Paratroopers were not there, where are the troops, where courage and bravery.
– Second half we have, if we fly there… I See three tubes on the right? Here there yesterday and flew as many as ten pieces of Erasov. – Sergei pointed in the direction of some industrial enterprises, the contours of which were clearly visible in the distance. Right in front of us, behind the airfield, was located the town, seemingly quiet and peaceful, and to his right, several kilometers away, loomed on the horizon these same tubes.
Sergey – aircraft gunner. Senior Lieutenant. Of course, I changed his name. And about the names and say no. He has a job. Combat work.
– There were skeptics, – smiles Sergey, – say, what are we to these attacks. But when it happened, bravado vanished from sight. All this speed has found a shelter, I just wondered. But the essence is: the characteristic whistling can be heard approaching missile. Then follows cotton. This is when multiple missile reached the target point on the trajectory and the head of the ejectable from the housing. From the moment of its ejection until the defeat of the object on the ground it takes a second and a half. During this time, you and the shelter to find itself.
– But here’s the next aerodrome – specify, – fly airplanes, helicopters, so the sounds of the approaching of eres and cotton can not hear.
– So, we must not for a moment lose vigilance.
– How often fire and at what time?
– In the different times of day. Happens arrive a few shells per day, sometimes more. Fortunately, our location had not yet hit even once, but the pieces collected. But that “Sadiq” that next to us got.
“Sadiq” we call on all Syrian soldiers. This word is used and when referring to him. “Sadik” is translated into Russian language as a reliable friend. A more faithful, loyal, sincere, upright.
In the evening, when the heat subsides, “Sadiq,” I love to sit outside the building or shelter, and drink mate. That they have a ritual. A leisurely conversation and relaxation after a busy day. And then the fire. A day before yesterday, over there on the right, was wounded, and very hard, one of the Syrian military. Well, here is all right. By the way, today it is not firing.
– So can you wait? – I scoff.
– No, probably in honour of your arrival here, all is quiet. Maybe because today is a day off. Although it makes no difference. The beat and weekend. And yet the evening.
By the way, I’ll digress a bit from my conversation with an aviation gunner and I will explain only one thing: what is Yerba mate, mentioned by Sergey. It is a tonic with a high content mateine, prepared from dried powdered leaves and young shoots of Paraguayan Holly. The habit of using it, according to the sources I checked, the Syrians took over from his countrymen, who visited Argentina and returned home. And now Argentina delivers the goods to Syria.
Now back to the story about my character. I met him in a distant province, where he arrived with a small convoy, which delivered humanitarian aid. To tell about the work of the air gunner is very difficult for many reasons. But I will tell, as they say in such cases, “within”. If we are talking about the impacts of aircraft and helicopters our videoconferencing that support the government with air power, then, of course, help aviators and aviation gunners who are on the ground.
Since we quickly found a common language. The reason is clear: both the paratroopers. Therefore, the rights of the older I just switched to you, that does not hurt Sergei, because he’s in the sons I do…
– Sergey, – I ask – how did you become an aviation gunner?
– I was Deputy commander of the paratrooper company and an instructor at the airborne training. Offered to go and do some training aircraft gunners. I immediately agreed. Passed the necessary theoretical ground training, studied the ways of guidance aviation, improved skills in communication, learned how to conduct meteorological observations and measurements in the interest of crews, at the topographic map and the terrain to choose the landing site and to get them helicopters and more.
My trip to Syria soon it will end, but I decided to apply to. And my request had been granted. Work here is interesting, see for yourself. Well people, the people are lovely. Then all the excess is swept aside at once, for the person looking to scale one to one, that is, immediately obvious what it really is.
Army the fate of Sergei ordinary. Father – Colonel airborne, and mother is one of the parts of the winged guard. He entered the Ryazan higher airborne twice red banner order of Suvorov command school named after army General V. F. Margelov. Everything seems to be going well but at the end of the fourth year he has filed the report with a request to expel him from school and sent to serve in the army.
In a military unit, which was sent to Sergey, glad to see the arrival of such a trained and competent contractor. He was appointed commander of a platoon, despite the fact that the rank was senior Sergeant. Service in the armed forces once again convinced Sergei that his vocation is the profession of officer. He returned to school and successfully graduated from it.
– Sergey, – I ask – while you might think that aviation gunner is a person who operates behind enemy lines, constantly risking being discovered by the enemy with all the ensuing consequences. So tell me, what tasks do you perform, what conditions you have to work? I heard that you already submitted to the state award.
– If, for example, is the advance of Syrian troops, it is necessary to destroy the most important goal, to help crack enemy defenses, to prevent the approach of reserves. In defense, respectively, to reflect attacks of the enemy, to prevent his breakthrough in some areas to inflict maximum casualties in order to create the most favorable conditions for further action. All in all, as in the field manual.
Place aviation gunner not behind enemy lines, and usually at the command post. Although anything can happen. In any case, you should have a good view of the area. Most of the time I have to work with the crews of bombers su-24. Performed, of course, combat missions and helicopter pilots, and crews of other types of aircraft parked on the service with ATT. A helicopter working at the radio station. But with the aircraft – there is another matter. I can through special devices to give target designation from the Board.
What is the difference and advantage? No need to catch a connection, to tell, to clarify. When I work with crews that use computer tablet. Found the target on the ground indicate where it is located, its characteristics, and send the coordinates on the plane. All quickly and simply. From my point of view, just.
In fact, it sometimes takes time to Refine, test. Doing that for other professionals. For example, is carefully checked, whether there are no targets near cities and towns that have agreed to reconciliation, whether in a given area of the government forces. For example, some units of the Syrian army moved from one area to another, but while there is no information. And I see stopped in the night column. Engines are shut down, but the presence of the technology still produces a thermal signal.
– Tell me about a specific case.
Four days ago, he worked at the command post at night with a drone. Somewhere in the three nights found three sites that have a large concentration of equipment and manpower of the enemy. Unit of illegal armed groups stopped, apparently, to spend the night at the mouth of the river, going down the slopes almost to the water’s edge. They skillfully used to disguise the terrain.
But the fact that they will find the drone could not even imagine. We have taken the coordinates of the locations of the enemy, processed and then transferred to the base Hamim to navigators who are preparing for takeoff su-24, brought them to their equipment. We were soon observed using the same drone, as there was a process of destruction of targets. One column destroyed completely. Su-24 went straight ahead to her forthcoming movement. Obviously night halt was over and the enemy was going to leave a predetermined area to prepare the column for March. There burning. Also destroyed the other two columns.
– What’s most important in the work of the air gunner?
– The most important – not to make a mistake in the calculations and figures. Of course, all cross-checked at different levels. I already talked about this. But someone out there may be wrong, someone here. Hastily gave the wrong number. For example, night work, tired, but you never know what factors can affect. So the whole chain works collected carefully and meticulously. Should not be a failure in any of its components.
Sergei tells me, for what is represented to a high state award. Such as it is, not so long ago were called “polite people.” I think I understand why. No wonder that Sergey was awarded the medal “For returning Crimea” of the Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation.
– And your help Syrian troops gets some estimates from the command of the armed forces of Syria?
Recently I was awarded the Syrian medal. So appreciated – responds my companion.
After performing special tasks, I was told that Sergei will be appointed to a higher position. He wants to enter the Academy. And I’m sure that will come. Is it in the nature of the web. Yes, what!
We met with Sergei literally two days before the entry into force of the cessation of hostilities. He came on official business in Hamim and went to my office.
– You know, the next day after your departure is still “arrived”. Pulled from the four shells. Three aside from our location, and the fourth with remarkable accuracy precisely in that room where we were talking. In the next room were four people. But lucky, not hurt anybody. Well, we have already moved into the shelter.
Yes, in a combat situation anything can happen. But no, it’s not scary. Especially Sergei paratroopers former did not happen. Where are the troops, where courage and bravery.
