The topic of special divisions of the world, the specifics of their training and the possibilities of using them constantly excites readers. After the sudden appearance of such units in the Crimea, the appearance of messages about the work of the MTR in Syria and Iraq became a brand for the average person. For some reason, it is believed that the appearance of "polite people", "green men", "seals", "leopards", "sea lions" and other "animals" guarantees a victory with a 100% result.
Readers' interest is understandable. Anything covered with a halo of mystery naturally attracts attention. And the operations, reports of which periodically appear in the press, look really impressive. Moreover, due to the incompetence of the correspondents, or for other reasons (to be honest, advertising is necessary even in such a case. Remember the Soviet "In the zone of special attention" and "Return move"), such messages are "overgrown" with details that inspire horror and respect for the townsfolk, and cause the frank laughter of specialists.
"Alexander, why do journalists, including you, talk and write about units of the Special Forces of the United States, Great Britain, and other countries, but completely ignore our closest neighbors? Why are there no articles about the Turkish special forces, about the Chinese, about the former Soviet republics? After all, everyone understands that there are such units there. What is the reason for this ignorance? Weakness? Lack of information? Reluctance to tell?"
This is an excerpt from a letter I received recently. By the way, thanks to everyone who writes. Thank you not only for your questions and wishes, but also for interesting memories and materials that you generously share with me.
The answer to the question about the reason for the lack of materials for some countries in the absence of reliable information. Alas. By the way, this also applies to the Chinese MTR. Information "hides" not only behind the secrecy regime, but also behind the blurring of the concepts themselves. Let me explain. Many remember the words of Goebbels about what a lie must be in order to be believed. But few realize that the same can be done with the truth. The fact around which a "cordon" of fiction is created always begins to raise doubts. Therefore, I ask you not to take my article as the ultimate truth. This is just an attempt to systematize what is known from open and "slightly open" sources.
For some reason, it is believed that special forces in the PLA appeared thanks to Deng Xiaoping. It was he, then the head of the CPC, who declared in June 1985 that "the Communist Party does not see a global war in the future, so the PRC should prepare for short-term border conflicts." And this statement became the basis for the creation in 1988 of the first MTR unit in the Guangzhou Military District.
However, if you look into the history of the PRC, then, as it seems to me, doubts arise in this thesis. The fact is that even during the war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party (1927-1950), the Chinese made extensive use of airborne units trained at US military bases. True, they acted against the CCP. And they acted quite successfully. So much so that Mao decided to create similar units in the PLA.
Therefore, again, in my opinion, the beginning of the creation of the MTR of China should be considered precisely the 50s of the last century. And the new units carried out the first combat operations already during the war between North and South Korea. And in repelling the attacks of Taiwanese nationalists, it was not without the participation of these units.
Immediately after the end of the Korean War, in the late 50s and early 60s, the PLA formed three airborne divisions. There is nothing interesting and new for the Russian reader in these connections. Simply because they were formed with the help of the USSR. But the fact that in parallel with the creation of the Airborne Forces in the PLA, special reconnaissance units were created, is more interesting.
The fact is that during the formation of such units, completely opposite tasks were initially laid. They carried out reconnaissance and counteraction to enemy reconnaissance. They acted as DRGs and, at the same time, were used to counter enemy DRGs. And this "versatility" somewhat reduced the effectiveness. However, it was these units, the best of them, that became the basis of the future PLA MTR. And it is from these units that the groups available today are formed for conducting special operations.
The Chinese are masters of flowery expressions. And the attitude of the Chinese towards their armed forces is striking. Many readers have seen Chinese units at the recent war games in Russia. This attitude was also expressed in the names (known today) of the MTR detachments. Falcon, Hawk, Flying Dragon, Dongbei Tiger, Night Tiger, Magic Sword of the East, Sharp Sword of South China.
The "opening" of the PLA MTR took place during the competition of special forces units in Estonia (ERNA). The unknown Chinese special forces then, in 1998, out of 20 types of competitions won 8. In addition, one second place and 4 thirds. Agree, the result is more than good.
What are the features of training Chinese fighters? Why is it the Chinese who are considered the most difficult to resist today? Let's try to deal with this issue as well.
I remember in the comments after the article about the "Green Berets" among the readers there were a lot of people who were quite prepared for serving there. Well, try to "serve" in the Chinese special forces unit. Not in the elite, but (for the purity of the experiment) the usual division of the MTR. Here are the standard standards that any PLA MTR serviceman must comply with:
1. Climbing the wall of a brick building to the fifth floor without using any improvised means (I carry everything with me, arms and legs) - 30 seconds.
2. Forcing a water barrier 5 km long with full equipment and weapons (machine gun and 4 grenades) - 80 minutes.
3. Ride 10 km in a bag, with tied legs and a duffel bag weighing 4.5 kg.
4. In full combat gear, in the rain, on a broken mountain road in 12 minutes to overcome the distance: excellent - 3, 5 km and more, good - 3, 4 km, satisfactory - 3, 3 km.
5. Lifting on the bar and push-ups on the uneven bars at least 200 times.
6. Passing an obstacle course (400 meters) by a group of 4 people with the defeat of 14 targets - 105 seconds.
7. Push-ups lying in 1 minute - 100 times.
8. Lifting a dumbbell weighing 35 kg per minute - 60 times.
9. Shooting: shoot from a moving car at a speed of 50 km / h at a growth target at a distance of 200 meters.
10. Throw a grenade into the car window from a distance of 30 meters.
I understand that most of the readers now thought that the standards are clearly impracticable. However, it is precisely these standards that are established in the Chinese manuals for the MTR. And, most importantly, the standards are achievable. But for this you need to be Chinese and serve somewhere in the Beijing airport area.
The thing is that the very training of a special forces soldier takes place at the limit of human capabilities. The differences that exist between the fighters are due to the location of the unit and the tasks for which the fighter is being trained. There are no analogues of Chinese training in the world yet. At least that's what the Chinese commanders say.
It is quite difficult to get into the elite MTR units. Unlike most similar units from other countries, the PLA does not have the opportunity to join the unit at will. The selection is carried out from military personnel of conventional units. Moreover, often candidates do not even know that they "hit the pencil" of a special forces officer. There are practically no rejections of offers to serve in the MTR. This is the dream of PLA soldiers and officers.
The training of fighters is based on the method of increasing the physical and psychological capabilities of the human body to the maximum. Old Chinese versions of martial arts, methods of training Tibetan monks, Chinese wushu gymnastics, various variations of qigong are used. Some sources speak about non-Chinese yoga and similar techniques.
Particular attention is paid to the development of not only strength, but also dexterity. Moreover, it is clearly focused on performing special tasks. Self-defense without weapons. Various variations of Chinese and Japanese martial arts. Swimming training for the serious swimmer. There is evidence that, for example, "night tigers" or "falcons" are trained to conduct underwater combat without the use of scuba gear due to a special breathing technique. Other squads train professional climbers and skiers.
The Chinese special forces also have a distinctive feature that makes them "noticeable" enough for counterintelligence. The fact is that according to the same training method, each fighter must master a special exercise called "Iron Palm".
Those of the readers who were engaged in oriental martial arts are well aware of the opportunity to "fill your hand". When for a long time a fighter literally stuffs the edge of his hand or knuckles to the point of appearance of coarse tissue or "calluses". This allows not only to reduce pain from impacts on a hard surface, but also to increase the very force of the impact due to the appearance of "brass knuckles".
At one time, when karate was banned in the USSR, the police perfectly figured out karate just by the stuffed knuckles and "ribs" of the palms. It was difficult to hide it.
"Iron Palm" is the daily strikes of the palms on a bag of beans. 300 hits daily. In addition, they also stuff their fists, elbows, feet, knees, head … Simply put, every day any special forces soldier "hammer" a bag of beans thousands of times, with various parts of the body.
Naturally, the skin coarsens and … the "stuffed" parts of the body increase in size. This becomes the signal to move on to the next stage of training. The beans are exchanged for metal shavings. And now this "projectile" becomes a constant companion of the soldier. And the enlarged palms are the hallmark of the PLA Special Forces Special Forces officer.
In addition, the MTR fighters are required to undergo the most severe training for survival in any terrain. Moreover, none of the commanders and chiefs really think about the safety and life of the person being tested.
For example, a survival exercise for naval special forces soldiers looks like this. The group is dropped from a helicopter at a distance of 5 kilometers or more into the sea near an almost "naked" island. Each soldier has a supply of drinking water, a knife, and a ration for a day.
Then survive as you want. You can drown before reaching the island. You can starve (the supply of water allows you not to die of thirst, and death comes from hunger much later). Or you can live "for pleasure", eating what lives in the sea or on an island. The only inconvenience is the lack of fire. But not at the resort. The Chinese also remember the "hardships of military service."
Surviving "on the ground" is no easier. Here's an example from The Falcon. A group of 6 special forces is sent to the mountainous and wooded area. The equipment is standard. Knife, lightweight machine gun and helmet. It is allowed to take 1 kg of rice, 5 pieces of pressed biscuits, salt and matches. Everything else is withdrawn. Conditions of the march-throw: in 7 days the group must cover 200 (sometimes 300) km in mountainous and wooded areas. Part of the route passes at an altitude of over 2,700 meters above sea level. Most water sources are not usable. The area is "teeming" with poisonous insects and other "reptiles". Therefore, clothes should always be fastened with all buttons and "zippers".
The task of the fighters is not only to pass the route. But also to determine reservoirs suitable for use (most often this is done in the footsteps of birds and animals), to eat all sorts of "delicacies" like mice and insects in the mountains (other "goodies" do not live there). And "for a snack" to complete more than 20 combat missions, such as taking a prisoner, removing sentries, destroying an object, bypassing an outpost, etc.
Such trainings in the life of PLA MTR fighters take 3-6 months a year …
An important issue for understanding the combat potential of the PLA's MTR is the equipment of such units. Armament and equipment. Alas, in modern warfare, even the best fighter without special equipment and good weapons is weak. I think we should start with the most famous weapons.
Pistols. The main pistol of the PLA SSO is a 5, 8-mm QSZ 92 pistol created by Chinese designers with a device for silent-flameless shooting and an optical sight. The pistol is designed for the new low-impulse cartridge DAP 5, 8x2, 1 mm. The cartridge has a higher penetration and lethality than other ammunition. It also has a flatter flight path.
The pistol has a weight of 0.76 kg. Made with composite materials. Has inserts on the pistol grip, allowing you to adjust the size of the grip. Which makes the recoil momentum much less than that of a standard NATO pistol. The magazine is designed for 20 rounds. The double-sided lever of the safety catch is used to safely release the trigger from the cocked. The frame has slots for mounting a tactical flashlight or laser designator. It is possible to shoot from both hands, either from the right or from the left. The trigger guard is rounded (a feature of a slightly different "short barrel" shooting technique, typical for China). Pistol length 190 mm, barrel length 115 mm.
But, as in other units of this profile, fighters can use other pistols of the armies of the world. Depending on the tasks and skills. By the way, the Soviet TT is still popular.
In addition to pistols, the MTR also has Type 05 submachine guns. The Chinese use PPs under the same cartridge as for the pistol - 5.8 mm. Magazine capacity 50 rounds. Bullet speed 480-500 m / s. Free shutter automation. Composite materials are used. Shooting is carried out in three modes - single, bursts of 3 shots and bursts of arbitrary length. It is possible to install a collimator or optical sight, a tactical flashlight.
Automatic machines. The question here is rather complicated. The fact is that today the PLA MTR is already in service with three domestic developments. And they are all quite interesting. Talking about preferences is difficult.
Let's start with the most common - the army QBZ-95, which entered service in 1995. Caliber 5, 8 mm. A domestic cartridge 5, 8x42 weighing 4.1 g with a steel core is used. Bullet muzzle velocity 930 m / s. Magazine capacity 30 rounds. The weight of the machine is 3, 35 kg. The length of the machine is 760 mm. Barrel length 490 mm. Bullpup layout. There is a Chinese-made grenade launcher (40 mm) and a bayonet-knife. Sighting range 500 meters.
The next modification of this machine for some reason turned into a carbine. Honestly, I don't understand this. So QBZ 95-1. A carbine with a telescopic sight and a 35-mm underbarrel grenade launcher. The assault rifle is much more popular in special forces than the first army version. The differences are quite noticeable. From case ejection (45 degrees forward) to quick release telescopic sight. In addition, this machine also has a shortened version.
But the third machine is more a tribute to traditions and the "old" school. The point is that the bullpup layout doesn't suit many people. What looks beautiful in the movies is often not very suitable for specific tasks. Therefore, the MTR is also armed with an assault rifle with a classic layout - QBZ-03. The weight is slightly more - 3.5 kg. The length is also 950 mm. However, with a folded stock - 750 mm. Magazine capacity 30 rounds. By the way, the shops of all machines are unified.
Among the Chinese machine guns, the QJY 88 deserves our attention. Development of Chinese gunsmiths. In my opinion, the weapon is a failure. Caliber 5, 8 mm. Under the domestic cartridge 5, 8x42 mm. Weight with a tripod 16 kg (body - 11, 8 kg). Length 1151 mm. Barrel length 600 mm. Tape 200 rounds. Completely inadequate for the needs of the MTR machine gun.
The more common QBB-95 light machine gun is no more than the Chinese analogue of our RPK, only for a caliber of 5, 8 mm. Less reliable than our machine gun. And it is significantly inferior to its Soviet counterpart in terms of firepower.
Probably, one should write about one more, obligatory in the special forces, type of weapon. About sniper rifles.
The standard rifle of the PLA MTR is the QBU-88, which began to enter service with the army in 1997. Caliber 5, 8 mm. A special version of the rifle cartridge 5, 8x42 mm with a bullet with a steel core is used. Weight - 4.1 kg. Length 920 mm. Barrel length 640 mm. Sighting range - 800 meters. Russian optics 4X. 10 rounds magazine. It is possible to install almost all types of sighting devices.
Large caliber sniper rifle M99. Available in two versions. Chambered for 12.7x108mm (M99-1) and 12.7x99mm (M99-2) cartridge. Designed for counter-sniper combat, as well as for destroying lightly armored targets, machine gun nests, grenade launcher positions, etc. The number of units of such weapons today is quite small. Therefore, it is still difficult to assess the combat quality of the new weapon.
The QBU-10 large-caliber rifle is more common. Chambered for 12, 7x108 mm. Sighting range up to 1000 meters. However, the rifle is clearly "Chinese". It falls short of sniper standards. Length 1380 mm. Barrel length 780 mm. Weight 13.3 kg.
It is clear that it is difficult to list all the types of weapons that are used in the PLA's MTR. And it doesn't really matter. It is clear that completely different "barrels" or other weapons can be used for certain tasks. Moreover, it is also clear that any division has its own "chips".
Chinese Specialist Operations Specialists are not only military units. As in other countries where this issue is given special attention, there are quite serious police units in China. Such as "Snow Leopard". By the way, in 2014 it was this division that was recognized as the best in the world at the competition in Jordan. And those, about whom I told above, then took the second place. This is from 36 participating teams.
And in conclusion, I want to cool the ardor of the most furious "fighters". The PLA MTR, the only ones in the world, have all-female units in their composition! Not auxiliary services or individual military personnel. Namely, completely female. 4 years ago, the PLA command decided to create such detachments.
Today, these units are women under 30 years of age. The preparation is almost no different from the "male" one. The level of education is worthy of the most elite parts. Approximately 80% with higher education! In terms of their combat potential, female units are valued, as it is not a shame for men, higher. The fact is that women compensate for the lack of physical strength by scrupulous performance of all training and combat missions. And, therefore, they are generally better prepared than similar male units. And, again, the paradox, women in battle are more fanatical fighters! This is an assessment by Chinese psychologists after analyzing the actions of women's units from various countries during the period of wars and conflicts.
Other names of the MTR detachments of China periodically appear from various sources. But the information about these units is so fragmentary and, often not without reason, fantastic that it would be foolish to draw any conclusions about their training or mission. These are "Panther", "Snow Wolf" and "East".
Judging by the tasks attributed to them by sources, these are counter-terrorist detachments designed to combat terrorism and separatism within the country and abroad. This means that they are still not army detachments, but members of the security service. This is either the Ministry of State Security or the Ministry of Public Security of the PRC.
Be that as it may, today the PLA's MTR have a stable prestige among the employees of the relevant structures of most countries. Professionals always quickly understand who is in front of them. And they respect those who are truly worthy of respect.
