Russia consists of regiments, separate brigades and four divisions. These military formations are deployed in Pskov, Ivanovo, Novorossiysk and Tula. According to experts, 106 Tula airborne division rightfully considered legendary. The connection has a rich history, which with its origins dates back to the times of the Great Patriotic War. Information on the creation, composition and tasks of the 106th Airborne Division can be found in this article.

Acquaintance with the military formation

The Tula Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 106 Airborne Division is a unit of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, and later - Russia. Parts are deployed in Tula, Naro-Fominsk and Ryazan. April 26 is the day of the 106th Airborne Division. The military unit is conventionally referred to as military unit 55599. Its headquarters is in the city of Tula.

Address 106 Airborne Division

Those who want to meet directly with the deputy commander of the regiment in charge of personnel should contact the headquarters of the division of military unit 55599. It is located on Svobody Street, 52 in Tula. The address of the 51st regiment of the 106th airborne division is st. Komsomolskaya, 190. Military unit 33842 is stationed here. The oath is also taken here. Anyone who wants to attend the celebration should arrive at this address. The 106th Airborne Division was created in 1943. In the following decades, the connection was repeatedly reformed. About the history of the creation of the airborne division No. 106 later in the article.

The beginning of the creation of a military unit

In June 1943, the 7th and 17th Airborne Guards Brigades were formed. There were 5,800 soldiers in the state. These formations were assigned to the Moscow Military District (VO). At the end of 1943, the district was replenished with the guards airborne brigades No. 4 and 7, which had previously been deployed on the Ukrainian front. 1944 was the year of the formation in the city of Stupino of the 16th Guards Airborne Division with a strength of 12,000 servicemen. At its core were separate brigades No. 4, 7 and 17. The staff consisted of Komsomol members and cadets-graduates of military schools, as well as officers, for the most part with rich combat experience.

The division used the latest weapons and equipment, including vehicles with high cross-country ability. In 1944, the 16th Guards Airborne Division was relocated to the Mogilev region in the city of Starye Dorogi. In August of the same year, it was supplemented by the newly formed 38th Guards Airborne Corps, which was soon reinforced by the Separate Guards Airborne Army. In December, this military formation was reorganized into the 9th Guards Army, and the 38th Corps was renamed the Guards Rifle Corps. After Order No. 0047 issued by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the 16th Guards Airborne Division is listed as the 106th Guards Rifle Division, assigned to the 38th Guards Rifle Corps.

Further reforms

At the end of the Great Patriotic War, the military command of the Soviet Union considered it necessary to conduct planned combat training in the Airborne Forces of the Red Army. In 1946, all formations of the 106th division were returned back to the USSR. In accordance with Decree No. 1154474 issued by the Council of Ministers, the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the Red Banner Order of Kutuzov was reorganized into the 106th Guards Airborne Division. In July, the city of Tula became the place of deployment. The division reinforced the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps with headquarters in Tula.

In 1947, the Airborne Division was awarded the Guards Battle Banner. In 1948, the 38th Vienna Corps, together with the 106th division, became part of the USSR Airborne Forces Army. In 1953, this military unit was disbanded. In 1956, the same fate awaited the Vienna Corps.

Since that time, the division has been directly subordinate to the commander of the Airborne Forces. The state is represented by three regiments, each of which has its own battalion. Additionally, the 137th Guards was included in the 106th division. parachute regiment, formerly part of the 11th airborne division. The regiment was stationed in Ryazan. In March 1960, the Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union signed a Directive, according to which the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment (PAP) was transferred from the 106th Division to the 105th Guards Vienna Red Banner Division. The 105th Airborne Division itself was transferred to the Uzbek SSR in the city of Fergana. This military formation is listed behind the Turkestan military district.

About division names

From its inception to the present day, the 106th Airborne Division had several full names. The formations were called:

• 16th Guards Airborne Division (since January 1944);
• 106th Guards Rifle Division (since December 1944);
• 106th Guards Rifle Division of the Order of Kutuzov (since April 1945);
• 106th Guards Red Banner Rifle Division (at the end of the Great Patriotic War);
• 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Division, Order of Kutuzov (since June 1946);
• 106th Guards Airborne Tula Red Banner Division, Order of Kutuzov (since August 2015).

About purpose

Being an effective tool offensive wars, perform the following tasks:

• operate behind enemy lines;
• make deep raids;
• by means of parachute and landing landing, they seize strategically important and control objects of the enemy, bridgeheads and enemy communications;
• carry out sabotage.

Composition of the 106th Airborne Division

Since 2017, the airborne division has been completed with the following military formations.

• Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Suvorov Regiment No. 51. The regiment of the 106th Airborne Division is stationed in the city of Tula.
• 137th Guards Airborne Regiment of the Order of the Red Star (Ryazan military unit 41450).
• 1182 Guards Artillery Novgorod Red Banner Regiment of the Orders of Kutuzov, Suvorov, Alexander Nevsky and Bogdan Khmelnitsky (military unit 93723 in Naro-Fominsk).
• First Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (military unit 71298 in Naro-Fominsk).
• A separate tank company in Tula.
• 173rd Separate Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (military unit 54392 in Tula).
• 388th Separate Guards Engineer Battalion (military unit 12159 in Tula).
• 731st Separate Guards Communications Battalion. Soldiers serve in the Tula military unit No. 93687.
• A separate EW company in Tula.
• Separate battalion 1060, engaged in material support. The service is carried out in military unit No. 14403 in Slobodka.
• Separate airmobile medical detachment No. 39. (military unit 52296 in Tula).
• 970th separate company responsible for landing support. Conditionally listed as military unit 64024. Stationed in Tula.
• 1883rd courier-postal communication station. (Tula Military Unit № 54235).

About command

From 1991 to the present day, the leadership of the military formation was carried out by officers:

• Major General Kolmakov A.P. (commander of the airborne division from 1991 to 1993);
• from 1993 to 2004, Major General E. Yu. Savilov;
• from 2004 to 2007, Major General A. N. Serdyukov;
• in 2007, Major General E. A. Ustinov;
• Guards Major General Vyaznikov A. Yu. (2007-2010);
• Guards Colonel Naumts A. V. (2010);
• Guards Colonel Anashkin G. V. (from 2010 to 2011);
• from 2011 to 2013, Major General V. A. Kochetkov;
• from 2013 to 2015 - Major General Glushenkov D.V.

From 2015 to the present, the commander of the 106th Airborne Division - Kirsi P. V. in the rank of Major General of the Guard.

The result of the activities of the military unit

At the end of the Great Patriotic War, military experts calculated that the guards destroyed and captured 64 thousand German soldiers and officers, 316 self-propelled artillery installations and tanks, 971 different-caliber guns, 6,371 military vehicles, 3,600 railway cars and 29 aircraft. In addition, it was destroyed great amount ammunition depots and military equipment. The servicemen of the division covered over 6 thousand km.

About awards

Government awards were received by 7,401 servicemen of the 106th division. According to experts, some soldiers and officers were awarded several awards for their courage during the hostilities. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was received by N. S. Rybakov (guard foreman), V. T. Polyakov (guards junior lieutenant) and V. P. Selishchev (guards senior lieutenant).

On the military reform of 2008-2009

After the collapse of the Soviet Union until 2005, the division included the Guards Parachute Regiment No. 119, which was considered one of the best in the unit. According to experts, it was the most combat-ready unit in the division. The fighters of this regiment were attracted to perform the most responsible and complex tasks. Seventeen of her soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of Russia. In 2008, the Russian army command planned to disband the division, and equip other divisions with the remaining formations. However, this decision was cancelled. In August 2015, the President of Russia signed a decree, according to which the 106th division was given the name "Tula".

About combat use

Servicemen of regiment 51, 106 of the airborne division (Tula) participated in combat operations in Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Unlike many similar military formations, division No. 106 never changed its point of deployment.

In the city of Tula, the connection has been listed since 1946. In 1967, an armed conflict began between and the SRV. The command of the USSR was forced to transfer the 137th Airborne Regiment of the Guards Division to Transbaikalia. When Chinese troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, the Soviet command decided to conduct regimental exercises in Mongolia. The landing took place near the Chinese border from two aircraft. Due to strong winds, three soldiers were killed. Many soldiers escaped with various injuries and fractures. 50 people needed urgent hospitalization. As a result, the Soviet command was forced to stop the exercises.

In 1967, as a result of a coup in Athens, the "black colonels" G. Papodopouls came to power. A new anti-communist military regime was approved in Greece. In order to protect the socialist People's Republic of Bulgaria from possible aggression from Greece, the Soviet military command held joint military exercises in the Black Sea, which are known in history as Operation Rhodopi.

In February 1988, the soldiers of the regiment under the command of Colonel V. Khatskevich were sent to the airfield near the city of Baku. At that time, Armenian pogroms began to gain momentum there. The task of the military personnel of the airborne division was to restore order in the city.

In addition, this military unit was involved in the First and Second Chechen wars. In April 2000, near the settlement of Serzhen-Yurt, soldiers of the division were ambushed by Chechen fighters led by commanders Abu al-Walid and Abu Jafar. According to experts, despite the tragic events that took place in the history of the guards airborne regiment, the formation Chechen war passed with dignity.

The 106th division was not sent to Afghanistan, but more than half of the officers and ensigns were there. The division also performed combat missions, namely, suppressing anti-Soviet speeches and restoring order in the territory of the Transcaucasus and North Asia. After the collapse of the USSR, the unit had to operate in Kabul and Transnistria.

The solemn event dedicated to the assignment of the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division of the honorary name "Tula" took place on the Victory Square of the hero city of Tula on September 11. This was reported to a REGNUM correspondent by the press service of the government. Tula region.

The celebrations were attended by Governor of the Tula Region Vladimir Gruzdev, First Deputy Governor of the Tula Region - Chairman of the Government of the Tula Region Yuri Andrianov, Federal Inspector in the Tula Region Anatoly Simonov, Chairman of the Tula Regional Duma Sergey Kharitonov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces Andrey Kholzakov, commander of the 106th Guards. Airborne Division Pavel Kirsi, head of Tula Yuri Tskipuri, head of the administration of Tula Yevgeny Avilov, war and labor veterans, residents of the city.

The ceremony was opened by Deputy Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, Lieutenant General Andrey Kholzakov. He read out the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on awarding the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division with the honorary name "Tula", which reads in particular: "For mass heroism and courage, fortitude and courage shown by the personnel of the division in combat operations to protect Motherland and state interests in armed conflicts, and taking into account its merits in peacetime, I decide: to assign the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division the honorary name "Tula" and continue to call it: 106th Guards Airborne Tula Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division " .

The formation of the 106th Guards Airborne Division of the Red Banner Order of Kutuzov was formed in 1944, since then the traditions have been preserved and multiplied by all subsequent generations of guards paratroopers, making a worthy contribution to maintaining the defense capability of the Armed Forces. The personnel of the division participated in all wars and military conflicts, performing combat missions, both on the territory of our country and abroad. Governor Vladimir Gruzdev noted that the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to give the division the name "Tula" is a historic event for the region.

“For most of its journey, the division is located on the territory of the hero city of Tula. We, Tula residents, are proud of the fact that the 106th Airborne Division is deployed on the heroic Tula land,” Vladimir Gruzdev emphasized. The head of the region wished the servicemen a peaceful sky and success in their service.

Andrey Kholzakov, Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation, also on behalf of the Commander of the Military Council, congratulated the division on the assignment of the name "Tula". “All personnel will have to prove that they rightfully bear this honorary title. The command sees you as one of the best reunions, which will achieve the highest success, ”the lieutenant general addressed the servicemen.

The participants of the ceremony were also addressed by the commander of the 106th Guards. Airborne Division Pavel Kirsi, veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Then the participants of the event laid fresh flowers at the Eternal Flame and honored the memory of the fallen on the battlefields with a moment of silence. The personnel of the guard of honor company of the division proceeded solemn march. The ceremony ended with photographing with a banner as a keepsake.

Then, demonstration performances by servicemen of the reconnaissance company of the 106th Guards Airborne Division took place at the Klokovo airfield. special training. The celebrations were attended by Vladimir Gruzdev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, Advisor-mentor to the Government of the Tula Region, President of the Association of Polar Explorers International Public Organization Artur Chilingarov, Chairman of the Tula Regional Duma Sergey Kharitonov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces Andrey Kholzakov, Commander 106 Guards Airborne Division Pavel Kirsi, head of the Tula Defense Ministry Yuri Tskipuri, veterans of war and labor, residents of the city. The paratroopers demonstrated hand-to-hand combat techniques, the descent of servicemen from two MI-8 helicopters on ropes, and the conditional destruction of the enemy. In addition, 20 military paratroopers of the 309th Airborne Forces Center for Paratroopers landed from a height of 1.5 thousand meters. Vladimir Gruzdev and Andrey Kholzakov congratulated the skydivers and presented them with commemorative medals.

“Residents of the Tula region are proud of the famous 106th Guards Airborne Division of Tula, serving in which is prestigious and honorable,” stressed Vladimir Gruzdev. Artur Chilingarov said that in the spring of next year, servicemen of the reconnaissance company of the 106th Guards Airborne Division of Tula are planning to take part in the landing at the North Pole. Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation Andrey Kholzakov highly appreciated the level of combat training of the military personnel of the Tula division and congratulated them on conferring the honorary title "Tula" on the division. The celebrations continued with a festive concert.

The story of one tragic landing
(to the question of the exercises of the 106th Airborne Division in Mongolia at the beginning of 1979)

In the history of the Soviet Airborne Forces, there were and still are many
studied questions. And, of course, there are reasons for that. One-
one of the poorly covered problems of the historiography of the Winged Guards
are the facts of the tragic death of Soviet paratroopers during training
ny in peacetime.
Such an almost unexplored page in the annals of the Soviet landing
that is the history of the teachings of the 106th (Tula) airborne division
zia on the Mongolian-Chinese border in February 1979, when
more than 40 airborne troops were crippled. This tragedy, hidden leadership
the property of the USSR from the Soviet people, could, obviously, not happen,
if the top leadership of these major exercises had refrained
from an ill-conceived order to land the guards on the Mongolian
land in completely unacceptable conditions for this.
This is our version of the story. The beginning of 1979 was marked
a new aggravation of Soviet-Chinese relations. This process,
caught by geopolitical and other factors, has become a progressive
after the death of the famous Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung in
1976, when the new Chinese political leadership led by Deng Xiao
Pinom began to revise some of the former principles of foreign
Chinese politics. The 11th Congress of the Communist Party of China proclaimed an openly anti-Soviet
well. Moreover, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China at the same time was introduced (according to
decisions of the XI Congress of the CPC) the most important amendment, in accordance with which
swarm of the USSR was proclaimed the first enemy of China. At the same time, the
the long-suffering Vietnam was proclaimed the home of China, recently
poor in the war with the American invaders. Vietnam, converted
which by that time had grown into a single social republic, strove
pursue an independent foreign policy aimed at friendship
with countries socialist camp. The Vietnamese leadership also
begins to pursue a course of rapprochement with neighboring Laos, a small
country (3.4 million people), which chose socialism.
To the envious and malicious leaders of China, such a position
things were haunted, which eventually led to the war. February 17, 1979
China carried out aggression against Vietnam.

On the same day 12 China-
Russian divisions on a front of 1200 km invaded Vietnamese territory.
Soviet Union bound by allied obligations with friendship
military Vietnam, could not react indifferently to this event.
Already on February 19, the government newspaper Pravda published
vano statement of the leadership of the USSR. This statement stated,
“that China’s attack on Vietnam once again shows that
how irresponsibly Beijing treats the destinies of the world, with what
with criminal ease, the Chinese leadership uses weapons. The statement also spoke about the assurance of the USSR to fulfill
obligations assumed by the Soviet side under the treaty of friendship and cooperation
cooperation between the USSR and Vietnam.
What was practically backed up by the Soviet demarche?
According to the official version of Soviet historiography, the USSR
additional assistance to friendly Vietnam in the form of supplies,
providing military advisers, etc. In the second volume of "History
foreign policy of the USSR "(M., 1986) on this occasion it is said:"
At the same time, the Soviet Union took measures to provide additional
additional assistance to Vietnam, supplying him with everything that was required
to repel the aggressor."
Already on February 19, 1979, a group of advisers (20 people), headed by
Army General G. Obaturov arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
After assessing the situation on the ground and listening to the reports of the Vietnamese leadership,
of the General Staff, Soviet specialists convinced the Vietnamese leader
Le Duan to transfer an army corps from Kampuchea to Langshon
direction, as well as redeploy in the same direction
active division BM-21.
A group of different councils participated in repelling Chinese aggression.
sky specialists (pilots, signalmen, rocket men, etc.). Unfortunately not
there were no casualties among Soviet officers. In March 1979, under
Da Nang (a port in South Vietnam) crashed while landing
Vietnamese airliner AN-24, on board of which were Air Force General Malykh
and five instructor officers. They all died.
However, the USSR took another action to put pressure on China.
tai. To scare off an aggressive neighbor, it was decided to hold a
Mongolian-Chinese border demonstration military power, figuratively
rattling, rattling weapons and flexing muscles. Today there are few
knows that in Mongolia, a vassal state from the USSR at that time (since
1967) there was a group of many thousands Soviet troops in co-
becoming the 39th combined arms army stationed on the Mongolian land
le. It included several motorized rifle and tank divisions, on the-
subordinated to the Trans-Baikal Military District. At the beginning
1979, three divisions were transferred to Mongolia from Siberia and Zabai-
calla. In this situation, it was decided to use advanced
units of the 39th Army as a political club against the aggressor -
China. In February-March 1979, major combined-arms
high exercises in the military districts bordering China in Mongolia and
Far East. These unprecedented maneuvers involved
about 200 thousand people. Transferred from Ukraine and Belarus
military aviation. In the demonstration of forces, it was also decided to involve
and a whole formation of the Soviet Airborne Forces.
Logically, it was reasonable to involve in this demonstration
vat those units of the Airborne Forces that were stationed in the Far East. One-
However, the main forces of the Airborne Forces were located on the western borders of the USSR, and
also in Transcaucasia and in Central Asia. On the Far Eastern borders with
China, only the 11th separate airborne assault rifle stationed in Mogocha, near
Cheats. This one of the first ODSHBR was created in 1968 and was located
in operational subordination of the Trans-Baikal Military District. But this
brigade decided not to touch.
The choice of the top military leadership fell on the 106th Guards
Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree
division. Why was it decided to use this airborne unit?
The 106th (Tula) Airborne Division was rightfully considered one of the best formations
Winged Guard. It is no coincidence that this particular division participated
repeatedly in responsible and experimental exercises, as well as
performed high governmental tasks. Here are a few examples
ditch.
In 1957, the Tula paratroopers ensured the landing of the first
space projectiles with four-legged astronauts - dogs Bel-
ka, Strelka, Chernushka. And a few years later, the guards of the 106th Airborne Division
were honored to meet the landing site of cosmonaut Yuri
Gagarin.
At the end of the 50s. (already under V.F. Margelov) soldiers of the Tula division
The Airborne Forces participated in extreme climatic landing in
expanses of the Arctic. In the midst of the Margelov reforms of the Airborne Forces in the early 70s
x years. Tula paratroopers were among the first to master the new
sant armored vehicles BMD-1 and BTRD. The award was the pennant of the USSR Ministry of Defense
"For courage and military prowess." Tula division repeatedly
was also involved in extinguishing forest fires in the Moscow region and in the Central
tral Non-Chernozem.
The question arises: why exactly the 106th Airborne Division was decided to land
on the Mongolian-Chinese border? After all, this division was
stationed near Moscow and, obviously, was aimed at the European
sky theater of operations. Why didn’t they choose the airborne divisions, stationed
cited in Transcaucasia (104th Kirovobad Airborne Division) and Central Asia
(105th Ferghana Airborne Division)? These formations of the Winged Guards were trained
Cheny to fight in the conditions of mountainous desert terrain. Obviously,
the reasons are to be found in the political realm. At the beginning of 1979 in
Iran was restless. Iranian dissatisfaction with the Shah's despotism
regime threatened to turn into a revolutionary explosion, which happened
November 10-11, 1979 The monarchical regime in Iran was overthrown, and by
Muslim clergy led by Ayatollah R. Ha-
me. It was also restless in neighboring Afghanistan, where in April
In 1978, after overthrowing the Daoud regime, the PDPA communists came to power. AT
a civil war broke out in this then friendly country,
there was a threat of drawing the Soviet troops into the civil strife of the DRA.
Therefore, the 105th and 104th airborne divisions were on the alert.
The 106th Airborne Division, although it was considered a "forest" division, nevertheless
had experience in landing in a mountainous desert area. Back in 1966
The 137th Guards Airborne Regiment took part in a major
exercises in the territory of Transcaucasia and successfully landed on
mountainous ground. In 1978, the same 137th regiment, as part of an experiment,
santed to the mountain-desert territory.
So, the choice was made. The 106th Airborne Division was transferred to Mongolia.
From fragmentary sources, it is difficult to determine exactly what
whether the full strength of the Tula division went to the exercises in the distant
Mongolia.
In the book " Airborne Troops Russia" states: "In
1979, the division was alerted and a few days later received
la participation in exercises on the territory of Mongolia.
Armada of military transport aircraft with Tula paratroopers
and armored vehicles on board headed east. It was almost
an exemplary airborne campaign with a length of several
thousand kilometers. Landing liners flew to high altitude. For
refueling aviation fuel, several landings were made.
The exact location of the exercise cannot be determined by the researcher.
succeeded. It is only known that the landing took place in the desert
The Gobi is a few kilometers from the Mongolian-Chinese border. In our
disposal is a valuable memoir source that allows you to partially
reproduce the dramatic picture of what happened. This is a memory
Air Force officer (helicopter pilot) V.G. Domracheva, included in the collection -
nickname “Scorched by Afghan. Participants of the Afghan war tell.
In early 1979, this officer served in a squadron of transport helicopters.
years, providing transportation of goods throughout Mongolia, on the territory
torii which were deployed a lot of Soviet military units.
As it appears from the memoirs of V.G. Domrachev and some others
sources, the exercises were led by a group of high-ranking officials
ditch headed by the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR
scrap by Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov, on whom she now depended
the fate of the landing, for it was this person who had to give the command
for landing in frosty and very windy weather.
V.G. Domrachev recalls: “A piercing wind was blowing. blades
helicopters waved like the wings of a bird. "If the wind does not calm down, then you-
there will be no landing," I thought.
Forty minutes later a messenger came to us from the head of the field.
Comrade and told us to get ready for the meeting of the main group of helicopters
comrade with the leadership of the exercises. We had to show those who were sitting down
helicopter landing sites.
Ten minutes later, the real pandemonium began -
one after another, helicopters flew up and landed with high-ranking officers
rank.
There were 10 helicopters in the village, but there was no Chief, and a place near the podium
remained free. The officers went to the podium, and immediately appeared
helicopter with Chief. When Marshal Sokolov appeared, the situation
revived, the officers ran, fussed. After short presentations
places on the podium were occupied, and one after another with an interval of one
a minute from the north began to appear landing aircraft IL-
76.
An on-board technician approached me and asked: “Commander, is it really in
such a wind will throw paratroopers?
“You shouldn’t,” I replied, “it’s murder!”
The movement of the generals began in the stands, Sokolov approached
commander of the Airborne Forces and reported that a strong wind and a drop should be carried out
it is impossible (highlighted by us - D.S.). He lowered his head, shook her and said
hall: "Let's make a trial landing - from one plane of people,
of the two - technology. No one objected, everyone silently watched
impending tragedy.
From the side of the leader of the ejection came the words: “The ejection
I allow!”
So the order came in. Military transport liners one by one
gim soared into the sky. In the wombs of the aircraft was the personnel of 137-
1st regiment of the 106th Airborne Forces with standard armored vehicles. At the forefront
divisional landing were soldiers of the regiment's reconnaissance company. In addition to the
vedchiks in one plane were BMD-1 drivers, and
also officers of the regiment. In the second IL-76 aircraft, there were three
bathroom "beemdashki".
The advance detachment of the Tula paratroopers, as already noted,
had to land with equipment in truly extreme conditions
conditions of the Mongolian winter. Who served in the Airborne Forces, perhaps, pre-
put what the guardsmen felt in those moments, some of whom
was, alas, destined to live last minutes. The angel of sorrow was already waiting
the souls of warriors who were destined for a terrible death in the Mongolian
earth.
The landing has begun. At that moment, the wind force reached 40
meters per second - a crazy indicator for landing. Che-
a few minutes after the start of the drop, several paratroopers (according to
according to some reports, more than 10 people) crashed to death on the stone-
nechuyu desert firmament. Several dozen guards from the scary
contact with the ground were injured and maimed. crashed and
all three BMDs. The release of the main forces of the airborne regiment was immediately canceled
whether.
Here is how the death of the landing is described by the mentioned eyewitness: “Under one
two points appeared from the flying planes, under the following
two more, which in a few seconds grew into parachute domes
Comrade with technology.
The equipment thrown out with parachutes was rapidly approaching
to the ground, growing before our eyes. The people around were carried away by what was happening
shchim and did not notice how the next plane "fell down" landing
nicknames.
About two kilometers from the stands, an airborne technical equipment began to land.
ka. Brake systems where they worked, but somewhere they didn’t work. I
for the first time I saw how towers fly off the BMD when they hit the ground. "Good-
sho that there are no people there, ”someone said from behind. These words became
signal: everyone remembered that the paratroopers had also been thrown out. Again, don't
conspiring, they raised their heads and saw how the whole sky was dotted with
parachute floors.
The paratroopers courageously fought the wind, trying to land
as close as possible to the landing equipment, but, touching the ground, somehow
hung helplessly on the straps and, without rising to their feet, dragged
filled with the canopies of their parachutes through the desert.
At first, there was silence in the stands. Everyone understood that
going on, but no one could say a word.
Suddenly someone shouted in a loud voice: “Pilots, urgently launch
helicopters and collect the wounded." We rushed to the helicopters, launched
them and flew to the victims. I had to fly through the desert
further paratroopers, release from the cabin of the onboard technician and the right
pilot to extinguish parachutes and bring paratroopers into the cockpit
helicopter. Each helicopter had five or six casualties. Pe-
dust, blood, snow were mixed. Moans, screams. There were also the dead.
We transported them to the field hospital and flew off to carry out our
tasks. Later we learned that out of 108 paratroopers exactly half were injured.
guilt, but the exercises continued, the losses too.
Of course, the release of the main landing forces was canceled, thereby
the life and health of paratroopers from other units was saved
a shelf. Landing aircraft already in the air, deployed
shish, began to return.
The exercises were completed, units and subunits of the 106th Airborne Division on
transport aviation returned to the "winter quarters". Warriors of the 137th
the regiment returned to Tula by railroad communications.

Is it possible to raise the question of personal responsibility then-
him the commander of the Airborne Forces, General D. Sukhorukov, for the tragic events
tiya in Mongolia at the beginning of 1979? The answer to this is, of course,
difficult. Probably, the formulation of this question is fair and historically
appropriate. After all we are talking about the man who then commanded our
Winged Guard and could influence in one way or another on the described
my events. But D. Sukhorukov is not V.F. Margelov. Willpower and courage
The nature of these historical subjects is unequal. Of course, Sukhorukov and
as a commander, and as a veteran of the Airborne Forces, and as a person, mentally experienced
shaft for the tragedy that happened on the Mongolian-Chinese border. This and
understandably. But it seems that he felt inside his being
guilt for the death of the paratroopers, although it was difficult for him to openly admit it
but. Therefore, it is no coincidence that in his memoirs (“Records of the Commander-
paratrooper") about the tragic landing D. Sukhorukov writes in passing:
“It was necessary to land on a bare stone, gray as cement,
desert. On the day of the landing, a strong wind arose. The first
the reconnaissance company went on the jump. It was a jump into hell.
The release of the main forces was cancelled. Aircraft located
already in the air, turned around and began to return to their airfields.
Soon the division was transported by aircraft of the military transport
aviation and partly by rail to permanent places
dislocations.
The exercise showed the real possibility of military transport
aviation to carry out in a short time the transfer over long distances
airborne division in in full force with military equipment.
The paratroopers gained experience in preparing for landing on unfamiliar
airfields, but at the same time, some issues of rear
security and a number of others, on which decisions were later made"
.
And that's it. About the tragedy that occurred in this territory, about the death and
injuries of almost 50 paratroopers from the Tula division ex-commander
The Airborne Forces chose not to write.
Why? Perhaps because he felt a share of his guilt in
what's happened? Who knows…
What did he feel? Iron Man”, V.F. Margelov, when
became aware of what happened in Mongolia? It is clear that. Newly-
the retired inspector, of course, felt pain with all his heart and
Renne mourned the dead guardsmen. Undoubtedly, the "landing
Dad” then repeatedly asked the question: who gave, in fact, the criminal
ny order to start the landing?
Really, who? Available source materials, allowing
Unfortunately, there are no people at our disposal to answer the question. Logically
things, the decisive word, obviously, was with the person who commanded
gave then the teachings. And he was Marshal S.L. Sokolov, a long-time
parent V.F. Margelov. According to the mentioned memoirs
eyewitness, helicopter officer V.G. Domracheva, the order came from
Marshal S.L. Sokolov. Answer exactly the questions asked
the then commander of the 106th Airborne Division E.N. Podkolzin, but
his soul has long ago ascended to the pro patria.
Thus, 1979 turned out to be a landmark year for the fate of the Soviet
Airborne. Resigned from the post of commander of the Winged Guard V.F. Margelov,
the Margelov era also went into oblivion. And perhaps it is symbolic that this
the event was marked by the fact of the tragic landing of the Tula de-
santnikov in Mongolia. According to an ancient philosophical maxim, nothing
there are no accidents in our lives. Several months pass and
the same year in 1979 airborne history the era of the nine-year war will begin in
Afghanistan, in which our paratroopers will have to fight in
real with a daring enemy, to fight in Margelov's way, keeping reno-
me elite Soviet army. 106th Airborne Division until the end of the 20th century. and to this day
maintained a reputation as an excellent airborne unit.
In this division, not only glorious traditions are preserved,
wives to the great V.F. Margelov, but modern
combat experience gained in local wars and conflicts.
It is believed, for example, that in the 80s, 70% of the officers and ensigns of Tul-
Russian division fought in Afghanistan.
A third of a century has passed since the tragedy occurred in February
1979 in Mongolia. The ashes of the dead soldiers have long decayed in zinc
coffins.
Marshal S.L. Sokolov, who became after Marshal D.S. Ustinova Mi-
nistrom of defense of the USSR, lived a long decent life. He died-
recently, in 2012, at the age of 102. Did he remember before leaving
to another world about the paratroopers who died and maimed on those unfortunate
teachings? God be his judge. Undoubtedly, future historians of the Airborne Forces more than once
will return to the coverage of the events in Mongolia. Let it go
they will be able to restore and publish the names and ranks of those soldiers
Winged Guards, who heroically carried out the order, in peacetime
time doomed some of them to death.
Tragic landing
(in blessed memory of the guardsmen of the 137th Airborne Regiment,
killed in exercises in Mongolia in February 1979)

In the jaws of death thrown landing
And the fate of the warriors came true;
Follows the karmic guarantor
To open the gates to Paradise for warriors.
* * *
The wind blew over the desert
Domes crack and tear,
And the marshal is intoxicated with pride,
He is silent, and God is his judge.
* * *
The frozen earth is hard as a stone,
Our landing force is beating against this firmament.
Death came for 10 fighters;
Oh, how many tears of relatives will shed.
* * *
Blood sprinkled the landing field,
Wounded fighters are dragged by domes.
And many in that nightmare are waiting for salvation;
Fate saved them from a cruel death.
* * *
Who is to blame for the landing tragedy?
That proud marshal who gave the order
Doom people to death? He is not worthy
To be understood, justified among us?

14.08.2013
Already this year, the 106th Airborne Division will receive the latest weapons. This was announced today by the commander of the Airborne Forces Vladimir Shamanov, who arrived in Tula to transfer the banner of the unit to the new commander. “Next year, a reconnaissance battalion will be deployed in the division,” Shamanov said. - “Managed parachutes are already coming in, and most recently in exercises in Belgorod region paratroopers performed special tasks. The Ryazan regiment will receive BMD-4M vehicles this year. This unit will be the first in the Airborne Forces, as the base regiment of the Ryazan School, to be transferred to new types of equipment. The process will take place in parallel in the Tula regiment. Artillery will receive new systems. Now the system of automated command and control of troops and weapons "Flight" is being introduced.

17.07.2015


In the course of a tactical exercise with the Tula formation of the Airborne Forces, ATVs were landed for the first time.
After landing, the airborne units marched to the areas of alleged actions. Troop control was carried out using Andromeda-D automated control systems.
Currently, the paratroopers deployed to the Pskov region are conducting a mobile defense in the area of ​​the Struga Krasnye training ground. Soldiers practice defensive actions without the support of army aviation helicopters. According to legend, the paratroopers carry out assigned tasks behind enemy lines, where the use of helicopters is impossible.
The day before, there was also a landing at the Kislovo landing site in the Pskov region. In 30 minutes, more than 20 Il-76 military transport aircraft dropped about 2,000 servicemen and more than 30 pieces of military and special equipment from the Tula airborne unit.
The paratroopers held a muster and crossed the water barrier using standard equipment. Then, having captured the airfield and destroyed the camp on it conditional enemy, made a 100-km march to the area of ​​the Strugi Krasnye training ground.
A four-day tactical exercise with units of the Tula airborne unit in the territories of the Ryazan and Pskov regions will be completed by the end of the current day.
The exercise is led by Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces, Major General Alexei Ragozin.
Department of Press Service and Information of the Ministry of Defense Russian Federation

05.09.2016


Three major exercises are planned to be held by the Airborne Forces (VDV) in Russia this fall.
Lieutenant-General Andrey Kholzakov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, announced this on the air of the Life Sound radio station.
“We are ending the year with a command and staff exercise with the 106th Tula division - exercises will be held at the end of September, immediately after the Army-2016 forum, and in October we are planning two regimental tactical exercises - one in Pskov with the 104th parachute -airborne regiment and one in Ivanovo with the 217th paratrooper regiment, ”he said.
According to Kholzakov, the Airborne Forces have conducted many exercises this year, and now "it remains only to complete the (training) period."
TASS

29.09.2016


At the Dubrovichi training ground in the Ryazan region, the active phase of the command and staff exercise with the 106th Airborne Division of the Airborne Forces (VDV) ended with the live firing stage of the battalion tactical group.
During live firing, conducted both in the daytime and at night, the paratroopers hit over 1,000 targets, while using up more than 1.5 thousand ammunition for the BMD-2 airborne combat vehicles and Nona self-propelled artillery guns.
To hit targets imitating armored vehicles and tanks of a mock enemy, the paratroopers used hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, firing more than 150 grenades from them.
The large-scale command and staff exercise with the Tula Airborne Forces unit, led by Lieutenant General Andrey Kholzakov, Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces, will end on September 30 with the return of command and control units to their permanent deployment points.
The exercise is being held on the territory of three constituent entities of the Russian Federation, about 3.5 thousand military personnel are involved in it, 350 units of weapons, military and special equipment are involved.
The combat skills of the paratroopers during the exercise were assessed by representatives of the Military Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

25.12.2016


In Ryazan, a ceremony was held to hand over the BMD-4M to the Guards Parachute Regiment of the 106th Guards Airborne Division.
In his speech, expressing gratitude to the creators of a new generation combat vehicle, the commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov, said: “This is the result of the work of a huge team of the military-industrial complex. Not in any country in the world, not in any armed forces, and even more so, none of the airborne troops have such a combat vehicle. We are proud that this combat vehicle has entered service with us.”
“This machine is capable of firing at a distance of up to 7 km and fighting the most modern tanks at a distance of up to 5 km. This is a maneuverable, high-speed, floating, landing machine. Its combat module is unique. The vehicle has a navigation system," the commander of the Airborne Forces emphasized, describing the capabilities of the BMD-4M.

Department of Information and mass communications Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

23.01.2017


On December 24, 2016, a solemn ceremony was held in Ryazan to hand over the second battalion set of new BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles to the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 106th Guards Airborne Division of the Russian Airborne Forces. The first battalion kit was handed over in September 2016.
“In the future, the Airborne Forces will continue to be equipped with the same BMD-4M battalion kits. Next year, two battalion sets will go into service with the 31st Guards Separate Air Assault Brigade, which is stationed in the city of Ulyanovsk, ”said Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov.
Original taken from http://altyn73.livejournal.com in BMD-4M in Ryazan.
http://bmpd.livejournal.com