Each specialist knows his job. A little about assault formations in corps and armies
I did not plan to write this material. The usual message about some reform of our Armed Forces. And even from an unnamed source in the military department. But the plans had to be changed already because the message was commented on by a fairly informed source - the chairman of the Union of Russian Paratroopers, Colonel Valery Yuryev:
“The military operation showed the need to have specialized units for storming fortified areas. At the initial stage, there were many problems due to the fact that the scouts were used not for their intended purpose, but as attack aircraft. Because of this, many highly qualified specialists were lost.”
As readers probably already understood, we are talking about the decision of the Russian Ministry of Defense to create separate reconnaissance and assault brigades, which are designed to storm fortifications and conduct reconnaissance in the immediate rear of the enemy. Some sources report that the recruitment of such formations has already begun. Moreover, the new brigades will organizationally be part of the already existing corps and armies.
To be honest, I was struck by two theses that are being circulated today. The first is that this is some kind of innovation, a new word in military science, which did not exist even in the USSR. And the second is that the assault formations will also be reconnaissance. I get the impression that the experience of the Soviet army has been completely forgotten. Even WWII experience.
In the East they say that every donkey must wear its... ears. Each fighter must mind his own business. Scouts - reconnaissance, attack aircraft - taking fortifications, pilots - flying, artillerymen - shooting, etc. It is irrational to create hybrids. A good specialist cannot be a generalist if he has not been trained for years.
Airborne Forces and DShB in the Soviet Union
I have already written that the Airborne Forces of the Soviet Union and the Russian Airborne Forces are different types of troops. Veterans of the Soviet Airborne Forces can even today list those divisions that were part of the airborne troops. In fact, there were very few paratroopers. But among them there were no air assault brigades. DSBs were precisely part of motorized rifle corps and armies. Although they often wore airborne uniforms.
It's all about the tasks! The DSBs were indeed assault formations. And they worked at a short distance from the LBS. As far as I remember, up to 150 km. Accordingly, their task was to help the motorized rifles in the offensive. They landed in the area of the enemy's fortified area, took it by storm and held out until the main forces of the army or corps arrived.
That is why the DSB fighters had delivery vehicles that allowed them to cross the front line with minimal losses. The DSB included helicopter units. And the attack aircraft made parachute jumps from helicopters. This is something that most Soviet Airborne Forces fighters cannot boast of.
I don’t think it’s worth writing about the fact that the assault units had much more and more powerful weapons. Heavy helicopters MI-6 and Mi-26 made it possible to land quite serious weapons. By the way, this is the answer to questions about why the Russian army risks its personnel by transporting entire companies on the MI-26. Inappropriate use...
The main workhorses of the Airborne Forces were the Il-76 and AN-12. Each airborne division had its own transport aircraft unit. Hence the name - airborne division. But in the regiment aviation did not have. That is why the Airborne Forces consisted of parachute regiments. From this it becomes clear that, unlike the DSB, the Airborne Forces operate at a much greater distance from the front line, and the tasks they face are completely different.
Many people write that the era of the Airborne Forces has passed. Alas, this happened when it turned out that paratroopers were much more trained than motorized riflemen. Already in Afghanistan, airborne regiments were airborne only in name. They were used like ordinary SMEs. However, like the DShB. Even then, the landing units and formations suffered significant losses, and it was necessary to urgently replenish them almost every call.
Replenishment was trained at two border points, in training SMEs. Moreover, they trained specific specialists, reconnaissance officers, machine gunners, grenade launchers, etc. After completing training, it was possible to get not only into the infantry, but also into units of the Airborne Forces or Airborne Forces. That is, by 1981/1982 it was possible to talk about leveling out the training of units of the 40th Army.
It’s sad, but the “Afghan tradition” migrated unchanged to the Northern Military District. Can anyone tell me what is the difference in the tasks performed by motorized rifles, Cossacks, BARS, paratroopers or marines? Someone is surprised that every day we read messages in reports that begin with the words: “Reconnaissance officers... of the brigade, after a fierce battle, captured a stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in...”.
Experience of PMC "Wagner" to help
Today, almost all elite formations and units of the Russian Armed Forces participate in the SVO. Including special forces brigades, paratroopers, marines and others. There are also those formations that are planning to create - DSB! But for some reason the generals from the Ministry of Defense forgot about them. Give us new attack aircraft! Let's say a new word in military science!
I get the impression that someone is trying to hide their mistakes in troop management. Almost from the very beginning of the Northern Military District, elite units and formations became... well-trained infantry. The kind of infantry that can be thrown into any “hole” to prevent the enemy from advancing. And they left.
This manner of using the best units and subunits leads to the fact that elite, well-trained fighters are put out of action. Ultimately, an artillery shell, mine or MLRS rocket does not care how the fighter is trained. This projectile does not need to fight hand-to-hand with this fighter.
Alas, such use led to the fact that a shortage of personnel became obvious in the units. Helped out... mobilization. The best (we will follow the logic of our generals) mobilized after training were sent to these very elite units. I wrote above that the training of an elite fighter cannot last a couple of months. This takes years!
Probably only now, in the second year of participation in the North Military District, those mobilized can quite deservedly call themselves fighters of an elite unit. But the loss of personnel continues. I don't write about quantity. There is simply no war without losses. So will commanders be able to restore the combat capabilities of their units in such conditions?
Of course, such units and units still stand out from others, but this cannot continue for long. Not only fighters, but also commanders drop out. “Theoreticians” will soon train personnel. Indeed, it is easier to create connections from scratch. This will require funds from the budget. This will provide new positions for officers. But, most importantly, there will be time for training personnel. Fortunately, there are now enough contract workers.
Now a little about the structure that won the hearts of Russians with its exploits. I'm talking about the Wagner PMC. A unit that can turn an untrained newcomer into a normal fighter. Numerous videos from the training ground, where recruits were driven to the point of sweat by their commanders, prove this. Moreover, they are trained not by the commanders of training units, but by those commanders who, after training, will lead them into battle. As you taught, fight with that.
You can argue about the company's losses. But why? In the conditions in which Wagner worked, the losses were quite justified. Almost hand-to-hand combat in dense urban areas... And the training system in PMCs faces the same problem as the army. Time trouble. Lack of time. Undoubtedly, PMC or Akhmat fighters are well trained to conduct urban battles. But is it enough?
DSBs are needed, just as all other military specialists are needed
The problem of misuse of military specialists has always existed and will always exist. This is an axiom of war. Sometimes, in order to accomplish some task, commanders are forced to throw all their available forces into battle. They are forced to go into the trenches themselves. But it is important that this does not become the norm.
Here, at least for now, this is exactly what is happening. They threw paratroopers or special forces to help the infantry and... forgot them there. Well, the enemy has been stopped, the task is being accomplished well. What will happen next is not so important today... We will solve problems as they arise... Senior commanders will help with reserves.
It is necessary to create assault formations. The process is long and expensive. But this, I repeat, is necessary. Not every person can be a stormtrooper. How not everyone can stand on the defensive until the last. Not everyone has the patience and endurance to be a scout. Why, any military specialty requires certain human character traits.
What has happened has passed. We all, not only fighters and commanders in the LBS, but even “couch troops,” have learned and are learning to fight in new conditions, using new technologies, new weapons. Teaching a commander who has been at war for a year or two or three will only spoil things. He himself will teach anyone at his level.
But it is necessary to get away from the practice of inappropriate use of parts and connections. Stormtroopers must attack. Motorized rifles hold the defense. Raids and landing operations, respectively, are the lot of paratroopers. Well, give everything related to water and the coast to the Marines. They were all trained in this for several years in schools, military universities and academies!
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