Naval Infantry (Russia)
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The Russian Naval Infantry, (Russian: Морская пехота) are the amphibious force of the Russian Armed Forces. The first Russian naval infantry force was formed in 1705, and since that time they have fought in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, the Russo-Japanese War, and the First and Second World Wars. Under Admiral Gorshkov, the Soviet Navy expanded the reach of the Naval Infantry and deployed them worldwide on numerous occasions. Along with the rest of the Soviet Armed Forces, they fell on hard times since the collapse of the Soviet Union and have been reduced in size.
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[edit] History
The history of Russia's naval infantry began in November 1705 when, pursuant to a decree of Peter I, was formed a regiment of naval equipage (Russian: морской экипаж) for boarding, landing and marching service on the ships of the Baltic Fleet. Since that time, the naval infantry had a long and glorious part in the Military history of the Russian Empire. The Russian naval infantry won victories over the enemy in the Gangut sea battle of 1714, during the rout of the Turkish Navy in Cesme Harbor in 1770, and in taking the Ismail fortress on the Danube in 1790.
[edit] Napoleonic Wars
Naval infantry's combat record in the Napoleonic Wars begun with the taking of the French fortress of Corfu in the Ionian Sea in 1799. Within three weeks in that same year a Russian naval infantry landing force took Naples by storm, liberating Russia's ally, Italy from the French and entered Rome.
During the War of the Sixth Coalition the Russian naval infantrymen distinguished themselves in the battles against the French near Borodino (1812), Kulm (1813) and in the siege of the Danzig fortress.
[edit] The Crimean War
In 1854-1855 the naval infantrymen defended Sevastopol from the Anglo-French and Turkish troops
[edit] Russo-Japanese War of 1904
In 1904 naval infantrymen defended Port Arthur from the Japanese troops.
[edit] Second World War
During the years of World War II about 500,000 sailors fought on land in the many 650 man naval infantry battalions, six regiments (purpose raised with two battalions each) and 40 brigades (each with 5-10 battalions using surplus ships's crews), plus numerous smaller units. The Soviet experience in amphibious warfare in World War II contributed to the development of Soviet operational art in combined arms operations. Many elements in the SNI were parachute trained and the SNI conducted more drops and successful parachute operations than the VDV.
[edit] The Cold War
During the early 1960s, naval infantry became a combat arm of the Soviet Naval Forces. In 1989 naval infantry numbered 18,000 troops organised into one naval infantry division and three brigades. Naval Infantry had its own amphibious versions of standard armoured vehicles, and tanks used by the Ground Forces.
By the end of the Cold War the Soviet Naval forces had over eighty landing ships as well as two Ivan Rogov-class amphibious assault docks. The latter were assault ships that could transport one infantry battalion with forty armoured vehicles and their amphibious landing craft. At seventy five units, the Soviet Union had the world's largest inventory of combat air-cushion assault craft. In addition, many of the Soviet merchant fleet's (Morflot) 2,500 ocean-going ships could off-load weapons and supplies in an amphibious landing.
On November 18, 1990, on the eve of the Paris Summit where the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty and the Vienna Document on Confidence and Security-Building Measures (CSBMs) were signed, Soviet data were presented under the so-called initial data exchange. This showed a rather sudden emergence of three so-called coastal defence divisions (including the 3rd at Klaipeda in the Baltic Military District, the 126th in the Odessa Military District and possibly the 77th coastal defence division with the Northern Fleet), along with three artillery brigades/regiments, subordinate to the Soviet Navy, which had previously been unknown as such to NATO.[1] Much of the equipment, which was commonly understood to be treaty limited (TLE) was declared to be part of the naval infantry. The Soviet argument was that the CFE excluded all naval forces, including its permanently land-based components. The Soviet Government eventually became convinced that its position could not be maintained. A statement by the Soviet Union (later adopted by its successor states) enacted on July 14, 1991 provided that all treaty-limited equipment (tanks, artillery, and armoured combat vehicles) assigned to naval infantry or coastal defence forces count against the total treaty entitlement.
[edit] Russian Federation service
The naval infantry of the Russian Navy today includes the 55th Naval Infantry Division of the Russian Pacific Fleet (Russian: 55-я Дивизия Морской пехоты Тихоокеанского Флота), the independent brigades of the Northern and Baltic Fleets and of the Caspian Military Flotilla, and the independent regiment of the Black Sea Fleet.
Sputnik, is the Arctic Ocean main base of the Northern Fleet naval infantry.
Exercise Cooperation from the Sea is conducted in support of the American III Marine Expeditionary Force engagement plan, and to foster a closer relationship between the Russian Naval Infantry and the United States Marine Corps. The III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines from Okinawa and Russian naval forces participated in "Cooperation From the Sea 1994," which took place in and around Vladivostok, Russia. United States Marines and Russian Naval Infantry conducted their first combined training exercise on US soil, in Hawaii, from August 27 to 31, 1995. Russia Navy anti-submarine destroyers Admiral Panteleyev (DDG 548), Vladimir Kolechitsky (AOR) and a Ropucha Class tank landing ship (LST 11) steamed into Pearl Harbor on August 27, 1995. With units of the Russian Federation Naval Infantry aboard, they came to train with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces.
The exercise, "Cooperation From the Sea 1995," was a maritime disaster relief exercise. It included cross training and personnel exchanges, and culminated in a combined amphibious landing of US Marines and Russian Naval Infantry. The purpose of the exercise was to improve interoperability with Russian military forces in conducting disaster relief missions and to promote cooperation and understanding between US and Russian service members. The general operating area of the exercise was off Oahu's northeastern coast, near MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. The amphibious landing took place at Bellows Air Force Station on Waimanalo Bay. This exercise marked the second time that US and Russian forces have participated in this type of operation. The Russian military units remained in Hawaii after the exercise to participate in the 50th anniversary commemoration of VJ Day, September 1-3, 1995.
Amongst the Caspian Flotilla's units from 2000 onwards has been a new naval infantry brigade, the 77th, based at Kaspiysk. The headquarters and two battalions of the brigade were scheduled to be established by August 1, 2000.[2] It was reported by Agenstvo Voyenniykh Novostyei (AVN) [1] [2] in June 2000 that the new brigade, which may have inherited the lineage of the 77th Motor Rifle Division,[3] previously identified as disbanded, was to have its troops housed in Kaspiysk and Astrakhan, and have as many as 195 combat vehicles and two air-cushion assault craft sent to it from Chukotka and the Northern Fleet, respectively. The brigade was also to have helicopters assigned to it according to a June 2000 report.
[edit] Mission
There is at least one naval infantry regiment attached to each of the major Russian fleets. In total the Russian Naval Infantry numbers 12,000 men and has very little organic firepower or support, and if committed to combat it would require reinforcement within less than a week. Russian military doctrine calls for the naval infantry to be used as shock troops spearheading an assault that would be followed up by ground forces.
Its primary wartime missions would be to seize and hold strategic straits or islands and to make seaborne tactical landings behind enemy lines. During the 1980s Soviet Naval Infantry exercises in the Kuril Islands north of Japan indicated that the intended target of Naval Infantry was the shores bordering various chokepoints. In a conflict, these troops would most likely be sent ashore to capture the Dardanelles or the Kattegat straits and then wait for rapid reinforcement.
[edit] Organization
A Naval Infantry Regiment, equipped with the PT-76 and BRDM-2, consists of 1 Tank Battalion and 3 Naval Infantry Battalions, one motorised with BTR-60-series amphibious vehicles.
A Naval Infantry Brigade, equipped with the PT-76 or T-80 and BRDM-2, consists of 2 Tank Battalions, and 4 to 5 Naval Infantry Battalions, one motorised with BTR-60-series amphibious vehicles.
A Tank Battalion had 36 MBTs.
At least one infantry battalion is airborne trained, while all of the remaining infantry battalions are trained to be able to carry out air assault missions.
[edit] Equipment
Russian Naval Infantry has been phasing out PT-76 amphibious tanks, but has not yet received a large number of T-80s. A full-strength Naval Infantry Brigade may have up to 70-80 MBTs. APCs are BTR-80s (in Assault Landing Battalions) or MT-LBs (in Naval Infantry Battalions). While the Naval Infantry is supposed to receive BMP-3 IFVs, few have been delivered, and it is far from certain such re-arming will take place. BMP-3s may equip one company per battalion.
[edit] Sealift
The Alligator tank landing ship is a typical amphibious assault ship. Propelled by diesel, this ship is relatively small, displacing about 4500 tons. In 1978, the Soviets launched a new amphibious ship, the Ivan Rogov. The advent of the Ivan Rogov was taken in the West as an indication that the Soviet Navy was planning to strengthen the power projection mission of Naval Infantry. Twice the size of earlier ships, it can launch amphibious vehicles from its open bow doors. It also carries helicopters. Among the various small assault landing vehicles to launch from the bow are hovercraft, such as the Aist, which can carry the naval infantry ashore at speeds of fifty knots.
[edit] References and Sources
- ^ IISS Military Balance 1991-1992, p.30-1
- ^ AVN Military News Agency, 'Chief of Staff Supervising Marine Brigade formation', 5 June 2000
- ^ Feskov et al 2004
