History of creation marines

To ensure Russia's access to the shores of the Baltic in 1700-1703, first of all, it was necessary to oust the Swedes from Lake Ladoga and Lake Peipus. To implement such a bold plan, they decided to involve the Don Cossacks, who had experience in battles on row-and-sail ships on the rivers and the sea. However, the Cossacks did not arrive at the right time, and all the main military activities had to be carried out by the forces of Peter's infantry regiments. The regiments of Tyrtov, Tybukhin, Ostrovsky did an excellent job - after a series of fierce boarding battles, the Swedes were partially destroyed, and the rest were driven out of these waters. The path to the mouth of the Neva was free ...

These events showed that in Russia there was a need to create a new kind of troops - naval soldiers.
On November 16 (November 27, according to the new style), 1705, Peter I issued a decree on the creation of a naval regiment, which marked the beginning of the organization of the marines of the regular Russian fleet. The first regiment of marines, formed in the Baltic Fleet, consisted of two battalions of five companies. The regiment had 45 officers, 70 non-commissioned officers and 1250 privates. In service with Marines consisted of guns with baguettes (the prototype of a bayonet) and edged weapons (cleavers, sabers). In the Northern War, the marines were widely used in naval battles and landings. In 1712, instead of a regiment, five battalions of 22 officers were formed, up to 660 privates and non-commissioned officers in each. Three battalions were included in the ship squadrons, one in the galley, one carried out guard duty in the bases.

Since 1804, companies of naval regiments began to depart on ships from Kronstadt to the Mediterranean Sea to the location of D.N. Senyavin. By the end of 1806, there were ten companies of naval regiments in the squadron of D.N. Senyavin, and on November 10, 1806, they formed the 2nd Marine Regiment, the commander of which was the commander of the 2nd Marine Regiment Buasel. The two battalions of the 2nd Naval Regiment that remained in Kronstadt attached one to the 1st Naval Regiment, the other to the 3rd. 4th Naval Regiment during 1811-1813 remained on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and until March 1813 participated in all of its combat operations. For all types of allowances, the naval regiments were under the jurisdiction of the fleet.

Soon, the 25th division was formed in Abo, which became part of the corps intended to assist the Swedes. Then the naval regiments left for St. Petersburg and allocated their second battalions to form new infantry regiments - the 9th, 10th, 11th and others.

In September 1812, the 1st Naval Regiment with a second detachment formed militia, left for Wittgenstein's army, and in 1813-1814. participated in its composition in the fighting on the Dvina near Danzig. The 2nd Naval Regiment was also in the active army, and the 3rd Naval Regiment during Patriotic War 1812 was part of the garrison of St. Petersburg.

In 1810, the Marine Guards crew, which had dual subordination - to the fleet and the Guards Corps in St. Petersburg. This crew, together with the army, fought through the entire war of 1812-1814. And, ironically, the first Russian flag raised over Paris in 1814 was the naval one - Andreevsky.

In addition, the Black Sea Fleet was sent to the front in Chichagov's army, the 75th ship's crew also reached Paris.

In the following decades, the participation of sailors in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 should be noted. The Marine Guards crew participated in the Danube Flotilla. And when the Russian army approached Constantinople, standing in Adrianople, as in Paris in 1814, the Russian naval St. Andrew's flag was the first to be raised over the city.

Why is an army needed? In our world, there have always been powers that wanted to impose their culture on other peoples or control the natural and human resources of other countries in order to prosper their state. In view of this, each country seeks to ensure its political, economic and cultural freedom by allocating a certain share of the budget for the defense of its territory. This situation has been happening since the beginning of the birth of mankind, which means that wars in one place or another on the planet will never end. Each country decides for itself what kind of army it needs to protect its borders. States that have access to the sea are also obliged to protect water borders, therefore they create naval forces.

The Navy of any developed state consists of the following units:

• Marines.

Let's take a closer look at the last item on this list. The marines are created to protect and defend the coast - ports and military bases and to capture enemy coastal territories, hold them until the arrival of their own ground forces.

History of the Marine Corps

The history of the Marine Corps of Russia dates back to the time of Peter the Great. The need for the formation of this type of troops was justified in the framework of the conquest of the Azov and Baltic coasts. In the first half of the 18th century, real regiments were created for the first time, performing the functions of soldiers of the seas. Peter I was so keen on the formation of coastal troops that he was even listed as the commander of one of the companies and was hiding under the name of Peter Alekseev. famous North War was won in large measure thanks to the heroic battles of the Marines. November 16, 1705 is significant for the creation of the first naval regiment, since then this day has been the date of foundation of the Russian marines unit. Given the personal interest of the head of state in this type of troops, it was an honor and prestige to serve in it. And to this day, the paratroopers are distinguished by their special bearing, combat readiness and readiness.

In the middle of the 19th century, Vice Admiral Nakhimov played an important role in strengthening the importance of the Marine Corps during the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855. He created 22 full-fledged infantry battalions, which he formed from the sailors of the sunken ships. Thanks to them, Sevastopol withstood the defense against the Turkish invaders. In the Russo-Japanese war, during the siege of Port Arthur (the longest battle of this war), up to 10,000 infantrymen participated in holding the fortress.

The revolution of 1917 eliminated all units, and only in 1939 the marines of the USSR were revived again. During the years of the Second World War, 40 infantry brigades were recreated, their number reached 350 thousand soldiers. And again, Sevastopol held the defense already from the German invaders, and again the Marines managed to withstand the long 250 heroic days of the siege. The Marine Corps against the Wehrmacht participated in Battle of Stalingrad, during the rescue of Tallinn, Odessa and during the storming of Berlin. Black peakless caps were a distinctive feature of the soldier of the sea, at the sight of their enemy they were terrified, the Germans called this unit "black death". During the Second World War, not only the foot soldiers of the Soviet Union distinguished themselves, but also other countries: the USA and Western Europe. The American Marines during the war were the most complete and organized unit, their heroic battles were legendary. At the same time, it was the smallest unit, it accounted for only 5% of the total number of participating Americans. In a matter of days, they, together with the marines of other countries, liberated the coast in Asia and Europe. This is how the international marines fought heroically against the Wehrmacht.

In the post-war period, the leadership of the USSR underestimated the importance of the navy in general and the marines in particular. The budget for arming the Navy was gradually reduced, and in the mid-50s, all parts of the infantrymen were disbanded. The second time of stagnation of this type of troops has come. At the same time, England and France continued to develop the direction of the Marines, and it was already problematic to catch up with them in this. After another change in the leadership of the Soviet Union and in the study of historical battles, by the mid-60s, service in the Marine Corps was revived, the construction of landing craft of the most modern modifications began at an accelerated pace. The use of Marine units in numerous military maneuvers has become a prerequisite. All this gave reason to the NATO leadership to believe that Soviet Union able to both defend and perform offensive functions, which deterred aggression against the USSR.

Marines of modern Russia

Today, the Russian Marines, referred to as "black berets", are a necessary component of the Navy. The detachments of this unit are assigned to the four fleets of the country, as well as the Caspian flotilla:

• . Every year, the Navy command identifies and rewards advanced special forces. So, in 2016, the brigade of coastal troops was recognized as the best Baltic Fleet RF. Without exaggeration, this is an elite brigade, which is distinguished by the brilliant training of attack aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft.
• - the youngest, his marines were created in 1933. The sailors' flagship is the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great.
• mostly located in the Crimea. Soldiers of the Sevastopol infantry are distinguished by excellent skills in hand-to-hand combat, which is also necessary for service in the ranks of the infantry.
• is an operational-strategic association of the Navy, their main task is to ensure security from the Pacific Ocean. In addition to all other weapons, the Pacific Fleet has missile submarines in its arsenal. The headquarters of the Pacific Marines is located in the city of Vladivostok.

The Marines are primarily engaged in the defense of the coastal territory, in addition, they carry out various tasks set by the leadership of the army. Marine intelligence also plays an important role. In particular, the soldiers of the sea carry out combat orders in Syria. When carrying out a large number of training and combat missions, infantrymen improve their skills and are ready to repel an attack at any moment. The Navy is provided with advanced infantry equipment, including amphibious armored personnel carriers, missile and anti-tank systems, tanks and CAVs, different kinds passing water obstacles, small arms. The development and production of new models of equipment that meet the requirements of the 21st century continues.

Marine Corps training

Marine training has a serious level of preparation. It is important to learn how to temper the body and spirit of a soldier. Daily sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, long-distance running are the usual regimen for them. However, Marine training is not only physical exercises and endurance. It is important to have a strong-willed character and know that in a battle it is necessary to go to the bitter end. Physical activity, study and exercises of the Marine Corps and allow you to make real combat commanders out of soldiers.

How to get into the Marine Corps

Thousands of boys yearly dream of joining the ranks of brave heroes. How to get into the marines? The selection criteria for this elite unit are very high. It is necessary to have ideal physical data - good eyesight, excellent physical fitness, normal physique, absence of chronic diseases. It is also important not to have negative stories with bringing them to the police and not to take narcotic substances. If physical data and everything else allow you to apply for service in these troops, even before the call, you should check with the military registration and enlistment office when the recruitment for the Navy will take place and be sure to report your desire. But there is also high competition at the recruiting stations. The final decision on the possibility of serving in the ranks of the black berets will be made upon arrival at the fleet. Contract service in the Marine Corps is a fairly common occurrence for those who dream of sea adventures. How to get into the marines as an officer? To do this, you need to enter a higher specialized school and, upon successful completion, it is guaranteed to become a marine - part of the military elite.

The flag of the Marine Corps of the Russian Federation is an emblem with a gold anchor against a black circle with a red border. An inscription is placed around - the slogan of the Marine: "Where we are, there is victory!" The emblem is located against the background of the St. Andrew's flag (the flag of the Russian Navy). The banner has come to us almost unchanged since the time of Peter I. In addition to the flag, the Marines have other distinctive elements. So, military personnel and veterans of military operations are entitled to different types of awards, in particular the departmental medal "For Service in the Marine Corps". The main difference between the soldier of the seas and other military units is noticeable from afar - black trumpless berets. Wearing this headdress is a special pride for its owner and family members. Every year on November 27, we hear the dedication to the Marines and see hundreds of congratulations from the paratroopers on their professional holiday.

In the 7th-10th centuries Russian princes repeatedly made sea trips to the Black Sea on boats and landed troops on the coast of Byzantium. In these campaigns, the foundations of the combat use of the marines were born and detachments of soldiers were formed, leading fighting on the border of sea and land.

The marines were further developed during the numerous campaigns of the Zaporizhzhya and Don Cossacks in the 15th-17th centuries, in the battles of small rowing vessels with numerous and well-armed sailing ships of the Turks. Using the good camouflage and maneuverability of their ships, the Cossacks, in conditions of limited visibility, especially at dusk or at night, approached the Turkish ships and swiftly attacked them from different sides, ending the boarding fight in hand-to-hand combat. Subsequently, this tactic was developed in the Northern War in the battles of the galley fleet, on the ships of which the Peter's marines operated.

In the second half of the XVI century. as part of the crews of the ships of the flotilla, created by order of Ivan the Terrible, special teams of archers (naval soldiers) were formed, which became the prototype of the marines.

In 1669, the first Russian military sailing ship Oryol had a crew of 35 people. from naval soldiers (Nizhny Novgorod archers) led by commander Ivan Domozhirov, intended for boarding and landing operations and guard duty.
During the Azov campaigns on the ships of the Azov and Baltic fleets, the most combat-ready Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments successfully operated as parts of the marine corps, from which the Naval Regime (regiment) was formed in the amount of 4254 people. The commander of the fourth company was listed under the name of Peter Alekseev himself Peter I.

In 1701-1702. the struggle of the detachments of the Russian army, operating on small rowing vessels (plows, karbas, etc.), began with the Swedish lake fleets on Lake Ladoga and Lake Peipsi.

These detachments, formed from the personnel of the Ostrovsky, Tolbukhin, Tyrtov and Shnevetsov army infantry regiments serving in the fleet, as a result of a series of boarding battles, defeated the Swedish flotillas, which consisted of large sailing ships with strong artillery and staffed by professional crews. The fighting of these regiments was distinguished by audacity, courage and determination.
Peter I was able to truly appreciate the role of naval soldiers during the Northern War by taking part in a boarding battle in May 1703, when two Swedish ships were captured at the mouth of the Neva. An important role was played by the marines in the defense of Kotlin Island, where the heroism, courage and bravery of the regiments of Tolbukhin and Ostrovsky, who wrote many glorious pages in combat history Russia.

Outlining his views on the construction of the fleet in 1704, Peter I wrote: “It is necessary to make regiments of naval soldiers (depending on the number of the fleet) ... to take corporals and sergeants from old soldiers for the sake of better training in formation and order”.

On November 16 (27), 1705, the first naval regiment of Count Fyodor Golovin was formed in the city of Grodno, which included 1200 people (two battalions of five companies each, including 45 officers, 70 non-commissioned officers) and became the founder of the Marine Corps in Russia. This date is considered to be the starting point in the history of the Russian marines. The regiment of Count Golovin was intended to serve in boarding and landing teams on warships of the sailing fleet. The regiment was recruited not by recruits, but by trained personnel of army units, which was caused by increased requirements for the combat training of the marines and more complex combat missions assigned to them (compared to army units).

The experience of the combat use of the newly created unit during the Northern War showed that the regimental organization of the marines did not correspond to the organizational structure of the fleet and did not allow it to be used correctly in combat conditions. In view of this, the naval regiment was disbanded, and in 1712-1714, five naval battalions were created from its personnel and army units seconded to the fleet:
"Vice Admiral's Battalion" - for service in boarding and landing teams on the ships of the vanguard of the squadron;
"Admiral's Battalion" - for service on ships of the squadron center;
"Rear Admiral's Battalion" - for service on the ships of the rear guard of the squadron;
"Galley battalion" - for service on combat ships of the galley fleet;
"Admiralty Battalion" - for guard duty and other tasks.
The shipboarding and landing teams of the Marine Corps, led by their commanders, were subordinate to the commanders of the ships, and in matters of special combat training and leadership - to the chief of the marines of the squadron, who, as a rule, was the commander of the corresponding battalion. After the end of the campaign, the teams united in their battalions, underwent combat training and carried out guard duty in the base. According to the states of the Baltic Fleet in 1720, the composition of the naval infantry teams for battleships from 80 to 200 people were installed (on frigates - from 40 to 60 people).
On the warships of the galley fleet, marines made up up to 90 percent of the total number of crews. Widely deployed during the Great Northern War collaboration The Russian army and navy demanded the creation, in addition to the formations of the marine corps, of the largest formation at that time - the landing corps numbering 18-26 thousand people. In 1713, the corps included 18 infantry regiments and a separate infantry battalion with a total strength of about 29,860 people, of which 18,690 officers and lower ranks took direct part in the hostilities.

The marines, which included a galley battalion and the guards and infantry regiments of the landing corps seconded to the fleet, acted as part of boarding and landing teams. The rowers on the ships were Marines.

As part of the crew of the scampaway, which numbered 150 people, only 9 were sailors (navigator, skipper, boatswain, etc.), the rest were officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Marine Corps. The commander of the scampaway was, as a rule, the senior officer of the Marine Corps who was on the ship.

Convinced of the inability of the allies of the Danish and Saxon armies to act actively and in concert against Sweden, Peter I decided to take possession of Finland, and then deliver a powerful blow to Sweden through the Gulf of Bothnia and force it to conclude a peace favorable to Russia.

For several months intense preparations were made for the forthcoming campaign. Peter I and his associates in the shortest possible time created a special tactic for the marines of the galley fleet, which included the order of landing troops on ships, crossing them by sea, landing and fighting on the coast.

On May 2, 1713, a galley fleet with a landing corps consisting of 16 regiments numbering about 16,000 people. under the command of Apraksin and the ship fleet under the command of Peter I went to sea and headed for the Finnish skerries.

In the battle at the river Pelkina On October 6, 1713, Russian troops attacked enemy positions from the front, at the same time making a deep detour from the flank with the forces of a specially allocated combined detachment of ten regiments of the landing corps with a total strength of 6000 people. under the command of Lieutenant General M. M. Golitsyn, one of the best commanders of the Russian army.

At dawn on October 6, after a successful night crossing on rafts across Lake Mallas Vesi, Golitsyn's detachment went to the rear of the fortified position of the Swedes and swiftly attacked the enemy, who had retreated in the direction of Tammerfors. At the same time, Russian troops attacked the Swedes from the front and, with the support of artillery, crossed the river. The enemy twice beat off the attacks of the Russian troops, but after the third attack he fled, losing 600 people. killed, 244 people. captured and leaving eight guns on the battlefield.
In the battle at the river Pelka's combined detachment of the airborne corps for the first time used new methods of warfare for that time in the conditions of a lake-wooded area: a deep bypass of the enemy flank with a crossing on rafts and landing in the rear, a decisive bayonet strike and a column attack.

In the campaign of 1714, it was planned, in close cooperation between the army and the galley and ship fleets, to completely take over Finland, occupy the Abo-Aland Islands and create a base for landing troops on the territory of Sweden.

In Tverminskaya Bay, the galley fleet was forced to stop, as the Swedish squadron of Admiral Vatranga blocked its further path. By this time, the Golitsyn detachment, located in the Abo region, deprived of the support of the artillery of the galley fleet and not having received the expected ammunition and food, was forced to retreat to Poe-Kirka, where it boarded the ships left by Apraksin and subsequently joined up with the main forces of the galley fleet.

On May 27, 1714, the Gangut battle took place, in which two guards, two grenadiers, eleven infantry regiments and a galley battalion of marines took direct part - a total of about 3433 people, not counting officers. On the scampaways of these regiments, about 240 sailors participated in the battle.
During the two years of the war, the marines had to endure the hardships and hardships of the harsh conditions of Finland, be on the verge of starvation, beat the Swedes from rafts, and do the hard work of rowers on the scampaways. In the Gangut battle, she participated in a boarding battle at sea in extremely difficult conditions against superior enemy forces.

The Gangut victory was of great military and political significance. It was the first naval victory, after which Russia rightfully took its rightful place among the maritime powers. The Battle of Gangut was also of strategic importance: the entry of the galley fleet to the Gulf of Bothnia was opened and conditions were created for the Russian naval fleet for active operations in the southern and middle parts of the Baltic Sea. It also showed the importance of close cooperation between the galley fleet and the regiments of the landing corps.

The successful implementation of the breakthrough of the enemy squadron became possible thanks to the skill and courage of the sailors, but the victory on May 27, 1714 was almost exclusively the work of the guards and infantry regiments of the Marine Corps. The army general Weide, who was awarded the highest award - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, led the battle of the avant-garde.

After the failure of peace negotiations with the Swedes at the Åland Congress of 1718-1719. Peter I decided to strike at Sweden from Finland.

In 1719, the landing corps under the command of General-Admiral Apraksin (about 20,000 people), operating on the coast from Stockholm to Norrköping, landed 16 troops, consisting of one to 12 battalions. Another part of the corps under the command of Major General P.P. Lassi (3500 people) carried out the landing of 14 troops in the area between Stockholm and Gefle.
The Russian government considered the actions of the landing corps as a means to force Sweden, which had not lost hope in the help of the English fleet, to agree to peace.

In 1721, a Russian landing detachment under the command of Lassi again landed on the territory of Sweden, where they destroyed 13 factories, including one weapons factory, captured 40 small Swedish ships and a lot of military property.

The raids of the Russian galley fleet on the coast of Sweden, the exhaustion of the country's forces and the moral depression of the population, as well as the futility of hopes for English help and the complete failure of the English policy of intimidating Russia, forced the Swedish government to make peace with Russia on the terms dictated by Peter I.
The tactics of the marines were further developed during the Persian campaign of 1721-1723, in which 80 companies of the former landing corps of the marines took part, subsequently consolidated into 10 regiments of a two-battalion composition. The actions of these regiments, which glorified the Russian marines during the Northern War, in Derbent, Baku and Salyan in the Caspian Sea, had a significant impact on the military-political situation in Transcaucasia and ensured the security of Russia's southeastern borders.

Subsequently, during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1743, the personnel of the four regiments that took part in the Persian campaign were used to staff two naval regiments of the Baltic Fleet. Thus, in the first half of the XVIII century. it became natural to attract army infantry regiments that had previously served in the fleet to replenish parts of the marine corps.

In 1733-1734, due to financial difficulties, the fleet and marines were reorganized, the number of which was reduced by 700-750 people. By decree of Empress Anna Ivanovna, two regiments of three battalions were created in the Baltic Sea instead of separate battalions.

During Russian-Turkish war 1735-1739 from the personnel of two regiments of the Baltic Fleet, a consolidated battalion of marines was formed in the amount of 2145 people, who took an active part in the siege and capture of Azov.

A bright page in the diverse activities of the regiments was the participation of 46 people. (3 officers and 43 lower ranks) in Bering's second expedition.

Great influence on the development of the Second Marine Corps half of XVIII in. provided by the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763, in which the tactics of the Marine Corps, advanced for that time, were used and its most advanced forms were used.

During Seven Years' War the bold and decisive actions of the Baltic Fleet Marine Corps predetermined the success of the ground forces in capturing the important Prussian fortress of Kolberg.

During the siege of the fortress, the landing force consisting of 2012 marines and sailors under the command of Captain 1st Rank G. A. Spiridov, after landing on the shore, interacted with the troops of the siege corps of General P. A. Rumyantsev.
On the night of September 7, 1761, the landing detachment under the command of Spiridov, as a result of a bold attack, captured the Prussian coastal battery located opposite the right flank of the Russian siege corps, along with all the guns and a garrison of about 400 people. In this battle, the grenadier company of the marines under the command of Lieutenant P.I. Pushchin, which was considered the best unit among the grenadier units of the siege corps, especially distinguished itself.

The first Archipelago expedition of 1769-1774, during which the blockade of the Dardanelles was carried out, and landings landed on the islands of the Archipelago, the coast of Greece and the Anatolian coast of Turkey, diverted significant forces Turkish army from the main Black Sea theater of operations and assisted the Greek rebels in the fight against Turkey.

Marine boarding teams took part in the famous battle of Chesma.

During the Archipelago expedition, more than 60 landings were landed, the main combat force of which was the Marine Corps of the Baltic Fleet.

According to strategic plan war from 1769 to 1774, five squadrons of the Baltic Fleet were sent to the Mediterranean Sea with a landing force of more than 8,000 people, including the regular marines of the Baltic Fleet and the personnel of the Life Guards of Preobrazhensky, as well as Kexholm, Shlisselbur, Ryazan, Tobolsk, Vyatka and Pskov infantry regiments. These regiments, previously part of the landing corps created by Peter I, again came to the fleet in order to fulfill their military duty to the Fatherland with honor.
The squadrons of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean for several years independently maintained their combat capability, and the brilliant victories they won over the more numerous fleet of the enemy were a remarkable example of the long-term actions of a large naval formation, which included marines, far from their bases.

The successful actions of the Russian fleet raised Russia's prestige in the international arena and had a significant impact on the overall course of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774.

Using the power of its fleet, in 1783 Russia finally annexed the Crimea without a war, where the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol, was established.

During the fighting of the Liman (later Danube) flotilla during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. the marines of the Black Sea Fleet were born, which especially distinguished themselves during the heroic assault on the fortress of Izmail.

As you know, Izmail was taken as a result of an assault on nine columns of the Russian army under the command of Suvorov, who attacked him from three directions. Six of them attacked from land, and three, which included the marines of the Black Sea Fleet, from the side of the river.

According to Suvorov, the marines "showed amazing courage and zeal." In his report to G. A. Potemkin on the capture of Izmail, among those who distinguished themselves, the names of eight officers and one sergeant of naval battalions and about 70 officers and sergeants of the Nikolaev and Dnepropetrovsk coastal grenadier regiments were mentioned.
One of the most glorious pages in the history of the Marine Corps was its participation in the Mediterranean campaign of Admiral F.F. Ushakov in 1798-1800. As a result of brilliant landing operations, the Ionian Islands were liberated from the Turks, the fortress of Corfu, which was considered impregnable, was taken by storm from the sea, and Naples and Rome were occupied.

The fighting of the Marine Corps was distinguished by a variety of tactical forms. She successfully operated as part of the landing forces, especially during the assault on coastal fortresses.

On November 9, 1798, the combined Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of Ushakov blocked the island of Corfu, the main base of the French naval and land forces in the eastern Mediterranean. The fortress located on it, built by the Venetians and heavily fortified by the French, was considered one of the most powerful in Europe.

The forward landing detachment was led by the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Skipor, the other two detachments were led by the battalion commanders, Majors Boissel and Brimmer, and the landing reserve was on the ships of the squadron in readiness for landing. By 10:30 a.m. a total of 2158 people were landed, including 730 marines, 610 sailors, 68 gunners and 750 Turks.

After the fall of Vido, all forces and means were concentrated to storm Corfu. An hour and a half after the start of the assault, all three fortified forts that covered the approaches to the fortress of Corfu from land were taken by storm as a result of courageous and decisive actions of the landing force.

Admiral Ushakov highly appreciated the actions of the marines, which played an important role in capturing Corfu. In his reports to Paul I dated February 21 and March 13, 1799, he reported that "naval troops and their commanders performed combat missions with unparalleled courage and zeal".

Having received the news of the victory at Corfu, the great Russian commander Suvorov enthusiastically wrote: “Our Great Peter is alive! What he said after the defeat of the Swedish fleet at the Aland Islands in 1714, namely: nature produced only one Russia, it has no rivals, and now we see. Hooray! Russian fleet! Now I’m telling myself why I wasn’t at Corfu, even though I was a midshipman!
The capture of Corfu, the most powerful fortress in Europe at that time, only by the forces of the fleet and marines wrote another bright page in the military history of Russia.

The combat activity of the marines as part of the Russian fleet has seriously changed the military-political situation in the Mediterranean.

With the loss of the Ionian Islands, France lost its dominance in the Adriatic and the eastern Mediterranean, and Russia acquired the important naval base of Corfu.

In the Italian campaign of Suvorov and the Mediterranean campaign of Ushakov, the close military cooperation of two outstanding military leaders was manifested, which largely determined the successful combat use of the marines in the coastal areas of the Apennine Peninsula. It is characteristic that many marines of the Black Sea Fleet, which took Ishmael, took part in the assault on Corfu.
On the basis of the provisions of Suvorov's "Science of Victory" and the national combat training system he created, generations of marines were trained and educated. The Suvorov system of teaching bayonet attack and aimed shooting had a deep educational meaning. In a marine corps soldier, she developed courage, courage, composure in battle and accustomed him to initiative and decisive actions.

The ability to strike with a bayonet was a moral measure of the Russian marines. Not without reason, near Izmail and Corfu, in the direction of the main attack, battalions of marines, masters of the bayonet attack, advanced as assault detachments.

All of the above allows us to draw the following conclusions. Russia's intense struggle for national independence in the 18th century. and the peculiarities of the construction of its Armed Forces during this period determined the peculiar path of development and combat use of the marines.

The merit of the Marine Corps is that, with its combat activities, it had a significant impact on the outcome of many wars. Russian Empire. Having adopted the advanced system of training and education, she managed not only to develop, but also to enrich it with new content, proving the invincibility of the Russian military school.

In 1803, all separate battalions of the Marine Corps were consolidated into four Marine Regiments (three in the Baltic and one in the Black Sea Fleet), which wrote many glorious pages in the history of the Marine Corps.
During the second Archipelago expedition of the Russian fleet 1805-1807. in the squadron of Vice-Admiral D.N. Senyavin, a second naval regiment was formed from the battalions of the naval regiments of the Baltic Fleet, which heroically acted in landings and took part in many battles with France in 1805-1807. and the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812. The Third Naval Regiment of the Baltic Fleet participated in the landing corps of Lieutenant General P. A. Tolstoy in the Hanover expedition of 1805.

Created in 1811, the 25th Infantry Division, which included two brigades formed from naval regiments, fought on the land front in the Patriotic War of 1812.

The heroism and military prowess of the Marines was especially vividly manifested in the Patriotic War of 1812. On the Borodino field, among the 34 obelisks erected in honor of the heroes of this battle, there is a majestic in its strict and memorable beauty monument to the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment and the sailors of the Guards crew.
They came here with the army of Barclay de Tolly from the western border of our Motherland, overcoming 300 miles of the hardest way. The task of the marines was to build bridges and crossings for the rapid advance of our army and to destroy them when the French approached. Often this had to be done under enemy fire and suffered heavy losses. In the battle of Borodino, a detachment of 30 marines led by midshipman M. N. Lermontov was instructed to monitor the bridge over the Kolocha River, which separated the Russian rangers stationed in the village of Borodino from the main positions of the right flank of the Russian troops. Kutuzov ordered the sailors, in the event of the departure of the rangers, to destroy the bridge and prevent the French from forcing the river with dense rifle fire.

On the morning of August 26, taking advantage of the thick fog, the French unexpectedly attacked Borodino. The huntsmen bravely held out, but, having suffered heavy losses, they were forced to retreat across the bridge to the left bank of the river. The sailors immediately set fire to the bridge. However, the French of the 106th regiment advanced so swiftly that they rushed forward right along the burning bridge. The sailors had to destroy the bridge deck and at the same time engage in hand-to-hand combat with the French. Barclay de Tolly saw a fierce battle at the bridge and sent two regiments of chasseurs to help. By joint efforts, the 106th French regiment was destroyed, and the bridge was destroyed. Thanks to this, the right flank of our troops was protected from the French offensive. This heroic feat of sailors and rangers was immediately reported to Kutuzov. Midshipman Lermontov, who was wounded in this battle, was awarded the Order of St. Anna, 3rd degree, and all the sailors of his detachment received various incentives.

In 1813, units of the marine corps were transferred to the army department and lost contact with the fleet. For almost 100 years, there were no large regular formations of the marine corps in the Russian fleet.

However, the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855 required the fleet to a large number naval infantry units, once again confirming the need for marines. In total, during the defense, 17 separate naval battalions were formed, which, together with other participants in the defense of Sevastopol, covered themselves with unfading glory. Considering the development of the Russian marines from the time of its formation to mid-nineteenth century, it should be noted that she took an active part in all the wars of Russia at that time. Its main tasks were:
- independently or jointly with army units to land on the coast occupied by the enemy, to capture and hold the intended objects;
- participate in the antiamphibious defense of fleet bases and islands;
- in naval battles, conduct aimed rifle fire at enemy manpower, and use grenades at short distances to destroy personnel and create fires on enemy ships;
- when approaching an enemy ship side by side, be the main force of the boarding teams and ensure success in battle, in hand-to-hand combat;
- carry out guard duty on ships, in the bases and parking lots of the fleet, form small garrisons of the islands and provide ships of the galley fleet with rowers.

In the defense of Port Arthur on land in 1904, many units and teams formed from the personnel of the ships and the naval crew participated: seven separate naval rifle battalions, a separate landing detachment of sailors, three separate naval rifle companies and several machine gun teams. They played a significant role in the long and stubborn defense of Port Arthur.

The question of the formation of permanent units of the Marine Corps was raised only in 1910. In 1911, the Main Naval Staff developed a project to create permanent infantry units in the main bases of the fleet: infantry regiment Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet Battalion and Vladivostok Battalion.
In August 1914, two separate battalions from the personnel of the Guards Naval Crew and one battalion from the personnel of the 1st Baltic Naval Crew were created in Kronstadt. In March 1915, a separate naval battalion of the 2nd Baltic Naval Crew was reorganized into the Special Purpose Naval Regiment.

In addition to rifle companies, it included: a mine company, a machine gun team, a communications team, regimental artillery, a technical workshop, a convoy and separate teams of the Ivan-Gorod steamer and boats. The formation of naval battalions of the Black Sea Fleet began on August 1, 1914, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet approved the "Regulations on the temporary separate Kerch naval battalion."

At the beginning of the war, two more separate naval battalions were formed and sent to the commandant of the Batumi fortress. On the Caspian Sea, at the location of the commander of the Baku port, there was an amphibious detachment of the Black Sea Fleet and a separate company of marines. At the end of 1916 and the beginning of 1917, the Russian naval command began the formation of two large formations of the marine corps - the Baltic and Black Sea divisions.

The Baltic division was deployed on the basis of an existing marine brigade; The Black Sea was formed from naval battalions, created back in 1915, and replenishment from the army department. Personnel these battalions already had good landing training. The creation of these divisions, unfortunately, was not completed, and after the February Revolution, in April 1917, they were disbanded ...

A powerful missile and bomb strike falls on the deserted coast. Sea sand boils up in dozens of explosions, a dense veil of smoke covers the entire coastline. The sounds of an insane symphony mingled into a growing rumble that clearly captured the roar of the engines of armored vehicles and landing craft. A couple of minutes later, armored personnel carriers rapidly jump out onto the sandy beach, from which the landing of amphibious assault forces begins. Approximately this is how, in the view of the layman, the actions in modern combat of one of the elite military units - the Marine Corps of the Russian Navy.

In reality, everything looks far from it. A beautiful and impressive picture of an amphibious landing gives way to a military operation, in which the main aspects are secrecy and coherence of actions. Landing operations of the fleet in modern conditions are designed more for the factor of surprise. Often there is a need to covertly take possession of a coastal facility in a short period of time, disable coastal infrastructure or occupy certain territory. These and many other operational-tactical tasks can be solved by specially trained troops - naval special forces.

AT Russian fleet these units are part of a separate type of coastal troops, one of the most combat-ready and trained military formations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Marine Corps Day is considered one of the most glorious and significant military holidays in Russia. Today, not a single military operation can do without the participation of black berets, not a single military parade of the Russian Armed Forces takes place.

The military uniform of the marines of the Russian Navy cannot be confused with anyone else. The beret of the marines, like the uniform of the units, is black.

History of the Marine Corps

Since antiquity, wars have often been fought in coastal areas. The main task of the opposing sides was to capture coastal cities, through which the main trade went and the supply of land armies was carried out. The main instrument of struggle in those distant times was the infantry - a branch of the army capable of operating both on land and at sea. The Roman army is rightfully considered the ancestor and prototype of the modern marines. It was in its composition that the first units of naval special forces deployed on warships appeared.

This combat experience of the Romans was adopted by the armies of other states. Over time, infantry landing on enemy shores became a key element of military strategy. A vivid example of successful landing operations at sea are the military companies of the Vikings, who kept all of Western Europe at bay. Almost all military history replete with examples of the successful use of such tactics of warfare. As part of the military fleets of the leading maritime powers, special units or boarding teams began to appear - the prototype of the Marine Corps, performing special tasks.

Today, almost any navy has such military formations in its composition. The Marine Corps is the main strike force the US Army, acting in American interests in various naval theaters.

The Russian fleet and marines - the road to glory

For Russia, the impetus for the creation of special infantry units that are part of the structure of the navy was the Northern War. Peter I played a key role in the appearance of the Russian marines. Under him, special infantry teams began to appear in the fleet, performing the function of boarding, assault groups. Assessing the high efficiency of such units in battles with the Swedes, Russian tsar in 1705 he formed a regiment of naval soldiers as part of the Baltic Fleet. The date of the royal decree - November 27, 1705, became the starting point in the history of the new type of troops and is celebrated in Russia as the Day of the Marine Corps.

A vivid example of the successful action of the first marine infantry teams was the Gangut naval battle, in which the Russian galley fleet boarded the Swedish squadron of Admiral Ehrenskiöld. Repeatedly, the Russian army, acting against the Swedish troops in Finland and on the islands of the Gulf of Finland, used the practice of amphibious assaults, when the marines played a key role.

Since the time of Peter I, the Marine Corps units have become effective tool not only at sea, but also in land campaigns. It is worth noting the successful actions of Russian sailors in the Mediterranean during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. - Russian marines demonstrated their courage and high efficiency. The regiment of marines, operating as part of the Baltic squadron of Admiral Spiridov, participated in the capture of Turkish fortresses. Marines distinguished themselves under the command of Admiral Ushakov. Russian ship crews and marine units gained fame during the storming of the French fortress on the island of Corfu.

The inhabitants of Naples, liberated from the French troops, met the Russian sailors with honors. During the military parade, a naval infantry team was in the forefront of the column of Russian troops.

The Russian Marine Corps took part in the legendary battle of Borodino, the largest land confrontation early XIX century. An important milestone in the biography of the Russian marines can rightly be considered the heroic defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855. The city and the naval base of the Russian fleet held the defense against the Allied army for 11 months. The combined Franco-English army, supported by Turkish troops, could not take the sea stronghold for a long time. Russian sailors, already as infantry, not only successfully repulsed the attacks of a superior enemy, stormed enemy lines of trenches and batteries, and carried out subversive and subversive work.

From 1811, the marine infantry units were abolished. The functions of the land naval units were performed by the crews of military ships that were part of the fleets of the Russian state.

The hero of the defense of Sevastopol, Vice-Admiral Nakhimov, was the first of the Russian military commanders to form a naval battalion from the former crews of military ships of the Black Sea Fleet for sabotage work and special operations on the coast. In total, during the defense of Sevastopol, 22 full-fledged full-time units were formed from military sailors operating as part of infantry units on the land front.

At every stage modern history there was work for the marines. Naval teams operating on the shore as assault units took part in the battles Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 Only in the defense of Port Arthur on the part of the Russian army, up to 10 thousand sailors were involved in land operations.

Naval infantry battalions, created on the basis of the naval crew, appeared in Russia with the outbreak of the First World War. The "Regulations on the Marine Corps" was supposed to determine the place of the new military unit in the structure of the army and navy. The charter of this kind of troops was developed, military uniform, insignia and flag, however, the February Revolution and subsequent events at the front and in the country temporarily prevented the development of this type of troops.

Marine Corps at the present stage

The last active participation of pre-revolutionary formations of military sailors in hostilities on land falls on the period civil war. For four years, the sailors of the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, as well as river military fleets, acted as part of the land units of the Red Army. Detachments of sailors operated in the most dangerous sectors of the front, in all theaters of the Civil War. The first combat unit with the functions of the marines as part of the Red Army was the 1st Azov Expeditionary Marine Division, which included a regiment of marines, an aviation detachment and a company of armored cars. The division covered the flanks of Frunze's army in the Kuban during the defeat of Wrangel.

After the end of hostilities, the country was in a difficult economic situation. The navy as a full-fledged combat structure ceased to exist. Accordingly, the Marine Corps was also forgotten. Its revival as a separate branch of the army took place in 1939. The first naval unit was created in the Baltic, a brigade that performed the functions of the Marine Corps. Only the beginning of the Great Patriotic War marked the beginning of the restoration of the Marine Corps as a separate branch of the military, which is part of the structure of the USSR Navy. The naval brigade became the main structural element of the ground units of the navy.

During the war years, 40 separate brigades of marines and 6 separate regiments of marines were created, the total number of which reached 350 thousand people in certain periods. The Marines especially distinguished themselves during the defense of Sevastopol. Here the 8th separate brigade Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet. The Soviet marines also participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, in the liberation of Tallinn, Odessa and in the storming of Berlin. Sailors Pacific Fleet together with a battalion of marines, they took part in the liberation of Sakhalin Island, in military operations against Japanese troops on Far East in August 1945. Black caps and uniforms terrified the enemy. German soldiers knew well what an attack by Soviet land sailors was. For the courage of the Soviet marines on the battlefield, the Germans gave them a flattering and terrible nickname "black death". For their heroism in numerous military operations, a number of marine brigades received the title of guards.

The Second World War became the pinnacle of the combat power of the Marine Corps. Numerous Allied amphibious assaults pacific ocean and in Western Europe, the actions of the Soviet "black berets" on the Soviet-German front - brightest to that example. The US Marine Corps, which bore the brunt of the fighting with the Japanese, clearly showed how effective the actions of land sailors in modern combat conditions can be. The American Marine Corps was the most equipped and trained branch of the military, which could effectively solve large-scale operational and tactical tasks. There are legends about the feat of the fighters of the American ILC during the capture of the island of Iwo Jima. Everyone knows the sculptural composition depicting a group of marines raising the US flag on top of the captured island.

Despite the high combat effectiveness, the use of marine units after the end of World War II in the Soviet Union was limited. In 1956, it was decided to disband the units of the Soviet marines.

new time

The experience of military operations in the post-war period, when most of the ground operations were carried out by amphibious assault forces, proved the fallacy of the decision made. The Marine Corps of the US Army has become one of the most effective tools of the aggressive American foreign policy in different regions the globe. As a result, the Soviet top leadership ordered the restoration of the Marine Corps units as part of the military fleets. During the 60s, transformations took place in the Soviet Navy, as a result of which a branch of coastal troops appeared again - the Marine Corps.

In the Belarusian Military District in 1963, the first full-fledged combat unit was created - the 336th separate regiment of marines, based at the naval base Baltiysk. In the future, the top leadership of the Navy decided to form one brigade of marines in each of the fleets. On the Caspian Sea, on the Danube and on the Azov, smaller marine corps units were created. The combat units of the Marine Corps were equipped with the most modern weapons. The Marine Corps brigade included a variety of units, from rifle units to tank companies and artillery batteries. The fleets began to receive landing craft of various classes for equipment, capable of delivering a platoon of marines to the enemy's rear or ensuring the landing of a large military unit with heavy weapons on the coast of a potential enemy.

In the modern Russian Navy, marine units are assigned almost a vital role in solving operational and tactical tasks. The regiment, which until recently was the main structural unit of this type of troops, is now a separate marine brigade equipped with the most effective weapons. Such large combat units have been created in all fleets: Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea. Modern marines are entrusted with the functions of countering the sabotage and espionage activities of the potential enemy's navy in the areas where the fleet is deployed. Not a single military exercise of an operational-tactical or strategic scale can do without marine units. Marine Corps Day is again one of the main military-patriotic holidays.

Distinctive features of this type of troops are not only its high technical equipment, the specifics of combat missions and functions, but also insignia. The flag of the Marine Corps is a St. Andrew's blue cross on a white background. In the center of the flag there is the emblem of the Marine Corps, a gold anchor on a black circle.

The combat value of marine brigades today is difficult to overestimate. These units are among the most combat-ready in the Russian army and navy.

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Even during the Second World War, detachments of marines instilled terror in German soldiers. Since then, the second name has been attached to the latter - black death or black devils, indicating the inevitable reprisal against those who encroach on the integrity of the state. Perhaps this nickname is somehow connected with the fact that the infantryman wore a black pea jacket. Only one thing is known for certain - if the enemy is afraid, then this is already the lion's share of victory, and, as you know, the motto is considered a symbol of the Marine Corps: "Where we are, there is victory!"

Each infantryman was proud of his mission. In cases when they had to fight, wearing a combined arms uniform, the fighters did not part with caps and vests. They went on the attack wide open, showing the enemy black and white stripes, instilling undisguised horror in him.

The history of the origin of the troops

During the reign of Ivan IV (the Terrible), the composition of the crews of all ships was supplemented by soldiers who were not sailors. These were separately created brigades, consisting of archers. The first sailing ship "Eagle" by decree of the king in 1669 was completed by the Nizhny Novgorod archers. Their task included boarding and landing operations. The first prototype of the marines was also involved in guard duty.

The history includes the exploits of the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments, which were formed on ships during the Azov campaigns. Not everyone knows that the commander of one of the companies of the naval regiment was the Emperor Peter Romanov himself. Such regiments equipped the ships of the Azov and Baltic Fleets.

The first victories of the then completely new formations fall on 1701-1702. The Russian flotilla, consisting mostly of rowing ships, successfully fought with Swedish sailing ships on Lake Peipsi and on Ladoga. In many respects, the Russian army owes its victory to the serving regiments of Ostrovsky, Shnevetsov and Tolbukhin, who were assigned to the fleet. The chroniclers noted that the infantrymen in battle behaved boldly and decisively.

If we are talking about the creation of marines, then this event is closely connected with the name of Peter I. He summarized the experience of introducing ground forces into the fleet and in 1705 issued a decree according to which all squads of Cossacks and archers were united, and the newly created formation was called "Marine Regiment" According to the new style, this decree is dated November 27, since then this date has been considered.

Black berets - the elite of Russian troops

Events of the first Chechen war forced command Russian army enlist the help of the Marines. At that time, they turned out to be the most prepared for the conduct of real hostilities. A real feat was accomplished by the fighters during the storming of Grozny. Sixteen infantrymen were awarded the star of the Hero. Unfortunately, not without casualties, during the first campaign, 178 people died. The contribution that the Marines made to history Chechen conflict, at all times will be considered as a manifestation of the true professionalism of the Russian soldier.

Vitaly Ryabov

Behind him is a conscripted service, and after that, under a contract. Now retired.

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