Russian Naval Infantry - December 2021

 December 03

Pacific Fleet

Marines of the 150th NI Brigade at the Primorsky Region made the first parachute jumps of the new training year that started on December 01. The marines jumped out of Mi-8AMTSh helicopters and An-26 transport aircraft flying at altitudes of 600 meters [1].

Black Sea Fleet

A battalion sized group of 500 marines of the 810th NI Brigade are holding training exercises at Crimea. The marines will hold live firing exercises with small arms and anti-tank missile systems. driver-mechanics will also train in overcoming obstacles and driving over rough terrain and beaches [2].

When being deployed towards the training areas, the marines also worked out the actions needed to secure the marching column against attacks made by hostile reconnaissance and sabotage groups [3].

December 04

Northern Fleet

The so called Kirkenes Red Banner Marine Corps Brigade held a hand-to-hand combat championship. Twelve teams of various units within the brigade took part in the championship [4].

December 07

Black Sea Fleet

Marines of the 810th NI Brigade loaded around 20 pieces of military equipment on board of the Ropucha class landing ships RFS Tsezar Kunikov and RFS Novocherkassk: The embarkation took place at Cossack Bay in Sevastopol with a rescue tug standing by in case of emergencies. Both vessels subsequently left port and reportedly headed towards the Opuk training ground [5] [6].

Caspian Flotilla

Around 300 marines of the 177th NI Regiment are deployed at the Adanak training ground in the Dagestan Region for a coastal defense exercise. The marines, mounted in their BTR-70 and BTR-82A armored personnel carriers set up a beach defense against a simulated enemy trying to land an amphibious force. Mi-28N attack helicopters of the 4th Army Air Force provided close air support during this mission. The simulated enemy forces were mainly engaged by the autocannons and machine guns of the BTRs [7]. Soldiers used their AK-74Ms to engage simulated enemy troops at a shooting range [8].

Pacific Fleet

Cadets at the Far Eastern Higher Combined Arms Command School (DVOKU) have started their parachute training program. Over 50 candidate officers will take part in this training, with 18 of them jumping for the first time. The training takes place in the Primorsky Region and will be carried out from Mi-8AMTSh transport helicopters. D-10 parachutes will reportedly be used [9].

December 07

Northern Fleet:

A team of 10 marines from the mountain company of the reconnaissance brigade are training for an upcoming ski-mountaineering competition. The training camp is to last until December 18 and will take place at a training base at Apatity and at the village of Sputnik in the Murmansk Region [10].

December 08

Northern Fleet

Reconnaissance units are undergoing mountain training in the Pechenga district of the Murmansk Region. The training involves several disciplines such as a hinged crossing, rock climbing and ascending or descending steep cliffs. Live firing with small arms is also part of the training [11].

December 09

Baltic Fleet
A battalion sized unit of the 336th NI Brigade deployed at the Khmelevka training ground in the Kaliningrad Region. The marines will train several combat tasks including offensive and defensive actions and evacuation of wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Live firing is also part of the training with marines firing small arms, machine guns, sniper rifles, grenade launchers and rocket propelled grenades. Automatic fire from BTR-82As will also be trained.

In a later stage, the marines will train reconnaissance operations in areas held by simulated hostile forces [12].

December 10

Pacific Fleet

A train with 20 modernized T-80BV main battle tanks arrived in Vladivostok. These tanks will be distributed to the Naval Infantry formations attached to the Pacific Fleet. It is unclear how the tanks will be distributed. Currently, both the 150th and 40th NI Brigade operate ten T-80BVs in their tank battalions [13].

December 13

Caspian Flotilla

Over 1.500 marines of the 177th NI Regiment are deployed at the Adanak training ground for combat training exercises. The marines will work at squad and crew level and interact with the BTR-70Ms and BTR-82A armored personnel carriers. Squads will also train in engaging simulated hostile troops and equipment with machine guns and grenade launchers. Squad-leaders will also be trained in managing their squads and driver-mechanics will train in operating their vehicles over rough terrain [14].

December 14

Baltic Fleet

A special tactical exercise took place on the Khemlavka training ground in the Kaliningrad Region was reported with the marines using Orlan-10 UAVs to recon an area. The Orlan-10 UAVs detected several command posts and warehouses used by a simulated enemy force. Air-assault marines then conducted a raid in the rear of the enemy forces, aided by the information of the Orlan-10s [15].

December 15

Pacific Fleet

Marines of the 150th NI Brigade were deployed on the Bamburovo training ground where they fired with AK-12 assault rifles while crews of the BMP-3s struck targets while on the move. These targets simulated armored vehicles, anti-tank systems and grenade launchers at ranges between several hundred meters to 1.500 meters. A battalion-sized element and 60 pieces of military hardware were involved in the training [16].

December 16

Caspian Flotilla

Around 1.000 marines have started the Marine Airborne Training (TIR) program of the new training year. The marines will learn to deploy their BTR-70Ms and BTR-82As on the training ground and complexes, as well as how to operate the vehicle on the water. Embarkation on landing craft and landing on the coast are also parts that will be addressed in the TIR program [17].

Around 50 snipers of the 177th NI Regiment are undergoing training in order to participate in the Sniper Frontier competition of the Army-2022 wargames. The training takes place on the Adanak training ground in Dagestan and focusses on stealth, camouflage, taking positions, evacuation of wounded personnel and first aid [18].

A video of the training showed four snipers using a SVDS Dragunov marksman rifle and advancing in leaps with at least one other sniper maintaining overwatch. The snipers would also lay flat on their back and aiming at the sky in certain cases. This is possibly a training for engaging and destroying unmanned aerial vehicles. Once the wounded sniper was reached, one man would provided first aid and start the evacuation with two others providing overwatch [19].

December 17

Pacific Fleet

Several driver-mechanics have trained in driving their BTR-82As over extreme rough terrain as part of the regular winter training program. The routes that had to be overcome were between five to 20 kilometers long and had several obstacles and barriers [20].

Baltic Fleet

Marines continue to be deployed at the Khmelevka training in the Kaliningrad Region were they undergo combat training missions. The marines engage targets with small arms, machine guns and vehicle mounted weapons. The AK-12, which was recently introduced in the 336th NI Brigade, was used during these training missions. In total, around 300 marines were deployed in these exercises [21].

Black Sea Fleet

A small sized amphibious landing exercise took place at the Opuk training ground with marines disembarking from the Ropucha class landing vessel RFS Novocherkassk. The vessel also organized air defense and held communication and damage control exercises [22].

It is unclear if the marines embarked were the same as the ones involved in embarkation exercises at Sevastopol on December 06.

December 20

Caspian Flotilla

About 100 snipers are deployed on the Adanak training ground in Dagestan and started training high-speed firing techniques. The marines will use SVD Dragunov and Vintorez sniper riffles and operate under the guidance of experienced instructors [23].

Baltic Fleet

A BTR mounted battalion of the 336th NI Brigade has been deployed to the Khmelevka training ground for amphibious assault training. The marines practiced loading and unloading their vehicles on boards of landing vessels, both ashore and from afloat. They also trained a debarkation with the vessel being at sea and the BTRs having to move through the water in order to reach the coast [24].

December 21

Pacific Fleet

Tapir class landing vessel RFS Nikolay Vilkov was involved in an embarkation and debarkation exercise with elements of the 155th NI Brigade of the Primorsky Region. Loading took place at the Desantnaya Bay near Vladivostok and,  after having made the transit, unloading of personnel and equipment occurred at the amphibious assault range near Cape Klerk. Around 150 marines and 30 wheeled and tracked vehicles took part in the exercise [25].

Baltic Fleet

A company sized unit was active in the port of Baltiysk where it trained loading into and unloading from the Ropucha class landing vessel RFS Kaliningrad. Marines and members of the ship crew also trained in setting up air defenses during this exercise. Igla and Strela man portable air defense systems were used during this phase [26].

December 22

Pacific Fleet

Marine cadets at the DVOKU have completed around 200 parachute jumps over the past two weeks. Fifty cadets conducted these jumps out of a Mi-8AMTSh the D-10 parachute system [27].

Caspian Flotilla

Two companies of marines were involved in a special tactical exercise where they had to traverse simulated zones contaminated by radiologic and chemical agents. The marines operated their BTR-80As and BTR-70s in a march formation when the alarms were given. The marines traversed these zones in protective equipment, followed by a decontamination of their equipment [28].

Around 150 marines assigned to the reconnaissance units of the air assault battalion are undergoing training in Dagestan. The marines are training on simulators to practiced the actions taken upon landing with a parachute. Training on these simulators is usually done prior to real training jumps [29].

December 23

Caspian Flotilla

Forty BTR crews are training for the qualifying rounds in the Marine Landing competition of the Army-22 games. Training takes place at Adanak and Scorpion training grounds and involve BTR-82As and BTR-70Ms [30].

Baltic Fleet

A company sized unit was deployed on the Khmelevka training ground at Kaliningrad for an artillery training exercise. BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems struck simulated hostile positions. Fire was adjusted by a variety of means including radar, optical-electronic and through the use of UAVs [31].

December 27

Caspian Flotilla

Training exercises at the Adanak training ground have increased with the marines now training on Platoon level. The training exercise involve engaging targets that simulate enemy troop concentrations and equipment. Firing takes place with small arms, grenade launchers and vehicle mounted weapons of the BTR-82As and BTR-70Ms. Half of the firing exercises are conducted during the night with the marines using night and red dot sights as well as flares and ammunition [32].

Pacific Fleet

Marines are deployed on the Bamburovo training ground in the Primorsky Territory where they work together with close air support aircraft such as the Su-25 aircraft and Ka-52 helicopter. A company sized element of marines made a march in their BMP-3s and BTR-82As when they were ambushed by a simulated enemy force. The company commander called in air support to fight of the ambush. Ka-52 helicopters later on provided escort for the convoy and provided reconnaissance [33].

December 28

Caspian Flotilla

Artillerymen of the 177th NI Regiment are deployed at Adanak in preparation for the Army-2022 games. The artillery men are getting ready for the qualification of the "Master of Artillery Fire" competition. Around 50 artillery pieces, including D-30 122mm artillery guns and 120mm "Sani" mortars are deployed. The marines are engaging targets between three to twelve kilometers out [34].

Pacific Fleet

The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that over 150 parachute jumps took place at Kamchatka during the past week. Jumps took place from altitudes between 900 and 1.500 meters from an An-12 transport aircraft with both D-10 and Arbalet parachute systems. No further jumps are planned for the remainder of 2021 [35].