Successful implementation of any military campaign depends on the availability of information about the enemy's forces, weapons and numbers. Since ancient times, before the start of a large-scale offensive, detachments of scouts were formed from volunteers, who infiltrated enemy territory to collect data or to carry out sabotage. The development of weapons and the enrichment of military experience have improved the methods of conducting reconnaissance and sabotage work and served as an impetus for the creation of various paramilitary formations, each of which performs its highly specialized task.
Specialized Army Unit
Fighting involves numerous casu alties, destruction of houses and buildings. Victory in wars is often given at a very high price. Based on this, and having already decent centuries of combat experience, the army leadership realized the urgent need to create special professional groups to perform special tasks. So in the regular armies of different countries a special unit appeared - army special forces.
What is it for and how does it work?
Army special forces of different countries, with differences in the specifics of training, weapons and camouflage, have one task assigned to it - fast and silentelimination of the enemy.
For this purpose, the most vital organs of the enemy are affected, which excludes any possibility of resistance and guarantees instant death.
Army special forces in their work use camouflage techniques that have certain differences in units of different countries. It all depends on the environment, characteristic of a particular area, weather and seasonal conditions in which you have to act. Based on this, the army special forces are equipped with a special uniform adapted to the colors of the terrain and special equipment for firearms - silencers and flame arresters, allowing them to freely use them behind enemy lines without fear of giving themselves away with the sounds of shots or flashes of flame.
Special forces perform reconnaissance work, regardless of environmental conditions and the situation in the camp of the enemy. The end result is the information received about the enemy’s weapons, its numbers, and the characteristics of the terrain on which further open hostilities are to be carried out.
What kind of information does the special forces get?
Reconnaissance, which is carried out by special forces, is considered effective if it is able to provide the army leadership with the necessary information:
Enemy data
This is information about the topographic location of those objects that are subject to capture, and an assessment of the degree of their protection. The report must contain data on the quantity, quality and location of weaponsof the enemy, about the possible proximity of reserve combat units, about the distance from them to captured objects, about the time and methods of approaching enemy reserves in the event of a direct combat collision.
Location data
The report contains information about the passability of the territory, the presence of natural obstacles (gorges, reservoirs), their nature and the possibility of overcoming them. This also includes data on settlements, which must be taken into account in order to ensure an inconspicuous approach to capture targets of interest.
History of Creation
In order to identify, neutralize and eliminate terrorist groups, carry out sabotage and counter-terrorist combat missions behind enemy lines, the Russian Federation uses special combat units and units of special services, the Armed Forces and the police.
Russian special forces have their own history.
On July 29, 1974, Department “A” was formed in the USSR, which until 1991 belonged to the seventh department of the KGB. This division is still active today. This is a special counter-terrorist unit “A” of the FSB, known to everyone as the “Alfa” special forces, recognized in the world as one of the most effective.
In 2011, the team of Detachment “A” under the FSB of Russia participated in the world championship of special forces, where they received the first two places and were recognized as the best international brigade.
Special Forces: Unit “A”. Features
Its main task is to carry out specific military security measures to search and identifyterrorist organizations, neutralization and further destruction of armed criminals. Special Forces "Alpha" is engaged in the release of hostages, negotiations with terrorists. The detachment is intended to seize aircraft and watercraft, land transport and storm buildings with hostages held there. Often, the services of the “A” squad are turned to during riots in prisons and colonies, since the unit is considered elite and has a high performance. This made it in demand when performing military operations in "hot spots" and in other situations that are complicated or out of control.
World analogues
Such a special unit is not the only one in the world. High performance in the fight against terrorism was shown by the American special forces. The good material support of the groups made it possible to carry out numerous experiments, which made it possible to achieve high results. During the assault on fortified buildings, the fighters of such detachments get inside suddenly for the terrorists - at points that, unlike door and window openings, are not controlled by them. This significantly reduced the death rate in the American special forces.
Almost all developed countries have similar anti-terrorist units, which differ little from each other. They also perform the function of anti-terror in their state and the tactics of their actions are similar.
About combat training
Fulfillment of tasks requires hugephysical and psychological stress. This is due to the fact that the special forces detachment carries out its functional tasks mainly either behind enemy lines, or on terrain that is completely unsuitable for normal human life.
Staying in an extreme environment, in harsh conditions, without communication with the outside world requires each member of the special unit to have physical and psychological he alth, fitness and moral readiness to withstand possible loads.
A lot of feature and documentary films, serials have been shot about the special forces of the Airborne Forces, where it is colorfully shown how effectively and efficiently the special squad works. But behind the side visible to the audience, there is another, which consists of everyday and tedious briefings and training, high demands placed on the fighters by their leadership.
Special forces are trained under the supervision of experienced instructors. The task of training is to transfer knowledge to the wards and develop in them the practical skills necessary to perform combat missions. During the exercises, both standard and highly specialized skills are instilled in fighters.
What does special forces training include?
1. Standard Skills:
- hand-to-hand combat;
- fire, psychological and general physical training.
2. Highly specialized knowledge and practical skills:
- silent movement behind enemy lines, which includes the ability to covertly overcome water andengineering barriers, swamps, navigate the terrain at night;
- execution of tasks for observation and collection of information in urban areas and settlements;
- effective camouflage: special forces uniforms are selected for fighters depending on the conditions of the terrain on which the work is performed - it can be mountains, forests, desert, swampy terrain or a surface littered with snow;
- orientation in the area both with and without a topographic map, the ability to notice and distinguish between traces;
- the ability to carry out radio reconnaissance and use other means of technology for this purpose;
- survival skills in difficult conditions for the human body;
- psychological training and knowledge needed to provide emergency medical care.
Tasks and structure of the Russian Navy
During martial law, the naval special forces of the Russian Federation are engaged in:
- mining ships, paramilitary naval bases and hydraulic structures of the enemy;
- search for and further physical destruction of enemy assets intended for a nuclear attack, and points that perform their operational control;
- detection in the coastal zone of other enemy targets, accumulations of manpower;
- providing landing activities in the coastal zone;
- guiding and adjusting air and naval artillery strikes against identified enemy forces.
In peacetime, Russian naval special forces are engaged in the fight against terrorism and the exchangeexperience with other special forces.
The staff of the naval special squad includes 124 people - 56 of them are fighters, the rest are technical personnel. The fighters in the detachment are divided into units and act autonomously. Each of these groups consists of 12 people. They are divided into groups of 6 people: an officer, midshipman and four sailors.
The Marine Special Forces of the Russian Federation is represented by three detachments, each of which performs its task:
- The first detachment is intended to destroy enemy objects located on land. The tactic of the detachment's action consists in an imperceptible underwater approach to the targeted enemy targets with further sabotage. The fighters act as divers and act on the spot as saboteurs of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
- The second squad is doing reconnaissance work.
- The third detachment of naval special forces carries out underwater mining of ships, naval bases, manpower deployment sites and other important enemy targets. The fighters of the detachment train especially hard for the role of combat divers, since they operate mainly not on land, but under water - they carry out sabotage work and carry out attacks.
Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
In the Russian Federation, these troops belong to and are subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Following the law “On Internal Troops”, the special forces of the VV perform the following tasks:
1. Peacetime:
- ensure public order;
- carry out the protection of state-important facilities and cargo duringtransportation;
- release hostages;
- help other units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the fight against crime.
2. In wartime and in emergency situations, according to a certain law “On Internal Troops”, the special forces of the explosives receive additional duties - providing assistance to border security agencies in ensuring the territorial defense and security of the country, protecting the borders of the state.
Features of the work of special forces in the city
To perform a combat mission in populated areas, Russian special forces use equipment:
- overcoming obstacles;
- hidden inspection of the area;
- silent penetration into the building;
- quick and efficient assault on buildings;
- mopping up captured buildings.
1. Overcoming obstacles in urban areas. The work is carried out after a thorough examination of the situation. Before overcoming an obstacle that has arisen on the way, the soldiers of the special forces inspect the territory for the possible presence of a hidden enemy. Before crossing the wall, the opposite part of it is examined.
2. View of the urban area. Buildings are ideal for this task, observation is recommended because of their corners. The main thing is to do it carefully, without revealing yourself with weapons or equipment.
3. When entering a building, window openings are of particular danger, and it is necessary to move under them at a fast pace and crouching low. A fighter mustbe below the cutoff level. Window openings in the basement are recommended to step over.
4. During the assault, the advancement of the special forces is carried out along the walls, and also involves passing through them, using faults and cracks. Doorways are overcome by a throw under the fire cover of a partner. The throw should be made swiftly and immediately aimed under cover.
Spetsnaz of Russia, like special forces of other countries, while overcoming open areas, uses, in addition to fire cover, smoke screens. In this case, dashes are made from one shelter to another if there is a small distance between them. Such advancement is carried out by a group with a mandatory interval between the fighters of at least ten steps. This distance will prevent possible fire damage.
The American special forces during the assault use the means to destroy the walls in the captured building in those places that are not controlled by armed criminals. The unexpected appearance of special forces soldiers in the hole formed in the wall has an overwhelming effect on the terrorists - the effect of surprise is triggered. A moderate explosion that knocks out bricks and cinder blocks strictly along a certain contour, stuns an enemy unprepared for such an assault.
In the Russian special forces, a building is stormed immediately after a grenade is thrown into a window opening. There is a drawback to such a capture tactic - the enemy can quickly react and throw it back. In this case, there is a high risk of damagefragments of his own exploding shell.
5. Clearing the captured building. After the assault, the building is subject to a thorough inspection. To this end, one fighter takes up a firing position outside the doorway and covers the group. The premises that have passed the test are marked with a symbol. The special forces are cleaned up by moving up the flights of stairs “from top to bottom”. This allows you to "squeeze out" the enemy to the lower floors, where it is easier to destroy him or push him out into the street and detain him. It is undesirable to clean "bottom-up". This will give the enemy a chance to firmly gain a foothold on the upper floors or escape along the roofs of nearby buildings.
Equipment of special forces soldiers
According to the season, the form of special forces is winter and summer. Depending on the purpose, the equipment of special forces is divided into three types:
- Field form. It is used to perform a combat mission, training and duty. It is also intended to be worn during a military or state of emergency. The highest demands are placed on this type of clothing.
- Ceremonial uniform. Designed for fighters during their stay at solemn state events: guard of honor, receiving awards. Also used during parades, holidays and weekends.
- Everyday uniform. Applies in all other cases.
Workwear material
The main requirements for the material from which the overalls of the units are made is the ability to ensure safety, highergonomics and protection indicators. To carry out the disguise of special forces, a special fabric is produced that has an appropriate pattern. In each country, a pattern is selected for the fabric from which special equipment is sewn, for a certain characteristic type of terrain.
Russian special forces use the “surpat” color scheme, which takes into account the typical characteristics of the domestic territory.
In addition to clothing, the uniform of the special forces includes weapons, means of protection, navigation, life support, an individual first-aid kit and special items are attached to it.
Cold weapons for special forces
Russian special forces in their activities often face situations in which one cannot do without the use of a knife. During the descent from the wall of a house or from a helicopter, you can get tangled in ropes and parachute lines; in the course of capturing a vehicle, it is sometimes necessary to cut jammed seat belts. In such situations, a knife is simply necessary. It is a mistake to assume that edged weapons are required for all power structures of the Russian Federation - airborne troops, riot police or marines. Only special forces have the right to wear and use combat knives during special operations. Mostly these are blades that do not exceed 200 mm in length and 60 mm in width.
The army special forces knife in skillful hands makes it easy to inflict terrible wounds on the enemy. In the production of combat knives for special forces, very durable and high-quality steel is used.
Marine Special Forcesin his activities he often uses a knife, which is also called “Reconnaissance Battalion”. This knife is made from stainless steel. Blade width - 60 mm, length - 300 mm. The knife is equipped with a protective guard, which makes it easier to strike the enemy.
The blade “Katran” is considered the second most popular type of melee weapon among the soldiers of this special unit. It is versatile as it can be used both as a tool and as a weapon. As a tool, this knife, thanks to the transverse groove at its base, is successfully used for bending and breaking wire. The blade is equipped with a double sharpening - regular and sawtooth - on the butt side. The handle and scabbard are made of plastic. Fixation of the knife in the sheath is carried out with the help of latches of the guard. The “Katran” is equipped with an additional lock in the form of a rubber ring, which prevents the blade from slipping out of its sheath, which is undesirable for a fighter during a special operation.
Today, the knife "Gyurza" was officially adopted for the supply of the FSB special forces. His blade has one and a half sharpening. The serrator on the side of the butt improves the quality of military weapons and makes it possible to use them to perform related "peaceful" tasks - it is very convenient for them to cut ropes, cables, and use them as a saw.
The history of the use of special forces in reconnaissance and sabotage activities behind enemy lines, in the fight against terrorists and especially dangerous criminals has proved the urgent need to use combat knives. A we alth of experience in performing special specific tasks is taken into account when selecting a coldweapons for modern army units.
