"SPETSNAZ" a general acronyms (voiska SPETSialnogo NAZnacheniya) for all the special forces in the military and police. Also has the acronym "OSNAZ" (voiska OSobogo NAZnacheniya).
Special units are part of all military divisions and have the prefix SpN (Special Forces, e.g. "spetsnaz") for Army Special Forces under GRU GSh* and OsN (Special Purpose Detachment, e.g. "osnaz" ) for radioprospecting and electronic reconnaissance.
For example, air defense (russian acronym - PVO) regiments armed with MiG-31 are also special forces (spetsnaz) and have the prefix "SpN". Army Guard units sometimes referred to as special forces.
Historically, make the initial name of spetsnaz wearing only special units GRU GSh.
Soviet secret service, elite military units and armed forces in the years 1950-1980 was carried out military and covert operations in the following countries and conflicts:
- USSR (Anti-terrorism and counterintelligence)
- Switzerland
- Cuba
- USA
- Israel
- FRG
- Hungary
- Czechoslovakia
- Poland
- Afghanistan
- Vietnam (Vietnam War)
- Korea (Korean War)
- The battle for the island Damanskii
- Angola (civil war in Angola)
- Ethiopia (civil war in Ethiopia)
- War for Ogaden
etc...
In 1979-1984 there were the following special forces units and elite troops(without Air Defense Special Forces and Air Force Special Forces):
1.Soviet Ministry of Defence special forces:
1.1. Spetsnaz GRU GSh (Army Spetsnaz units)
1.2. Naval Spetsnaz GRU GSh
SpN PDSS (Protivo-Diversionnye Sily i Sredstva - Anti-diversionary forces and means) - Soviet Marine Commando.
Informally name: "Frogmen"
1.3. Osnaz GRU GSh
2.Spetsnaz KGB USSR:
2.1. Spetsgruppa "A" - Departament "A" Seventh Directorate of the KGB.
Now known as "Group Alpha"
2.2. Spetsgruppa "B" (Cyrillic for V) - Departament "B" Eighth Management Division "C" (Cyrillic for S) of the KGB PGU USSR** (1981)
Now known as "Group Vympel", early "Vega".
Formed from:
-Detachment of special purpose "Zenit" (translate "zenith") - 1979
-Detachment of special purpose "Kaskad" (translate "cascade") - 1979
-Detachment of special purpose "Omega" - 1979
-Detachment of special purpose "Grom" (former from a part of Spetsgruppa A) - 1979
2.3. Separate Red Banner Kremlin Regiment of the KGB USSR
3. Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) special forces:
3.1. Special forces of Internal Troops (Spetsnaz VV***)
The most famous is OMSDON - Independent Orders of Lenin and October Revolution Red Banner Special-Purpose Motorized Rifle Division of the Internal Troops of the MVD of the Soviet Union "F. E. Dzerzhinsky"****
Now know as ODON
Unofficional name: Dzerzhinsky Division.
Moto: "At any time, any place - any task!"
Distinctive headgear: Maroon beret since1978
3.2. Special police units (Osnaz MVD)
OMON - Otryad Militsii Osobogo Naznacheniya (Special Purpose Police Unit). First formed in 1979 from 2nd Regiment patrol police (Moscow), finally formed in 1988.
Moto: "Honor and glory!"
Unofficional name: Black Berets.
Distinctive headgear: Bkack beret
4. Elite troops (many incorrectly call these units "spetsnaz")
4.1 VDV - Vozdushno-desantnye voyska (Air-Landing Forces)
The unofficial name: "Winged Infantry", also "Blue Berets"
Moto: "Nobody, but us!"
Distinctive headgear:Blue beret
4.2.Naval Infantry - Morskaya Pekhota(Marines)
The unofficial name: "Black Death", also "Black Berets" or "Black Jackets"
Motto: "There, Where We Are, There is Victory!"
Distinctive headgear: Black beret
4.3 KGB Border Troops (Pogranichnie Voiska KGB USSR) - Soviet Border Troops.
Moto: "For our Soviet Motherland!"
The unofficial name:"Greens"
Distinctive headgear: Green beret or Bright green forage cap
4.4. Mountain Infantry
- 68th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (mountain)
4.5. Any Guards Divisions
P.S.
I put the original photos described subdivisions years 1968-1989, taken from different sources.
The first shows a modern chevron of 16th separate brigade of spetsnaz GRU GSh.
Sorry for my bad English
_____
* GRU GSh - Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye Generalnogo Shtaba - Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff
**KGB PGU USSR - this is illegal intelligence (non-official cover operative)
*** Soviet/Russian Internal Troops (Vnutrennie Voiska - acronym "VV") like as US National Guard
**** Units OMSDON guarded Allied leaders during the Yalta Conference.
*****The division was first formed on 22 September 1918, as the 2nd Nicholas Infantry Division. During the Russian Civil War was known as the Nicholas Soviet Infantry Division. During the Second World War was known as the 22nd Rifle Division. In the early years of the Cold War known as 22th Motor Rifle Division. In the later years of the Cold War became known as 40th Motor Rifle Division and 40th Naval Brigadge. Now known as 3rd Independent Naval Infantry Regiment.
