Military Engineers From Zeleny Island

This year, Russian corps of engineers turned 311. Let’s visit one of their training centers located on Zeleny Island.

“Airport”.

Chkalovsky Airport is a typical military airport base with its wooden benches where each person will have to experience what the Spartan existence is. Chkalovsky Airport is located 31 km northeast of Moscow and was built in the 30s. It is also a major transport base, with the 8th Special Purpose Aviation Division operating the Antonov An-12, An-72, Tupolev Tu-154, Ilyushin Il-76, Il-86VKP and helicopters of all classes. Chkalovsky provides air support for Star City, Russia, Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center, and other elements of the Soviet space program and Russian Federal Space Agency. Since the beginning of the 21st century, it has been used as an international airport operation passenger and cargo aircrafts.

“Perron Cafeteria”.

Perron Cafeteria is very affordable and much to the point. Its freshly baked patties with different fillings are unforgettable!

They planned to take off at 8 a.m. but the plane was delayed until 2 p.m.
Journalists are very good in lights-out exercise.

Destination: Marinovka, Volgograd. Plane: the Ilyushin Il-18.

It was a nice flight with a soft landing.

“Belongs to Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation”.

At the training center. Since their flight has been delayed, they had to start photographing when it was getting dark. It was also very cold.

A miniature of the engineer’s training ground.

The Zhuk, a reconnaissance vehicle, has determined that water and land are free from mines.

The Zhuk is equipped with devices which allow it to identify depth, width, ice width, compactness of the bottom and currency speed of the river for example, as well as spot mines. Its maximum speed is 53 km/h on asphalt and 12 km/h in the water. Crew: 6 persons. It is equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun.

The PTS-2, a tracked amphibious transport.

The crew is seated at the front, leaving the rear of the vehicle open for a vehicle, which can be driven (or backed) in.

Loading the ZIL-131.

Technical features:
Weight: 24.2 t
Load-carrying ability, land: 12 t
Load-carrying ability, water: 12 t
Maximum speed, land, loaded: 60 km/h
Maximum speed, water, loaded: 11.7 km/h
Maximum speed, water: 12.9 km/h

The PTS-2 and its crew aboard.

It’s a training fire.

It was extinguished by the IMR-2 which courageously threw the burning logs in different directions.

It was dark and they headed to the center where they train divers.

Military divers must know how to investigate the bottom of the river and its banks, work with cables and bridges, detect mines and fougasses, assist tanks crossing the river, work with sunk ships and boats, repair boats, search for sunk equipment and ammunition and secure other divers working underwater.

The diver must know how to handle and fix diving equipment, and physiology (like influence of high pressure on the body, symptoms of diseases developing underwater and first medical aid, etc.).

Divers work individually or in small groups (2 to 6 persons).

Working underwater, thеy breathe with either pressed air or special mixes (when the depth is more than 20-30 meters).

Introduced in 1964, this diving equipment is used at a depth of 60+ meters.

The helmet protects the diver from water and head injuries. Also, it protects the eyes of the diver by electric welding. It is made of copper and its walls are 1 to 1.5 mm thick. Inside the helmet, there is an intercom.

This military diver is getting ready for a dive.

Water and air temperature.

Divers stay in touch with their support group by signalling (by means of telephone communication, radio communication and ropes).

Area where divers work must be marked with two green flags (during the daytime), like those you see on the ceiling. When it’s dark, they replace the flags with two green lights.

A diver’s knife. With this knife, divers may cut the ropes or nets which they may come across underwater and defend themselves against dangerous animals and fish.