Russian Naval Infantry - October 2021

 October 01

Caspian Flotilla

The final control check for the 2021 training year is currently ongoing at the Adanak training ground. Training exercises will focus on tactical, technical, engineering and medical skills as well as driving and small-arms fire.Orlan-10 and eleron-3 UAVs are used to monitor the progress of the exercise [1].

October 04

Black Sea Fleet

As part of their control exercises, around 200 marines took part in a tactical exercise at the Opuk training ground on Crimea. The marines were tasked to engaged a group of hostile sabotage and reconnaissance forces while assuring the safe passage of a military convoy. Using data received from unmanned aerial vehicles, an advance party was sent in the rear of the enemy forces that waited in ambush. The main convoy moved in full combat readiness and avoided a road section that was possibly mined. Once at the ambush site, both groups engaged the opposing forces from the rear and flanks [2].

Pacific Fleet

Units of the 40th NI Brigade based in Kamchatka are embarked on board of the Ropucha class landing vessels RFS Perevets, RFS Oslyabya and RFS Admiral Nevelskoy and play the part of the attacking forces during a bilateral training exercise against the 155th NI Brigade. The exercise is taking place at the Klerk training ground in the Primorsky Territory. The Ropucha class landing vessels will make a covert approach towards the landing site.

Both the commanders of the 40th and 155th NI Brigades remain unaware of the other's actions and combat plans. The exercise will last until October 8 and will see the deployment of BTR-82As, BMP-3s, 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled guns, T-80BV main battle tanks and SZU Shilka self-propelled anti-air guns [3].

October 05

Pacific Fleet

As part of the ongoing bilateral brigade tactical level, both the 40th and 155th NI Brigades are making preparations in their areas of concentrations before starting the amphibious and air assault exercise at the Klerk training ground [4]. In total, around 5.000 soldiers are to take part in this exercise.

October 07

Pacific Fleet

Elements of the 40th NI Brigade have landed on the coast of the Primorsky Territory as part of the bilateral brigade tactical exercise against the 155th NI Brigade. The landing was conducted by all four large landing vessels of the Pacific Fleet (three Ropucha class and one Tapir class vessel) and several smaller landing crafts. Two vessels made an actual landing on the beach, one of them appearing to be the RFS Peresvet, with the remaining two Ropucha's disembarking their troops and their BTR-82As from an afloat position. Several tanks were landed as well directly on the shore. The three Ropucha class landing ships were seen deploying smoke screens during the landing phase.

The landing was supported by an surface task force led by the Steregushchy class corvette RFS Sovershenny. Air support was provided by Su-25 ground attack aircraft and Ka-52 helicopters of the Eastern Military District.

Black Sea Fleet

Marines held an amphibious landing exercise at the Opuk training ground as part of a control exercise following the summer training period. The marines were tasked in breaking through the simulated beach defenses of the opposing forces and strike their troop concentrations. This was followed up by constructing strong posts along the beach in order to defend the landing zone.

The first wave on the beach were the reconnaissance group and engineers who were tasked to identify the hostile fire positions and create corridors in the minefields on the beach. Elements of the air assault battalion were next to land on the beach, being transported by BTR-82A armored personnel carriers. They broke through the enemy defenses, suppressed firing positions and consolidated the beachhead for the arrival of the main force. Simultaneously, Mi-8AMTSh transport helicopters landed assault groups in the rear of the enemy forces. These were supported by Ka-52 and Mi-24 combat helicopters.

Following the landing, the marines set up ambushes against the opposing forces and supported the advance of the main force.

In total, 400 servicemen and 50 pieces of military equipment took part in this bilateral battalion tactical exercise [6].

October 08

Pacific Fleet

In accordance with the ongoing bilateral brigade tactical exercise at the Klerk training ground, the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade launched its attack against the defending 155th Naval Infantry Brigade which was tasked in defending the beachhead. The defending side reportedly used non-standard combat techniques during their defense. An analysis of the training exercise will later be made for evaluation. The outcome of the attack was not reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Live firing was reported, carried out from BTR-82As, BMP-3s, Gvozdivka 122mm self-propelled guns, T-80BV main battle tanks and ZSU Shilka self propelled anti-air guns [7].

Northern Fleet

Marines of the 61th NI Brigade held live firing training exercises with small arms at the training grounds in the Pechenga region and near the village of Alakurtti. The exercises are held as part of the control exercises taking place in the Russian armed forces at the end of the summer training program [8].

October 09

Pacific Fleet

The bilateral brigade tactical exercise held in the Primorsky Territory has been completed as troops and equipment start to return to their bases. Over 900 pieces of military equipment such as BTR-82As, BMP-3s, Gvozdika SPGs, T-80BV MBTs and others are being in the process of returning to their place of permanent deployment. Hardware of the 40th NI Brigade will be transported by the large amphibious landing vessels of the Pacific Fleet.

The outcome of the exercise and the tactics involved are currently being assessed for their effectiveness [9]. 

Baltic Fleet

Marines and reconnaissance officers are in the progress of training parachute jumps from An-26 transport planes and Mi-8 helicopters. The jumps are taking place from an altitude between 600 to 1200 meters. Group jumps are reported as well with up to 30 servicemen jumping together. Jumps are conducted in full combat gear and with weapons [10].

October 11

Caspian Flotilla

Marines are involved in tactical training exercises at the Adanak training ground in the Dagastan Region. One battalion tactical group, reinforced with mortars and artillery brigades, took up defensive positions against a conventional force.

Air assault and reconnaissance units played the role of opposing forces and were tasked to engage the defensive positions. Soldiers of the airborne units, mounted on BTR-82A and BTR-80s, attacked the positions while the air assault units conducted tactical heliborne landings in the rear of the defending troops. Mi-8AMTSh helicopters were used during this assault.

In a final stage of the exercise, small arms fire and grenade launchers were used to hit over 300 targets imitating tracked and wheeled vehicles as well as troop concentrations. Around 500 servicemen and 50 pieces of military equipment were deployed during this exercise [11].

October 12

Baltic Fleet

Marines are in the progress of operating Orlan-10 UAVs for reconnaissance. The drones operate at an altitude of 2.000 meters and are used to spot camouflaged command posts and adjust artillery fire [12].

October 13

Caspian Flotilla

About 1.000 marines of the 177th Regiment are deployed at the Raevsky training ground in the Krasnodar Territory to participate in a command and staff exercise of the Southern Military District. Battalion tactical groups of the marines will operate together with tank and motorized formations of the Southern MD. The marines will conduct defensive maneuvers and work out non-standard tactics and methods for offensive operations. New elements in the order of battle will also be tested during this exercise.

Specific combat tasks will involve the capture of a beachhead, a tactical landing of air assault forces in the rear of the opposing forces and switching to the defense while opposing forces deploy UAVs [13].

October 16

Caspian Flotilla

Medical units of the 177th Regiment are on a tactical exercise in the Dagestan Region as part of a battalion tactical group. Their task is reported as evacuating wounded soldiers during a defensive battle. The medics used BMM-80 armored medical vehicles and RS-05 medical backpacks during this exercise. The wounded soldiers were transported from the battlefield to the medical vehicles with the help of specialized stretchers [14].

October 17

Northern Fleet

Marines of the 61st Brigade are engaged in a tactical shooting training near the village of Sputnik in the Murmansk Region. The marines will train in three disciplines which are reported to be:

- "Bridgehead", where the participants, upon a signal, leave the vehicle, take a position in the trench and, having distributed the targets, hit them with small arms and hand grenades;

- “Evacuation”, when the group moves to the front on a signal and, using cover, hits targets as they are visible, then picks up the “wounded” and delivers him to a safe place;

- "Neutralization" - also on a signal, the group approaches the object, using cover, strikes the guards from machine guns. Then the assault group, putting on gas masks, launches gas into the room, enters inside and neutralizes the enemy with pistol shots.

The exercise is conducted with Kalashnikov assault riffles and Yarygin and Makarov pistols [15].

October 18

Black Sea Fleet

Over 40 ships were involved in an amphibious landing exercise at the Opuk training ground as part of a brigade level bilateral training exercise. Naval support was provided by the Slava class cruiser RFS Moskva, Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich, Buyan-M class corvette RFS Ingusethia and the small missile vessels Naberezhnye Chelny and R-60. These vessels suppressed simulated coastal defenses and covered the approach of the landing vessels. Raptor class high speed boats were the first to approach. According to standard operating procedures, these vessels disembark special forces and engineers who prepare the beach for the arrival of the main force [16] [17]. These forces qlso included engineers equipped with metal detectors searching for mines and marking safe lanes as they moved forward. The forward landing forces also engaged beach defenses while the landing ships were approaching the coast. These defenses appear to be engaged by small arms fire, PKM machine guns and SVD sniper riffles though the latter remains unclear whether it was operated by marines or members of the coastal defense forces [18].

The landing forces consisted of the Tapir class landing ship RFS Saratov and the two Ropucha class LSTs RFS Novocherkassk and RFS Caesar Kunikov. During their approach, naval aviation provided air strikes to further suppress beach defenses.

The landing itself was mixed with one vessel disembarking MT-LB armored personnel carriers in the water while at least one Ropucha landed on the beach and disembarked the troops in their BTR-82As there. The landing forces also deployed Nona self propelled mortars and Gvozdivka self propelled guns which were seen being used in a direct fire role once they were on the beach [19]. At least three Gvozdivka class SPGs were seen together in aline abreast formation providing fire support [18].

Air assault units conducted a tactical landing in the rear of the enemy forces. These troops were transported by Mi-8AMTSh helicopters, supported by Ka-52 and Mi-28N attack helicopters and with Su-25 ground attack aircraft flying cover. The air assault landing took place as the landing vessels were still heading for the coast These air assault units took up positions suitable for setting up ambushes against the opposing forces [20].

The role of opposing forces was played by coastal defense units of the Black Sea Fleet as well as tank and motorized units of the Southern Military District [21]. These units were armed with small arms, RPGs and received support from T-72 main battel tanks.

The landing most likely took place on October 15 when the three LSTs were observed on Sentinel-2 imagery beached at Opuk. By October 18, these vessels were reported offshore [22]. The vessels reportedly remained beached at the 16th, 17th and the beginning of the 18th [23].

On October 19, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the outcome of the exercise, stating that the coastal defense troops succeeded in defending against the amphibious landing. Although the marines succeeded in penetrating the beach defenses, artillery and missile strikes as well as airstrikes by Su-24 fighter-bombers, struck the landing zone and the landing vessels [24]. These strikes probably either disrupted the amphibious landing process or destroyed the troops present on the beachhead.

October 19

Caspian Flotilla

A so called command post exercise is being held at an unspecified location which sees the deployment of 500 marines and 15 BTR-82As. During their march, the marines detected a zone which was contaminated by weapons of mass destruction. The marines had to traverse this zone at the shortest possible time with the use of protective equipment [25].

October 20

Pacific Fleet

A company sized assault group performed a parachute jump in the rear of a simulated enemy position and delivered a mortar strike against simulated enemy positions. The exercise took place at the Bamburovo training ground in the Primorsky Region and is part of the final checks at the end of the summer training program.
The assault group consisted of around 100 marines who jumped from a An-26 transport aircraft in full combat gear. The D-10 parachute system was used during this exercise. The marines fromed up after landing, marched towards the enemy positions and assaulted these with small arms, RPG-7s and mortar fire. The marines reportedly succeeded in capturing the enemy positions [26].

Caspian Flotilla

Sappers and engineering units of the 177th NI Regiment are deployed at the Scorpion training complex in Dagestan. The engineers conducted reconnaissance, mined sections of the training ground and started a search and disposal of explosive devices. Dummy anti-tank and anti-amphibious mines were used during this exercise. Special mine detectors were also used for service underwater. Sapper trained in making openings and passes through mine barriers [27].

A company sized unit was deployed in a tactical air-assault exercise against a simulated group of hostile forces that had landed at an unspecified location on the Caspian coast. The enemy group was detected with the use of UAVs and their coordinates were sent to a command post. The marines were transported by Mi-8AMTSh helicopters and headed towards the landing zone in order to block the enemy group.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the marines were able to engage and destroy the eneme group [28].

October 23

Baltic Fleet

Baltic Fleet marines hosted the Zarnitsa military games for the Young Soldiers organization. About 200 members of the organization participated in military games centered on obstacle course, learning to shoot weapons, medical evacuation, geography and engineering [29].

October 25

Northern Fleet

The large landing vessel RFS Ivan Gren is involved in helicopter training exercises with Ka-29 shipborne helicopters practicing landings and take offs from the flight deck. Around 100 landings and take-offs reportedly took place [30].

The Ka-29 helicopters are part of the anti-submarine naval aviation regiment stationed at the Kola Peninsula. 

October 26

Caspian Flotilla

Members of the reconnaissance units are deployed at the Adanak training ground in the Dagestan Region. During their training, the marines set up an ambush against a group of insurgent forces that were in the possession of hostages. The marines set up improvised firing positions along a route that was to be taken by the insurgents. The marines succeeded to engage the insurgents in a mock battle and liberated the hostages. Orlan-10 and Eleron-3 UAVs were used to provide target data for the supporting artillery units [31].

In total, around 500 servicemen are engaged in the training exercises.

October 27

Northern Fleet

A company sized unit of the 61st NI Brigade is involved in live -firing air defense exercises in the Murmansk Region. The exercises take place in the Pechenga District at Lake Santayarvi and involve man-portable Igla air defense systems and Strela-10 mobile air defense systems. The air defense batteries are used to cover other marine formations on the march and during offensive actions. Special targets are used to imitate hostile helicopters.
Around 100 marines and 15 pieces of military equipment are deployed at this exercise [32].

Black Sea Fleet

Marines were involved in an exercise focused to defend a military convoy on the march against an attack by hostile reconnaissance and sabotage forces. Marines and supporting army units were at the head of the convoy and searched and blocked a group of hostile forces lying in ambush [33].

October 28

Caspian Flotilla

Members of the air assault battalion of the 177th NI Regiment are training amphibious assaults against an undefended coastline at the Scorpion training ground in Dagestan. The marines loaded their BTR-82As and BTR-70s on Serna class landing crafts and landed on the shore. Driver-mechanics trained in preparing the vehicle for amphibious operations, trained on how to recover their vehicles out of sand and how to tow other stranded vehicles. Driving the vehicle on land and afloat were trained as well. In total, 20 pieces of military hardware were involved in this exercise [34].