38th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade

In addition to the airborne parachute formations, the Ground Forces included Airborne Assault Units ( DShCH ).

They obeyed the commander of the troops of military districts (groups of forces), armies or corps . They were not much different in form and armament from the paratrooper units, except for tasks, subordination and OSh . The methods of combat use, combat training programs for personnel, armament and uniforms of military personnel were the same as the parachute and airborne units and formations of the airborne forces (central command). The uniforms and insignia of the Airborne Forces and the air assault units were received in 1982 - after their introduction for the Special Purpose Airborne Division and the Special Operations Directorate of the GRU (until 1982-1983 the above-mentioned units wore combined arms uniforms and insignia). The first of the airborne assault units in the GSVG disguised as the Airborne Forces was the 35th Airborne Division , by the end of 1983, all the other airborne assault regiments had been converted to the Airborne Forces.

The difference between the paratrooper and paratrooper assault formations was as follows:

• In the presence of a standard amphibious armored vehicles ( BMD , BTR-D , self-propelled guns " Nona " and so on). In the air assault units, it was equipped with only a quarter of all units - in contrast to 100% of its staffing in the paratrooper units.
• In subordination of troops. The airborne assault units, in operational terms, were subordinate to the command of military districts (groups of troops), armies, and corps. The paratroopers were subordinate to the command of the Airborne Forces , whose headquarters was in Moscow .
• In the tasks. It was assumed that the air assault units, in the event of the beginning of large-scale hostilities, will be used to land in the enemy’s near rear, mainly by helicopter landing method. The parachute assault units were supposed to be used in the enemy’s deeper rear with parachuting from BTA aircraft . At the same time, airborne training with planned training landings using the parachute method of personnel and military equipment was mandatory for both types of formations.
• In contrast to the guards airborne parachute units deployed to the full staff, some air assault brigades were staged (incomplete) and were not guards . The exception was three brigades ( 35th , 38th and 56th ), which received the guards, created on the basis of the guards airborne regiments , disbanded in 1979, the 105th guards airborne Vienna Red Banner Division . The 40th Air Assault Brigade , created on the basis of the 612th Separate Airborne Assault Battalion and the 100th Separate Reconnaissance Company of the same division, did not receive the title of " Guards ".

Directive on the creation of the 38th Guards. ODShBr was released on November 10, 1979 ^[1] .

The reason for the creation of air assault formations at the end was the revision of tactics in the fight against the enemy in the event of a full-scale war. The stake was made on the concept of using massive landings in the enemy’s near rear, capable of disorganizing the defense . The technical opportunity for such a landing was provided by the significantly increased fleet of transport helicopters in army aviation by this time.

The first commander of the 38th brigade, the guard, Colonel G.V. Lomovtsev, a native of the Terek Cossacks , a graduate of the Suvorov School in 1943, occupied all the years of service. Having become a company man, he made the best company, the battalion commander the best battalion, and the regiment commander the best regiment in the airborne forces. It is not surprising that when the army leadership in the late 70s decided to disband the 105th Guards Airborne Division , which was stationed in Fergana , and to create on its basis: separate Guards airborne assault brigades ( 35th , 38th and 56th -th ), 40th (without the status of "Guards"), 345th Guards Parachute Regiment , separate air assault battalions (899th, 900th, 902nd and 1044th). Georgy Lomovtsev, who then served as deputy comm diva, was instructed to form the 38th brigade, which was to be located in Brest.

The team began to form in the literal sense of the word from one officer. At the end of October, the parachute-landing battalion of the Baku regiment arrived in submission to the brigade commander: officers, ensigns and senior employees — about three hundred people. At first, there was a strain with officers. Often, new units were transferred from other units — mainly tankers from the okrug, because specialists were needed for the airborne assault vehicles in the brigade. In a number of cases, the "tank" contingent, to put it mildly, has proved itself in its parts not from the best side. Subsequently, however, such frames were eliminated. With the arrival of the young replenishment, after November 7, the brigade turned into a full-fledged military formation! Then there were strict selection criteria in the Airborne Forces, the Recruit had to be well developed physically, not less than 1.75 in height, not less than 65 kilograms of weight. An exception was made for those who jumped in DOSAAF on a civilian. These were taken without restrictions. The oath was appointed on January 5, 1980. The brigade commander invited the commander of the Belarusian military district to the celebration. He agreed, flew in. During the ceremonial passage in front of the podium on the parade ground, he asked: "Where are you young?" When Colonel Lomovtsev stopped the company with a young replenishment, the commander did not believe: so clearly the new appeal, it seemed, simply could not walk. And yet, it was a fact. Over the course of a month, the young fighter of the young paratroopers was schooled so that, in general, they were no different from the old-timers. The commander ordered the passage to be repeated the next day, and to this spectacle he invited the commanders of individual units, commanders of divisions and armies, staging them with punishment: drill training to learn from the Brest paratroopers!

Afghanistan

The combat training in the brigade began on the first of December - almost a month later, from the beginning of its formation. A class schedule was drawn up and all day long officers, warrant officers, soldiers and sergeants spent in the fields. Shooting, night shooting, helicopter shooting at targets, riding in military vehicles, capturing and destroying objects and so on. What did one “strip”, invented in those days by the command of the brigade, cost. On a route with a length of over 20 kilometers, from the training ground to Lake Mednoye, the unit left at 8 in the morning and returned about 12 at night. The strip was divided into several stages. On the first, physical training was practiced, on the second, the capture of enemy firing positions and self-propelled guns, on the third, the command post had to be destroyed, and on the fourth, an enemy missile. In short, everything that would have to be done during real hostilities. Along the way, the paratroopers made their way through the rubble, swamps, dense thickets, smashed numerous ambushes. The experience gained in hard training, the brigade officers soon had to put into practice: in the 80s, many of them went to Afghanistan.

In March 1987, 38 guards arrived in Brest from Afghanistan. air assault brigade under the pretext of participating in major exercises. Upon arrival, the 38th Brigade, together with units of the 56th Air Assault Brigade, took part in Operation Thunderstorm in the province of Ghazni. The paratroopers from Brest stayed in Afghanistan for no more than three months, after which they disappeared into the RPD, having completed several combat missions during their stay in the DRA. On May 21, 1987, in the province of Kandahar, two battalions of the 38th OshBR conducted Operation South-87.

Parachuteless landing

The airborne assault brigade from the airborne brigade was distinguished by combat missions. If the usual landing was to be thrown far behind enemy lines, then the air assault unit could operate both deep behind and behind the rear of the troops of the first echelon. Thus, Brest paratroopers had to make jumps both from an airplane and from a helicopter. According to the standards of those years, during a two-year service, a soldier gained 20–22 jumps (very well), a junior officer had to step into the sky six times, a senior officer four, and one training jump, the second night, the third with weapons, the fourth during exercises . In reality, of course, they jumped more than they should. And in those years, the command decided to add a new one to the usual landing methods: jumping from a helicopter without parachutes - at low altitude and at low speed. For the first time in the Union they decided to test it in the 38th brigade. They worked, as they say, from the first take without preparation. In front of the then Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR Nikolai Ogarkov, the company dropped in 10 minutes in a minute. There were some injuries: one officer broke his leg. But in general, the experiment was considered successful.

Creating a music orchestra

According to the staff in the brigade was supposed to be an orchestra. Senior Lieutenant Alexander Nosov was appointed to lead it. He had to be accommodated in the house of officers, where it was necessary to carry out repairs. I gave him a soldier: painters and plasterers, they put the premises in order, but there was one more problem. The orchestra did not have musicians playing wind instruments. Anyway, there was nowhere to take them, so I said: "Take those soldiers with whom you made repairs, and now do an orchestra with them." Alexander patiently began to teach soldiers music and ... Already in the first year of service, the orchestra took first place in the Belarusian military district! And a year later a musical ensemble appeared in the brigade, which was called Blue Berets. Long before the birth of the famous "Afghan" VIA!

In 1981, for the professionalism and combat training shown during the West-81 exercises, the 38th Guards. ODSHBr was awarded the pennant "For Courage and Military Valor."

On June 1, 1990, the brigade was transferred to the USSR Airborne Forces and reorganized into the 38th Separate Guards Vienna Red Banner Airborne Brigade (38th Guards Airborne Brigade) .

On September 1, 1995, the 38th Brigade was transferred to the mobile forces of the Republic of Belarus and renamed the 38th Separate Guards Vienna Red Banner Mobile Brigade (38th Guards OMBBr).

Since 2002, the brigade has been part of the Ground Forces.

In 2007, the 38th OMBB was transferred to the units of the central subordination of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and belongs to the Special Operations Forces .

On August 2, 2016, the 38th Brigade was returned to its original historical name, the 38th Separate Guards Vienna Red Banner Airborne Assault Brigade (38th Guards Special Operations Brigade).

To date, the "Red Barracks" of the 38th guards detachment and a number of other buildings on the territory of the unit have been preserved.

It was in the 38th separate guards mobile brigade that a new tradition of the Belarusian paratroopers was born - a comprehensive special test for the honorary title “Black Eagle”. To reward the winners, a badge was also established - a symbol as prestigious among army commandos as, for example, the "maroon beret" in the special forces of the internal troops ( Special Forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs ).

The test was preceded by pre-selection and weekly fees with candidates. According to the condition, in groups of 3-4 people, the fighters had to continuously “conquer” night, day and another night in the Brest forests. At the same time, they had to go about a hundred kilometers and solve several tactical problems. It all started with the landing. Further, in conditions of active opposition of the “enemy”, it was necessary to scout an object on an area of ​​9 square kilometers and report its coordinates by radio, “destroy” the bridge over the river, meet a liaison officer and receive instructions from him on further actions, overcome the pursuit and ambushes of the “enemy” make a raid on the "ammunition depot." Then - perform exercises of firing from ten types of weapons. This was followed by a 6-kilometer march and scout trail, which was a continuous chain of obstacles: several tens of meters of a solid block of driftwood and fragments of reinforced concrete structures, a two-meter ditch with crumbling sandy shores, a fiery “font”, a forest block, a reinforced concrete pipe laid under section of the road, running in armored vehicles, a swampy area with open water windows and pits at the bottom, a 3-meter brick wall, a pile of metal pipes, a "mousetrap" (at a half-meter height barbed rovoloka and thin "thread waste"). All this was accompanied by the roar of explosive packets flying out of the bushes, shooting and smoke. And it is necessary to respond to shelling with shooting!

Toward the close of testing candidates expected hand-to-hand combat. The dealer on the “ Black Eagle ” was to take three three-minute bouts with three opponents without respite, moving from square to square. Shocks, throws, wrestling in the ground, painful moves were allowed. Passive combat was punished. The provision for the honorary title “ Black Eagle ” was discussed at the general meeting of the unit and approved by the commander of the brigade of the guard, Lt. Col. Valery Sakhashchik in 1999. Excerpts from the document: “The honorary title“ Black Eagle ”symbolizes the highest degree of military prowess and professional skill of the airborne troops, their full readiness to carry out a combat mission in any situation. The badge is an image of an eagle with outstretched wings, which in its claws compresses a black tulip flower. The eagle heads the number 38. The image of the eagle symbolizes a constant readiness for immediate and decisive action. The image of a black tulip flower symbolizes fidelity to traditions and the eternal memory of servicemen who, at the cost of their lives, glorified the airborne troops. The number 38 is evidence that the Council of Black Eagles was established on the basis of the 38th Guards Ombre . The honorary title “The Black Eagle” is awarded to servicemen who have achieved high results in combat training, have impeccable military discipline, successfully passed the Ph.D. experience and passed special tests, and who have shown special courage and heroism in the performance of military training, combat and special missions. ” Officers and warrant officers were awarded the Black Eagle badge in silver , while non-commissioned sergeants and military soldiers were awarded the bronze symbol. Each sign (220 copies were made at one of the Minsk enterprises) had a serial number. From 1999 to 2002, seven tests were conducted to confer the honorary title and badge " Black Eagle ", in which more than 500 people took part. For the relatively small but vivid history of the movement of the " black eagles " 145 soldiers were awarded with prestigious symbols, including several representatives of the internal troops.

Something similar was developed at the 5th Special Forces Brigade in the early 2000s. The “ Purple Cross ” badge was awarded to servicemen who achieved the highest levels in combat training and passed comprehensive qualification tests according to an individual program. Soon it was decided to introduce a single breastplate “Valor and Mastery” for all units of the MTR.

" Black Eagle " and " Valor and Skill " have become as prestigious symbols as the " maroon beret" in the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

. The Brest " Black Eagle " launched this movement, as a result of which it was decided to create a single badge on which all SSO divisions will be able to pass (38th Guards ODSHBr, 103rd Guards OVDBr, 5th OBrSpN, 33- 1st Guards OOSpN). New trials embodied all the best that was created before. The symbol of the sign was the mythical invincible creature " Griffin ", symbolizing the mind and power. The upper part of the griffin is from the eagle, the lower part is from the lion, which means the power of the griffin both in the sky and on the earth. Military personnel who have passed the test for the right to wear the Valor and Mastery badge have priority when they are appointed to higher posts and when enrolled in military schools. Today this badge is a symbol of a specialist of the highest level of special operations forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. However, not only RB. Tests have gained international status. In the test for the right to wear the “ Valor and Skill ” sign, military servicemen of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation take part. Tests are held in the 103rd Guards. OVDBr, at the Losvido training ground. Every year the test program becomes more complicated, and the number of applicants is growing.

• Office brigade (headquarters, services).
• 381st Separate Guards Airborne Assault Battalion ( Guards Special Operations Division ), military unit 92700.
• The 382nd Separate Guards Airborne Assault Battalion ( Guards Special Operations Division ), military unit 92800.
• The 383rd Separate Guards Airborne Assault Battalion ( Guards Special Operations Division ), military unit 92900.
• Mixed artillery division ( SmADn ).
• Anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery (ZRABatr ).
• Communication Battalion ( BS ).
• Reconnaissance Airborne Company ( DDR ).
• Engineering sapper company ( ISR ).
• Company security and maintenance ( RO and O ).
• Repair company ( RemR ).
• Material Support Company ( RMO ).
• Medical company.
• RHBZ platoon.

The composition of the 381st and 382nd guards. ODSB

• Battalion office
• 1st Air Assault Company ( DSR ) - 3 entries
• 2nd Air Assault Company ( DSR ) - 3 platoons
• 3rd Air Assault Company ( DSR ) - 3 platoons
• Reconnaissance Platoon ( RV )
• Grenade Platoon ( GrV )
• Communication Platoon ( BC )
• Logistic Support Platoon (VMTO )

The composition of the 383rd Guards. ODSB

• Battalion office
• 1st Air Assault Company ( DSR ) - 3 groups
• 2nd Air Assault Company ( DSR ) - 3 groups
• 3rd Air Assault Company ( DSR ) - 3 groups
• Reconnaissance Platoon ( RV )
• Grenade Platoon ( GrV )
• Communication Platoon ( BC )
• Automobile platoon ( AvtV )
• Platoon of support ( IN )

Battalion staff, such as in a special forces unit.

• Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus
• Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus
• 105th Guards Airborne Division
• 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade
• 35th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade

• Unknown division. 105th Guards Airborne Red Banner Division (mountainous desert).
• USSR air assault troops