Selection of candidates for sniper groups of the armed forces, special units of the police department and internal troops of the Russian Federation. Separate units of snipers will appear in the army A company of snipers composition and weapons

Once I wrote to you, my relatives, about snipers. And I'll write more.
And today I found interesting article how snipers are trained today sdelanounas_en in

Originally posted by alekseyaleynik . at About a separate sniper company

It is no secret that in connection with the introduction of special forces into the combined arms formations of the Ground Forces sniper units, the formation of a phased and multi-level system for the selection and training of snipers began in the troops. After the completion of the stage of recruitment of individual sniper companies, all snipers will undergo special training at training centers every 3-4 years.

Photo source: oper.ru

For the emerging sniper training schools, curricula have been developed that provide for the mastery of a set of knowledge, skills and abilities, including those for adjusting artillery fire, aiming army aviation and counter-sniper training. The instructors, from among whom the newly formed sniper training schools will be recruited by December 1 at the district training centers (OTC), have completed a special fire training cycle (TsOPS) in the city of Solnechnogorsk.

At the finish line, a trained sniper will be able to act both as part of a unit and independently (or in pairs). The formation of sniper units in the Ground Forces, staffed by professional contracted military personnel and undergoing systematic training at sniper schools at the training center and at the TsOPS (Solnechnogorsk), is scheduled to be fully completed in 2016.

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Due to the variety of fire missions performed, the sniper units are armed with several types of rifles with different indicators of the main combat properties. In addition, each sniper is given a personal weapon - a pistol.

In addition to weapons and sights, the sniper pair is equipped with optoelectronic surveillance equipment - a small-sized laser reconnaissance device, binoculars and means for determining the initial data for firing. Individual and group equipment of a sniper pair includes a sniper complex, uniforms, equipment and other equipment necessary to complete tasks and maintain life.

We managed to get into one of these newly formed separate sniper companies (27th brigade) in order to find out how combat firing snipers, including in pairs and with the use of fire support, what happens in special tactical classes (movement, equipment and camouflage of the firing position), why psychological testing of snipers is needed and how things are with medical training.

Photo source: oper.ru

For future fighters of individual sniper units, several qualifications have been introduced, one of which is psychological. A specially trained civilian psychologist (in the past - 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.

Photo source: oper.ru

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 issues 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. Particular attention is paid to the actions of a sniper in a future battle, the most important of which is a clear and quick prioritization.

Fighters should be able to prepare this kind of camouflage suits with masks for themselves, best of all - from improvised means. The main task is to hide the silhouette of the fighter and weapons, to protect the face and hands. Of course, there are a lot of special suits on sale today, but as the pros say, they are really good and do not need finishing and “customization” - no. And the price tag usually invigorates. 5-6 thousand will have to lay out.

It is, of course, available if you are an airsoft manager (this is without irony and jokes, if anything). What about a contract sergeant? Those who want to make a suitable and correct costume for themselves can go here. By the way - my acquaintances from the police special forces, who fought a lot, do not neglect home-made sniper outfits.

Photo source: oper.ru

To begin with, snipers led by a young officer demonstrated typical measures to mask their position. The situation was greatly complicated by weather conditions - snow fell at night and began to thaw in the morning. Wet, dirty, not autumn and not winter. But it's raining. The snipers had to get out as in battle. A white camouflage coat is poorly suited for spaces not covered with snow, and green for snowy ones. To the question - “what to do if you need to immediately go into battle?”, The officer said that instead of a white coat, bandages and underwear would fit, and instead of green, equipment of “beds” and special barriers that were not visible from the side.

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The first of the snipers chose a place for the future "prone". A hole large enough to hide a lying person was covered with heat-insulating "foam" and a raincoat. The fighter lies on his stomach and nests in a way convenient for him, and his comrade covers the lying one with a simple mat. This, of course, is about a flat structure woven from “local” branches, twigs and clods of snow.

Approximately above the head of a lying sniper, a bump is arranged using the same method. A sniper sticks a rifle into this very bump so that a sector of fire and observation is visible through the scope. In such cases, the barrel is bandaged so that the blued rifle does not stand out in the snow. In such a shelter, a sniper can spend from several hours to several days.

Depending on the length of stay, a reserve is made in terms of the volume of shelter so that the lying fighter could warm up a little, eat, drink. In winter, being in such a bed, as they said, is surprisingly not cold, unless, of course, the sniper has properly insulated himself. Great for isolating the "local" spruce branches under the raincoat. A small hole for ventilation allows you to breathe, and if you also light a candle inside the “bed” closed on all sides, it gets warmer. Including in the soul, as the sniper officer said.

Photo source: oper.ru

A nearby open position was taken by a sniper with a white paper mask on his face (cheap and cheerful) and a piece of wire tied to a dummy. The dummy is additionally equipped with a micromirror responsible for bright reflections. He pulled the wire - the mirror glared. An enemy sniper may well shoot at the flash, and then he will be revealed by simple observation. Well, then - how lucky.

In an open field, a simple wire structure was installed with branches braided into it and bunches of dried grass. On a complete "lack of fish" and such a disguise is good. It is light, mobile and, with skillful manufacture, impenetrable to an outside observer.

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Old, broken armored vehicles are a great place to equip a position. Often snipers prepare so-called "stumps" for themselves. It can be either a real hollow stump or a stump made by hand on a frame. From under it, you can observe without fear of being seen, and shoot if necessary. Of course, all snipers know about “stumps”, therefore, before entering a position, they are often “shoot through” on their own or with the help of infantry. Protecting yourself from enemy snipers is never superfluous. Sniper hideouts are often armored on their own and hand tools. In general, there are no limits to tricks. Now the wire "spider" is in use. Metal rods on a single bolt, assembled into an umbrella-like design. He laid it out, disguised it, covered himself - that's it, the position is ready. You observe from there, you find a goal - it's a pity and go to a new place. Disguise is life.

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.

Photo source: oper.ru

Snipers conduct combat operations as part of, for example, a motorized rifle unit. This means that the shooter, machine gunner, grenade launcher, radio operator, gunner and other important guys are going on the attack (or sitting on the defensive - it doesn’t matter). With them - a regular medical officer. That is, in the event of a wound on the battlefield, one of the comrades will be able to take out the wounded, and the first aid specialist will provide this same assistance in the shortest possible time, for which he is appointed in each unit.

Another thing is the work of a sniper pair as part of an exclusively pair, outside the combat formations of the unit. Two people work separately from everyone, it happens that at a considerable distance from their own. And in case of injury, there will be no one to provide even first aid. Except for yourself and your partner. Only self-help and mutual assistance remain - there are no other options.

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The most common task in this case is to establish where the fighter is wounded and how to help him. The sniper has few means to assist - mainly a tourniquet and an individual dressing bag.

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A special exercise was devoted to practicing the skill of quickly evacuating a wounded sniper from the danger zone by his partner. Noticing that a fighter is in trouble, a colleague approaches him in a belligerent manner, finds out how and where he was wounded, applies a tourniquet, stops the blood and bandages the comrade with individual bags. When the blood has stopped, and there is no immediate danger of death from the wound and blood loss, it is necessary to evacuate the wounded.

During the evacuation process, the sniper should try to perform all his actions unnoticed by the enemy, crouching as low as possible and using the available means of disguise. In our case, the wounded sniper was conscious according to the conditions of the task, so he was instructed to keep both sniper rifles on himself and help when crawling, pushing with his "good" leg.

Photo source: oper.ru

The actions to evacuate the wounded were observed by a medical officer, guard lieutenant of the medical service. In his opinion, the task was completed with a "satisfactory" rating. The first aid was provided quickly, correctly and in the proper amount, but at the stage of crawling away, the fighters did not bend low enough to the ground and were a good target for the enemy.

Photo source: oper.ru

Further, according to the plan, everyone proceeded to the shooting range past the smart green “tanks”. Snipers fired in the prone position from conventional SVDs with conventional four-fold PSOs at a distance of 100 meters. The distance is not typical, but given the number of film crews and the desire of all those who gathered to reach the targets after shooting, it is convenient for everyone.

Photo source: oper.ru

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. During hostilities 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. Minimum - 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 with the help of standard tools, for example, the KYa-73 and KYa-83 command boxes 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.

Photo source: oper.ru

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. And there is an SVD with PSO. And for her tasks, she 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 repair - again the procedure of fitting-tuning-shooting. 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.

Photo source: oper.ru

Is the rifle assigned to a specific fighter?
The rifle is assigned to each fighter individually. He prepares weapons “for himself” himself - he 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.

Photo source: oper.ru

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? (Hmm, about the same feelings were experienced by a sniper, who filled up more than one German from his SVT during the war - the author.)

Photo source: oper.ru

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" - this is not just what they say. 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 a 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.

During the sniper run, not only snipers worked in pairs, but also photographers.

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 issues 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. Particular attention is paid 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 is morally obsolete, but for widespread use in the troops, 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.

A very important detail - the SVD rifle is hard to spoil with inept handling. Sometimes there is no time to clean. In really extreme conditions - he 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, a German training film about the training of snipers, made for training Wehrmacht snipers, was found useful. 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 has not been 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. A separate company of snipers was created in each motorized rifle and tank brigade. 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 the hostilities will be attached to motorized rifle battalions, and special platoons, respectively, will be used to perform special tasks.

To train snipers for individual companies in four military districts, schools are being created at 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 an infantry sniper (marksman in foreign classification), but also a sniper-saboteur (actually a 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. personnel. main reason 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.

At a press conference on September 12, Nikolai Makarov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, told reporters about the plans of the Ministry of Defense to modernize the army. According to Makarov, The Defense Ministry intends to create a separate sniper unit in each brigade of the Armed Forces. Makarov also spoke about plans to transfer the country's Air Force to precision weapons and readiness of the defense department to purchase foreign weapons and equipment.

However, journalists were most interested in the general's remark about the "sniperization" of the Russian army. So, Gazeta.ru, for example, wrote about the demand for snipers in the troops and the need to switch to foreign rifles. The RBC daily newspaper went further and filed an application for the creation of special sniper units in conjunction with the general's reasoning about the likelihood of social unrest in Russia.

How does the transfer of snipers to individual divisions connected with the possibility or impossibility of a repetition of the “Arab Spring” in Russia is not entirely clear. In his interview, Makarov did mention that after the Arab revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya "the Russian army must be prepared for the worst possible scenarios for the development of the political situation in the country". However, this on-duty statement by the Chief of the General Staff should hardly be regarded as a threat to use the army to suppress street riots.

In addition, the assumption of a number of media outlets about the intention of the Russian military to use snipers for these purposes seems completely implausible. What, if we talk about "Arab" scenarios, can snipers do with a crowd of thousands? they have a low rate of fire and a small magazine (the magazine of the main SVD army rifle holds 10 rounds), so there will be little sense from snipers against an angry crowd.

But if you leave alone the dubious political scenarios, then the words of General Makarov still arouse interest. For all their uncertainty, it is clear that we are talking about plans for a qualitative reorganization of the Armed Forces. According to the general, the creation of separate sniper units will increase the effectiveness of pinpoint fire on the enemy, especially in urban combat. In addition, the creation of separate units is obviously necessary for greater independence of snipers, which they did not have before.

Each such unit, the chief of the General Staff said at a press conference, will consist of several sections, and each section will have one sniper. Whether other military personnel will be in the department besides the sniper, the general did not specify. If we assume that by sniper units the general meant platoons, then it turns out that there will be at least three snipers for each brigade. Until now, snipers have been assigned to each motorized rifle company, which in a typical brigade may be more than ten. Thus, the creation of separate sniper units is unlikely to significantly increase their overall strength.

It is also difficult to name the exact number of alleged snipers per brigade because brigades in the Russian army are not only motorized rifle. So, it is not clear exactly how many snipers will be attached to, say, artillery or tank brigades. To date, it is known that in the Ground Forces after the reform of the Armed Forces, 85. Thus, in the future, the ground forces will have only a few hundred snipers.

At the same time, according to the expert of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Andrey Frolov, in total, about 10 thousand rifles will be required for the needs of Russian snipers. How to explain such a discrepancy in numbers is not yet very clear - apparently, we must wait for new clarifications from the military. According to RBC Daily, the basis of the sniper corps in the Ground Forces will be contract sergeants, who are planned to be hired by 2012.

Snipers in the modern Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are divided into two main categories − infantry snipers and saboteur snipers. Infantry snipers usually operate as part of units and are usually recruited from the most accurate shooters. To train such specialists, special investments and complex training are not required.

Another thing - saboteur snipers, who are a kind of elite among shooters and are already selected from experienced soldiers. Such shooters usually act alone and try to remain unnoticed, using natural shelters and camouflage. Apparently, the Armed Forces are planning to equip new units with just such saboteur snipers.

« Currently the most snipers in the army North Korea- there are ten sniper brigades, - told RBC daily the head of the Center for Military Forecasting Anatoly Tsyganok. - Moreover, the North Korean army is the only one in the world that, in addition to snipers, also has 300 professionally trained kamikazes. Russia, of course, should not adopt the experience of suicide bombers, but it makes sense to take a closer look at the training of snipers in the DPRK. Because the problem will definitely arise now - how to train such a large number of snipers, where to get them from, on what base to train, who will train them».

The Soviet school for training snipers, according to experts, was very strong, but over time, unfortunately, fell into decay. " A sniper is a piece product, it has been being prepared for more than one year, so it definitely must be professional contractors, - pointed out. - Here we cannot count on conscripts, as in the old days, when there were enough nuggets from among the conscripts who learned how to shoot well from the SVD».

Rifles for new sniper units, according to the chief of the General Staff, may be purchased abroad. As Frolov suggested, the supplier of rifles for Russian shooters may be the British company Accuracy International. Currently, Accuracy International rifles of the AWM-F model (Arctic Warfare Magnum Foldable, folding rifle with a 0.338 Lapua Magnum cartridge) are equipped with snipers of the Alpha unit of the FSB special forces. Frolov did not rule out the possibility of further use of various modifications of the main Russian SVD rifle.

In terms of their characteristics, AWM-F and SVD are quite different, and in many respects in favor of British weapons. The name Arctic Warfare speaks of the suitability of the British rifle for operation at negative temperatures down to -40 degrees Celsius, which is extremely important for Russian realities. The AWM-F's aimed fire range is also higher - up to 1100 meters versus 800 for the SVD. The advantages of the Russian development include a larger magazine capacity - 10 rounds versus 5 for the AWM-F - and a slightly higher rate of fire thanks to a semi-automatic system with a vapor tube.

Considering a number of recent statements by the General Staff about plans to purchase Western weapons and equipment, the idea of ​​supplying Russian snipers with more modern and technically advanced British rifles does not seem at all surprising. According to Makarov, if Western models are more perfect than domestic ones, then weapons "will certainly have to be borrowed from abroad."

Of course, the readiness of the generals to switch to Western weapons and equipment can be called an important step if this helps to improve the combat effectiveness of the armed forces. So if Russian snipers they will start shooting more accurately, even if they use British rifles - this is only for the better. If only Russian citizens were not suddenly targeted.

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 range finder - 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, 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 refused. 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 our sniper, who currently serves only a year, does not need it at all.

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 troops, 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.

District control 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 a separate unit. 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. Several types of weapons are possible 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.

What small arms he is armed with does not matter. His main weapons are surveillance devices. In the reconnaissance units of the US Marine Corps, 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 to the detachment's TLU. 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 and 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?