How professional snipers are trained in the Russian army. Sniper units will appear in the army Rifle company of snipers

December 2nd, 2012

If the Soviet and German rifle squads and platoons were approximately similar in composition and structure, then there were very significant differences between the Soviet rifle and German infantry companies.
The main difference was that the Soviet rifle company, unlike the German one, did not have material supply and support units in its structure.

It was a 100% combat unit.
The rear support of the company was a rifle battalion and a regiment. There were corresponding rear structures, rear convoys, etc.

At the level of a rifle company, the only person who was directly involved in providing the company was the company commander himself and the company foreman. It was on them that all the care for a simple company economy hung.

The rifle company did not even have its own field kitchen. Therefore, hot meals were provided at the battalion or regiment level.

The situation was quite different in the German infantry company.

A German infantry company can be conditionally divided into two parts: combat and logistics (convoy, two quartermaster detachments, a mobile workshop).
These are the rear divisions of the company, which were engaged in supplying the company with everything necessary.

They did not participate directly in the fighting at the forefront and during the offensive of the company they were directly subordinate to the battalion and regimental rear structures.

From the front line, these units were at a distance of 3-5 km.

And what was the combat unit of the German infantry company?

German infantry company (Schuetzenkompanie).

The total strength of the German infantry company - 191 people (in the Soviet rifle company 179 people).
This is what it looks like schematically:

Four messengers up to and including Gefreiter.
One of them is simultaneously a bugler, the other a light signaller.
Armed with carbines.

Two cyclists in the rank from to gefreiter (Gefreiter) inclusive.
Armed with carbines. They ride bicycles.

Two coachmen in the rank up to Gefreiter inclusive. They drive a heavy horse-drawn carriage drawn by four horses.
Armed with carbines.

Groom for an officer's horse up to and including Gefreiter. Armed with a carbine. For movement is equipped with a bicycle.

Thus, the total number of combat units of the control department was not 12, but 9 people. With the company commander - 10 people.

The basis of the combat unit of an infantry company was infantry platoons.
There were 3 of them, just like in the Soviet rifle company.

The total number of soldiers in infantry platoons was 49x3 = 147 people.
Taking into account the number of combat units of the control section, including the company commander (10 people), we get 157 people.

Infantry platoons at the company level received reinforcements in the form of an anti-tank squad (Panzerabwehrbuchsentrupp).

There are 7 people in the department. Of these, 1 non-commissioned officer and 6 soldiers.
The group weapons of the squad are three Pz.B.39 anti-tank rifles.
Squad leader in rank from Obergeifreiter to Unterfeldwebel. Armed with a carbine.

Three calculations of anti-tank guns.
Each calculation consisted of a PR shooter in ranks up to Gefreiter (Gefreiter) inclusive ( personal weapons- pistol) and his assistant in ranks up to Gefreiter inclusive. Armed with a carbine.

The total number of calculation is 4 people.
Squad strength - 7 people (3x2 +1 squad leader)
The anti-tank squad was armed with:
Anti-tank gun Pz.B.39 - 3 pcs.
Mauser 98k magazine rifle - 4 pcs.
Pistol 8-shot - 3 pcs.

Total in a German infantry company combat strength 157 + 7 = 164 people out of 191 people in the company.

27 people are rear guards.

Vehicles:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Bicycle - 3 pcs.

Only 4 horses per company.

A few words about the Pz.B.39 anti-tank rifle.

German anti-tank gun Pz.B.39

The German army in World War II had two main types of anti-tank guns - the PzB-38 and its later modification PzB-39.

The abbreviation PzB stands for Panzerbüchse (anti-tank rifle).
Both the PzB-38 and the PzB-39 used the "Patrone 318" 7.92x94 mm cartridge.
Several types of such cartridges were produced:
Patrone 318 SmK-Rs-L"spur- a cartridge with a pointed bullet in a shell, with a poisonous reagent, tracer.

Patrone 318 SmKH-Rs-L"spur.- a cartridge with a pointed bullet in a shell (solid) with a poisonous reagent, tracer.
This is actually an armor-piercing cartridge.

Number 318 was the reciprocal of the old designation (813 - 8 mm bullet in a 13 mm sleeve).
smk meant Spitzgeschoss mit Kern (pointed bullet in a sheath)
SmKH- Spitzgeschoss mit Kern (Hart) (pointed bullet in a jacket (Hard)
Rs- Reizstoff (Poison agent), because the bullet had a small amount of tear gas to affect the crew of armored vehicles, chlor-acetophenone was placed in the recess at the bottom of the core - a tear-acting poison, but due to the small amount of tear gas in the capsule, the crew most often simply did not notice. By the way, until the German samples of anti-tank rifles were captured, no one suspected that there was gas in their bullets.
L "spur- Leuchtspur (tracer), the bullet had a small tracer in the back.

His bullet weighing 14.5 g accelerated in the barrel to 1180 m / s. A rather high armor-piercing effect of a bullet penetrating 20 mm armor set at an angle of 20 ° to the normal at a distance of 400 m was provided by a tungsten core.

According to other data, the PTR pierced 20 mm armor from a distance of 300 m and 30 mm armor from a distance of 100 m at an angle of 90 °.
In practice, fire was fired from a distance of 100 to 200 m, mainly on the tracks and fuel tanks of the tank in order to stop it.
However, at the same time, the PTRovets very quickly found its position and became an excellent target for shooters.
Therefore, if the PTRs were a strengthening of the German infantry company in the confrontation with tanks, then not too significant.

The bulk of the tanks were still destroyed by anti-tank guns, which were not at the disposal of the German infantry company.

Now let's compare a German infantry company with a Soviet infantry company, not from the point of view of the total number of staff, but from the point of view of the combat strength of those who were directly at the forefront.

Soviet rifle company
The rifle company was the next largest tactical unit after the platoon and was part of the rifle battalion.

He commanded a rifle company company commander (company commander) with the rank of captain.
The company commander relied on a riding horse.
Because on the march of the company, he had to control the movement of the company, which was stretched during the march, and if necessary, the horse could be used to communicate with other companies or the battalion command.
Armed with a TT pistol.

The assistant commander of the company was a company political instructor.
He conducted political educational work in the divisions of the company and kept in touch with the political department of the battalion and regiment.
Armed with a TT pistol.

But the actual assistant to the company commander was the company foreman.
He was in charge of a poor, one must say frankly, company economy, dealt with issues of providing company units with everything necessary, getting everything they needed in a battalion, which included a rifle company.
For these purposes, the company had one horse with a cart, which was driven by a rider in the rank of private, armed like a foreman with a rifle.

The company had its own clerk. He was also armed with a rifle.

There was one messenger in the company with the rank of private. But despite the ordinary rank, he was, perhaps, the left hand of the company commander. He was entrusted with responsible tasks, he was always close to the battalion commander, he knew all the platoon and squad commanders well, etc. And he was known not only in the divisions of the company, but also in the battalion.
He was also armed with a rifle.

The basis of a rifle company was rifle platoons.
There were 3 such platoons in a rifle company.
At the company level, rifle platoons received reinforcements, primarily in the form of a machine-gun platoon.

Machine gun platoon.
The machine gun platoon was led by a machine gun platoon commander with the rank of lieutenant.
Armament - TT pistol.

The machine-gun platoon consisted of two crews of the Maxim machine gun.
Each crew was commanded by a sergeant.
Armament - TT pistol.

The calculation consisted of a calculation commander and four privates (gunner, assistant gunner, cartridge carrier and rider), armed with rifles.
According to the state, each calculation relied on a horse and a cart for transporting a machine gun (tachanka). The calculation was armed with rifles.

The number of machine-gun crew was 6 fighters.
The number of machine gun platoon was (6x2 + platoon leader) = 13 fighters.
In service with a machine gun platoon:
Machine gun "Maxima" - 2 pcs.
Self-loading rifle SVT 38/40 - (4x2) = 8 pcs.
TT pistol - 3 pcs.

The main purpose of the Maxim machine gun was to suppress enemy firing points and support infantry.
The high rate of fire (combat 600 rounds per minute) and the high accuracy of the machine gun fire made it possible to carry out this task from a distance of 100 to 1000 m to friendly troops.
All fighters of the machine gun crew had the same skills in shooting from a machine gun and, if necessary, could change the crew commander, gunner, etc.
Each machine gun carried a combat set of cartridges, 12 boxes of machine-gun belts (tape - 250 rounds), two spare barrels, one box of spare parts, one box of accessories, three cans for water and lubricants, an optical machine gun sight.
The machine gun had an armored shield that protected against shrapnel, light bullets, etc.
Shield thickness - 6 mm.

German machine gunners have no protection other than a helmet.

True, this shield did not always save the machine gunner.

Bullet hits are visible.

And here in general a sieve. Apparently fired from armor-piercing cartridges.
And the trunk got it.

Thus, the main armament of the platoons at the company level was the 7.62 mm machine gun of the Maxim system of the 1910/30 model.

In addition, as a company reinforcement of platoons during the battle, there were 2 snipers in the company.
Sufficiently powerful strengthening of company units for the purpose of destroying enemy firing points from a long distance and incapacitating enemy unit commanders.
The snipers were armed with a Mosin rifle (three-line) with a PU optical sight (short sight).
What is a sniper? A good sniper from a distance of 300 m per minute of shooting can easily lay down an infantry squad. And in pairs - half a platoon. Not to mention machine-gun points, gun crews, etc.

But they could work from 800 m.

The company also included a sanitary department.
The department was commanded by the commander of the department, a sergeant-medical instructor.
He had 4 nurses under him.
The squad is armed with 1 pistol.
Well, this is practically one orderly per platoon.
In rifle platoons, unlike the German infantry, the orderly was not supposed to be in the state.
But as we can see, the platoon still did not remain without a nurse.
Total: 5 people. Armed with one pistol.

Total company strength:
Company commander - 1 person.
Political instructor of the company - 1 person.
Company foreman - 1 person.
Messenger - 1 person.
Scribe - 1 person
Riding - 1 person.
Rifle platoons - 51x3 = 153 people
Machine gun platoon - 13 people
Sniper - 2 people
Sanitary department - 5 people.
Total: 179 people.

In service with the company:
Machine gun "Maxima" - 2 pcs.
Machine gun PD Degtyarev - 12 pcs. (4 pieces each in each rifle platoon)
Light 50 mm mortar - 3 pcs. (1 piece each in each rifle platoon)
Submachine gun PPD - 27 pcs. (9 pieces in each platoon)
Rifle SVT-38, SVT-40 - 152 pcs. (36 pieces in each platoon + 8x4 = 32 + 8 pieces in a machine gun platoon + 4 for the rest)
Mosin sniper rifle with PU sight - 2 pcs.
TT pistols - 22 pcs. (6 pieces in each platoon + 1 in the machine gun platoon + 1 in the sanitary department + 2 in the commander of the company and political officer)

Vehicles:
Riding horse - 1 pc.
Horse with a cart - 3 pcs.
Total 4 horses

In service with a German infantry company / in comparison with a Soviet rifle company:

1. light machine gun - 12/12
2. Machine gun - 0/2
3. Submachine gun - 16/27
4. Magazine rifle - 132/0
5. Self-loading rifle - 0/152
6. Sniper rifle - 0/2
7. Mortar 50 mm - 3/3
8. Anti-tank rifle - 3/0
9. Pistol - 47/22

From this we can conclude that the Soviet rifle company at the company level significantly outnumbered the German infantry company in terms of firepower and armament.

Conclusions on the number.
The total strength of a German infantry company is 191 people. (Soviet rifle company - 179 people)
However, the combat unit of an infantry company was only 164 people. The rest belonged to the rear services of the company.

Thus, the Soviet rifle company also outnumbered the German infantry company by 15 people (179-164) in terms of the number of combat personnel.
At the battalion level, this excess was 15x3 = 45 people.
At the regimental level 45x3 = 135 people
At the divisional 135x3 = 405 people.
405 people is almost 2.5 companies, that is, almost an infantry battalion.

advantage in vehicles, wagons and draft power at the company level in a German infantry company was associated with the work of the rear services of a German company.
The combat unit of the company moved on foot in the same way as the Soviet rifle company.

Vehicles of the combat unit of the Soviet rifle company:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Horse and cart - 3 pcs.
Only 4 horses per rifle company

Vehicles of the combat unit of the German infantry company:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Bicycle - 3 pcs.
3. 4-horse heavy wagon - 1 pc.
Only 4 horses per infantry company.

On the march, the German infantry company moved exclusively on foot, as did the fighters of the Soviet rifle company.

Therefore, the German infantry company had no advantage in vehicles over the Soviet rifle company.

Making a general conclusion, we can conclude that both in terms of the number of combat personnel and in terms of weapons and firepower, the Soviet rifle company was superior to the German infantry company, yielding to it only in the supply organization system.

Nikolai Makarov, chief of the general staff, said that each brigade of the Russian Armed Forces would be assigned a special unit consisting exclusively of snipers. Since in recent decades the course of hostilities has changed significantly, then in battle snipers are no less in demand than entire armadas of tanks. However, there are no corresponding sniper rifles in Russia, so the Russian military will have to buy it abroad.

Nikolay Makarov made a statement about special sniper units for each brigade of the armed forces to journalists, while at the same time complaining about the general quality of military equipment produced in Russia. For example, he spoke negatively about the newest Russian T-90S tank, which was exhibited in Nizhny Tagil and studied by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Makarov claims that the tank has a lot of flaws that need to be fixed before it can be put into service. True, at the same time, Makarov spoke positively about the tank’s shooting turret, saying that it is in no way inferior to the best foreign counterparts, and even surpasses it in some characteristics.

But at the same time, he argues that today the nature of the conduct of hostilities is changing significantly, so Russian gunsmiths must constantly adapt to this.

Makarov believes that today each brigade should be given a special sniper unit. Since today the role of snipers is increasing significantly, most of the hostilities are conducted precisely in cities.

Many domestic experts fully support this decision. Alexander Khramchikhin, head of the analytical department at the Institute for Military and Political Analysis, believes that this could be a useful innovation if all the necessary reforms are carried out correctly. Moreover, not so many resources are needed for implementation - snipers are usually recruited as privates and sergeants. It should be recalled that today a sniper is assigned to each company, but they did not undergo special training and did not perform combat missions independently - only as part of a combat unit.

At the same time, a sniper unit can be used en masse, to destroy large concentrations of enemy manpower, or distributed among various units. It all depends on what tasks the unit faces at a particular moment. This is exactly what Andrei Frolov, an expert from the Center for Analysis of Technologies and Strategies, reports. It was decided to introduce such an innovation after studying the experience of the Chechen wars, as well as the Georgian campaign that took place in 2008.

Most likely, the weapons of snipers will be foreign rifles. Therefore, the Ministry of Defense is already purchasing sniper rifles from the British company Accuracy International.

British as well as Finnish rifles could be the best weapons for such special purpose units, says Frolov. He believes that this market offers a fairly large selection, so you can give preference to the most suitable models.

However, the possibility is still not excluded that preference may be given to the old SVD, proven in battles around the world. However, Frolov believes that she has many shortcomings from the point of view of an experienced sniper. In total, at least 10 thousand rifles will be needed to arm the fighters of sniper units.

Frolov also spoke negatively about the quality of such domestic rifles as SV-98, SV-99, OSV-96 (caliber 12.7 mm).

At the same time, it should be recalled that over the past few years, the state defense order of Russia did not include sniper rifles at all. However, if the Department of Defense turns to the defense company, then specialists will be able to provide suitable designs that can satisfy all requirements with confidence.

In the suburbs, by the end of the month, shooting will be carried out using pistol, automatic and sniper weapons. Moreover, both Russian and foreign samples will take part here. Perhaps it is based on the results of these shootings that a decision will be made on the purchase of rifles.

A sniper is a soldier who is fluent in the art of marksmanship, camouflage and long-term observation. Usually, his main task is to eliminate an important unit of the enemy’s composition, most often the command one from the first shot. A special forces officer shared his opinion about snipers and tried to destroy popular myths about this art.

An inquisitive young man must have such a picture before his eyes. Here he alone with a faithful sniper rifle makes his way through the territory controlled by members of illegal armed groups (fascists, zombies, orcs). He is wearing a shaggy cloak of the “goblin” type, and his physiognomy is all in streaks of camouflage makeup. And now he alone "performs" the figurant, having finally seen his face, distorted in anticipation of imminent death. Doesn't it remind you of anything? Yeah, the movie "Sniper" with Tom Berenger in the title role.

Another "sniping" romantic, who played both Doom and Contra on the computer, ran around with a paintball "bolt" and "performed" more than a dozen defendants, decides: here it is, mine! Moreover, spring is the time for conscription. Where do I go? In the army, in the snipers! Yep, right now. Well, let's start to get disappointed, shall we?

Taking off rose-colored glasses

Sniper course? Has anyone seen the named courses? For example, in civilian life? Naturally, no. There are sections of bullet shooting and the like. But they won't train a sniper there. The coach in the section may be a real master of sports or even a champion and a good teacher. If you have the makings and abilities, then you will be trained as an athlete, not a sniper. Of course, this gives skills, experience in handling weapons, determining the distance to targets, calculating corrections, and so on. But the experience, you see, is specific.

You will shoot from a sporting rifle, this time. You will perform sports exercises, and not on a live target, that's two. Your target will be either static or moving according to the conditions of the exercise and will be at the established ranges. You will be wearing a comfortable sports uniform, you will be full and well rested. Well, perhaps you, as a well-trained athlete, will become a little “melancholic”, and nothing will annoy you and distract you from the conditions of the exercise. But sport and the performance of a combat mission differ radically (more on that below).

If you, having experience in training in the shooting section, were drafted into the army and you were sent to specialized training (of which we have a couple of pieces left), no sniper instructor will train you PSYCHOLOGICALLY! Does he need it? Where is the "Instruction on the psychological preparation of a sniper"? There's no such thing. And all the dregs that roam the Internet as educational material, is not suitable.

About heavy photo album

Let's return to the preface again: "The sniper lives with his load ...". Here's the poor thing! He has a photo album, you see, before his eyes, it interferes with life. Is such a "photo album" possible in principle?

From SVD, for example, the optimal range when firing prone to hit the enemy's head is 400 meters. And who among us, even with a PSO-1 sight at such a distance, is able to see a face? What's a "photo album"? If someone has to shoot at a real target, then he will most likely see a dark figure that has fallen down - and nothing more. There are other snipers in order to shoot at the "subject-figurant" by seeing his face. And believe me, they serve in other structures, and not in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and not even in the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But we are still talking about the Armed Forces, so we continue to analyze the preface.

Someone's coach said that after the "first" the sniper broke down and did not ask to "paddle through the mountains." And why, then, was he taken at all?

Imagine that the commander of the group broke down after the first battle, the reconnaissance sapper drank himself after the first “lifting” with a real result, the artilleryman went to the monastery after the first successful attack, etc. In my opinion, this is nonsense.

About Tom, ours, Berenger

Okay, let's leave the preface. Let's deal with Tom our Berenger. Cinema is cinema. Here the hero of Tom received the task of removing the head of the drug cartel. Our hero goes to carry out the task. Let's consider what he brings with him.

Well, the first, of course, is the rifle. In my opinion, M24, if not, correct me. Its curb weight is 7 kilograms and about two hundred and sixty grams, this is with straps for transportation and with optics. Further, the ammunition for the task is at least one hundred rounds. The weight of the NATO cartridge is 7.62 X51–15.7 grams. Total, together with pouches for carrying them, another 3 kilograms. Tom's second weapon was the good old M1911 A Colt. The weight of 1 kilogram is 120 grams. 100 pieces of cartridges of 45 caliber for a pistol - another 1.5 kilograms. Signal and smoke rockets - 1 kilogram. Grenades, 4 pieces, - 3 more kilograms. Means of technical intelligence, say, binoculars with a built-in rangefinder - 1 kilogram. Means of communication. Since Tom is walking alone, he has a means of communication with the Combat Operations Control Center. The terrain is mountainous and wooded, and AN / PRC radios operating in the VHF band will not work, so something stronger is needed. Let's take a satellite station with a previously allocated channel. So, it will be AN / PSC-5, which is powered by two batteries, each weighing 2.04 kilograms, and the station itself weighs about 2.8 kilograms. Let's not forget about spare batteries, which means plus 4 kilograms. Well, the storage device, I / O, headset - another 1 kilogram.

Is it hard for you, Tom? But there is still a cape, a camouflage suit - this is 1.5 kilograms without branches and leaves. An individual first aid kit weighs 0.5 kilograms. Water, dry rations, interchangeable socks, a knife with a survival kit, a rug, a poncho, and so on give another seven kilograms. And now let's count. I came out under 40 kilograms. Taking into account the requirements of secrecy, a valiant sniper is landed 15 kilometers from the area of ​​​​the task. At the same time, he must stomp his legs, penetrate as close as possible to the object and destroy the subject. But in the movies, we see a peppy bison-sniper, absolutely not tired when moving in the humid atmosphere of a mountainous and wooded area. In the frame, only flirtatious stains of masking makeup.

How did you conduct additional reconnaissance of the object alone? How did you get in? Oh, how beautiful everything is in a movie!

But in fact? Have you tried to crawl up a hill with a load of at least 20 kilograms when the temperature is at thirty or forty degrees, or even more? One man, of course, is less noticeable in the selva than a group, but even alone, if you are half Tom Berenger and half John Rambo, little will come of it. Too much fatigue, both moral and physical. Under favorable conditions, the transition on an unfamiliar route will last a day or more. This means that it is necessary to precisely coordinate and verify the timing of the withdrawal subgroup, to verify information from informers and intelligence to the smallest nuances. Take into account a bunch of factors, including force majeure. The sniper, if he gets to the object in time and penetrates the perimeter, then most likely he will not be able to shoot. For a more or less successful liquidation of the subject, based on the practice of various units, a minimum of a couple is required, and a group of four is best. That's when something will look more or less believable.

How really

Now, for some realism. When did we still use snipers, and exactly as it is depicted on some Internet forums - as a free lone hunter?

In the North Caucasus region? I remember the first Chechen campaign. I had a sniper in my group. Do you think I let him go somewhere a few kilometers away for “free hunting”? In fact, a scout with a banal SVD departed a maximum of 100 meters from the group and was always in sight or audibility. He worked according to my target designations or according to whoever he notices. Often, when I shouted, when I didn’t see the result: “Well, did you hit it?”, A simple answer followed: “Yes, he knows, he seemed to have fallen.”

When conducting reconnaissance and combat operations in urban conditions, I used a sniper on my own, as it turned out later, correctly. When moving in urban areas, he was always close to me in order of battle. A scout was always paired with him. During reconnaissance of any house, this couple did not go inside, they were used as an observation group. The second scout was left with a station and binoculars, several rocket-propelled grenades or RPGs. The couple monitored the windows, insured the exits. A sniper with an SVD has nothing to do in the house. When conducting reconnaissance and search operations in a mountainous and wooded area, the sniper was in his regular place in the battle order of the group. In other special forces units, as far as I know, snipers acted in exactly the same way. They were exhibited "on the chip" in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe basing or PVD of the detachment, but no one went anywhere alone. True, there were exceptions, this concerned officers, but even those did not depart further than a kilometer from the detachment. The second campaign was exactly the same. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who want to challenge my opinion. For God's sake! I'm just dealing with facts.

About a conditional sniper in a real combat situation

So, you are the leader of the group. You have a regular number of snipers. Will you send your scout, conscript or contractor, one or two, someone to "execute"? The question is who? Does the group commander have information about some persons involved (leaders of the illegal armed formations) in the area of ​​​​responsibility of the detachment? It is unlikely, or rather, it does not. It is good if the commander of the detachment and the head of the operational-intelligence department have established contact with the operational-intelligence groups operating in the area, with "operas" from other bodies and departments that have their own agents. Then the information will be available, but the commander of the detachment is unlikely to be able to implement it himself, and the commander of the group or the commander of the company even more so. In order to launch the Special Forces WG to perform a task, a combat order from a higher headquarters is necessary. And the order is signed by the chief of intelligence of the group and the chief of staff. Of course, the directive to the detachment draws up an order, and the head of the department checks. The order is not made in a vacuum. Study of the situation in the area of ​​responsibility of the detachment, collection of information from all sources, coordination in all structures, verification of information on several types of intelligence (radio, undercover, air thermal imaging), information from local, information from other interacting structures, etc. - that's what precedes acceptance specific solution. So, I have never made a single order to send a sniper (three times experienced). Yes, and other directions too. I'm talking about my combat experience from 2000 to last year 2012. And if I did, then the head of the department would twist it at the temple and send me ...

Well, what if you didn't send it? Imagine: for the sake of one person (even the most well-trained sniper), you need to start an operational case, coordinate artillery covering fires, and keep the group ready for evacuation. And the connection? He's a sniper, not a radio operator. And without it, there’s no way, we don’t have satellite small-sized stations, like Tom’s, which means that we have to carry the ARC station. Although no, you are going far, and she is dear, you will still lose. Therefore, you are wearing the usual R-159 with the T-240 classification equipment and a set of spare batteries for it. And so on… Taking into account the realities, our sniper, unlike a movie hero, will carry a load of about 60 kilograms. But we also need to plan helicopter sorties. But, as usual, there is no weather, and the board was given over to the commander, so the sniper will go on foot. Do you think he will go? No. After all, among other things, he knows the stories about the scouts-murderers well. About those who exterminate local residents, and those who like to collect wild garlic far from home and with a machine gun in their hands. He remembers that after a couple of clashes, the entire detachment was overwhelmed by employees of the prosecutor's office and demanded to confess to criminal acts. The scout is now savvy, he is well aware that he has no legal basis for shying through the forests and eliminating the defendants.

Therefore, our experienced sniper will go out peacefully behind the parapet, equip a day room a hundred meters from the camp and will sit there all the time the group is performing a combat mission, waiting for target designation from the commander.

About weapons

What else? Why do I write about SVD all the time, because we still have samples that are in service. For example, VSS. Range - 400 meters. The weapon is specialized and performed well, but in the context about which in question probably doesn't fit well with the material. There were cases when, in the presence of several VSS and AS in the RGSpN, very successful silent ambushes were carried out, but you must admit that for the “performance” of the person involved, there must be a certain margin both in range and in terms of application.

Well, for the rest of the rifles. The B-94 weighs 11.7 kilograms and has an effective range of almost two kilometers with a 13x scope. And now tell me, is this “fool” needed to be dragged in a group? It used to be dragged a couple of times, but quickly abandoned. In the forest, a range of two kilometers is useless. And the rifle is large-caliber and specific. To work with her, the sniper must be taught. Long and hard. In the winter of 2000, guys from an adjacent department went with us, namely a sniper pair. They reached the forest and stopped, they themselves realized that there was no point in going any further. This rifle is good for combat operations in urban environments, and as an anti-sniper weapon. Her penetration is good, but for our sniper, who is on this moment It only lasts a year and is useless.

SV-98 caliber 7.62 X54, made on the basis of the sports "Record", accurately shoots at 800 meters. The rifle is expensive, snipers need to be trained, but they serve only a year. What's the point? Still break or lose, but the result?

Pro foreign designs like AV or HK, I generally keep quiet. Is there an alternative to inexpensive and simple, like five kopecks, SVD? Maybe there is. For example, the same Mosin SVM rifle. Cheap and cheerful. Hang the optics and target designators, shoot and go. Our cartridge is 7.62 X54, effective range is 2000 meters, lethal range is 3000 meters. I tried. Fine, it'll work for us. If you can shoot.

During the Great Patriotic

So, the North Caucasian period was sorted out. What's next - Afghanistan? I was not there and I cannot judge the work of the snipers of the Special Forces units. Although, I think, it was not much different from the actions in the North Caucasus region.

So where did the snipers work like those that are written about in the literature and films made? Of course, on the Great Patriotic war. Why? Yes, because the war was positional, there was a front line, a line of contact between troops. Wherever she passed - across the field, through the forest, through the block, through the house, she was. It was exactly clear: here are our positions, here are the enemy.

And the snipers, both ours and the Germans, where did they work from? That's right, either from their positions, or from the neutral zone. And it's incredibly beneficial. There is no need for special expenses to ensure life support, communications, fire cover and the withdrawal of an individual sniper. The main thing is to get out secretly and disguise yourself. If the front is frozen in positional battles, not moving in either direction, then the work of snipers will be activated accordingly. I will not describe the features of camouflage, covert movement, measures to deceive and open the enemy, this is full both in the literature and on the Internet. And in this situation, our fighters really had to lie for days in the cold, and in hunger, and in dampness, calculating their helper. In the war, it was much easier for them. An experienced sniper with a shot for a hundred “Fritzes” could easily choose a target for himself, cutting off the unnecessary in the form of small bipods - privates, wagonmen, etc., so as not to unmask himself ahead of time. Our fighter knew that by killing an enemy officer, he had already fulfilled his duty, and no one would drag him to court and under investigation. A seasoned fascist will not turn out to be a “peaceful peasant”, who, out of need, put on shoulder straps and just wanders around the positions in search of a cow. War is war, it is clear where ours are and where our enemies are. In the offensive, snipers usually did not go on the attack. No matter how much I shoveled the archives, I did not meet any mention of sniper work in the development of success. I know for sure that they worked from their positions and elevations through the back of the advancing infantry. Thus, the Great Patriotic War is the only example of "long days of lying in the cold and hunger for the sake of a single shot."

About the sniper platoon

What are the current realities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which received last years the so-called "new look". It turns out that platoons of snipers appeared in the states of motorized rifle and airborne brigades!

I have a question: for what? As we see now fighting in case of real big war or a simple local conflict? We are moving away from old dogmas. At numerous training camps, we, officers of the level not lower than the brigade commander, were shown "new ways" of conducting combat operations. For example, an air assault brigade is conducting an offensive with the forces of several separate battalions in its front line, bypassing fortified sectors and areas and breaking through into the operational space with the support of attack aviation, helicopters and artillery. Pockets of resistance are bypassed from the flanks and left to be torn to pieces by high-precision weapons - artillery and bomber aircraft. Why, then, with deep raid actions of battalions, snipers? How will this platoon be used?

When conducting defense, it turns out even more interesting. The line of contact of troops will now occupy a width not of several hundred meters, but of several kilometers, which consists of the range of artillery of all levels: from the brigade to the level of operational command, the range of destruction of targets missile forces, mining strips, barriers, range of reconnaissance equipment and much more. Large exercises with a defensive theme just showed this. That is, the range of targets for snipers will be beyond 1000 meters. Based on the performance characteristics of the SVD, what follows? That's right, we need another rifle, the same B-94. Will our defense industry be able to provide all sniper platoons of brigades with long-range rifles? Unlikely. They still need sights, both night and day. Accordingly, we need our own training program for sniper platoons, observation and target designation devices, communications equipment, and much more. How will snipers from a separate platoon be used? If you think logically, they will be attached to companies. But do the commander of a company, platoon need them in his sector of defense? They have their own problems, and then there is a sniper or a sniper pair who pursue their specific goal - to destroy officers of any link, gun crews, the same snipers, signalmen and everyone else. How, with the current unification of field uniforms, to distinguish the same officer from a distance of more than a kilometer? So, you need to know him by sight. It is much easier with us - the signalman is constantly running around with our commander. The adversary is more complicated - after all, a portable antenna is built into the helmet. It is unlikely that the commander of a company on the defensive will know who is against him. Although if the head of intelligence of the brigade and all the intelligence agencies of the brigade are really working, this information is not so difficult to obtain. But in person to identify the one who needs to be destroyed is already much more difficult.

So our sniper will bring down everything he sees. That's just, I think, not for long. Given the saturation of the front edge with technical intelligence, UAV surveillance will most likely detect a sniper after the very first shot, and either an unguided missile from a drone, or a mortar, or even an artillery salvo, will hit his position. Will the comrade company commander be delighted with such a “hello” from the enemy?

Well, there is nothing to think about the role of the sniper in the offensive, given the above. After all, he will not even have time to choose a position, since his battalion will go forward to the flank, covering the fortified area, and will rush further.

Control of areas of special attention in the zone of local conflict

Still, I'll try to think it out myself, since higher-level experts do not explain anything to me about this. I will only think about the units and subunits of the Special Forces, with which I am best acquainted.

So, in a special forces unit, we have a certain number of snipers or even separate division. We take a unit in addition to full-time reconnaissance snipers in groups. A special-purpose detachment in the area of ​​settlement of a conflict, by decision of the commander of the grouping, is cut into its own area of ​​​​responsibility. It is divided into areas of special attention, but those are respectively distributed by companies and groups. Accordingly, there are settlements in the area that are used by "partisans" of various stripes. You need to eat, you need to keep in touch, relatives, ideologists, messengers will not live for months in dens in the forest. And the "partisans" themselves go out to work for a short period, so to speak, "at the call of the trumpet."

What do I suggest. Let's start in order

The area of ​​special attention is the most common: several settlements, a mountainous and wooded area, replete with paths, water sources and everything else for the comfortable existence of "partisan formations". You can make transitions, you can build base areas, equip places for laying caches. He fought - and to the house, to relatives and his daily affairs. Comfortable. Look at any map, you can choose as many areas as you like. In order to tame the movement of any illegal people in these places, you simply need to block all entrances and exits, paths, paths and bridges leading from settlements. But it is not necessary to block it as usual - with a checkpoint or checkpoint, which in a month will lose its relevance, since there will be a lot of indulgences: contracts, money, other ways, etc. As a result, the mode of operation and service will soon become known to everyone.

Therefore, the exits must be blocked secretly. I propose such a micro-military organism as a sniper group (SG). In the diagram, SGs are marked with red circles. The typical composition of such a SG:

Sniper, the main performer, he is also a tool. It is possible to arm with several types of sniper rifles from SVD and VSS to V-94. Its task is to destroy the identified defendants;

The group leader, he is also the main observer.

Than from small arms armed, it doesn't matter. His main weapons are surveillance devices. In intelligence units marines In the United States, there is such a device as an optical reconnaissance station. This is exactly what we need as well. The optical-electronic device must have good resolution and be able to measure the distance to the target. But its main task is to capture a picture (take a picture in digital mode), automatically check the “person involved” with the database available in the PDA (laptop) of the group commander, and issue the primary result of the check. If necessary, transfer the received image in real time with minimal delays and high speed at the VPU of the detachment. To be processed by the operations officer. Transmit through a repeater or, if there is a stable connection with the ability to transmit graphic data, to higher authorities for subsequent decision;

A signalman who has a radio station with batteries, antennas. Organizes all types of communication, including the channel for transmitting graphic data;

Scout. Its task is fire support, security, defense, and so on.

A total of four people with the necessary equipment and weapons. SG can work autonomously from five days to a week. Although it is better that the duty in their positional area lasts no more than three days. The sniper and commander will thus be replaced by the rest of the group for rest. And there are nine such sniper groups. Nine multiplied by three days is twenty-seven days. It turns out almost a month, we add three days for unforeseen delays, weather conditions and the difficulties of transitions of changing groups. In total, 9 sniper groups, made up of four people, will have thirty-six fighters. All of them are reduced to one reconnaissance detachment of the Special Forces. If the terrain and distances allow, then this detachment can not be withdrawn, but kept at the very point of temporary deployment.

Other combat formations of the detachment:

Fire support group. By decision of the detachment commander, mortar crews and heavy machine gun crews, including aircraft controllers and artillery spotters, can be included in it;

Communication group for data transmission, based on terrain conditions and the presence of radio stealth zones of terrain profiles and other things;

Support group. It should include a paramedic and, by decision of the detachment commander, any other specialist;

WG Special Forces staff. It is engaged in reconnaissance “for itself”, works with technical reconnaissance equipment, sets up minefields, organizes security and defense, carries out a meeting of the SG, and, if necessary, carries out fire support and return in case of unforeseen situations;

The commander of the detachment and the operational officer, who are entrusted with the overall leadership of the detachment, decision-making, communication with higher authorities.

If necessary, small-sized radio reconnaissance equipment or UAVs can be allocated to such a reconnaissance detachment for better control of the situation in the area. In total, about sixty people are obtained somewhere.

The reconnaissance detachment is withdrawn by any means: air, land or sea. Measures are being taken to conceal intentions, basing is organized, communication with the center is being established combat control, with supporting units, after which the RO begins to carry out tasks of covert blocking of settlements.

Such covert blocking of districts, combined with previously planned targeted activities by other departments, can give a good result. "Partisans" will be forced to look for other areas and places of transition, their plans will be violated. Well, some of the leaders can, after all, be destroyed. But this is my personal opinion, with which you can not agree.

Summarizing

In conclusion, I note that, in my opinion, it is better to use snipers, as always, as part of a subunit and only on target designations by the group (platoon) commander, while not letting them go far from you.

So the stories “about many hours of lying in the mud for the sake of a single shot and the melancholic warehouse of the sniper’s character, his special psychological readiness to kill” are from the realm of fiction, they have nothing to do with reality. Or does anyone have a different opinion?

For future fighters of individual sniper units, several qualifications have been introduced, one of which is psychological. A specially trained civilian psychologist (formerly an officer) with the help of proven methods for predicting the behavior of a fighter at an early stage identifies people who do not have the proper level of neuropsychic stability. Testing is normal. Each candidate receives a form, the psychologist reads the questions-statements, the subject answers. For example, one of the tests, consisting of 86 questions, allows you to divide all candidates into 4 groups. Of these, only those included in groups 1 and 2 can be recommended for enrollment with subsequent admission to combat sniper weapons. Psychological selection during acquisition, as the psychologist said, is very strict.

After being enrolled in a sniper company, a psychologist monitors each fighter individually. If necessary, individual training sessions are again conducted with a sniper, during which it is possible to adjust such an indicator as, for example, “determination” and issue the necessary recommendations. If correction is not possible and serious questions of psychological fitness arise, the psychologist may make a proposal to remove the sniper from service in a separate sniper company. Individual therapy is possible, and as a standard this kind of therapy is carried out weekly for small groups. Nothing "cinematic" is brought into the mental training of a sniper: no one eats live frogs and does not wrap the enemy's warm intestines around his fist. They say that such training is not required for a modern military sniper.

The main qualities that the psychologist works to consolidate and develop are decisiveness, courage, and an adequate response to any new situations. Special attention is given to the actions of the sniper in a future battle, the most important of which is a clear and quick prioritization.

"SVD" 7.62 mm Dragunov sniper rifle

Contract Sergeant Velmatkin. Having served in the army for military service, not at all as a sniper, he was demobilized, thought about it and returned to the army again. I wanted to be a sniper. And became.

After the camouflage lesson, we went to the obstacle course. A sniper pair in the face of a fighter with a sniper rifle and a soldier with a machine gun (in his place there may be a second sniper) had to quickly and trying not to stick out, overcome an open space with obstacles, covering each other with fire. The fighters from the support group provided explosions, smoke and shooting, trying to somewhat complicate the actions of the sniper pair. Some obstacles in the field were set on fire for greater naturalism.

After firing, at the command of the deputy commander of the 27th separate motorized rifle brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Aksyonov, everyone advanced to the targets.

Comrade sergeant fired accurately and accurately. Well done!

Here, the result is worse. But the sniper is also a beginner, just learning.

At the end of the race, I managed to talk with one of the officers of a separate sniper company. The following questions were discussed:

What task can an ordinary soldier who has been trained as a sniper with his ordinary rifle solve?
It can confidently hit a target at a distance of 200-500 meters. At these distances, all typical exercises are worked out in a planned manner. In a real battle, a shot at a distance of more than 500 meters is simply impractical. What for? And yes, this rarely happens. When fighting in the city - it is completely excluded. And do not forget about the need to identify the target as an enemy. A four-fold PSO sight mounted on an SVD rifle does not really allow this. How to make a decision to hit a target without being sure that the target is the same one?

Are there frequent shootings? How many shots are fired in the company?
In our unit, shooting takes place two or three times a week. At least weekly, but this is rare. The unit is newly formed, so the attention to us is appropriate, it is necessary to train the personnel intensively. Cooking. We do not regret patrons.

Are there any "stars" of sniping among rookie snipers?
There is. 10 percent shoot really great, show outstanding results. Practice in this matter is not enough, you also need talent. So there are excellent shooters among seasoned contract soldiers with extensive experience and among conscripts who, before service, did not come close to sniper weapons. The sniper is a calling. You need to feel it and be able to control yourself. This is indeed a necessary condition. Emotions, breathing, mood - everything must be in harmony with the rifle. The basics of shooting training are given to a fighter using typical tools, for example, commander's boxes KYA-73 and KYa-83 allow you to clearly and intelligibly convey information about the conditions necessary for an accurate shot. This is both theory and practice of aiming. Later we move on to exercises with live shooting.

How about hitting a target the size of, say, a head? Distance is kilometer.
Much depends on the weapon, on the sight, on the position, on the strength of the wind, on experience. In general, it happens. Not a miracle. Especially in order to establish a personal sports record.

What about SVD? Good rifle?
How can you say for sure? The weapon, I think, is immortal. And its merits in practice outweigh any idle talk. I think it's obsolete, but for wide application in the army, it is still - "the very thing." There is no need to compare it with piece foreign rifles equipped with multi-thousand-dollar sights - after all, there is nothing like this massively in the army and never will be. But SVD with PSO - there is. And for its tasks, it is still an excellent tool. Those who wish, as elsewhere, apparently in the army, can buy any sight for their own. Yes, there is such a practice, we are constantly trying something new. Personally, I am not a supporter of such “weighting”, I think that the simpler, the more reliable and better it will be.

Highly important detail- SVD rifle is hard to spoil by inept handling. Sometimes there is no time to clean. In real extreme conditions- took off his sock, hastily cleaned the dirty mechanism, it will work. When conditions are normal, there is no time pressure - mandatory cleaning after each use. If the rifle still breaks down or behaves strangely, it is officially sent to the gunsmith for repairs. After the repair - again the procedure of fitting-tuning-zeroing. I can't recall a rifle damaged by mishandling. Wear - yes. There is nothing eternal.

Are any specially selected cartridges used in preparation?
No, only those that come in zinc with the inscription "Sniper". Normal ammo. Reliable. But there are all sorts of singles - often sticking happens.

Is the rifle assigned to a specific fighter?
The rifle is assigned to each fighter individually. He prepares weapons "for himself" himself - adjusts, leads to a normal battle, shoots, cleans, grooms and cherishes.

Is there rivalry within the military collective?
Among the fighters there is some informal competition, the spirit of rivalry, of course, is inherent in the male team. Usually everyone knows who is capable of what, if a person shoots well - of course, he enjoys authority among his comrades. Shooting straight is prestigious.

If necessary - is it possible to make a decent sniper from an ordinary soldier taken at random?
Probably not. Snipers are the elite. Everyone cannot be the best. And besides, in fact, snipers, there are many other needs. We need intelligent soldiers in the release groups, in cover, in reconnaissance. Of those who have already fallen into the ranks of snipers, some are leaving. The sifting is there all the time. He changed his mind, failed, professionally unsuitable. Such people are simply transferred to other units, for example, to ordinary motorized rifles.

Any foreign experience is used in the training of our snipers? Is there anything new in sniper business?
In my opinion, all the most important things have long been invented. Sniper business is very painstaking. It is necessary to “sharpen” the experience that has long been accumulated carefully and specifically for oneself. The memories of the snipers of the Red Army help a lot in this matter. From precisely foreign experience - German was found useful educational film about the training of snipers, made for the training of Wehrmacht snipers. For example, a wire fan as the basis of a wireframe disguise is borrowed from there. We are studying the memories of our veteran snipers and scouts, that's for sure. Luckily they are on the internet now.

What other types of training are required for a sniper, besides physical, shooting, medical and psychological?
For example, a sniper receives additional engineering training. It cannot be said that it is very deep, but it is quite capable of detecting, for example, a mine. Disposal of an explosive object is not the task of a sniper. Found - just bypass or mark. Well engineering intelligence nobody canceled.

What does a sniper usually carry on a mission?
The less cargo the sniper carries, the better. The main cargo is weapons, ammunition, appliances, water, food. Sometimes, if conditions allow - a walkie-talkie. The food is the most common. Dry rations, chocolate, stew.

How does a sniper feel when he hits an enemy?
There is no remorse or fear. There is satisfaction from a well-executed work that was taught. Did an excellent job - well done, rejoice. What is there to suffer? (Hm, about the same feelings experienced by a sniper, who filled up more than one German from his SVT during the war - the author.)

How do snipers get hit?
Voluntarily. By my own will. After a tough selection, of course. We serve only those who want. It's in our own interests. We have a special purpose unit, we need, in addition to discipline, personal aspirations. People come, of course, different. There are more sensible ones. From ordinary, but professionally fit, we make good and excellent snipers. And about the "elite" - it's not just saying that. This "ideology" is imposed on the recruit, it is extremely important, without it it is difficult to develop and self-develop as a warrior. Yes, for some, as they say, wings open, a sniper rifle, again, not everyone gets it. They even say: only the sniper has a rifle, the rest have weapons. Well, we have badges. These are chevrons. Chevron must be earned. They are worn in the entire brigade only by two companies - snipers and deblockers. Chevron is truly prestigious. A great reason to be proud of yourself. Soldiers understand this.

*****

Recently it became known about another detail of the new look of our armed forces. In every motorized rifle and tank brigade a separate company of snipers was created. These companies should replace platoons and single riflemen in smaller units. Sniper companies began to be created as early as the beginning of August, but became widespread in the media only in the first half of October. Then a corresponding note appeared on the official website of the Ministry of Defense. It contained the words of the commander-in-chief ground forces A. Postnikov that the formation of sniper companies takes place in the order of the implementation of the so-called. "Concepts for improving the system of training and use of snipers." This program should give the armed forces a large number of professional snipers, as well as form the right approach to their training.

According to A. Postnikov, the role of snipers in modern combat operations has increased and therefore the army should have enough not just well-aimed shooters, but sniper professionals. In turn, to cover the maximum range of tasks, snipers should have several types and ammunition at once. In addition to the actual weapons in the arsenal of snipers, there should be a number of other equipment, with which the shooter must also be able to handle.

Sniper companies will consist of several platoons of two "types": rifle and special. The first for the duration of hostilities will be given motorized rifle battalions, and special platoons, respectively, will be used to perform special tasks.

To train snipers for individual companies Schools are being created in four military districts at the same time in the District Training Centers (UTC). They will be taught sniper science by instructors who have undergone special training in Solnechnogorsk. In addition to direct sniper shooting, schools at the OTC will teach artillery or aviation fire adjustment and counter-sniper work. Thus, a shooter who graduated from school can be not only infantry sniper(marksman in foreign classification), but also as a sniper-saboteur (actually sniper). In addition, the graduate will be able to help the interaction of different types of troops due to the ability to covertly conduct reconnaissance of enemy positions.

Also, the news from the website of the Ministry of Defense notes that all snipers after graduating from school will undergo retraining once every three to four years to improve their skills and master new methods of work, new weapons, etc.

The period required to complete the training has not yet been disclosed, but from open sources it is known that the training of snipers is a very, very slow business. So, for example, future FSB snipers spend several months only studying human anatomy and the features of hitting a living target. No less time is spent on the study of meteorology, ballistics and firing in difficult conditions. Well, of course, snipers master weapons, various useful little things when using them, etc. In total, it takes at least one and a half to two years to train a sniper in the FSB or FSO. But the time spent is fully paid off by the result. So it cannot be ruled out that military snipers will study for the same amount of time.

Now about the implementation of the program. The companies were formed back in August, but some of them are still not fully staffed. The main reason for this is the “piecework” of snipers. The sniper companies attached to the brigades recruit only contract volunteers and only after several examinations. As military journalist D. Mokrushin writes in his blog, one of the simplest tasks at the selection is to hold the spent cartridge case on the rifle and not drop it for several minutes. It looks like a simple task, but not everyone manages to pass it.

As for weapons, for now the set is “standard” - SDV, SVD-S and VSS. Special platoons also rely on large-caliber rifles - OSV-96, in the future, deliveries of the VSSK Vykhlop rifle are possible. In addition to domestic rifles, some companies also have foreign ones, for example, Steyr-Mannlicher, "inherited" from previous sniper units. At the same time, opinions are sometimes heard about the superiority of the Steyrs over domestic SVDs in a number of ways. Part additional equipment includes binoculars, rangefinders, anemometers, weather stations, etc. True, in this equipment there is no such unity of models, as in the case of weapons.

As already mentioned, in December, the sniper school at the OVC will start working. According to the plans of the Ministry of Defense, before 2016, not only will a system for selecting the training of snipers be formed. By the same time, the schools will have trained snipers. Accordingly, in each sniper company there will be from 50 to 90 people.