tradition used armored trains traveling in the Soviet Union goes back to the Civil War.In those days they were used for combat support and military units in separate independent tactical operations.At the same time valued armored trains moving speed and mobility, firepower and strong armor.Armored Trains WWII often used as a traction force for the transport of compounds with important cargo.
the autumn of 1920 as part of the Bolshevik Army, there were more than 100 armored trains.But by 1924 their number was much smaller, as the military government artillery, whose balance on the train were transferred, does not consider them an effective weapon, and applies to both ordinary guns on platforms.
armored trains in World War II
armored trains in World War II were completed in the divisional units.For example, an armored train "Kuzma Minin" and "Ilya Muromets" were part of the 31st armored battalion self Gorky trains.Also, the compound consisted of: a locomotive black C-179 armored trolley DB-39, a pair of BA-20 armored cars, three motorcycles and a dozen cars and troop-mortar company.In total, the division had about 340 people.
armored trains during World War II were used from the beginning to the Victory.Apart from the fact that they supported the infantry units that were fighting along the railway, defeated the enemy train stations, coast guard and led counter-battery fire on the enemy artillery.
These trains are so successfully used in the initial months of the war, that their production was started in several cities at once.Constructions of armored trains cool different.It depended on the capacity of a construction company, produces the combat vehicles of the presence of armored steel and a set of weapons.By the beginning of the war the bulk of the trains was made Bryansk factory trains.This factory produced not only artillery, armored train platform, but also trains, equipped with means of defense.
Anti-aircraft air defense armored trains in World War II made a significant contribution to protecting the railway station from attack enemy aircraft, beating them different-sized anti-aircraft guns and machine guns DSK.
armored trains of the Great Patriotic.How many were produced?
On 22 June 1941 the Russian army consisted of 34 light and 19 heavy armored trains, which had 53 armored locomotive, more than 100 artillery platforms, platforms about 30 AD and 160 armored vehicles designed for movement on railway tracks.Also available had nine bronedrezin and several armored motor cars.
addition to the army, armored trains owned and NKVD troops.In their submission there were 23 trains, 32 gun platforms, 7 armored vehicles and 30 armored cars.
main Red Army armored
The most famous type of armored trains during World War II became a projected 42-year armored train BP-43.
The composition of the train entered broneparovoz PR-43, which was placed in the middle of the compound, two artillery platforms in the head of an armored train and the same in the end, two anti-aircraft platforms and 2-3 playgrounds, transporting ammunition, repair materials for trains and railway.Also had a couple of armored train was BA-20 and BA-64, adapted to move by rail tracks.
For the army was made of this type of train was 21 and almost the same for the NKVD.
Specifications armored mechanisms
armored trains of the Great Patriotic War, "heavy" model, equipped with 107-mm guns, which could beat a distance of 15 kilometers.Metal sheets with thickness up to 10 cm, provides protection against ingress of artillery shells, whose size reached 75 mm.
one filling of water, oil and coal armored enough to at speeds of 45 km / h to drive about 120 kilometers.One additional - 10 tons of coal and 6 tons of fuel oil.The curb weight of the armored train reached 400 tons.
The combat team consists of: Command, Control Platoon, two platoons of artillery gun tower and aircraft machine-gun, anti-aircraft gunners platoon, detachment, is responsible for the movement and traction trains, and a platoon of armored crew, which is located in a part of 2-5 machines, moveon rails.
armored trains of the Great Patriotic.The German model
Before the operation "Barbarossa" by the German command planned to introduce several armored trains, adapted to Russian railway track.They were few, the General Staff of the German Army assigned to them unimportant role in the conduct of hostilities.For example, until 1942 they were guarding the rear w / d line from the guerrillas.And much later, after studying the tactics of successful application of such arrangements by the Soviet troops, the Germans began to use in armored fighting battles.
Total German Army on the Eastern Front had about 12 armored trains and a couple of dozen armored railcars.There were cases when the Germans used captured Soviet train.
equipment German armored convoys
№№26-28 German armored train had three tank or artillery platforms and two infantry wagons, №№ 29-31 were a part of two armored and one infantry site platform.Since the end of 1943 to the armored train began to cling to the ground air defense system.Steam locomotives of trains had only armored cockpit.
showed the fighting, the German armored trains were not only technically backward and primitive, but their firepower was very weak.Therefore, the command of the German troops kept them in the rear to fight the guerrillas.
historical fact duel of Soviet and German armored trains
combat power of the Soviet armored trains seriously helped the army in the victory over Nazi Germany.However, the mechanism, which would be the highest technological level, he may occupy, can not do anything without a team to manage it.So, machinists armored trains during World War II have also contributed to the overall victory.To prove it is enough to recall an episode from the war.
In 1944 near Kovel in Ukraine there were two armored soviet "Ilya Muromets" and the German "Adolf Hitler".Machinists Russian armored train, skillfully using the terrain, were able to put the so-that the Germans did not see him and shot at random.At the same time our train German gunners have seen quite well.After a brief artdueli German armored train was destroyed at that time was very symbolic and predicted the imminent destruction of all fascists.Our membership has not received a single hit.This was due to skillful actions of the armored train drivers.Indeed, in military science we know that brute strength does not guarantee victory in the battle.It should be more flexibility and skillful conduct of hostilities.
armored trains and the Battle of Stalingrad
spring of 1942, the German army came close to the Volga River and the city of Stalingrad.All possible forces were sent to protect him.In defense of Stalingrad armored great patriotic play a very prominent role.
One of the first armored convoys arrived to the city, was the NKVD armored train under the №73.Throughout September, he did not come out fighting.The Germans tried to destroy aircraft, artillery and mortars, four platforms were broken, but the train was unable to restrain himself and not just to fight back, but also to deliver a powerful retaliatory strike on concentrations of enemy troops.
September 14 Reservation structure, located near the Mamayev Hill, came down enemy planes, which were about 40 pieces.Because of the falling bombs into the platform of ammunition was a massive explosion, which destroyed most of the armored train.Surviving crew removed all weapons available from the train and walked to the river.A little later, another armored train under the same number will appear on the front - created it in Perm former soldiers of the 73rd armored train.They became his new crew.
August 5 at Stalingrad Front also came the armored train №677, which was reassigned to the 64th Army.He held the railroad crossing near the village of fertility.At this point, "a steel fortress" could reflect the numerous German tank attacks.Thanks to him, the item "47 km" was for the Russian troops.Later, maintaining a counterattack 38 minutes Strelets division, an armored train came under fire bombers, who threw his incendiary bombs.He had to move after the fight in the rear for repair since received more than 600 bullet holes and dents.
also in the battle of Stalingrad was attended by armored №№ 1, 708, 40th Division and the famous "steel fortress" "Kirov".
glorified Soviet armored trains in World War II
In the early years of the war the Germans were surprised capacity and design of our armored trains.They have long believed that their Russian built.We thought that the trains imported from America.But in fact, all the armored trains in World War II 1941-1945 were built in the Soviet Union.By the time of the German invasion history of moving "fortress" in the Union has more than one decade.In the Civil War armored trains were actively used by different parties.Their agility, defense and armament continuously improved.Therefore, the Nazis and was surprised skillful use of these weapons in the battles with them.
We mention the most famous armored trains during World War II.
Armored "Kuzma Minin»
This armored structure has turned the most successful design.It was built in the winter of 1942 Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod).
The structure consisted of an armored train: steering plates armored locomotive and two artillery platforms, two covered platforms, had armed with two 76 mm tank gun and coaxial machine guns with them.Also, the front and rear of the armored train were installed anti-aircraft platforms, and in the center - the area with the launcher rocket launcher M-8.The thickness of the frontal armor was 45 mm, and the top - 20 mm.
train guns could fire at a distance of up to 12 km, destroying enemy equipment, and machine guns and missile launcher hit the enemy manpower.
armored Power World, which is located below the photo, is amazing.It really is "a fortress on the steel rails"
Armored train "Ilja Muromets»
build a "Ilya Muromets" in 1942 in the city of Murom.Protect it were 45-mm sheets.Over the entire period of the war, he has not received any serious damage.His way of fighting took place on all strategically important points of World War II and ended it in Frankfurt-on-Oder.On account of this armored World has 7 enemy aircraft, 14 artillery and mortar batteries, more than 35 points of support, about 1,000 German soldiers and officers.
for bravery and military merit armored "Ilya Muromets" and "Kuzma Minin", were part of the 31-th separate units were awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.In 1971, the "Ilya Muromets" in Murom was installed on lifelong parking.
other armored train in the Soviet army
abovementioned martial train were not the only one of its kind.Stories are also known and other armored convoys, played an important role in World War II.This also applies to the armored train "Baltiets", built at the Izhora plant.He had six tank shells, 2 120-mm mortar rounds and 16 machine guns.He was active in the defense of Leningrad, covering the approaches to the city once with 15 firing points.
Also, during the Battle of Leningrad scored armored train "people's avengers," built in the same city.On his arms were two guns and two armored air defense guns, and another 12 guns "Maxim".
armored convoys after the war
armored trains of the Great Patriotic, photos are presented in this article are the heroes of their time.They have made an enormous contribution to the victory of our people over the fascist Germany.However, by the end of the war it became clear that the improved artillery will now be able to destroy such mechanisms as light armored vehicles.Moreover, the doctrine of modern warfare implies more agility and tactical mobility of military units, armored and strongly attached to the w / e ways that seriously reduces their mobility.
the same pace as the artillery, and aircraft developed for the destruction of the armored train that was not something complicated, and anti-aircraft guns armored staff could not provide reliable protection.Prior to 1958, something like design and development of such mechanisms is still ongoing.But then, they were retired.
Meanwhile, experience and knowledge of martial mount guns on the train did not go into oblivion.At the end of the 80-xx years on combat duty for the protection of the integrity of the state steel BZHRK (missile system on w / e platform).In appearance they do not differ from civilian trains, but inside they have installed the system start strategic missiles.Some of them had nuclear warheads.So
"grandchildren" continued the glorious work of their "grandfathers" for the protection of our homeland.
