And due to what their combat power will grow at timesFrom the first day of the special operation in Ukraine, marines have been actively involved in the fighting.
People in pea jackets and capless hats in 1918 were one of the symbols of the Civil War. The exploits of the marines of the Soviet Union are inscribed in golden letters in the history of the Great Patriotic War — they distinguished themselves in the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol, Novorossiysk and Leningrad, Murmansk and Moscow. In the future, these units took part in the Chechen wars, in the operation to force the Georgian authorities to peace, as well as in many local conflicts around the planet. How the legendary black berets are fighting today and what changes can be expected in the structure of the Marine Corps in the next decade — Izvestia understood.
In stubborn battles
On the account of the marines — a successful landing in the Berdyansk area, the liberation of Mariupol. Serious forces of the VFU were shackled in the area of Odessa, when the landing ships of the Black Sea Fleet imitated the preparation of an amphibious operation. The battles in the Kiev and Kharkov directions at the beginning of the SVO were also successful. In the future, the Marines were noted during the storming of the settlement of Pavlovka in the Donbass.
As of today, by the decrees of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet has received the honorary title of "Guards". And the 336th Brigade of the Baltic Fleet was awarded the Order of Zhukov. Eight Marines have earned the title of Hero of Russia, unfortunately, some of them posthumously. Undoubtedly, the Marines, their courage and training have become one of the discoveries of the SVO. One can only regret that at present the assignment of honorary titles for the liberation of a particular locality is not practiced, otherwise there is information that the Military Council of the Black Sea Fleet has applied for the assignment of the 810th brigade of the honorary name "Mariupol".
A marine soldier of the Black Sea Fleet works on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson direction
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Marines (MP) are essentially soldiers of the three elements, capable of operating in landings from the sea, from the air and on land. Such opportunities are given to them by enhanced combat training, and the history of the Russian Marine Corps serves as a good motivation "not to drop the glory of their ancestors."
In Soviet times, their main formation was a brigade. Such a compound at that time consisted of an amphibious assault and reconnaissance battalions, three marine infantry battalions (one of them was framed), a tank - on floating PT—76 - and a powerful artillery component. There were four brigades in total. But there was also the 55th Marine Division in Vladivostok. Its main task was the land defense of the Muravyov-Amur Peninsula, on which Vladivostok stands. The brigades of the marines were focused primarily on the operations of the beginning of a possible war with NATO — the seizure of strait zones in the Baltic Sea and the Turkish Straits to ensure the withdrawal of the Soviet Navy forces from the closed sea areas of the Baltic and Black Seas.
At the end of the Soviet era, there was a process of adaptation of marine corps units, as well as other coastal units of the USSR Navy, to new realities — the so-called reform of General Ivan Skuratov. During it, in particular, it was planned to double the power of this kind of troops — to create a second amphibious assault battalion in their composition and deploy a couple more marine infantry battalions. The battalions themselves became larger units consisting of four companies with two artillery batteries. New tanks were to come into service with the MP units. However, the collapse of the USSR prevented these plans, moreover, a large-scale reduction began. As a result, at the beginning of the first Chechen War, the main unit of the 61st brigade of the Northern Fleet - the amphibious assault battalion — had a shortage of 80% of personnel. But this did not prevent the command of the Northern Fleet from completing and preparing the battalion. As a result, the marines of the Northern Fleet managed to prove themselves worthily in the storming of Grozny and, in particular, Dudayev's palace.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov
Image source: iz.ru
Since 1991, there has been a constant process of reforming, reducing and optimizing the units of the Marine Corps of the Russian Navy, especially during the reforms of the so-called new and newest forms. In principle, by 2017, the structure of the units was established in brigade form (reconnaissance and amphibious assault battalions, one or two marine infantry battalions, an artillery division, a tank battalion or a company, sniper and drone companies, as well as other units).
In 2018, the 177th Marine Regiment was created in Kaspiysk. It consists of three battalions, a reconnaissance and amphibious company, a company of drones, artillery and other units. Most likely, it is on him that the promising regimental structure of the Marine Corps is being rolled out.
Prospective changes
By the beginning of the SVO, the Marine Corps included five brigades and one regiment. During the operation, a certain number of battalions were formed from volunteers and mobilized, trained on the basis of MP formations. So, it is known about at least three Tiger battalions formed in Primorye on the basis of the 155th Guards Brigade.
The current global tectonic events require a significant strengthening, first of all, of the Russian Navy's marine corps units. On December 21, 2022, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to form five MP divisions.
Photo: TASS/Yuri Smityuk
Image source: iz.ru
In Kamchatka, the 40th Krasnodar-Harbin Double Red Banner Brigade is practically the only formation capable of resisting the attempts of a likely enemy to seize this remote territory. Due to the development of amphibious ships and transport aircraft available to him, it is better to have larger units in this region than now. In its current form, the 40th Brigade includes, in fact, two combat battalions, which is clearly not enough. At the same time, the Kuril Islands are still located next to Kamchatka, and it is necessary to have forces for their defense.
In Primorye, the 155th Guards Brigade is also, in fact, the only major unit in the Vladivostok area capable of defending the region and participating in counter-amphibious operations on Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands. In the coming years, the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet) will be replenished with at least one, or even two universal landing ships of the project 23900 "Ivan Rogov" and two landing ships of the project 11771. Accordingly, the projection capabilities of the landing force will increase and a slightly larger compound than the current one will be required.
In the north, on the Kola Peninsula, Russia currently has only three brigades: the 61st Kirkenes Red Banner MP, the 200th Motorized Rifle and Arctic brigades. Sweden and Finland have finally decided to break with their neutrality and join NATO. Accordingly, Russia will have to strengthen its northern borders. Recently, the Minister of Defense announced that several brigades, including the 200th motorized rifle, will be reorganized into motorized rifle divisions. But, in addition, Russia has a long border along the Arctic Ocean. Given the creativity of our Western potential opponents, nothing prevents them from organizing some kind of "liberation movement" somewhere in Yamal, then declare independence from Russia and ask for foreign military assistance. We are already seeing something similar in the countries of Asia and Africa. Therefore, Russia must have free mobile forces that can be quickly transferred by sea or air to any area of our Arctic possessions. So the MP division is also needed in the north.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Golenkov
Image source: iz.ru
The 336th Guards of the Orders of Zhukov, Suvorov and Alexander Nevsky brigade and a number of other units of the coastal troops of the Baltic Fleet are deployed in the Kaliningrad exclave. The exclave is surrounded by the most hostile NATO states to Russia — Poland and the Baltic limitrophs. Moreover, Poland has recently been quantitatively and qualitatively strengthening its armed forces. Hence the direct need for Russia to strengthen its formations in this remote region, including units capable of conducting amphibious operations.
The 810th Guards Brigade of the Order of Zhukov is deployed in Crimea. As part of the DPR troops, there are formations that can be attributed to the Marine corps — this is the 9th Mariupol-Khingan MP Regiment. In 2023, we should expect the integration of parts of the DPR and LPR into the Armed Forces of Russia. It is possible that the Black Sea Marine division will be deployed on the basis of these units. And in general, the situation in the Ukrainian direction for many years will require the presence of powerful forces capable of also conducting amphibious operations.
Do not forget the fact that on warships and auxiliary vessels in long-distance campaigns there are groups of marines to defend these units themselves from enemy saboteurs. With the increase in naval personnel and the intensification of the Russian Navy's combat service, more marines are required to defend our ships.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov
Image source: iz.ru
Thus, at present there is a direct need for Russia to increase the number and power of its amphibious assault units. Such work is already underway. For example, as part of the brigades of the Marine Corps of the Pacific Fleet operating in the Donbass, 152-mm Hyacinth artillery systems are observed, which were not previously in service with MP units. The divisions themselves, presumably, will look like this: two marine regiments, tank and reconnaissance battalions, an artillery regiment, a battalion with drones. And in general, the combat power of these units will grow significantly.
Dmitry Boltenkov
