A paratrooper is an elite soldier in any army in the world. The use of landing has been 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, a paratrooper is a soldier who takes part in a landing in the rear of the enemy. Even in the Middle Ages, the delivery of fighters to the place of battle with the help of ships was actively used. They landed far from the main forces of the enemy or his fortifications. Then they went to the rear of the enemy army and immediately entered the battle. Unlike ordinary soldiers, paratroopers put on armor even at sea and were ready for battle immediately after landing.
With the development of science and the advent of helicopters and airplanes, they began to use air landing. Even during the Civil War in Russia, the Red Army parachuted behind enemy lines and took him by surprise. This tactic was perfected by the Second World War. Special units were created in the ranks of the Red Army, in which they trained in parachute jumping and the quick 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, and adjust fire at enemy positions. The paratroopers will have tough training. The British royal "commandos" trained with military weapons every day for several months, after which they were thrown into the territory occupied by the Nazis.
The equipment of the landing troops includes vehicles. These are airplanes or helicopters for air and marine navigation equipment. Typically, the paratrooper has personal small arms, which is characteristic of his country's army (a Kalashnikov assault rifle in Russia, an M-16 assault rifle in the USA), a pistol, an engineer shovel, several fragmentation grenades, an anti-tank grenade launcher or a portable anti-aircraft system (“Igla” in the former Soviet Union, "Javelin" in NATO countries). For mobile troops, special armored vehicles are also being created.
In the Soviet Union,
an airborne assault vehicle was developed on the basis of infantry fighting vehicles. The paratroopers could either be delivered to a place in it, or they could drop a car with the help of several parachutes.
Tasks Performed
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. This may be the destruction of the enemy headquarters, the seizure of valuable documents, sabotage, reconnaissance. During large-scale military operations, the landing is engaged in preliminary preparation for the offensive of the main forces. This is a seizure of bridgeheads, taking control of bridges and important traffic nodes.
Paratroopers are often mentioned in popular culture. Many films were shot in the post-Soviet space. More than a hundred folk songs are known about paratroopers (usually with an acoustic guitar).