History of the Marines. History of the creation of the Marine Corps

From the book “A Brief History of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in the Pre-Revolutionary Period”

The history of the Marine Corps in Russia is almost as long as that of other great maritime powers. For the first time in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, the marine corps appeared as a separate branch of the military in Spain in 1537; in France, the first units of the marine corps were created by Cardinal Richelieu back in 1622, in England in 1664. In February 1696 she appeared in Russia.

Soon after the failure of the First Azov Campaign in the summer of 1695, due to the lack of a fleet in Russia at that time, Peter I in the fall of the same 1695, he begins to prepare the Second Azov Campaign and for this he begins to build a fleet on the Don in Voronezh.

In connection with the construction of the fleet, the question immediately arose about the marine corps for the future Don, and later the Azov flotilla. For this purpose, simultaneously with the construction of ships in Voronezh, the creation of the first formation of the Russian Marine Corps begins near Moscow in the village of Preobrazhenskoye - " Maritime Regulations"(Naval Regiment).

The “Marine Regiment” was created in the village of Preobrazhenskoye from the companies of the guards regiments located there. In total, 28 companies with a total number of 4,254 people were allocated from their composition to form the “Naval Regiment”. The closest associate of Peter I - Franz Lefort, who in connection with this was awarded the rank of "admiral". The Tsar himself, with the rank of captain, became the commander of the 3rd company of this regiment.

The official date of creation of the “Maritime Regiment” is considered to be February 18, 1696, when its first royal review took place.

At the end of May 1696, the siege of Azov by Russian troops began, in which the “Maritime Regiment” took an active part. On July 19, 1696, the fortress surrendered and a month later the regiment left Azov for Moscow.

On September 30, 1696, the ceremony of the ceremonial entry of Russian troops who participated in the capture of Azov into Moscow took place. At the head of the triumphal march was the Marine Regiment. Then, on the same day, the solemn march of the Marine Regiment took place in the Kremlin, after which its companies dispersed to the barracks of their former regiments and the “Marine Regiment” ceased to exist. The regiment's banner was transferred to the Armory Chamber in the Kremlin, where it is currently located.

Thus, date of creation of the Marine Corps in Russia can be ancientized by ten years, and should be established not on November 27 (new style) 1705, when Peter I issued his decree on the formation of a regiment of “sea soldiers” as part of the Baltic Fleet, but 10 years earlier - in the fall of 1695.

Marine Corps in the Russian-Turkish War of 1735 - 1739
During preparations for the next war with Turkey, in 1734, from the personnel of two naval regiments of the Baltic Fleet, a combined battalion of marines was formed, consisting of 12 officers, 36 non-commissioned officers and corporals, 577 soldiers, intended to operate as part of the recreated in Voronezh Don (Azov) flotilla.

After the start of the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739 naval battalion together with the flotilla he participated in the siege of Azov and after its capture on June 20, 1736, together with the flotilla he began operations in the Sea of ​​Azov, including the capture of Crimea by Russian troops in 1737.

Subsequently, in June - July 1738, the battalion and the flotilla were blocked by superior forces of the Turkish fleet in the area of ​​Fedotova Spit on the northern coast of the Sea of ​​Azov. Unable to break through the Turkish blockade, the flotilla command burned the ships, after which the sailors and marines marched overland along the seashore to the Azov fortress, repelling attacks from the Tatar cavalry along the way. Arriving at Azov on August 8, 1738, the personnel of the flotilla were divided: the sailors went to build new ships, and the marines became the garrison of the Azov fortress. After the end of the war, the battalion formed the garrison of the Azov fortress in the period 1739 - 1741, then transferred it to one of the army units and returned to St. Petersburg, where its companies returned to their former naval regiments.

According to V.G. Danchenko during this period, the battalion was commanded by Major Kartashov and its strength was 9 officers, 57 sergeants and corporals, 900 soldiers.

Danchenko also claims in his book that during the Russian-Turkish war of 1735 - 1739, in addition to the combined marine corps battalion specially formed for it, the Azov flotilla also additionally included one of the battalions of the 1st naval regiment of the Baltic Fleet consisting of 14 officers and 448 lower ranks.

According to other available data, a combined naval battalion was formed during this war, also for the Dnieper flotilla.

Formation and combat operations of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet during the reign of Catherine II
In connection with the outbreak of another war with Turkey, in November 1768, the construction of ships for the newly recreated Azov flotilla began again at the Voronezh shipyards and the formation for it began Soldier's team", that is, a battalion of marines from the marines of the Baltic Fleet.

As a result, a battalion was created consisting of 8 companies, numbering more than a thousand people. In June 1771, this battalion, as part of the Azov flotilla, took part in the battles to capture the Crimea, including the capture of the city of Kerch and the nearby sea fortress Yenikale. According to other sources, a similar battalion was formed for the Dnieper flotilla.

The end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768 - 1774, and the subsequent annexation of Crimea to Russia in April 1783, led to the creation of the Black Sea Fleet on the basis of the Azov and part of the forces of the Dnieper flotilla on May 13, 1783 in Akhtiarskaya (Sevastopol) Bay.

Two years later, August 13 (August 24, new style) 1785, Catherine II approved the first states of the Black Sea Fleet, which became a program for its further development. Based on this document, the creation of the Black Sea Fleet began Marine Corps units in the form of three naval battalions of four companies each, with a total number of 3023 people. To perform guard, security and escort functions, the “Admiralty Company” was formed, consisting of 3 officers, 8 sergeants and corporals, as well as 125 soldiers.

However, soon after this, in 1787, another Russian-Turkish war began and in August 1787 the personnel of all three naval battalions were sent to replenish the crews of ships of the Black Sea Fleet.

As a result, at the first stage of the war in 1787-1789, the functions of the marine corps on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet were performed by Greek regiment, created in 1775 in Kerch from former Greek corsairs who moved to Russia with their families and took part in the war with Turkey in 1768 - 1774 as part of the Mediterranean squadron of the Russian fleet. Until 1783, this military unit was called the “Albanian Army”. In 1783, the "Albanian army" was moved from Kerch to Balaklava and was renamed the "Greek regiment". During the war with Turkey of 1787 - 1791, the largest operation of the Greek regiment as a marine corps was the landing on April 22, 1789 in the area of ​​​​the port of Constanta, where the Greeks killed 50 Turkish soldiers and captured two cannons.

In 1788, a year after the start of the war with Turkey, Sweden began a new war with Russia. This led the ruling circles of Russia in 1789 to the realization of the fact that the war with Turkey had somehow dragged on and needed to be ended, but of course in a victorious manner. Therefore, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army and navy in the war with Turkey Your Serene Highness Prince Potemkin decided to make 1790 the year of decisive victories for Russian weapons.

According to Potemkin's plan, one of the decisive operations of 1790 was to be the capture of the Danube Delta, which was defended by the fortresses of Isakcha, Tulcea, and Izmail. For this operation it was planned to use a galley (rowing) flotilla.

However, for a full-fledged operation here, ships alone were not enough; landing forces were also needed.

For this, by order of Potemkin, on December 11, 1789, the Yaroslavl Infantry Regiment with the addition of the Nikolaev Grenadier Battalion was formed Nikolaev Primorsky Grenadier Regiment, then included in the rowing flotilla.

Then, on May 10, 1790, the Dnieper Primorsky Grenadier Regiment was formed from two battalions of the Astrakhan Grenadier Regiment, which subsequently remained a two-battalion regiment. Initially, the Dnieper Regiment was called the Tiraspol Grenadier Regiment for a short time, then for some time the Grenadier Light Infantry Regiment.

Regarding the tasks facing these new units of the marine corps, Potemkin then wrote the following: “The benefit of these coastal regiments will be that they will form guards in Sevastopol, Kinburn, Kozlov (Evpatoria - note of the quoter), Yenikal (a seaside fortress near Kerch - note of the quoter ) and in addition to infantry service they will be trained in sailor service, but now in the fleet they use infantry regiments that do not know anything about ships, and in the flotilla do not know how to wield an oar.”

Speaking about the combat training of the marines of the Primorye regiments, Potemkin demanded that they be trained almost according to the modern special forces program: “Find out who has the ability to shoot accurately, who is easier at running, who is a master of swimming. Teach them to run and climb heights, cross ditches and etc., Train to hide and sneak up on the enemy in order to capture his sentries. Officers should also be accustomed to such exercises."

After completing the formation and training of the coastal regiments, the rowing flotilla left Khadzhibey (now Odessa) on October 13, 1790, having on board the Dnieper Primorye Grenadier Regiment, with a total number of one thousand people. On October 19, the ships entered the Sulina branch of the Danube. Here they are

A powerful missile and bomb attack hits the deserted shore. Dozens of sea sand boil up with an explosion, a dense veil of smoke covers the entire coastline. All the sounds of a crazy symphony mixed into one growing rumble, among which the noise of the operating engines of armored vehicles and landing craft can be clearly heard. A couple of minutes later, armored personnel carriers quickly jump onto the sandy beach, from which the amphibious landing begins. This is roughly what the average person thinks of as the actions in modern combat of one of the elite military units - the Marine Corps of the Russian Navy.

In reality, everything looks far from being like that. The beautiful and impressive image of an amphibious landing gives way to a military operation in which the main aspects are secrecy, precision and surprise. Fleet landing operations in modern conditions are designed more for the element of surprise. Often there is a military need to covertly capture a coastal facility, disable coastal infrastructure, or occupy a certain territory in a short period of time. These and many other operational-tactical tasks can be solved by specially trained troops - naval special forces.

In the Russian Navy, these units are part of a separate branch of coastal troops, which is one of the most combat-ready and trained military formations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Marine Corps Day is considered one of the most glorious and interesting military holidays in Russia. Today, not a single military operation takes place without the participation of black berets; not a single military parade or parade of the Russian Armed Forces takes place without the participation of marines.

The military uniform of the Russian Navy Marine Corps cannot be confused with anything else. The Marine Corps beret, like the uniform of the units, is black.

History of the Marine Corps

Even in ancient times, wars were often fought in coastal areas. The main task of the warring parties was to capture coastal cities, through which the main trade took place, and through which the ground armies were supplied. The main instrument of struggle in those distant times was the infantry - a branch of the military capable of operating both on land and at sea. The Roman army is rightfully considered the ancestor and prototype of the modern marine corps. It was within its composition that the first infantry units and naval special forces, stationed on warships, appeared. The Roman legionary infantryman was excellent in the art of close combat, and this quality was successfully put into practice by the Romans.

This combat experience was adopted from the Romans by the armies of other states. Over time, infantry landing on enemy beaches became a key element of military strategy. A striking example of successful amphibious operations at sea are the military companies of the Vikings, who kept all of Western Europe at bay. Almost the entire military history is replete with examples of the successful use of such tactics in warfare. Special units or boarding teams began to appear in the military fleets of the leading maritime powers - a prototype of the marine corps, performing special tasks.

Today, almost any military fleet includes similar military formations. The Marine Corps is the main striking force of the US Army, acting in American interests in various naval theaters.

The Russian Navy and Marine Corps are the road to glory

For Russia, the impetus for the creation of special infantry units included in the structure of the navy was the Northern War. In the history of the formation of the Marine Corps, Peter I played a key role. Already under him, special marine infantry teams began to appear in the fleet, performing the function of boarding and assault groups. Having assessed the high efficiency of such units in battles with the Swedes, the Russian Tsar in 1705, by decree, formed a regiment of naval soldiers that was part of the Baltic Fleet. The date of the royal decree - November 27, 1705, is considered the starting point in the history of the emergence of a new type of army. Today November 27 is celebrated in Russia as Marine Corps Day.

The most striking example of the successful action of the first marine infantry teams was the Gangut naval battle, in which the Russian galley fleet boarded the Swedish squadron of Admiral Ehrenskiöld. Further, more than once, the Russian army, operating against Swedish troops in Finland and on the islands of the Gulf of Finland, used the practice of amphibious assaults, where the marines played a key role.

Since the time of Peter I, marine units began to play a key role in operations not only at sea, but also during the conduct of land campaigns by the Russian army. It is worth noting the successful action of Russian sailors during military operations in the Mediterranean Sea during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. In this naval theater of operations, the Russian marines showed examples of courage and high efficiency. The marine regiment, operating as part of the Baltic squadron of Admiral Spiridov, participated in the landing on the islands of the Archipelago and in the capture of Turkish fortresses. The marines later distinguished themselves under the command of Admiral Ushakov. Russian naval crews and marine units distinguished themselves during the assault on the French fortress on the island of Corfu.

The residents of Naples, liberated from French troops, greeted the Russian sailors with honors. During the military parade, in the front rows of the column of Russian troops there was a marine infantry team, whose soldiers distinguished themselves during military operations. The heroic defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855 can rightfully be considered the formation of the Marine Corps. The city and the naval base of the Russian fleet held the defense against the Allied army for 11 months. It was here that the Russian sailors who came ashore carried out infantry tasks. The united French-British army, with the support of Turkish troops, could not take the sea stronghold for a long time. Russian sailors, already as infantry, not only successfully repelled the attacks of a superior enemy, stormed enemy trench lines and batteries, but also carried out sabotage and subversive work.

The Russian Marine Regiment even took part in the legendary Battle of Borodino, the largest land confrontation of the early 19th century.

New time

The experience of combat operations in the post-war period, when most of the ground operations were carried out by amphibious assault forces, proved the decision taken to be wrong. The US Marine Corps has become one of the instruments of the aggressive policy of the American naval forces in different regions of the globe. The Soviet top leadership decided to restore marine units to the military fleets. Throughout the 60s, the Soviet Navy underwent a long process of transformation, culminating in the emergence of a new type of coastal troops - the Marine Corps.

On the basis of the Belarusian Military District in 1963, the first full-fledged combat unit was created - the 336th separate marine regiment, based at the Baltiysk naval base. Subsequently, the Supreme Command of the Navy decided to form one brigade in each of the fleets. Smaller marine units were created in the Caspian Sea, on the Danube and on the Azov. Marine combat units were equipped with the most modern weapons. The Marine brigade included a wide variety of units, from rifle units to tank companies and artillery batteries. Fleets began to receive landing craft of various classes, capable of delivering a platoon of marines to enemy lines or ensuring the landing of a large military unit with heavy weapons on the coast of a potential enemy.

In the current Russian Navy, marine units play almost the decisive role in solving operational-tactical tasks. The regiment, which until recently was the main structural unit of this type of troops, is now a separate marine brigade, which includes a wide variety of weapons. Such large combat units have been created in all four fleets, in the Northern Fleet, in the Pacific Ocean, in the Baltic and in the Black Sea naval theater The Marines are entrusted with the functions of effectively countering the sabotage and espionage activities of the potential enemy Navy in the places where the fleet is deployed. Not a single military exercise of an operational-tactical or strategic scale is complete without Marine Corps units. Marine Corps Day has again become one of the main military-patriotic holidays.

The distinctive features of this type of troops are not only its high technical equipment, the specificity of combat missions and functions, but also its insignia. The Marine Corps flag is a blue cross of St. Andrew's on a red background. In the center of the flag there is the emblem of the Marine Corps, a gold anchor on a black circle.

The combat importance of marine brigades today is difficult to overestimate. These units are the most combat-ready in the Russian army and navy. Platoons, companies, regiments and brigades are equipped with advanced small arms and other military equipment.

Why is an army needed? In our world, there have always been powers that wanted to impose their culture on other peoples or control the natural and human resources of other countries in order to prosper their state. In view of this, each country strives to ensure its political, economic and cultural freedom by allocating a certain share of the budget for the defense of its territory. This situation has been happening since the beginning of humanity, which means that wars in one place or another on the planet will never end. Each country decides for itself what kind of army it needs to protect its borders. States that have access to the sea are obliged to protect their water borders, and therefore create naval forces.

The Navy of any developed state consists of the following units:

• Marines.

Let's take a closer look at the last position of this list. The Marine Corps is created for the purpose of protecting and defending the coast - ports and military bases and to capture enemy coastal territories and hold them until the arrival of their ground forces.

History of the Marine Corps

The history of the Russian Marine Corps dates back to the time of Peter the Great. The need to form this type of army was justified as part of the conquest of the Azov and Baltic coasts. In the first half of the 18th century, real regiments were created for the first time, performing the functions of soldiers of the seas. Peter I was so keen on the formation of coastal troops that he was even listed as the commander of one of the companies and hid under the name of Peter Alekseev. The famous Northern War was won to a large extent thanks to the heroic battles of the Marines. November 16, 1705 is significant for the creation of the first naval regiment; since then this day has been the date of the founding of the Russian Marines unit. Considering the personal interest of the head of state in this type of troops, serving in it was honorable and prestigious. And to this day, paratroopers are distinguished by their special bearing, combat effectiveness and preparedness.

Vice Admiral Nakhimov played a major role in increasing the importance of the Marine Corps in the mid-19th century during the defense of Sevastopol in 1854 - 1855. He created 22 full-fledged battalions of infantrymen, which he formed from the sailors of the sunken ships. Thanks to them, Sevastopol withstood the defense against the Turkish invaders. In the Russo-Japanese War, during the siege of Port Arthur (the longest battle of this war), up to 10,000 infantrymen took part in holding the fortress.

The revolution of 1917 liquidated all units and only in 1939 the USSR Marine Corps was revived again. During the Second World War, 40 infantry brigades were recreated, their number reaching 350 thousand soldiers. And again Sevastopol held its defense from the German invaders, and again the Marines managed to withstand the long 250 heroic days of the siege. The Marine Corps against Verkhmat took part in the Battle of Stalingrad, during the liberation of Tallinn, Odessa and during the storming of Berlin. Black caps were a distinctive feature of the soldier of the sea; at the sight of them the enemy was seized with horror; the Germans nicknamed this unit the “Black Death”. During the Second World War, not only infantrymen of the Soviet Union, but also other countries: the USA and Western Europe, distinguished themselves. During the war, the American Marines were the most equipped and organized unit, and their heroic battles were legendary. At the same time, this was the smallest unit, it made up only 5% of the total number of participating Americans. In a matter of days, they, together with marines from other countries, liberated the coast in Asia and Europe. This is how the international marines fought heroically against Verkhmat.

In the post-war period, the leadership of the USSR underestimated the importance of the navy in general and the marine corps in particular. The budget for naval armaments was gradually reduced and in the mid-50s all infantry units were disbanded. The second time of stagnation for this type of troops has arrived. At the same time, England and France continued to develop the direction of the Marines, and catching up with them in this was already problematic. After another change in the leadership of the Soviet Union and while studying historical battles, by the mid-60s, service in the Marine Corps was revived, and the construction of landing craft of the most modern modifications began at an accelerated pace. The use of marine units in numerous military maneuvers has become a necessary condition. All this gave reason to the NATO leadership to believe that the Soviet Union was able to both defend itself and perform offensive functions, which restrained aggression towards the USSR.

Marine Corps of modern Russia

Today, Russian marines, called “black berets,” are an essential component of the Navy. Detachments of this unit are assigned to the four fleets of the country, as well as the Caspian Flotilla:

• . Every year, the Navy command identifies and awards advanced special forces. Thus, in 2016, the coastal troops brigade of the Russian Baltic Fleet was recognized as the best. Without exaggeration, this is an elite brigade, which is distinguished by its excellent training of attack aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft.
• - the youngest, its marine corps was created in 1933. The sailors' flagship ship is the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great.
• mostly located in Crimea. The soldiers of the Sevastopol infantry are distinguished by excellent hand-to-hand combat skills, which is also necessary for service in the ranks of the infantry.
• is an operational and strategic formation of the Navy, their main task is to ensure security from the Pacific Ocean. In addition to all other weapons, the Pacific Fleet has missile submarines in its arsenal. The headquarters of the Pacific Marines is located in the city of Vladivostok.

Marines are primarily engaged in the defense of coastal territory, in addition, they carry out various tasks assigned by the army leadership. Marine Corps reconnaissance also plays a big role. In particular, sea soldiers carry out combat orders in Syria. By conducting a large number of training and combat missions, infantrymen improve their skills and are ready to repel an attack at any time. The Navy is provided with advanced equipment in the infantry field, including amphibious armored personnel carriers, missile and anti-tank systems, tanks and CAVs, various types of water obstacles, and small arms. The development and production of new types of equipment that meet the requirements of the 21st century continues.

Marine training

Marine training has a serious level of preparation. It is important to learn how to strengthen the body and spirit of a soldier. Daily squats, push-ups, pull-ups, long-distance running are the usual regimen for them. However, Marine training is not just about exercise and endurance. It is important to have a strong-willed character and to know that in battle it is necessary to go to the victorious end. The physical activity, training and exercises of the Marine Corps make it possible to turn soldiers into real combat commanders.

How to join the Marine Corps

Thousands of boys every year dream of joining the ranks of brave heroes. How to get into the Marine Corps? The selection criteria for this elite unit are very high. It is necessary to have ideal physical characteristics - good vision, excellent physical fitness, normal physique, absence of chronic diseases. It is also important not to have negative stories of being reported to the police and not to take drugs. If physical data and everything else allow you to apply for service in these troops, even before conscription you should check with the military registration and enlistment office when recruitment for the Navy will take place and be sure to inform about your desire. But there is also high competition at recruiting stations. The final decision on the possibility of serving in the ranks of the Black Berets will be made upon arrival in the fleet. Contract service in the Marine Corps is a fairly common occurrence for those who dream of sea adventures. How to get into the Marine Corps as an officer? To do this, you need to enroll in a higher specialized school and upon successful completion, you are guaranteed to become a Marine - part of the military elite.

The flag of the Russian Marine Corps is an emblem with a golden anchor against the background of a black circle with a red border. There is an inscription around it - the Marine’s slogan: “Where we are, there is victory!” The emblem is located against the background of the St. Andrew's flag (the flag of the Russian Navy). The banner has come to us almost unchanged since the time of Peter I. In addition to the flag, the Marines have other distinctive elements. Thus, military personnel and combat veterans are entitled to various types of awards, in particular the departmental medal “For Service in the Marine Corps.” The main difference between the soldier of the seas and other military units is noticeable from afar - the black trumpet berets. Wearing this headdress is a special pride for its owner and family members. Every year on November 27, we hear dedication to the Marines and see hundreds of congratulations to paratroopers on their professional holiday.

A powerful missile and bomb attack hits the deserted shore. The sea sand boils with dozens of explosions, a dense veil of smoke covers the entire coastline. The sounds of a crazy symphony mixed into a growing roar, in which the roar of the engines of armored vehicles and landing craft can be clearly heard. A couple of minutes later, armored personnel carriers quickly jump onto the sandy beach, from which the amphibious landing begins. In the minds of the average person, this is roughly what the actions in modern combat of one of the elite military units—the Marine Corps of the Russian Navy—look like.

In reality, everything looks far from being like that. A beautiful and impressive picture of an amphibious landing gives way to a military operation, in which the main aspects are secrecy and coordination of actions. Fleet landing operations in modern conditions are designed more for the element of surprise. Often there is a need to covertly take possession of a coastal facility, disable coastal infrastructure, or occupy a certain territory in a short period of time. These and many other operational-tactical tasks can be solved by specially trained troops - naval special forces.

In the Russian Navy, these units are part of a separate branch of coastal troops, one of the most combat-ready and trained military formations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Marine Corps Day is considered one of the most glorious and significant military holidays in Russia. Today, not a single military operation is completed without the participation of black berets, not a single military parade of the Russian Armed Forces takes place.

The military uniform of the Russian Navy Marine Corps cannot be confused with anyone else's. The Marine Corps beret, like the uniform of the units, is black.

History of the Marine Corps

Since ancient times, wars have often been fought in coastal areas. The main task of the warring parties was to capture the coastal cities, through which the main trade took place and the ground armies were supplied. The main instrument of struggle in those distant times was the infantry - a branch of the military capable of operating both on land and at sea. The Roman army is rightfully considered the ancestor and prototype of the modern marine corps. It was within its composition that the first naval special forces units stationed on warships appeared.

This combat experience of the Romans was adopted by the armies of other states. Over time, infantry landing on enemy beaches became a key element of military strategy. A striking example of successful amphibious operations at sea are the Viking military companies, which kept all of Western Europe at bay. Almost the entire military history is replete with examples of the successful use of such tactics in warfare. Special units or boarding teams began to appear in the military fleets of the leading maritime powers - a prototype of the marine corps, performing special tasks.

Today, almost any military fleet includes similar military formations. The Marine Corps is the main striking force of the US Army, acting in American interests in various naval theaters of war.

The Russian Navy and Marine Corps are the road to glory

For Russia, the impetus for the creation of special infantry units included in the structure of the navy was the Northern War. Peter I played a key role in the emergence of the Russian Marine Corps. Under him, special infantry teams began to appear in the fleet, performing the function of boarding and assault groups. Having appreciated the high effectiveness of such units in battles with the Swedes, the Russian Tsar in 1705 formed a regiment of naval soldiers as part of the Baltic Fleet. The date of the tsar's decree - November 27, 1705, became the starting point in the history of the new branch of troops and is celebrated in Russia as Marine Corps Day.

A striking example of the successful action of the first marine infantry teams was the Gangut naval battle, in which the Russian galley fleet boarded the Swedish squadron of Admiral Ehrenskiöld. Repeatedly, the Russian army, operating against Swedish troops in Finland and on the islands of the Gulf of Finland, used the practice of amphibious assaults, when the marines played a key role.

Since the time of Peter I, marine corps units have become an effective tool not only at sea, but also in land campaigns. It is worth noting the successful actions of Russian sailors in the Mediterranean Sea during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. — the Russian marines demonstrated their courage and high efficiency. The marine regiment, operating as part of the Baltic squadron of Admiral Spiridov, participated in the capture of Turkish fortresses. The marines under the command of Admiral Ushakov also distinguished themselves. Russian naval crews and marine units gained glory during the storming of the French fortress on the island of Corfu.

The residents of Naples, liberated from French troops, greeted the Russian sailors with honors. During the military parade, a marine infantry team marched in the front ranks of the column of Russian troops.

The Russian Marine Regiment took part in the legendary Battle of Borodino, the largest land confrontation of the early 19th century. The heroic defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855 can rightfully be considered an important milestone in the biography of the Russian Marine Corps. The city and the naval base of the Russian fleet held the defense against the Allied army for 11 months. The united French-British army, with the support of Turkish troops, could not take the sea stronghold for a long time. Russian sailors, already as infantry, not only successfully repelled the attacks of a superior enemy, stormed enemy lines of trenches and batteries, and carried out sabotage and demolition work.

Since 1811, marine infantry units were abolished. The functions of land sea units were performed by the crews of military ships that were part of the fleets of the Russian state.

The hero of the defense of Sevastopol, Vice Admiral Nakhimov, was the first of the Russian military commanders to begin forming a naval battalion from former crews of military ships of the Black Sea Fleet for sabotage work and special operations on the shore. In total, during the defense of Sevastopol, 22 full-fledged full-time units were formed from military sailors operating as part of infantry units on the land front.

At every point in modern history, there was work for the Marine Corps. Naval teams operating on the shore as assault units took part in the battles of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. In the defense of Port Arthur alone, up to 10 thousand sailors were involved in land operations by the Russian army.

Marine infantry battalions, created on the basis of a naval crew, appeared in Russia with the beginning of the First World War. The “Regulations on the Marine Corps” were to determine the place of the new military unit in the structure of the army and navy. The regulations for this type of troops, military uniforms, insignia and flag were developed, but the February Revolution and subsequent events at the front and in the country temporarily prevented the development of this type of troops.

Marine Corps at the present stage

The last active participation of pre-revolutionary formations of military sailors in combat operations on land occurred during the Civil War. For four years, sailors of the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, as well as river military flotillas, acted as part of the ground units of the Red Army. Detachments of sailors operated in the most dangerous sectors of the front, in all theaters of the Civil War. The first combat unit with the functions of the marine corps as part of the Red Army was the 1st Azov Expeditionary Marine Division, which included a marine regiment, an aviation detachment and a company of armored cars. The division covered the flanks of Frunze's army in the Kuban during the defeat of Wrangel.

After the end of hostilities, the country was in a difficult economic situation. The Navy as a full-fledged combat structure ceased to exist. Accordingly, the Marine Corps was also forgotten. Its revival as a separate branch of the military took place in 1939. The first naval unit, a brigade, performing the functions of the marine corps, was created in the Baltic. Only the beginning of the Great Patriotic War marked the beginning of the restoration of the Marine Corps as a separate branch of the military, part of the structure of the USSR Navy. The naval brigade became the main structural element of the land units of the navy.

During the war years, 40 separate marine brigades and 6 separate marine regiments were created, the total number of which in certain periods reached 350 thousand people. The Marines particularly distinguished themselves during the defense of Sevastopol. The 8th Separate Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet operated effectively here. The Soviet marines also took part in the Battle of Stalingrad, in the liberation of Tallinn, Odessa and in the storming of Berlin. Sailors of the Pacific Fleet, together with a battalion of marines, took part in the liberation of Sakhalin Island, in military operations against Japanese troops in the Far East in August 1945. The black caps and uniform terrified the enemy. German soldiers knew well what an attack by Soviet land sailors was like. For the courage of the Soviet marines on the battlefield, the Germans gave them the flattering and terrible nickname “Black Death.” For their heroism in numerous military operations, a number of Marine brigades received the rank of Guards.

The Second World War was the pinnacle of the Marine Corps' combat power. Numerous Allied amphibious assaults in the Pacific Ocean and Western Europe, and the actions of the Soviet “Black Berets” on the Soviet-German front are the clearest examples of this. The US Marine Corps, which bore the brunt of the fighting with the Japanese, clearly showed how effective the actions of land sailors can be in modern combat conditions. The American Marine Corps was the most equipped and trained branch of the military, which could effectively solve large-scale operational and tactical tasks. There are legends about the feat of the American Marines during the capture of the island of Iwo Jima. Everyone knows the sculptural composition depicting a group of Marines raising a US flag on the top of a captured island.

Despite their high combat effectiveness, the use of marine units in the Soviet Union after the end of World War II was limited. In 1956, it was decided to disband the Soviet Marine Corps units.

New time

The experience of combat operations in the post-war period, when most ground operations were carried out by amphibious assault forces, proved the decision made to be wrong. The US Marine Corps has become one of the effective instruments of aggressive American foreign policy in different regions of the globe. As a result, the Soviet top leadership ordered the restoration of marine corps units in the military fleets. Throughout the 60s, transformations took place in the Soviet Navy, as a result of which a new branch of coastal troops appeared - the Marine Corps.

In the Belarusian Military District in 1963, the first full-fledged combat unit was created - the 336th separate marine regiment, based at the Baltiysk naval base. Subsequently, the Supreme Command of the Navy decided to form one brigade of Marines in each of the fleets. In the Caspian Sea, on the Danube and on the Azov, smaller marine units were created. Marine combat units were equipped with the most modern weapons. The Marine brigade included a variety of units, from rifle units to tank companies and artillery batteries. Fleets began to receive landing craft of various classes, capable of delivering a platoon of marines to enemy lines or ensuring the landing of a large military unit with heavy weapons on the coast of a potential enemy.

In the modern Russian Navy, marine units play almost the decisive role in solving operational-tactical tasks. The regiment, which until recently was the main structural unit of this type of troops, is now a separate brigade of marines, equipped with the most effective weapons. Such large combat units have been created in all fleets: the Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea. Modern Marines are entrusted with the functions of countering the sabotage and espionage activities of the potential enemy Navy in the places where the fleet is deployed. Not a single military exercise of an operational-tactical or strategic scale is complete without Marine Corps units. Marine Corps Day has again become one of the main military-patriotic holidays.

The distinctive features of this type of troops are not only its high technical equipment, the specificity of combat missions and functions, but also its insignia. The Marine Corps flag is a blue cross of St. Andrew's on a white background. In the center of the flag there is the emblem of the Marine Corps, a gold anchor on a black circle.

The combat importance of marine brigades today is difficult to overestimate. These units are among the most combat-ready in the Russian army and navy.

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In the VII-X centuries. Russian princes repeatedly made sea voyages to the Black Sea on boats and landed troops on the coast of Byzantium. In these campaigns, the foundations of the combat use of the Marine Corps were born and detachments of warriors were formed, conducting combat operations on the border of sea and land.

The naval infantry received further development during numerous campaigns of the Zaporozhye and Don Cossacks in the 15th-17th centuries, in battles of small rowing ships with numerous and well-armed sailing ships of the Turks. Using the good camouflage and maneuverability of their ships, the Cossacks, in conditions of limited visibility, especially at dusk or at night, approached the Turkish ships and quickly attacked them from different sides, ending the boarding battle with hand-to-hand combat. Subsequently, this tactic was developed in the Northern War in the battles of the galley fleet, on the ships of which Peter’s marines operated.

In the second half of the 16th century. As part of the crews of the ships of the flotilla created by order of Ivan the Terrible, special teams of streltsy (naval soldiers) were formed, which became the prototype of the marines.

In 1669, the first Russian military sailing ship "Eagle" had a crew of 35 people. of naval soldiers (Nizhny Novgorod Streltsy) led by commander Ivan Domozhirov, intended for boarding operations and guard duty.
During the Azov campaigns, the most combat-ready Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments successfully operated on ships of the Azov and Baltic fleets as parts of the marine corps, from which the Naval Regiment (regiment) in the amount of 4254 people was formed. Peter I himself was listed as the commander of the fourth company under the name of Peter Alekseev.

In 1701-1702 The struggle between Russian army detachments, operating on small rowing vessels (plows, karbass, etc.) began with the Swedish lake flotillas on Lakes Ladoga and Peipus.

These detachments, formed from the personnel of the army infantry regiments of Ostrovsky, Tolbukhin, Tyrtov and Shnevetsov who served in the fleet, as a result of a series of boarding battles, won a victory over the Swedish flotillas, which consisted of large sailing ships, had strong artillery and were staffed by professional crews. The combat actions of these regiments were distinguished by audacity, courage and determination.
Peter I was able to truly appreciate the role of naval soldiers during the Northern War by taking part in a boarding battle in May 1703, when two Swedish ships were captured at the mouth of the Neva. The marines played an important role in the defense of Kotlin Island, where the heroism, courage and bravery of the Tolbukhin and Ostrovsky regiments were clearly demonstrated, writing many glorious pages in the military history of Russia.

Outlining his views on the construction of the fleet in 1704, Peter I wrote: “It is necessary to create regiments of naval soldiers (depending on the number according to the fleet)... corporals and sergeants should be taken from old soldiers for the sake of better training in formation and order”.

On November 16 (27), 1705, the first naval regiment of Count Fyodor Golovin was formed in the city of Grodno, which consisted of 1,200 people (two battalions of five companies, including 45 officers, 70 non-commissioned officers) and became the founder of the marine corps in Russia. This date is considered to be the starting point in the history of the Russian Marine Corps. Count Golovin's regiment was intended to serve in boarding and landing teams on warships of the sailing fleet. The regiment was staffed not by recruits, but by trained personnel of army units, which was caused by increased requirements for combat training of the Marine Corps and more complex combat missions assigned to it (compared to army units).

The experience of combat use of the newly created unit during the Northern War showed that the regimental organization of the Marine Corps did not correspond to the organizational structure of the fleet and did not allow it to be used correctly in combat conditions. In view of this, the naval regiment was disbanded, and in 1712-1714, five naval battalions were created from its personnel and army units assigned to the fleet:
“Vice Admiral’s Battalion” - for service in boarding and landing teams on the ships of the vanguard of the squadron;
“Admiral’s Battalion” - for service on ships of the center of the squadron;
“Battalion of the Rear Admiral” - for service on the ships of the squadron’s rearguard;
“Galley battalion” - for service on combat ships of the galley fleet;
"Admiralty Battalion" - for guard duty and other tasks.
Marine boarding and landing teams, led by their commanders, were subordinate to the ship commanders, and in matters of special combat training and leadership - to the head of the squadron's marine corps, who, as a rule, was the commander of the corresponding battalion. After the end of the campaign, the teams were united into their battalions, underwent combat training and performed guard duty at the base. According to the states of the Baltic Fleet in 1720, the composition of naval crews for battleships was set from 80 to 200 people (on frigates - from 40 to 60 people).
On combat ships of the galley fleet, marines accounted for up to 90 percent of the total crew. The widespread joint actions of the Russian army and navy during the Northern War required the creation, in addition to the marine infantry formations, of the largest formation at that time - an amphibious corps numbering 18-26 thousand people. In 1713, the corps included 18 infantry regiments and a separate infantry battalion with a total number of about 29,860 people, of which 18,690 officers and lower ranks took direct part in hostilities.

The marine infantry, which included a galley battalion and guards and infantry regiments of the landing corps assigned to the fleet, acted as part of boarding and landing teams. The rowers on the ships were marines.

Among the crew of the scampavea, numbering 150 people, only 9 were sailors (navigator, skipper, boatswain, etc.), the rest were officers, non-commissioned officers and marine soldiers. The commander of the scampaway was, as a rule, the senior Marine officer on board the ship.

Convinced of the inability of the allies of the Danish and Saxon armies to actively and coordinately act against Sweden, Peter I decided to take control of Finland, and then deliver a powerful blow to Sweden through the Gulf of Bothnia and force it to conclude a peace beneficial to Russia.

Intense preparations for the upcoming campaign were carried out for several months. Peter I and his associates in the shortest possible time created special tactics for the marine corps of the galley fleet, which included the procedure for landing troops on ships, crossing them by sea, landing troops and fighting on the shore.

On May 2, 1713, a galley fleet with an amphibious corps consisting of 16 regiments numbering about 16,000 people. under the command of Apraksin and the naval fleet under the command of Peter I went to sea and headed for the Finnish skerries.

In the battle at the river. Pelkina on October 6, 1713, Russian troops attacked enemy positions from the front, simultaneously making a deep outflanking of them with the forces of a specially allocated combined detachment of ten regiments of the airborne corps with a total number of 6,000 people. under the command of Lieutenant General M. M. Golitsyn, one of the best military leaders of the Russian army.

At dawn on October 6, after a successful night crossing on rafts across Lake Mallas-Vesi, Golitsyn's detachment went to the rear of the fortified Swedish position and quickly attacked the enemy, who had retreated in the direction of Tammerfors. At the same time, Russian troops attacked the Swedes from the front and, with artillery support, crossed the river. The enemy twice repelled attacks by Russian troops, but after the third attack they fled, losing 600 people. killed, 244 people. captured and leaving eight guns on the battlefield.
In the battle at the river. Pelkina's combined detachment of the airborne corps was the first to use new methods of combat for that time in lake-wooded terrain: a deep detour of the enemy's flank with crossing on rafts and landing of troops in the rear, a decisive bayonet strike and a column attack.

In the campaign of 1714, it was planned, in close cooperation between the army and the galley and naval fleets, to completely capture Finland, occupy the Abo-Aland Islands and create a base for landing troops on Swedish territory.

In Tverminskaya Bay, the galley fleet was forced to stop, since its further path was blocked by the Swedish squadron of Admiral Vatrang. By this time, Golitsyn’s detachment, which was in the Abo area, deprived of the support of the artillery of the galley fleet and did not receive the expected ammunition and food, was forced to retreat to Poe-Kirka, where it boarded the ships abandoned by Apraksin and subsequently united with the main forces of the galley fleet.

On May 27, 1714, the Battle of Gangut took place, in which two guards, two grenadiers, eleven infantry regiments and a galley battalion of marines took direct part - a total of about 3,433 people, not counting officers. About 240 sailors took part in the battle on the scampaways of these regiments.
During the two years of the war, the Marine Corps had to endure the hardships and deprivations of the harsh conditions of Finland, be on the verge of starvation, beat the Swedes from rafts, and do the hard work of oarsmen on scampaways. In the Battle of Gangut, she took part in a boarding battle at sea in extremely difficult conditions against superior enemy forces.

The Gangut victory had important military and political significance. It became the first naval victory, after which Russia rightfully took its rightful place among the naval powers. The Battle of Gangut was also of strategic importance: the entry of the galley fleet into the Gulf of Bothnia was opened and conditions were created for the Russian naval fleet for active operations in the southern and middle parts of the Baltic Sea. It also showed the importance of close interaction between the galley fleet and the regiments of the landing corps.

The successful breakthrough of the enemy squadron was made possible thanks to the skill and courage of the sailors, but the victory on May 27, 1714 was almost exclusively the work of the guards and infantry regiments of the Marine Amphibious Corps. The battle of the vanguard was led by Army General Weide, who was awarded the highest award - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

After the failure of peace negotiations with the Swedes at the Åland Congress of 1718-1719. Peter I decided to strike Sweden from Finland.

In 1719, the landing corps under the command of Admiral General Apraksin (about 20,000 people), operating on the coast from Stockholm to Norrköping, landed 16 troops consisting of from one to 12 battalions. Another part of the corps under the command of Major General P.P. Lassi (3500 people) carried out a landing of 14 troops in the area between Stockholm and Gefle.
The Russian government considered the actions of the landing corps as a means of forcing Sweden, which had not lost hope of help from the English fleet, to agree to peace.

In 1721, a Russian landing force under the command of Lassi again landed on Swedish territory, where they destroyed 13 factories, including one weapons factory, and captured 40 small Swedish ships and a lot of military property.

The raids of the Russian galley fleet on the coasts of Sweden, the depletion of the country's forces and the moral depression of the population, as well as the futility of hopes for English help and the complete failure of the English policy of intimidating Russia forced the Swedish government to make peace with Russia on the terms dictated by Peter I.
Marine tactics were further developed during the Persian Campaign of 1721-1723, in which 80 companies of the former Marine Corps took part, later consolidated into 10 two-battalion regiments. The actions of these regiments, which glorified the Russian Marines during the Northern War, in Derbent, Baku and Salyan in the Caspian Sea, had a significant impact on the military-political situation in Transcaucasia and ensured the security of Russia's southeastern borders.

Subsequently, during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1743, the personnel of the four regiments that took part in the Persian campaign were used to staff two naval regiments of the Baltic Fleet. Thus, in the first half of the 18th century. It became natural to attract army infantry regiments that had previously served in the navy to replenish marine units.

In 1733-1734, due to financial difficulties, a reorganization of the fleet and marine corps was carried out, the number of which was reduced by 700-750 people. By decree of Empress Anna Ivanovna, instead of separate battalions, two three-battalion regiments were created in the Baltic Sea.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. From the personnel of two regiments of the Baltic Fleet, a combined marine battalion of 2,145 people was formed, which took an active part in the siege and capture of Azov.

A bright page in the diverse activities of the regiments was the participation of 46 people. (3 officers and 43 lower ranks) in the second Bering expedition.

Great influence on the development of the Marine Corps in the second half of the 18th century. had the effect of the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763, in which the Marine Corps' advanced tactics for that time were used and its most advanced forms were used.

During the Seven Years' War, the bold and decisive actions of the Baltic Fleet marine landing force predetermined the success of the ground forces in capturing the important Prussian fortress of Kolberg.

During the siege of the fortress, a landing party consisting of 2012 marines and sailors under the command of Captain 1st Rank G. A. Spiridov, after landing on the shore, interacted with the troops of the siege corps of General P. A. Rumyantsev.
On the night of September 7, 1761, a landing force under the command of Spiridov, as a result of a bold attack, captured a Prussian coastal battery located opposite the right flank of the Russian siege corps, along with all the guns and a garrison of about 400 people. In this battle, the grenadier company of the marine corps under the command of Lieutenant P. I. Pushchin, which was considered the best unit among the grenadier units of the siege corps, especially distinguished itself.

A brilliant example of the combat activities of the Marine Corps to protect the national interests of Russia in the Mediterranean Sea was the first Archipelago expedition of 1769-1774, during which the blockade of the Dardanelles was carried out, and landings landed on the islands of the Archipelago, the coast of Greece and the Anatolian coast of Turkey, diverting significant forces Turkish army from the main Black Sea theater of operations and assisted the Greek rebels in the fight against Turkey.

Marine boarding teams took part in the famous Battle of Chesma.

During the Archipelago Expedition, over 60 landing forces were landed, the main combat force of which was the marines of the Baltic Fleet.

In accordance with the strategic plan of the war, from 1769 to 1774, five squadrons of the Baltic Fleet were sent to the Mediterranean Sea with a landing force of more than 8,000 people, including the regular marines of the Baltic Fleet and the personnel of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards, as well as the Kexholm, Shlisselbur, Ryazan, Tobolsk, Vyatka and Pskov infantry regiments. These regiments, previously part of the landing corps created by Peter I, again came to the fleet to honorably fulfill their military duty to the Fatherland.
The squadrons of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea independently maintained their combat effectiveness for several years, and the brilliant victories they won over a larger enemy fleet were a remarkable example of the long-term actions of a large naval formation, including the marines, far from their bases.

The successful actions of the Russian fleet raised the authority of Russia in the international arena and had a significant impact on the overall course of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774.

Using the power of its fleet, in 1783 Russia, without war, finally annexed Crimea, where the main base of the Black Sea Fleet was created - Sevastopol.

During the fighting of the Liman (later Danube) flotilla during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791. The Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet was born, especially distinguished itself during the heroic assault on the Izmail fortress.

As you know, Izmail was taken as a result of an assault by nine columns of the Russian army under the command of Suvorov who attacked it from three directions. Six of them attacked from land, and three, which included the marines of the Black Sea Fleet, attacked from the river.

According to Suvorov, the Marines “showed amazing courage and zeal.” In his report to G. A. Potemkin about the capture of Izmail, among those who distinguished themselves, the names of eight officers and one sergeant of the naval battalions and about 70 officers and sergeants of the Nikolaev and Dnepropetrovsk coastal grenadier regiments were mentioned.
One of the most glorious pages in the history of the Marine Corps was its participation in the Mediterranean campaign of Admiral F. F. Ushakov of 1798-1800. As a result of brilliantly carried out landing operations, the Ionian Islands were liberated from the Turks, the fortress of Corfu, which was considered impregnable, was taken by storm from the sea, and Naples and Rome were occupied.

Marine combat operations were distinguished by a variety of tactical forms. She successfully operated as part of landing forces, especially during the assault on coastal fortresses.

On November 9, 1798, a joint Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of Ushakov blocked the island of Corfu, the main base of the French naval and ground forces in the eastern Mediterranean. The fortress located on it, built by the Venetians and heavily fortified by the French, was considered one of the most powerful in Europe.

The advance detachment of the landing party was headed by the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Skipor, the other two detachments were led by the battalion commanders, Majors Buasel and Brimmer, and the landing reserve was on the ships of the squadron in readiness for landing. By 10:30 a.m. A total of 2,158 men were landed, including 730 marines, 610 sailors, 68 artillerymen and 750 Turks.

After the fall of Vido, all forces and means were concentrated to storm Corfu. An hour and a half after the start of the assault, all three fortified forts covering the approaches to the Corfu fortress from land were taken by storm as a result of courageous and decisive landing actions.

Admiral Ushakov highly praised the actions of the marines, who played an important role in the capture of Corfu. In his reports to Paul I on February 21 and March 13, 1799, he reported that “naval troops and their commanders carried out combat missions with unparalleled courage and zeal”.

Having received news of the victory at Corfu, the great Russian commander Suvorov enthusiastically wrote: “Our Great Peter is alive! What he said after the defeat of the Swedish fleet at the Åland Islands in 1714, namely: nature has produced only one Russia, it has no rivals, we see now. Hooray! To the Russian fleet! Now I’m telling myself why I wasn’t at Corfu, even though I was a midshipman!”
The capture of Corfu, the most powerful fortress in Europe at that time, only by the forces of the navy and marines wrote another bright page in the military history of Russia.

The combat activities of the Marine Corps as part of the Russian fleet seriously changed the military-political situation in the Mediterranean Sea.

With the loss of the Ionian Islands, France lost its dominance in the Adriatic and eastern Mediterranean seas, and Russia acquired the important naval base of Corfu.

In the Italian campaign of Suvorov and the Mediterranean campaign of Ushakov, a close military partnership between two outstanding military leaders was revealed, which largely determined the successful combat use of the marine corps in the coastal areas of the Apennine Peninsula. It is characteristic that many marines of the Black Sea Fleet, which took Izmail, took part in the assault on Corfu.
Based on the provisions of Suvorov’s “Science of Victory” and the national combat training system he created, generations of marines were trained and educated. Suvorov's system of teaching bayonet attacks and aimed shooting had a deep educational meaning. In the Marine Corps soldier, she developed courage, boldness, and composure in battle and taught him to take proactive and decisive actions.

The ability to strike with a bayonet was the moral criterion of the Russian Marine Corps. It was not without reason that near Izmail and Corfu, in the direction of the main attack, marine battalions—masters of the bayonet strike—attacked as assault detachments.

All of the above allows us to draw the following conclusions. Russia's intense struggle for national independence in the 18th century. and the peculiarities of the construction of its Armed Forces during this period determined a unique path for the development and combat use of the Marine Corps.

The merit of the Marine Corps is that through its combat activities it had a significant influence on the outcome of many wars of the Russian Empire. Having adopted the advanced system of training and education, she managed not only to develop, but also to enrich it with new content, proving the invincibility of the Russian military school.

In 1803, all individual battalions of the Marine Corps were consolidated into four naval regiments (three in the Baltic and one in the Black Sea Fleet), which wrote many glorious pages in the history of the Marine Corps.
During the second Archipelago expedition of the Russian fleet of 1805-1807. in the squadron of Vice Admiral D.N. Senyavin, from the battalions of the naval regiments of the Baltic Fleet, the second naval regiment was formed, which heroically acted in landings and took part in many battles with France in 1805-1807. and the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812. The third naval regiment of the Baltic Fleet participated in the landing corps of Lieutenant General P. A. Tolstoy in the Hanoverian expedition of 1805.

Created in 1811, the 25th Infantry Division, which included two brigades formed from naval regiments, fought on the land front in the Patriotic War of 1812.

The heroism and military valor of the Marines was especially evident in the Patriotic War of 1812. On the Borodino field, among the 34 obelisks erected in honor of the heroes of this battle, there is a monument to the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment and the sailors of the Guards crew, majestic in its austere and memorable beauty.
They came here with the army of Barclay de Tolly from the western border of our Motherland, having overcome 300 miles of difficult travel. The task of the Marines was to build bridges and crossings for the rapid advancement of our army and destroy them when the French approached. Often this had to be done under enemy fire and suffered heavy losses. In the Battle of Borodino, a detachment of 30 marines led by midshipman M.N. Lermontov was tasked with monitoring the bridge over the Kolocha River, which separated the Russian rangers stationed in the village of Borodino from the main positions of the right flank of the Russian troops. Kutuzov ordered the sailors, if the rangers retreated, to destroy the bridge and with dense rifle fire to prevent the French from crossing the river.

On the morning of August 26, taking advantage of the thick fog, the French unexpectedly attacked Borodino. The rangers held out bravely, but, having suffered heavy losses, were forced to retreat across the bridge to the left bank of the river. The sailors immediately set fire to the bridge. However, the French of the 106th regiment advanced so quickly that they rushed forward straight across the burning bridge. The sailors had to destroy the bridge deck and at the same time participate in hand-to-hand combat with the French. Barclay de Tolly saw the fierce battle at the bridge and sent two regiments of chasseurs to help. With the joint efforts of the 106th French regiment, the French regiment was destroyed and the bridge was destroyed. Thanks to this, the right flank of our troops was protected from the French advance. This heroic feat of the sailors and rangers was immediately reported to Kutuzov. Midshipman Lermontov, who was wounded in this battle, was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 3rd degree, and all the sailors of his detachment received various incentives.

In 1813, parts of the Marine Corps were transferred to the army department and lost contact with the fleet. For almost 100 years, there were no large full-time marine formations in the Russian fleet.

However, the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855 required a large number of naval infantry units from the fleet, once again confirming the need for the marine corps. In total, during the defense, 17 separate naval battalions were formed, which, together with other participants in the defense of Sevastopol, covered themselves with unfading glory. Considering the development of the Russian marine corps from the time of its formation until the middle of the 19th century, it should be noted that it took an active part in all Russian wars that time. Its main tasks were:
- independently or jointly with army units, land on the shore occupied by the enemy, capture and hold targeted objects;
- participate in the anti-landing defense of fleet bases and islands;
- in naval battles, conduct targeted rifle fire at enemy personnel, and at short distances use grenades to destroy personnel and create fires on enemy ships;
- when your ship approaches an enemy ship, side by side, be the main force of the boarding teams and ensure success in battle, in hand-to-hand combat;
- carry out guard duty on ships, in bases and fleet stops, form small garrisons of islands and provide ships of the galley fleet with rowers.

The defense of Port Arthur on land in 1904 involved many units and teams formed from the personnel of ships and naval crews: seven separate naval rifle battalions, a separate landing detachment of sailors, three separate naval rifle companies and several machine gun teams. They played a significant role in the long and stubborn defense of Port Arthur.

The question of forming permanent units of the Marine Corps was raised only in 1910. In 1911, the Main Naval Staff developed a project for the creation of permanent infantry units in the main fleet bases: an infantry regiment of the Baltic Fleet, a battalion of the Black Sea Fleet and a Vladivostok battalion.
In August 1914, two separate battalions were created in Kronstadt from the personnel of the Guards Fleet Crew and one battalion from the personnel of the 1st Baltic Fleet Crew. In March 1915, a separate naval battalion of the 2nd Baltic Fleet Crew was transformed into a Special Purpose Naval Regiment.

In addition to rifle companies, it included: a mine company, a machine gun team, a communications team, regimental artillery, a technical workshop, a convoy and separate teams of the Ivan-Gorod steamship and boats. The formation of naval battalions of the Black Sea Fleet began on August 1, 1914, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet approved the “Regulations on the temporary separate Kerch naval battalion.”

At the beginning of the war, two more separate naval battalions were formed and placed at the disposal of the commandant of the Batumi fortress. On the Caspian Sea, the commander of the Baku port had an amphibious detachment of the Black Sea Fleet and a separate company of marines at his disposal. At the end of 1916 and the beginning of 1917, the Russian naval command began to form two large marine formations - the Baltic and Black Sea divisions.

The Baltic division was deployed on the basis of an existing marine brigade; The Black Sea was formed from naval battalions created back in 1915, and reinforcements from the army department. The personnel of these battalions already had good landing training. The creation of these divisions, unfortunately, was not completed, and after the February Revolution, in April 1917, they were disbanded...