But I would also like to recall an example of a unique operation, which for some reason is not remembered and not recorded in the statistics of successful airborne operations. This is simultaneously the movement of one’s troops from one airfield to another on one’s own territory and a combat operation. Mtsensk landing operation. After the encirclement of Soviet troops near Vyazma, German tanks moved towards Mtsensk, the situation was critical, there were practically no Soviet troops in that area. Then, on October 3-4, 1941, 6,000 paratroopers of the 5th Airborne Corps were airlifted, with double ammunition, 45 mm guns, mortars, 76 mm guns, trucks and eight T-37A. One Battalion landed in the city of Orel under enemy fire. The rest of the troops landed in the city of Mtsensk, cutting the Orel-Mtsensk highway at the bridge, the paratroopers held out until the 4th Tank Brigade arrived, jointly counterattacked and held back the German troops for another week while the city of Tula was preparing for fortification.
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