OPPONENTS
Of course, they hunted him too. In the 243 regiment, two snipers from among the contractors tried to calculate it. But it is abundantly clear that the level of training of the insurgent and these simple men who decided to earn extra money in the war was incomparable. Their positions were on the second floor of an industrial building. The windows of the room they laid slag blocks. The guns of their rifles protruded from the loopholes for half a meter.“Spirits” appeared on their “Volga”. Most likely she served as bait for our guys, to which they immediately pecked, opening rapid fire from rifles at the car. Since the Volga was about six hundred meters, it was not included.
At this time, a special intelligence officer arrived at the position, who tried to rationalize "free shooters." He explained to them very well that they should not take a position at the loopholes in the windows. It is best to sit in the back of the room, put a table and chair, and even better - a chair. Convenience in this situation is worth a lot. Long squatting is very tiring. Sector shooting should be small. After a half to two hours, you can shift to the side, changing the sector of observation and shooting. This method allows you to provide stealth observation and shooting. The sound of the shot made inside the room is extinguished and the outside is heard weakly or not heard at all. Scout very popularly explained why snipers act in pairs. The point here is not that they should not be bored, and not to increase the density of sniper fire. Acting in a pair, only one of the snipers is firing, the second is watching the enemy and corrects his fire. After all, it is difficult at the same time to shoot and watch those who are firing at you.
"POOLS"
The lesson on the elimination of sniper ignorance was barely completed, and the teacher left the house, as indiscriminate shooting rang out first, and then two shots from the enemy sounded clearly. It is difficult to say which rifle the “spiritual” sniper fired from, but two shots separated no more than two or three seconds. After a few moments, both "William Tell's heirs" stood at the bottom with frightened faces, completely covered with coal dust. From the confused stories of these “losers” it became clear that they, after conscientiously listening to the lesson, immediately ignored it. The same Volga, again teasing them, drove in the opposite direction. The infantry opened fire on it. Together with all two or three shots fired and snipers. And then, in response, the same two shots of the "spirit" were heard. Our “losers” were saved only by the fact that, shooting from different windows, they, having finished shooting, turned their heads towards each other, wanting to share their impressions. Two bullet marks remained in the wall behind their backs. Laughing at careless students, the special forces gave them a couple more practical advice. First - do not wash. A face covered with coal dust blends better with the window background. The second - going upstairs, try to compare the direction of the flight of two bullets and calculate the position of the sniper. Although a professional of this level probably already left her.BULLY FLYING
The second meeting of the special forces officer with these contract soldiers was tragic. No sooner had he reached the house, where, three days later, were the snipers still in position, as a shot rang out. Judging by the sound, they shot from weapons large caliber. And then he heard shouts: “Wounded! Rather, customize the BTR! ”Soon the wounded was carried out. He was the eldest of the snipers. They began to provide first aid, injected two syringe-tubes of promedol. Then a bloody piece of a length of 5-6 centimeters fell out from under the sweater's sweater. A bullet landed a sniper in the region of the liver, and black blood flowed from the ripped wound. It became clear that the guy is not a tenant. Nevertheless, the wounded man was reassured, bandaged and, plunging into an armored troop-carrier, sent to the medical center. After some time, they found a crumpled bullet that pierced the guy through. It turned out to be a 14,5 caliber bullet from KPVT, but ... without traces of rifling.
Most likely the shot was made from some self-propelled gun. The barrel for him, apparently, served as a pipe of suitable diameter. Since the position of the snipers did not change, the "spirits" decided to put such a unit to hunt them. This is confirmed by the nature of the injury. A bullet fired from a rifled barrel would not have made such a ragged wound. She could be caused only by a bullet flying randomly. They were shooting, apparently, from the nearest nine-story building. For a bullet cartridge from KPVT, even flying somersaults, five hundred meters is a normal distance ... As the surviving sniper told, the elder decided to go for water. As soon as he ran, a shot rang out. The position of snipers has long been under the gun. Apparently, the pros did not get dirty. He decided that there would be enough self-defense for them, which any fighter could push the descent of ...
ACTION BORN COUNTERACTION
Unlike the first Chechen one, when sniper groups of insurgents terrorized the feds, in the second war they were already opposed by well-trained snipers of the Russian troops. Where did they come from? Firstly, the FSB special forces snipers worked very effectively. The professionalism of the “alfovtsev” and “vampelovets” so exceeded the training level of the militants' snipers, that it even played a bad joke once with the sniper from the “A” management. The advantage in sniper duels was indisputable, and the guys relaxed. As the hero told later stories, he from one position made seven or eight shots. He himself knew perfectly well what a gross mistake he had made. But this is after the fight. And then I just got carried away and was too lazy to change the position. Later it turned out that, having lost several snipers, the militants asked to work on the positions of the one who trained them snipers. He was not slow to take advantage of such a misstep of a seasoned sniper. "Ashnik" was still alive, but he had gray hair.Solnechnogorsk CENTER
At the end of the first Chechen, our military leadership concluded that the sniper war was lost. For about half a century, the Russian Armed Forces did not have training units for snipers, as a result of which their tactical experience was lost. The troops have no weapons that meet modern requirements, nor equipment for a military sniper.In September 1999, a school for training snipers was established in Solnechnogorsk. For its acquisition by the directive of the commander-in-chief of the ground forces from the districts, the officers most trained in questions of sniping, as well as those involved in shooting, biathlon and hunting, should have been sent to the schools.
Initially, the troops, as usual, simply "unsubscribed." And who with a light heart will give a good officer? But later, worthy candidates were selected who received six-month training and, after graduating from the Solnogorsk training company, snipers received special diplomas allowing them to work as instructors. At the same time, training companies for training snipers were also established in the Moscow, Volga and North Caucasian military districts. All of them work according to the programs worked out in Solechnogorsk. The term of preparation is six months.
Today, the Solnogorsk training company is engaged in the compilation of experience, the improvement of tactics of application and other issues of the development of sniping. In addition to training instructors for other schools, in Solnechnogorsk, there are combat training programs for snipers for various military units, develop tactics for using snipers and sniper groups in various types of combat and in various terrain, determine the needs for sniper weapons and equipment.
Continuing to train snipers, the school dispatches its cadets for combat training to Chechnya. It was here that I was lucky to meet them.
Soldiers and sergeants of military service serve in the company. To get into the unit, you need to pass a very serious selection. Despite their youth, these guys are very professional in doing their job. As they themselves said, they were “prepared for fixed liquidation and actions as part of a pair or a pair of pairs”. Performing such tasks, in addition to excellent shooting, requires confident skills in topography, a clear interaction in a pair, as well as a fairly high independence. Snipers are also trained in the mine-blasting case so that they can confidently use the cost center in carrying out the task and in securing a departure from the position. Each sniper is able to use means of communication, as well as devices for monitoring and determining the range. To determine the range of a group of snipers, there is one decision maker. This, of course, is not enough. Range finder needed in every pair. There are night sights and surveillance devices.
Army snipers are armed with 7,62-mm rifles SVD and 12,7-mm B-94 "Burglar". This weapon, of course, can not be compared with the SM and AW Cooper, who are armed with "Ashniki" and "vashniki." Most often used costumes handicraft. Everyone sews himself. NATO grimaces. In winter, the guys wear hats, masks and gloves.For communication, use a radio station with a closed channel. When performing an individual task, each pair is radioed. When organizing interaction in a pair or group, snipers most often use sign language, and on air use the established tone signals. Leaving for the task, snipers often work with artillery or infantry. In this case, they use the radio stations of those with whom they interact.
I could see for myself in the competent actions of the cadets personally. Looking at these young guys, I involuntarily recalled the 1999 special forces sniper competitions of the year, during which most of the participants (mostly officers and ensigns) showed rather low tactical skills. Compared to them, there were real pros in front of me.
In war, the Suns from the early days. Often, their work consisted in entering a firing position, destroying one or another militant leader and covertly retreating to the assembly point. Often acted as part of intelligence units. But, citing the secrecy of such actions, they refused to talk more about this.
Although something the guys still told.
Sasha Bolshoi: “Our first business trip took place in early November. The fourth we were thrown under Bamut. Here we were given to army units for support. Worked on the front end. A sniper woman worked against us. Calculated it for a long time. And one day, when she changed position, I got her. The distance to it was almost a kilometer. SVD at such a distance is ineffective, but for my B-94 just right. Replacing the position, the sniper hid behind a tree, but in the thirteen-fold sight I clearly saw her croup, protruding from behind the trunk. He took the first shot. ”
Sasha Small: “On November 30, three pairs left for the position under Bamut. Operated with infantry scouts. Out for the leading edge. The scouts drove us to the line where we held positions, while they themselves went further on reconnaissance. But they did not get into Bamut itself, they worked on the outskirts. Then they returned, and we stayed for a day or two. Led observation. There was almost no movement during the day. At night, the "spirits" acted more actively. Their scouts crawled to the positions of the infantry, but we had no right to disclose ourselves. In the twilight we went to the outskirts of Bamut and shot militants outside the mosque. Also worked against sniper groups. Their snipers, as a rule, acted under the guise of four or five people. As soon as at least one wounded man appeared in this group, they applied, apparently, a long-established tactic. All the survivors opened up intense fire, then grabbed the dead or wounded and quickly retreated without engaging in battle. They spent everything in seconds. ”
LOSSES AND NEW TASKS
Not without loss. During the reconnaissance under mortar shelling killed the company commander, one lieutenant and Hero of Russia, Colonel Kasyanov, who taught intelligence training.
Then the snipers were transferred under Alkhan-Kala. Soon they returned to Moscow, but the rest was short. Two weeks later they were thrown under the Terrible, divided into two groups.
Dan: “In January, a couple worked in the Zavodskoy district of Grozny, opposite the stadium.
It got dark. On the way to the position was located the old caponier from the BMP. Suddenly I look - Max is gone. I got accustomed, and he was already waving and whispering to me from caponier: “Get down!”. I turned on the "night light" and began to observe. I see five Arabs in bandages. Max has brought. He managed to fill one. The rest immediately began to beat out of everything. The killed person was captured and instantly dissolved in the dark. The most interesting thing is that they left along the path in “Zelenka”, where everything was mined with stretch marks. In the morning, no stretch marks were found. How they remove them in the dark is incomprehensible.
Once worked in Chernoreche, in the area of marks 398 and 264. It was possible to take prisoners of Chechens. They talked about how the Arabs manage to make all sorts of weapons from improvised means. They also had grenade launchers made from ordinary pipe mounted on a tripod. Shot from RPG-7. ”
Sasha Small: “We are working in this city trip, although this is not our profile. But this experience is also needed. The intensity of the fighting outputs is quite high. Almost every day someone takes off with special forces, which works as airborne assault groups, we go to ambush. At present, there is no need to talk about the fight against enemy snipers, since they simply do not exist. There was one group of four youths armed with SVD and machine guns. But they acted very primitively, each time performing the same maneuver. Against them, we simply worked as observers, and in the end, we covered the group with a concentrated fire from grenade launchers. ”
VERDICT
Summing up, it is possible to note with satisfaction the clear progress in the development of military sniping in Russia. Of course, there are many issues that have yet to be resolved. This and the provision of high-quality equipment, and re-equipment of snipers, and equipment with necessary equipment. But the main thing - there are people who have created a school in the broad sense of the word. The experience of the Great Patriotic War, Afgan and Chechnya was used. The tactics of snipers have been worked out. The staff structure of motorized rifle subunits has been changed. For example, in the 42 Motorized Rifle Division, a full-time sniper squad was established in each company. Now it is important to make everyone aware that snipers are highly qualified fighters. The presence of jewelry tools in the hands of man does not mean that he can make a masterpiece. It is necessary to teach the commanders of the motorized rifle units the proper use of snipers on the battlefield. There is still a lot of work in this direction, but the road will be mastered.