Sapper troops. College, military institutes, units of engineering troops

The Germans during the Great Patriotic War showed themselves to be masters of military engineering. Their obstacles in the blitzkrieg were considered impregnable. But the sapper-engineer assault units of the Red Army, created in 1943, broke into the most difficult German fortified areas.

German historians, speaking about the war with the USSR, like to repeat that the Russians turned out to be excellent students in military affairs and surpassed their teachers - soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. As an example, the engineer-sapper assault battalions of the Red Army, which broke into the impregnable fortified areas of Germany, are given.

However, the use of technical solutions to achieve a military advantage has taken place since the time of Alexander Nevsky. The capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible can also be attributed to the asset of Russian military engineering.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it was believed that the Soviet sapper troops fully met the requirements of the time. They were equipped with the necessary means to overcome obstacles, in particular, IT-28 tank bridge layers, a pontoon park, and equipment for electric barriers. There was even a special swimming bag for IPC horses. At the same time, these battalions were auxiliary units of the Red Army and were not equipped with the necessary vehicles.

Panzergrenadiers from the SS "Totenkopf"

Military engineering played a huge role in the war. Having broken through our fronts with tank formations, the Nazis in the shortest possible time built obstacle courses around the surrounded Soviet units, including from minefields.

The time required to overcome them turned out to be sufficient to destroy the advancing Red Army infantry with dense machine-gun and mortar fire.

Soviet fortified areas were stormed by German special forces - panzergrenadiers, the basis of which was the motorized infantry of the Wehrmacht.

Of these German units, the most famous is the SS Totenkopf (Dead Head) division of 1939 and 1942, which included a special engineer battalion. In the arsenal of enemy sappers and attack aircraft there were special means to destroy our pillboxes and bunkers, but most importantly, they were specially trained to take echeloned defensive structures.

The beginning of the war

Without an effective anti-personnel defense, equipped with engineering obstacles, the German blitzkrieg would have been a journey of fascist tanks across the boundless Russian expanses. That is why those who fell into the boilers of the Red Army army, being reliably cut off from the rear, surrendered after exhausting bombardments and depletion of resources.

Our sapper troops were drained of blood at the very beginning of the war, being busy building a new fortified area on the border with Poland. One of the first they were on the line of fire, without heavy weapons and vehicles for evacuation.

The remaining engineering units perished, covering the waste of the main units, blowing up bridges and leaving minefields. Often sappers were used as infantry. The Headquarters responded to this situation as quickly as possible under those conditions, and on November 28, 1941, issued an order prohibiting the use of sappers for other purposes. In fact, in the autumn of the first year of the war, sapper troops had to be re-created.

Strong in mind and body

The Stavka not only promptly controlled the fighting, but also carried out analytical work. The command noted that the warring engineering troops, due to their specifics, were a formidable force. For example, the famous "Pavlov's House" in Stalingrad was defended for 56 days by 18 sappers, commanded by Sergeant Yakov Pavlov. The commander of the 6th German Army, Field Marshal von Paulus, was also captured by sappers of the 329th engineer battalion and soldiers of the motorized rifle division.

On May 30, 1943, the formation of the first 15 assault engineer-sapper brigades was completed, which was tasked with breaking through the German fortified areas. The fighters of these units were physically strong young men, under the age of forty, well versed in technology. Basically, these units were formed on the basis of already fighting sapper battalions, which showed themselves well in battle. In August 1943, assault engineer-sapper brigades arrived at the front.

Hard to learn, easy to fight

The soldiers of the assault engineer-sapper brigades, before getting to the front, took a special course. They were especially carefully taught to throw grenades and covert movement.

For example, Captain M. Tsun, commander of the 62nd assault battalion of the 13th ShISBr, fired live ammunition in the classroom, in which future sappers crawled in a plastunsky way.

As a result, his fighters were not inferior to the best scout instructors. Sappers-attack aircraft were also trained in fast dashes over rough terrain with reinforced ammunition grenades and explosives. Of course, they taught the technique of hand-to-hand combat.

Attack sappers mastered the tactics of joint attacks with infantry. To do this, they compiled a detailed map of the German defense and calculated its weak points. The soldiers of these battalions went into battle in steel bibs, putting on padded jackets under them. For this they were sometimes called armored infantry.

“The personnel of the brigade are special sappers, attack aircraft with bulletproof vests, in steel helmets, all armed with machine guns,” recalled the head of the engineering troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, General Galitsky, “They are designed to fight together with the infantry and must participate in breaking through the defense: in the destruction of pillboxes, bunkers, machine-gun nests and enemy NPs ... ".

In addition to machine guns, many Red Army attack aircraft were armed with knapsack flamethrowers, machine guns and anti-tank rifles, which were used as large-caliber rifles. A reinforced set of grenades was also mandatory. Having made openings in the lines of defense, sappers-attack aircraft were immediately withdrawn to the reserve.

Defeat of Germany

The Germans considered Koenigsberg an impregnable fortress, but the city fell in a matter of days. Fighters from engineer-sapper assault battalions broke through to the fortified areas and blew them up with powerful explosive charges. Nikolay Nikiforov in the book “Assault Brigades of the Red Army in Battle” gave the following example: “... to blow up a reinforced concrete shelter in the Parshau area, a charge of 800 kg of explosives was required. The garrison of 120 people surrendered after the explosion.

Here is another quote from the same book:

“In the battles for Berlin, the 41st brigade burned 103 buildings. The experience of using knapsack flamethrowers once again gave grounds to assert that they are one of the effective means of fighting in the city, due to their lightness, the ability to get closer to the attacked objects through hidden accesses and the high efficiency of flamethrowing.
The Headquarters considered the engineering and sapper assault brigades to be the elite of the Red Army.

Everyone knows well what combat missions artillery performs, what tankers are needed for, and what marines, special forces and paratroopers do. But even far from everyone who serves in the Russian army today, not to mention the civilian population, will be able to clearly tell about the role of the Russian engineering troops. At best, to the question: “who are engineering warriors?” civilians will simply answer - they are sappers, because they are constantly mining and clearing something, blowing up and building. And some “knowledgeable” people even, having heard the name “engineering troops”, will wave their hand dismissively and say that these are ordinary soldiers from the Stroybat.

In reality, the engineering troops of Russia have absolutely nothing to do with the construction battalions. First of all, these are mobile special forces units (obstacle detachments, territory clearing brigades, assault groups, etc.), which accompany the main forces in offensive operations and conduct comprehensive engineering reconnaissance of specific terrain squares. In addition, they are designed to quickly solve various tasks for the technical support of a military operation with the participation of infantry units and other units of the Russian ground forces. In 2017, the active units of the engineering troops (IV) of Russia solemnly celebrated 316 years of service in the ranks of the Russian army. And today they are considered one of the most sought-after branches of the Armed Forces.

For three centuries, Russian military engineers have gone through a rather thorny path of development and formation as an independent branch of the military, but at the same time, these brave soldiers have always demonstrated an unbridled desire to serve their homeland. For the first time, professional training and education of engineering fighters in various specialties began to be carried out as early as 1701. According to the personal order of Tsar Peter I Alekseevich the Great, the first educational special school was created in Russia on the basis of the then main governing body - the Pushkar order. In the "training" for the future military service in the army, professional and experienced artillerymen and, together with them, specialists of a narrow profile - military engineers were preparing. The very next year, graduates of the school were sent to the active miner units of the army for further service. Later, pontoon teams were also formed.

For the centuries-old history of the engineering troops, in the memory of chroniclers, military historians and ordinary eyewitnesses of that time, there was practically not a single “high-profile” battle in which the military personnel of the IW units would not take a direct part. This only confirms the fact that their role in any land battle was fundamental and extremely important. Russian warrior-engineers, not having theoretical knowledge and sufficient experience, and also not having the proper technical equipment, were able to show themselves in all their glory in many fierce battles. The soldiers distinguished themselves during the Battle of Poltava and the difficult Crimean War. The fighters of the engineering troops under the command of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov made a huge contribution to the victory during the assault on the Izmail fortress. Later, for this valiant feat of arms, the great Russian commander was awarded the highest rank of generalissimo, and the IV soldiers who participated in the battle were presented with state orders.

Regardless of the nature of the hostilities, detachments of engineering troops almost always arrive at the "meeting point" before anyone else. They check the territory for the presence of mines and other explosive devices, build river crossings, and, if necessary, quickly build safe passages through enemy minefields. Military engineers are faced with "dirty work" on duty, and very often perform their direct duties while under massive enemy fire. No matter how loud it may sound, but not a single army in the world is able to completely do without engineering troops. In Russia, the day of a military engineer is celebrated annually on January 21.

The origin of the Engineering Troops

According to ancient chronicles, the first officially confirmed information about warrior-builders in Russia appeared as early as 1016 AD. The soldiers who were in the sovereign's service differed significantly from the classical city planners, who were called carpenters, stone makers and "townspeople" casters. It was customary to call military engineers differently - city builders or bridge builders. Actually, even the word "city" in the Old Russian language had a completely different meaning. By it was meant not a settlement, but a military settlement similar to a fortress, in which it was convenient to carry out defensive operations.

The warrior-builders also differed from the ordinary soldiers of the army and sentinel detachments. The task of organizing the defense of cities was entrusted to their shoulders. From some of the ancient Russian chronicles of the tsarist period of the 9th-10th centuries, which have survived to this day, it is known that many warriors-engineers had a wide knowledge of military art. They did not just sit in fortified cities, coming up with a plan for organizing defense, but built various military fortifications that were used against enemy units. In the second half of the 17th century, the warrior-engineers who were in the tsarist military service actually became elite soldiers. And there were reasons for this.

By the beginning of 1200, according to the Julian calendar, the "fragmentation" of Russia into separate feudal principalities began. Against the background of these processes, the construction of castles and new defensive fortifications intensified. The services of military engineers became in demand, and the soldiers themselves received a decent salary for their work. This served as a fairly powerful impetus for the further development and improvement of military engineering in Russia. In addition to erecting defensive structures, the soldiers discovered and implemented new opportunities for engineering support and combat support for offensive operations.

In 1242, Russian troops were able to defeat German soldiers “to the smithereens” right on the ice of Lake Peipus in the Pskov region on the border with Estonia. In the course of a fierce battle, military engineers put into practice not only standard field-type fortifications, which were built taking into account the characteristics of the terrain, but also used special defensive structures designed for a long period of operation. The warrior-builders of Russia distinguished themselves in 1552, when, on the orders of Tsar Ivan IV, they built the fortress city of Sviyazhsk in less than a month, where the support base of the Russian troops involved in the siege of Kazan was located.

The development of military affairs in the 17th–18th century.

In 1692–94 The last Tsar of All Russia, Peter I Alekseevich, personally supervised the conduct of experimental training maneuvers using engineering communications and defensive fortifications. At the same time, the then popular scientific works of a French military engineer named Sebastien Le Pretre de Vauban were taken as the key basis for tactical “experiments”. The fortified cities of the great marshal later became the World Heritage of Humanity and are today under the protection of UNESCO. Therefore, it is not surprising that all countries of the world, including Tsarist Russia, tried to copy his inventions.

Tsar Peter I made a lot of efforts to create regular IW units in 1712, and it was he who insisted on the use of crossing facilities and the construction of field fortifications, which made it possible to provide offensive military operations that were unfolding on land with the necessary weapons and technical equipment. Subsequently, this made it possible to actively develop and introduce new ways to strengthen state borders. However, Peter I came to grips with the professional training of military engineers much earlier.

The official history of the development of the IV units dates back to January 21, 1701, when Peter I Alekseevich decided to create the Pushkar Order School in Moscow, where officers of artillery regiments and individual army engineering formations of the regular troops of Russia were to undergo tactical training. This experience turned out to be successful, and already 18 years later, in 1719, a new school was opened, but already in St. Petersburg. The military charter of Peter I, which replaced the old "cannon and military charter" proposed by Anisim Mikhailov, marked the beginning of the restructuring of the regular units of the Russian army, which had a positive effect on the level of its combat capability. Some time later, in 1722, the famous Table of Ranks was introduced by the tsar, in which all the officer ranks of the engineering units of the Russian army became “head and shoulders above” the infantrymen and cavalrymen.

In the 1750s, units of the engineering troops were subordinate to the Chancellery of Artillery and Fortification. During this period, they experienced a rapid surge in development and an invaluable contribution to the "common cauldron" was made by the talented General-in-Chief of the Engineering Troops Hannibal Abram Petrovich. Thanks to his efforts, the popularity of military builders has increased dramatically. Toward the end of the 18th century, the number of IWs in the active Russian army increased by almost 3-4 times. This opened up new opportunities for the development of the defense of the Russian state.

In 1757, frame-sail pontoons first appeared in service with the Russian army - they were intended for fixing floating supports on the water, which, in turn, were used by military engineers to build a temporary floating bridge with a carrying capacity of up to 3.5 tons. In 1797, at the suggestion of Emperor Paul I, regular army battalions necessarily included one mining company, which carried out military construction activities during offensive campaigns, and also camouflaged various objects on land and built field structures. Thus, already at the end of the 18th century, the development of engineering troops was in full swing, which made it possible to significantly strengthen the combat power of the Russian Empire.

IW units in the era of great wars

Before the start of the war with Napoleonic France, which began in 1812, about ten miner and pioneer units of the engineering troops were formed in Russia. In addition, artillery pontoon teams provided support for combat ground operations. Another 14 companies were stationed in fortified fortresses. However, they were staffed only by conductors and officers. The need for labor was compensated by infantrymen and volunteers from among the local population.

One sapper and two pioneer regiments from the active battalion of the IW took part in foreign campaigns against France. If we talk about exact numbers, then at the time of World War II, there were about 45 regular combat engineering units in the Russian army. Sapper and miner army detachments were engaged in the construction of long-term defensive fortifications, which were used to protect fortresses, as well as in offensive operations. While the pioneer companies actively carried out work on the improvement of travel routes, bridge crossings and field fortifications. Pontoon teams were engaged in the construction of floating bridges across the rivers.

During the Crimean War, which took place in 1853-56, in which the army of the Russian Empire was forced to confront a coalition of European states, two cavalry pioneer divisions were involved, performing important tasks in building defensive "heights", as well as 9 battalions of sappers. It should be noted that the IW at that time separated from the artillery and became an independent branch of the military. And although the successes of the Russian army in this battle were very doubtful, military engineers showed themselves as courageous, staunch and brave fighters. Actually, other military units also showed their best side, and the defeat itself was more of a political nature and was due to "blunders" in strategic calculations made by the army command.

In the Russian-Turkish war, which unleashed in 1877-1878. units of the engineering troops achieved unprecedented results - the number of regular units exceeded the mark of 20,000 military personnel. At the same time, new vacancies were opened in the specialties of aeronautics and pigeon communication. By the end of the 19th century, the engineering troops provided technical support for almost all offensive operations of the Russian infantry, cavalry detachments and artillery regiments. In addition, the soldiers took an active part in the construction of fortresses, and also performed important engineering tasks in the arrangement of travel routes and the laying of new radiotelegraph lines.

Contribution to the victory of the USSR in World War II

In the Soviet army, the primary purpose of the IW was the technical support of offensive and defensive combat operations of the infantry. In the conditions of a tough war, the forces of ordinary soldiers and officers competently planned and successfully implemented all the necessary conditions for the rapid advancement of the main offensive units of the Soviet army. The special forces of the IW carried out the tasks of camouflaging military installations, constructing defensive fortifications, including anti-tank ditches, and other assignments of the command. In many respects, it was thanks to the timely and coordinated actions of military engineers that the German invaders faced insurmountable obstacles on the way to the Soviet fortified areas, which were of strategic importance.

During the Second World War, the battalions and detachments of the USSR Military Forces gained vast experience and prospects for further development. Improved technical capabilities, as well as constantly expanding the range of military tasks. At the same time, the role of IW soldiers also increased. Almost from the first days of the invasion of the fascist invaders into the territory of the USSR, they actively participated in the preparation and conduct of defensive battles - they dug trenches, cleared roads, created protective fortifications and built water crossings using pontoons. Together with other army units, military engineers steadfastly held back the powerful onslaught of the German forces.

On the Northern and Western fronts, the special forces of the IW acted as mobile, mobile barrier units. They covered the retreat of the main forces of the Soviet army, destroying river crossings, mining fields and arranging insurmountable zones of artificial obstacles, which forced the Germans to slow down. And on the Kola Peninsula, the fighters of the engineering troops, together with the surviving motorized riflemen, without tanks and artillery, were able to actually completely block the advance of the Germans in this direction.

When organizing the defense of the Russian capital, by decision of the highest ranks of the High Command of the Army, 10 mobile mobile detachments were urgently formed, which performed combat missions in front of the very noses of the Nazis, mining the paths of tanks and destroying road communications. Thanks to the work carried out, during the attack on Moscow in one of the sectors, the German units lost about 200 units of heavy armored vehicles and about 140 units of trucks with weapons and ammunition. For this valiant feat, the soldiers were presented with high state awards. True, many of them received medals and orders posthumously.

In 1942-43, when the Soviet troops launched a counteroffensive, the military engineers of the Red Army had to hastily restore previously destroyed bridges and build new river crossings. In addition, the task of clearing the territories that the Germans "marked" before the retreat fell on their shoulders. In winter, it was also necessary to lay columned paths in meter-long snowdrifts. However, this task was successfully solved in a short time. Whereas many retreating German units simply fell into the snow captivity, without special equipment for clearing the territories, and became easy money for Soviet soldiers. With the start of the full-scale winter counter-offensive of 1942, teams of reconnaissance bombers were deployed to the enemy rear every day.

Assault engineering units often had to perform general army military tasks. For example, during a fierce battle in the Lithuanian city of Vilna, the soldiers of the fourth sapper brigade of the IV were personally able to neutralize and destroy about 2 thousand Germans, take prisoners about 3 thousand soldiers and free more than 2.5 thousand Soviet prisoners of war and ordinary citizens who were in a local concentration camp. As a result of the Second World War, about 800 soldiers of the IV units became Heroes of the Soviet Union, and about 300 people were solemnly awarded the Order of Glory.

Secondary tasks of the Engineering Troops

The profession of a military engineer is quite multifaceted and versatile - adapted to any need. Experienced specialists of the Russian EW are equally in demand both in wartime and in peacetime. After the end of the Second World War, the military personnel of the engineering units were involved in the Afghan war, and also took a direct part in the peacekeeping missions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Today, Russian engineering troops are actively engaged in mine clearance in Syria. They accomplished many feats during periods of "calm". The brave soldiers of the IW rendered great assistance in eliminating the consequences of a large-scale man-made disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which occurred in 1986.

In peacetime, special forces of the engineering troops of the Russian Armed Forces, together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other federal departments, carry out measures to evacuate the population from dangerous areas, as well as eliminate the negative consequences of emergencies, both man-made and natural. Among the primary tasks of the IW are the construction and subsequent operation of bridges and pontoon crossings in the country's water spaces, extinguishing forest fires, disposing of nuclear waste, and eliminating the consequences of the collapse of emergency industrial facilities that are dangerous to human life. This is only a small part of all the secondary tasks that Russian engineering troops regularly have to perform.

Technology for pontoon crossings

One of the key tasks of the military engineering troops is to build safe passageways through water areas. The pontoon crossing is the result of the painstaking work of dozens of soldiers and a rather complex engineering process that requires utmost care and attention. In order for a prefabricated structure made of floating elements to become a full-fledged crossing, you need to know the entire technology of this process from “A to Z”. First, floating conveyors are launched into the water, with the help of which the future floating crossing is gradually and scrupulously assembled. If necessary, river boats insure the structure on the water. On small reservoirs, you can do without them. Soldiers of the engineering troops connect all the elements manually, and then control the crossing from the shore and water.

Pontoon military crossing has a lot of advantages. Firstly, structures on pontoons are practical and highly transportable: they can be easily moved in a collapsible state on land, and then, if necessary, transported by water. But the primary advantage lies in the high speed of installation, which allows you to quickly transport the necessary equipment or people through any water barrier. In the capable hands of the servicemen of the Russian engineering troops, this mechanism works clearly and smoothly. With a competent approach, it is possible to build a pontoon crossing 400–500 meters long in just a few hours.

However, this technical engineering structure also has obvious disadvantages. For example, in busy areas of water bodies, they interfere with river navigation. But if this issue can be resolved at the stages of planning and preparing the operation, then others remain relevant to this day. Floating pontoons are highly dependent on water level, wind speed and waves. We have to put up with the fact that in winter, in conditions of freezing, the use of pontoon crossings is simply impossible. And if the elementary rules of operation are not observed, floating bridges can even “float away” in an unknown direction. A similar incident occurred in 2005 during the construction of pontoon supports on the Kondoma River.

Insignia of engineering units

One of the main attributes of the engineering troops of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is the classic emblem. In the central part there is a double-headed eagle, which, according to the good old tradition, is depicted with wings outstretched to the sides. In his claws, he firmly holds 2 axes (a traditional army symbol of IW), which are located crosswise in relation to each other. This heraldic sign acts as the official coat of arms. As a rule, this army symbol can be found on the gates of the engineering unit, special equipment and buildings of the IW headquarters. The history of the emblem has more than 200 years - it first appeared in 1812.

If we talk about award signs, then the medal with a moire ribbon "Veteran of the Engineering Troops" is considered the most important. This commemorative award is intended only for military servicemen with seniority who honorably fulfilled their personal duty to the Motherland and retired for a well-deserved rest. On the obverse of the medal there is the coat of arms of the RF Armed Forces, below is the "company" sign of the engineering troops of the modern sample (2 crossed axes and a flaming grenada). Also on the front side are the traditional symbols of the Russian Armed Forces - laurel and oak branches. The reverse of the award medal depicts a small five-pointed star, which is surrounded by jagged "boundaries" of a classic military fortification.

The official flag of the divisions of the Russian IWs is a double-sided rectangular panel. The main symbol is depicted as a 4-pointed white cross, the edges of which expand closer to the outer part of the flag and are in contact with four red-black rays. In the central part there is a track-laying blade, a sea anchor, a flaming grenada with lightning bolts spreading in different directions, as well as two axes crossed with each other. The upper part of the "exposition" is framed by a gear wheel.

The traditional lavalier badge of the units of the Military Forces of Russia is designed to be worn in the corners of the collar of a military uniform, as well as on officer shoulder straps. This emblem, in addition to traditional engineering axes and a bulldozer blade, depicts an anchor, a mine and lightning bolts diverging to the sides. The symbol indicates belonging to the Russian engineering troops. Also widely used in everyday life is the breast emblem of the 1994 sample with the image of a lavalier symbol and the inscription: "Engineering Troops".

Armament and technical equipment

In the midst of World War II (1943-44), many Soviet special forces of the engineering troops adopted the modified CH-42 body armor. Such powerful uniforms were mainly equipped with soldiers of the assault units of individual sapper brigades of the IV, which were not subordinate to the general staff, but directly to the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. During the war years, engineering troops were also called "armored infantry" or "battleships", since soldiers in CH-42 bulletproof vests looked rather awkward against the background of other units of the Soviet army. Nevertheless, a steel breastplate, made of 36SGN steel 2 mm thick, was able to protect against machine gun bullets and small fragments.

Today, in the current special forces of the engineering troops of the Russian Federation, the most modern equipment and equipment are used to perform combat missions. The servicemen of the sapper brigades of the special forces of the military forces are equipped with unique new-generation protective uniforms. The kit is capable of protecting against the explosion of anti-personnel mines and an improvised explosive device with a warhead capacity of about 1 kg of TNT. In addition to the standard firearms, soldier-engineers who perform important tasks of clearing the territory also use new powerful Kite-class mine detectors. A modern military locator detects anti-personnel mines and other hidden explosive devices at a distance of up to 30 meters in any type of soil, in snow, as well as under asphalt and even concrete floors. "Korshun" was successfully used by Russian military personnel when carrying out mine clearance work in Syria.

When it is urgently required to examine and clear a vast area of ​​land from land mines and other explosive devices, then military engineers have no choice but to put into practice "brute force" - a self-propelled demining unit called UR-77 "Meteorite". In wide circles, this miracle technique is better known under the unofficial pseudonym "Snake-Gorynych". They took it to the balance of the engineering troops back in 1977, but even today this machine surpasses some modern world analogues produced in the West. UR-77 destroys any explosive devices in its path, providing military equipment and soldiers with a safe corridor with a total length of almost 200 meters and a track width of 6 m.

On the balance sheet of the engineering troops of the Russian Federation is the most diverse equipment and equipment. To quickly overcome ground obstacles and artificially created barriers, engineering mechanized bridges of the TMM-6 class, as well as earlier modifications, are widely used. The fighters of the engineering troops, depending on the situation, use in practice special equipment designed for the complex mechanization of earthmoving or road work. In addition, the IV brigades are armed with universal multi-wheeled track-laying vehicles of the PKT-2 class and tank-laying bridges of the MTU-72 class.

In order to overcome water obstacles in a short time, mobile diving stations, transportable pontoon parks and floating trailers are used. In emergency cases, special "Exit" kits are used, designed for urgent evacuation of tank crews. Also, the engineering troops are equipped with automobile crane installations, sawmills and powerful military excavators. Such a variety of technical means makes it possible to perform the most complex tasks with minimal time.

Special equipment of the engineering troops of Russia

BAT-2- an indispensable assistant in almost any engineering business. This army track-laying machine, like a sewing knife, has several working tools at once, which are necessary for laying column tracks. BAT-2 also provides for special crane equipment with a lifting capacity of up to 2 tons. Despite the huge number of additional units and mechanisms, in practice this technique is a fairly obedient, responsive and very fast car that can accelerate to 70 km / h.

In addition to performing its direct duties, BAT-2 has proven itself well in clearing the area from snowdrifts and snow blockages in winter. Instead of the friction clutch and planetary turning mechanism traditional for heavy military equipment, the BAT-2 tracklayer has 2 onboard gearboxes. For greater maneuverability on rough terrain, rubber-metal hinges are provided on the caterpillar mover. One of the three modes of a powerful bulldozer is activated using standard hydraulic equipment. The mass of BAT-2 together with power units and additionally installed equipment is 39.7 tons.

IMR-1- engineering vehicle obstacles. Built on the basis of the T-55 tank. In just 1 hour, it is able to turn 300 meters of solid blockage into a road suitable for the passage of conventional vehicles. It is distinguished by stronger hull armor, since very often the vehicle has to perform tasks under enemy fire. To install logs into the ground, a manipulator with a grip is used. IMR-1 has a very small view, therefore, together with the mechanic, the commander-operator is also sent to complete the task, who directs the driver's actions in the process of manipulating the crane installation. The body of this armored vehicle has a fairly powerful protection against radioactive radiation.

The installed working equipment has 3 main modes of operation: double blade, grader and bulldozer, which makes this type of equipment a real all-rounder in military affairs. The suspension is used individual torsion bar, the maximum speed over rough terrain is about 20 km / h. The mass of the IRM-1 engineering vehicle is 37.5 tons.

MDK-3- an army armored vehicle for digging pits, which can quickly dig a ditch 3.5 m wide and deep, and the length of the ditch can be any. This car is equipped with a turbocharged 12-cylinder engine with a capacity of 710 horsepower. Machine weight 39 tons. Maximum speed up to 80 km/h over rough terrain. For digging a pit, a special working body of a rotary type is provided, as well as a baking powder and a cutter. The performance of the rotor is quite high - in 1 hour this technique is able to dig about 350–450 cubic meters of earth.

The external tool of the MDK-3 engineering special equipment is a milling cutter that looks like a meat grinder knife. Actually, its functions are similar. It is the first cutter that “bites” into the ground and feeds the loosened mass to the second wheel - the rotor, which rotates much faster than the cutter and throws the ground to one side. The gearbox sets in motion the rotor and the working cutter of a huge size. Its gears rotate a cardan shaft with a diameter of a telegraph pole. But the main movement of all mechanisms is given by a hydraulic motor.

There is another gearbox combined with a gearbox, and for finishing work in the MDK-3 a small blade is provided, which levels the shelter, making the walls vertical, and also quickly builds convenient races. The maximum burrowing depth is 5 meters. Being at a depth, in order not to burn out from the exhaust gases, the drivers use a first-class regular Russian-made air purification and ventilation system that can withstand even radioactive dust. By the way, you can also control the earthmoving machine while digging a pit using a remote control, while outside the cab.

Where are military engineers trained?

If you intend to get the profession of a sapper of the engineering troops of Russia, then documents for full-time training can be submitted to the selection committee of the 66th interdepartmental training center, which is located in the Moscow region. In this educational institution, you can get the profession of a specialist in the mine detection service. In addition to the theoretical foundations of minecraft, cadets have the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge in practice. To do this, the training center uses a separate military training ground in Nikolo-Uryupino, where special tactical classes and testing of the latest robotic systems are held.

The forge of engineering personnel, where the professional training of officers of the Russian army is carried out, is rightfully considered the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which is located in Moscow. The term of study in the chosen specialty is 5 years. After graduating from the institute, cadets are assigned the junior officer rank of "lieutenant" and are issued with a diploma of a qualified specialist of the state standard. The training time is counted in the total military experience. You can also study at the structural unit of the university - the Tyumen Higher VIKU named after. Marshal A. I. Proshlyakov. Detailed information can be obtained on the official website of educational institutions.

If you intend to obtain a diploma of a junior specialist in IV, then you should contact the regional training centers of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. One of these centers is located in the city of Volzhsky, the other - in Kstovo. Please note that it is possible to get into the engineering troops for permanent service only by contract, so it is best to decide in advance on the choice of a higher educational institution or a specialized center in order to receive the coveted "crust" of a qualified specialist.

Benefits of serving in the engineering troops

The monetary allowance of contract soldiers depends on the region of service. On average, the salary varies between 25-40 thousand rubles. In addition, various monthly allowances, lifting and annual material assistance are additionally provided. The modern army makes it possible not only to earn good money, but also to provide for the family. There is another significant plus in the contract service. Already after the first contract, any soldier has the right to enter into a military mortgage. It does not work like a civilian one - while the service is in progress, the state fulfills credit obligations. But even if the contractor decides to go into civilian life, no one will take away an apartment or a house. In this case, the serviceman will independently pay off the remaining debt to the bank.

The social package of a contract soldier, among other things, includes the opportunity to receive free education, free medical care and rehabilitation support, as well as food and clothing allowances. In the near future, the term of the first contract is planned to be reduced to 2 years. At the same time, a unified system of discounts will be created for the purchase of public goods and services by contractors. It is also planned to develop a project on preferential lending to contract soldiers of the engineering troops. The main directions in improving the service under the contract are the creation of favorable housing conditions, optimization of monetary allowance, improvement of social and living conditions and raising the status of military engineering troops who serve under the contract. In addition, social protection and the rights of servicemen and members of their families are guaranteed.

How do military engineers serve today?

The engineering troops of Russia are a real gold nugget, an alloy of science and courage. And there is no exaggeration in this. Quickly laying a road for the safe movement of vehicles, clearing the area where hostilities are taking place, and providing water and electricity to settlements in case of an emergency - an inconspicuous but necessary job. And here you can not do without professional soldiers serving on a contract basis. That is why the modern engineering troops of Russia are 80-90% composed of trained contract soldiers.

You will not find traditional army armored vehicles in the IW brigades. These units are armed with their own unique "monsters" made of metal, each of which has its own specific specifics. Some machines are designed to clear debris, others make passages in minefields, and still others build bridges across rivers and reservoirs. Separate battalions of engineering troops also perform different tasks. For example, a demining battalion cleans up unexploded ordnance from areas close to populated areas. Only contract soldiers serve here. During the day, the engineering battalion is able to clear up to 5 hectares of land from landmines.

It is impossible to perform such a colossal amount of work manually, so special equipment comes to the aid of the soldiers. On a special account today is the latest demining machine "Uranus-6". This is a sapper robot that is controlled from a distance. This technique is actively used to clean urban areas, as well as foothill areas. Also, soldiers of the engineering troops are now mastering the latest model of a mine detector, which, for its unique technical characteristics, was nicknamed the “Kite” in the Russian army. Today, the engineering troops are developing by leaps and bounds, and automation plays a key role in reforming the IW units.

In terms of the level of military training in terms of the use of special equipment, the fighters of the engineering brigades are considered among the best in the Russian army. A well-thought-out material and educational base helps to hone skills. Many parts have their own engineering town, a waterfield for pontoon crossings and a range with an obstacle course, where they teach driving and conduct fire training. Combat brigades are completed according to a mixed principle - contract soldiers are accepted for service in the most popular army specialties:

• part-commander;
• deputy platoon commander;
• medical instructor;
• electrician-communicator;
• driver mechanic.

At the beginning of the service for all contractors, a probationary period is provided. Unsure of themselves and weak-willed soldiers who simply cannot cope with the tasks and duties assigned to them, after the expiration of the probationary period (3 months), they are eliminated according to the principle of natural selection. Only the most persistent guys who are ready for self-sacrifice get into the service. Contract soldiers live in service apartments and barracks of the Kubrick type. Alternatively, it is allowed to rent housing in a nearby village. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense compensates part of the money for renting an apartment or a private house.

It is possible to conclude a contract for military service in the ranks of the engineering troops through the representative office of the Ministry of Defense. Absolutely any law-abiding citizen of the Russian Federation (without a criminal record) over the age of 19 who has a state diploma of complete secondary education and has completed military service in active military units of the Army or Navy can submit a corresponding application. Entrance tests for all applicants for military service under a contract are held at specially created regional selection points. These tests are complex and multi-level competitions, including a mandatory psychological stability test, as well as a physical fitness test.

START

Engineering Troops of Russia.

Until the 17th century, the word city was often referred to as fortifications, denoting defensive walls with this term. The fragmentation of feudal Russia into many principalities, which began at the end of the 12th century, led to the construction of fortresses and structures of various types throughout almost the entire territory. The high level of Russian military engineering art of that time is evidenced by both the skillful construction of fortifications and the improvement of engineering measures to ensure the offensive operations of the troops.

The chroniclers refer to the year 1016 for the first information about warrior-builders in Russia. In Ancient Russia, the simplest types of military engineering work were performed by warriors, and for more complex ones, artisans were attracted, among whom were " gorodniki"engaged in the construction of fortifications," bridgemen"who built bridges and crossings," vicious deeds of the master ", who built siege engines - vices.In the XIV century, people who led such work began to be called " thoughts"from the word" to reflect ", thus emphasizing the intellectual nature of their work. In the meaning of the official title, the term "reflection" began to be used in the 16th century from the reign of Ivan the Terrible.

In 1242, the Russians defeated the Germans on the ice of Lake Peipus. At the same time, Russian troops skillfully used both long-term defensive structures and field fortifications, made taking into account the characteristics of the terrain.

Miniatures of the Nikon face chronicle, 16th century I Ostermanov volume.

The first Russian military engineer is considered a clerk Ivan Grigorievich Vyrodkov , who led the military engineering work in the Kazan campaign of Ivan the Terrible in 1552.

In the second half of the 15th century, a single body for the management of military construction work was created in the person of the engineering department.Pushkar Order , which began to develop drawings and supervise the construction of defensive structures. The first Russian military charter that has come down to us, which summarized military engineering experience, is the "Charter of military and cannon affairs related to military science." It was compiled at the beginning of the 17th century by the voivode boyar Anisim Mikhailov .

In 1692 and 1694, under the leadership of Peter I, apparently, the first engineering training maneuvers were carried out, during which the construction of defensive structures was worked out, using the work of the most famous military engineer of that period. Marshal Vauban of France .

In 1700, during the Northern War, during the siege of Narva, miners. This is the first mention of them in historical materials. As part of the artillery regiment, in which all the field artillery of the active army was then combined, in 1702 a miner company was formed, and in 1704 a pontoon team was introduced into the staff of this regiment, the staffing strength of which had not yet been determined. At the same time, personnel specialists were trained for them in engineering school , opened at the Cannon Yard in Moscow by decree of Peter I of January 10 (21), 1701.

Creating a regular army, Peter I paid special attention to the development of artillery and engineering troops. He gave them harmonious organizational forms, which have not yet been in the West. The whole matter of organization, armament and combat training was put on a scientific basis.

On February 8 (19), 1712, by decree of Peter I, the organizational and staffing structure of the engineering troops was approved; three engineering units with a total number of 148 people were introduced into the staff of the artillery regiment. Mining company consisting of 3 officers and 72 lower ranks, it was intended to build fortifications on artillery positions and perform engineering work during attack and defense. pontoon team provided artillery crossings through water barriers from improvised means and consisted of 2 officers and 34 lower ranks. Engineering team in the amount of 8 officers and 29 lower ranks was intended to organize the entire engineering service artillery regiment, and, if necessary, its specialists were sent to infantry units to manage military engineering work carried out by their personnel.

Thus, Peter I legislated the creation of engineering troops in the Russian army and on February 8 (19)noted as Day of Engineering Troops of the Russian Army .

For the training of engineering personnel are created engineering schools . The first in 1708 in Moscow, in 1712 it expanded further, but this was not enough and on March 17, 1719, an engineering school was established in St. Petersburg. In each of these schools, 100 - 300 people studied annually, the period of study varied from 5 to 12 years. Military engineers enjoyed great advantages in the army, their salaries differed from those of army officers, and the most successful in engineering were promoted to the highest ranks before others.

Where did the Sappers come from ...

sappers(French sapeur - to dig) - from the beginning of the 17th century. The name of the soldiers of the French army, who were engaged in digging under the fortifications of the enemy and their destruction. Subsequently, the most common name for the personnel of the engineering troops.

From the "Charter of military, cannon and other matters relating to military science",

prepared in 1621 Onisim Mikhailov

based on "foreign military books".

... to ensure the combat operations of the siege army, have four ensign 406 people each chancecops, a hundred horoscopes and the team of the ferry park with 5 plows (flat-bottomed wooden ships carried on carts). Organizationally, these formations were to be part of the artillery.

Prapor(Old Slavonic - banner, banner) - the banner of a squad, detachment and other formations of the Russian army in the XV-XVII centuries. The number of formations was determined by the number of ensigns. Here prapor means detachment.

Chancecops(German Schanze - trench, fortification; the name of field and temporary fortifications of the 17th-18th centuries) - soldiers who built such fortifications.

Horoscopes- the name of the soldiers of the Russian army of the 16th-17th centuries, who performed underground mine work to destroy the walls of the besieged enemy fortress.

lower ranks- category of servicemen in the Russian army up to1917, which included persons with non-commissioned officers and privates.

Localities in rear areas active fronts.

The need to create sapper armies in the first months of the war[ | ]

During the summer-autumn campaign of 1941, one of the main tasks of engineering support fighting Soviet troops was the construction of military and rear defensive frontiers, the device of various obstacles.

All these lines were created in order to delay fascist troops as long as possible and buy time to bring up forces from the depths of the country and create reserves that could be deployed in the most important directions.

The solution of the above tasks of engineering support of our military operations troops At the time, it was made much more difficult by the fact that engineer battalions many rifle divisions, engineering battalions of a number military districts, and parts that were on the structure fortified areas on the western border, fell under the first blow of the aggressor's army, suffered heavy losses of personnel and equipment, and could not withdraw in an organized manner.

The construction of all defensive lines was led by Main military engineering department() People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR ( NGOs).

In the front line, they were erected by the army and front departments of military field construction (transformed from the departments of the Head of Construction) by the forces that were part of them.

The construction of rear lines of strategic importance was entrusted to the Main Directorate of Hydrotechnical Works (Glavgidrostroy) of the NKVD, which, by decision GKO dated August 11, 1941, they were reorganized into the Main Directorate of Defensive Works (GUOBR) of the NKVD with subordinate departments of defensive works.

At the same time, the issue of building defensive lines in the deep strategic rear of the country to cover the most important strategic regions, economic and administrative centers is being decided.

Formation [ | ]

Sapper armies were formed by decree GKO from October 13 1941. Initially, they were subordinate to the Main Directorate of Defensive Construction under NGOs, and from the end of November 1941 - to the head of the engineering troops of the Red Army.

The sapper brigades were provided with weapons in accordance with the GKO decree of October 13, 1941, only 5 percent of what was required according to the report card to the state.

In November 1941, the 24th engineer brigade had only one light machine gun and 18 rifles (including 11 Czech and three Japanese). They were not even enough to carry guard duty and sentries handed over weapons to the next shift right on posts.

In December 1941, the 18th engineer brigade had two machine guns and 130 rifles, and the 29th engineer brigade had 59 rifles and 13 revolvers, in the 30th engineer brigade - 89 rifles and 11 revolvers.

A similar situation with weapons was in other brigades.

The composition of the sapper armies[ | ]

Each sapper army consisted of:

Army administration led by military council(State No. 012/91, staffing: 40 military personnel and 35 civilian employees, by order of NPO No. 0519 dated June 25, 1942, the management staff was increased: staff No. 012/2, 122 military personnel and 62 civilians) - two to four separate sapper brigades.

The composition of a separate sapper brigade included:

Brigade Directorate (staff No. 012/92, 43 military personnel and 33 civilians); - 19 separate engineer battalions from three companies of four platoons (staff No. 012/93, 497 military personnel); - a detachment of mechanization, including: - platoon road and bridge works, - a logging platoon, - a positional work platoon (staff No. 012/94, 102 military personnel) - a separate autotractor battalion from an automobile and tractor company, 4 platoons each (staff No. 012/95, 391 military personnel).

The staff strength of the sapper brigade is 9,979 military personnel.

In reality, the staffing of battalions and brigades of sapper armies, for a number of reasons, rarely reached the regular strength.

A number of front-line and army departments of military field construction with the departments of the senior work manager that were part of them, all five departments of defensive construction of the Main Directorate of Defensive Works of the NKVD, the Southern Construction Trust and a number of other construction organizations involved to the construction of defensive lines.

sapper brigades and their battalions were largely staffed by graduates of military engineering schools, as well as commanders called from the reserve. So, at the end of October 1941 in Leningrad, and other military engineering schools made an accelerated release of commanders after a 3-month course of study.

Manning sapper battalions private and junior commanders happened mainly due to call conscripts reserve under the age of 45.

By decision of the State Defense Committee for the construction of defensive lines, mobilization local population. They were mostly women, old people, schoolchildren and adolescents of pre-conscription age: Of these, according to the order of the military councils of the fronts and military districts, regional and regional party and administrative bodies, they were formed, which were subordinate to the sapper armies.

The total initial staff strength of the nine sapper armies created before November 1941 was 299,730 people.

Defensive lines erected by sapper armies[ | ]

The strategic rear defensive lines were a system of fortifications prepared and company strongholds, created on the main directions of the probable advance of the enemy and on defensive lines around major cities.

Initially, in a number of areas, including Stalingrad , North Caucasian and Volga military districts, these boundaries were erected solid.

Working conditions in sapper armies[ | ]

For the sapper battalions working on the lines, a 12-hour working day was established, including two hours allocated for combat training.

In fact, they worked 12-14 hours a day, and there was no time left for combat training.

Serious difficulties in providing the sapper brigades with the required property should be noted. So, the personnel of the 9th sapper brigade of the 4th sapper army in November - December 1941 went out to build defensive lines in bast shoes, acquired by the command of the brigade, since there were no shoes in the units.

Later, the production of bast shoes was established in the battalions, which employed 10 percent of the personnel.

To this end, in each sapper brigade, the number of training battalions up to 90. They were staffed with the most trained officers and rank and file in all respects. These battalions were released from work on defensive lines, combat training was organized according to a 200-hour training program (with a 10-hour training day).

The main attention was paid to the training of soldiers in mining, demining, demolition work, as well as their engineering and tactical training. Part of the training battalions were trained according to the profile and.

After completing a combat training course, these battalions were sent to the front as sappers or reorganized into mine-sappers, mine-blasting, engineering, road-bridge and pontoon-bridge battalions of army and front subordination.

Newspapers [ | ]

• in the 1st sapper army - "Son of the Fatherland"
• in the 2nd sapper army - "Red sapper"
• in the 3rd sapper army - "Soviet patriot"
• in the 4th sapper army - "For the Fatherland"
• in the 5th sapper army - "At a combat post"
• in the 6th sapper army - "Fighting pace"
• in the 7th sapper army - "Valour"
• in the 8th sapper army - "To defend the Motherland"
• in the 9th sapper army - "The word of a fighter"
• in the 10th sapper army - "Courage"

Disbandment of sapper armies[ | ]

April 19 1942 By order of the NPO No. 0294 “On the withdrawal of personnel from the disbanded and reduced military-technical and engineering units of the Red Army”, organizational measures are being taken in the engineering troops by May 1. They also affected sapper brigades: all sapper battalions moved to new states of smaller numbers (staff No. 012/155, number - 405 military personnel), autotractor battalions were reorganized into autotractor companies consisting of four automobile and one tractor platoons (staff No. 012/156, 260 military personnel). In all brigades, seven sapper battalions and an autotractor company remained (the regular strength of the brigade is 3,138 military personnel; mechanization detachments were retained in the sapper brigades of the 1st sapper army); the surplus 98 engineer battalions were disbanded.

26 July 1942 The GKO adopted a resolution “Issues of NPOs”, which determined measures to find human resources for active army, military schools and new formations being formed. The heads of the main departments of NPOs were obliged to carry out a reduction in personnel by August 20 under personal responsibility. military branches per 400,000 people according to the attached calculation. Engineer troops were reduced by 60,000 people. The released contingents of ordinary and junior command personnel, fit for military service, also transmitted the order of the head of the Glavupraform Colonel General, and eight sapper brigades were to be disbanded. At the same time, 30,000 people were allocated from the sixteen sapper brigades of the 1st, 7th and 8th sapper armies, fit for military service to equip rifle divisions. three brigades were represented as part of