Russian Naval Infantry - September 2021

September 01

Caspian Flotilla

A battalion level tactical exercise took place at the Adanak training ground in Dagestan with the marines preparing to hold amphibious landing exercises in the near future. The marines allegedly belong to the air assault battalion which is currently conventionally deployed.

The marines were previously also involved in a forced march from Adanak to the training ground in Turali, a distance of over 80 km. This forced march was done with the marines mounted in BTR-82A and BTR-70M armored personnel carriers.

The marines are reported to conduct their landing from Serna landing craft and BL-820 high speed boats. A second phase will involve the defense of the coast against a simulated hostile landing. For this task, the marines will supported by artillery and aviation assets. The artillery involved is described as D-30 122mm howitzers and 2S12 'Sani' self-propelled mortars. In total, around 500 marines and 150 pieces of equipment are involved in the exercises [1].

September 02

Caspian Flotilla

The air assault battalion conducted its amphibious landing exercise which was previously reported on September 01. Assault groups and engineers landed first on the coast, transported by BL-680 and BL-820 high speed boats. These groups created and marked safe passages through simulated minefields, allowing the main force to safely move off the beach.
Supported by the fire from small missile ships of the Caspian Flotilla, the assault groups and their BTR-82 and BTR-70s succeeded in capturing the coastline and suppress fire positions of the simulated enemy forces. Once in control of the beach, the engineers conducted reconnaissance and cleared the terrain for the landing of the main force [2].

September 03

Caspian Flotilla

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the end of the battalion tactical exercise held by the Naval Infantry. The units left the training areas at Zelenomorsk, Turali and Adanak and returned back to their base [3].

September 06

Pacific Fleet

Over 2.800 training parachute jumps have so far been logged for the Russian forces stationed in the Kamchatka Region during the 2021 training program. Marines of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade have also been taking part in these training jumps. Jumps are done with the D-6 and D-10, as well as the Arbalet, parachute systems. Jumps take place in full combat gear and with machine guns and mortar systems.

The marines involved were part of the air assault battalion, reconnaissance units, engineer units and artillery units. Air assault troops must complete 6 jumps during the year, reconnaissance units a minimum of 7 jumps and support troops 4 jumps [4].

The incorporation of reconnaissance, engineer and artillery units suggest that the entire battalion, being combat troops and combat support units, are capable of airborne operations. Judging from this report, the artillery support at the battalion level is provided by mortar teams.

Baltic + Northern Fleet

Marines of the Northern Fleet are still present at Baltiysk for joint training with the Baltic Fleet. The marines trained loading their equipment on board of the Ropucha class landing vessels RFS Korolev, RFS Kaliningrad and RFS Minsk as well as the RFS Olenegorsky Gornyak which is in service with the Northern Fleet. The marines will then take part in an amphibious landing exercise. Transit to the landing beach will take place with an escort of corvettes, missile boats and anti-submarine vessels. In total, around 200 marines of the Northern Fleet with 20 BTR-80s are embarked on the four Ropucha class landing ships [5]. The Northern Fleet marines will remain in Kaliningrad and take part in the upcoming Zapad-21 military exercise. [6].

Northern Fleet

Udaloy class destroyer RFS Severomorsk and rescue tug Pamir were involved in a regional security exercise which involved the protection of off-shore installations. Pamir played the part of a vessel intruding the safety zone of an off-shore installation, forcing the RFS Severomorsk to deploy her artillery systems in order to halt the intrusion. A Ka-27 helicopter lifted a naval infantry anti-terror team from the RFS Severomorsk to the off-shore installation. Once landed, the marines eliminated and captured several intruders. These intruders were previously deployed by a RHIB from the rescue tug Pamir once it was close enough to the installation. The installation was reported to be the platform Prirazlomnaya [7].

September 09

Northern Fleet

Marines of the 61th Brigade held and amphibious training exercise at the port of Dudinsky in the Artic Region. According to the training scenario, a group of sabotage and reconnaissance forces of an simulated enemy had taken over the seaport. The marines launched an amphibious assault both overland, from the sea and from the air. The marines mounted their seaborn assault from RHIBs across the Yenisei River. The airborne assault was conducted from Ka-27 helicopters provided by the Udaloy class destroyer RFS Severomorks. For the overland assault, Ropucha class landing vessel RFS Georgy Pobedonosets beached itself and allowed the deployment of a two-linked all terrain vehicles [8].

September 10

General

A new training cycle for the anti-terrorist guards on board of Russian warships has started at the Marine Corps Training Center, part of the Joint Training Center of the Russian Navy, in St. Petersburg. Over 50 marines of the Northern Fleet will take part in this course [9].

September 11

Baltic and Northern Fleet

Around 200 marines of the Northern Fleet 61st NI Brigade conducted an amphibious landing at the Khmelevka training ground in the Kaliningrad Region. Units of the Baltic Fleet 336th NI Brigade were tasked to defend the beach against this landing. The training exercise is part of the larger Zapad-2021 military exercise [10].

The landing started by a naval bombardment provided by the surface warships escorting the landing vessels. Su-30SM fighters and Su-24 fighter bombers joined in and provided air support. At least four Su-30SM fighters were seen operating in two pairs above the landing beach.

First to reach the beach were engineers who arrived on Raptor class high-speed boats and started to clear the approaches and prepare the landing sites for the arrival of the main force. At least three Raptor class boats were seen approaching the landing beach, each one of them carrying a section of military engineers. At this stage, a Sonya class minehunter was observed patrolling near the coastline, most likely searching for sea mines that could block the approach of the main force.

The main force was transported and landed by the Ropucha class landing ships RFS Kaliningrad, RFS Korolev, RFS Minsk and RFS Olenegorsky Gornyak, the latter vessel being part of the Northern Fleet. Their assembly in front of the coast and early approach was masked by a smokescreen. The beach was approached with the landing vessels sailing in two columns. RFS Kaliningrad (hull number 102) and RFS Minsk (hull number 127) were visually identified as being the lead vessels of their columns. they did not beach themselves but stayed a distance from the coast and opened their bow doors in order for the BTR-80s to disembark into the water and approach the coast under their own power. At least two Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters were observed providing air support during the debarkation phase.

These vessels landed a force of 40 BTR-80s together with the marines. The BTRs also sailed in a column formation and entered the beach one by one [11].

Zubr class hovercrafts RFS Mordovia and RFS Evgeny Kocheshkov also landed equipment during a later phase of the exercise. Both hovercrafts did land on the beach and allow the BTR-80s, R-149MA1 command and staff vehicles and 2S9 Nona self-propelled mortars they carried to be unloaded on the beach directly. During their approach to the beach, two Mi-24 helicopters were seen flying overhead. It is unclear if these were the same helicopters providing air support when the Ropucha's were disembarking [12].

The airborne assault unit of the Baltic Fleet Naval Infantry, the 879th Air Assault battalion, was tasked in countering the amphibious landing. Their defense and counterattack was supported by grenade launchers, BTR-82As, Nona self-propelled mortars and BM-21 Grad MLRS.  Three BM-21 Grads were seen firing on the beachhead once the engineers had landed [13] [14] [15].

Coastal missile defense units also took the opportunity of the amphibious landing to practice launches against the surface task force. Ball and Bastion missile systems performed electronic launches of Uran anti-ship missiles against the task force [16].

September 14

Baltic Fleet

As part of the Zapad-2021 military exercise, Baltic Fleet marines held an amphibious landing at the port of Baltiysk, Kaliningrad. According to the scenario, hostile forces had taken control over the port, forcing the marines of the Baltic and Northern Fleets to liberate to port.

A first wave in Raptor class fast patrol boats arrived in the port and disembarked several squads of marines that immediately engaged the hostile forces with small arms fire. Once the immediate vicinity was secure, Dyugon class landing craft RFS Midshipman Lermontov approached the port to disembark several marines and two BTR-type armored personnel carriers. These marines and BTRs were part of the Northern Fleets detachment of 200 marines for joint training with the Baltic Fleet.

Ka-27 and Ka-29 helicopters also flew overhead during this exercise but it is not reported if these helicopters provided close air support or flew in additional forces [17] [18].

Around 200 marines, supported by 20 pieces of military equipment, held live artillery firing exercise at the Khmelevka training ground. Nona self-propelled mortars were used during the exercise as part of the larger Zapad-21 exercise. The targets were reported as a group of simulated enemy parachutists. Aside from the artillery firing, the marines also engaged this simulated group with small arms fire and grenades as part of an offensive action [19].

The 879th Air Assault battalion was deployed at Khmelevka training ground for a coastal defense exercise. The marines were alerted and took up positions in the coastal section where the amphibious landing by a simulated enemy was expected. The amphibious assault was simulated with floating targets at sea which were engaged with small arms fire, grenade launchers, BTR-82As and Nona self-propelled guns [20].

September 21

Caspian Flotilla

A battalion tactical group exercise will take place which involves around 500 marines. The exercise will see the use of mobile units designed to counter UAVs. Electronic Warfare specialists will train in detecting and classifying UAVs flying at different altitudes and detect the reconnaissance and strike drones used by the simulated enemy forces. The EW specialists will then transmit their data to air defense systems.
Snipers will engage drones either with 7.62-mm SVD and 12.7-mm ASVK sniper rifles at altitudes between 50 to 400 meters. Igla portable air defense systems will also be used in specific air defense groups [21].

Northern Fleet

Ropucha class landing vessel RFS Georgy Pobedonosets has arrived with a group of vessels at the Stakhanovtsev Gulf at Kotelny Island as part of the Artic voyage deployment along the Northern Sea Route. The vessels will scout the island in search for a suitable beach to hold an amphibious landing. Earlier, the marines on board the vessel repelled a simulated attack by high speed boats with the use of machine guns while the task force was sailing through the Laptev Sea [22].

Pacific Fleet

The marines were deployed in a tactical exercise which saw them defeating a simulated amphibious landing by hostile forces in the Primore Region. The marines were deployed to the coastal zone with their BMP-4 infantry fighting vehicles. The enemy was engaged with AK-rifles equipped with underbarrel grenade launchers, RPGs and the 100mm  and 30mm canons on the BMP-4.

Later on, a group of BMP-4s and T-80 main battle tanks launched an attack against the enemy beachhead. A battery of Nona self-propelled guns provided fire support during the exercise [23].

September 22

Caspian Flotilla

The 177th NI Regiment received a batch of AK-74M rifles with the Obves kit [24]. The riffles are intended to equip the air assault battalion and reconnaissance units of the regiment [25] [26].

September 23

Baltic Fleet

Around 100 marines are involved in combat training jumps as part of the parachute training. Jumps are conducted from a Mi-8 helicopter in groups of 20 people at altitudes between 600 and 1.200 meters. The marines jump in full combat gear and with additional equipment in various weather conditions. Their tactics involve, firing at enemy troops during the decent, securing the landing zone as well as the capture and retention of enemy strong points [27].

September 24

Baltic Fleet

The Russian Ministry of Defense reports the continuation of the parachute training exercises that were previously reported on the 23th [28] [29].

Caspian Flotilla

A battalion tactical group comprising 600 marines and 150 pieces of equipment will take part in military exercises in the Rostov region together with elements of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District. The BTG will be reinforced with tanks and motorized rifle units of the Southern MD and work on developing tactics for mobile defense and offensive maneuvering both during day and night. They will use non-standard methods and change their battle order as part of this exercise.

Offensive actions will take place when in contact with opposing forces, during which an air assault behind enemy lines will take place. Defensive actions are reported to take place when under the attack by unmanned aerial vehicles.

The BTG is equipped with BTR-type armored personnel carriers, mortars and artillery during this exercise [30].

September 25

Northern Fleet

A detachment of the 61st NI Brigade embarked on the Ropucha class landing ship RFS Georgy Pobedonosets held an amphibious landing exercise on Kotelny Island in the Novosibirsk Islands archipelago in the Artic Region. The landing is part of the Artic voyage along the Northern Sea Route that takes place year.

The RFS Georgy Pobedonosets beached herself and allowed the marines and their DT-10 Vityaz tractors to disembark. Live firing of small arms, machine guns and grenade launchers took place against targets simulating troops of a conventional enemy.

The exercise was joined by coastal defense troops stationed at Kotelny Island. At least two Pantsir-S air defense systems took part in the exercise, firing at coastal and air targets at ranges of up to three kilometers. Bastion coastal defense missile systems conducted electronic launches against a detachment of vessels at sea.

The exercise was also supported by Ka-27 helicopters operating from the Udaloy class destroyer RFS Severomorks [31].

September 27

Northern Fleet:

Following their landing exercise at Kotelny Island, the marines embarked on the Ropucha class landing ship RFS Georgy Pobedonosets and departed to Tiksi Bay at Yakutia. The landing ships is escorted by the Udaloy class destroyer RFS Severmorsk as part of the tenth Artic cruise. At Tiski Bay, the marines will train in coastal defense [32].

Baltic Fleet

Ropucha class LSTs RFS Minsk, RFS Kaliningrad and RFS Korolev practiced mine laying operations at the training areas in the Baltic Sea. The vessels dropped anchored and bottom training mines. These minefields served in term as a training for the Baltic Fleet minehunters RFS Novocheboksarsk and RFS Leonid Perepech [33].

September 28

Caspian Flotilla

Driver-mechanics of the 2021 draft are in the final stages of completing their driving courses on the BTR-82As and KamaAZ-53501 trucks. The training is taking place on a special tracks to simulated off-road driving in extreme conditions. At the end of the training, the driver-mechanics will have to drive their vehicles for 150km during a day march and 50km during a night march [34].

September 29

Caspian Flotilla

Reconnaissance units are deployed at the Adanak training ground and are training in operating as part of small groups in raiding and reconnaissance operations. Around 200 marines will maneuver in full combat gear in mountainous and wooded areas and train to search, block, capture and defeat groups of conventionally opposing forces as well as irregular forces. Live firing from small arms and BTR-82As are also part of the exercise.
The marines will also train to set up observation points, minefields and how to set up ambushes [35].

Northern Fleet

The Artic voyage group held a tactical amphibious landing near the village of Tiksi in the Artic Region. The landing took place in bad weather conditions with low temperatures and strong winds. The marines were landed on the beach by the landing vessel RFS Georgy Pobedonosets and embarked as soon as the exercise was over.

The Artic voyage group thereafter set course towards the Kara Sea [36].

September 30

Caspian Flotilla

Several marines, as part of a battalion tactical group, trained in embarking on board of a Tapir class landing vessel at the Krasnodar Region. The marines loaded their BTR-82As into the landing vessel that was beached. The training is part of a larger exercise that will continue over the coming days. The next phase will involve the marines making a landing on a defended coast and break through the defenses of simulated enemy [37].

Pacific Fleet

Elements of the marines stationed at the Primorsky territory have started to deploy to training areas as part of ongoing bilateral brigade-sized training. The 40th and 155th Brigades stationed at Primorsky and Kamhatka are deployed in full force near the Klerk training ground. The 40th Brigade at Kamchatka was reportedly transported by the landing vessels of the Pacific Fleet and reportedly will act as the attacking force during the exercise. The 155th Brigade will act as the defending force [38].