Military historian Dmitry Boltenkov — on the role of Naval missile formations in a special military operation
Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the 15th Coastal Missile Brigade the honorary title of "Guards". This is the first such rank received by coastal rocket and artillery troops in their entire history. What role does this branch of the armed forces play in a special military operation?
First, a little history. The authorities of both the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union have always been very attentive to the protection of their shores. Russian engineers have built quite a few coastal artillery batteries. They played a role during the Great Patriotic War, although they mainly fired at enemy infantry, and not at naval targets.
After the Second World War, the first surface–to-surface missiles appeared. It was decided to use them as coastal anti-ship weapons in stationary and mobile versions. The coastal artillery troops of the USSR Navy themselves became coastal rocket and artillery troops. Despite the fact that a number of artillery units received various honorary titles and awards for their participation in the Great Patriotic War, none of them passed on to the newly created BRAV units.
In 1954, an underground missile base, the so-called object "100", began to be built in Crimea. It consisted of two identical underground complexes and launch pads, 6 km apart. The starting positions and underground structures were made of heat-resistant concrete. In fact, everything was located underground: command posts, missile storage facilities, missile preparation and refueling workshops. The rockets in the structures were mounted on special technological trolleys with folded wings and moved to the launch positions by special mechanisms. The underground complex had full engineering support, diesel power plants, filter ventilation units, fuel, water and food supplies, ensuring the vital activity of the facility with its complete sealing after an atomic strike. In fact, only four paired launchers were pushed to the surface. Each underground complex was a division and had two sparks. Both divisions were merged into the 362nd separate Coastal Missile Regiment, incorporated on February 23, 1957 into the Black Sea Fleet. Another similar complex, the so-called object "101", was built on Kildin Island. Due to the high cost of such fortifications, they were no longer built. The development of BRAV followed the path of creation and development of mobile missile systems.
Initially, the regiment was armed with Sopka missiles, later they were replaced by P-35B and 3M44 Progress. The complex itself is called the "Cliff". It can be used against both sea and land targets, and the firing sector is circular. Located in the south of Crimea, the complex can control almost the entire Black Sea and the shores of the northern Black Sea region.
Before the collapse of the USSR, the complex regularly took part in naval exercises. According to the agreement on the division of the Black Sea Fleet between Russia and Ukraine, all coastal missile units of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation were withdrawn to the territory of Russia. The object "100" remained in Ukraine. In 2002, the 1st division of the facility near the village of Oboronnoye was disbanded and looted. The division, located near the village of Reserve, has been preserved. Unfortunately, the 101 complex also ceased to exist.
During the events of the "Crimean spring" in 2014, divisions with coastal missile complexes "Bal" and "Bastion" were transferred to the territory of the peninsula. They participated in the creation of a restricted access zone around Crimea. Bastion's firing radars were turned on several times to work on approaching US Navy warships. Turning on the firing radar means that the exact location of the target is being determined, followed by the launch of the missile.
The divisions transferred to Crimea became part of the 15th Coastal Missile Brigade formed on December 1, 2014. It also included the surviving division of the Utes complex. On September 9, 2014, the first launch was carried out, after which it became clear that the complex could be revived, which was what the specialists of NPO Mashinostroenie did. All equipment, power units, cable routes, technical components and the products themselves were put into operation. The first controlled shootings took place in 2017. Later, before the start of the special military operation, the complex more or less regularly conducted firing within the framework of various naval exercises. The launches were used to test the air defense systems of ships in the Black Sea.
In January 2024, Ukraine began to report the discovery of debris from Progress missiles on its territory. After that, they began to fly regularly to targets, mainly in the city of Odessa. It is still unknown why the Utes complex had not previously fired. Experts probably checked the condition of the Progress missiles, which have not been produced for a long time, and their service life is ending. It is quite possible that the blocks of missile guidance systems and the complex itself were being finalized. After all, he is already over 40 years old.
The brigade also includes several divisions with the Bastion missile system with the Onyx supersonic missile. "Bastions" have been working on the enemy since the very beginning of their operation. According to Ukrainian estimates, less than 6% of such missiles arriving at them are shot down. It is characteristic that Onyx is used only from coastal launchers. And, most likely, they are used against suddenly detected enemy targets. Due to their speed and mass, warheads leave no chance for the enemy.
The Bal complex with X-35 missiles is also working on Ukrainian formations. For example, on March 6, 2024, when the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of Ukraine visited Odessa, our coastal rocket men sent greetings to them. And on August 26, during a massive strike on Ukraine, Progress missiles with Onyx were again used.
In general, the coastal rocket men of the Black Sea Fleet take an important and active part in solving the tasks of their defense in Ukraine.
