-ZD, 10 BMD-1KShch, 3 R-440odb 6th separate repair and restoration battalion (Kaunas): 1 BTR-D
- 1692nd separate road support battalion
- 1681st separate battalion of material support
- 313rd separate medical battalion
In total, on November 19, 1990, the 7th Guards. Airborne division had:
328 BMD (138BMD-2, 210 BMD-1);
129 BTR-D;
72 ACS 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (1GTUR carriers);
47 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
6 guns D-30.
76th Guards Airborne Chernigov Red Banner Division (Pskov)
The formation was formed in August-September 1939 in the North Caucasus Military District as the 157th Infantry Divisions. During the Great Patriotic War, the division took part in the defense of Odessa, fought in the Crimea, and after the evacuation in May 1942 from the Kerch Peninsula, the unit, whose few surviving soldiers retained their battle flags, was staffed again within a month.
From the beginning of June 1942, the 157th Rifle Division fought in the Rostov area, participated in further hostilities near Stalingrad, incl. in defeating the enemy directly in the city. By order of the NKO of the USSR of 03/01/43, the compound was transformed into the 76th Guards Rifle Division.
Later, as part of the 61st Army, and from March 1944 - as part of the 114th Rifle Corps of the 70th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, the 76th Guards. SD participated in the summer 1943 offensive of Soviet troops in the Orel region, liberated Chernigov, Brest, Warsaw and completed the combat path of the Great Patriotic War in the city of Wismar on the Baltic coast of Germany.
In the winter of 1945-46. 76th Guards sd returned to the territory of the Soviet Union, to the Leningrad Military District, where it was subsequently reorganized into a unit of airborne troops.
According to the combat path of the compound, the regiments of the 76th Guards. The Airborne Forces were the units that fought in the Great Patriotic War in the post-war Soviet Airborne Forces.
104th (Pskov), 234th Order of Kutuzov (Pskov), 237th Torunsky Red Banner (Pskov) guards parachute regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMD (31 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1), 23 BTR-D (in the 237th PDP - 29 units); 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD (in the 237th PDP - 7 units), 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119
1140th Guards Artillery Twice Red Banner Regiment (Pskov): 18-2S9 "Nona",
6 D-30; 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, 4-1V119, as well as 6 BTR-D
290th separate anti-aircraft artillery battalion (Pskov): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
242nd separate military transport aviation squadron (Pskov): 1 Mi-8
The 76th Guards. Airborne Division included:
- 83rd separate guards engineer-sapper of the order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky battalion (Pskov): I BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 728th separate guards order of the Red Star communications battalion (Pskov): 3 BTR-D,
10BMD-1KSh, ZR-440odb
7th separate repair and restoration battalion (Pskov): 1 BTR-D
- 608th separate road support battalion
- 1682th separate battalion of material support, 82nd separate medical battalion
In total, on November 19, 1990, the 76th Guards Airborne Division had: 3L2 BMD (93BMD-2, 219BMD-1); 108 BTR-D; 72 SAU2S9 "Nona"; 36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers); 41 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers); 6 guns D-30.
98th Guards Airborne Svirskaya Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division (Bolgrad)
Division management: 9 BMD-2, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1943, the 13th Guards Airborne Division was formed in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, reorganized in January 1944 into the 98th Guards Rifle Division of the 37th Guards Rifle Corps. In June-July 1944, the connections of the 37th Guards. SC fought as part of the Karelian Front, and the further combat path of the 98th Guards Division was associated with the Separate Guards Airborne - 9th Guards Army.
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 98th Guards Airborne Svir Division were deployed in the Moldavian SSR and in the south of the Odessa region, on the territory of the OdVO.
217th (Bolgrad), 299th (Bolgrad), 300th (Chisinau) guards parachute regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMD (37 BMD-2, 64 BMD-1), 23 BTR-D; 18-2S9 "Nona" (in the 299th PDP -20 units); 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD; 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119
1065th Guards Artillery Regiment (Vesely Kut): 18-2S9 "Nona", 8 D-30; 6 BTR-D,
18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, 4-IB119
100th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Bolgrad): 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSH 243rd separate military transport aviation squadron (Bolgrad): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 98th Guards. Airborne Division included:
- 112th separate engineer battalion (Bolgrad): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 674th separate communications battalion (Bolgrad): 3 BTR-D, 10 BMD-1KSh, 3 R-440odb
- 15th separate repair and restoration battalion (Bolgrad): 1 BTR-D
- 613th separate road support battalion
- 1683rd separate battalion of material support
- 176th separate medical battalion
In total, on November 19, 1990, the 98th Guards. Airborne Division possessed: 312 BMD (120 BMD-2, 192 EMD-1);
102 BTR-D;
74 SAU2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
47 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
8 guns D-30.
104th Guards Airborne Division (Ganja)
Division management: 9 BMD-1, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1944, January 1945. The 11th Guards Airborne Division, formed a little earlier in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, was reorganized into the 104th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Guards Army, as part of whose troops it completed the combat path of the Great Patriotic War in Czechoslovakia ...
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 104th Guards Airborne Division were deployed in the Azerbaijan SSR, in the city of Kirovobad (Ganja), on the territory of the ZakVO.
328th (Ganja), 337th (Ganja), 345th (Ganja) guards parachute regiments: in each regiment: 101 BMD (31 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1), 23 BTR-D (in 345th PDP - 28 units); 18-2S9 "Nona"; 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD (in the 345th PDP - 8 units); 9 BMD-1KSh (in the 345th PDP - 8 units), 10-1V119
1080 - Guards Artillery Regiment (Shamkhor): 18-2S9 "Nona", 6-D-ZO; 6 BTR-D, 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD, 2 BMD-1KSh, 10-1VP9
103rd separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Ganja): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
116th separate military transport aviation squadron (Ganja): 1 Mi-8
In addition, the 104th Guards, Airborne Division included:
- 132nd separate engineer battalion (Ganja): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 729th separate communications battalion (Ganja): 3 BTR-D, 10 BMD-1KSh, 2 R-440odb
- 24th separate repair and restoration battalion (Ganja): 1 BTR-D
- 611th separate road support battalion
- 1684th separate battalion of material support
- 180th separate medical battalion
In total, on November 19, 1990, the 104th Guards, Airborne Division had: 312 BMD (93 BMD-2, 219 BMD-1);
107 BTR-D;
72 ACS 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
42 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
6 guns D-30.
106th Guards Airborne Division (Tula)
Division management: 9 BMD-1, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1944 - January 1945 The 16th Guards Airborne Division, formed somewhat earlier in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, was reorganized into the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Guards Army, as part of whose troops it completed the fighting of the Great Patriotic War in Czechoslovakia ...
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 106th Guards Airborne Division were stationed in the Moscow Military District, and the division's command was in the city of Tula.
51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan), 331st (Kostroma) guards parachute regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMDs (in the 331st PDP additionally 30 BMD-2), 23 BTR-D; 18-2S9 "Nona" (in 51-mpdp-20 units); 6BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD, 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-Sh119
1182th Guards Artillery Regiment (Efremov): 18-2S9 "Nona", 8 D-30; 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD, ZBMD-1KSh, 10-1V119, as well as 6 BTR-D
107th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Donskoy): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
110th separate military transport aviation squadron (Tula): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 106th Guards. Airborne Division included:
- 139th separate engineer battalion (Tula): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 731st separate communications battalion (Tula): 3 BTR-D; 10 BMD-1KSh, 4 R-440odb
- 43rd separate repair and restoration battalion (Tula): 1 BTR-D
- 610th separate road support battalion
- 1060th separate logistics battalion
- 234th separate medical battalion
In total, on November 19, 90, the 106th Guards. Airborne division had:
342 BMD (30 BMD-2, 312 BMD-1);
102 BTR-D;
74 ACS 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
47 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
8 guns D-30
In addition to the above training center and 5 airborne divisions (all of which were stationed in the "zone to the Urals"), the Airborne Forces had brigades - formations, usually equipped with lighter weapons.
In the groups of forces in the 1980s. airborne assault brigades were deployed, of which in the "zone to the Urals" in 1991 there was only one subordinate to the Airborne Forces - airborne assault regiments and brigades (for military districts and groups of forces) and airborne assault battalions (for army associations) were created since the 1970s as formations of the Ground Forces, intended for the landing of tactical and operational-tactical airborne assault forces (see "History of Russia's military strategy". M., 2000, p. 424); in 1990, the only remaining in the "zone to the Urals" oshbr was subordinate to the command of the airborne forces, and the four remaining separate oshb were, as before, subordinate to the ground forces
35th brigade (in Western Group of arms, Cottbus): 18 D-30 guns, 30 2S12 "Sani" mortars.
Separate airborne brigades were stationed on the territory of the military districts of the "zone to the Urals", which were supposed to have 18 D-30 guns out of heavy weapons.
In the zone "to the Urals" these were the following brigades:
21st airborne brigade (in ZakVO, Kutaisi);
23rd Airborne Brigade (in KVO, Kremenchug);
36th airborne brigade (in LVO, Garbolovo);
37th airborne brigade (in PribVO, Chernyakhovsk);
38th Airborne Brigade (in BVO, Brest);
39th airborne brigade (in PrikVO, city of Khyrov, Lviv region) - In the second half of 1991, the brigade was transformed into the 22nd training center, and the number of D-30 guns was reduced to one;
40th airborne brigade (in OdVO, Nikolaev).
In the zone "beyond the Urals", the formations of the airborne troops were deployed, in particular, in Uzbekistan (a separate airborne regiment equipped with BMD-I and BTR-D) and Kazakhstan (a separate airborne assault brigade).
Serve in the Airborne Forces it is prestigious and honorable, and the desire of the guys to get into these elite troops is showing more and more. How to get into service in the Airborne Forces, what is needed for this, we will analyze in detail.
Airborne Troops
Airborne forces motto: "Nobody but us"
Paratroopers march... Watch the video ... Parade on Victory Day 2014. Paratroopers are walking along Red Square, special forces of the Airborne Forces are walking. Landing of 1,500 people with D-10 parachutes from Il-76 aircraft. Landing equipment. The pace of the parade is 120 steps per minute. Look! This is the Airborne Forces!
Many are breathtaking when the paratroopers march across Red Square. The faces of the guys, in whose eyes every stamping step reflects pride in the troops, whose representatives they are walking along the Main Square of the Motherland. They visited the Sky under the canopies of parachutes, the exercises took place, many of them took part in military operations, defending the interests and security of the Motherland. Serving Russia, serving your Motherland is worthy of everyone's honor, because behind this there is security and a peaceful sky above the heads of relatives and friends.
Airborne troops consist of formations, units and subunits of airborne, tank, artillery ... engineering troops, communications ... squadron ... Everything is in the Airborne Forces. The Airborne Forces are the reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces and the backbone of the mobile rapid reaction forces. And there are no impossible tasks where there are Airborne Troops.
I want to serve in the Airborne Forces
More and more often you hear from the guys: "I want to serve in the Airborne Forces... What is needed for this. How to get to the service in the Airborne Forces ". Good wishes and good questions.
You need to prepare for service in the Airborne Forces.
Preference is given not only to the strong, but also to the smart.
1. Learn, get an education. If you, having received a higher education, are conscripted, then you will be offered at the military registration and enlistment office either to serve a year on conscription, or two years under a contract. What do you think the guys choose? Yes! Mostly they go to serve on a contract basis.
2. Sports development. The main thing is to run 3-5 km in the morning. The bar is a pull-up with a normal grip, not a reverse grip. The pull-up from the snatch is about speed, and the power pull-up is a necessity and work on the bar of the upside-down lift. Hang on the bar with a normal grip and work your feet to the bar. Push-ups from the floor on the hands, on the fists and on the fingers. Dips on the uneven bars.
Swim, play volleyball, basketball, soccer. This is all physical development.
3. At all commissions in the military registration and enlistment office, declare your desire. And if you did not have time to declare at the medical commissions, go to the military registration and enlistment office in the conscription department and say that you want to serve in the Airborne Forces. Speak and persuade until you are marked on your record card.
If there is an airborne unit in the city, go to the commander, manage to prove to him your desire to serve in the Airborne Forces. Be initially bold, and if you get your hands on an attitude (this is the basis for a military enlistment office for conscription to a certain part), it will be just super.
4. If you serve in the Airborne Forces - this is to be ready for landing. Go skydiving. Three independent parachute jumps - this is the third sports category, it is assigned to everyone after the third jump.
During the period of service in the Airborne Forces according to the compulsory program, all paratroopers make 12 parachute jumps. Now parachute systems in all airborne formations and subunits.
5. Health. Train your heart by running and swimming. Height 175 - 190 cm, weight 75 - 90 kg ... These are the standards for admission to parachute jumping. Low weight is not taken into the Airborne Forces.
Service in the Airborne Forces is interesting, and if you have physical training, it will be easier to get involved ... And after completing military service, many guys remain to serve further under the contract. 70% of contractors, 30% of conscripts. According to the contract, after training, the sergeants are put on the positions in which the officers used to be. So, guys, study, get an education, try military service, and if there is a desire to stay in the Airborne Forces, then there are two ways - contract service or the Airborne School in Ryazan.
They say that they become real paratroopers after
Paratroopers are not born, they become paratroopers.
How to get into service in the Airborne Forces
There is a desire to serve in the Airborne Forces. And how to get to the service in the Airborne Forces ...?
The very first thing to do is to declare your desire to the Military Commissariat. Now many guys themselves come to the military enlistment office, to the conscription department, and ask to be called up to the Airborne Forces. In the personal file, they put a mark: the desire to serve in the Airborne Forces.
All over Russia there are Regional branches of the Union of Russian Paratroopers. You need to find your department and appear there, indicating your desires and intentions. In the Union of Paratroopers, together with the military registration and enlistment offices, work is carried out with pre-conscription youth, and there is an opportunity to get to military-sports training camps. From here, too, a direct hit on service in the Airborne Forces, maybe even in a certain military unit.
I give information on the regional branches of the Union of Russian Paratroopers. I took it on the website of the Union of Russian Paratroopers.
Do you want to serve in the Airborne Forces? Look for ways, show character. You are men!
The file is in PDF format. Turn the wheel and watch.
Where do they serve in the Airborne Forces
To the question, where they serve in the airborne forces, I will answer briefly.
The Airborne Forces are composed of:
4 divisions - 7th in Novorossiysk, 76th in Pskov, 98th in Ivanovo, 106th in Tula;
31st Airborne Assault Brigade in Ulyanovsk
The 45th separate special-purpose regiment was formed in February 1994 on the basis of 218 and 901 separate special-purpose battalions. Place of deployment Kubinka Moscow region.
By the end of 2015, the 345th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade will be formed in Voronezh. This
The Airborne Training Center is located in Omsk.
7th Guards Airborne Assault (Mountain) Division- airborne forces connection The Soviet Army and the Russian Armed Forces. Formed October 15, 1948.
Subdivisions:
- 108th Guards Airborne Assault Kuban Cossack Order of the Red Star Regiment (Novorossiysk)
- 247th Guards Airborne Assault Caucasian Cossack Regiment. (Stavropol)
- 1141st Guards Artillery Regiment (Anapa)
- 3rd anti-aircraft missile regiment
- 743rd Separate Guards Signal Battalion
- 629th separate engineer battalion (Starotitarovskaya station, Krasnodar Territory)
- 1681st separate battalion of material support (Novorossiysk)
- 32nd separate medical unit
76th Guards Chernigov Red Banner Airborne Assault Division (76 guards dshd, until March 1, 1943 157th Infantry Division)- the oldest of the existing airborne forces of the Russian Armed Forces.
Formed on September 1, 1939. It is stationed in the city of Pskov, hence the nickname - "Pskov", one of the airborne assault regiments is located in the suburban village of Cheryokha.
- management (headquarters)
- 104th Guards Airborne Assault Red Banner Regiment of the Order of Peter the Great
- 234th Guards Airborne Assault Black Sea Order of Kutuzov 3rd Class Regiment named after Alexander Nevsky
- 237th Guards Parachute Torun Red Banner Regiment (disbanded in 2001). The regiment can be deployed after receiving the order, replenishment of the assigned personnel.
- 1140th Guards Artillery Twice Red Banner Regiment
- 4th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (formerly 165th Separate Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Division)
- 656th Guards Separate Engineer-Sapper of the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3rd Class Battalion
- 728th Guards Separate Signal Battalion
- 7th Guards Separate Repair and Recovery Battalion
- 3996th military hospital (airmobile). All personnel have parachute training, from 3 jumps.
- 242nd separate military transport aviation squadron (An-2, An-3). Serves for direct amphibious training of personnel of subunits without the involvement of the VTA of the RF Air Force
- 1682th Guards Separate Logistics Battalion
- 175th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Company
- 968th Guards Separate Support Company
- separate company of RChBZ
- commandant company
98th Guards Svirskaya Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree airborne division- airborne unit consisting ofThe armed forces USSR and Russia.
Composition in 2012
- 98th Guards Airborne Division (Ivanovo) 217th Guards Airborne Regiment (Ivanovo)
- 331st Guards Parachute Regiment (Kostroma)
- 1065th Guards Red Banner Artillery Regiment (Kostroma)
- 5th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (formerly the 318th Separate Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Division; Ivanovo)
- 243rd separate military transport aviation squadron (Ivanovo)
- 36th separate medical detachment (airmobile) (Ivanovo)
- 674th Separate Guards Signal Battalion (Ivanovo)
- 661st separate engineer battalion (Ivanovo)
- 15th separate repair and restoration battalion (Ivanovo)
- 1683rd separate battalion of material support (Ivanovo)
- 969th separate airborne support company (Ivanovo)
- 215th separate guards reconnaissance company (Ivanovo)
- 728th courier-postal station (Ivanovo)
- educational and training complex (Pesochnoe, Yaroslavl region).
106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division-connection of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of the USSR, and then the Russian Federation. Parts of the division are deployed in Tula, Ryazan and Naro-Fominsk, the division headquarters is in Tula.
The composition of the division in 2009:
- 51st Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Suvorov Regiment named after Dmitry Donskoy
- 137th Guards Airborne Order of the Red Star Regiment
- 1182th Guards Artillery Novgorod Red Banner Orders of Suvorov 3rd degree, Kutuzov 3rd degree, Bogdan Khmelnitsky 2nd degree and Alexander Nevsky regiment (Naro-Fominsk, Moscow region)
- 173rd Guards Separate Reconnaissance Company
- 388th separate guards engineer-sapper battalion
- 731st Separate Guards Signal Battalion
- 970th separate airborne support company
- 43rd Guards Separate Repair and Recovery Battalion
- 1060th Separate Logistics Battalion
- 39th separate medical detachment (airmobile)
- 1883th courier-postal station
- 1st anti-aircraft missile regiment (previously the 107th separate guards anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (military unit 71298, Naro-Fominsk, Moscow region)
Information on airborne divisions - source Wikipedia
Based on the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 31, 2006 "On the establishment of professional holidays and memorable days in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" in solving problems of ensuring the defense and security of the state.
In 1994-1996 and 1999-2004, all formations and military units of the Airborne Forces took part in hostilities on the territory of the Chechen Republic, in August 2008, military units of the Airborne Forces took part in the operation to force Georgia to peace, operating in the Ossetian and Abkhazian directions.
On the basis of the Airborne Forces, the first Russian battalion of the UN peacekeeping forces was formed in Yugoslavia (1992), peacekeeping contingents in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995), in Kosovo and Metohija (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 1999).
Since 2005, according to their specialization, the airborne forces have been subdivided into airborne, airborne assault and mountain units. The former include the 98th Guards Airborne Division and the 106th Guards Airborne Division of a two-regimental composition, the second - the 76th Guards Airborne Assault Division of a two-regimental composition and the 31st Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of a three-regiment composition the third is the 7th Guards Airborne Assault Division (mountain).
Two formations of the Airborne Forces (98th Guards Airborne Division and 31st Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade) are part of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
At the end of 2009, in each airborne division, on the basis of separate anti-aircraft missile artillery battalions, separate anti-aircraft missile regiments were formed. At the initial stage, the air defense systems of the Ground Forces entered service, which will later be replaced by airborne systems.
According to information for 2012, the total number of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation is about 30 thousand people. The Airborne Forces includes four divisions, the 31st separate airborne brigade, the 45th separate special-purpose regiment, the 242nd training center and other units.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources