A day with the Russian 16th Special Forces Brigade

Let’s visit the 16th special forces brigade. Get to know the army life. Have you ever been to the firing ground? We offer you to see how the soldiers of the 16th special forces brigade do their business. Specially for this day, officers arranged a demonstration available to everyone.

The brigade was formed on January 2, 1963 and on April 29, 1969 it was given the Military Banner.

March, 1985 – August, 1988 – a detachment was carrying out missions in Afghanistan.28.09 – 30.11.1992 – 2 deteachments were sent to Tajikistan.


13.01 – 02.05.1995 – special missions in Chechnya.


14.08.1999 – September, 2006 – an independent detachment took part in counter-terrorist operation on the territory of Ciscaucasia. 4 officers were bestowed a title of Hero of Russia.


October, 2001 – May, 2002 – peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.


In 2003 the brigade was dislocated from Chychkovo (Ryazan region) to Tambov.In 2005 and 2006 military delegations from Belarus, Vietnam and Jordan visited the brigade. The brigade also took part in tactical exercises in Jordan.August, 2008 – October, 2009 – peacekeeping operations in Georgia and North Abkhazia.149 soldiers of the brigade were killed in all including 49 in Afghanistan, 50 in the 1st Chechen war and 52 in the 2nd Chechen war.

We could observe a demonstration of the battle consisting of several stages – moving-out, detection, destruction of the enemy and falling back under the lee of friendly fire.

The battle took place at the firing ground Trigulyay. The soldiers used live ammunition so we couldn’t take pictures too close.

All the snipers hold contracts. They earn 30 000 rubles (1000 USD) per month.

Usually they use Dragunov sniper rifle. Reconnaissance snipers are given VSS Vintorez. And the best of the best snipers use foreign rifles

Sako TRG-42

H-S Precision carabine

SSG04 rifle

Russian backsight 1P59 “Gimeron” on Dragunov sniper rifle

Snipers are given anemometers, pocket weather trackers, night vision equipment, range finders amd other devices.

Night vision.

PVS-14

Vector binocular

Second sniper use this tool to observe and correct the shooting.

Assault rifle AN-94 “Abakan”

Assault rifle AS “Val”

Heavy machine gun NSV “Ytes”

One of the snipers

In 2006 old cars were substituted for armoured Urals.

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