View Full Version : Quiz: Elite commandos...
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 17:57
... or early 80s new wave band?
Kyobanim
11-08-2006, 18:37
Soviet marine commandos?
(Personally, I think they're an 80s new wave band)
Ah, Glastnost.
They're VDV aren't they?
The Reaper
11-08-2006, 19:19
Soviet airborne, by the shirts, could be a spec ops organization like the Spetznaz.
TR
NousDefionsDoc
11-08-2006, 19:36
Knowing AL - Soviet Bloc, not Soviet. I'm going to say Romanian Special Ops.
Goggles Pizano
11-08-2006, 19:46
Russia's version of Menudo?
Monsoon65
11-08-2006, 19:50
Russia's version of Menudo?
You're way off. It's their Devo knock-off. You can tell by the hair.
I'd say VDV or Spetznaz, too.
x SF med
11-08-2006, 19:56
My vote - Gay Spetznaz - the Soviet military Village People knock off?
Jack Moroney (RIP)
11-08-2006, 20:27
Interns for Bernie Sanders, the brand spanking new Socialist Senator from Vermont.
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 20:27
They are Spetsnaz, or the very special Naz maybe. No trick to the photo, I just posted it because of the interesting contrast between the image of Spetsnaz as the super-duper commandos of the USSR and the rather eurofaggy look of the guys in their Sunday best.
Of course, I think many of us who looked pretty bad when we were teenagers too. But that points to another contrast. Spetsnaz is usually analogized to SF, but these guys look more like younger soldiers, more like Rangers. All are sergeants, but in the Soviet system that basically means they're at the end of their two-year conscript terms, not that they're professional NCOs.
They are all combat veterans though. They served with the 186th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment (186 ооСпН, or 186 отдельный отряд специального назначения) in Afghanistan.
Same group of guys in Afghanistan. Middle guy is practicing a little maskirovka, disguised as a muj:
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 20:32
A few more:
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 20:34
Brokeback Mountain, Afghan style.
x SF med
11-08-2006, 20:39
One guy looks like he's carrying a belt fed Dragunov with the issued long range optics...
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 20:45
This guy, by contrast, looks like he wouldn't be out of place in a team room. He is Yurii Durnev (Юрий Дурнев). He was top kick of 1st Company, 154th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment. The rank is Senior Warrant Officer (Старший прапорщик). Note that he's got several wound stripes above his two Orders of the Red Star.
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 20:49
One guy looks like he's carrying a belt fed Dragunov with the issued long range optics...
If you're talking about shirtless guy, it looks like a PKMSN.
Kyobanim
11-08-2006, 20:51
Reminds me of pics from guys in Nam, and just about every other war there was.
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 20:58
"Teh gay" wasn't limited to the 186th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment. Here are Pvt. Viktor Krasyukov, Sgt. Aleksandr Simonenko and Pvt. Viktor Dubinin of the 668th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment. Dubinin has a Medal "For Valor" to go with the Medal "For Combat Service" that all three have, but, dude, what's with the poofy hair? Auditioning to be a Duran Duran cover band?
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 21:08
From Sgt. Simonenko's photo album, some Afghanistan photos, not so poofy:
Airbornelawyer
11-08-2006, 21:10
A few more:
Monsoon65
11-08-2006, 21:35
Reminds me of pics from guys in Nam, and just about every other war there was.
I was thinking the same thing. The first think I thought when I saw the first black and white team photo was: Kids.
Cool photos, though. That's the great thing about the internet- if it wern't around we wouldn't see photos/videos of history nearly as much as we do.
x SF med
11-09-2006, 07:56
And to think - they were the evil commie horde we were taught to fear...
Those guys are about the same age as me... but at that time (79) I was doing the punk rock thing (never really got over liking the music, but the attitude went away).
The photos in parade uniform were taken on their final day of service. It's called "dembel". The word in Russian was a shortening for demobilization.
I have heard rumors of a photo similar to this of RT New York 1-0 Ed Wolkoff (sp?) wearing a black serape and carrying a High Standard suppressed HD taken about the time that "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" came out. Perhaps crazy russians think alike
If you're talking about shirtless guy, it looks like a PKMSN.
PK with NSP-3 NV sight used with bipod = PKN
PKM with NSP-3 NV sight used with bipod = PKMN
The picture is somewhat grainy, the barrel does appears heavy and fluted (PK) and the feed cover looks like the one on a PK as well. But the stock has the hinged butt rest ( PKM )
Airbornelawyer
11-09-2006, 12:27
The source for all of these, by the way, are the photo albums contributed by "Afgantsi", mostly Spetsnaz, at Dmitri Reznikov's site here: http://www.reznik.pri.ee/section.php?dsid=13
For those who can't read Russian, "Фотоальбом" means photo album. Generally, each link there is to an album with the name of the contributor, and sometimes the unit is given.
The first few are:
Фотоальбом Владимира Корякова, разведчика 668-го ОоСпН, Бараки, Афганистан - photo album of Vladimir Koryakov, recon man, 668th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment, Baraki, Afghanistan
Фотоальбом Александра Симоненко, разведчика 668-го ОоСпН, Бараки, Афганистан - photo album of Aleksandr Simonenko, recon man, 668th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment, Baraki, Afghanistan
Фотоальбом Дмитрия Сушко, разведчика 668-го ОоСпН, Бараки, Афганистан. - photo album of Dmitrii Sushko, recon man, 668th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment, Baraki, Afghanistan
Фотоальбом начальника разведки 154-го ОоСпН Игоря Скирта, часть 2. - photo album of recon team leader of 154th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment Igor Skirt, part 2 (part 1 is further down the list)
Фотоальбом разведчика 668-го ОоСпН Царёва Валерия - photo album of recon man of 668th Separate Spetsnaz Detachment Valerii Tsaryov.
Roguish Lawyer
11-09-2006, 12:43
Very interesting point about these guys being more like Rangers than SF. I would be interested in more information on the capabilities and training of Spetsnaz units. From open sources, of course. For example, are all the units the same, or do different units have different missions and training?
Goggles Pizano
11-09-2006, 14:03
And to think - they were the evil commie horde we were taught to fear...
Those guys are about the same age as me... but at that time (79) I was doing the punk rock thing (never really got over liking the music, but the attitude went away).
You mean a Ramones punk rock thing or Sex Pistols punk rock thing (sans the schedule 1 narcotics of course)?:D
x SF med
11-09-2006, 14:12
You mean a Ramones punk rock thing or Sex Pistols punk rock thing (sans the schedule 1 narcotics of course)?:D
Ramones, pistols, MC5, Iggy and the Stooges, the Clash,The roaches, 999, Tom Robinson, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, X, NY Dolls, The Smiths, The Pixies, death from below; and oh, so many more.... I refuse to comment on the need for a Code R&Q card at the time.
I used to hang at CBGB, the Palladium, The Ritz, the Underground, Fillmore East, Bottom Line and places that had no names but great bands.
there was agreat place in Fort Worth Texas - Zero's - caught Souxie and the Banshees. the HOP in Ft Worth was great - the Fort Worth Cats used to play there all the time, as did Schwantz leFantz.
I have to admit I also did catch Pat Benatar at the Flaming Mug..... Foghat too
Damn, you went to CBGB's in its heyday?! :eek:
x SF med
11-09-2006, 17:07
Damn, you went to CBGB's in its heyday?! :eek:
I believe you mean Gabba-Gabba Heyday. I was probably going there before you were born. the Ramones at CB's was great - Iggy at CB's an experience, NY Dolls at CB's insanity.
Yea I was thinking of the Ramones/Iggy/NY Dolls heyday (THE heyday) and yea it was just a bit before my time.... anyway, I've hijacked enough!
Kyobanim
11-09-2006, 19:45
Ramones, pistols, MC5, Iggy and the Stooges, the Clash,The roaches, 999, Tom Robinson, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, X, NY Dolls, The Smiths, The Pixies, death from below; and oh, so many more.... I refuse to comment on the need for a Code R&Q card at the time.
I used to hang at CBGB, the Palladium, The Ritz, the Underground, Fillmore East, Bottom Line and places that had no names but great bands.
there was agreat place in Fort Worth Texas - Zero's - caught Souxie and the Banshees. the HOP in Ft Worth was great - the Fort Worth Cats used to play there all the time, as did Schwantz leFantz.
I have to admit I also did catch Pat Benatar at the Flaming Mug..... Foghat too
I'll have to send you a few pics of my rock band days. I played Zeros, lots of hot Texas gals.
x SF med
11-09-2006, 20:41
I'll have to send you a few pics of my rock band days. I played Zeros, lots of hot Texas gals.
No shit? Did you ever play The HOP, Spencer's Corner, or Spencer's Palace in FW?
Best show I ever saw was at the New Bluebird Cafe (Robert Ely's place)-
$3 cover, $2 beers (high price for 79) The show was "local" talent from the DFW NTex area - Edgar and Johnny, Steve Miller, the original Fabulous Thunderbirds, the Original Juke Jumpers, Robert Ely and his band - and this young kid riding on his brother's (lead guitar and singer for the T-Birds, Jimmy) coat tails named Stevie Ray Vaughn - 5 hours of the best blues you have ever heard, in the rattiest little club in Como... Those were the days
I'll have to send you a few pics of my rock band days. I played Zeros, lots of hot Texas gals.
I seem to remember a picture posted a long time ago, IIRC we played guess which one was Kyo...no?
Kyobanim
11-10-2006, 04:23
Your memory is way better than mine.
Russian Army Spetsnaz GRU have the same mission as do US Army Special Forces. This is based on talking to a few individuals who have served and what I read/ translated. If I'm wrong, I'll correct myself.
Apparently they received a new spiffy HQ in Moscow
http://news.ntv.ru/97396/
Cincinnatus
11-14-2006, 23:03
:munchin
There are different kinds of Russian SF.
Alfa
Spetznaz GRU
Spetznaz MVD
The Reaper
11-15-2006, 09:20
Russian Army Spetsnaz GRU have the same mission as do US Army Special Forces. This is based on talking to a few individuals who have served and what I read/ translated. If I'm wrong, I'll correct myself.
Apparently they received a new spiffy HQ in Moscow
http://news.ntv.ru/97396/
What do you think US Army Special Forces missions are?
TR
The tasks outlined on this site. Am I confusing tasks with mission?
Hey Airborne Lawyer, I think you're really showing alot of ignorance of Russian culture. Uniforms have always had that style, and still do today. It doesn't mean its gay. Whats with these school yard stereotypes.
You think just because its a Russian unit you can diss it? I don't think it would go over so well if you were talking about an American unit in this manner.
And the point I'm trying to make is have some some valid discussion and information without the whole anti-Soviet crap. I think theres alot of stupid ass Western stereotypes. Quit confusing us with a bunch of Berkely commies. Russia is a totally different from that.
Smokin Joe
02-05-2007, 05:08
Hey Airborne Lawyer, I think you're really showing alot of ignorance of Russian culture. Uniforms have always had that style, and still do today. It doesn't mean its gay. Whats with these school yard stereotypes.
You think just because its a Russian unit you can diss it? I don't think it would go over so well if you were talking about an American unit in this manner.
And the point I'm trying to make is have some some valid discussion and information without the whole anti-Soviet crap. I think theres alot of stupid ass Western stereotypes. Quit confusing us with a bunch of Berkely commies. Russia is a totally different from that.
I think Airborne Lawyer has the right to speak about such things on this site where he is a Moderator, and to say that he is showing ignorance of Russian Culture. Is displaying your own ignorance as to what Airborne Lawyer is trying to document.
I don't see AL "dissing" any unit, I see documented photographs of the USSR'S "Elite" and how the images don't really match the persona they were made out to be.
I think you would have a little more understanding if you were around when Russia was the big bad bear that we all had to fear and train to kill.
You might want to read more of AL's threads before you start jumping to conclusions.
82ndtrooper
02-05-2007, 05:27
And the point I'm trying to make is have some some valid discussion and information without the whole anti-Soviet crap. I think theres alot of stupid ass Western stereotypes. Quit confusing us with a bunch of Berkely commies. Russia is a totally different from that.
Interesting. Your a student, a student of what ? Highschool, college, military history ?
If AL wants to create a thread with pics of Russian SOF military from the 80's, it's his perogative, not yours to stump in and demand that the thread be "informative" If you want to be informed, start tracing the history of the CANSOFCOM and JTF-2, CSOR, CA-SERT, CAABN Regiment. After all, your a student desiring to be CANSOF right ?
What's your interest in defending the Soviets reputation ? Your from Canada right ? Aren't you also of western culture ? I'm sure you have "stereo types" of the U.S. dont you ?
Which are you, Russian or Canadian? or is the political mindset in Canada that of the Soviet Union ? Last I checked, your CANSOFCOM were directly operating with the U.S. SOF forces and had recieved a Presidential Unit Citation from the POTUS, but your Minister denied the citation.
Did you even know that ??
Did you catch the title of my post ? What signifcance does it hold since your interested in the CANSOF way of life ?
Choose,
I was born in the Soviet Union too but people on here have worked with Russian Soldiers before. They're just making fun of the parade uniforms, which do look kind of silly.
Irish_Army01
02-05-2007, 08:54
My vote - Gay Spetznaz - the Soviet military Village People knock off?
Exactly what I was thinking............:eek:
Team Sergeant
02-05-2007, 08:58
Hey Airborne Lawyer, I think you're really showing alot of ignorance of Russian culture. Uniforms have always had that style, and still do today. It doesn't mean its gay. Whats with these school yard stereotypes.
You think just because its a Russian unit you can diss it? I don't think it would go over so well if you were talking about an American unit in this manner.
Alex,
Airbornelawyer is out of high school and he studies militaries from around the world. He's got dust on books that's been around longer than you have been breathing air. He's also got more knowledge of the Russian military in his fingernail clippings than you will ever have.
Go and re-read the "rules". You are about to become that "troublesome member" in which case I will be happy to deal with you myself. There is another rule concerning posting by teenagers, read that also. I personally have no desire to hear your inexperienced opinion on this topic. Before I ban you might I suggest you sit back and shut-up.
Team Sergeant
ProfessionalSoldiers.com is owned and operated by Quiet Professionals. While all moderators may not be Quiet Professionals all of the administrators are and all have zero tolerance for foolish or troublesome members. Professional Soldiers' moderators have the total support of board administrators and Quiet Professionals. Any verbal assault on a PS moderator will not be viewed as amusing and will be dealt with unsympathetically by the board administrators.
Stupidity is not an excuse.
x SF med
02-05-2007, 09:02
OOOPS!!! The hammer is poised, over someone's head, ready to fall, with just a little more provocation. Chance - suggestion, find cover and concealment, don't post for a while, read and gain knowledge.
The Reaper
02-05-2007, 09:30
Hey Airborne Lawyer, I think you're really showing alot of ignorance of Russian culture. Uniforms have always had that style, and still do today. It doesn't mean its gay. Whats with these school yard stereotypes.
You think just because its a Russian unit you can diss it? I don't think it would go over so well if you were talking about an American unit in this manner.
Son, you are way out of line.
I got the TS's back on this, as if he needed it.
You do not know what you are talking about, since the Wall came down and the USSR imploded before you were around to remember it. AL, the TS, and I (along with many others on this board) served in the military that stood watch against the sorry Commie Spetznaz bastards.
That evil empire killed more of its own citizens than the Nazis did, gobbled up half of Europe and kept them in the Stone Age under the thumb of secret police and intel agencies for over four decades.
Yes, the uniforms and poses DO look gay.:rolleyes: I do not believe that the Czarist-era Russian uniforms looked like that. And, I suppose we need to remind you again that you are on a board owned and operated by US SF. There is not a lot of love here for Soviet Spec Ops, except possibly for when they were killing Nazis. Maybe.
Your quickness to take offense where none was intended and piss poor attitude indicates that your career in SOF will likely be nonexistent. Get a grip.
If you do not quickly apologize to AL, who is probably one of the most intelligent and tolerant people on this board, you will soon find yourself viewing PS.com as a Guest. I am sure that you will find plenty of high school friends back over at ARF.com.
Have a very US SF Day.
TR
x SF med
02-05-2007, 10:08
And now the sickle is poised , to lop off an offending head.
Chance - follow the advice given by TR, apologize to AL, who is one of the most intelligent, accurate and detail oriented people I have ever met, and then follow my advice above - let this incident blow over and then think about posting in the humor section for a while. Oh, BTW, I was in the 10th SFG(A) throught the bulk of the 80's, look at the history and AoR for the 10th during that time period. I still think the Spetznaz uniforms are less than manly.
Kyobanim
02-05-2007, 10:59
I still think the Spetznaz uniforms are less than manly.
This coming from a man with a naked troll for an avatar.
x SF med
02-05-2007, 11:03
This coming from a man with a naked troll for an avatar.
Thanks for the backup, buddy.... :eek: and we all know that in this case, buddy is only half the word.:rolleyes:
Judging from this photo, they take PT pretty seriously! This guy looks like he failed his tape, and the punishment is pretty severe!
I think I've seen this photo before. This is a demonstration by some of the Russian KFOR soldiers.
The Reaper
02-05-2007, 13:47
They appear to be Russian Airborne soldiers to me.
Looks like some sort of Systema training.
TR
Kyobanim
02-05-2007, 13:55
Looks like painful training to me. Talk about conditioning. "Come Pavel, let me beat you with my two by four."
I apologize. I was out of line.
Smokin Joe
02-05-2007, 20:29
Judging from this photo, they take PT pretty seriously! This guy looks like he failed his tape, and the punishment is pretty severe!
That looks like a training excersise developed by NDD but I don't see a nail in any of those boards.... They must have toned it down for the photo.:)
Judging from this photo, they take PT pretty seriously! This guy looks like he failed his tape, and the punishment is pretty severe!
That still is taken from a short movie. It's a demo. I can't remember where I saw it. It had the song crazy train playing throughout it. They did other crazy stuff too, like drag a guy behind a jeep and swing him all around the parking lot, dropped knives on thier abs to show they wouldn't penetrate, break all manner of things against their bodies (wood, shingles, glass.) Ok now it's going to bug me until I find where I saw that video.
aricbcool
02-06-2007, 03:15
Found it...
They are part of the 1st Russian Separate Airborne Brigade, part of the Russian Military Contingent in Bosnia.
article: http://www.nato.int/sfor/indexinf/159/p08a/t02p08a.htm
video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-360607308234128318
--Aric
They appear to be Russian Airborne soldiers to me.
Looks like some sort of Systema training.
TR
Systema is brutal! Its very effective. I've done a few martial arts and I've found systema to be the most efficient and effective. Anyone know anything about Vladimir Vasiliev?