Teachings are complex. But, as the genius of military leadership thought Suvorov said, it is hard in teaching - easy in battle. Therefore, we do not question the usefulness of the teachings and attend these unique events with pleasure.
Why peculiar? Because it is very difficult to shoot exercises. If the teaching is not ostentatious, "on camera", then fully illuminate it - that is still hemorrhoids. Simply because the troops do not wait for people with cameras to get to them, but go about their business.
So it happened with us this time, when we arrived at the regiment of the newly created motorized rifle division, covering our western borders.
The morning did not bode well, but alas, almost at the same time a commission arrived with us to check. Suddenly. Many will now grin, like, "swam, we know." I also know how such checks are sometimes carried out, but the fact is that the whole day went awry when guests came to the territory of the unit 15 minutes after us.
The formation was delayed, since the plans of the inspectors included some kind of interviews with the personnel. And so that we do not have an eyesore, we were sent to a new military town, about which we have already told, and which has caused so much criticism.
While we were filming there, the first part of the participants in the exercises left for the training ground in Pogonovo. And we, together with one of the groups, moved to the regimental training ground.
At the test site, surprises awaited us. Behind the phrase "tactical actions will be worked out at the training ground to occupy the defense lines" the deepest meaning was hidden.
The column was quite impressive. 4 tanks, 4 "Nona", 4 "Grada", a battery of 4 "Msta-B" howitzers and up to a heap of armored personnel carriers and trucks with infantry. More than a dozen of both. All of this looked very promising.
But having come out to the landfill, in accordance with the instructions received, the column simply disappeared through the ravines and forest belts. The relief there is most suitable for this.
The tanks rushed at full speed across the field to the forest belt, followed by the Grads.
"Nona" and armored personnel carriers in general worked out the exercise "get lost completely."
And only the gunners got down to business nearby. We turned around and began to practice guidance and other exercises. Routine.
The aircraft raised by us could not really detect anything. Dust clouds on the roads. Well, by the sounds, there was some movement behind the forest areas.
The polygon is quite extensive, so there was where to get lost. We were, however, consoled that the equipment would return soon and would work out the liberation of the settlement. And we went to study the scene. Regimental simulator "village Kazachkovo", built by the forces of the regiment.
Kazachkovo is named after the regiment commander Kazachkov. With humor.
General Stepanishchev's Avenue is a tribute to the previous divisional commander …
There is even a roadside cafe. Everything is as it should be. And tire service.
The origin of the signs remained shrouded in a veil of military secrecy.
Finally, the infantry returned and preparations began for the assault on the village. By the way, this is the first unit in our practice fully dressed in "Ratnik".
"Warrior", as it turned out, may well play the role of some kind of props, separate friends and foes. 5 minutes - and the illegal armed formation was ready.
Meanwhile, the bulk of the fighters advanced to the line of attack.
I went with the illegal armed groups to capture the village.
Finally they gave the signal to start.
A tank fell out of the nearest forest belt. It is not surprising, in principle, there, in every part of the forest, in my opinion, someone was buried.
The tank was naturally followed by the infantry. The illegal armed groups, naturally, opened fire. Well, it began. The tankers blasted with a blank charge, the ground shook, and firing began from all directions.
Where, more precisely, from which forest the APCs jumped out, I, frankly, missed. But they came from somewhere, poured out more soldiers, and together with the tank began to push through the enemy's defenses.
Quite expectedly, the battle ended with the victory of "ours".
Although, as for me, the losses of the attacking side would be very significant in reality. The guys who were "illegal armed groups" acted very competently. I spoke with one of them, and Dmitry told me that as soon as the KMB ended, they were here every other day, at the training ground. Once every two weeks - at the shooting range. It is nearby, one and a half kilometers away. And so three months out of four that they serve.
After that there was a small summing up, then the fighters plunged, departed in accordance with the plans of the exercises. And in their place another group arrived.
If in general, then, despite the fact that the fighters serve only 4 months, the level of training is very, very good. Perhaps the press service of the Western Military District and the command of the 20th Army will provide us with the opportunity to evaluate the further growth of training already in conditions close to combat, with the use of military weapons, when it’s the turn of these guys to practice combat use at the Pogonovo training ground. It would be very interesting.
