Britboy
11-15-2008, 08:34 AM
Hallo all,
Trying to decipher Russia's security forces, which I'm sure many of our members here are familiar with, so here it goes.
Firstly, I was interested to learn that Russian Army & Naval special forces (not Naval Infantry like Marines, but Naval Spetsnatz, 'Delfin' I believe they are termed) are actually subordinated to the Military Intelligence service directly?
I've no doubt Western SF work bloody closely with the Int organisations in their various defence forces, but they seem to exist as a separate entity. Whilst I can certainly see the advantage of putting Spetsnaz under Int, making them 'Spetsnaz GRU', does this limit their application in other, non-int-led, irregular warfare taskings at all?
Secondly, I was interested to learn that many SF units are not Spetsnaz but Osnaz, that is they belong not to the MoD but to the MVD (Min of Interior Affairs), FSB (Domestic security service), FPS (Federal protective service). I am taking it that these units fulfil the role of 'police SF' that would be done by SO19 et al in the UK for example?
So what is their relation with MoD forces? Particularly when deployed alongside the Ground Forces in Chechnya for example? How do they work out the command structure and such?
Where do they recruit from if they are not MoD? MVD Internal Troops and Militsiya/Police/OMON/SOBR type units? From the FSB more generally? Other govt agencies? Or can they take interested Armed Forces blokes?
Also, there is great mention of FSB/FSK (counterint service) SF units existing or having been in existence... These are for domestic security at home, makes sense.
However, what of SF units of the foreign intelligence service? Does the SVR have this capability, or is that what Spetsnaz GRU was envisaged for (hence coming under GRU/int umbrella) as well as Army type work with the Ground Forces?
Additionally, any others I left out? State Committee for Combating the Trafficking of Psychotropic Substances SF, like US DEA?
Apologies for the rather broad post, and many questions, but to an outsider its a rather confusing mixyblob of different organisations, which I wish to sort out in my head :p
Cheers all!
BB
Trying to decipher Russia's security forces, which I'm sure many of our members here are familiar with, so here it goes.
Firstly, I was interested to learn that Russian Army & Naval special forces (not Naval Infantry like Marines, but Naval Spetsnatz, 'Delfin' I believe they are termed) are actually subordinated to the Military Intelligence service directly?
I've no doubt Western SF work bloody closely with the Int organisations in their various defence forces, but they seem to exist as a separate entity. Whilst I can certainly see the advantage of putting Spetsnaz under Int, making them 'Spetsnaz GRU', does this limit their application in other, non-int-led, irregular warfare taskings at all?
Secondly, I was interested to learn that many SF units are not Spetsnaz but Osnaz, that is they belong not to the MoD but to the MVD (Min of Interior Affairs), FSB (Domestic security service), FPS (Federal protective service). I am taking it that these units fulfil the role of 'police SF' that would be done by SO19 et al in the UK for example?
So what is their relation with MoD forces? Particularly when deployed alongside the Ground Forces in Chechnya for example? How do they work out the command structure and such?
Where do they recruit from if they are not MoD? MVD Internal Troops and Militsiya/Police/OMON/SOBR type units? From the FSB more generally? Other govt agencies? Or can they take interested Armed Forces blokes?
Also, there is great mention of FSB/FSK (counterint service) SF units existing or having been in existence... These are for domestic security at home, makes sense.
However, what of SF units of the foreign intelligence service? Does the SVR have this capability, or is that what Spetsnaz GRU was envisaged for (hence coming under GRU/int umbrella) as well as Army type work with the Ground Forces?
Additionally, any others I left out? State Committee for Combating the Trafficking of Psychotropic Substances SF, like US DEA?
Apologies for the rather broad post, and many questions, but to an outsider its a rather confusing mixyblob of different organisations, which I wish to sort out in my head :p
Cheers all!
BB