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Marines will protect Russian Navy ships from terrorists and sabotage
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
Since the beginning of this year, all Russian ships dispatched from the bases have been leaving with sub-divisions of Marines on board," says Izwiestia journal. They are to protect these units from terrorists and saboteurs of potential opponents, both at sea and in ports, and to inspect suspicious vessels.
The number of these anti-terrorist troops will depend on the size of the vessel. For example, 20 people are expected to be boarded for the frigate, which means an increase in the number of crews by about 10 percent (so far the crews of this class had between 200 and 210 people depending on the type). In addition to standard Marine Rifles, they are to be armed with grenade launchers, selective rifles and hand machine guns. The training of specialized Marine Units takes place in the training center in St. Petersburg. Here, soldiers assigned to serve in all Russian fleets are to learn the secrets of anti-terrorism. According to official information, it is about actions such as the defence of ships in specific restricted conditions of the spaces specific to the interiors of the vessels, operating there in pairs, boarding operations against pirates and releasing hostages. The training is also intended to include firing on "water targets", which is likely to mean the small units that pirates use.
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Marines will also be familiar with the operation of ship equipment, will learn about international law (e.g. how to proceed in international waters), technical specifications and distribution of spaces in Russian vessels. In the possible fight against the assistance of the Russian infantry, sailors will also be able to come, but it is the Marines who are to determine the beneficial outcome of the clash, thanks to knowledge of tactics and specialization, during the defence of their own ship. On the other hand, in the time of boarding, the marine professionals themselves are to be sent, at most supported by other crew members with fire from the deck of the ship.
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This fact does not mean a great revolution. On the contrary, in recent years Russian marine soldiers have repeatedly operated against pirates. Their most famous achievement was the reflection of the Moscow Uniwiersitiet ship at the hands of the Somalis. The Marines were operating from the destroyer's deck, Marshal Szaposhnikov. The current rule is rather to harmonise and sanction the presence of a marine component on each unit, as it was in times... Soviet Union.
Signature: Maciej Szopa.
