Airborne troops. Combat use of parachute troops

Parachute and airborne troops

As a result of the experience of the Second World War, views on the offensive value of large airborne operations began to be characterized by greater realism. Some optimism in this regard that existed before the war was a natural result of the novelty of the matter, enthusiasm and lack of experience. “The parachute is no longer a life-saving device, it has become an offensive weapon of the future,” wrote one of the Soviet military commentators in 1930, when the first units of parachute troops were formed in the USSR. For five years, only in the Soviet Union was experimental work carried out on the training and formation of paratroopers. In 1935, the first major maneuvers of airborne troops took place in Kyiv, where military representatives of foreign states were present, before whom an airborne assault of over 1,000 people with weapons was demonstrated. In the same year, one Soviet division with all its weapons and light tanks was airlifted from Moscow to Vladivostok, a distance of more than 6,400 km. Soon after this spectacular demonstration, the end of the Soviet monopoly came when Goering created the first paratrooper units in Germany from selected soldiers of the Hermann Goering regiment. Other countries were in no hurry to organize airborne troops. The USA, Japan and Italy lagged far behind in this regard. In England, too, this matter moved extremely slowly. Only in June 1940 did Winston Churchill move forward on the issue of airborne troops. "We must have an airborne force of at least 5,000 men...please send me a War Department memorandum on this subject." So he wrote to the Committee of Chiefs of Staff, and after about a month the issue was resolved.

By this time, the airborne troops had already had some successes, although they had to deal with a weak and small enemy. Even before the outbreak of World War II, airborne troops were used to capture bridgeheads, important bridges and road junctions. This was in 1939, when Germany occupied part of Czechoslovakia and when the USSR annexed Bessarabia that same year. These operations were only slightly more serious than maneuvers and did not test the combat qualities of the airborne troops. When World War II began, the airborne troops had their first important tactical success in the Norwegian Campaign. The Germans dropped parachute troops near the airfields of Stavanger and Oslo. The purpose of these landings was to capture airfields necessary for the landing of airborne troops and the operations of German Air Force units. This goal was achieved, and within about 24 hours, fuel, air bombs, airfield equipment, and anti-aircraft guns were airlifted to these airfields. German aviation began its operations from both airfields. However, many paratroopers landed outside the drop zones and were injured. During this operation there were great difficulties with the collection of troops on the ground and with the organization of communications; The Germans were simply lucky that the Norwegians in the area offered almost no resistance.

Airborne operations in Norway did not answer basic questions. What is the actual striking force of airborne troops? What quantity is best to use? How long are they able to resist strong and weak opponents? How decisive can their actions be in attack or offensive? A study of the major airborne operations conducted during World War II does not provide a clear answer to all of these questions; but it helps to clarify some of the advantages and disadvantages of airborne troops that may become apparent when they are used en masse.

When the Germans planned a major airborne landing on the Dutch Walhaven airfield near Rotterdam as a prelude to the attack on Belgium, France and Holland on May 10, 1940, they did not imagine that the Dutch would give up resistance within less than a week, and that the Belgians would follow. For the German Air Force at that time, it was important to capture forward air bases as quickly as possible to ensure the invasion of France, since their close air support aircraft - Messerschmitt 109 fighters and Junkers 87 dive bombers - had a range of only 175 km. This meant that air units had to quickly move forward, following the advance of their tank divisions. What did the above-mentioned paratroopers and airborne troops who landed near Rotterdam achieve in order to capture the Walhaven airfield, which was assigned an important role in the German plan? The 2,000 paratroopers who took part in the operation learned how vulnerable they were to attack by ground forces. At one point, the Dutch infantry managed to recapture this airfield from the Germans. The Germans suffered heavy casualties and, although the Allied forces were in retreat at the time, over 100 German prisoners were captured and taken to England for interrogation. Considering this airborne operation as a whole, it is difficult to justify its conduct. If the Allies had resisted to the fullest extent of their strength, the airborne troops would not have been able to keep the airfield in their hands. But Allied ground resistance was so weak that the Germans would have captured the airfield within two or three days anyway.

It is important to note that during the subsequent rapid German advances into France in 1940, Russia in 1941, or Africa in 1942, airborne troops were never used to capture airfields located a short distance ahead of the advancing troops. It was quite natural that when the parachute troops were still an experimental branch of the army, such an authoritative figure as General Student, commander of the German paratroopers, wanted to quickly introduce his troops into the German army.

It is difficult to imagine how airborne troops would cope in the future with such a task as the capture of Walhaven in May 1940.

Italian airborne troops also carried out an unsuccessful attack on an airfield in Libya in 1942, but this event was based on rather desire show their airborne troops than the desire to use them as an auxiliary force in the general military plan. The use of airborne troops to capture any island on which there is or may be established an important air base, of course, presents a completely different problem. It may become the main combat mission of airborne troops in the future.

Yet the first major operation of its kind, carried out during the Second World War, raised great doubts when its results were analyzed from a military point of view. The German airborne landing on Crete can be seen as a strategic mistake. The German military campaign in the Balkans in the spring of 1941 was lightning fast. If there are air bases on the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, in Italy and Greece on the island. Rhodes and, of course, North Africa Germany's air and naval forces could establish dominance in the Mediterranean without capturing Crete. They lacked the air power, not the air bases, to capture Malta and support Rommel's corps in Africa. Before landing an airborne assault on Crete, the Germans used large forces of glider landing troops for the first time on April 26, 1941 to capture the Isthmus of Corinth and the city of Corinth. Landing troops on gliders were also used for experimental purposes in the summer of 1940 to capture the Belgian fortress of Eben-Emael. But during the capture of Corinth, as well as later during the capture of Crete, there were many accidents among the landing troops transported by gliders. It is quite clear that after the summer of 1941 the Germans used gliders only for transporting goods.

The airborne landing on Crete did not give the Germans any great advantages strategically. When the Axis countries sent their convoys to support the Cretan operation, the latter were virtually destroyed by the British fleet. Therefore, an airborne landing was necessary to capture the island. But if the Germans had left Crete in the hands of the Allies, wouldn't the British navy and air force have had to carry out additional defense and supply tasks, which would have led to increased losses for England and the British Commonwealth of Nations in the Mediterranean theater of operations? The British Navy would have to fight a difficult battle with large air forces based in the Athens area, as was shown by the large losses of the fleet during the operation to capture the island. Crete.

Perhaps even more important The Cretan operation was intended to implement the “Barbarossa plan” - a German attack on the USSR. The landing operation on Crete tied down about 500 German transport aircraft for several months, which were essential for transporting troops during the attack on the USSR. Moreover, some transport aviation units suffered heavy losses during the capture of Crete, so that in June 1941 they were understaffed and insufficiently ready for action. This took place precisely at a time when the German Air Force needed maximum mobility. Moreover, the Germans were forced to use about one third of the fighter and bomber aircraft units intended for use against Russia during the capture of Crete. Instead of resting them and preparing them for an attack on Russia, they had to be transferred to air bases in Poland and East Prussia. This happened several weeks before the attack began. Many of the crews involved in the intensive operations to capture Crete were fatigued, and the squadrons had low combat readiness. The operation to capture Crete not only delayed the German attack on the USSR, but significantly reduced the striking power of the German Air Force, which was the vanguard of its armed forces.

If the strategic significance of the airborne operation to capture Crete was questionable, then from an operational point of view, despite the German victory, the operation turned out to be disastrous. Theoretically, the conditions for an airborne operation were almost ideal.

Aviation opposition was suppressed, air defense turned out to be weak, and the defenders had only a few light tanks. They had poor communications and few means of transportation. The Germans dropped two or three thousand paratroopers in the areas of three airfields - Maleme, Retimo and Heraklion. In two drop zones, paratroopers were destroyed after landing. Even at Maleme airfield they were nearly defeated by two battalions of New Zealand troops; but they managed to hold out in the area, and since nothing prevented the Germans from delivering reinforcements by air, the victory of the airborne troops was assured. But the victory was not easy for the Germans: they suffered heavy losses in manpower and aircraft. Germany never again carried out major airborne operations, although there were many moments when the Germans were well placed to carry them out. The Germans did not carry out an airborne landing operation on Malta, nor did they use airborne troops against the USSR. There is no doubt that in 1940 and 1941 the Germans realized how inappropriate it was to use large forces of airborne troops, since they were very vulnerable and suffered heavy losses, especially in transport aircraft. Not surprisingly, Hitler wanted to expand production of transport aircraft, even at the expense of reducing fighter production. Since the main goal of German strategy in the spring of 1941 was the defeat of Russia, it is difficult to judge what impact the airborne landing on Crete had on the German successes. The island of Crete was not a decisive stronghold for Axis operations in the Mediterranean, since the British naval forces in this area could be increased to their maximum size.

The strategic background of the Allied airborne landings at Arnhem in September 1944 was, of course, completely different. This time, airborne troops played an important role in the Anglo-American military plans, which included ending the war as soon as possible. In August 1944, the German army was retreating to Flanders and through France to the Siegfried Line at a pace that it had not advanced to the west in the summer of 1940.

The task of the Anglo-Americans was to ensure rapid advance to the Meuse and the Rhine, but due to difficulties in delivering fuel, food, ammunition and other supplies to the advancing troops from the Normandy landing beachheads, the number of advanced units was reduced, and they turned into small tank patrols. Under these conditions, the rapid crossing of the Rhine could have played an important role. General Montgomery's plan was to seize the crossings of the lower Rhine with the help of airborne troops and, with the help of his northern army group, to develop an offensive through the North German Plain to Berlin. To accomplish this task, it was necessary to place at his disposal most of the available vehicles and equipment, and this meant dooming the American troops west of the Rhine to inaction. However, Eisenhower refused to consider this plan. The Allied plan of action for this decisive stage of the war was adopted in Brussels on 10 September. The airborne troops were to capture bridgehead positions on the Meuse, Waal and Rhine rivers, and then, instead of advancing into Germany, Montgomery was to liberate Antwerp by capturing Fr. Walcheren and the destruction of German troops on the banks of the Scheldt.

But even this plan turned out to be too pretentious. The detailed plan developed by the First Allied Airborne Army at Airborne Forces Headquarters was also not very successful. General Brereton's officers hurriedly assembled at headquarters near Ascot Racecourse in southern England. During the first two or three weeks of its existence, the headquarters drew up a plan to drop parachute and landing units on the other side of the Seine and Somme rivers, but this plan was disrupted by the rapid advance of troops. General Eisenhower made a belated decision to support Montgomery's plan to cross the lower Rhine, Meuse and Waal using bridgeheads captured by airborne troops. There was little time to conduct intensive reconnaissance of the drop zones, nor was there enough time for the detailed planning that is a necessary condition for conducting a major airborne operation. The Germans planned the landing operation on Crete many months in advance. Allied airborne headquarters delayed making detailed plans until the final week before the operation began. In mid-September, three airborne divisions, two American and one British, supported by a Polish brigade, were to be dropped along a line running through Dutch territory from Eindhoven to Arnhem.

On September 17, about 750 transport aircraft and gliders took off, and from the very beginning the landing was a success. The gunners completed their mission almost 100 percent. Anti-aircraft artillery and enemy fighters shot down less than 2 percent of aircraft and gliders. In the Eindhoven area, close to the advancing British troops, an American airborne division dropped out, which a few hours later linked up with the ground forces. It is highly doubtful whether it was necessary to drop an entire airborne division into this area. Perhaps one battalion would be enough. It would be more expedient to use the rest of the division to carry out diversionary actions near the German borders in Nijmegen or Arnhem. The Second American Airborne Division occupied a strong bridgehead in Nijmegen, but an important bridge over the river. Baal remained in German hands for two decisive days, which delayed the connection of the landing force with the troops in Arnhem. The plan was not carried out for reasons that are common to all major airborne operations. The reconnaissance was poorly done. Both British and American intelligence underestimated the Germans' ability to reorganize their badly battered tank units in a timely manner. The Allied airborne forces suddenly found themselves facing the main forces of two tank divisions, which had more tanks than expected. Couldn't this mistake be repeated during major airborne operations? Thus, a small group of enemy tanks can easily destroy the forward echelon of an airborne assault force. It is true that modern transport aircraft can drop heavier tanks and guns than during the Second World War, but the difficulty of supplying ammunition and fuel, as well as organizing radio communications in the first twenty-four hours after a drop, will almost always allow defending tanks to maintain a local tactical advantage. In modern mobile warfare, it will be almost impossible to accurately determine in advance the number of enemy tanks in the areas of drop zones.

Bad weather hampered the delivery of supplies and also delayed the arrival of the Polish brigade in Arnhem for reinforcements. In other areas and at other times of the year, you might be able to pick three or four days of good weather. But good weather favors the actions of enemy artillery and aircraft, exposing them to targets in the landing zones. During the landing at Arnhem the weather was bad; In northwestern Europe in September it is rare to expect good flying weather for three days in a row. A more important issue is the organization of communication. During the decisive period of hostilities, the headquarters of the Allied airborne army, located in southern England, had no contact with the British airborne division dropped near Arnhem. Communication is almost always weak point during large airborne operations. How can signal units be expected to operate successfully during the initial landing period after the first casualties, when there is general confusion, with men and equipment scattered throughout the drop zones? The Germans encountered this difficulty during the airborne landings on Crete. The Russians, too, as a result of small battalion-sized landings in the Don basin and Crimea in 1943 and 1944, found this problem virtually insoluble.

General Guingan, one of the main participants in drawing up the plan to capture Arnhem, pointed out in his book Operation Victory that due to a lack of aircraft it was impossible to completely airlift the 1st Airborne Division in less than two days. Therefore, on the first day, the Germans were able to locate the Allies and attack them at a time when only half of the landing force had been dropped. It can be doubted that at any time in the future it will be possible to assemble a sufficient number of transport aircraft for a major airborne operation. In the age of the atomic and hydrogen bomb, even more transport aircraft and helicopters will be needed than before for anti-submarine warfare, civil defense, army support, and as a reserve vehicle for urgent military transcontinental transport. One sometimes reads about the huge number of airborne troops in the USSR and its allies, amounting to many hundreds of thousands of fighters, but the Communists, having vast areas, many of which have an underdeveloped railway network, would apparently never be able to provide 1000 or even 500 aircraft for a major airborne operation. Most likely they will limit themselves to landing small airborne assault forces of up to a battalion. The Russians will also dump partisans and saboteurs who successfully acted against the Germans on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. The partisans' actions against airfields in the occupied territory were so successful that the German command was forced to strengthen their security. This was at a time when the German army was already short of soldiers. In the event of war, the Communists would be able to carry out similar operations against airfields and possibly against major bomb depots.

In light of the already known vulnerability of the landing force at that time and the uncertainty in the outcome of large airborne operations, the Arnhem operation seems too pretentious. According to the plan, the advance detachment of paratroopers was supposed to hold Arnhem for about three days, until the British second army, advancing from Antwerp through Eindhoven, Grave, Nijmegen, came into contact with the paratroopers. Three airborne divisions were to capture and hold three important bridges. The troops held out in Arnhem for more than a week, although the failure of the operation was obvious by the end of the third day. Due to a communications breakdown, only 10 percent of the supplies dropped from the planes ended up in the hands of friendly troops. Such failures are possible in the future, but not with such a catastrophic outcome.

The reasons for the failure of the airborne operation in Arnhem will be mentioned again and again in military annals. They consist of poor intelligence, poor communications, a lack of transport facilities and the general vulnerability of the airborne forces. It would be unfair to the Red Devils, who were part of the British airborne forces, to treat the assessment of their exceptional heroism and courage with purely military dogmatism. For nine terrible days after September 17, 1944, they had to endure enemy fire, thirst, hunger and uncertainty. The troops were accompanied by doctors who shared with them all the hardships of front-line life: wounds, death and captivity. The Dutch population did everything possible to feed the paratroopers and provide shelter for the dying. The paratroopers were people capable of carrying out the most daring plan, but too much was demanded of them.

It should be noted that the next major Allied airborne operation in Europe was more modest in scale and carried out more carefully. In the spring of 1945, two airborne divisions were used to cross the Rhine at Wesel. It was on the morning of March 24, 1945. This time, using the British 6th and American 17th Airborne Divisions, Montgomery employed new but more conservative tactics. In Normandy and Arnhem, airborne troops were dropped, as usual, before the advance of troops. During this operation they did the opposite. The night before, the advancing troops crossed the Rhine on special ships, and tanks were transported with them in the first echelons. At 10 a.m. the next day, paratroopers were dropped in an area just outside the firing range of their artillery. Thus, the main forces were able to provide immediate support to the airborne troops before the Germans could bring up their forces. For twenty-four hours, the strip separating the airborne troops from the main forces was impregnable, and all the main objects in the drop zone were captured and held. The operation at Wesel, although significant in scale, turned out to be very modest in tactical terms. The enemy was able to offer only minor resistance in the air, and the airborne troops could quickly link up with the main forces.

A similar general tactical situation developed in almost all airborne operations in the Pacific theater of military operations. In the war between America and Japan there were no airborne operations similar to those in Crete or the Arnhem area. Geographical position The Pacific theater of military operations and the conditions of logistics there were, of course, completely different, not comparable to the European theater. For example, during the New Guinea campaign in 1943, American airborne forces were successful, but they were used on a limited scale and in the face of very little opposition from Japanese aircraft and ground forces. In September 1943, an American airborne regiment, along with a small detachment of Australian paratroopers, was dropped at Nazdab. They were closely supported by a battalion of Australian ground forces, which had already crossed the Markham River and was within gunshot of the ejected parachute detachment. The latter, with a strength of about 1,700 people, was essentially a reconnaissance landing, since it did not capture any important objects or bridgeheads and was mainly engaged in reconnaissance. On another occasion during the same campaign, some 1,400 American paratroopers participated in part of the plan to capture Salamoa and Lae. The airborne assault had to be dropped on the airfield. This was successful, although many paratroopers were injured; The enemy resistance here was so weak that one battalion of airborne troops, which was planned to be dropped by parachute, landed at the airfield after the plane landed. In both of these 1943 operations in New Guinea, airborne troops were used as local reinforcements rather than as the vanguard of an attack. In the future, such actions may be one of the most important tasks of airborne troops.

There is no doubt that the airborne troops played a decisive role in the victory of the Soviet troops at Stalingrad. In the summer of 1942, the General Staff of the Soviet Army completely incorrectly determined the direction of the main German attack. The Russians believed that the main attack would be directed against Moscow, but instead an attack was launched on Voronezh and Stalingrad. At that time, Soviet airborne divisions were concentrated east of Moscow. At the beginning of 1942, they took part in the battles near Leningrad and Smolensk, as well as in the Donetsk basin. In August 1942, Stalin was forced to radically revise his plan and make organizational changes as the Germans threatened Stalingrad, the city that bore his name. He reorganized the airborne troops into infantry, artillery and armored guard divisions and rushed them south to stop the advancing German army. Large forces of long-range bomber aircraft and as many transport air units as possible participated in the transfer of former airborne troops who still wore their former insignia. They were mercilessly thrown into the battle of Stalingrad, and it brought success; they played a decisive role in glorious victory, which went down in world history.

Of course, long before Battle of Stalingrad The German high command used the airborne troops of General Student (7th Air Corps) to eliminate the crisis on the Soviet-German front. During the Battle of Stalingrad, General Ramcke's parachute units were busy fighting in North Africa, covering Rommel's withdrawal from El Alamein at the end of 1942. Later, General Ramke's airborne units continued to successfully participate in ground forces in Sicily, Italy and France in 1943 and 1944. It is necessary to note the tenacity of these units during the defense of the Brest fortress in 1944.

After the Battle of Stalingrad, a large number of former Soviet airborne troops acted as infantry as part of the ground forces, participating in battles in the north at Demyansk and Staraya Russa, in the center at Kursk and Orel, and in the south at major battles The Soviet Army, during which Donbass and most of Ukraine were returned. By the end of 1943, the situation on the Soviet-German front for the use of airborne troops to support the advance of the Soviet Army was ideal. It was clear to the Soviet high command that the enemy could no longer launch a serious and major counteroffensive. Ahead were rivers and German lines of communication, beckoning Soviet paratroopers. Along the banks of the Volkhov, Lovat and Dnieper, and later the Oder, Prut, Bug, Dniester, Berezina, Vistula and other rivers, German troops held very fragile positions. They were withdrawing more and more fighters and anti-aircraft artillery units from their Eastern Front for the defense of Germany, which could counter the low-speed transport-landing aircraft and gliders. But almost all of the former airborne troops of the Soviet Army continued to operate as part of the ground forces. In fact, if one were able to look into the complete statistics of the Second World War (which, of course, never will be), one would find that at least 3/4 of all battles were carried out by German airborne units , Russia, Japan, Italy, England and America, were routine ground battles and that in most cases airborne troops were not transported to combat areas by air.

However, the Soviet command in the combined landing operation in Crimea in April 1944 used parachute troops in moderate numbers. The use of airborne troops as a forward echelon, with the goal of capturing or maintaining a bridgehead on the enemy’s coast, will remain in the future the main type of combat operations of airborne troops. Sometimes meteorological conditions make airborne operations very difficult; Thus, gliders and airplanes when flying through water can encounter great difficulties due to strong winds. A similar incident occurred in February 1945, during the American airborne landing on the island. Corregidor. About 2,000 American paratroopers were dropped into a small coastal zone to support the amphibious landing at San Jose in the Philippines. This operation was extremely risky, as strong winds blew and there were dangerous rocks in the drop zone. However, the losses were only 10 percent, that is, half of the expected losses. Airborne troops bypassed Japanese fortifications at the most crucial moment of the campaign. General MacArthur, pleased with the success of the airborne troops, said: “The operation to capture Corregidor Island is clear proof that the days of permanent fortresses are over.” This bold statement may have been made partly under the influence of the initial successes of American airborne forces in the same campaign in the Philippines, which was of great personal importance to General MacArthur. During the American offensive in the southern part of the island. Luzon, a month before the landing on the coast of Corregidor, troops of the US 11th Airborne Division captured an important crossroads. However, this landing was small - up to a regiment in strength. The commander, aware of the difficulties of the operation, did not want his regiment to be thrown more than a day's march from the main forces. His predictions of difficulties came true. The alarm system that ensured the drop was broken, and more than half of the paratroopers landed outside the intended zone. But important objects were nevertheless captured, and this operation contributed to the rapid advance of troops to the capital of the Philippines, Manila.

The airborne landings in Sicily in July 1943 to support the Anglo-American invasion demonstrated that strong high-altitude winds and other unforeseen bad weather conditions could disrupt a major airborne operation involving paratroopers and gliders. The inexperience of tow plane pilots and glider pilots also had an impact bad influence to perform this operation. A strong southeast wind, sometimes turning into a storm, knocked most of the planes and gliders off course. Several gliders unhooked from the towing aircraft ahead of time, and more than 50 gliders sank into the sea five to six kilometers from the coast. Some gliders and paratroopers landed 60 km from the intended drop zone. American and British paratroopers were scattered in small groups between Licata and Noto and were forced to fight almost independently. But despite this, important local success was achieved. A group of paratroopers, delivered on gliders, captured one of the important objects - the Ponte Grande bridge, which was the key to the advance of troops to the port of Syracuse.

Airborne troops on the island. Sicily encountered the usual difficulties characteristic of this type of operation: difficulties in landing, collecting after landing and finding dropped equipment. They suffered not only from the wind and other weather conditions, but also from the fire of their anti-aircraft artillery. Anti-aircraft fire caused casualties in personnel and disabled many aircraft and gliders, which lost their course in the darkness. Shortly before the Allied landings, the Germans also dropped paratroopers in some areas to strengthen their garrisons. This further complicated the situation. In the darkness, unexpected curious collisions occurred between paratroopers of both sides.

The failures of the airborne troops over the dusty olive orchards of Sicily in July 1943, and over the fields of Algeria and Tunisia in November 1942, were not to be repeated on the day of the Normandy invasion in the summer of 1944, when the airborne troops led Operation Overlord. . The lessons of previous failures were taken into account. The troops were transported by plane exactly to the designated areas, losses were insignificant, and all the main tasks assigned to the airborne troops were completed. The glider landing force was especially successful, with the task of capturing bridges across the river. Orne and the Caen Canal. The bridges were captured quickly and without damage and were held for several hours until the landing and arrival of the amphibious forces.

Both British and American airborne forces had great success in helping the troops establish a beachhead in Normandy in the early days of the invasion. They fought against snipers, artillery, tanks and repelled local counterattacks. American airborne troops suffered heavy losses while closing the gap between the two sections of the American beachhead, although losses during the drop itself were very minor. The results achieved on the day of the invasion fully confirmed the feasibility of the massive use of airborne troops in the general plan of the amphibious landing operation. These actions would serve as a model for future airborne assaults. But despite the great success of these operations, after reading the official data on the fighting, it is difficult to escape the feeling that even in this case the chances of success or failure were about the same. Some confusion after an airborne landing seems inevitable, and the strength of enemy resistance in the landing areas cannot be determined in advance.

One of the most original plans for the use of airborne troops was the plan of General Wingate during the military operations in Burma in the spring of 1944. The so-called “long-range penetration groups” had previously operated behind the front line with the aim of disrupting Japanese communications in Burma. But in the spring of 1944, a special air group was formed, which was supposed to carry out the tasks of dropping, supplying and evacuating General Wingate’s paratroopers. This group had over 200 gliders, several helicopters, fighters, medium bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and about 25 transport aircraft. Despite the fact that in the end about 10 thousand selected fighters were airlifted to areas west and north of Mandalay with the task of harassing the Japanese division fighting Chinese and American troops, there was a lot of turmoil and confusion during the operation itself. confusion. Troops, pack mules, artillery pieces, bulldozers, vehicles and other equipment were successfully delivered to the airstrips, imaginatively named "Broadway", "Blackpool" and "Aberdeen". During the landing at one of the sites, a serious incident could have occurred if, at the last minute, aerial photography had not been able to determine that the site was blocked by trees. The point was that, in order to ensure the secrecy of the preparation of the operation, General Wingate prohibited aerial reconnaissance over the landing areas and was ready to begin the operation without knowing the condition of the airfields planned for landing. Airborne operations without intensive preliminary reconnaissance are fraught with serious consequences.

As the gliders rose to fly to the Broadway landing pad, tow ropes several gliders broke off and they made an emergency landing, some of them on enemy territory. The gliders that landed in the landing area first damaged their landing gear, as there were ditches and holes filled with water on the landing site. Damaged gliders could not be removed, and gliders that landed later crashed when they collided with them. Almost all the gliders that managed to fly to the Broadway site were crashed or damaged. However, more than 500 soldiers and 300 tons of important cargo were delivered here unharmed; Within 24 hours, one airstrip was cleared up, and for the next five days it was used by transport planes bringing in troops, animals, and supplies. The remaining sites were ready at the end of March. In one month, transport aircraft and gliders carried out over a thousand sorties, which ensured the transfer of about 10 thousand soldiers to carry out harassing operations against the Japanese division from deep in the rear. But this task force did not completely fulfill its assigned task, namely, it did not completely isolate the 18th Japanese Division. The disruption of the Japanese supply through actions on their communications was compensated by the British warehouses captured by the Japanese during an attack near Imphal, just at the time of the airborne landing of Wingate's group. General Wingate's special forces were evacuated by air in August; Some of the group's personnel participated in the fighting for almost six months. This operation in Burma demonstrated new way the use of airborne troops, suitable for many areas of Asia and Africa, where communications are stretched and defending troops and aircraft are highly dispersed. In such conditions, airborne troops can carry out harassing operations behind enemy lines on a large scale, as well as interact with partisans. In the future, they will even be able to destroy and capture enemy units. Airborne operations in Burma, planned and carried out in accordance with local conditions and in unusual ways, defined a new direction in the use of airborne troops in the future.

The German use of paratroopers during the Ardennes counteroffensive in December 1944 was perhaps the most remarkable use of airborne troops during the Second World War. In addition to performing the usual tasks of capturing bridges and road junctions, units of German paratroopers were tasked with disorganizing the rear of American troops. The tank brigade, prepared for special tasks, was subordinate to Skorzeny, who led the group of German paratroopers that rescued Mussolini in September 1943. Operating in the Ardennes, these saboteurs and terrorists were dressed in uniforms captured from the Americans; they spoke English with a good American accent, and were well acquainted with the organization, regulations and insignia of the American army. However, few of these paratroopers saw action. Of the 106 German aircraft that were allocated to transport these paratroopers, only 35 reached the intended drop area. Strong winds contributed significantly to the disruption of the aircraft, which was already unstable due to poor navigation. Many parachutists were injured during landing, as the terrain in the Ardennes is covered with pine forests. This group of saboteurs traveled in American Jeeps and carried out sabotage missions aimed at disrupting traffic, spreading false rumors about the advance of the Germans and causing disorganization in the rear of the Allied troops. The Americans reacted quickly. They began asking each other questions about things known only to their fellow countrymen - about the composition of baseball and football teams, about the geographical features of certain areas of the United States. The Germans in American uniform could not withstand such a test and were soon captured or killed. Despite the fact that sabotage actions were in conflict with the international laws of war, they introduced new element into the issue of using paratroopers, who aimed not at capturing certain objects, but at creating panic among enemy troops and undermining their morale. It was kind of guerrilla warfare in the rear, with the goal of breaking enemy resistance in the area. It is very likely that such tactics will be used more frequently in the future. If the Anglo-American ground forces in eastern France had been supported by such actions in the summer of 1944, victory in the West might have been achieved more quickly.

The experience of using airborne troops during the Second World War makes it possible to predetermine the trends in the development of their operations in the future. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the continuously emerging new types of weapons: supersonic fighters, guided missiles, atomic bombs and atomic artillery shells. Will airborne forces be more vulnerable due to the development of these new weapons and other equipment? In general, yes. During the Second World War, the difference in flight speed between transport aircraft and towed gliders, on the one hand, and fighter aircraft, on the other, was about 320–400 km/h. Currently, this difference has become even greater and is likely to remain so in the future. The task of escorting transport aircraft flying at low speeds with high-speed fighters is the most difficult and does not look like it will become easier in the future. Guided projectiles would be more effective against transport aircraft than radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery fire, and a general increase in the caliber of guns on aircraft would make gliders more vulnerable to fighter fire. An atomic projectile or radio-controlled aircraft with an atomic charge can be detonated in the landing zone, and therefore it will be impossible to carry out landing operations from gliders. Improvements in radio jamming equipment mean that navigational aids and radio communications will be more susceptible to interference than before.

In what conditions can airborne troops be most successfully used? First and foremost in campaigns like those that took place in Indochina or Malaya, where the latest atomic weapons, guided missiles, supersonic fighters and radio interference were not used. But even in such conditions, airborne troops will prove to be very vulnerable if there is strong opposition at the landing sites. It is likely that airborne troops will be used in emergencies. Such an incident took place during the last year of the war in Indochina. In the spring of 1954, the Dien Bien Phu fortress occupied by French troops was subjected to continuous attacks by the Vietnamese and was isolated from the main forces French troops. Due to the lack of opposition in the air, transport aircraft were free to fly over the fortress and drop reinforcements by parachute. But due to poor meteorological conditions, the presence of minefields and wire fences in the drop zones located in narrow valleys, as well as heavy artillery and machine gun fire, it was impossible to drop reinforcements in the required quantities. There will always be a temptation to send airborne troops to the aid of a besieged garrison; but if such a garrison has no hope of connecting with the main forces of the troops, then the landing troops will be senselessly sacrificed. It should be added that transport planes evacuated the wounded from Dien Bien Phu and dropped necessary supplies for the besieged garrison, which allowed the troops to continue the fight and save their lives.

From the book Naval Landing Operations of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Marine Corps in the pre-war period and during the Great Patriotic War Patriotic War. 1918–1945 author Zhumatiy Vladimir Ivanovich

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Skydiving is popular in the modern world. Some people engage in this sport professionally, for others, skydiving is a way to tickle their nerves and get a dose of adrenaline. Has anyone ever wondered how many lines a parachute has?

What is a parachute?

The parachute is an ingenious and simple invention by an engineer from St. Petersburg, Gleb Evgenievich Kotelnikov. He was the first to create a backpack device and received a patent for his invention in nineteen hundred and twelve.

A parachute is a hemisphere made of fabric, to which a load or suspension system is attached using straps. It is designed to slow down and soften a fall from a height. Used for the safe landing of a person or cargo, it has several varieties.

How many lines do parachutes have?

This is certainly a very interesting question. There are several types of parachutes, all of them with different numbers of lines. There is a main parachute and a reserve, landing, army and cargo. There are main and additional slings, they are all made from high-quality durable fiber and can withstand a load (each) of up to two hundred kilograms. To answer the question of how many lines a parachute has, you need to consider each instance separately.

Army parachute

The armed forces have been using parachutes of the same series for many years. From the sixties to the present day these are D-5 and D-6 parachutes. They differ in size, weight and number of lines.

How many lines does the D-5 army parachute have? There are twenty-eight of them, nine meters each. The parachute itself is dome-shaped and cannot be controlled. Land with it however and wherever you are lucky. This is the only but serious minus of this series.

Next, the D-6 parachute was released. It has thirty lines. Twenty-eight are normal, and two are designed to control the dome. They are located in the side slits of the parachute. If you pull these lines, you can rotate and deploy the canopy in in the right direction. This is a very useful quality if the landing does not take place at a training ground, but in mountainous conditions, forests or in a place where there are bodies of water.

Paratrooper's parachute

In order for paratroopers to feel calm during a jump, they are provided with D-10 series parachutes. This is an improved version of the D-6. It has the shape of a squash, the dome size is one hundred square meters! Even a novice skydiver can easily control this parachute. The ease of control depends on how many lines are in the landing parachute: the more there are, the easier it is to control.

The D-10 has twenty-six main lines: twenty-two four-meter lines and two seven-meter lines attached to loops in the canopy slits. There are also twenty-two additional lines located with outside, their length is three meters, made of durable ShKP-150 cord.

There are also twenty-four additional internal lines. They are attached to additional slings. Two additional ones are attached to the second and fourteenth at once. This is the answer to the question of how many lines are in an airborne parachute. The D-10 is considered one of the safest parachutes in history.

Why do you need a reserve parachute?

The parachutist must have a reserve parachute when jumping. It is designed for emergency deployment when the main one does not open or if it is twisted. In such a situation, it no longer matters whether the canopy is controlled or not, or how many lines the parachutes have - none of the additional ones will help. Of course, an experienced skydiver will try to straighten the main one first, which will waste additional time. If it was not possible to straighten, then a reserve parachute will save the situation. It opens quickly and easily.

To learn how to use a spare tire, you don’t need to go through a lot of training; even a child can handle this task.

How many lines does a reserve parachute have? Typically, such parachutes are the same for all major types. These are series 3 and 4. The spare lines are arranged in four groups. Each has six lines. The total is twenty-four. Of course, a reserve parachute is not designed for control; its main task is to quickly open and save a person’s life.

What do you need to know when making a parachute jump for the first time?

If you are not a member and a parachute jump is just a dream, and not a military duty, then you should start by taking training courses. Even if you decide to jump with an instructor in tandem, training is necessary in order not to harm either yourself or the instructor. He’s already scared to jump with a person, and even be responsible for someone’s life. Such courses cost from three thousand rubles - it depends on the company providing these services.

Before going to the club, make sure to obtain a medical certificate: a heart attack during a jump is a serious and dangerous thing. And it can happen, because when you jump into the abyss, so much adrenaline splashes out that it will last for a year. And the fear of jumping can also lead to sad consequences if your heart is naughty. The pressure should also be the same as when joining the space forces. If you are overweight, then you should also consult a doctor whether you should jump or not.

If you are under eighteen years of age, written permission from your parents to jump will be useful. Don’t forget to warn them what you are going to do; the instructor will not allow you within a kilometer of the parachute without their written consent. People with mental disorders, after recent operations, with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, or with respiratory diseases are not allowed to jump.

If your weight is more than one hundred and twenty kilograms, then you will be denied a tandem jump. Weight less than forty-five kilograms is a contraindication for a single jump. Pregnant women are also not allowed. First, calmly carry the child out, do not hide your position from the instructor in order to make the jump.

Skydiving is a dream for many. Do not drink alcohol before it under any circumstances. It is clear that the joy is off the charts, but it is better to celebrate this event after the fact, especially since you will not be allowed to jump with the smell of alcohol. And if you decide to drink so as not to be scared, then it is better to abstain from this idea altogether. And good luck to everyone who passed the medical examination!

Units similar to the Russian airborne troops exist in many countries around the world. But they are called differently: air infantry, winged infantry, airmobile troops, highly mobile airborne troops and even commandos.

At the beginning of 1936, the British leadership was shown a documentary film about the world's first airborne assault created in the USSR. Following the viewing, General Alfred Knox casually remarked on the sidelines of parliament: “I have always been convinced that the Russians are a nation of dreamers.” In vain, already during the Great Patriotic War, Russian paratroopers proved that they were capable of the impossible.

Moscow is in danger. Parachutes - not needed

From the first days of its existence, Soviet airborne troops were used to carry out the most complex military operations. However, the feat they accomplished in the winter of 1941 can hardly be called anything other than science fiction.

During the most dramatic days of the Great Patriotic War, the pilot Soviet army, making a reconnaissance flight, unexpectedly and with horror discovered a column of fascist armored vehicles moving towards Moscow, on the way of which there were no Soviet troops. Moscow was naked. There was no time left to think. The High Command ordered to stop the fascists rapidly advancing towards the capital with airborne troops. In this case, it was assumed that they would have to jump from planes flying at low level, without parachutes, into the snow and immediately engage in battle. When the command announced the conditions of the operation to the airborne company of Siberians, emphasizing that participation in it was not an order, but a request, no one refused.

It is not difficult to imagine the feelings of the Wehrmacht soldiers when the wedges of Soviet aircraft appeared in front of them, flying at an extremely low altitude. When tall heroes without parachutes fell from the air vehicles into the snow, the Germans were completely seized by panic. The first planes were followed by the next. There was no end in sight for them. This episode is most vividly described in the book by Yu.V. Sergeev "Prince's Island". The battle was fierce. Both sides suffered heavy losses. But as soon as the Germans, significantly superior in numbers and weapons, began to gain the upper hand, new Soviet landing planes appeared from behind the forest and the battle flared up again. Victory remained with the Soviet paratroopers. German mechanized columns were destroyed. Moscow was saved. Moreover, as it was later calculated, about 12% of the landing party died when jumping without a parachute into the snow. It is noteworthy that this was not the only case of such a landing during the defense of Moscow. A story about a similar operation can be found in the autobiographical book “From the Sky into Battle,” written by the Soviet intelligence officer Ivan Starchak, one of the record holders for parachute jumping.

Paratroopers were the first to take the North Pole

For a long time, a feat of Soviet paratroopers worthy of the Guinness Book of Records was hidden under the heading “Top Secret”. As you know, after the end of World War II, the heavy shadow of the Cold War hung over the world. Moreover, the countries participating in it did not have equal conditions in the event of the outbreak of hostilities. The United States had bases in European countries where its bombers were located. And the USSR could launch a nuclear strike on the United States only through the territory of the Arctic Ocean. But in the late 1940s and early 1950s, this was a long journey for heavy bombers, and the country needed jump-off airfields in the Arctic, which needed to be protected. For this purpose, the military command decided to organize the world's first landing of Soviet military personnel in full combat gear to the North Pole. Vitaly Volovich and Andrei Medvedev were entrusted with such an important mission.

They were supposed to land on the pole on the iconic day of May 9, 1949. The parachute jump was successful. The Soviet paratroopers landed exactly at the predetermined point. They planted the USSR flag and took pictures, although this was a violation of the instructions. When the mission was successfully completed, the paratroopers were picked up by a Li-2 aircraft that landed nearby on an ice floe. For setting a record, the paratroopers received the Order of the Red Banner. The most amazing thing is that the Americans were able to repeat their jump only 32 years later in 1981. Of course, it was they who got into the Guinness Book of Records: Jack Wheeler and Rocky Parsons, although the first parachute jump to the North Pole was made by Soviet paratroopers.

“9th Company”: in the cinema from life

One of the most famous domestic films about the Russian airborne troops is Fyodor Bondarchuk’s film “9th Company”. As you know, the plot of the blockbuster, striking in its drama, is based on real events that took place during the notorious war in Afghanistan. The film is based on the story of the battle for the dominant height 3234 in the Afghan city of Khost, which was supposed to be held by the 9th company of the 345th Guards Separate Parachute Regiment. The battle took place on January 7, 1988. Several hundred Mujahideen opposed 39 Soviet paratroopers. Their task was to capture the dominant heights in order to then gain control of the Gardez-Khost road. Using terraces and hidden approaches, the Mujahideen were able to approach the positions of the Soviet paratroopers at a distance of 200 meters. The battle lasted for 12 hours, but unlike the film, it did not have such a dramatic ending. The Mujahideen fired mercilessly at the paratroopers' positions using mortars, machine guns and grenade launchers. During the night, the attackers stormed the heights nine times and were thrown back the same number of times. True, the last attack almost brought them to their goal. Fortunately, at that moment a reconnaissance platoon of the 3rd Parachute Regiment arrived to help the paratroopers. This decided the outcome of the battle. The Mujahideen, having suffered significant losses and not having achieved what they wanted, retreated. The most surprising thing is that our losses were not as great as was shown in the film. Six people were killed and 28 were injured of varying severity.

Russian response to NATO

It is noteworthy that it was the airborne troops that brought Russia’s first military-political victory after the collapse of the Soviet Union. During the tragic 1990s for the country, when the United States stopped taking Russian interests into account, the last straw that broke the cup of patience was the bombing of Serbia. NATO did not take into account the protests of Russia, which demanded an exclusively peaceful resolution of the conflict.

As a result, over the course of several months, more than 2,000 civilians alone died in Serbia. Moreover, during the preparations for Operation Allied Force in 1999, Russia was not only not mentioned as a possible participant in resolving the conflict, its opinion was not taken into account at all. In this situation, the military leadership decided to conduct its own proactive operation and occupy the only large airport in Kosovo, forcing them to reckon with themselves. The Russian peacekeeping battalion was ordered to move out of Bosnia and Herzegovina and make a forced march of 600 km. The paratroopers of the combined airborne battalion were to be the first, before the British, to occupy the Pristina Slatina airport, the main strategic facility of the country. The fact is that it was the only airport in the region capable of receiving any type of aircraft, including military transport ones. It was here that it was planned to transfer the main NATO forces for ground combat.

The order was carried out on the night of June 11-12, 1999, on the eve of the start of the NATO ground operation. The Russians were greeted with flowers. As soon as NATO realized what had happened, a column of British tanks hastily advanced to the Slatina airfield. The forces, as usual, were unequal. Russia wanted to additionally transfer an airborne division to the airport, but Hungary and Bulgaria refused the air corridor. Meanwhile, British General Michael Jackson gave the order to the tank crews to liberate the airport from the Russians. In response, Russian military personnel took aim at NATO military equipment, showing the seriousness of their intentions. They did not allow British helicopters to land at the airport. NATO sharply demanded that Jackson kick the Russians out of Slatina. But the general said that he was not going to start the Third world war and retreated. As a result, during the daring and successful operation of the paratroopers, Russia gained zones of influence, including control over the Slatina airport.

Nowadays, Russian airborne troops, as before, continue to defend the military-political interests of Russia. The main tasks of the Airborne Forces during combat operations include covering the enemy from the air and carrying out combat operations in his rear. The priority is to disorient enemy troops by disrupting their control, as well as destroying ground elements of precision weapons. In addition, airborne troops are used as rapid reaction forces.

The Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation are a separate branch of the Russian armed forces, located in the reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the country and directly subordinate to the Commander of the Airborne Forces. This position is currently held (since October 2016) by Colonel General Serdyukov.

The purpose of the airborne troops is to operate behind enemy lines, carry out deep raids, capture important enemy targets, bridgeheads, disrupt enemy communications and control, and carry out sabotage behind enemy lines. The Airborne Forces were created primarily as an effective instrument of offensive warfare. To cover the enemy and operate in his rear, the Airborne Forces can use airborne landings - both parachute and landing.

The airborne troops are rightfully considered the elite of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. In order to get into this branch of the military, candidates must meet very high criteria. First of all, this concerns physical health and psychological stability. And this is natural: paratroopers carry out their tasks behind enemy lines, without the support of their main forces, the supply of ammunition and the evacuation of the wounded.

The Soviet Airborne Forces were created in the 30s, the further development of this type of troops was rapid: by the beginning of the war, five airborne corps were deployed in the USSR, with a strength of 10 thousand people each. The USSR Airborne Forces played an important role in the victory over the Nazi invaders. Paratroopers actively participated in the Afghan War. The Russian Airborne Forces were officially created on May 12, 1992, they went through both Chechen campaigns, and participated in the war with Georgia in 2008.

The flag of the Airborne Forces is a blue cloth with a green stripe at the bottom. In its center there is an image of a golden open parachute and two aircraft of the same color. The flag was officially approved in 2004.

In addition to the flag, there is also an emblem of this branch of the military. This is a golden-colored flaming grenade with two wings. There is also a medium and large Airborne Forces emblem. The middle emblem depicts double headed eagle with a crown on his head and a shield with St. George the Victorious in the center. In one paw the eagle holds a sword, and in the other - a flaming airborne grenade. In the large emblem, Grenada is placed on a blue heraldic shield framed by an oak wreath. At its top there is a double-headed eagle.

In addition to the emblem and flag of the Airborne Forces, there is also the motto of the Airborne Forces: “Nobody but us.” The paratroopers even have their own heavenly patron - Saint Elijah.

Professional holiday of paratroopers - Airborne Forces Day. It is celebrated on August 2. On this day in 1930, a unit was parachuted for the first time to carry out a combat mission. On August 2, Airborne Forces Day is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The Russian airborne troops are armed with both common species military equipment, as well as samples developed specifically for this type of troops, taking into account the specifics of its tasks.

It is difficult to name the exact number of the Russian Airborne Forces; this information is secret. However, according to unofficial data received from the Russian Ministry of Defense, it is about 45 thousand fighters. Foreign estimates of the number of this type of troops are somewhat more modest - 36 thousand people.

History of the creation of the Airborne Forces

The homeland of the Airborne Forces is the Soviet Union. It was in the USSR that the first airborne unit was created, this happened in 1930. First, a small detachment appeared, which was part of a regular rifle division. On August 2, the first parachute landing was successfully carried out during exercises at the training ground near Voronezh.

However, the first use of parachute landing in military affairs occurred even earlier, in 1929. During the siege of the Tajik city of Garm by anti-Soviet rebels, a detachment of Red Army soldiers was dropped there by parachute, which made it possible to release the settlement in the shortest possible time.

Two years later, a special purpose brigade was formed on the basis of the detachment, and in 1938 it was renamed the 201st Airborne Brigade. In 1932, by decision of the Revolutionary Military Council, special-purpose aviation battalions were created; in 1933, their number reached 29. They were part of the Air Force, and their main task was to disorganize the enemy rear and carry out sabotage.

It should be noted that the development of airborne troops in the Soviet Union was very stormy and rapid. No expense was spared on them. In the 1930s, the country was experiencing a real parachute boom; parachute jumping towers stood at almost every stadium.

During the exercises of the Kyiv Military District in 1935, a mass parachute landing was practiced for the first time. The following year, an even more massive landing was carried out in the Belarusian Military District. Foreign military observers invited to the exercises were amazed by the scale of the landings and the skill of the Soviet paratroopers.

Before the start of the war, airborne corps were created in the USSR, each of them included up to 10 thousand soldiers. In April 1941, by order of the Soviet military leadership, five airborne corps were deployed in the western regions of the country; after the German attack (in August 1941), the formation of another five airborne corps began. A few days before the German invasion (June 12), the Directorate of Airborne Forces was created, and in September 1941, paratrooper units were removed from the subordination of front commanders. Each airborne corps was a very formidable force: in addition to well-trained personnel, it was armed with artillery and light amphibious tanks.

In addition to the airborne corps, the Red Army also included mobile airborne brigades (five units), reserve airborne regiments (five units) and educational institutions that trained paratroopers.

The Airborne Forces made a significant contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders. The airborne units played a particularly important role in the initial—the most difficult—period of the war. Despite the fact that airborne troops are designed to conduct offensive operations and have a minimum of heavy weapons (compared to other branches of the military), at the beginning of the war, paratroopers were often used to “patch holes”: in defense, to eliminate sudden German breakthroughs, to releasing the encircled Soviet troops. Because of this practice, paratroopers suffered unreasonably high losses, and the effectiveness of their use decreased. Often, the preparation of landing operations left much to be desired.

Airborne units took part in the defense of Moscow, as well as in the subsequent counter-offensive. The 4th Airborne Corps was landed during the Vyazemsk landing operation in the winter of 1942. In 1943, during the crossing of the Dnieper, two airborne brigades were thrown behind enemy lines. Another major landing operation was carried out in Manchuria in August 1945. During its course, 4 thousand soldiers were landed by landing.

In October 1944, the Soviet Airborne Forces were transformed into a separate Airborne Guards Army, and in December of the same year into the 9th Guards Army. Airborne divisions turned into ordinary rifle divisions. At the end of the war, paratroopers took part in the liberation of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. The 9th Guards Army ended its glorious military journey on the Elbe.

In 1946, airborne units were introduced into the Ground Forces and were subordinate to the country's Minister of Defense.

In 1956, Soviet paratroopers took part in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising, and in the mid-60s they played a key role in pacifying another country that wanted to leave the socialist camp - Czechoslovakia.

After the end of the war, the world entered an era of confrontation between two superpowers - the USSR and the USA. The plans of the Soviet leadership were by no means limited only to defense, so the airborne troops developed especially actively during this period. The emphasis was placed on increasing the firepower of the Airborne Forces. For this purpose, a whole range of airborne equipment was developed, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, and motor vehicles. The fleet of military transport aircraft was significantly increased. In the 70s, wide-body heavy-duty transport aircraft were created, making it possible to transport not only personnel, but also heavy military equipment. By the end of the 80s, the state of the USSR military transport aviation was such that it could ensure the parachute drop of almost 75% of the Airborne Forces personnel in one flight.

At the end of the 60s, a new type of units included in the Airborne Forces was created - airborne assault units (ASH). They were not much different from the rest of the Airborne Forces, but were subordinate to the command of groups of troops, armies or corps. The reason for the creation of the DShCh was a change in the tactical plans that Soviet strategists were preparing in the event of a full-scale war. After the start of the conflict, they planned to “break” the enemy’s defenses with the help of massive landings landed in the immediate rear of the enemy.

In the mid-80s, the USSR Ground Forces included 14 air assault brigades, 20 battalions and 22 separate air assault regiments.

In 1979, the war began in Afghanistan, and the Soviet Airborne Forces took an active part in it. During this conflict, the paratroopers had to engage in counter-guerrilla warfare; of course, there was no talk of any parachute landing. Personnel were delivered to the site of combat operations using armored vehicles or vehicles; landing from helicopters was used less frequently.

Paratroopers were often used to provide security at numerous outposts and checkpoints scattered throughout the country. Typically, airborne units performed tasks more suitable for motorized rifle units.

It should be noted that in Afghanistan, the paratroopers used military equipment of the ground forces, which was more suitable for the harsh conditions of this country than their own. Also, airborne units in Afghanistan were reinforced with additional artillery and tank units.

After the collapse of the USSR, the division of its armed forces began. These processes also affected the paratroopers. They were able to finally divide the Airborne Forces only in 1992, after which the Russian Airborne Forces were created. They included all the units that were located on the territory of the RSFSR, as well as part of the divisions and brigades that were previously located in other republics of the USSR.

In 1993, the Russian Airborne Forces included six divisions, six air assault brigades and two regiments. In 1994, in Kubinka near Moscow, on the basis of two battalions, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment (the so-called Airborne Special Forces) was created.

The 90s became a serious test for the Russian airborne troops (as well as for the entire army). The number of airborne forces was seriously reduced, some units were disbanded, and the paratroopers became subordinate to the Ground Forces. Army aviation was transferred to the air force, which significantly worsened the mobility of the airborne forces.

The Russian airborne troops took part in both Chechen campaigns; in 2008, paratroopers were involved in the Ossetian conflict. The Airborne Forces have repeatedly taken part in peacekeeping operations (for example, in the former Yugoslavia). Airborne units regularly participate in international exercises; they guard Russian military bases abroad (Kyrgyzstan).

Structure and composition of the airborne troops of the Russian Federation

Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces consist of command structures, combat units and units, as well as various institutions that provide them.

Structurally, the Airborne Forces have three main components:

Airborne. It includes all airborne units.
Air assault. Consists of air assault units.
Mountain. It includes air assault units designed to operate in mountainous areas.

Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces include four divisions, as well as individual brigades and regiments. Airborne troops, composition:

76th Guards Air Assault Division, stationed in Pskov.
98th Guards Airborne Division, located in Ivanovo.
7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division, stationed in Novorossiysk.
106th Guards Airborne Division - Tula.

Airborne regiments and brigades:

11th Separate Guards Airborne Brigade, headquartered in the city of Ulan-Ude.
45th separate guards special purpose brigade (Moscow).
56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Place of deployment - the city of Kamyshin.
31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Located in Ulyanovsk.
83rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade. Location: Ussuriysk.
38th Separate Guards Airborne Communications Regiment. Located in the Moscow region, in the village of Medvezhye Ozera.

In 2013, the creation of the 345th Air Assault Brigade in Voronezh was officially announced, but then the formation of the unit was postponed to more late date(2017 or 2018). There is information that in 2018, an air assault battalion will be deployed on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, and in the future, on its basis, a regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division, which is currently deployed in Novorossiysk, will be formed.

In addition to combat units, the Russian Airborne Forces also include educational institutions that train personnel for the Airborne Forces. The main and most famous of them is the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, which also trains officers for the Russian Airborne Forces. Also, the structure of this type of troops includes two Suvorov schools (in Tula and Ulyanovsk), the Omsk Cadet Corps and the 242nd The educational center, located in Omsk.

Armament and equipment of the Russian Airborne Forces

The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use both combined arms equipment and models that were created specifically for this type of troops. Most types of weapons and military equipment of the Airborne Forces were developed and manufactured during the Soviet period, but there are also more modern models created in modern times.

The most popular types of airborne armored vehicles are currently the BMD-1 (about 100 units) and BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units) airborne combat vehicles. Both of these vehicles were produced in the Soviet Union (BMD-1 in 1968, BMD-2 in 1985). They can be used for landing both by landing and by parachute. These are reliable vehicles that have been tested in many armed conflicts, but they are clearly outdated, both morally and physically. Even representatives of the top leadership of the Russian army, which was adopted into service in 2004, openly declare this. However, its production is slow; today there are 30 BMP-4 units and 12 BMP-4M units in service.

Airborne units also have a small number of armored personnel carriers BTR-82A and BTR-82AM (12 units), as well as the Soviet BTR-80. The most numerous armored personnel carrier currently used by the Russian Airborne Forces is the tracked BTR-D (more than 700 units). It was put into service in 1974 and is very outdated. It should be replaced by the BTR-MDM “Shell”, but so far its production is moving very slowly: today there are from 12 to 30 (according to various sources) “Shell” in combat units.

The anti-tank weapons of the Airborne Forces are represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled anti-tank gun (36 units), the BTR-RD Robot self-propelled anti-tank systems (more than 100 units) and a wide range of different ATGMs: Metis, Fagot, Konkurs and "Cornet".

The Russian Airborne Forces also have self-propelled and towed artillery: the Nona self-propelled gun (250 units and several hundred more units in storage), the D-30 howitzer (150 units), and the Nona-M1 mortars (50 units) and "Tray" (150 units).

Airborne air defense systems consist of man-portable missile systems (various modifications of “Igla” and “Verba”), as well as short-range air defense systems “Strela”. Special attention should be paid to the newest Russian MANPADS “Verba”, which was only recently put into service and is now being put into trial operation in only a few units of the Russian Armed Forces, including the 98th Airborne Division.

The Airborne Forces also operate self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery mounts BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (150 units) of Soviet production and towed anti-aircraft artillery mounts ZU-23-2.

IN last years The Airborne Forces began to receive new models of automotive equipment, of which the Tiger armored car, the A-1 all-terrain vehicle and the KAMAZ-43501 truck should be noted.

The airborne troops are sufficiently equipped with communication, control and electronic warfare systems. Among them, modern Russian developments should be noted: electronic warfare systems "Leer-2" and "Leer-3", "Infauna", the control system for air defense complexes "Barnaul", automated troop control systems "Andromeda-D" and "Polet-K".

The Airborne Forces are armed with a wide range of small arms, including both Soviet models and newer Russian developments. The latter include the Yarygin pistol, PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The main personal weapon of the fighters remains the Soviet AK-74 assault rifle, but deliveries to the troops of the more advanced AK-74M have already begun. To carry out sabotage missions, paratroopers can use the silent machine gun “Val”.

The Airborne Forces are armed with the Pecheneg (Russia) and NSV (USSR) machine guns, as well as the Kord heavy machine gun (Russia).

Among the sniper systems, it is worth noting the SV-98 (Russia) and Vintorez (USSR), as well as the Austrian sniper rifle Steyr SSG 04, which was purchased for the needs of the special forces of the Airborne Forces. The paratroopers are armed with the AGS-17 “Flame” and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers, as well as the SPG-9 “Spear” mounted grenade launcher. In addition, a number of hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, both Soviet and Russian production.

To conduct aerial reconnaissance and adjust artillery fire, the Airborne Forces use Russian-made Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles. The exact number of Orlans in service with the Airborne Forces is unknown.

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Airborne troops are required to undergo jump training even at the training stage. Then the skills of parachute jumping are used during combat operations or demonstration performances. Jumping has special rules: requirements for parachutes, aircraft used, and training of soldiers. The landing party needs to know all these requirements for a safe flight and landing.

A paratrooper cannot jump without training. Training is a mandatory stage before the start of real airborne jumps; during it, theoretical training and jumping practice take place. All the information that is told to future paratroopers during training is given below.

Aircraft for transportation and landing

What planes do paratroopers jump from? The Russian army currently uses several aircraft to airdrop troops. The main one is IL-76, but other flying machines are also used:

AN-12;
MI6;
MI-8.

The IL-76 remains preferred because it is most conveniently equipped for landing, has a spacious luggage compartment and maintains pressure well even at high altitudes if the landing force needs to jump there. Its body is sealed, but in case of emergency, the compartment for paratroopers is equipped with individual oxygen masks. This way, every skydiver will not experience a lack of oxygen during the flight.

The plane reaches speeds of approximately 300 km per hour, and this is the optimal indicator for landing in military conditions.

Jump height

From what height do paratroopers usually jump with a parachute? The height of the jump depends on the type of parachute and the aircraft used for landing. The recommended optimal landing altitude is 800-1000 meters above the ground. This indicator is convenient in combat conditions, since at this altitude the aircraft is less exposed to fire. At the same time, the air is not too thin for the paratrooper to land.

From what height do paratroopers usually jump in non-training situations? The deployment of the D-5 or D-6 parachute when landing from an IL-76 occurs at an altitude of 600 meters. The usual distance required for full deployment is 200 meters. That is, if the landing begins at a height of 1200, then the deployment will occur at around 1000. The maximum permissible during landing is 2000 meters.

More advanced models of parachutes allow you to start landing from a level of several thousand meters. So, modern model D-10 allows landing at a maximum altitude of no more than 4000 m above the ground. In this case, the minimum permissible level for deployment is 200. It is recommended to start deployment earlier to reduce the likelihood of injury and a hard landing.

Types of parachutes

Since the 1990s, Russia has used two main types of landing parachutes: D-5 and D-6. The first is the simplest and does not allow you to adjust the landing location. How many lines does a paratrooper's parachute have? Depends on the model. The sling in D-5 is 28, the ends are fixed, which is why it is impossible to adjust the direction of flight. The length of the slings is 9 meters. The weight of one set is about 15 kg.

A more advanced model of the D-5 is the D-6 paratrooper's parachute. In it, the ends of the lines can be released and the threads can be pulled, adjusting the direction of flight. To turn left, you need to pull the lines on the left, to maneuver to the right side, pull the thread on the right. The area of the parachute dome is the same as that of the D-5 (83 square meters). The weight of the kit is reduced - only 11 kilograms, it is most convenient for paratroopers still in training, but already trained. During training, about 5 jumps are made (with express courses), D-6 is recommended to be issued after the first or second. There are 30 rafters in the set, four of which allow you to control the parachute.

D-10 kits have been developed for complete beginners; this is an updated version, which only recently became available to the army. There are more rafters here: 26 main and 24 additional. Of the 26 stops, 4 allow you to control the system, their length is 7 meters, and the remaining 22 are 4 meters. It turns out that there are only 22 external additional lines and 24 internal additional ones. Such a number of cords (all of them are made of nylon) allow maximum flight control and course correction during disembarkation. The dome area of D-10 is as much as 100 square meters. At the same time, the dome is made in the shape of a squash, a convenient green color without a pattern, so that after the landing of the paratrooper it would be more difficult to detect.

Rules for deplaning

The paratroopers disembark from the cabin in a certain order. In IL-76 this happens in several threads. For disembarkation there are two side doors and a ramp. During training activities, they prefer to use exclusively side doors. Disembarkation can be carried out:

in one stream of two doors (with a minimum of personnel);
in two streams from two doors (with an average number of paratroopers);
three or four streams of two doors (for large-scale training activities);
in two streams both from the ramp and from the doors (during combat operations).

The distribution into streams is done so that the jumpers do not collide with each other when landing and cannot get caught. There is a small delay between threads, usually several tens of seconds.

Mechanism of flight and parachute deployment

After landing, the paratrooper must calculate 5 seconds. It cannot be considered a standard method: “1, 2, 3...”. It will turn out too quickly, the real 5 seconds will not pass yet. It’s better to count like this: “121, 122...”. Nowadays the most commonly used counting is starting from 500: “501, 502, 503...”.

Immediately after the jump, the stabilizing parachute automatically opens (the stages of its deployment can be seen in the video). This is a small dome that prevents the paratrooper from spinning while falling. Stabilization prevents flips in the air, in which a person begins to fly upside down (this position does not allow the parachute to open).

After five seconds, stabilization is completely removed, and the main dome must be activated. This is done either using a ring or automatically. A good paratrooper must be able to adjust the opening of the parachute himself, which is why trained students are given kits with a ring. After activating the ring, the main dome opens completely within 200 meters of fall. The duties of a trained paratrooper paratrooper include camouflage after landing.

Safety rules: how to protect troops from injury

Parachutes require special treatment and care to ensure that jumps using them are as safe as possible. Immediately after use, the parachute must be folded correctly, otherwise its service life will be sharply reduced. An incorrectly folded parachute may not function during landing, resulting in death.

Before landing, check the stabilization parachute;
check other equipment;
remember all the disembarkation rules, calm down by using an oxygen mask;
don’t forget about the five second rule;
ensure uniform landing of troops in several streams to reduce the risk of collisions.

It is imperative to take into account the weight of the jumper. All parachute models can withstand no more than 150 kg. Moreover, when jumping with a weight of up to 140, they can be used 80 times, but if the load is 150, then only 10, after which the parachute goes to waste. The weight must be calculated from the sum of the paratrooper itself and the weight of the kit. The new D-10 weighs 15 kg, like the D-5, but the D-6 weighs 11 kg.