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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: Valery Matytsin / TASS

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

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

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

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

“If not us, then who?”, “We Will Return Even From Hell - 205th Brigade!”

Story

Based on the Directive of the Minister of Defense Russian Federation No. 314/12/0198 dated March 17, 1995, in order to fulfill the tasks of restoring constitutional order and disarming illegal bandit formations on the territory of the Chechen Republic, the 205th separate motorized rifle brigade was formed on the basis of the 167th motorized rifle brigade and the 723rd motorized rifle regiment (in / h 74814) based in the city of Grozny, Chechen Republic. May 2, 1995 - Brigade Day. The basis of the units and subunits of the brigade were battalions and companies: the 167th separate motorized rifle brigade of the Red Banner Ural Military District (military unit 29709, Chebarkul, Chelyabinsk region); partly the 131st separate motorized rifle Krasnodar Red Banner Orders of Kutuzov and the Red Star of the Kuban Cossack Brigade (Maikop) of the Red Banner North Caucasian Military District; 723rd Guards Motorized Rifle Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Regiment (military unit 89539, settlement Tchaikovsky) 16th Guards Tank Uman Order of Lenin, Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Division of the 2nd Guards Combined Arms Red Banner Army of the Red Banner Volga Military District. It was stationed in the settlements of Severnoye, Khankala and Shali. The formation of the brigade was completed on May 1, 1995.

The brigade included: brigade management (military unit 74814); 1387th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74818); 1393rd separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74819); 1394th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74821); 1396th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74822); 28th separate tank battalion (military unit 74823); 28th separate howitzer self-propelled artillery battalion (military unit 74824); 327th Separate Reactive Artillery Battalion (military unit 74923); 346th Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket and Artillery Battalion (military unit 74924); 1398th separate reconnaissance battalion (military unit 74930); 1681st courier-postal communication station (military unit 74931).

Immediately after the formation of the brigade, the personnel had to begin to carry out complex combat missions to eliminate illegal bandit formations on the territory of the Chechen Republic.

By April 1, 1996, the 147th separate company EW (military unit 94860). By May 25, 1996, the following were formed as part of the brigade: the 93rd separate engineer-sapper battalion (military unit 93921); 584th separate special-purpose company (military unit 94611).

Also by May 25, 1996, the 204th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Regiment was formed as part of the brigade. The regiment included: the regiment's directorate (military unit 47487); 395th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 93910); 396th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 93915); 427th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 93919); 435th separate self-propelled artillery battalion (military unit 93920).

The regiment was originally stationed in Khankala with the task of subsequently redeploying to Shali.

By June 25, 1996, the military counterintelligence department of the FSB of the Russian Federation for the 205th Omsbr (military unit 45893) was formed as part of the brigade.

In May 1996, they wanted to transfer the 205th motorized rifle brigade to a new organizational structure: the 204th motorized rifle regiment; 206th motorized rifle regiment; 1398th separate reconnaissance battalion; 584th separate special-purpose company. But the leadership was convinced that such an organizational and staffing structure was too cumbersome for local conflicts and the brigade switched to a regular staff.

The personnel of the brigade served at checkpoints and outposts, guarded the most important objects, interacted with the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation to restore constitutional order in the Chechen Republic. On January 7, 1996, the military personnel of the brigade participated in the operation to free the hostages and destroy the Raduev gang in the village of Pervomaiskoye. In March 1996, the brigade participated in the destruction of gangs in the city of Grozny. In July 1996, the brigade participated in the operation to destroy gangs in the area of ​​​​the villages of Shalazhi and Komsomolskoye. Rigada actively participated in the events of August 1996 in Grozny. On August 6, when the militants occupied some key positions in the center of the Chechen capital, three assault detachments were formed in the brigade. They were headed by the commander of the reconnaissance battalion, Captain S. Kravtsov, the commander of the 3rd motorized rifle battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. Skantsev, and his deputy, Major I. Sklyarenko. On the night of August 7-8, the brigade received a combat order: for the assault detachments to unblock the government quarter in the center of Grozny. The reconnaissance battalion was the first to advance along the indicated route. Along the way, the scouts stumbled upon the organized defense of the separatists. As a result of the battle, two people were killed and one was wounded. The assault detachment had to retreat to the starting line. Regrouping, the scouts moved to the city center along a new route. And again stumbled upon an ambush. Dismounting, the scouts again took the fight. The battalion commander captain S. E. Kravtsov and six soldiers died from a mine explosion. Events developed in the other direction no less dramatically. The assault detachment, led by Lieutenant Colonel A. Skantsev, was moving towards government buildings along Bogdan Khmelnitsky Street. When the motorized riflemen approached the intersection with Mayakovskogo Street, fire was opened on them from grenade launchers and small arms. A fierce battle ensued, during which the battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel A. Skantsev died from a sniper's bullet. The battalion commanders who were out of action were replaced by the chief of staff of the brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Butko, and the operational control officer, Lieutenant Colonel Anatoly Kabakov. Regrouping forces, the scouts and motorized riflemen managed to break into the quarter of government buildings and occupy all-round defense. The 1st Motorized Rifle Corps during these battles lost 13 people dead and 65 wounded. In a separate tank battalion, where the chief of staff was Captain Vladimir Goltsman, 3 officers and 3 contractors were killed, 5 servicemen are reported missing. On November 23, 1996, Russian President Boris Yeltsin issued Decree No. 1590 "On measures to ensure a further peaceful settlement in the Chechen Republic." In accordance with it, the brigade is withdrawn from the administrative borders of Chechnya. The city of Budyonnovsk was determined as the place of permanent deployment Stavropol Territory. In accordance with the directive of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation of December 4, 1996 No. 314/2/0660, by January 20, 1997, the brigade was relocated to the city of Budennovsk, Stavropol Territory. In early December, there was already a task force headed by the brigade commander, a separate anti-aircraft missile division. On December 9, 1996, an artillery battalion and part of the communications units went by train to the place of permanent deployment. On December 31, 1996, the withdrawal of the brigade was completed. At the same time, the 204th motorized rifle regiment was redeployed to the city of Buynaksk in the Republic of Dagestan. Subsequently, the 204th regiment was disbanded, and the personnel were used to complete the 136th separate motorized rifle brigade. For participation in the liquidation of illegal armed formations on the territory of Chechnya, about 400 servicemen of the brigade were nominated for state awards.

Based on the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation dated September 23, 1998 No. 061, the 205th separate motorized rifle brigade was given the honorary name of the Cossack. As part of the brigade, honorary titles have four separate battalions: Don, Kuban, Terek and Astrakhan Cossacks (more than 1350 people).

In August-September 1999, the brigade took part in the destruction of the gangs of Basayev and Khattab in the villages of Botlikh and Karamakhi. In October 1999, the brigade participated in the liberation of Art. Znamenskaya. In January 2000, the brigade liberated Grozny. In March 2000, the brigade liberated the village of Shaami-Yurt.

The events in Dagestan and Chechnya became a real test for the personnel of the brigade. From the first days of the terrorist invasion, the soldiers of the brigade were at the forefront. On their account, brilliantly carried out operations in the Botlikh region of Dagestan, the liberation of the villages of Ishcherskaya and Znamenskaya, the operation on the Tersky ridge. But the heaviest fighting was in the city of Grozny, where the servicemen of the formation liberated one of the most fortified areas of the city of Staropromyslovsky.

In the 2000s, the 584th separate special-purpose company (military unit 94611) withdrew from the brigade. The 1396th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74822) was disbanded.

During the two Chechen campaigns, 1,500 soldiers and officers of the brigade were awarded state awards for their courage and heroism, of which 35 were awarded the medal of the Order of Military Merit, 279 - the medal "For Courage", 414 - the Suvorov medal, 572 - the Zhukov medal. 5 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation: Captain Kravtsov Stanislav Eduardovich (posthumously), Private Alexander Viktorovich Yakovlev (posthumously), Senior Lieutenant Potylitsyn Vitaly Nikolaevich (posthumously), Private Zavyalkin Andrei Vyacheslavovich (posthumously), Colonel Stvolov Sergey Nikolaevich.

The brigade includes: 1387th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74818); 1393rd separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74819); 1394th separate motorized rifle battalion (military unit 74821); 28th separate tank battalion (military unit 74823); 321st separate howitzer self-propelled artillery battalion (military unit 74824); 327th Separate Reactive Artillery Battalion (military unit 74923); 1329th separate anti-tank artillery battalion; 346th Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket and Artillery Battalion (military unit 74924); 1398th separate reconnaissance battalion (military unit 74930); 93rd separate engineer-sapper battalion (military unit 93921). 147th separate EW company (military unit 94860); 1681st FPS station; communications battalion; material support battalion; repair and restoration battalion; RKhBZ company; medical company; commandant's platoon; platoon of directorate of intelligence chief; platoon of the head of air defense; command platoon of the chief of artillery; orchestra; polygon.

Since 2009, all units of the brigade are linear.

commanders

The brigade was commanded by: lieutenant colonel, since June 1995 colonel, since 1996 major general V.I. Nazarov (May 1995 - January 1997); Colonel S. V. Mishanin (since January 1997), Major General Derepko, Major General G. R. Tyurin, Major General Ivanaev, Colonel Donskikh

Notes

Airborne troops. The history of the Russian landing Alekhin Roman Viktorovich

GRU SPECIAL PURPOSE UNITS AND UNITS

Great experience Patriotic War showed that large airborne formations (brigade, corps), landed behind enemy lines to a sufficiently large depth (Vyazemsky and Dnieper operations), for several days (and with appropriate supplies, probably more) could conduct active offensive and defensive operations. However, the same experience showed that supply could not be established, interaction with front-line (strike) aviation could not be established. As a result, due to a number of miscalculations made, all major airborne operations carried out during the war did not fully achieve their goals.

Nevertheless, the actions of small reconnaissance and sabotage groups sent behind enemy lines, with proper support and training, brought tangible results. An example of such hostilities is the actions of groups and detachments of a separate NKVD special-purpose motorized rifle brigade, the actions of front-line intelligence agencies, which throughout the war were thrown into the near and far rear of the enemy, and also partly the actions of special groups during the Far Eastern offensive operation.

Therefore, it was clear that in order to solve reconnaissance and sabotage tasks the best way not large military formations approached, but small and mobile groups, which, in turn, required special training, different from the training of combined arms (motorized rifle, airborne) units.

In addition, almost immediately after the war, a potential adversary had targets, the opening and destruction of which depended on the life or death of entire combined arms formations, large political and industrial centers - bomber airfields equipped with nuclear bombs. To destroy enemy nuclear aircraft at these airfields, or at least disrupt a mass take-off at the right time (according to Soviet military leaders), theoretically could be small sabotage groups, brought to the area where the task object is located in advance. It was decided to form such sabotage units under the wing of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, since sabotage formations were subordinated to scouts during the war.

On October 24, 1950, by directive of the Minister of War of the USSR No. org / 2 / 395832, the commanders of the armies and military districts were ordered to "Form under the combined arms and mechanized armies, as well as in some military districts, separate special-purpose companies." The document was signed by Minister of War A. M. Vasilevsky and Chief of the General Staff S. M. Shtemenko.

According to this directive, under the leadership of the GRU General Staff, until May 1, 1951, 46 separate special-purpose companies were formed. The number of each company was 120 people. The total number of personnel of the companies of the army and district special forces was 5520 people.

Some sources claim that 41 companies were formed under combined arms and mechanized armies, and the remaining five companies were formed in districts that did not have separate armies. However, the usual calculation of the combined-arms and mechanized armies that existed at that time gives reason to assume that there were fewer army companies, and more district ones. Or, in some armies, two or more separate special-purpose companies (ORSpN) were formed.

On October 26, 1950, the operational management of special-purpose companies and the provision of combat training was entrusted to the GRU General Staff, where a direction was created under the 2nd department of the 3rd Directorate of the GRU. Colonel P. I. Stepanov was appointed head of the direction.

Directly in the formations, the management of special-purpose companies was carried out by the 3rd departments of intelligence directorates.

The main purpose for which special-purpose companies were created was the desire of the General Staff to have forces capable of effectively combating enemy nuclear attack weapons. To do this, it was necessary to combine reconnaissance components with strike components for effective opening and destruction of specific targets. The army special forces were created as a sabotage weapon, which was tasked with fighting the enemy not on its own territory, but deep in the territory of the enemy. The special forces were supposed to operate in the rear, detect and destroy launchers missiles, arsenals, storage bases, strategic aviation at airfields, to prevent the regrouping of troops, to disrupt the transport of troops and cargo. Thus, even during the formation of special forces companies, the functions that were performed by partisan detachments during the war were given.

In the formation of separate special-purpose companies, the chiefs of intelligence of the armies and districts in which the companies were formed, as well as the heads of the third departments of the intelligence departments of the headquarters of the associations, were involved. Since air was recognized as the main method of withdrawal to the rear of the enemy, specialists from the parachute service of the airborne troops were actively involved in the formation of new units.

Structurally, special-purpose companies of that time included two special reconnaissance platoons, one training platoon (in which specialists and junior commanders were trained) and a special radio communications platoon.

Almost immediately after the formation of the company, they began to conduct combat training, which included fire, airborne, engineering, reconnaissance and a number of others. The main means of destroying objects and manpower of the enemy in the companies was considered to be mine-explosive equipment, which, of course, spoke of the use of rich combat experience of partisans and guards battalions of miners when creating special forces companies.

In fact, special-purpose companies could be called "companies of miners-paratroopers", but due to the special focus of the tasks, they received the name they received.

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

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

18th separate special-purpose company of the 36th combined arms army of the Trans-Baikal Military District (near the town of Borzya);

26th separate special-purpose company of the 2nd Guards Mechanized Army of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany (garrison in Furstenberg);

27th separate special-purpose company (district) in the Northern Group of Forces (Poland, Strzegom);

36th separate special-purpose company of the 13th combined arms army of the Carpathian military district (Khmelnitsky);

43rd separate special-purpose company of the 7th Guards Army of the Transcaucasian Military District (Lagodekhi);

61st Separate Special Purpose Company of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the Primorsky Military District (Ussuriysk);

75th separate special-purpose company in the Special Mechanized Army (Hungary, Nyiregyhaza);

76th separate special-purpose company of the 23rd combined arms army of the Leningrad Military District (Pskov);

77th separate special-purpose company of the 8th mechanized army of the Carpathian military district (Zhytomyr);

78th separate special-purpose company (district) in the Taurida military district (Simferopol);

92nd separate special-purpose company of the 25th combined-arms army of the Primorsky military district (n. p. Fighter Kuznetsov).

Among the total number of disbanded special forces companies, one should mention companies that, in addition to general “special forces” training, also had special conditions of service: for example, soldiers of the 99th separate special forces company (district) of the Arkhangelsk Military District in combat training were oriented towards tasks in the difficult conditions of the Arctic, scouts of the 200th separate special-purpose company of the Siberian Military District studied the "Chinese" theater of operations, and the personnel of the 227th separate special-purpose company of the 9th combined arms army of the North Caucasus Military District underwent mountain training.

In 1956, the 61st separate special-purpose company of the 5th combined arms army of the Far Eastern military district was relocated to the Turkestan military district in the city of Kazandzhik. Probably, the leadership of the General Staff decided to pay attention to the southern "Islamic" direction.

The second wave of the formation of separate special-purpose companies took place at the beginning of the 70s. Apparently, at that time the fathers of the General Staff decided to give a "special purpose tool" not only to the fronts (districts), but also to some combined arms formations. As a result, several separate companies were formed for armies and army corps. Several companies were formed for internal military districts that did not previously have special intelligence units. In particular, the 791st separate special-purpose company was formed in the Siberian Military District. In the Western Group of Forces in Germany and on Far East separate companies were formed in each army.

In 1979, the 459th separate special-purpose company was formed as part of the Turkestan military district for the purpose of subsequent use in Afghanistan. The company will be introduced into the DRA and will show itself in the best possible way.

Another wave of formation of separate special-purpose companies occurred in the mid-80s. Then companies were formed in all armies and corps, which until that moment did not have such units. Companies were formed even in such exotic (but quite justified) areas as Sakhalin (877th separate special-purpose company of the 68th Army Corps) and Kamchatka (571st separate special-purpose company of the 25th Army Corps).

In "democratic" Russia, after the separation of the "free" republics and the withdrawal of troops from the countries of the no longer socialist camp, eight military districts remained with the corresponding number of armies and corps. Part of the separate companies of special purpose took part in the first Chechen war, where they were used as military intelligence, as the protection of columns and precious command bodies - in general, as always, for a "special purpose". All companies subordinate to the North Caucasian Military District, as well as two companies of the Moscow Military District, one of which, the 806th, was formed literally on the eve of the Chechen campaign as part of the 1st Guards Tank Army, withdrawn from Germany to Smolensk. In addition, by the summer of 1996, a new, 584th separate special-purpose company was formed as part of the 205th motorized rifle brigade. At the end of this war, another reduction followed Russian army, and including its intelligence agencies. In order to preserve large special forces formations, the GRU made acceptable sacrifices - it gave away individual special-purpose companies to be "eaten up". By the end of 1998, separate special-purpose companies (with the exception of two companies located in special directions: the 75th subordinate to the Kaliningrad defensive region and the 584th, by this time transferred to the headquarters of the 58th combined arms army) in the structure of the Russian Armed Forces have ceased to exist.

Later, already during the Second Chechen War, in the North Caucasian Military District, for operations on the territory of Chechnya, six numberless special-purpose companies had to be formed (three companies in the 131st, 136th, 205th Omsbr and three companies in reconnaissance battalions 19th, 20th and 42nd MRD). These companies, according to the plans for combat training of special forces units, performed the prescribed number of parachute jumps at the airfields of the district.

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

26th Separate Special Purpose Battalion GSVG (Fürstenberg);

27th Separate Special Purpose Battalion of the SGV (Stshegom);

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

43rd separate special-purpose battalion of the ZakVO (Lagodekhi);

61st Separate Special Purpose Battalion TurkVO (Kazandzhik);

18th separate special-purpose company of the 36th OA ZabVO (Borzya);

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

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

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

At the same time, two companies were disbanded, the personnel of which went to staff new battalions. For example, the 92nd separate special-purpose company of the 25th Army of the Far Eastern Military District was urgently loaded onto the train and sent to Poland - on the basis of this company (and the 27th company of the Northern Group of Forces), the 27th separate special forces battalion.

The transfer of special forces units to the battalion structure made it possible to optimize studying proccess, freeing a significant part of the personnel from garrison and guard duty. Three battalions were concentrated in the western (European) direction, one was in the Caucasus and one more in Central Asia. There were three companies in the western direction, and at that time we had only one special-purpose company in the eastern direction as part of the 36th Army of the Trans-Baikal Military District.

Subsequently, after the creation of brigades, special-purpose battalions became known as "detachments", and organizationally they were all part of the brigades. Starting from the 60s, battalions did not exist as independent combat units, with the exception of individual detachments of brigades, which could be detached from the formation for operations in separate operational areas, but continued to remain in brigades in peacetime.

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

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

In accordance with the decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU of August 20, 1961 "On the training of personnel and the development of special equipment for organizing and equipping partisan detachments" by the directive of the General Staff of February 5, 1962, in order to train and accumulate personnel for the deployment of the partisan movement in war time the commanders of the military districts were ordered to select 1,700 reserve servicemen, bring them into a brigade and conduct a thirty-day training camp. After the training camp, the personnel were assigned special military registration specialties. They were forbidden to be reserved for the national economy and not used for their intended purpose.

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

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

2nd Special Forces (military unit 64044), formed on December 1, 1962 (according to other sources, in 1964) on the basis of the collapsed 76th Specialized Special Forces of the LenVO and personnel of the 237th Guards Airborne Regiment, first commander - A, N. Grishakov; Leningrad Military District, Pechory, Promezhitsy;

4th Special Forces (military unit 77034), formed in 1962 in Riga, the first commander was A.S. Zhizhin; Baltic Military District, then transferred to Viljandi;

5th ObrSpN (military unit 89417), formed in 1962, first commander - I. I. Kovalevsky; Belarusian military district, Maryina Gorka;

8th Specialized Special Forces (military unit 65554), formed in 1962 on the basis of the 36th Specialized Special Forces, Carpathian Military District, Izyaslav, Ukraine;

9th ObrSpN (military unit 83483), formed in 1962, first commander - L.S. Egorov; Kyiv Military District, Kirovograd, Ukraine;

10th ObrSpN (military unit 65564), formed in 1962, Odessa Military District, Stary Krym, Pervomaisky;

12th Specialized Special Forces (military unit 64406), formed in 1962 on the basis of the 43rd Specialized Special Forces, the first commander - I, I. Geleverya; Transcaucasian Military District, Lagodekhi, Georgia;

14th ObrSpN (military unit 74854), formed on January 1, 1963 on the basis of the 77th orb, first commander - P.N. Rymin; Far Eastern Military District, Ussuriysk;

15th Specialized Special Forces (military unit 64411), formed on January 1, 1963 on the basis of the 61st Specialized Specialized Forces, first commander - N.N. Lutsev; Turkestan Military District, Chirchik, Uzbekistan;

16th Special Forces (military unit 54607), formed on January 1, 1963, the first commander - A. V. Shipka; Moscow military district, Chuchkovo.

Brigades were formed mainly by military personnel of the airborne and ground forces. For example, the officer backbone of the 14th Specialized Special Forces of the Far Eastern Military District during the formation was staffed by officers of the 98th Guards Airborne Division from Belogorsk (from which 14 officers - participants in the Great Patriotic War came to the brigade), and the conscripts were recruited from military commissariats.

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

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

Brigade headquarters (about 30 people);

One deployed detachment of Special Forces (164 people in the state);

Detachment of special radio communications on a reduced staff (about 60 people);

Three cadre detachments of the Special Forces;

Two framed separate detachments of Special Forces;

Company of economic support;

in addition, the brigade included such collapsed units as:

Company of special mining;

Group of special weapons (ATGM, PC Grad-P, MANPADS).

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

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

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

Twelve separate special forces companies;

Two separate special forces battalions;

Ten separate brigades special purpose (frame).

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

Six separate special purpose companies;

Two separate special-purpose battalions (26th and 27th) in the western direction;

Ten separate framed special forces brigades.

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

At that time, special forces brigades were perceived by everyone - as a reserve for deployment behind enemy lines guerrilla war. The special forces were even called that: "partisans." The experience of creating such formations, it seems, came from the training of the partisan special reserve in the late 20s - early 30s, as you know, all its members were repressed in the late 30s. A similar attitude towards trained saboteurs has been preserved in modern times: the authorities are still afraid of having qualified specialists in sabotage war, reasonably fearing for their own well-being. The whole country saw on television very vague trials of Colonels P. Ya. Popovskikh and V. V. Kvachkov, the group of Captain E. Ulman. Nevertheless, the creation of "partisan" units was in full swing.

In 1966, the 165th Special Purpose Training Center was formed in the Odessa Military District to train specialists from foreign reconnaissance and sabotage units (and, in fact, militants of people's liberation movements). The center was based in the Simferopol region and existed at least until 1990. During this time, many highly qualified terrorist fighters were trained in the center for a great many revolutions. Graduates of this educational unit in different parts the globe they overthrew governments, killed and kidnapped opponents of communism, harmed world imperialism, and otherwise implemented the special knowledge gained in Simferopol. Not all trained saboteurs were immediately sent to the combat areas - some graduates were legalized in the prosperous countries of Europe, America and Asia. They lived and worked for the benefit of their countries, but on a signal known to them, these militants gathered in the right place, received weapons and carried out special tasks. In the event of a major war, these conspiratorial groups were to become a support for the GRU special forces sent behind enemy lines. Apparently, this system is still relevant today.

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

This brigade at that time was the most complete (up to 1300 personnel) and was in constant combat readiness to perform tasks as intended. The detachments of the brigade were formed in a slightly different state than the detachments of the brigades that were stationed in the USSR. These detachments had a staff of 212 people, while the "allied" brigades had detachments with a staff of only 164 people.

The full name of the formation: 3rd Separate Guards Red Banner Warsaw-Berlin Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class Special Purpose Brigade.

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

Parts of the special purpose, being equipped with physically strong and hardy soldiers and officers, were often involved in performing special tasks not only of a “sabotage” nature. So, in 1966, units of the 15th special forces brigade took part in the aftermath of the earthquake in Tashkent - the soldiers dismantled the rubble, pulled out the survivors from the ruins. In 1970 - the elimination of the consequences of the cholera epidemic in Astrakhan region, and in 1971 - the elimination of the consequences of the smallpox epidemic in Aralsk - scouts, together with the police, participated in the isolation of persons who had contact with the infected.

In 1972, the 16th Special Forces Division carried out a government task to eliminate forest fires in the Moscow, Ryazan, Vladimir and Gorky regions. For the fulfillment of this task, the brigade was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR.

As a result of combat and political training In 1967, the 14th brigade became one of the advanced formations of the troops and units of the Far Eastern Military District and was entered in the Book of Honor of the KFVO troops. All the personnel of the unit were thanked by the commander of the KFVO.

In 1968, a serviceman of the 1st Battalion of the 14th Special Forces Sergeant Vasilevsky made the first run in the history of Primorye along the Ussuriysk-Vladivostok highway. 104 km were covered in 8 hours 21 minutes. Sergeant Vasilevsky dedicated his run to the 50th anniversary of the Komsomol.

The 14th brigade took an active part in combat training. In the period from June 22 to June 27, 1970, the personnel of the brigade took part in district reconnaissance exercises conducted by the chief of staff of the district. The actions of the personnel during the exercises were checked by the GRU General Staff commission headed by Lieutenant General Tkachenko and Colonel Galitsin. During the exercises, the personnel parachuted and landed in Primorye, the Amur Region and Sakhalin Island and completed all the tasks with a “good” rating. In the period from August 21 to 28, 1971, the personnel took part in district reconnaissance exercises, during which 20 RGSpN were parachuted into Primorye, the Amur Region and Sakhalin Island, followed by reconnaissance missions. All tasks were successfully completed.

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

Also, the Kiev Combined Arms Command School was engaged in training personnel for special forces, which produced officers with the specialty "referent-translator".

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

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

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

From the mid-1970s, the General Staff found an opportunity to deploy brigades, increasing the number of personnel in them. As a result of this decision, it was possible to complete the detachments of brigades by 60-80%. From this period, special-purpose brigades became combat-ready and were no longer considered only as a partisan reserve.

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

In 1972, as part of the Group Soviet troops in Mongolia, two brigades were formed, the numbering of which is in the same row as the numbers of special forces brigades, however, these brigades were called "separate reconnaissance brigades". In the US Army, in terms of the volume of tasks to be solved, there was an analogue to similar separate reconnaissance brigades - armored cavalry regiments. The new brigades included three separate reconnaissance battalions armed with infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, and units combat support, which was due to the nature of the terrain in the responsibility band of the GSVM. Nevertheless, each of these brigades had "jumping" reconnaissance and airborne companies, and each brigade had its own separate helicopter squadron. Most likely, when creating these brigades, the General Staff tried to find the optimal organization of special forces units that were to operate in the mountainous desert area. As a result, the 20th and 25th separate reconnaissance brigades were formed. Similar formations in Soviet army was nowhere else. In the mid-80s, these brigades were reorganized into separate mechanized brigades and became part of the newly formed 48th Guards Army Corps, and with the collapse of the USSR, after the withdrawal of troops from Mongolia, they were disbanded.

At the end of the 1970s, the General Staff found an opportunity to transfer special forces brigades from cadre to deployed staff, as well as find reserves to form two more brigades.

The 22nd Special Purpose Brigade was formed on July 24, 1976 in the Central Asian Military District in the city of Kapchagai on the basis of one of the detachments of the 15th Brigade, a company of the Special Radio Communications Detachment of the 15th Brigade, the 525th and 808th separate special purpose companies Central Asian and Volga military districts. Until 1985, the brigade was in Kapchagai, later changed its location several times and in given time located near the city of Aksai, Rostov region (military unit 11659).

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

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

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

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

Three special-purpose companies (42 people each);

In total, the detachment consisted of 164 people.

The special forces units that are part of the 3rd Guards ObrSpN had the following staff:

Detachment management (6 people);

Three special-purpose companies (58 people each);

Company of special radio communications (32 people).

In total, these detachments had 212 personnel each.

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

Presumably, in 1968, units of the 3rd, 8th and 9th special forces brigades took part in the hostilities in Czechoslovakia. I have not been able to study this question yet - everything remains only at the level of rumors.