The paratrooper is an elite soldier. Description of the landing

A paratrooper is an elite soldier in any army of the world. The use of landing is known since ancient times. However, it became a separate military formation only in the twentieth century. Paratroopers are characterized by high training, moral and physical endurance, advanced weapons. They perform the most difficult tasks.

In history

Initially, the paratrooper is a soldier who takes part in landing in the rear of the enemy. Even in the Middle Ages, the delivery of fighters to the battlefield with the help of ships was actively used. They landed far from the main enemy forces or its fortifications. Then they went to the enemy army in the rear and immediately entered the battle. Unlike ordinary soldiers, the paratroopers were still wearing sea armor and were ready to fight right after landing on the beach.

With the development of science and the advent of helicopters and aircraft began to use the landing from the air. Even during the Civil War in Russia, the Red Army men landed in the rear of the enemy and caught him off guard. This tactic was improved to World War II. In the ranks of the Red Army special units were created, in which they taught parachute jumps and fast occupation of bridgeheads.

Armament

A paratrooper is a well-armed fighter who can perform various functions on the battlefield. As a rule, in addition to owning small arms, he also knows how to use infantry artillery, mine, adjust fire on enemy positions. Paratroopers expect hard training. The British Royal Commandos trained with combat weapons every day for several months, after which they were thrown into the territory occupied by the Nazis.

The equipping of the landing forces includes vehicles. These are airplanes or helicopters for air and swimming equipment for sea. Usually, the paratrooper has personal small arms, which is typical for the army of his country (Kalashnikov assault rifle in Russia, the M16 machine in the US), a pistol, a sapper shovel, several fragmentation grenades, an anti-tank grenade launcher or a portable antiaircraft complex (Igla in the post-Soviet space, "Javelin" in the NATO countries). Special armored vehicles are being created for mobile troops. In the Soviet Union, based on the BMP, a Combat landing vehicle for the Airborne Forces was developed. Paratroopers could both be delivered to the place in it, and drop the car with a few parachutes.

Executable tasks

Since the paratrooper is an elite fighter, he performs the most complex operations. For example, landing in the rear of the enemy for a special operation. It can be the destruction of the enemy's headquarters, the seizure of valuable documents, diversion, intelligence. During large-scale military operations, the landing party is engaged in preliminary training for the offensive of the main forces. This is the seizure of bridgeheads, taking control of bridges and important sites of movement.

Paratroopers are often mentioned in popular culture. Many films were shot in the post-Soviet space. There are more than a hundred folk songs about paratroopers (usually an acoustic guitar).