61st Naval Infantry Brigade (Russia)

The 61st Naval Infantry Brigade (Military Unit Number 38643) is a formation of the Russian Navy Naval Infantry.[1][2] It is part of the Northern Fleet Naval Infantry and Coastal Defence Force. The brigade is based in the Sputnik military settlement, located in Murmansk Oblast. Some sources consider it one of the best trained and most combat experienced units of the Russian military.[3]

61st Naval Infantry Brigade
Russian: 61-я отдельная Киркенесская Краснознаменная бригада морской пехоты
Brigade's shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1979–present
Country Russia
Branch Russian Navy
TypeMarines
SizeBrigade
Garrison/HQSputnik, Murmansk Oblast
EngagementsSyrian Civil War
• Battle of Palmyra
Decorations Order of the Red Banner
Battle honoursKirkenes

History

The brigade was established on 20 November 1979 from the 61st Separate Naval Infantry Regiment. The regiment was activated at Sputnik on 14 May 1966 from the 61st Motor Rifle Regiment of the 131st Motor Rifle Division.[1]

Soldiers of the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade fought in 1995 in First and in 1999–2000 in the Second Chechen War. On 1 December 2009, the brigade was downsized to a regiment with the same designation. It became a brigade again on 15 December 2014.[4]

In 2014, according to an investigation published by Bellingcat, marines of the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade participated in the War in Donbass in the Luhansk region of Ukraine.[5][6] Brigade personnel and vehicles, including the brigade's exotic 2S23 Nona-SVK, were spotted on the territory of the Ukrainian National Guard’s military base (MUN 3035) in Luhansk.[5] Evidences shows the brigade's direct participation in combat near Vishnevy Dol village in the Luhansk region.[5]

Upon returning home, the marines took a trophy BRDM armored vehicle back to Murmansk.[7] At least 5 soldiers received decorations, which included the Zhukov Medal, the Order of Suvorov and the Order of Courage. Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Vitaly Trofimov was reportedly killed in Ukraine.[5]

In March 2016, the 61st Marine Brigade conducted operations in which it aided the Syrian Army's liberation of the Syrian city of Palmyra. The 61st also participated in the storming of the city. Despite other Russian forces being more available for the operation the 61st was chosen for the operation because it was considered one of the best trained and most combat experienced units of the Russian military.[3]

Organisation and order of battle
  • Brigade Headquarters
  • 874th Marine Battalion
  • 876th Air-Assault (Desant) Battalion
  • 886th Reconnaissance Battalion
  • 125th Armored Battalion
  • 1611th Self-propelled Artillery Battalion
  • 1591st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion
  • 1617th Anti-aircraft Missile and Artillery Battalion

Notes
  1. Holm, Michael. "61st independent Naval Infantry Brigade". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  2. "Войсковая часть 38643 (61-я ОБрМП)". archive.is. 2016-07-03. Archived from the original on 2016-07-03. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  3. "Russian Marines at Palmyra - InformNapalm.org (English)". informnapalm.org. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. "61-я отдельная Киркенесская Краснознаменная бригада морской пехоты Краснознаменного Северного флота" [61st Separate Kirkenes Red Banner Naval Infantry Brigade of the Red Banner Northern Fleet] (in Russian). St. Petersburg Regional Organization of Naval Infantry. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  5. "Russia's 61st Separate Naval Infantry Brigade in the Donbass – bellingcat". bellingcat. 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  6. "Evidence of the Participation of the 61st Marine Brigade of the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet in the Fights in Donbas – InformNapalm.org (English)". InformNapalm.org (English). 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  7. "Looted BRDM Ukrop gave away Russian Marines – InformNapalm.org (English)". InformNapalm.org (English). 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
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