Russian engineering and sapper troops. Russian Engineering Troops

On January 21 every year the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation celebrate Engineering Troops Day. It was established by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 18, 1996, and included in the list of professional holidays and memorable days of the Russian Army by decree of Vladimir Putin of May 31, 2006.

Goals and current status

Modern engineering troops of the RF Armed Forces:

• carry out tasks of engineering reconnaissance, construction of trenches, trenches, shelters, anti-tank ditches;
• lay minefields and engage in mine clearance, carry out blasting operations;
• equip crossings on water obstacles, extract and purify water in the field;
• carry out work on camouflage, imitation of troops and objects.

In peacetime, these units clear the area of ​​explosive objects, participate in eliminating the consequences of man-made accidents, catastrophes and natural disasters, and prevent the destruction of bridges and hydraulic structures during ice drifts.

Separate engineering brigades are part of the Western, Southern, Central and Eastern military districts; naval engineering battalions - part of the Northern and Pacific fleets of the Navy. The Black Sea and Baltic Fleets have separate naval engineering regiments. Also, a similar regiment was created to support fleet operations in the Arctic. By 2021, engineer-sapper and pontoon-bridge brigades are planned to be created in each combined arms army.

Chief of the Engineering Troops - Lieutenant General Yuri Stavitsky (since July 2010).

Training of military engineers

Officer training is carried out by the Combined Arms Academy of the RF Armed Forces (Moscow) and its branch - the Tyumen Higher Military Engineering Command School named after. Marshal A.I. Proshlyakova. Junior specialists are trained by the 187th Pskov Order of the Red Star and the 210th Guards Kovel Red Banner interspecific regional training centers (the latter is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region).

"TASS/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation"

Russian mine clearance specialists are trained by the 66th Interdepartmental Methodological Training Center. In August 2014, a special unit was formed for foreigners - the International Mine Action Center (IMC) of the Russian Armed Forces in Nakhabino (Moscow region). Military personnel participate in humanitarian demining operations outside the country.

Use of troops

MOC specialists were engaged in demining the Syrian cities of Palmyra, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor. From 2016 to July 2018, more than 6.5 thousand hectares of territory, 1.5 thousand km of roads, 17 thousand buildings were checked, and 105 thousand explosive objects were neutralized. The center also trained more than 1.2 thousand Syrian sappers.

Since October last year, a team of 36 MOC soldiers has cleared 52 hectares of Vietnam War-era ammunition in Laos.

In December 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the MOC of the Russian Armed Forces the Order of Kutuzov for completing the assigned tasks of demining military and civilian targets. In total, more than 80 engineering troops received state awards for their work in Syria.

In the summer of 2018, as part of the International Army Games, engineering competitions “Safe Route” and “Engineering Formula” were held, as a result of which Russian teams won silver and gold medals, respectively (the Chinese team took gold in the “Safe Route” competition - TASS note) .

In January of this year, sappers from the Russian Ministry of Defense were involved in clearing the bed of the Bureya River in the Khabarovsk Territory. More than 300 tons of explosives were allocated to eliminate the traffic jam that arose due to the collapse of part of a hill 73 km from the village of Chekunda.

It was reported that military personnel of a separate battalion, whose task is to clear mines from the territory of Chechnya and Ingushetia, will be able to complete the work in three years. In total, they have 6 thousand hectares left. Sappers are clearing these areas after fighting there during counter-terrorism operations in 1994–1996 and 1999–2001. In total, since May 2012, the military has examined about 20 thousand hectares, neutralizing about 33 thousand explosive objects.

Troop equipment

In 2018, the engineering troops received modern equipment: sets of diving equipment, military truck cranes, power plants, a mobile sawmill complex, kits for equipping checkpoints and engineering observation posts. 13 modern models, more than 570 pieces of equipment and more than 15 thousand ammunition have been developed and adopted for the troops.

In 2018, the first six new armored mine clearing vehicles BMR-3MA and engineering clearing vehicles IMR-3M, created on the basis of the T-90A tank, were delivered.

Based on the results of tests in Syria, the Uran-6 robotic demining complexes entered service, and the Scarab and Sfera controlled inspection robotic complexes are also expected. It was reported that the Sfera robot will be supplied to sappers complete with the OVR-2-02 protective suit.

It also became known that the MPC received the first serial upgraded Uran-6 robotic demining systems. It is equipped with a new platform for transportation: it included a four-axle KamAZ on a special platform with a Multilift system.

This year, a universal armored engineering vehicle (UBIM) will undergo state tests, which is capable of performing engineering work under enemy fire and in radioactively contaminated areas.

In 2018, at the Army forum, the military showed a unique armored bulldozer B10M2S. The contract for the supply of such engineering vehicles with enhanced protection based on the B10M2 and B12 tractors to the Russian troops was signed with the Ministry of Defense in 2017.

Promising samples of engineering weapons are being developed by the Central Research Testing Institute of Engineering Troops of the Russian Defense Ministry. Based on the results of special tasks in the Syrian campaign, the following new engineering weapons are in operation:

• multifunctional robotic complex for clearing anti-tank mines (MRTC-RT);
• capacitor explosive device (TPVK-43);
• induction mine detector (IMP-3);
• individual and group sources of electricity and other means that increase the capabilities and expand the arsenal of troops.

After summing up the results of its operation in Syria, the new sapper suit was equipped with a cooling system.

From the history of troops

• In 1701, Peter I issued a decree on the creation of the Pushkar Order School in Moscow for the training of artillery officers and military engineers. In 1702, graduates of this school began to staff the first mining units of the regular army, and in 1704 a pontoon team was formed. By 1712, a regiment of military engineers was formed.
• By the 1850s, the engineering troops were separated from the artillery, and from 1870 to 1908 they included the railway troops. By 1917, the number amounted to 6% of the total strength of the Russian Imperial Army.

• After the October Revolution, during the organization (Red Army), it included sapper companies and battalions of disbanded regiments of the tsarist army; in 1919, pontoon and electrical battalions, automobile units, camouflage companies, a mine demolition brigade and others were created and equipped. Ten years later, there were full-time engineering units in all branches of the Red Army troops.
• The Great Patriotic War showed the important role of engineering troops in supporting combat operations; in 1941–1942, ten independent engineer armies operated. Subsequently they were reorganized into brigades. Three of these brigades (1st Guards Engineer-Sapper Mogilev, 2nd Guards Motorized Assault Engineer-Sapper Novgorod and 1st Engineer-Sapper Novgorod) were represented at the Victory Parade in Moscow on June 24, 1945.

• After the war, until the mid-1970s, the technical development of the troops took place, the structure of which was fully formed in the 1960s.
• Motorized rifle regiments had on their staff engineer-sapper companies, divisions and corps - engineer-sapper battalions, armies and districts - one or more engineer-sapper regiments, as well as specialized battalions or regiments - pontoon-bridge, ferry-landing, road, bridge-building etc.
• Units of the engineering troops were also under central command. In the second half of the 1970s, spending on military engineers was cut, as a result of which, with the outbreak of hostilities in Afghanistan, the Soviet army experienced problems with combat engineering support. The situation was improved by increasing the number of engineering units several times.

• In 1986, engineering troops were involved in eliminating the consequences of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

After the collapse of the USSR, the engineering units stationed in Russia became part of the RF Armed Forces.

The material was prepared according to TASS-Dossier data

Everyone knows well what combat missions artillery performs, what tankers are needed for, and also what marines, special forces and paratroopers do. But not even everyone who serves in the Russian army today, let alone the civilian population, can clearly talk about the role of the Russian engineering troops. At best, to the question: “Who are the engineering warriors?” civilians will answer simply - they are sappers, because they are constantly mining and clearing things, blowing up and building. And some “knowledgeable” people, upon hearing the name “engineer troops,” will wave their hands dismissively and say that these are ordinary soldiers from Stroybat.

In reality, the Russian engineering troops have absolutely nothing to do with the construction battalions. First of all, these are mobile special forces units (barrage units, 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 related to the technical support of a military operation with the participation of infantry units and other units of the Russian ground forces. In 2017, active units of the Russian Engineering Troops (IT) solemnly celebrated 316 years of service in the ranks of the Russian army. And today they are considered one of the most popular branches of the Armed Forces.

Over 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 Motherland. For the first time, professional training and education of engineering fighters in various specialties began to be carried out back in 1701. According to the personal order of Tsar Peter I Alekseevich the Great, the first special educational school was created in Russia on the basis of the then main governing body - the Pushkar order. In the “training”, professional and experienced artillerymen and, together with them, specialized specialists - military engineers - were prepared for future military service in the army. The very next year, graduates of the school were sent to the existing army mining units for further service. Later, pontoon teams were also formed.

Over 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 military personnel of the IW units did not directly participate. 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 soldiers of the engineering troops made a huge contribution to the victory under the command of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov during the storming of 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 everyone else. They check the territory for mines and other explosive devices, construct river crossings, and, if necessary, quickly build safe passages through enemy minefields. Military engineers, on duty, are faced with “dirty work”, and very often carry out their direct duties while under massive enemy fire. No matter how loud it may sound, not a single army in the world can completely do without engineering troops. In Russia, Military Engineer Day is celebrated annually on January 21.

Origins of the Corps of Engineers

According to ancient chronicles, the first officially confirmed information about warrior-builders in Rus' appeared back in 1016 AD. The soldiers who were in the sovereign's service differed significantly from the classical city planners, who were called carpenters, stone craftsmen and “city dwellers” foundries. It was customary to call military engineers differently - city workers or bridge workers. In fact, even the word “city” itself had a completely different meaning in the ancient Russian language. It did not mean a populated area, but a military settlement similar to a fortress, in which it was convenient to carry out defensive actions.

Warrior-builders also differed from ordinary army soldiers and patrol units. The tasks of organizing the defense of cities were entrusted to their shoulders. From some ancient Russian chronicles of the tsarist period of the 9th–10th centuries, which have survived to this day, it is known that many military engineers had extensive knowledge of the art of war. 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 troops. In the second half of the 17th century, warrior-engineers who were in the royal 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 Rus' 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 decent salaries for their work. This served as a fairly powerful impetus for the further development and improvement of military engineering in Russia. In addition to constructing defensive structures, 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 smithereens” right on the ice of Lake Peipus in the Pskov region on the border with Estonia. During the fierce battle, military engineers put into practice not only standard field-type fortifications, which were built taking into account the terrain, but also used special defensive structures designed for a long period of operation. The warrior-builders of Rus' distinguished themselves in 1552, when, by order of Tsar Ivan IV, in less than a month they built the fortress city of Sviyazhsk, where the support base of the Russian troops involved in the siege of Kazan was located.

Development of military affairs in the 17th–18th century.

In 1692–94 The last Tsar of All Rus', 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 Prêtre de Vauban were taken as the key basis for tactical “experiments.” The fortified cities of the Grand Marshal subsequently became a World Heritage Site 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 transport means and the construction of field fortifications, which made it possible to provide offensive combat operations that unfolded on land with the necessary weapons and technical equipment. Subsequently, this made it possible to actively develop and implement new ways to strengthen state borders. However, Peter I began to seriously engage in the professional training of military engineers much earlier.

The official history of the development of IV units dates back to January 21, 1701, when Peter I Alekseevich decided to create the Pushkarsky Prikaz school in Moscow, where officer ranks 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 in St. Petersburg. The military regulations of Peter I, which replaced the old “cannon and military regulations” proposed by Anisim Mikhailov, marked the beginning of the restructuring of the regular units of the Russian army, which had a positive impact on the level of its combat effectiveness. Some time later, in 1722, the tsar introduced the famous Table of Ranks, in which all officer ranks of engineering formations of the Russian army became “head and shoulders above” 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-Chief of the Engineering Troops Hannibal Abram Petrovich. Thanks to his efforts, the popularity of military builders increased sharply. Towards the end of the 18th century, the number of military forces in the active Russian army increased almost 3–4 times. This opened up new opportunities for the development of the defense of the Russian state.

In 1757, frame-canvas pontoons first appeared in service with the Russian army - they were intended to secure floating supports on the water, which in turn were used by military engineers to build a temporary floating bridge with a lifting capacity of up to 3.5 tons. In 1797, at the instigation of Emperor Paul I, regular army battalions necessarily included one mining company, which carried out military construction activities during offensive campaigns, and was also engaged in camouflaging various objects on land and building 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 mining and pioneer units of engineering troops were formed in Russia. In addition, support for combat ground operations was provided by artillery pontoon teams. Another 14 companies were stationed in fortified fortresses. However, they were staffed only by conductors and officers. The need for manpower was compensated by infantrymen and volunteers from among the local population.

One sapper and two pioneer regiments from the existing IV battalion took part in the 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 mining 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 to improve travel routes, bridge crossings and field fortifications. Pontoon teams were engaged in constructing floating bridges across 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 constructing defensive “heights,” as well as 9 battalions of sappers. It should be noted that at that time the IW 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 proved themselves to be courageous, persistent and brave fighters. Actually, other military units also showed their best side, but the defeat itself was more of a political nature and was due to “mistakes” in strategic calculations made by the army command.

In the Russian-Turkish War, which broke out in 1877-1878. units of the engineering troops achieved unprecedented results - the number of regular units exceeded 20,000 military personnel. At the same time, new vacancies were opened in the specialties of aeronautics and pigeon communications. By the end of the 19th century, engineering troops provided technical support for almost all offensive operations of Russian infantry, cavalry detachments and artillery regiments. In addition, 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 technical support for offensive and defensive infantry combat operations. 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. IW special forces carried out tasks to camouflage military installations, construct defensive fortifications, including anti-tank ditches, and other command orders. In many ways, it was thanks to the timely and coordinated actions of military engineers that the German occupiers faced insurmountable obstacles on the way to Soviet fortified areas of strategic importance.

During the Second World War, battalions and detachments of the USSR IV gained enormous experience and prospects for subsequent development. Technical capabilities improved, and the range of military tasks constantly expanded. At the same time, the role of IW soldiers 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 defensive fortifications and erected water crossings using pontoons. Together with other army units, military engineers steadfastly held back the powerful onslaught of German forces.

On the Northern and Western fronts, special forces of the IW acted as mobile mobile barrage units. They covered the retreat of the main forces of the Soviet army, destroying river crossings, mining fields and creating insurmountable zones of artificial obstacles, which forced the Germans to slow down. And on the Kola Peninsula, the soldiers 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 Supreme Command of the Army, 10 mobile mobile units were urgently formed, which carried out combat missions right in front of the fascists, mining the passage of tanks and destroying road communications. Thanks to the work carried out, during the attack on Moscow in one of the areas, 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 Soviet troops launched a counteroffensive, military engineers of the Red Army had to hastily restore previously destroyed bridges and build new river crossings. In addition, the tasks of clearing mines from the territories that the Germans “marked” before retreating fell on their shoulders. In winter, it was also necessary to lay column tracks in meter-long snowdrifts. However, this task was successfully solved in a short time. Whereas many retreating German units were simply captured in the snow, not having special equipment to clear the territories, and became easy money for Soviet soldiers. With the start of a full-scale winter counteroffensive in 1942, teams of reconnaissance and demolition officers were deployed every day to enemy lines.

Assault engineering units often had to perform army-wide military missions. For example, during a fierce battle in the Lithuanian city of Vilna, soldiers of the fourth sapper brigade of the IV were personally able to neutralize and destroy about 2 thousand Germans, take about 3 thousand soldiers prisoner 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 IW 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 universal - adapted to any needs. Experienced IW specialists in Russia are equally in demand both in wartime and peacetime. After the end of World War II, military personnel from engineering units were involved in the Afghan War, and also took direct part in peacekeeping missions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Today, Russian engineering troops are conducting active military activities to clear mines in Syria. They accomplished many feats during periods of “calm.” The brave soldiers of the IW provided enormous assistance in eliminating the consequences of the large-scale man-made disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which occurred in 1986.

In peacetime, special units 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 on the country’s waterways, extinguishing forest fires, disposal of nuclear waste, and eliminating life-threatening consequences of the collapse of emergency industrial facilities. This is only a small part of all the secondary tasks that Russian engineering troops regularly have to perform.

Pontoon crossing technology

One of the key tasks of engineering troops is to construct safe passage routes through water areas. A pontoon crossing is the result of the painstaking work of dozens of soldiers and a rather complex engineering process that requires extreme care and attention. In order for a prefabricated structure made of floating elements to become a full-fledged ferry, 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, the structure is insured on water by river boats. On small bodies of water you can do without them. Engineer troops connect all the elements manually, and then control the crossing from the shore and water.

Pontoon military crossing has many 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 is the high speed of installation, which allows you to quickly transport the necessary equipment or people across any water obstacle. In the capable hands of Russian engineering troops, this mechanism works clearly and smoothly. With the right approach, you can 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 planning and preparation stages of the operation, then others remain relevant to this day. Floating pontoon supports are highly dependent on water level, wind speed and wave speed. We also have to come to terms with the fact that in winter, in conditions of freezing, the use of pontoon crossings is simply impossible. And if basic operating rules are not followed, floating bridges can even “float away” in an unknown direction. A similar curiosity occurred in 2005 during the construction of pontoon supports on the Condoma 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 spread 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 military headquarters buildings. The history of the emblem goes back more than 200 years - it first appeared in 1812.

If we talk about award badges, the most important is the medal with a moire ribbon “Veteran of the Engineering Troops”. This memorable award is intended only for military personnel with length of service who have honorably fulfilled their personal duty to the Motherland and retired to a well-deserved retirement. On the obverse of the medal is the coat of arms of the Russian Armed Forces, below is the “branded” sign of the modern-style engineering troops (2 crossed axes and a flaming grenade). Also on the front part there are traditional symbols of the Russian Armed Forces - laurel and oak branches. The reverse of the award medal features a small five-pointed star, which is surrounded by the jagged “borders” of a classic military fortification.

The official flag of Russian military forces is a double-sided rectangular banner. The main symbol is depicted in the form of a 4-pointed white cross, the edges of which widen closer to the outer part of the flag and come into contact with four red and black rays. In the central part there are depicted the blade of a track-layer, a sea anchor, a flaming grenade with lightning diverging 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 lapel badge of Russian military forces units is intended 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 hatchets and a bulldozer blade, depicts an anchor, a mine and lightning bolts diverging to the sides. The symbol denotes belonging to the Russian engineering troops. Also widely used in everyday life is the breastplate emblem of the 1994 model with the image of a lapel symbol and the inscription: “Engineer Troops.”

Armament and technical equipment

At the height of World War II (1943–44), many Soviet special forces engineering troops adopted the modified CH-42 body armor. Such powerful uniforms were mainly equipped with the soldiers of the assault units of individual combat engineer brigades, which were subordinate not to the general staff, but directly to the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. During the war, the engineering troops were also called “armored infantry” or “battleships”, since the soldiers in the CH-42 body armor looked quite clumsy compared to other units of the Soviet army. Nevertheless, a steel breastplate, made of 36SGN steel with a thickness of 2 mm, was able to protect against machine gun bullets and small fragments.

Today, the operating special forces of the Russian Engineering Troops use the most modern technology and equipment to carry out combat missions. Military personnel of sapper brigades of special forces of the IW are equipped with unique protective clothing of a new generation. 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 in TNT equivalent. In addition to standard firearms, engineer soldiers performing important mine clearance tasks also use new powerful Korshun 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 there is an urgent need to inspect and clear a vast area of ​​land from land mines and other explosive devices, military engineers have no choice but to put into practice “brute force” - a self-propelled mine clearing unit called the UR-77 “Meteorite”. In wide circles, this miracle technique is better known under the unofficial pseudonym “Snake-Gorynych”. It was adopted by the engineering troops back in 1977, but even today this machine is superior to some modern world analogues produced in the West. The 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.

The engineering forces of the Russian Federation have a wide variety of equipment and equipment. To quickly overcome ground obstacles and artificially created obstacles, engineering mechanized bridges of the TMM-6 class, as well as earlier modifications, are widely used. Soldiers of the engineering troops, depending on the situation, use in practice special equipment designed for the comprehensive 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 bridge-laying vehicles of the MTU-72 class.

To quickly overcome water obstacles, mobile diving stations, transportable pontoon parks and floating trailers are used. In emergency situations, special “Exit” kits are used, designed for the urgent evacuation of tank crews. The engineering troops are also equipped with truck cranes, 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 Russian engineering troops

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

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

IMR-1- engineering barrier vehicle. Built on the basis of the T-55 tank. In just 1 hour, it is capable of turning 300 meters of solid rubble 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. A manipulator with a gripper is used to install logs into the ground. The IMR-1 has a very small visibility, therefore, together with the mechanic, a commander-operator is also sent to complete the task, who supervises the driver’s actions in the process of manipulating the crane installation. The body of this armored vehicle has quite powerful protection against radioactive radiation.

The installed working equipment has 3 main operating modes: two-blade, grader and bulldozer, which makes this type of equipment a real all-rounder in military affairs. The suspension is an individual torsion bar, the maximum speed over rough terrain is about 20 km/h. The weight 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 producing 710 horsepower. The weight of the machine is 39 tons. Maximum speed up to 80 km/h over rough terrain. For digging a pit, a special rotary-type working body is provided, and there is also a baking powder and a cutter. The rotor's productivity is quite high - in 1 hour, this technique is capable of digging about 350–450 cubic meters of soil.

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 cutter that first “bites” into the ground and feeds the loosened mass into the second wheel - the rotor, which rotates much faster than the cutter and throws the soil to one side. The rotor and the huge working cutter are driven by a gearbox. Its gears are rotated by a driveshaft with a diameter the size of a telegraph pole. But the main movement of all mechanisms is determined by the hydraulic motor.

There is another gearbox combined with a gearbox, and for finishing work the MDK-3 has a small blade that levels the shelter, making the walls vertical, and also quickly builds convenient driveways. The maximum burial depth is 5 meters. Being at a depth, in order not to get sick from exhaust fumes, driver mechanics use a first-class standard air purification and ventilation system made in Russia, which can even withstand radioactive dust. By the way, you can also control the earthmoving machine while digging a pit using a remote control from outside the cab.

Where are military engineers trained?

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

The Combined Arms Academy of the Russian Armed Forces, which is located in Moscow, is rightfully considered the forge of engineering personnel, where professional training of officers of the Russian army is carried out. The duration of study in the chosen specialty is 5 years. After graduating from the institute, cadets are awarded the junior officer rank of “lieutenant” and are given a state-issued diploma of a qualified specialist. The training time is counted towards the total military experience. You can also undergo training in the structural unit of the university - 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 an associate degree in aviation, 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 getting into the engineering corps for permanent service is possible only under a contract, so it is best to decide in advance on the choice of a higher education institution or a specialized center to obtain the coveted “crust” of a qualified specialist.

Benefits of serving in the Army Corps of Engineers

The salary of contract soldiers depends on the region of service. On average, salaries vary between 25–40 thousand rubles. In addition, various monthly allowances, lifting and annual financial assistance are additionally provided. The modern army provides an opportunity not only to earn good money, but also to provide for a family. There is another significant advantage in contract service. After the first contract, any serviceman has the right to enter into a military mortgage. It works differently than a civilian one - while the service is ongoing, the state fulfills loan obligations. But even if a contract soldier decides to become a civilian, no one will take away his apartment or 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. Soon 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 when contract workers purchase public goods and services. It is also planned to develop a project for preferential lending to contract soldiers of the engineering troops. The main directions in matters of improving contract service are to create favorable living conditions, optimize monetary allowances, improve social and living conditions and improve the status of engineering troops who serve under contract. In addition, social protection and the rights of military personnel and members of their families are guaranteed.

How do military engineers serve today?

The Russian Engineering Troops are a real gold nugget, an alloy of science and courage. And there is not a bit of exaggeration in this. Quickly laying a road for the safe movement of vehicles, clearing mines from the territory where hostilities are taking place, and providing water and electricity to populated areas in the event of an emergency is an invisible but necessary job. And here we cannot do without professional soldiers serving on a contract basis. That is why modern Russian engineering troops consist of 80-90% trained contract soldiers.

You will not find traditional army armored vehicles in IW brigades. These units are armed with their own unique “monsters” made of metal, each of which has its own specific characteristics. 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 mine clearance battalion clears areas near populated areas from unexploded shells. Only contract soldiers serve here. In one day, an engineering battalion is capable of clearing up to 5 hectares of land from landmines.

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

In terms of the level of military training in terms of using special equipment, soldiers of engineering brigades are considered one of the best in the Russian army. A well-thought-out material and educational base helps to hone skills. Many units have their own engineering camp, a waterport for pontoon crossings and a training ground with an obstacle course where driving and fire training are taught. Combat brigades are staffed on a mixed basis - contract soldiers in the most popular army specialties are accepted for service:

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

At the beginning of service, a probationary period is provided for all contract soldiers. Unconfident and weak-willed soldiers who simply cannot cope with the tasks and responsibilities assigned to them are eliminated by the principle of natural selection after the probationary period (3 months). Only the most persistent guys, ready for self-sacrifice, get into the service. Contract soldiers live in service apartments and cockpit-type barracks. Alternatively, it is allowed to rent housing in a nearby locality. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense compensates part of the money for renting an apartment or 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 conviction) over the age of 19, who has a state diploma of complete secondary education and has served in military service in active military units of the Ground Forces or the Navy, can submit the appropriate application. Entrance tests for all applicants for contract service in the army are carried out at specially created regional selection points. These tests are complex and multi-level competitions, including a mandatory test of psychological stability, as well as a test of physical fitness.

START

Engineering Troops of Rus'.

Until the 17th century, the word city was often referred to fortifications, denoting defensive walls with this term. The fragmentation of feudal Rus' 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 in ensuring offensive operations of troops.

Chroniclers date the first information about warrior-builders in Rus' to 1016. In Ancient Rus', the simplest types of military engineering work were performed by warriors, and to carry out more complex ones, they attracted craftsmen, among whom were " mayors"engaged in the construction of fortifications," bridge workers"who built bridges and crossings," master of vicious deeds "who built siege engines are vices.In the 14th century, the people who supervised such work began to be called " thoughts" from the word "to reflect", thereby 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 Peipsi. Russian troops skillfully used both long-term defensive structures and field fortifications, made taking into account the characteristics of the terrain.

Miniatures of Nikon's facial chronicle, XVI century I Osterman volume.

The first Russian military engineer considered a clerk Ivan Grigorievich Vyrodkov , who led 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 managing military construction work was created represented by the engineering unitPushkar order , who began to develop drawings and supervise the construction of defensive structures. The first of the Russian military regulations that have come down to us, summarizing military engineering experience, is the “Charter of Military and Cannon Affairs Concerning 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 of France Vauban .

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

When creating a regular army, Peter I paid special attention to the development of artillery and engineering troops. He gave them harmonious organizational forms that did not yet exist 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 structure of the engineering troops was approved; Three engineering units with a total strength of 148 people were added to the staff of the artillery regiment. Miner company consisting of 3 officers and 72 lower ranks, it was intended to erect fortifications at artillery positions and perform engineering work during attack and defense. Pontoon team ensured artillery crossings through water barriers using 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 supervise 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 the Engineering Troops of the Russian Army .

To train engineering personnel, they are creating engineering schools . The first was in 1708 in Moscow, in 1712 it was further expanded, 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 duration of training ranged from 5 to 12 years. Military engineers enjoyed great advantages in the army, their salaries differed from the salaries of army officers, and the most successful in engineering were promoted to the highest ranks before others.

Where do 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 constructing tunnels under enemy fortifications and destroying them. 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 combat operations of the siege army have four ensign 406 people each trench diggers, a hundred horokopov and a ferry fleet crew with 5 plows (flat-bottomed wooden vessels carried on carts). Organizationally, these formations were supposed 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 15th-17th centuries. The number of formations was determined by the number of ensigns. Here prapor means detachment.

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

Horokopy- the name of the soldiers of the Russian army of the 16th-17th centuries who carried out underground mine work to destroy the walls of the besieged enemy fortress.

Sapper armies played a large role in the engineering preparation of the defense of Moscow, Stalingrad and the Caucasus. For example, the 1st and 3rd engineer armies, together with the population near Moscow, built:

Russian Engineer Troops

over 3,700 fire structures

325 km of anti-tank ditches were opened

Over 1,300 km of forest debris have been created.
The sapper armies were the main base for accumulating reserves and training engineering units of army and front subordination, as well as formations of the RVGK, for the front. More than 150,000 people from the sapper armies joined the front-line and rifle formations formed in the rear.

Specifics of the work

Probably everyone knows the saying: “A sapper makes only one mistake.” Its appearance is associated with the extremely high danger of carrying out work to neutralize ammunition and demining the territory. Another phrase is also known: “A sapper makes a mistake twice, and the first time is when he becomes a sapper.” Indeed, not every person will be able to carry out such a difficult and life-threatening mission with dignity.
Every year about 25 thousand people die from mines, shells and bombs. Each sapper must have knowledge of more than 700 types of mines, as well as know the main types of ammunition used in all armies of the world. For example, during mine clearance in Yugoslavia, Russian sappers dealt mainly with the so-called British Mk1 and American BLU 97B/B and A/B submunitions. These types of mine-like objects are considered even more dangerous than standard mines themselves, since the detonator used with their design has the ability to generate current to activate the detonator even after a long period of time in the ground.

At the end of 2011, Russian sappers completed work on demining Serbian territory, where part of the South Stream gas pipeline should pass. Over the entire period of work, the military managed to neutralize over one and a half thousand explosive objects, including aircraft bombs, mortar and anti-personnel mines, and artillery shells. The work was carried out mainly near the town of Paracin. Here it was possible to discover about 400 explosive objects that appeared at different times - from the First World War to 1999, when NATO troops bombed Serbian territories.

New equipment for sappers

Over the past few years, special suits have been developed for sappers that can protect against all kinds of explosion factors. The suit includes a protective jacket and pants, a helmet with armored glass, mine-resistant boots, Kevlar gloves, as well as additional armored panels designed to protect the most vulnerable areas of the body. A very important characteristic of this suit is that it can be quickly removed in case of urgent need.

All such suits have a built-in voice communication system, as well as climate control. The suit has autonomous power sources that are designed for eight hours of continuous operation. In addition to the remote control module, the helmets also have a powerful flashlight.
In addition to the suit, new boots developed in Canada should also protect the sapper from explosions. They have already received the name “spider boot”. This device consists of “stilt legs” attached to boots. Such a device reduces the possibility of hitting a mine, and also creates a small gap between the explosive device and the boot, thus reducing it. Degree of damage from the explosion. Tests have shown that even if the boot hits the fuse, the sapper will not receive significant damage. In addition to the “spider boot,” special attachments have also been developed for working on sand or soft ground.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Germans showed themselves to be masters of military engineering. Their obstacles in the blitzkrieg were considered impregnable. But the sapper-engineering assault units of the Red Army, created in 1943, broke into the most complex 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 engineering and sapper assault battalions of the Red Army are given, which broke into the impenetrable fortified areas of Germany.

However, the use of technical solutions to achieve military advantage has been taking 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 laying vehicles, a pontoon fleet, 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 road transport.

Panzergrenadiers from the SS Totenkopf

Military engineering played a huge role in the war. Having broken through our fronts with tank formations, the Nazis quickly built obstacle courses around the encircled Soviet units, including 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 Wehrmacht motorized infantry.

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

Beginning of the war

Without effective anti-personnel defense, equipped with engineered barriers, the German blitzkrieg would have been a journey of fascist tanks across the vast Russian expanses. That is why the Red Army armies that found themselves in the cauldrons, finding themselves reliably cut off from the rear, surrendered after grueling bombings and depletion of resources.

Our sapper troops were bled dry at the very beginning of the war, being busy building a new fortified area on the border with Poland. They were among the first to find themselves in the line of fire, lacking heavy weapons and vehicles for evacuation.

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

Strong in spirit and body

The headquarters not only quickly controlled military operations, but also carried out analytical work. The command noted that the fighting engineering troops, due to their specific nature, 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 engineering brigades was completed, which were tasked with breaking through 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 brigades arrived at the front.

Hard to learn, easy to fight

Before going to the front, soldiers of assault engineering brigades underwent a special course. They were especially carefully taught how 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 classes in which future sappers crawled on their bellies.

As a result, his fighters were not inferior to the best instructors. Attack sappers were also trained to make quick dashes over rough terrain with a reinforced ammunition load of grenades and explosives. Of course, they taught hand-to-hand combat techniques.

Attack sappers have 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 wearing steel breastplates, wearing padded jackets underneath. For this they were sometimes called armored infantry.

“The brigade’s personnel are special sappers, attack aircraft with bulletproof vests, wearing steel helmets, all armed with machine guns,” recalled the head of the engineering troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, General Galitsky. “They are intended 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 OP...".

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

Defeat of Germany

The Germans considered Konigsberg an impregnable fortress, but the city fell in a matter of days. Soldiers from engineer assault battalions broke through to fortified areas and blew them up with powerful explosive charges. Nikolai Nikiforov, in his 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 Regiment burned 103 buildings. The experience of using backpack flamethrowers once again gave reason to assert that they are one of the effective means of fighting in the city, due to their lightness, the ability to approach attacked objects through hidden access and the high efficiency of flamethrowing.”
The headquarters considered the engineer-sapper assault brigades to be the elite of the Red Army.