Black berets, black death ... The nicknames of these fighters look rather gloomy and unfriendly - indeed, when meeting with such soldiers, the enemy will immediately stop thinking about easy money. Marine Corps of Russia- today we are talking about these brave and courageous warriors. Let's look into history, find out what it's like to be a Marine and what an honor it is, and also touch on modern military events.

History of creation

Marines The Russian Federation has been leading its history for more than three centuries. November 27, 1705 is considered the date of formation of this kind of troops. The date falls on the period of the Northern War with Sweden - of course, this is not an accident, since it was then that the army needed specially trained units of fighters who initially fired at enemy ships from afar, and when they approached, they had to board the ship. For this type of battle, courageous and courageous fighters were required, physically and mentally strong and possessing the proper dexterity.

Despite the fact that in the course of its history Marines was to be disbanded and rebuilt, the listed qualities are still relevant to this day - it is quite difficult to become a marine, therefore such troops rightfully bear the title of elite. The rank of Marine in itself causes pride, and to receive black beret or medal"For service in the Marine Corps" is a great honor, which is really worth a lot.

These distinctive signs are inherent only to especially distinguished fighters. However, the statistics of awards is impressive not only with a departmental medal: during the period of existence of the military branch, the Marines became Heroes of the Soviet Union 113 times, and 22 fighters were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

purpose

Of course, over time, equipment, weapons and warships are being improved. Along with this process, the priority task of the Russian Marine Corps is also changing. Much depends on the purpose of a particular unit, for example, the DShB or reconnaissance of the Marine Corps, so the fighters find themselves in enemy territory in various ways:

The divisions also face different tasks:

• diverting attention to themselves with the aim of a safe approach of the main offensive forces;
• capture of territory occupied by the enemy, for example, a coast or an island, with subsequent defense;
• assault on skyscrapers and base fortifications in which enemy troops are located;
• conducting sabotage in enemy territory with fire support from aviation and navy.

Armament

Marine units can be compared with motorized rifle troops in terms of equipping with weapons and their modifications, there will be coincidences in many points. The main type of small arms is the Kalashnikov assault rifle of the AKS-74M modification. Each department has one copy of the RPG-7, RPK and SVD. In addition, in any company there is a platoon of grenade launchers, in their hands are the AGS-17 of the Flame modification, as well as the PKM.

The Marines are armed with both the Makarov pistol and the APS, such devices are supplied to officers, drivers, as well as some highly specialized specialists. Also, units can be equipped with RPG-18 (Fly) and RPO-2 (Bumblebee), depending on the task. Of the mobile vehicles at the disposal of the Marine Corps units are the BTR-82A, BTR-80, as well as the special Zubr hovercraft (in service with the Baltic Fleet).

How to become a Marine

It is impossible to be born a Marine, because such a profession is not just a difficult job in difficult conditions, but also a special mindset that is achieved through experience and through colossal training.

Nevertheless, if a young man is impressed by the demonstration performances of black berets, and he is filled with pride and a desire to become one of these fighters, then with a certain set of qualities, the guy will not have to beg the military commissar to send him to the desired troops for a very long time. There is a certain list of qualities and indicators according to which candidates are given advantages and the right to be sent to serve in the Marine Corps:

• excellent health, fitness category - only "A", the candidate must not be addicted to cigarettes and alcohol, mental disorders, as well as diseases associated with the cardiovascular system;
• a set of certain psychological and moral qualities, confidence, courage, self-control, prudence and ingenuity;
• excellent physical fitness;
• the presence of a category, as well as winning places in competitions in any sport, parachuting, shooting, wrestling, swimming or boxing.

If a young man can tick off all the criteria, then he has a very real chance of getting into the Marine unit. Another thing is that this is only initial testing. To check what a fighter is worth, one forced march is enough, not only physical, but also moral qualities are checked here, since situations inevitably arise in which the fighter has a choice, and at the same time, not only his own life is in his hands.

Indeed, to become a Marine, you must first of all be imbued with the collective spirit, the spirit of the army family and brotherhood. Often, candidates do not pass even the initial tests due to psychological aspects.

Those who successfully overcame the starting tests, then daily exhausting training awaits - after all, a marine must be in full combat readiness at any second. Forced marches, tactical exercises with departure to the range, shooting, hand-to-hand the fight, parachuting, training landings behind enemy lines, sudden alarms at night - all this happens in a continuous mode and makes a young man not only a real man, but also a professional fighter with an iron character.

Separately, the delivery of special standards for black beret- an honorary symbol of the Marine Corps, the right to wear which is a great honor and responsibility. Moreover, in order to motivate beret holders for continuous improvement, there is an unofficial punishment in the form of deprivation of the right to wear an honorary

Even during the Second World War, detachments of marines instilled fear in German soldiers. Since then, the second name has been attached to the latter - black death or black devils, indicating the inevitable reprisal against those who encroach on the integrity of the state. Perhaps this nickname is somehow connected with the fact that the infantryman wore a black pea coat. Only one thing is known for certain - if the enemy is afraid, then this is already the lion's share of victory, and, as you know, the motto is considered a symbol of the Marine Corps: "Where we are, there is victory!"

Each infantryman was proud of his mission. In cases when they had to fight, wearing a combined arms uniform, the fighters did not part with caps and vests. They went on the attack wide open, showing the enemy black and white stripes, instilling undisguised horror in him.

The history of the origin of the troops

During the reign of Ivan IV (the Terrible), the composition of the crews of all ships was supplemented by soldiers who were not sailors. These were separately created brigades, consisting of archers. The first sailing ship "Eagle" by decree of the king in 1669 was equipped with Nizhny Novgorod archers. Their task included boarding and landing operations. The first prototype of the marines was also involved in guard duty.

The history includes the exploits of the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments, which were formed on ships during the Azov campaigns. Not everyone knows that the commander of one of the companies of the naval regiment was the Emperor Peter Romanov himself. Similar regiments equipped the ships of the Azov and Baltic Fleets.

The first victories of the then completely new formations fall on 1701-1702. The Russian flotilla, consisting mostly of rowboats, successfully fought with Swedish sailboats on Lake Peipus and Ladoga. In many respects, the Russian army owes its victory to the serving regiments of Ostrovsky, Shnevetsov and Tolbukhin, who were assigned to the fleet. The chroniclers noted that the infantrymen in battle behaved boldly and decisively.

If we are talking about the creation of marines, then this event is closely connected with the name of Peter I. He summarized the experience of introducing ground forces into the fleet and in 1705 issued a decree according to which all squads of Cossacks and archers were united, and the newly created formation was called "Marine Regiment" According to the new style, this decree is dated November 27, since then this date has been considered.

Black berets - the elite of Russian troops

The events of the first Chechen war forced the command of the Russian army to resort to the help of marines. At that time, they turned out to be the most prepared for the conduct of real hostilities. A real feat was accomplished by the fighters during the storming of Grozny. Sixteen infantrymen were awarded the star of the Hero. Unfortunately, not without casualties, during the first campaign, 178 people died. The contribution that the Marines made to the history of the Chechen conflict will at all times be regarded as a manifestation of the true professionalism of a Russian soldier.

Vitaly Ryabov

Behind him is a conscripted service, and after that, under a contract. Now retired.

Articles written

Why is an army needed? In our world, there have always been powers that wanted to impose their culture on other peoples or control the natural and human resources of other countries in order to prosper their state. In view of this, each country seeks to ensure its political, economic and cultural freedom by allocating a certain share of the budget for the defense of its territory. This situation has been happening since the beginning of the birth of mankind, which means that wars in one place or another on the planet will never end. Each country decides for itself what kind of army it needs to protect its borders. States that have access to the sea are also obliged to protect water borders, therefore they create naval forces.

The Navy of any developed state consists of the following units:

• Marines.

Let's take a closer look at the last item on this list. The marines are created to protect and defend the coast - ports and military bases and to capture enemy coastal territories, hold them until the arrival of their ground forces.

History of the Marine Corps

The history of the Marine Corps of Russia dates back to the time of Peter the Great. The need for the formation of this type of troops was justified in the framework of the conquest of the Azov and Baltic coasts. In the first half of the 18th century, real regiments were created for the first time, performing the functions of soldiers of the seas. Peter I was so keen on the formation of coastal troops that he was even listed as the commander of one of the companies and was hiding under the name of Peter Alekseev. The famous Northern War was won in large measure thanks to the heroic battles of the Marines. November 16, 1705 is significant for the creation of the first naval regiment, since then this day has been the date of foundation of the Russian marines unit. Given the personal interest of the head of state in this type of troops, it was an honor and prestige to serve in it. And to this day, the paratroopers are distinguished by their special bearing, combat readiness and readiness.

In the middle of the 19th century, Vice Admiral Nakhimov played an important role in strengthening the importance of the Marine Corps during the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855. He created 22 full-fledged infantry battalions, which he formed from the sailors of the sunken ships. Thanks to them, Sevastopol withstood the defense against the Turkish invaders. In the Russo-Japanese war, during the siege of Port Arthur (the longest battle of this war), up to 10,000 infantrymen participated in holding the fortress.

The revolution of 1917 eliminated all units, and only in 1939 the marines of the USSR were revived again. During the years of the Second World War, 40 infantry brigades were recreated, their number reached 350 thousand soldiers. And again, Sevastopol held the defense already from the German invaders, and again the Marines managed to withstand the long 250 heroic days of the siege. The Marine Corps against the Wehrmacht participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, during the rescue of Tallinn, Odessa and during the storming of Berlin. Black peakless caps were a distinctive feature of the soldier of the sea, at the sight of their enemy they were terrified, the Germans called this unit "black death". During the Second World War, not only the foot soldiers of the Soviet Union distinguished themselves, but also other countries: the USA and Western Europe. The American Marines during the war were the most complete and organized unit, their heroic battles were legendary. At the same time, it was the smallest unit, it accounted for only 5% of the total number of participating Americans. In a matter of days, they, together with the marines of other countries, liberated the coast in Asia and Europe. This is how the international marines fought heroically against the Wehrmacht.

In the post-war period, the leadership of the USSR underestimated the importance of the navy in general and the marines in particular. The budget for arming the Navy was gradually reduced, and in the mid-50s, all parts of the infantrymen were disbanded. The second time of stagnation of this type of troops has come. At the same time, England and France continued to develop the direction of the Marines, and it was already problematic to catch up with them in this. After another change in the leadership of the Soviet Union and in the study of historical battles, by the mid-60s, service in the Marine Corps was revived, the construction of landing craft of the most modern modifications began at an accelerated pace. The use of Marine units in numerous military maneuvers has become a prerequisite. All this gave reason to the NATO leadership to believe that the Soviet Union was able to both defend itself and perform offensive functions, which restrained aggression against the USSR.

Marines of modern Russia

Today, the Russian Marines, referred to as "black berets", are a necessary component of the Navy. The detachments of this unit are assigned to the four fleets of the country, as well as the Caspian flotilla:

• . Every year, the Navy command identifies and rewards advanced special forces. So, in 2016, the brigade of coastal troops of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Federation was recognized as the best. Without exaggeration, this is an elite brigade, which is distinguished by the brilliant training of attack aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft.
• - the youngest, his marines were created in 1933. The sailors' flagship is the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great.
• mostly located in the Crimea. Soldiers of the Sevastopol infantry are distinguished by excellent skills in hand-to-hand combat, which is also necessary for service in the ranks of the infantry.
• is an operational-strategic association of the Navy, their main task is to ensure security from the Pacific Ocean. In addition to all other weapons, the Pacific Fleet has missile submarines in its arsenal. The headquarters of the Pacific Marines is located in the city of Vladivostok.

The marines are primarily engaged in the defense of the coastal territory, in addition, they perform various tasks assigned by the leadership of the army. Marine intelligence also plays an important role. In particular, the soldiers of the sea carry out combat orders in Syria. When carrying out a large number of training and combat missions, infantrymen improve their skills and are ready to repel an attack at any moment. The Navy is provided with advanced equipment in the field of infantry, including amphibious armored personnel carriers, missile and anti-tank systems, tanks and CAVs, various types of passing water obstacles, and small arms. The development and production of new models of equipment that meet the requirements of the 21st century continues.

Marine Corps training

Marine training has a serious level of preparation. It is important to learn how to temper the body and spirit of a soldier. Daily sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, long-distance running are the usual regimen for them. However, Marine training is about more than just exercise and endurance. It is important to have a strong-willed character and know that in a battle it is necessary to go to the bitter end. Physical activity, study and exercises of the Marine Corps and allow you to make real combat commanders out of soldiers.

How to get into the Marine Corps

Thousands of boys yearly dream of joining the ranks of brave heroes. How to get into the marines? The selection criteria for this elite unit are very high. It is necessary to have ideal physical data - good eyesight, excellent physical fitness, normal physique, absence of chronic diseases. It is also important not to have negative stories with bringing to the police and not to take drugs. If physical data and everything else allow you to apply for service in these troops, even before being drafted, you should check with the military registration and enlistment office when recruitment for the Navy will take place and be sure to report your desire. But there is also high competition at the recruiting stations. The final decision on the possibility of serving in the ranks of the black berets will be made upon arrival at the fleet. Contract service in the Marine Corps is a fairly common occurrence for those who dream of sea adventures. How to get into the marines as an officer? To do this, you need to enter a higher specialized school and, upon successful completion, it is guaranteed to become a marine - part of the military elite.

The flag of the Marine Corps of the Russian Federation is an emblem with a gold anchor against a black circle with a red border. An inscription is placed around - the slogan of the Marine: "Where we are, there is victory!" The emblem is located against the background of the St. Andrew's flag (the flag of the Russian Navy). The banner has come to us almost unchanged since the time of Peter I. In addition to the flag, the Marines have other distinctive elements. So, military personnel and veterans of military operations are entitled to different types of awards, in particular the departmental medal "For Service in the Marine Corps". The main difference between the soldier of the seas and other military units is noticeable from afar - black trumpless berets. Wearing this headdress is a special pride for its owner and family members. Every year on November 27, we hear the dedication to the Marines and see hundreds of congratulations from the paratroopers on their professional holiday.

The history of the creation of the Marine Corps

To ensure Russia's access to the shores of the Baltic in 1700-1703, first of all, it was necessary to oust the Swedes from Lake Ladoga and Lake Peipsi. To implement such a bold plan, they decided to involve the Don Cossacks, who had experience in battles on row-and-sail ships on the rivers and the sea. However, the Cossacks did not arrive at the right time, and all the main military activities had to be carried out by the forces of Peter's infantry regiments. The regiments of Tyrtov, Tybukhin, Ostrovsky did an excellent job - after a series of fierce boarding battles, the Swedes were partially destroyed, and the rest were driven out of these waters. The path to the mouth of the Neva was free ...

These events showed that in Russia there was a need to create a new kind of troops - naval soldiers.
On November 16 (November 27, according to the new style), 1705, Peter I issued a decree on the creation of a naval regiment, which marked the beginning of the organization of the marines of the regular Russian fleet. The first regiment of marines, formed in the Baltic Fleet, consisted of two battalions of five companies. The regiment had 45 officers, 70 non-commissioned officers and 1250 privates. The marines were armed with guns with baguettes (the prototype of a bayonet) and edged weapons (cleavers, sabers). In the Northern War, the marines were widely used in naval battles and landings. In 1712, instead of a regiment, five battalions of 22 officers were formed, up to 660 privates and non-commissioned officers in each. Three battalions were included in the ship squadrons, one in the galley, one carried out guard duty in the bases.

Since 1804, companies of naval regiments began to depart on ships from Kronstadt to the Mediterranean Sea to the location of D.N. Senyavin. By the end of 1806, there were ten companies of naval regiments in the squadron of D.N. Senyavin, and on November 10, 1806, they formed the 2nd Marine Regiment, the commander of which was the commander of the 2nd Marine Regiment Buasel. The two battalions of the 2nd Naval Regiment that remained in Kronstadt attached one to the 1st Naval Regiment, the other to the 3rd. 4th Naval Regiment during 1811-1813 remained on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and until March 1813 participated in all of its combat operations. For all types of allowances, the naval regiments were under the jurisdiction of the fleet.

Soon, the 25th division was formed in Abo, which became part of the corps intended to assist the Swedes. Then the naval regiments left for St. Petersburg and allocated their second battalions to form new infantry regiments - the 9th, 10th, 11th and others.

In September 1812, the 1st Naval Regiment with the second detachment, formed by the people's militia, left for Wittgenstein's army, and in 1813-1814. participated in its composition in the fighting on the Dvina near Danzig. The 2nd Naval Regiment was also in the active army, and the 3rd Naval Regiment during the Patriotic War of 1812 was part of the garrison of St. Petersburg.

In 1810, the Naval Guards crew was formed, which had dual subordination - to the fleet and the Guards Corps in St. Petersburg. This crew, together with the army, fought through the entire war of 1812-1814. And, ironically, the first Russian flag raised over Paris in 1814 was the naval one - Andreevsky.

In addition, the Black Sea Fleet was sent to the front in Chichagov's army, the 75th ship's crew also reached Paris.

In the following decades, the participation of sailors in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 should be noted. The Marine Guards crew participated in the Danube Flotilla. And when the Russian army approached Constantinople, standing in Adrianople, as in Paris in 1814, the Russian naval St. Andrew's flag was the first to be raised over the city.

As the role of ramming in naval battles diminished, boarding combat began to gain in importance, the outcome of which was decided by hand-to-hand combat. The soldiers stationed on the ships of the Roman legions, with the help of boarding bridges, defeated the stronger Carthaginian fleet in the first Punic War of 264-241. BC e.

Two campaigns of the Romans to the British Isles are known, as a result of which landings were landed on the coast of Britain.

In the 7th-10th centuries Russian princes repeatedly made sea trips to the Black Sea on boats and landed troops on the coast of Byzantium. In these campaigns, the foundations of the combat use of the marines were born and detachments of soldiers were formed, conducting combat operations on the border of sea and land.

The marines were further developed during the numerous campaigns of the Zaporizhzhya and Don Cossacks in the 15th-17th centuries, in the battles of small rowing vessels with numerous and well-armed sailing ships of the Turks. Using the good camouflage and maneuverability of their ships, the Cossacks, in conditions of limited visibility, especially at dusk or at night, approached the Turkish ships and swiftly attacked them from different sides, ending the boarding fight in hand-to-hand combat. Subsequently, this tactic was developed in the Northern War in the battles of the galley fleet, on the ships of which the Peter's marines operated.

In the second half of the XVI century. as part of the crews of the ships of the flotilla, created by order of Ivan the Terrible, special teams of archers (naval soldiers) were formed, which became the prototype of the marines.

In 1669, the first Russian military sailing ship Oryol had a crew of 35 people. from naval soldiers (Nizhny Novgorod archers) led by commander Ivan Domozhirov, intended for boarding and landing operations and guard duty.

During the Azov campaigns on the ships of the Azov and Baltic fleets, the most combat-ready Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments successfully operated as parts of the marine corps, from which the Naval Regime (regiment) was formed in the amount of 4254 people. The commander of the fourth company was listed under the name of Peter Alekseev himself Peter I.

In 1701–1702 the struggle of the detachments of the Russian army, operating on small rowing vessels (plows, karbas, etc.), began with the Swedish lake fleets on Lake Ladoga and Lake Peipus.

These detachments, formed from the personnel of the Ostrovsky, Tolbukhin, Tyrtov and Shnevetsov army infantry regiments serving in the fleet, as a result of a series of boarding battles, defeated the Swedish flotillas, which consisted of large sailing ships with strong artillery and staffed by professional crews. The fighting of these regiments was distinguished by audacity, courage and determination.

Peter I was able to truly appreciate the role of naval soldiers during the Northern War by taking part in a boarding battle in May 1703, when two Swedish ships were captured at the mouth of the Neva. An important role was played by the marines in the defense of Kotlin Island, where the heroism, courage and bravery of the regiments of Tolbukhin and Ostrovsky, who wrote many glorious pages in the military history of Russia, were clearly manifested.

After the defense of Kotlin in the summer of 1705, the question arose again of creating specially trained units of the marine corps in the fleet. On November 16, 1705, by decree of Peter I, a naval regiment was formed. This historical date has become the birthday of the Russian Marine Corps.

For the first time in military history, a national marine corps was created, homogeneous in composition, armed with the best weapons in Europe and trained on the basis of a unified combat training system.

The officers of the Marine Corps were staffed with non-commissioned officers of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, who were trained, educated and gained combat experience during the Northern War. The decrees “On Uniform Succession” and “Table of Ranks” adopted under Peter I made it possible to form an officer corps from the best representatives of the young Russian nation, in particular the nobility, as the basis of the autocracy of Russia. The most important rule of Peter I - "in the service - honor" entered the flesh and blood of officers of the Russian marines of the XVIII century.

The rank and file of the Russian marines was distinguished by social, national and religious homogeneity, which gave it the character of a single organism, brought up a sense of patriotism and military duty to defend the Fatherland. All these features of the Russian marines contributed to maintaining a higher morale of the personnel, in contrast to the fleets of European states, recruited and representing troops of various national, ethnic and religious composition, which could neither be trained nor led into battle otherwise, than with a cruel drill.

Throughout the entire historical process of the development of the Russian marines, its mission, organizational structure, forms and methods of combat use were not constant, but changed in accordance with the nature of the armed struggle and the tasks of the fleet, the level of weapons and a number of other factors. For more than a hundred years (from 1705 to 1813), developing along an ascending line, it was a permanent branch of the forces of the Russian fleet. For twenty years (from 1813 to 1833) the marines were part of the War Ministry, and then temporarily ceased to exist.

The regular marines created by Peter I were first divided into three types: the marines of the ship, galley fleets and the admiralty battalion. Such an organizational structure, which was based on a battalion as a tactical unit, was most consistent with the mission of the Marine Corps and the characteristics of its combat use.

Marine battalions were staffed mainly by experienced personnel serving in the galley fleet of infantry regiments. So, for the formation of the Rear Admiral's battalion, a battalion of one of the most combative regiments of the Russian army that participated in the Battle of Poltava, the Kazan Infantry Regiment under the command of Major Kemkov, was allocated.

The most numerous was the naval infantry of the naval fleet, which until 1712 consisted of a regiment, and then of three separate battalions of 650-660 people each. According to the state of 1720, this amounted to a quarter of the entire personnel of the ship's fleet.

Each battalion was distributed by separate units (commands) among the warships of its squadron and retained a certain organizational and staff integrity. The battalion commander, who was the senior commander of the marines in the squadron, was on the flagship along with the commander and could control subordinate units, and during the landing, he led the battalion or part of it during combat operations on the coast in accordance with the instructions of the squadron commander.

A characteristic feature of the tactics of the marines was the completion of the battle on land with a swift bayonet strike, and the boarding battle at sea was a decisive hand-to-hand combat, which contributed to the formation of high morale and combat qualities among the marines. The offensive strategy and active linear tactics of the Marine Corps were reflected in the training and education of its units and units. At the same time, attention was paid not only to the elements of formation and shooting, but also to advanced forms and methods of conducting combat operations both in linear and in other combat formations.

The Baltic Fleet of the time of Peter the Great included two large associations of ship forces independent of each other: sailing (ship) and galley fleets. Each of them had its own marines. In addition, the fleet included another type of marines - the admiralty battalions.

The main tasks of the marines of the ship and galley fleets were combat operations as part of the landing forces, guard duty on ships, participation in boarding battles and aimed fire from small arms at the crews and landing forces of enemy ships when approaching at a distance of rifle and pistol shots.

Understanding the peculiarities of the armed struggle in the military-geographical conditions of the Baltic Sea led Peter I to the creation of the largest marine unit of the 18th century. - landing corps, capable of solving not only tactical, but also operational-strategic tasks in cooperation with the galley fleet. In 1713, the corps consisted of 18 infantry regiments and a separate infantry battalion with a total strength of about 29,860 people, of which 18,690 officers and lower ranks took direct part in the hostilities.

The marines, which included a galley battalion and the guards and infantry regiments of the landing corps seconded to the fleet, acted as part of boarding and landing teams. The rowers on the ships were Marines.

As part of the crew of the scampaway, which numbered 150 people, only 9 were sailors (navigator, skipper, boatswain, etc.), the rest were officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Marine Corps. The commander of the scampaway was, as a rule, the senior officer of the Marine Corps who was on the ship.

Convinced of the inability of the allies of the Danish and Saxon armies to act actively and in concert against Sweden, Peter I decided to take possession of Finland, and then deliver a powerful blow to Sweden through the Gulf of Bothnia and force it to conclude a peace favorable to Russia.

For several months intense preparations were made for the forthcoming campaign. Peter I and his associates in the shortest possible time created a special tactic for the marines of the galley fleet, which included the order of landing troops on ships, crossing them by sea, landing and fighting on the coast.

On May 2, 1713, a galley fleet with a landing corps consisting of 16 regiments numbering about 16,000 people. under the command of Apraksin and the ship fleet under the command of Peter I went to sea and headed for the Finnish skerries.

In the battle at the river Pelkina On October 6, 1713, Russian troops attacked enemy positions from the front, at the same time making a deep bypass from the flank with the forces of a specially allocated combined detachment of ten regiments of the landing corps with a total strength of 6000 people. under the command of Lieutenant General M. M. Golitsyn, one of the best commanders of the Russian army.

At dawn on October 6, after a successful night crossing on rafts across Lake Mallas Vesi, Golitsyn's detachment went to the rear of the fortified position of the Swedes and swiftly attacked the enemy, who had retreated in the direction of Tammerfors. At the same time, Russian troops attacked the Swedes from the front and, with the support of artillery, crossed the river. The enemy twice beat off the attacks of the Russian troops, but after the third attack he fled, losing 600 people. killed, 244 people. captured and leaving eight guns on the battlefield.

In the battle at the river Pelka's consolidated detachment of the landing corps for the first time used new methods of combat for that time in the conditions of a lake-wooded area: a deep bypass of the enemy flank with a crossing on rafts and landing in the rear, a decisive bayonet strike and a column attack.

In the campaign of 1714, it was planned, in close cooperation between the army and the galley and ship fleets, to completely take over Finland, occupy the Abo-Aland Islands and create a base for landing troops on the territory of Sweden.

In Tverminskaya Bay, the galley fleet was forced to stop, as the Swedish squadron of Admiral Vatranga blocked its further path. By this time, the Golitsyn detachment, located in the Abo region, deprived of the support of the artillery of the galley fleet and not having received the expected ammunition and food, was forced to retreat to Poe-Kirka, where it boarded the ships left by Apraksin and subsequently joined up with the main forces of the galley fleet.

On May 27, 1714, the Gangut battle took place, in which two guards, two grenadiers, eleven infantry regiments and a galley battalion of marines took direct part - a total of about 3433 people, not counting officers. On the scampaways of these regiments, about 240 sailors participated in the battle.

During the two years of the war, the marines had to endure the hardships and hardships of the harsh conditions of Finland, be on the verge of starvation, beat the Swedes from rafts, and do the hard work of rowers on scampaways. In the Gangut battle, she participated in a boarding battle at sea in extremely difficult conditions against superior enemy forces.

The Gangut victory was of great military and political significance. It was the first naval victory, after which Russia rightfully took its rightful place among the maritime powers. The Battle of Gangut was also of strategic importance: the entry of the galley fleet to the Gulf of Bothnia was opened and conditions were created for the Russian naval fleet for active operations in the southern and middle parts of the Baltic Sea. It also showed the importance of close cooperation between the galley fleet and the regiments of the landing corps.

The successful implementation of the breakthrough of the enemy squadron became possible thanks to the skill and courage of the sailors, but the victory on May 27, 1714 was almost exclusively the work of the guards and infantry regiments of the Marine Corps. The avant-garde battle was led by Army General Weide, who was awarded the highest award - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

After the failure of peace negotiations with the Swedes at the Åland Congress of 1718–1719. Peter I decided to strike at Sweden from Finland.

In 1719, the landing corps under the command of Admiral General Apraksin (about 20,000 people), operating on the coast from Stockholm to Norrköping, landed 16 troops, consisting of from one to 12 battalions. Another part of the corps under the command of Major General P.P. Lassi (3500 people) carried out the landing of 14 troops in the area between Stockholm and Gefle.

The Russian government considered the actions of the landing corps as a means to force Sweden, which had not lost hope in the help of the English fleet, to agree to peace.

In 1721, a Russian landing detachment under the command of Lassi again landed on the territory of Sweden, where they destroyed 13 factories, including one weapons factory, captured 40 small Swedish ships and a lot of military equipment.

The raids of the Russian galley fleet on the coast of Sweden, the exhaustion of the country's forces and the moral depression of the population, as well as the futility of hopes for English help and the complete failure of the English policy of intimidating Russia forced the Swedish government to make peace with Russia on the terms dictated by Peter I.

The tactics of the marines were further developed during the Persian campaign of 1721-1723, in which 80 companies of the former landing corps of the marines took part, subsequently consolidated into 10 regiments of a two-battalion composition. The actions of these regiments, which glorified the Russian marines during the Northern War, in Derbent, Baku and Salyan in the Caspian Sea, had a significant impact on the military-political situation in Transcaucasia and ensured the security of Russia's southeastern borders.

Subsequently, during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1743, the personnel of the four regiments that took part in the Persian campaign were used to staff two naval regiments of the Baltic Fleet. Thus, in the first half of the XVIII century. it became natural to attract army infantry regiments that had previously served in the fleet to replenish parts of the marine corps.

1.2. Naval Infantry in the Wars of the Russian Empire 1735–1917

In 1733-1734, due to financial difficulties, the fleet and marines were reorganized, the number of which was reduced by 700-750 people. By decree of Empress Anna Ivanovna, two regiments of three battalions were created in the Baltic Sea instead of separate battalions.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. from the personnel of two regiments of the Baltic Fleet, a consolidated battalion of marines was formed in the amount of 2145 people, who took an active part in the siege and capture of Azov.

A bright page in the diverse activities of the regiments was the participation of 46 people. (3 officers and 43 lower ranks) in Bering's second expedition.

A great influence on the development of the Marine Corps in the second half of the 18th century. provided by the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763, in which the tactics of the Marine Corps, advanced for that time, were used and its most advanced forms were used.

During the Seven Years' War, the bold and decisive actions of the Baltic Fleet marines predetermined the success of the ground forces in capturing the important Prussian fortress of Kolberg.

During the siege of the fortress, the landing force consisting of 2012 marines and sailors under the command of Captain 1st Rank G. A. Spiridov, after landing on the shore, interacted with the troops of the siege corps of General P. A. Rumyantsev.

On the night of September 7, 1761, the landing detachment under the command of Spiridov, as a result of a bold attack, captured the Prussian coastal battery located opposite the right flank of the Russian siege corps, along with all the guns and a garrison of about 400 people. In this battle, the grenadier company of the marines under the command of Lieutenant P.I. Pushchin, which was considered the best unit among the grenadier units of the siege corps, especially distinguished itself.

The first Archipelago expedition of 1769-1774, during which the blockade of the Dardanelles was carried out, and landings landed on the islands of the Archipelago, the coast of Greece and the Anatolian coast of Turkey, diverted significant forces Turkish army from the main Black Sea theater of operations and assisted the Greek rebels in the fight against Turkey.

Marine boarding teams took part in the famous battle of Chesma.

During the Archipelago expedition, more than 60 landings were landed, the main combat force of which was the Marine Corps of the Baltic Fleet.

In accordance with the strategic plan of the war from 1769 to 1774, five squadrons of the Baltic Fleet were sent to the Mediterranean Sea with a landing force of more than 8000 people, including the regular marines of the Baltic Fleet and the personnel of the Life Guards of Preobrazhensky, as well as Kexholmsky, Shlisselbursky, Ryazansky, Tobolsk, Vyatka and Pskov infantry regiments. These regiments, previously part of the landing corps created by Peter I, again came to the fleet in order to fulfill their military duty to the Fatherland with honor.

The squadrons of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean for several years independently maintained their combat capability, and the brilliant victories they won over the more numerous fleet of the enemy were a remarkable example of the long-term actions of a large naval formation, which included marines, far from their bases.

The successful actions of the Russian fleet raised Russia's prestige in the international arena and had a significant impact on the overall course of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774.

Using the power of its fleet, in 1783 Russia finally annexed the Crimea without a war, where the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol, was created.

During the fighting of the Liman (later Danube) flotilla during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. the marines of the Black Sea Fleet were born, which especially distinguished themselves during the heroic assault on the fortress of Izmail.

As you know, Izmail was taken as a result of an assault on nine columns of the Russian army under the command of Suvorov, who attacked him from three directions. Six of them attacked from the land, and three, which included the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet, from the side of the river.

According to Suvorov, the marines "showed amazing courage and zeal." In his report to G. A. Potemkin on the capture of Izmail, among those who distinguished themselves, the names of eight officers and one sergeant of naval battalions and about 70 officers and sergeants of the Nikolaev and Dnepropetrovsk coastal grenadier regiments were mentioned.

One of the most glorious pages in the history of the Marine Corps was its participation in the Mediterranean campaign of Admiral F.F. Ushakov in 1798–1800. As a result of brilliant landing operations, the Ionian Islands were liberated from the Turks, the fortress of Corfu, which was considered impregnable, was taken by storm from the sea, and Naples and Rome were occupied.

The fighting of the Marine Corps was distinguished by a variety of tactical forms. She successfully operated as part of the landing forces, especially during the assault on coastal fortresses.

On November 9, 1798, the combined Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of Ushakov blocked the island of Corfu, the main base of the French naval and land forces in the eastern Mediterranean. The fortress located on it, built by the Venetians and heavily fortified by the French, was considered one of the most powerful in Europe.

The forward detachment of the landing force was led by the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Skipor, the other two detachments were led by the battalion commanders, Majors Boissel and Brimmer, and the landing reserve was on the ships of the squadron in readiness for landing. By 10:30 a.m. a total of 2158 people were landed, including 730 marines, 610 sailors, 68 gunners and 750 Turks.

After the fall of Vido, all forces and means were concentrated to storm Corfu. An hour and a half after the start of the assault, all three fortified forts that covered the approaches to the fortress of Corfu from land were taken by storm as a result of courageous and decisive landing actions.

Admiral Ushakov highly appreciated the actions of the marines, which played an important role in capturing Corfu. In his reports to Paul I dated February 21 and March 13, 1799, he reported that "naval troops and their commanders carried out combat missions with unparalleled courage and zeal."

Having received the news of the victory at Corfu, the great Russian commander Suvorov enthusiastically wrote: “Our Great Peter is alive! What he said after the defeat of the Swedish fleet at the Aland Islands in 1714, namely: nature produced only one Russia, it has no rivals, and now we see. Hooray! Russian fleet! Now I’m telling myself why I wasn’t at Corfu, even though I was a midshipman!

The capture of Corfu, the most powerful fortress in Europe at that time, only by the forces of the fleet and marines wrote another bright page in the military history of Russia.

The combat activity of the marines as part of the Russian fleet has seriously changed the military-political situation in the Mediterranean.

With the loss of the Ionian Islands, France lost its dominance in the Adriatic and the eastern Mediterranean, and Russia acquired the important naval base of Corfu.

In the Italian campaign of Suvorov and the Mediterranean campaign of Ushakov, the close military cooperation of two outstanding military leaders was manifested, which to a large extent determined the successful combat use of the marines in the coastal areas of the Apennine Peninsula. It is characteristic that many marines of the Black Sea Fleet, which took Ishmael, took part in the assault on Corfu.

On the basis of the provisions of Suvorov's "Science of Victory" and the national combat training system he created, generations of marines were trained and educated. The Suvorov system of teaching bayonet attack and aimed shooting had a deep educational meaning. In a marine corps soldier, she developed courage, courage, composure in battle and accustomed him to initiative and decisive actions.

The ability to strike with a bayonet was a moral measure of the Russian marines. Not without reason, near Izmail and Corfu, in the direction of the main attack, battalions of marines, masters of the bayonet strike, advanced as assault detachments.

All of the above allows us to draw the following conclusions. Russia's intense struggle for national independence in the 18th century. and the peculiarities of the construction of its Armed Forces during this period determined the peculiar path of development and combat use of the marines.

The merit of the Marine Corps is that, with its combat activities, it had a significant impact on the outcome of many wars of the Russian Empire. Having adopted the advanced system of training and education, she managed not only to develop, but also to enrich it with new content, proving the invincibility of the Russian military school.

In 1803, all separate battalions of the Marine Corps were consolidated into four Marine Regiments (three in the Baltic and one in the Black Sea Fleet), which wrote many glorious pages in the history of the Marine Corps.

During the second Archipelago expedition of the Russian fleet 1805-1807. in the squadron of Vice-Admiral D.N. Senyavin, the second naval regiment was formed from the battalions of the naval regiments of the Baltic Fleet, which acted heroically in landings and took part in many battles with France in 1805–1807. and the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812. The Third Naval Regiment of the Baltic Fleet participated in the landing corps of Lieutenant General P. A. Tolstoy in the Hanover expedition of 1805.

Created in 1811, the 25th Infantry Division, which included two brigades formed from naval regiments, fought on the land front in the Patriotic War of 1812.

Formed in 1810, the Naval Guards crew - the only part in the history of the Russian navy, which was both a ship crew and an infantry guards battalion - took part in all wars of the 19th-20th centuries. as a marine, multiplying its heroic traditions. The Naval Guards crew participated in the battles at Borodino and Krasnoe, together with the entire Russian army, traveled from Borodino to Paris. For courage and valor shown in the battle of Kulm, he received the highest award - the St. George Banner.

Courage and bravery was shown by the marines during the defense of Sevastopol, Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka Port Arthur and on the fronts of the First World War.

In the heroic defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855. 17 amphibious assault and rifle battalions took part, five of which were created at the very beginning of the defense from shipboard "rifle parties".

In the ranks of the defenders of Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky, who defeated the Anglo-French landing in 1854, four detachments of sailors fought, formed from the crews of the Aurora frigate and the Dvina transport.

Appearance in the second half of the XIX century. steam armored fleet and the improvement of naval artillery had a significant impact on the organization and combat use of the marines.

Boarding battles and the galley fleet are a thing of the past, and there is no longer a need to use the marines to destroy the crews of enemy ships with small arms fire. At the same time, the need for marines began to grow for operations as part of landing forces and the defense of fleet bases.

On large ships of the Russian steam fleet of the second half of the 19th century. for the landing of small landing forces, landing platoons were formed, the personnel of which were trained in special rifle schools or training crews. The landing platoons, according to the purpose and nature of the tasks performed, were naval infantry teams. But there were no permanent units of the marines in the Russian fleet at that time.

In the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. two detachments of sailors of the Baltic and Black Sea fleets formed in St. Petersburg and Nikolaev took part. These naval detachments, which also included a “naval rifle company” as a regular part of the marine corps, established crossings for the ground forces, prepared amphibious crossing facilities, guarded bridges, landed tactical landings and sabotage groups.

In the defense of the main base of the Pacific Fleet of Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. units and landing teams formed from the personnel of the naval crew and ships played a significant role.

In the course of a long and stubborn defense, seven separate naval rifle battalions, a separate landing detachment of sailors, three separate naval rifle companies and several machine-gun teams fought bravely.

The fighting of the Russian army and navy during the defense of Port Arthur showed the need to have full-time marines in the fleet. The main naval headquarters planned to create one regiment in the Baltic and one battalion each in the Pacific and Black Sea fleets, but their states were approved only on the eve of the First World War.

During the First World War, the marines were widely used in the defense of naval bases and islands and in combat operations as part of landing forces.

At the beginning of the war, four battalions were formed in the Baltic and three in the Black Sea fleets. In 1915, the “Brigade of the Land Front of the Fortress of Emperor Peter the Great” was formed from four battalions of marines intended for the antiamphibious defense of Reval and the Moonsund Islands, and the special-purpose naval regiment was transformed into a separate naval brigade. In the same year, in connection with the creation of the Abo-Aland fortified area, a regiment formed on the basis of an officer rifle school, consisting of three battalions and a machine gun team, was transferred to the Baltic Fleet.

In 1916–1917 the formation of two divisions of marines in the Baltic and Black Sea fleets began, which was not completed until the end of the war. During the First World War, a new form of armed struggle was established - the landing operation, and the tactics of the Marine Corps were further developed. During the defense of the Moonsund Islands in the Baltic Sea in 1917, the joint actions of the fleet and ground forces acquired the features of an antiamphibious operation, although the lack of a unified command limited their capabilities. The experience of the formation and combat use of the Russian marines during the First World War clearly showed not only its necessity in the fleet, but also the importance of systematic and targeted combat training, the availability of a manning system, armament and support in accordance with the tasks of this kind of forces.

1.3. Development and use of the marines in 1917–2005

In 1917, the birth of the Soviet marines began. During the years of the Civil War, the fleet sent about 75,000 people to the land fronts, from among which formations were created that had a different organizational structure: expeditionary detachments, regiments, battalions.

The main form of their combat use was operations as part of sea, lake and river landings.

The largest unit during the years of the Civil War was the 1st Naval Expeditionary Division, which was, in essence, a division of the Marine Corps, created in 1920 in Mariupol to defend the coast of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and conduct combat operations as part of landing forces. Having successfully landed in a counterlanding on August 24, 1920, the division, advancing in a southerly direction in cooperation with formations and units of the 9th Army, created a threat to the left flank of the landing of General Ulagay and forced the enemy to begin a withdrawal, which contributed to the subsequent liberation of the entire Kuban.

Naval formations during the Civil War, which did not have a unified organizational structure of regular troops and were not prepared to perform tasks characteristic of the Marine Corps, were the prototype of the first generation of Marine Corps of the USSR Navy, the creation of which began in the late 30s, on the eve of the Great Patriotic War war.

In the interwar period, the maritime powers did not pay due attention to landing operations, while the possibilities of antiamphibious defense were overestimated and the increased offensive capabilities of the ground forces were not taken into account.

A positive development for the Soviet navy was the development of cooperation between the army and navy in the conduct of combat operations in coastal areas.

In the process of combat training of the fleets, serious attention was paid to the landing of assault forces (mainly tactical). For the first time in the history of naval art, in the 1930s, the theoretical foundations of a amphibious landing operation were developed, the correctness of which was tested during combat training.

However, the creation of landing ships, the formation and training of the Marine Corps was not given due attention. The fleets of the Soviet Navy before the Second World War did not have a single landing ship of special construction. The fleets also did not have the required number of ships for artillery support of the landing and ensuring its combat operations on the coast. All this significantly limited the fleet's ability to assist the ground forces and hindered its operations during amphibious landings during the Great Patriotic War.

The first step towards recreating the marines as a branch of the Navy was the formation of a special rifle brigade of the Baltic Fleet. The date of the creation of the Soviet marines should be considered January 15, 1940, when the 1st Special Marine Brigade was created by order of the Navy.

During the Soviet-Finnish war, the brigade landed as part of landing forces on Gogland, Seskar and other islands in the Gulf of Finland. The ski detachment of the Marine Corps and special forces battalions took part in this war. The marines received special development during the Great Patriotic War, on the fronts of which one division, 19 brigades, 14 regiments, 36 battalions of marines and 35 marine rifle brigades fought heroically.

Organization of the marines of the Navy at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945.

At the beginning of the war, when an extremely difficult situation developed on the Soviet-German front, naval rifle brigades were formed from the personnel of the fleet, intended for combat operations on land fronts, and marine brigades for operations as part of amphibious assault forces and defense of naval bases and landing-hazardous areas of the sea coast. The marines showed particular stamina, courage and perseverance in the defense of Odessa, Sevastopol, Tallinn, Leningrad, the naval bases of the Arctic, as well as in defensive battles near Moscow, Stalingrad, Rostov, in the foothills of the Caucasus and other places.

In September-October 1941, on the Oranienbaum bridgehead, out of 60 km of the total defense line, more than 50 km were held by marines.

In September 1941, the 4th Separate Marine Brigade crossed the Neva, captured and until December 1941 held the famous "piglet" near the Neva Dubrovka. Courage and audacity were shown by the marines, acting as part of the amphibious assault, in which it was only in 1941-1942. landed 25 times. In total, during the war years, the Soviet fleet landed 125 landings with a total number of about 240 thousand people. Already on the fourth day of the war, on the morning of June 25, an assault force was landed on the Romanian bank of the Danube, in the first throw of which a platoon of marines st. Lieutenant M. Kozelbashev.

High morale, an irresistible offensive impulse, audacity and selflessness distinguished the marines during the landing in the Grigoryevka area near Odessa, in the Kerch-Feodosia and Novorossiysk landing operations in 1941-1943, in the Tosno area during the Ust-Tosno offensive operation and in the area Cape Pikshuev during the Murmansk offensive operation in the Arctic in 1942

An example of mass heroism was shown by the marines of the detachment of Art. Lieutenant Olshansky, who landed in March 1944 in the port of Nikolaev. At the cost of their lives, the paratroopers completed their combat mission and were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In total, during the war years, this high rank was awarded to 200 marines, and intelligence officer V.N. Leonov became twice a Hero of the Soviet Union.

During the war with Japan, thanks to the rapid landing operations of the Pacific Fleet, in August 1945, Soviet troops were able to quickly capture South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands and ensure a high rate of advance in Manchuria. The landing of amphibious assault forces in the Korean ports of Yuki, Rasin, Ettin and the naval bases of Seishin and Genzan disrupted the communications of the Japanese Kwantung Army with the mother country, which made it possible to successfully complete its complete encirclement and defeat and significantly accelerate the end of World War II.

The recognition of great services to the Motherland was the assignment of honorary titles to dozens of formations and units of the marine corps, as well as the transformation of five brigades and two battalions of the marine corps into guards. Many formations and units of the Marine Corps became Red Banner, and the 83rd and 255th Naval Infantry Brigades were twice Red Banner.

Landing operations carried out during the Great Patriotic War and the war with Japan made a great contribution to the theory and practice of naval art. The tactics of the marines were enriched with new, more advanced methods and methods of conducting combat operations during the landing of amphibious assault forces and the defense of naval bases.

After the end of the war, the global confrontation strategy required the USSR to develop all branches of the Navy, including the marines. However, the development of naval construction in the post-war period was affected by the personality cult of I. V. Stalin, and was influenced by the misunderstanding of the role of the Navy by the head of government N. S. Khrushchev and the Minister of Defense of the USSR G. K. Zhukov.

At the end of the 1940s, a number of leading theoreticians of the Navy were subjected to unjustified repressions, which to a large extent retarded the development of theoretical thought. A negative role was played by frequent changes in the leadership of the Navy.

Due to the belittling of the role of landing operations in the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons by the enemy, only small tactical landings were considered possible.

In the mid 50s. under the influence of the rapid development of nuclear missile weapons, N. S. Khrushchev spoke in favor of limiting the tasks of the fleet and openly declared the uselessness of the marines, the formations and units of which were disbanded, and most of the officers who had combat experience were transferred to the reserve. Program of military shipbuilding for 1955-1964. it was planned to build 12 tank landing ships, 55 large and 83 small landing ships. But she did not receive the approval of the head of government, who did not take into account the opinion of the leadership of the Navy. This led in 1958 to the cessation of the construction of landing ships.

All these circumstances did great harm to the development and growth of the Navy and the Marine Corps in the post-war period and caused a lag behind the US, British and French navies.

In the early 60s. influenced by the experience of local wars and serious scientific research, the new political leadership of the country supported the proposal of the command of the Navy to recreate the marines.

The second generation of the Soviet marines began its history in the Baltic Fleet, where in 1963 a separate guards regiment was formed. In the same year, a marine regiment was formed in the Pacific, in 1966 - in the Northern, and in 1967 - in the Black Sea Fleet. In 1967, a division of marines was formed in the Pacific Fleet, which became the first formation of the second generation of Soviet marines.

Intensive combat training of units and subunits of the Marine Corps began to carry out tasks. The highest and most effective form of training and the most important means of combat coordination of units and improving their field and sea (amphibious) skills were the exercises "Ocean" and "South-72".

In 1971, a marines training center was established in the Black Sea Fleet, in which officers and sailors of combat units of the marines of all fleets underwent reconnaissance and sabotage training. The qualitative and quantitative growth of the Soviet Navy allowed it to enter the expanses of the world's oceans.

Formations and units of the Marine Corps on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War

The construction of landing ships of various classifications that meet modern requirements has been developed.

At the end of the 60s. 60 small landing ships left the shipyards, a series of Skat-type hovercraft in the amount of 30 units was laid down. In the period from 1966 to 1975, 14 large landing ships, project 1171, were put into operation, which formed the basis of the strategic landing forces of the Soviet Navy.

In the 70s, a large number of high-speed medium landing ships were built, 10 tank landing ships of Project 775, capable of transporting 12–14 tanks and more than 200 marines over a distance of up to 6,000 miles, which allowed NATO military experts to conclude that the Soviet Navy was capable of carrying out offensive operations.

At the end of the 70s. there have been changes in the military doctrine, allowing, in conditions of parity in the strategic nuclear forces of the warring parties, the possibility of creating in the USSR a fleet with a balanced ratio of all types of forces and turning it, for the first time in the history of the Soviet state, into an offensive strategic branch of the armed forces.

The constant aggravation of the international situation in the Middle East and the need to protect the state interests of the USSR in this region required the deployment of the 5th and 8th operational squadrons in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, in which, starting from the 60s, the naval infantry.

Marines of all fleets, performing combat missions in the vast Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, off the coast of Egypt, Angola, Ethiopia, Somalia, Guinea, Vietnam and other countries, showed heroism and high combat skills and influenced politics, international relations and diplomacy contributing to the prevention or termination of military conflicts.

In 1979–1980 Marines of the Pacific and Black Sea Fleets were part of the grouping of ships of the Navy in the Indian Ocean, Red and Mediterranean Seas, ensuring the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. In the course of military service, which was a new form of employment of the Marine Corps and the highest form of maintaining its combat readiness, high moral, psychological and combat qualities were brought up, friendship and military partnership tested by long-distance sea voyages were strengthened. An important stage in the development of the marines was the reorganization in 1979 of individual regiments of the Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets into separate brigades of the marines, which significantly increased the combat potential. The formation and development of the third generation of the Marine Corps of the Soviet Navy began.

Airborne assault battalions were formed in the brigades and regiments of the Marine Corps division of the Pacific Fleet, intended mainly for operations as part of amphibious assaults landed on shipborne landing craft, as well as parachuted and landed landing methods as part of airborne assault forces.

Scientific and technological progress in military affairs has contributed to the further improvement of the armament of the Marine Corps and equipping it with modern self-propelled, mostly floating military equipment, primarily diesel armored personnel carriers BTR-80, self-propelled floating artillery guns "Nona-S", self-propelled 122-mm howitzers "Gvozdika ”, Tunguska anti-aircraft missile systems, Strela-10 self-propelled short-range anti-aircraft missile systems, Igla portable anti-aircraft missile systems, etc.

From 1975 to 1981, the amphibious assault ship formations included 20 Kalmar-type landing hovercraft, 8 Murena-type landing hovercraft and 18 of the world's largest Jeyran-type landing hovercraft, which increased the capabilities of the Marine Corps and significantly increased the rate of landings.

In 1978, the first Soviet large landing ship "Ivan Rogov", highly appreciated by NATO specialists, was put into operation, combining the qualities of a helicopter carrier and a dock ship and capable of taking on board a reinforced battalion of marines, four KA-29 transport and combat helicopters designed for landing 16 marines with full gear and weapons each, fire support and cargo transportation, and two 110-ton Kalmar-class DKVP. The next ship of this project, Alexander Nikolaev, was commissioned 4.5 years later.

In 1979, five amphibious ekranoplanes of the Dragon type were successfully tested, carrying 120 marines or 20 tons of cargo (including one armored personnel carrier) and capable of moving at a speed of 190 knots. It was planned to release 120 ships, but the troubles of "perestroika" and the collapse of the state that followed it interrupted the process of building these unique landing craft in the stage of readiness for serial production.

In the 80s, the new organizational structure of the Marine Corps was mastered and tested in the course of everyday combat training and in exercises with the landing of large landing forces "West-81", "West-84", "Autumn-88". During these years, the tasks of the Marine Corps became more complicated, which, in accordance with the new Combat Training Course, began to purposefully prepare for operations as part of airborne and amphibious assault forces in airborne and amphibious assault operations.

The fleet began to receive new Zubr-type landing hovercraft that meet modern requirements, taking on board up to 140 marines or three tanks;

In 1989, due to a significant reduction in the Armed Forces, especially ground forces, the tasks of the Navy in the defense of the sea coast became more complicated. Taking into account the experience of the Great Patriotic War, which revealed the vulnerability of the defense of naval bases from the land side, a new branch of the Navy forces was created - the Coastal Forces, which included three types of troops: marines, coastal missile and artillery troops and coastal defense troops. The latter were based on four motorized rifle divisions transferred from the military districts, which were called coastal defense divisions.

The organizational changes carried out significantly increased the combat capabilities of the coastal troops, which began to include about 1,500 tanks, 1,100 guns and mortars, 2,000 armored combat vehicles, and about 150 BR OTN and TN launchers.

Socio-political situation in the late 80s - early 90s. could not but affect the life of the marines, which began to be involved in the protection and defense of facilities in the territories of the former Soviet republics of the Baltic states, in the Crimea, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

The Marines assisted in maintaining law and order in Baku, participated in the evacuation of civilians from Abkhazia and the disarmament of illegal groups in Georgia.

At the same time, a significant factor in stabilizing the situation in the Caspian Sea, where the interests of a number of neighboring states were intertwined, was the formation of the 77th Separate Guards Moscow-Chernigov Order of Lenin, Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Marine Corps Brigade as part of the Caspian Flotilla.

During the first stage of the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the number of personnel of formations and units of the Marine Corps was significantly reduced, which, nevertheless, managed to maintain its combat capability even in these difficult conditions.

Combat operations during the restoration of constitutional order in the Chechen Republic in 1994–1996 became a severe test for the Russian marines.

To participate in the hostilities in the North Caucasus, units of the marine corps were involved, which were part of the naval contingent of mobile forces: the 165th Marine Regiment of the Pacific Fleet and the airborne assault battalions of the Northern and Baltic fleets. The marines interacted with the ground forces and airborne units in the main direction, performing the most difficult tasks of capturing and holding important administrative buildings in Grozny, heights in the foothills, bridges, crossings, etc. When performing tasks, units and subunits of the marine corps showed courage and courage , dedication and high combat skills, duly appreciated by the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the command of the group of troops in the Chechen Republic.

For the entire period of hostilities, there was not a single case of failure to fulfill a combat mission, leaving a line, house or entrance, not a single person was left on the battlefield, there was not a single “missing person”. Sixteen marines were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, 4913 people received military orders and medals.

After returning to the places of permanent deployment of units from the Caucasus, the marines continued combat training, taking into account the acquired combat experience. Permanent readiness units were created, staffed according to wartime states. However, the further reduction of the Armed Forces led to a decrease in the number of personnel of the Marine Corps, including its most combat-ready units - airborne assault battalions. The fallacy of such a reduction was shown by subsequent events.

From October 1999 to June 2000, the marines again took part in the hostilities in the Chechen Republic. The main tasks in the course of the ongoing counter-terrorist operation were carried out by units and subunits of the Marine Corps together with the airborne troops as part of a tactical group led by Major General A.I. Operating in difficult conditions of mountainous and wooded terrain, including in winter, day and night, the marines again showed their high fighting qualities: courage and courage, determination and selflessness in the performance of their military duty. They seized and held residential quarters, dominating heights, blocked individual settlements, railways, highways and possible exit routes for militants. During all stages of the counter-terrorist operation, the command of the group of forces repeatedly noted the successful actions of units and subunits of the Marine Corps.

In carrying out the assigned tasks, the marines invariably showed courage and heroism, steadfastness and comradely mutual assistance. Five people were awarded the high title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

At present, the Marine Corps of the Russian Navy continues to be a highly mobile and combat-ready branch of the armed forces. An essential factor in its combat readiness to defend the Fatherland is the education of personnel on the glorious combat traditions of the Russian marines, instilling in the current generation of marines a sense of pride in serving in glory-covered formations and units of the marine corps.

Notes:

Military encyclopedic lexicon published by the society of military men and writers. Ed. L. N. Zeddeler. SPb. 1855. Vol. VII. pp. 88–89.

Golitsyn N. S. General military history of ancient times. SPb. 1874. Vol. II. S. 151.

Grebelsky P. Kh. Pirates. SPb. 1992, p. 11.

Dragomirov M. About landings in ancient and modern times. SPb.1857. S. 33.

Combat chronicle of the Russian fleet. Chronicle of the most important events in the military history of the Russian fleet. SPb. 1857. S. 33.

Evarnitsky D. History of the Zaporizhian Cossacks. SPb. 1912. T. 7. S. 29; History of the Russian army and navy. SPb. 1912. T. 7. S. 29; Razin E. A. History of military art. M. 1961. T. 3. S. 300.

Ustryalov N. G. History of the reign of Peter the Great. SPb. 1858. Vol. II. adj. S. 398.; Additions to historical documents collected and published by the Archaeographic Commission. St. Petersburg, 1855. T. V. S. 280; Yelagin S. Materials for the history of Russian maritime legislation. SPb. 1859. Issue. 1. p. 5.

Beskrovny L. G. Reform of the army and navy / In the book: Essays on the history of the USSR. Russia in the first quarter of the 18th century Transformations of Peter I. M. 1954. S. 362.

Marine Corps of the Navy. Ed. I. S. Skuratova. pp. 16–17.

There. S. 18.

Skuratov I.S. Their name is marines // Marine collection. 1992. No. 11. S. 9–10.