Ostrov Russian naval special forces. How to get into the special forces of the Marine Corps of the Russian Federation, who serves there

The flag of Kholuy Pacific Fleet Special Forces is a unique novelty in the collection of flags of the Voentorg online store "Voenpro", representing 42 OMRPSpN.

Characteristics

42 OMRpSN
Navy Special Forces
42 OMRpSN

The history of 42 separate naval reconnaissance points for special purposes began on March 18, 1955. At first, he, like other parts of the special forces of the fleet, previously formed at the KBF and the Black Sea Fleet, was called the "Marine reconnaissance point." In the 1970s, naval reconnaissance points were named RPSpN, retaining the point numbers. The 42nd MRP was originally commanded by Petr Prokopevich Kovalenko.

Many believe that the history of the point dates back to 140 OMRO Pacific Fleet, which at the end of the Second World War was commanded by V. Leonov - twice a Hero Soviet Union. After the creation of 42 OMRPSpN, he repeatedly visited military unit 59190. However, as many as 10 years passed between the time of the existence of the 140th OMRO Pacific Fleet and the formation of the 42nd MCI.

Maly Uliss Bay near Vladivostok was assigned as the location of the unit at the time of its founding, but there were no premises there. During 1955, the post changed its location more than once, choosing a convenient location. Only at the beginning of December 1955, the personnel were relocated on Russky Island to Kholuai Bay - the place of permanent deployment of military unit 59190.

Subsequently, the state changed several times. By the end of the 1990s, there were about 300 members. Kholuai special forces of the Pacific Fleet consisted of 3 detachments and several ships. Each detachment of the Kholuy naval special forces had its own specialization and 4 groups each, commanded by a midshipman. Later, the state was transferred to the company structure. The structure included ships: MTL - marine topredolov and 5 boats, and for landing in the surface version, the Kholuai naval special forces used inflatable boats SML-8.

combat service takes place on ships of the Pacific Fleet. Staying with all the necessary equipment and weapons on board the ship meant that the Kholuy naval special forces were ready to land in the area of special events or in the area of \u200b\u200breconnaissance at any time. Groups carry out military service and on submarines. Such business trips last about 2 months. The combat service of the naval special forces Kholuy on surface ships lasts up to six months.

In 1982, a group of naval special forces carried out special tasks for the tactical exercises "Team Spirit-82". Until 1995, it was fundamentally not used in a combat situation, the fighters were not even in Afghanistan. But the scouts fought in the first Chechen campaign. A group of 10 people acted successfully, but 3 of them died. All members of the group were awarded awards of the Russian Federation. Ensign Andrey Vladimirovich Dneprovsky, a Khalulayevite who died from a bullet from Dudayev's sniper, was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. The second group of Khalulaevs, trained for action as part of a marine regiment, was not used.

Throughout its history, military unit 59190 has been considered an elite one. A potential enemy practically does not have the opportunity to penetrate the territory of military unit 59190. Khalulayevtsy - this is how the combat swimmers of the Navy are popularly called, they undergo special parachute and diving training. There are legends about them, they say that Kholuai’s naval special forces can capture an aircraft carrier without a single noise, and also that a Khalulai man is able to cut his throat with a piece of paper. Kholuy is not just special forces, he is a detachment of underwater saboteurs who have high intelligence.

Detachment Holuai

When you hear the same strange word from different interlocutors several times in a short time, you will inevitably become interested. Moreover, it is pronounced with a breath and such a reverent awe, and it does not sound like ours - Kholuai. Further inquiries only fueled curiosity. True, at first I had to listen to tales about a tough detachment of marine saboteurs, in which they take only homeless children or, in extreme cases, children from orphanages almost from 10-12 years old, and by the age of 20, these thugs who are not afraid of God or hell can: a) kill a person with one finger; b) cut the throat with a sheet of paper; c) swim tens of miles in the sea and, if necessary, they can even capture an aircraft carrier. As a result, it turned out that under this name one of the special units The Russian Navy, designed to conduct sabotage operations and conduct special reconnaissance in coastal areas in the interests of the fleet and the GRU. I’ll make a reservation right away that all the information below is in the public domain and is not secret, but has only been systematized by me.
As part of the fleet, the first reconnaissance paratrooper units (hereinafter MRP - marine reconnaissance points) were created in the intelligence system of the USSR Navy in the early 50s of the last century. Fleet Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, on May 20, 1953, approved the "Action Plan for Strengthening the Intelligence of the Navy", according to which it was planned to create special-purpose units in the fleet. The first MRP was created in the Black Sea Fleet (commander - Captain I rank E.V. Yakovlev) and stationed in the area of Kruglaya Bay near Sevastopol. Marine scouts, in addition to diving training, also underwent airborne training, which included jumping not only on land, but also on water.
The first exercises were successful and proved the need for special units in all fleets. The 315 training detachment of light divers stationed in Kyiv was formed, which trained divers, including those for special marine reconnaissance and seven MCIs - two each in the Black Sea and Baltic, one each in the North and Pacific and one in the Caspian flotilla. Since its inception, the deployment has changed, especially after the collapse of the USSR, the Northern Fleet was even liquidated for several years.
42 MCI Special Forces (military unit 59190) in the Pacific Fleet is being created in accordance with the directive of the General Staff of the Navy dated 03/18/1955 with a deployment site in Maly Uliss Bay near Vladivostok. But due to the lack of necessary premises, accommodation in the indicated place turned out to be impossible, and only in December of the same year did the personnel settle down at the point of permanent deployment on Russky Island.
Russky Island was completely marked on a map published in 1865 and originally bore the name of the first military governor of the Primorsky Region, Rear Admiral Kazakevich. Only after the end of World War II, the name Russky was finally assigned to the island. Its location near the city, and the shortest distance of only 800 meters and the presence of convenient closed bays determined the purpose - it became the base of the flotilla and the cornerstone of the defense of the Vladivostok fortress. Already by 1915, 6 forts and 27 coastal batteries, as well as powder magazines and warehouses, and a pier were erected on the Russian. Until 1999, the island had the status of a closed island. The largest training base navy The USSR trained specialists in various fields: a radio engineering school (RTSh), a mechanics school, a weapons school, a communication school, a midshipman school, a disbat (the KTOF disciplinary company is famous throughout the country), the Khalulai special forces school, a detachment of torpedo boats and a school of miners - submariners and much, much more.
There are two types of fleet special forces units - these are MRP reconnaissance divers and combat swimmers of the OB PDSS (detachments to combat sabotage forces and means), armed with: 5.45 mm AK-74 assault rifles and its modifications, 5.66 mm APS special underwater assault 5.45 mm two-medium ADS submachine guns, 9 mm AS "Val" special silent submachine guns, 9 mm APB pistols, 7.62 mm PSS special pistols, 4.5 mm SPP-1 (SPP-1 M) underwater pistols, various types of sniper weapons, hand-held anti-sabotage grenade launchers " DP-64", small-sized remote-controlled anti-sabotage grenade launchers "DP-65", mining / demining equipment, technical means detection and countermeasures against saboteurs, means of communication, light diving equipment (breathing apparatuses, including the closed regenerative type IDA-71 and SGV-98, diving suits, masks, fins, etc.), divers' tugboats.
I will give the characteristics of underwater firearms: a special underwater assault rifle APS was developed by the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNIITochMash) for arming combat swimmers. The weapon has no analogues. Automation operates by removing powder gases from the barrel. Locking the barrel - by turning the bolt. An automatic gas regulator was introduced into the design of the gas outlet unit, which ensures the operation of automation in both media (water and air). The fire is fired from an open shutter. The trigger mechanism is shock, allows fire in bursts and single shots. The fuse translator is located on the receiver on the left, above the pistol grip. The loading handle is located on the right side of the bolt carrier. Receiver- stamped, steel. Design feature - smooth trunk. Sights- unregulated rear sight and front sight. Butt - retractable, steel wire. Food from plastic box magazines with a capacity of 26 rounds. The cartridge consists of a sleeve and a steel arrow, 120 mm long. In air, the firing range does not exceed 100 m. At a depth of 40 m, the range is 11 m.
The special underwater pistol SPP-1 was developed by the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering for arming combat swimmers. The pistol has four barrels and is loaded with a special clip with a capacity of 4 cartridges. The trigger mechanism is double action, the drummer is located on a rotating base and with each pull of the trigger it is cocked and rotated a quarter of a turn, approaching the next barrel. The fuse is located on the frame on the left, has three positions: "fire", "fuse", "recharge". Setting the safety to the upper position unlocks the barrel block for reloading. The cartridge consists of a rimless bottle-shaped sleeve and a steel arrow 115 mm long, based on the intermediate cartridge case of the 1943 model (7.62x39).
Russian combat swimmers owe their success to a large extent to military designers who create weapons and equipment. Silent ultra-rapid weapons, infrared, optical and laser sights and target indicators, high-explosive explosives, vacuum munitions, towed nuclear bombs(small ones weighing about 27 kg and large ones weighing about 70 kg), rocket-propelled grenade launchers, flamethrowers, means of suppressing sonar and electronic devices - all this was and is in service with Soviet combat swimmers, all of this is domestically produced, in quality no worse than Western models ( often better).
Closed-circuit breathing apparatus allows you to stay under water for several hours, and people do not give out exhaled air. Suits with thermal insulation keep swimmers from hypothermia, and underwater orientation devices will ensure combat capability even in conditions of zero visibility. Only a trained swimmer from the PDSS group can neutralize such a saboteur. Currently, small submarines are used in sabotage work. In the mid-eighties, Soviet specialists developed the Piranha midget submarine. She could approach the object, taking on board six saboteurs, containers and additional means of movement. But the pinnacle of design thought was the "Siren" device - a kind of equipped torpedo. Inside it were two terrorists with all the necessary equipment, and the "Siren" was fired from the submarine's torpedo tube. Covert landing on the territory of another state is easiest to carry out by water.
As for jumping into the water with a towing vehicle, the S-4V system was created for this, which was put into service as the SVP-1, now there are many of its modifications - unfortunately I know very little about them. Breathing apparatus for the IDA-71P system. Later, for the landing of a swimmer on this system, which made it possible to hang significant loads, the Proteus - A (Aviation) tugboat was created, after replacing the batteries on it, it exceeded the performance characteristics (25 kg.) And began to weigh 35, and instead it was adopted by Proteus - L (Light).
The recruitment of officers comes mainly from naval schools, as well as the best graduates of the DVVKU (it has a platoon of marines) and the Novosibirsk VVKU (trains special forces officers), who have diving and landing training and not lower than the CMS in shooting and martial arts.
The personnel were selected back in the military registration and enlistment offices, first according to documents, and then an interview is also carried out. Then selection in parts and aptitude test. Since I am not going to disclose the actual level of training, I will give the one that is freely available, it was used to train combat swimmers of the Dolphin squad: The candidate must be emotionally balanced, able to remain calm in extreme situations, not be afraid of the dark, loneliness, closed space. It must withstand great physical exercise, it is good to endure diving to significant depths and pressure drops. If a psychological tests and the medical commission are passed, the candidate becomes a cadet. Next begins basic training, which lasts six months (26 weeks) and is divided into 3 stages.
The first stage takes 7 weeks. The academic day is designed for 15 hours. Cadets run long-distance crosses, swim, row, and overcome obstacle courses. Every day, the workload increases, and the requirements become more stringent. In addition, instructors systematically arrange various interference. For example, they spill it on the water and set fire to oil, or they blow up an explosive charge on a floating log ... In the last (seventh) week, they check the ability of cadets to withstand extreme physical and mental stress. At this time, no more than 3-4 hours a day are allotted for sleep. Cadets make a forced march with full gear for 100 kilometers, as well as a swim in a wetsuit for 10 miles (18.5 km), while towing a load weighing up to 40 kg. On average, only one out of 15-20 cadets passes this stage to the end.
The second stage lasts 11 weeks. During its course, cadets study diving equipment, mine blasting, the tactics of combat operations of small groups in water and on land, the basics of military intelligence, radio science, and master edged and firearms (both serial and special). Then comes parachute training, rock climbing, underwater, surface and ground control. vehicles(for example, electric towing vehicles). Of course, a prominent place is given to the study and development of various actions under water, methods of penetration from under the water into a given area and evacuation from the shore into the water.
A lot of time is devoted to hand-to-hand combat on land and especially under water with a knife (regular and a needle). The guys carefully work out the techniques of shock, traumatic and deadly effects on the enemy. In the course of performing various combat training tasks, members of small units of combat swimmers are selected. The point here is that each such unit (pair, three, four, and so on) must act accurately and clearly, as a single well-oiled mechanism. And this requires mutual "adjustment" in the process of joint studies. After completing the second stage of training, the cadets take a test for the protection and defense of coastal facilities and ships from enemy swimmers-saboteurs. This test, or better to say - the exam, takes place during the exercises, built as a model of a military operation. Here, the ability to work under water at various depths is tested (orientation, observation in conditions of poor visibility, fighting, chasing the enemy, breaking away from pursuit, camouflaging on the ground, and so on). Successful students are sent to separate brigade Marine Corps to consolidate acquired skills.
Stage 3, it lasts 8 weeks. Experienced instructors supervise cadets on a daily basis. Then some combat swimmers remain in the brigade, others return to those PDSS units where they were trained

To be continued.

Why the US Navy SEALs adopted "hell week" from this unit as the best practice for selecting future fighters

Secret part "holuy" Pacific Fleet, she is also 42 MCI SpN (military unit 59190), was created in 1955 in the Maly Uliss Bay near Vladivostok, later relocated to Russky Island, where scouts-saboteurs are still undergoing combat training. There are many legends about these guys, their physical training is admired, they are called the best of the best, the cream of special forces. Each of them could become the main character of an action movie. Today RIA PrimaMedia publishes material military historian and journalist Alexei Sukonkin about the legendary part of "holuai". In 1993-94 he served in the special forces unit. ground forces, but from time to time some of them were also in the naval special forces.

Foreword

“Suddenly for the enemy, we landed at a Japanese airfield and entered into negotiations. After that, we, ten people, were taken by the Japanese to the headquarters of the colonel, the commander of the aviation unit, who wanted to make hostages out of us. I joined the conversation when I felt that with us, the representative of the Soviet command, captain 3rd rank Kulebyakin, as they say, "pushed up against the wall." Looking into the eyes of the Japanese, I said that we had fought the entire war in the west and had enough experience to assess the situation, that we would not be hostages "But we'd rather die, but we'll die together with everyone at headquarters. The difference is, I added, that you'll die like rats, and we'll try to get out of here. Hero of the Soviet Union Mitya Sokolov immediately stood behind the Japanese colonel. Hero of the Soviet Union Andrei Pshenichnykh locked the door with a key, put the key in his pocket and sat down on a chair, and Volodya Olyashev (honored master of sports after the war) lifted Andrei together with the chair and put him right in front of d Japanese commander. Ivan Guzenkov went up to the window and reported that we were not high, and Hero of the Soviet Union Semyon Agafonov, standing at the door, began tossing an anti-tank grenade in his hand. The Japanese, however, did not know that there was no fuse in it. The colonel, forgetting about the handkerchief, began to wipe the sweat from his forehead with his hand and after a while signed the act of surrender of the entire garrison.

This is how the naval intelligence officer Viktor Leonov, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, described just one military operation in which a handful of daring and brave naval intelligence officers of the Pacific Fleet forced a large Japanese garrison to lay down their arms literally without a fight. Shamefully capitulated three and a half thousand Japanese samurai.

It was the apotheosis of the combat power of the 140th Naval Reconnaissance Detachment, the harbinger of the modern naval special forces, which everyone knows today under the incomprehensible and mysterious name "Holuai".

origins

And it all started back in the years of the Great Patriotic War. Then the 181st reconnaissance detachment successfully operated in the Northern Fleet, performing various special operations in the rear of enemy troops. The crowning achievement of this detachment was the capture of two coastal batteries at Cape Krestovoy (which blocked the entrance to the bay and could easily defeat the landing convoy) in preparation for the landing in the port of Liinakhamari (Murmansk region - ed.). This, in turn, ensured the success of the Petsamo-Kirkenes landing operation, which became the key to success in the liberation of the entire Soviet Arctic. It is even hard to imagine that a detachment of several dozen people, having captured only a few guns of German coastal batteries, actually ensured victory in the entire strategic operation, but, nevertheless, this is so - for this reason, the reconnaissance detachment was created in order to sting the enemy with small forces in the weakest spot...

The commander of the 181st reconnaissance detachment, Senior Lieutenant Viktor Leonov, and two of his subordinates (Semyon Agafonov and Andrei Pshenichnykh) became Heroes of the Soviet Union in this short but important battle.

In April 1945, part of the personnel of the 181st detachment, led by the commander, was transferred to the Pacific Fleet to form the 140th reconnaissance detachment of the Pacific Fleet, which was supposed to be used in the upcoming war with Japan. By May, the detachment was formed on Russky Island in the amount of 139 people and began combat training. In August 1945, the 140th reconnaissance detachment participated in the capture of the ports of Yuki and Rashin, as well as the naval bases of Seishin and Genzan. As a result of these operations, chief foreman Makar Babikov and midshipman Alexander Nikandrov of the 140th reconnaissance detachment of the Pacific Fleet became Heroes of the Soviet Union, and their commander Viktor Leonov received a second Hero star.

Nevertheless, at the end of the war, all such reconnaissance formations in the Soviet Navy were disbanded as they were supposedly unnecessary.

But soon the story turned around...

From the history of the creation of special purpose units: In 1950, separate special-purpose companies were formed in the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union in each army and military district. In Primorsky Krai, in particular, three such companies were formed: the 91st (military unit No. 51423) as part of the 5th combined arms army stationed in Ussuriysk, the 92nd (military unit No. 51447) as part of the 25th combined-arms army stationed at the Fighter Kuznetsov station and the 88th (military unit No. 51422) as part of the 37th Guards Airborne Corps stationed in Chernigovka. The special-purpose companies were tasked with searching for and destroying the most important military and civilian targets, including enemy nuclear weapons, deep behind enemy lines. The personnel of these companies were trained in military reconnaissance, mine-explosive business, and made parachute jumps. For service in such units, people were selected who, for health reasons, were fit for service in airborne troops.

The experience of the Great Patriotic War showed the indispensability of such units for decisive action on enemy communications, and in connection with the unleashing by the Americans " cold war", the need for such units became very clear. The new units showed their high efficiency already at the first exercises, and the Navy became interested in units of this kind.

Rear Admiral Leonid Konstantinovich Bekrenev, head of intelligence of the Navy, wrote in his address to the Minister of the Navy:

"... given the role of reconnaissance and sabotage units in common system reconnaissance fleets, I consider it necessary to carry out the following measures: ... create ... reconnaissance and sabotage units of military intelligence, giving them the name of separate naval reconnaissance divisions ... "

At the same time, captain of the first rank Boris Maksimovich Margolin theoretically substantiated such a decision, arguing that "... the difficulties and duration of the training of scouts - light divers make it necessary to prepare them in advance and systematic training, for which special units should be created ...".

And so, by the Directive of the Main Naval Staff of June 24, 1953, such special intelligence formations are being formed in all fleets. In total, five "reconnaissance points for special purposes" were formed - in all fleets and the Caspian flotilla.

In the Pacific Fleet, its own reconnaissance point is being created on the basis of the directive of the General Staff of the Navy No. OMU / 1 / 53060ss of March 18, 1955.

However, June 5, 1955 is considered the "Day of the unit" - the day when the unit completed its formation and became part of the fleet as a combat unit.

Holuay bay

The word "Kholuai" itself (as well as its variations "Khaluai" and "Khalulai"), according to one version, means " bad place", and although disputes on this subject are still ongoing and sinologists do not confirm such a translation, the version is considered quite plausible - especially among those who served in this bay.

In the thirties, on Russky Island (at that time, by the way, its second name was also widely practiced - Kazakevich Island, which disappeared from geographical maps only in the forties of the twentieth century) was the construction of antiamphibious defense facilities in Vladivostok. Defense facilities included coastal long-term firing points - bunkers. Some specially fortified bunkers even had their own names, for example, "Stream", "Rock", "Wave", "Bonfire" and others. All this defensive splendor was served by separate machine-gun battalions, each of which occupied its own sector of defense. In particular, the 69th separate machine-gun battalion of the Vladivostok Coastal Defense Sector of the Pacific Fleet, located in the area of Krasny Cape in Kholuai (New Dzhigit) Bay, served firing points located on Russky Island. For this battalion in 1935, a two-story barracks and headquarters, a canteen, a boiler room, warehouses and a stadium were built. Here the battalion was stationed until the forties, after which it was disbanded. The barracks were not used for a long time and began to collapse.

And in March 1955, a new military unit with very specific tasks, the secrecy of whose existence was brought to the highest limit.

In open use among the “initiates”, the unit was called the “Irtek Recreation Center” of the Main Naval Base “Vladivostok”. The unit also received the code name of military unit No. 59190 and the open name “42nd Naval Intelligence Special Purpose Point”. the people used to have a "folk" name for the unit - "Kholuai" - after the name of the bay.

So what was that part? Why is there a lot of various legends around it, both then and today, sometimes bordering on fantasy?

Birth of a legend

The formation of the 42nd Marine Special Purpose Reconnaissance Point of the Pacific Fleet began in March and ended in June 1955. During the formation of the duties of the commander, captain of the second rank Nikolai Braginsky temporarily performed, but the first approved commander of the new unit was ... no, not a scout, but the former commander of the destroyer, captain of the second rank Pyotr Kovalenko.

For several months, the unit was based on Ulysses, and the personnel lived on board the old ship, and before leaving for the permanent deployment point on Russky Island, reconnaissance sailors at the submarine training base underwent an accelerated diving training course.

Arriving at the location of the unit in Holuay Bay, the reconnaissance sailors first of all took up ... construction works, because they had to equip their housing somehow, and no one was going to help them in this matter.

On July 1, 1955, a single combat began in the unit. combat training future reconnaissance divers under the training program for special forces. A little later, the combat coordination of groups began.

In September 1955, the newly formed naval special forces took part in their first exercises - having landed on boats in the Shkotovsky region, naval reconnaissance reconnaissance of the Abrek naval base and elements of its anti-sabotage defense, as well as highways in the rear of the conditional "enemy".

Already at that time, the command of the unit came to the understanding that the selection for naval special forces should be as tough as possible, if not cruel.

Candidates for service, who were called up from the military registration and enlistment offices or transferred from the training units of the fleet, were waiting for severe trials - during the week they were subjected to extreme loads, which were reinforced by severe psychological pressure. Far from everyone survived, and those who could not stand it were immediately transferred to other parts of the fleet.

But those who survived were immediately enlisted in the elite unit and began combat training. This test week became known as "hellish". Later, when the United States created its SEAL units, they adopted our practice of selecting future fighters as the most optimal, allowing short time to understand what this or that candidate is capable of, whether he is ready to serve in parts of the naval special forces.

The meaning of this "personnel" rigidity boiled down to the fact that commanders initially had to clearly understand the abilities and capabilities of their fighters - after all, special forces operate in isolation from their troops, and a small group can only rely on themselves, and, accordingly, the importance of any team member rises many times. The commander must initially be confident in his subordinates, and subordinates in their commander. And that's the only reason "entry to the service" in this part is so strict. It shouldn't be otherwise.

Looking ahead, I’ll say that nothing has been lost today: the candidate, as before, has to go through serious trials, inaccessible for the most part even to physically well-trained people.

In particular, the candidate must first of all run ten kilometers in heavy body armor, meeting the running standard provided for running in sneakers and sportswear. If you don't fit in, no one will talk to you anymore. If you ran on time, then you immediately need to perform 70 push-ups from the lying position and 15 pull-ups on the horizontal bar. Moreover, it is desirable to perform these exercises in a "pure form". Most of the people, already at the stage of jogging in a bulletproof vest, suffocating from physical overload, begin to wonder, "do I need this happiness, if it happens every day?" This is where true motivation comes in.

If a person seeks to serve in the naval special forces, if he knows for sure what he wants, he passes this test, but if he has doubts, then it is better not to continue these torments.

At the end of the test, the candidate is placed in the ring, where three hand-to-hand combat instructors fight with him, checking the person for readiness for the fight - both physical and moral. Usually, if a candidate has reached the ring, this is already an "ideological" candidate, and the ring does not break him. Well, and then the commander, or the person replacing him, is already talking to the candidate. After that, the harsh service begins ...

There are no discounts for officers either - everyone passes the tests. The main supplier of command personnel for Kholuai are three military schools - the Pacific Naval (TOVVMU), the Far Eastern Combined Arms (DVOKU) and the Ryazan Airborne (RVVDKU), although if a person wants, then nothing prevents an officer from other schools to enter the service in the naval special forces - there would be a desire.

As told to me former officer special forces, having shown a desire to serve in this unit in front of the head of intelligence of the fleet, he immediately had to do push-ups from the floor 100 times right in the admiral's office - Rear Admiral Yuri Maksimenko (head of intelligence of the Pacific Fleet in 1982-1991), despite the fact that the officer passed Afghanistan, and was awarded two military orders. This is how the chief of intelligence of the Pacific Fleet decided to cut off the candidate if he did not complete such an elementary exercise. The officer completed the exercise.

AT different time part commanded:

Captain 1st rank Kovalenko Petr Prokopevich (1955–1959);

Captain 1st rank Guryanov Viktor Nikolaevich (1959–1961);

Captain 1st rank Petr Ivanovich Konnov (1961–1966);

Captain 1st rank Klimenko Vasily Nikiforovich (1966–1972);

Captain 1st rank Minkin Yuri Alekseevich (1972–1976);

Captain 1st rank Zharkov Anatoly Vasilyevich (1976–1981);

Captain 1st rank Yakovlev Yuri Mikhailovich (1981–1983);

Lieutenant Colonel Evsyukov Viktor Ivanovich (1983–1988);

Captain 1st rank Omsharuk Vladimir Vladimirovich (1988-1995) - died in February 2016;

Lieutenant Colonel Gritsay Vladimir Georgievich (1995–1997);

Captain 1st rank Sergey Veniaminovich Kurochkin (1997–2000);

Colonel Gubarev Oleg Mikhailovich (2000-2010);

Lieutenant Colonel Belyavsky Zaur Valerievich (2010-2013);

Let the name of today's commander remain for the time being in the coastal fog of military secrets ...

Teachings and service

In 1956, naval scouts began to master parachute jumps. Usually, the training camp took place at the airfields of naval aviation - by subordination. During the first training camp, all personnel performed two jumps from a height of 900 meters from Li-2 and An-2 aircraft, and also learned how to land "assault" from Mi-4 helicopters - both on land and on water.

A year later, naval reconnaissance officers had already mastered the landing of submarines lying on the ground through torpedo tubes, as well as returning to them after completing the task at coastal facilities of a mock enemy. Based on the results of combat training in 1958, the 42nd naval reconnaissance point became the best special unit of the Pacific Fleet and was awarded the passing pennant of the Commander of the Pacific Fleet.

In many exercises, scouts developed the necessary skills, acquired special knowledge and expressed their wishes regarding the composition of the equipment. In particular, back in the late fifties, naval intelligence officers formulated requirements for weapons - they should be light and silent (as a result, samples of special weapons appeared - small-sized silent pistols MSP, silent grenade launchers "Tishina", underwater pistols SPP-1 and submersibles APS, as well as many other special weapons). Also, the scouts wanted to have waterproof outerwear and shoes, and the eyes had to be protected from mechanical damage with special goggles (for example, four types of goggles are included in the kit today).

In 1960, the staff of the unit was increased to 146 people.

By this time, they had already decided on the specialization, which was conditionally divided into three areas:

Part of the personnel was presented reconnaissance divers who were supposed to be engaged in reconnaissance of enemy naval bases from the sea, as well as to mine ships and port facilities;

Some of the sailors were engaged conducting military intelligence- in other words, having landed from the sea, they acted on the shore as ordinary land reconnaissance;

The third direction was introduced specialists of radio and electronic intelligence- these people were engaged in conducting instrumental reconnaissance, which made it possible to quickly detect the most important objects behind enemy lines, such as field radio stations, radar stations, technical observation posts - in general, everything that emitted any signals on the air and was subject to destruction in the first place.

The naval special forces began to receive special underwater carriers - in other words, small underwater vehicles, which could deliver saboteurs over long distances. Such a carrier was the two-seat Triton, later also the two-seat Triton-1M, and even later the six-seat Triton-2 appeared. These devices allowed saboteurs to quietly penetrate directly into enemy bases, mine ships and moorings, and perform other reconnaissance tasks.

These were very secret devices, and the story was all the more "horrible" when the officer of the naval special forces, covertly escorting containers with these devices (in civilian clothes under the guise of a regular freight forwarder) suddenly heard with a tremor in his knees how a slinger was in charge of reloading a container from a railway platform on the truck, shouted loudly to the crane operator: " Petrovich, pick it up carefully, there are TRITONS here."... and only when the officer pulled himself together, stopped trembling and calmed down a little, he realized that no leak of top-secret information had occurred, and the unlucky slinger just had in mind THREE TONS of the weight of the container (that's how much "Triton-1M" weighed), and not the most secret "Tritons" that were inside ...

For reference:

"Triton" - the first carrier of open-type divers. Diving depth - up to 12 meters. Travel speed - 4 knots (7.5 km / h). Range - 30 miles (55 km).

"Triton-1M" is the first carrier of closed type divers. Weight - 3 tons. Diving depth - 32 meters. Travel speed - 4 knots. Range - 60 miles (110 km).

"Triton-2" is the first group carrier of closed type divers. Weight - 15 tons. Diving depth - 40 meters. Travel speed - 5 knots. Range - 60 miles.

Currently, these models of equipment are already outdated and withdrawn from service. All three samples were installed as monuments on the territory of the unit, and the decommissioned apparatus "Triton-2" is also presented at the street exposition of the Museum of Military Glory of the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok.

Currently, such underwater carriers are not used for a number of reasons, the main of which is the impossibility of their covert use. Today, the naval special forces are armed with more modern submarine carriers "Siren" and "Proteus" of various modifications. Both of these carriers allow covert landing of the reconnaissance group through the submarine's torpedo tube. "Siren" "carries" two saboteurs, and "Proteus" is an individual carrier.

Insolence and sport

Some of the legends about "Kholuy" are connected with the steady desire of the servicemen of this unit to improve their reconnaissance and sabotage skills at the expense of their own comrades-in-arms. At all times, "holuai" brought a lot of problems to people daily outfit serving on ships and in coastal units of the Pacific Fleet. Often there were cases of "training" abductions of orderly, duty documentation, theft of vehicles from careless military drivers. It cannot be said that the command of the unit specifically set such tasks for the scouts ... but for the successful actions of this kind, reconnaissance sailors could even receive a short vacation.

There are many fairy tales about how special forces "with one knife are thrown out in the middle of Siberia, and he must survive and return to the unit."

No, of course, no one is thrown anywhere with one knife, but during special tactical exercises, groups of intelligence officers can be thrown into other regions of the country, where they are given various training reconnaissance and sabotage tasks, after which they need to return to the unit - preferably unnoticed . At this time, the police, internal troops and state security agencies are intensively looking for them, and citizens are announced that they are looking for conditional terrorists.
In the unit itself, sports have been cultivated at all times - and therefore it should not be surprising that at present, practically at all naval competitions in power sports, martial arts, swimming and shooting, prizes are usually occupied by representatives of the "Kholuai". It should be noted that preference in sports is given not to strength, but to endurance - it is this physical skill that allows the marine scout to feel confident both on foot or ski crossings, and in long-distance swimming.

Unpretentiousness and the ability to live without frills, even gave rise to a peculiar saying on the "Kholuay":

"There is no need for something, but you can limit yourself in something."

It contains a deep meaning, which largely reflects the essence of the Russian Navy's naval intelligence officer - who, being content with little, is capable of accomplishing a lot.

Healthy spetsnaz chauvinism also gave rise to a special audacity of scouts, which became a source of special pride for the fighters of the naval special forces. This quality was especially clearly manifested during the exercises, which were and are being carried out almost constantly.

One of the admirals of the Pacific Fleet once said:

"The guys of the naval special forces were brought up in the spirit of love for the Motherland, hatred for enemies and the realization that they are the elite of the fleet. Not to feel their own superiority over others, but in the sense that they spend huge folk remedies, and their duty, in which case, to justify these costs ... ".

I remember in my deep childhood, in the mid-eighties, on the embankment near the C-56, I saw a lonely wandering sailor, who had a parachutist badge on his chest. At that time, a ferry was loading on the pier, next to Russky Island (there were no bridges then). The sailor was stopped by a patrol, and he presented his documents, gesticulating frantically, pointing with his hand at the ferry, which was already raising the ramp. But the patrol, apparently, decided to detain the sailor for some fault.

And then I saw a whole performance: the sailor sharply pulled the cap on the senior patrol over his very eyes, snatched his documents from his hands, slapped one of the patrolmen in the face, and rushed headlong to the departing ferry!

And the ferry, I must say, had already moved away from the berth by one and a half to two meters, and the sailor-paratrooper overcame this distance in a graceful jump, grabbed the rails of the ferry, and there the passengers already pulled him on board. For some reason, I have no doubts in which part that sailor served ...

Return of the legend

In 1965, twenty years after the end of World War II, Captain First Rank Viktor Leonov, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, came to the unit. Several photographs have been preserved, in which the "legend of the naval special forces" is captured with the military personnel of the unit, both with officers and sailors. Subsequently, Viktor Leonov will visit the 42nd reconnaissance point several more times, which he himself considered a worthy brainchild of his 140th reconnaissance detachment ...

In 2015, Viktor Leonov returned to the unit forever. On the day of the 60th anniversary of the formation of the reconnaissance point, a monument to the real legend of the naval special forces, Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Nikolayevich Leonov, was unveiled on the territory of the military unit in a solemn ceremony.

Combat use

In 1982, the moment came when the Motherland demanded the professional skills of naval commandos. From February 24 to April 27, a full-time special forces group performed the tasks of combat service for the first time, being on one of the ships of the Pacific Fleet.

In 1988-1989, for 130 days, a reconnaissance group equipped with Siren submarines and all the necessary combat equipment was in combat service. A small reconnaissance ship from the 38th brigade of reconnaissance ships of the Pacific Fleet delivered the Kholuayevites to the place of the combat mission. It is too early to say what these tasks were, because they are still hidden by a veil of secrecy. One thing is clear - some enemy has become very ill these days ...

In 1995, a group of servicemen of the 42nd Naval Reconnaissance Special Purpose Point took part in a military operation to restore the constitutional regime in the Chechen Republic.

The group was attached to the 165th Marine Regiment of the Pacific Fleet operating there, and, according to the opinion of the senior head of the Pacific Fleet Marine Corps group in Chechnya, Captain First Rank Sergei Kondratenko, acted brilliantly. Scouts in any critical situation kept their cool and courage. Five "holuaevites" laid down their lives in this war. Ensign Andrei Dneprovsky was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

From the award list:

"…organized the training of a freelance reconnaissance group of the battalion and skillfully acted as part of it. On February 19, 1995, in a battle in the city of Grozny, he personally saved the lives of two sailors and carried the body of the deceased sailor A. I. Pleshakov. On the night of March 20-21, 1995, while performing a combat mission to capture the height of Goyten-Kort, the reconnaissance group of A.V. Dneprovsky secretly approached the height, identified and neutralized the outposts of militants (one was killed, two were taken prisoner). Later, in the course of a short-lived battle, he personally destroyed two militants, ensuring an unhindered approach of the company to the height and the completion of a combat mission without losses.…".

On the same day, he died heroically, performing the subsequent task ... In 1996, a monument was erected on the territory of the unit to the military personnel of the unit who died in the line of military duty.

Names engraved on the monument:

Hero of Russia Ensign A. V. Dneprovskiy

Lieutenant Colonel A. V. Ilyin

Michman V. N. Vargin

Midshipman P. V. Safonov

Chief ship foreman K. N. Zheleznov

Petty officer 1 article S. N. Tarolo

Petty officer 1 article A. S. Buzko

Petty officer 2 articles V. L. Zaburdaev

Sailor V. K. Vyzhimov

Holly in our time

Today, "Kholuy" in a new guise, with a slightly changed structure and number, after a series of organizational events, continues to live its own life - in its own special, "special forces" way. Many cases of this part will never be declassified, and books will be written about some more. The names of the people who serve here today are closed to the public, and rightly so.

Naval scouts even today sacredly honor their combat traditions, and combat training does not stop even for a second. Every day, the “holuaites” are engaged in a variety of activities: they train dives (both real in the sea and in a pressure chamber), achieving the proper level of physical fitness, practice hand-to-hand combat techniques and methods of covert movement, learn to shoot from a variety of types small arms, study new technology, which is supplied to the troops in abundance today (there are even combat robots in service now) - in general, they are preparing at any moment by order of the Motherland to complete any task.

It remains only to wish our scouts to realize their combat skills only on training grounds...

is your guide to the world of scale simulation!

Yesterday, while browsing the event feed on the social network Vkontakte, I came across a photo in one of the groups called "Somewhere in the forests of Russky Island." It depicts a fighter with the flag of military unit 59190 42 OMRPSN. This rather outlandish abbreviation was left to us as a legacy from the USSR.

This part is known to all Primorye residents, and indeed to many residents of the Far East under a different name - “Kholuy”. This is part of the combat swimmers of the Pacific Fleet, working in the interests of the fleet and the GRU.

Kholuai (there are 2 more variants of the name - Khaluai / Kholulai) can be ranked among the peculiar symbols of our region. And since I am describing the memorable / military sights of the Far East, I decided that I simply have to tell you about it, dear readers and colleagues.

I myself heard this name for the first time - Kholuai (or rather, Kholulai), when I came from Sakhalin to study in Khabarovsk. The man from whom my friend and I rented an apartment for a long time once served in the Pacific Fleet. Went on long ocean voyages. Then I learned a lot of new and interesting things about Indian Ocean, Adene. I saw naval photographs of the late 70s - early 80s.

And among other things, we were then told about the top secret divisions of the Pacific Fleet combat swimmers, who also served on ships. Solving of course their specific tasks.

In general, when it comes to Kholuay, the question of extremely scarce information about life / service / training methods in parts of the naval special forces of the USSR Navy pops up. Generally about all parts. These were practically the most secret parts in the country.

And where there is no reliable information, a lot of rumors and legends arise. Yes, it's legends.

What can not be heard about the fighters of this unit, and what they did. Every "sofa expert" wants to say that he was personally acquainted or served there. He has seen everything and knows for sure.

I can say one thing. Those people who served / are serving in the MRP of the SPN are either generally silent, bypassing service issues, or are limited to general phrases about how they got there and what they did.

I know this from my own experience. Just because I once worked in a company where my senior colleague was a holula. General phrases. General words. Non-disclosure subscription. State secret.

Only one thing - these are still people of a special cut. Marine. The sea makes a person different. Gives a different attitude to life and death. Another look at many things.

Kholui lives on to this day. Part after a long half-dead state of the troubled times of the 90s again operates in full force. As they say knowledgeable people: “Going to the location will not work. Already on the outskirts - once and face to the ground ":)))

Personally, I don't have any classified information I'm not going to reveal state secrets.

I just want you, dear colleagues, to taste at least a little the feeling of the Far Eastern Primorye - a free region, with beautiful nature and wonderful people. And they knew that there is such a strange tasty word — HOLUAY behind which stands the glorious history of the Pacific Fleet.

MARINE INTELLIGENCE POINT OF SPECIAL PURPOSE

Naval reconnaissance paratrooper units (naval reconnaissance posts) were created in the early 50s in the system of naval reconnaissance.

As early as May 20, 1953, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy N. G. Kuznetsov approved the creation of special-purpose units in the fleet in the “Plan of measures to strengthen the intelligence of the Navy”. In the summer of the same year, the first naval reconnaissance point for special purposes (MRp SpN) was formed in the Black Sea Fleet, the commander of which was appointed captain of the 1st rank E. V. Yakovlev. The naval reconnaissance point was deployed in the area of the Kruglaya Bay near Sevastopol and had 72 personnel in the state. One of the types of combat training was airborne, where naval scouts mastered parachute jumps, including on water.

Experimental exercises confirmed the need to create such units in all fleets. As a result, a total of seven maritime reconnaissance posts and the 315th training detachment of light divers (military unit 20884) were formed, which trained personnel, including those for special maritime reconnaissance. The training detachment was stationed in Kyiv, and naval reconnaissance points were scattered across all fleets: two were in the Black Sea Fleet and the Baltic, one each in the North and Pacific, and one was part of the Caspian Flotilla.

The special diver parachute SVP-1 was adopted by the naval special forces, which made it possible to land a marine reconnaissance officer in full diving equipment. Scouts of the Black Sea Fleet repeatedly performed low-altitude parachute landing from a height of 60-70 m during the exercises.

According to the results of an audit conducted by the GRU commission in 1963, the combat readiness of the naval special forces turned out to be quite high. The commission came to the conclusion that all naval reconnaissance points were prepared for landing from a submarine, as well as for parachute landing on rough terrain with cargo at night. In addition, 23 reconnaissance officers of the 42nd Pacific Fleet Marines are trained to parachute into the water.

By 1963, a series of reorganizations left one naval reconnaissance point in each fleet, and in the Northern Fleet, due to difficult climatic conditions, the naval reconnaissance point was disbanded.

The composition of the special intelligence units of the USSR Navy:

17th detachment of special forces, military unit 34391, Black Sea Fleet, Ochakov, Pervomaisky Island;
42nd MrpSpN military unit 59190, Pacific Fleet, Vladivostok, Russian Island;
160th MRC Black Sea Fleet, Odessa;
420th MRPSPN military unit 40145, Northern Fleet, Severomorsk;
431st MrpSpN military unit 25117, KasFl, Baku;
457th MrpSpN military unit 10617, BF, Kaliningrad, Parusnoye settlement;
461st MrpSpN, BF, Baltiysk.

SPETSNAZ TOF KHOLUAY: 42 OMRP SN: V/Ch 59190

The legendary "secret part of Kholuy" in Vladivostok celebrates its 60th anniversary on June 5th. On this day in 1955, in accordance with the directive of the General Staff of the Navy dated March 18, 1955, with a location in Maly Uliss Bay near Vladivostok, 42 MCI Special Forces (military unit 59190) are created in the Pacific Fleet. Due to the lack of necessary premises, accommodation in the indicated place turned out to be impossible, and only in December of the same year did the personnel settle down at the point of permanent deployment on Russky Island in Kholuai Bay.

Map about. English: Sights of the island incl. and location of MRP

The history of the 42nd separate naval reconnaissance point for special purposes began on March 18, 1955. At first, he, like other parts of the special forces of the fleet, previously formed at the KBF and the Black Sea Fleet, was called the "Marine reconnaissance point." In the 1970s, naval reconnaissance points were named RPSpN, retaining the point numbers.

Chevrons and badges 42 MRP SN

The ancestor of the unit is twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Captain 1st Rank Viktor Leonov. At the end of World War II, he commanded the 140th Guards Marine Reconnaissance Detachment of the Pacific Fleet. This detachment became famous for its daring operations and rightfully bore the title of Guards.

Considering that military unit 59190 was created precisely on the basis of this detachment, the command repeatedly came up with the initiative to return the former name of the unit. The first commander of the 42nd RSPPN was Captain 2nd Rank Pyotr Kovalenko. During the founding of the 42nd MCI, Maly Uliss Bay, near Vladivostok, was assigned as the location of the unit, but there were no premises there. During 1955, the post changed its location more than once, choosing a convenient location. Only at the beginning of December 1955, the personnel of the 42nd MRP was relocated on Russky Island to Kholuai Bay - the place of permanent deployment of military unit 59190. Subsequently, the staff of the 42nd OMRPSpN changed several times.

On the day of the 60th anniversary of the "secret part of Kholuy", a monument to Viktor Leonov was opened on its territory.

Monument to twice Hero of the USSR Viktor Leonov

Also, the underwater sabotage carrier "Triton-2" is installed as a monument on the territory of the unit. Exactly the same one can be seen today in the courtyard of the KTOF Museum on Svetlanskaya Street. Midget submarines "Triton-2" were in service with the fleet from 1975 to the 1990s. They were intended for patrolling the waters of ports and raids, the delivery and evacuation of reconnaissance divers, mining moorings, enemy ships, and exploring the seabed.

Chairman of the Council of the Primorsky regional branch of the "Combat Brotherhood", a retired colonel who retired from the post of chief of staff of a marine division in 2000, Alexander Fedorov recalls with warm feelings the years spent serving in the naval special forces.

- Only healthy guys could get into the special forces for all medical indicators. In this part, there was a completely different training, special tasks were performed. Service in the naval special forces is an honorable, but hard work, which not everyone can handle, - said the reserve colonel.

The composition of the military unit 59190 included ships: MTL - marine torpedoes and five boats, and for landing in the surface version, the Kholuai naval special forces used inflatable boats SML-8.

The combat service of the Kholuai fighters of the Pacific Fleet special forces takes place on the ships of the Pacific Fleet. The presence of the 42nd OMRPSPN with all the necessary equipment and weapons on board the ship meant that the Kholuy naval special forces were ready to land in the area of special events or in the reconnaissance area at any time. Groups of the 42nd OMRPSpN also carry out combat service on submarines. Such business trips last about two months. The combat service of the naval special forces Kholuy on surface ships lasts up to six months.

- I would love to return to those days, if only because then I was young. Despite the status of the special forces, we, like all the military, had leave. It was impossible to sit “behind the wire” all the time! Still, youth, girls, - nostalgic Alexander Fedorov.

The reserve colonel noted that the scouts of the 42nd OMRPSpN fought in the first Chechen campaign. A group of 10 people of the Kholuai naval special forces acted successfully, but 3 of them died. All members of the Kholuai group of the Pacific Fleet special forces were awarded by the Russian Federation. Ensign Andrey Dneprovsky and senior lieutenant Sergey Firsov were awarded the title of Hero of Russia (posthumously).

During its existence, underwater reconnaissance saboteurs also performed combat missions near Persian Gulf, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Writer, journalist Alexey Sukonkin in 1993-94 he served in the special forces unit of the ground forces, but from time to time a part of them also visited the naval special forces.

- In the 90s there, as in the entire army, there was devastation and collapse. Little attention was paid to the army and navy, so people there were engaged in survival, there was no time for combat training,” said Alexei Sukonkin.

He noted that today everything is different. Some thrive, not survive.

People who meet the requirements for service in the airborne troops go to serve in the naval special forces. Service life is standard: conscripts - one year, contractors - 3 and 5 years, - said Alexei Sukonkin.

The unit still remains one of the most secret divisions of the Pacific Fleet and is rightfully considered elite in terms of the level of combat training of personnel.

The special forces of the Pacific Fleet are aimed at solving problems on the most important island and coastal targets of the enemy, for which they are armed with underwater delivery vehicles, special weapons and combat robots. But the most important thing is people - trained, motivated, capable of the impossible.

HOLY: WHAT IS THIS?

On Russky Island, the only Chinese toponym has been preserved - Kholuai Bay (Se-Khuluai). The bay with a beautiful and rare name for Russian-island toponymy Kholuai is translated from Chinese as “a coast in the form of a gourd”. "

Kholuai" - formed by three components: "hu" - a capsule (jug), "lu" - reeds, "ai" - coast, edge, edge of the mountain. During the Soviet period, the military topographic maps a new Russian interpretation of it began to appear - "Island".

However, the new name did not take root well, so for everyone who knew Kholuai Bay, it is still called that way.

VIDEO

SOURCES

AFTERWORD

After this article came out, I received a letter in the mail from a person who offered to supplement this material with Andrey Zagortsev's book Sailor Special Forces. The author is a fairly well-known military writer who served in military service in Kholuay and fought in Chechnya. After he returned to 42 MRP as a lieutenant.

The book is truly interesting. She is wonderful in her plain language, lots of details. For me personally, it very much resembles the work of Andrei Ilyin, whom I respect very much.

Anyone who wants to feel the whole point of the service of a diver - scout - must read.

The secret unit "Kholuy" of the Pacific Fleet, also known as 42 MCI Special Forces (military unit 59190), was created in 1955 in Maly Uliss Bay near Vladivostok, later relocated to Russky Island, where scouts-saboteurs are still undergoing combat training. There are many legends about these guys, their physical training is admired, they are called the best of the best, the cream of special forces. Each of them could become the main character of an action movie. Today RIA PrimaMedia publishes material military historian and journalist Alexei Sukonkin about the legendary part of "holuai". In 1993-94, he served in the special forces unit of the ground forces, but from time to time their part was also in the naval special forces.

Foreword

“Suddenly for the enemy, we landed at a Japanese airfield and entered into negotiations. After that, we, ten people, were taken by the Japanese to the headquarters of the colonel, the commander of the aviation unit, who wanted to make hostages out of us. I joined the conversation when I felt that with us, the representative of the Soviet command, captain 3rd rank Kulebyakin, as they say, "pushed up against the wall." Looking into the eyes of the Japanese, I said that we had fought the entire war in the west and had enough experience to assess the situation, that we would not be hostages "But we'd rather die, but we'll die together with everyone at headquarters. The difference is, I added, that you'll die like rats, and we'll try to get out of here. Hero of the Soviet Union Mitya Sokolov immediately stood behind the Japanese colonel. Hero of the Soviet Union Andrei Pshenichnykh locked the door with a key, put the key in his pocket and sat down on a chair, and Volodya Olyashev (honored master of sports after the war) lifted Andrei together with the chair and placed him straight in front of d Japanese commander. Ivan Guzenkov went up to the window and reported that we were not high, and Hero of the Soviet Union Semyon Agafonov, standing at the door, began tossing an anti-tank grenade in his hand. The Japanese, however, did not know that there was no fuse in it. The colonel, forgetting about the handkerchief, began to wipe the sweat from his forehead with his hand and after a while signed the act of surrender of the entire garrison.

Victor Leonov and comrades after the battle for Seishin. Photo: from the archive of the Red Star

origins

And it all started during the Great Patriotic War. Then the 181st reconnaissance detachment successfully operated in the Northern Fleet, performing various special operations in the rear of enemy troops. The crowning achievement of this detachment was the capture of two coastal batteries at Cape Krestovoy (which blocked the entrance to the bay and could easily defeat the landing convoy) in preparation for the landing in the port of Liinakhamari (Murmansk region - ed.). This, in turn, ensured the success of the Petsamo-Kirkenes landing operation, which became the key to success in the liberation of the entire Soviet Arctic. It is even hard to imagine that a detachment of several dozen people, having captured only a few guns of German coastal batteries, actually ensured victory in the entire strategic operation, but, nevertheless, this is so - for this reason, the reconnaissance detachment was created in order to sting the enemy with small forces in the weakest spot...

Twice Hero of the USSR Viktor Leonov. Photo: wikipedia.org

Nevertheless, at the end of the war, all such reconnaissance formations in the Soviet Navy were disbanded as they were supposedly unnecessary.

But soon the story turned around...

From the history of the creation of special purpose units: In 1950, separate special-purpose companies were formed in the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union in each army and military district. In Primorsky Krai, in particular, three such companies were formed: the 91st (military unit No. 51423) as part of the 5th combined arms army stationed in Ussuriysk, the 92nd (military unit No. 51447) as part of the 25th combined-arms army stationed at the Fighter Kuznetsov station and the 88th (military unit No. 51422) as part of the 37th Guards Airborne Corps stationed in Chernigovka. The special-purpose companies were tasked with searching for and destroying the most important military and civilian targets, including enemy nuclear weapons, deep behind enemy lines. The personnel of these companies were trained in military reconnaissance, mine-explosive business, and made parachute jumps. For service in such units, people were selected who, for health reasons, were fit for service in the airborne troops.

The experience of the Great Patriotic War showed the indispensability of such units for decisive action on enemy communications, and in connection with the unleashing of the Cold War by the Americans, the need for such units became very clear. The new units showed their high efficiency already at the first exercises, and the Navy became interested in units of this kind.

Rear Admiral Leonid Konstantinovich Bekrenev, head of intelligence of the Navy, wrote in his address to the Minister of the Navy:

"... given the role of reconnaissance and sabotage units in the general system of reconnaissance of fleets, I consider it necessary to carry out the following measures: ... to create ... reconnaissance and sabotage units of military intelligence, giving them the name of separate naval reconnaissance divisions ..."

At the same time, Captain First Rank Boris Maksimovich Margolin theoretically substantiated such a decision, arguing that "... the difficulties and duration of the training of reconnaissance - light divers makes it necessary to prepare them in advance and systematic training, for which special units should be created ...".

Descent under water. Photo: from the archive of Igor Dulnev

In the Pacific Fleet, its own reconnaissance point is being created on the basis of the directive of the General Staff of the Navy No. OMU / 1 / 53060ss of March 18, 1955.

However, June 5, 1955 is considered the "Day of the unit" - the day when the unit completed its formation and became part of the fleet as a combat unit.

Holuay bay

The word "Kholuai" itself (as well as its variations "Khaluai" and "Khalulai"), according to one version, means "dead place", and although disputes on this subject are still ongoing and sinologists do not confirm such a translation, the version is considered quite plausible - especially among those who served in this bay.

In the thirties, on Russky Island (at that time, by the way, its second name, Kazakevich Island, which disappeared from geographical maps only in the forties of the twentieth century, was also widely practiced), the construction of antiamphibious defense facilities for Vladivostok was underway. Defense objects included coastal long-term firing points - bunkers. Some specially fortified bunkers even had their own names, for example, "Stream", "Rock", "Wave", "Bonfire" and others. All this defensive splendor was served by separate machine-gun battalions, each of which occupied its own sector of defense. In particular, the 69th separate machine-gun battalion of the Vladivostok Coastal Defense Sector of the Pacific Fleet, located in the area of Krasny Cape in Kholuai (New Dzhigit) Bay, served firing points located on Russky Island. For this battalion in 1935, a two-story barracks and headquarters, a canteen, a boiler room, warehouses and a stadium were built. Here the battalion was stationed until the forties, after which it was disbanded. The barracks were not used for a long time and began to collapse.

The first deputy head of the GRU, Colonel General I. Ya. Sidorov, receives a report from the commander of the special forces group. Photo: from the archive of V. M. Fedorov

And in March 1955, a new military unit with very specific tasks was settled here, the secrecy of whose existence was brought to the highest limit.

In open use among the “initiates”, the unit was called the “Irtek Recreation Center” of the Main Naval Base “Vladivostok”. The unit also received the code name of military unit No. 59190 and the open name “42nd Naval Intelligence Special Purpose Point”. the people used to have a "popular" name for the unit - "Kholuai" - after the name of the bay.

So what was that part? Why is there a lot of various legends around it, both then and today, sometimes bordering on fantasy?

Birth of a legend

Arriving at the location of the unit in Holuay Bay, the reconnaissance sailors first of all took up ... construction work, because they had to somehow equip their housing, and no one was going to help them in this matter.

On July 1, 1955, the single combat training of future reconnaissance divers began in the unit under the training program for special forces units. A little later, the combat coordination of groups began.

Special Purpose Group. Photo: from the archive of Igor Dulnev

Already at that time, the command of the unit came to the understanding that the selection for naval special forces should be as tough as possible, if not cruel.

Serious trials awaited candidates for the service, who were called up from military registration and enlistment offices or transferred from the training units of the fleet - during the week they were subjected to extreme loads, which were reinforced by severe psychological pressure. Far from everyone survived, and those who could not stand it were immediately transferred to other parts of the fleet.

But those who survived were immediately enlisted in the elite unit and began combat training. This test week became known as "hellish". Later, when the United States created its SEAL units, they adopted our practice of selecting future fighters as the most optimal, allowing us to quickly understand what this or that candidate is capable of, whether he is ready to serve in parts of the naval special forces.

The meaning of this "personnel" rigidity boiled down to the fact that commanders initially had to clearly understand the abilities and capabilities of their fighters - after all, special forces operate in isolation from their troops, and a small group can only rely on themselves, and, accordingly, the importance of any team member rises many times. The commander must initially be confident in his subordinates, and the subordinates in their commander. And that's the only reason "entry to the service" in this part is so strict. It shouldn't be otherwise.

***

Looking ahead, I will say that nothing has been lost today: the candidate, as before, will have to go through serious trials that are inaccessible to most even physically well-trained people.

Marine scouts with American weapons. Photo: from the archive of Igor Dulnev

If a person seeks to serve in the naval special forces, if he knows for sure what he wants, he passes this test, but if he has doubts, then it is better not to continue these torments.

***

As a former special forces officer told me, having expressed a desire to serve in this unit in front of the head of intelligence of the fleet, he immediately had to do push-ups from the floor 100 times right in the admiral's office - Rear Admiral Yuri Maksimenko (head of intelligence of the Pacific Fleet in 1982-1991), despite the fact that the officer went through Afghanistan, and was awarded two military orders. This is how the chief of intelligence of the Pacific Fleet decided to cut off the candidate if he did not complete such an elementary exercise. The officer completed the exercise.

A special purpose group performs a task in Kamchatka, 1989. Photo: from the archive of Igor Dulnev

At various times, the unit was commanded by:

Captain 1st rank Kovalenko Petr Prokopevich (1955-1959);

Captain 1st rank Guryanov Viktor Nikolaevich (1959-1961);

Captain 1st rank Petr Ivanovich Konnov (1961-1966);

Captain 1st rank Klimenko Vasily Nikiforovich (1966-1972);

Captain 1st rank Minkin Yuri Alekseevich (1972-1976);

Captain 1st rank Zharkov Anatoly Vasilyevich (1976-1981);

Captain 1st rank Yakovlev Yuri Mikhailovich (1981-1983);

Lieutenant Colonel Evsyukov Viktor Ivanovich (1983-1988);

Captain 1st rank Omsharuk Vladimir Vladimirovich (1988-1995) - died in February 2016;

Lieutenant Colonel Gritsay Vladimir Georgievich (1995-1997);

Captain 1st rank Sergey Veniaminovich Kurochkin (1997-2000);

Colonel Gubarev Oleg Mikhailovich (2000---2010);

Lieutenant Colonel Belyavsky Zaur Valerievich (2010-2013);

Let the names of today's commanders remain for the time being in the coastal fog of military secrets ...

Teachings and service

In many exercises, scouts developed the necessary skills, acquired special knowledge and expressed their wishes regarding the composition of the equipment. In particular, back in the late fifties, naval reconnaissance officers formulated requirements for weapons - they should be light and silent (as a result, samples of special weapons appeared - small-sized silent pistols SMEs, silent grenade launchers "Tishina", underwater pistols SPP-1 and underwater automatic weapons APS, as well as many other special weapons). Also, the scouts wanted to have waterproof outerwear and shoes, and the eyes had to be protected from mechanical damage with special goggles (for example, four types of goggles are included in the kit today).

In 1960, the staff of the unit was increased to 146 people.

By this time, they had already decided on the specialization, which was conditionally divided into three areas:

- part of the personnel was presented reconnaissance divers who were supposed to be engaged in reconnaissance of enemy naval bases from the sea, as well as to mine ships and port facilities;

- part of the sailors was engaged conducting military intelligence- in other words, having landed from the sea, they acted on the shore as ordinary land reconnaissance;

- the third direction was presented specialists of radio and electronic intelligence- these people were engaged in conducting instrumental reconnaissance, which made it possible to quickly detect the most important objects behind enemy lines, such as field radio stations, radar stations, technical observation posts - in general, everything that emitted any signals on the air and was subject to destruction in the first turn.

Special underwater carriers began to enter the naval special forces - in other words, small underwater vehicles that could deliver saboteurs over long distances. Such a carrier was the two-seat Triton, later also the two-seat Triton-1M, and even later the six-seat Triton-2 appeared. These devices allowed saboteurs to quietly penetrate directly into enemy bases, mine ships and moorings, and perform other reconnaissance tasks.

These were very secret devices, and the story was all the more "horrible" when the officer of the naval special forces, covertly escorting containers with these devices (in civilian clothes under the guise of a regular freight forwarder) suddenly heard with a tremor in his knees how a slinger was in charge of reloading a container from a railway platform on the truck, shouted loudly to the crane operator: " Petrovich, pick it up carefully, there are TRITONS here."... and only when the officer pulled himself together, stopped trembling and calmed down a little, he realized that no leak of top-secret information had occurred, and the unlucky slinger just had in mind THREE TONS of the weight of the container (that's how much "Triton-1M" weighed), and not the most secret "Tritons" that were inside ...

For reference:

"Triton" - the first carrier of open-type divers. Diving depth - up to 12 meters. Travel speed - 4 knots (7.5 km / h). Range - 30 miles (55 km).

"Triton-1M" is the first carrier of closed type divers. Weight - 3 tons. Diving depth - 32 meters. Travel speed - 4 knots. Range - 60 miles (110 km).

"Triton-2" is the first group carrier of closed-type divers. Weight - 15 tons. Diving depth - 40 meters. Travel speed - 5 knots. Range - 60 miles.

Insolence and sport

Some of the legends about "Kholuy" are connected with the steady desire of the servicemen of this unit to improve their reconnaissance and sabotage skills at the expense of their own comrades-in-arms. At all times, the "holuai" brought a lot of problems to the daily duty personnel serving on ships and in the coastal units of the Pacific Fleet. Often there were cases of "training" abductions of orderly, duty documentation, theft of vehicles from careless military drivers. It cannot be said that the command of the unit specifically set such tasks for the scouts ... but for the successful actions of this kind, reconnaissance sailors could even receive a short vacation.

There are many fairy tales about how special forces "with one knife are thrown out in the middle of Siberia, and he must survive and return to the unit."

In the unit itself, sports have been cultivated at all times - and therefore it is not surprising that at present, practically at all naval competitions in power sports, martial arts, swimming and shooting, prizes are usually occupied by representatives of the "Kholuai". It should be noted that preference in sports is given not to strength, but to endurance - it is this physical skill that allows the marine scout to feel confident both on foot or ski crossings, and in long-distance swimming.

Unpretentiousness and the ability to live without frills even gave rise to a peculiar saying on the "Kholuay":

"There is no need for something, but you can limit yourself in something."

It contains a deep meaning, which largely reflects the essence of the Russian Navy's naval intelligence officer - who, being content with little, is able to accomplish a lot.

Healthy spetsnaz chauvinism also gave rise to a special audacity of scouts, which became the pride of the fighters of the naval special forces. This quality was especially clearly manifested during the exercises, which were and are being carried out almost constantly.

One of the admirals of the Pacific Fleet once said:

"The guys of the naval special forces were brought up in the spirit of love for the Motherland, hatred for enemies and the realization that they are the elite of the fleet. Not to feel their own superiority over others, but in the sense that huge public funds are spent on them, and their duty, in if anything, justify these costs ... ".

I remember, in my deep childhood, in the mid-eighties, on the embankment near S-56, I saw a sailor wandering alone, who had a paratrooper badge on his chest. At that time, a ferry was loading on the pier, next to Russky Island (there were no bridges then). The sailor was stopped by a patrol, and he presented his documents, gesticulating frantically, pointing with his hand at the ferry, which was already raising the ramp. But the patrol, apparently, decided to detain the sailor for some fault.

Return of the legend

Leonov arrived at the Naval Special Forces unit, 1965. Photo: from the archive of V. M. Fedorov

In 2015, Viktor Leonov returned to the unit forever. On the day of the 60th anniversary of the formation of the reconnaissance point on the territory of the military unit, a monument to the real legend of the naval special forces, Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Nikolayevich Leonov, was unveiled in a solemn atmosphere.

Monument to Leonov. Photo: Sergey Lanin, RIA PrimaMedia

Combat use

In 1988 - 1989, for 130 days, a reconnaissance group equipped with Siren submarines and all the necessary combat equipment was in combat service. A small reconnaissance ship from the 38th brigade of reconnaissance ships of the Pacific Fleet delivered the Kholuayevites to the place of the combat mission. It is too early to say what these tasks were, because they are still hidden by a veil of secrecy. One thing is clear - some enemy has become very ill these days ...

In 1995, a group of servicemen of the 42nd Naval Reconnaissance Special Purpose Point took part in a military operation to restore the constitutional regime in the Chechen Republic.

The group was attached to the 165th Marine Regiment of the Pacific Fleet operating there and, according to the opinion of the senior head of the Pacific Fleet Marine Corps group in Chechnya, Colonel Sergei Kondratenko, acted brilliantly. Scouts in any critical situation kept their cool and courage. Five "holuaevites" laid down their lives in this war. Ensign Andrei Dneprovsky was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

From the award list:

"… organized the training of a freelance reconnaissance group of the battalion and skillfully acted as part of it. On February 19, 1995, in a battle in the city of Grozny, he personally saved the lives of two sailors and carried the body of the deceased sailor A. I. Pleshakov. On the night of March 20-21, 1995, while performing a combat mission to capture the height of Goyten-Kort, the reconnaissance group of A.V. Dneprovsky secretly approached the height, identified and neutralized the outposts of militants (one was killed, two were taken prisoner). Later, in the course of a short-lived battle, he personally destroyed two militants, ensuring an unhindered approach of the company to the height and the completion of a combat mission without losses. …".

Names engraved on the monument :

Hero of Russia Ensign A. V. Dneprovskiy

Lieutenant Colonel A. V. Ilyin

Michman V. N. Vargin

Midshipman P. V. Safonov

Chief ship foreman K. N. Zheleznov

Petty officer 1 article S. N. Tarolo

Petty officer 1 article A. S. Buzko

Petty officer 2 articles V. L. Zaburdaev

Sailor V. K. Vyzhimov

Holly in our time

Service in the Naval Special Forces is the business of real men! Photo: Alexey Sukonkin

Naval scouts even today sacredly honor their combat traditions, and combat training does not stop even for a second. Every day, the “holuaevs” are engaged in a variety of activities: they train dives (both real in the sea and in a pressure chamber), achieving the proper level of physical fitness, practice hand-to-hand combat techniques and methods of covert movement, learn to shoot from a variety of types of small arms, study new equipment , which is supplied to the troops in abundance today (there are even combat robots in service now) - in general, they are preparing at any moment by order of the Motherland to complete any assigned task.

It remains only to wish our scouts to realize their combat skills only on training grounds...