In any museum, including museums and military equipment, has a "Mona Lisa". The appearance of such or such artifacts often occur even against the will of the museum staff themselves. So just happens. Experts often focus on things, interesting little simple inhabitant, but the man in the street is interesting power and greatness of weapons. And it's quite a normal phenomenon.
It is impossible to T-34, near which there will be visitors. or lonely "Katyusha". No, such can be, but in one case - if the museum is not quite a museum, as well ... Place development funds and the budget.
Thank God, in our country this phenomenon is very rare, and not on pseudo-museums now it.
Speech today will focus on armored trains. Exactly, in plural. Although the focus on an object we do, which was produced during the war, — bronepoezd BP-43, but are not ignored as much as the other models.
The question arises: Why in plural? The answer is simple. Each train was unique. This applies to any such armored targets. No two identical trains.
Very often, when considering a particular armored question arouses: "And why in the USSR little attention was paid to such a powerful armament"? to answer (which will be more than amazing) you must go back to the time of the Civil War.
Understanding the importance of armored trains it for a long time. That is why the lack of such compositions in the Red Army was not. The exact number of armored trains could not be determined at the time of the Civil War. But the number of armored trains, who were in combat units of the Red Army, there is - 123 units!
It should be noted and the, that the concept of "armored train" itself is vague enough. The orders of the time often encountered heavy and light armored, broneploshtadki, BP breakthrough, bronevagony, etc..
For example, you should tell about a legend. That legend. About the "green ghost". For almost one hundred and fifty trips "green ghost", as the Germans called him after the elusive, destroyed about a dozen enemy tanks and armored vehicles, two and a half dozen machine-gun nests and bunkers, six bunkers, three aircraft, one heavy artillery battery and one and a half thousand soldiers and officers. In June, 42 th, he even engaged a column of German tanks and got out of it a winner, destroying three cars.
In fact, "green ghost", as he was called Germans, - BP is №5, armored train "Zheleznyakov", The main base of the coastal defense of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. And creates a "Phantom" 4 November 1941 of the year (officially) at Sevastopol Marine Plant.
If you look at the composition of BP, something other than "grab-bag", it can not be called. Armored №5 had five 100-mm shells, eight mortars and a dozen machine guns. Besides, besides the main broneparovoza in the "Zheleznyakova" was an additional locomotive, significantly improves driveability. Both the locomotive worked in combat.
Alas, in June 1942 year "green ghost" was locked in one of the mountain tunnels and lost to the Red Army. The Germans destroyed airstrikes outputs and an armored train had stopped. In August, the composition was excavated. I got a new name "Eugen" and served in the German army until May 1944 of the year. It was blown up by the Germans.
And what, ask, the difference between heavy and light armored train? And then for some reason, the smell of the sea and maritime classifications. Take cruiser. The guns of the main fire in the 203-mm made heavy cruiser. 152-mm - easy.
In the same way it was with armored trains. The presence in the PSU area with a heavy instrument automatically translates it into the "heavy". Having more conventional platforms, with air defense systems (usually 4 and more) BP made the object of defense. And so on.
It was then, and recall the, that BP - it's a train! Because the composition may be formed from different cars and platforms. Depending on the performed tasks at a particular time. clear, that armored train, which protects the station in front of the depth from attacks by enemy aircraft, there is no need for heavy weapons. As well as BP breakthrough would have to increase their own firepower it is to work on the ground to the enemy.
Besides the Red Army, armored and there were parts of the NKVD. The first such train ("Felix Dzerzhinsky") It was handed over to the NKVD 1930 year. The purpose of these armored trains were mostly on plants protection tasks, objects of railway structures, patrolling the railways.
There is one more nuance, which just need to tell. This part of the train. Surprisingly, but most readers do not even arise questions about elementary things in the course of armored inspection. It is elementary!
Armored train - it is rather complicated technically type of weapon, with a great crew and a lot of the components needed to perform combat missions. for example, common belief, that the destruction of the PSU is enough to bomb or undermine the way ahead and(or) behind the structure.
However, very few people says, that the composition of the train crew were not only specialists-puteyschiki, who are able to quickly restore the path of destruction, but also the necessary materials: rails, sleepers, crutches, etc.. Even during the Civil War worked out tactics to undermine the ways to stop the BP. Well, respectively, ways of dealing with minelayers.
Yes there explosions. There are even more simple questions. The crew must simply eat! And, every day or three times, it is desirable. And who I saw in the train kitchen? A hospital? If boilers broneparovoze zashlakuyutsya somewhere away from the station?
the, what we often call the armored train, in fact, only part of it! fighting, but some! In fact, the armored train consists of a much larger number of components.
Classical armored scheme looks like:
1. Armored locomotive. the, what we used to call broneparovozom with bronetenderom or broneteplovozom.
2. unarmored (the black) locomotive. It is used as a backup in the fighting often do not participate. When relocation is used as an additional PD locomotive. Located in the rear on the home station.
3. 2-4 bronevahona (armored bay) with artillery weapons (or, as is the case with the German BP, installed on the tank platform).
4. 2-4 bronevahona (armored bay) with anti-aircraft weapons.
5. 2-4 control platform. Another name - covering platform. Used for transportation of materials for track repairs.
6. Armored or armored (used to protect the sandbags) platform or platforms for landing. This element is used as needed.
It `s that, What we see in action. weaponry (bronevagony and (or) armored bay) combined for different tasks. But there is another. the, that is in the rear. This database (official name) armored train.
such a framework, in fact, It was another train. The movement in the rear of the power supply and the base is one train. At the forefront of the base remained at the rear near the station.
As part of the base was sometimes to 20 and more cars. Starting from the kitchen and warehouses with ammunition and ending the infirmary and workshops for repair of weapons. "Black" in the case of a locomotive enemy breakthrough was used as a locomotive for the evacuation of the base in a safe place.
But let us return to our heroes. 22 June 1941 the year of the Red Army was to 53 operating armored. As part of the parts of the NKVD - 23 BP. Figures are quite loosely interpreted in various sources is due to "blur" the concept of BP.
Trains were actively used in the initial period of war, 1941-1943 years. However, in subsequent years continued their battle path.
The main objective was to support BP infantry units, operating in the band railroad, defense or seizing railway stations, cover from air raids, counter-battery fight, the landing gripping w / d objects.
Today it sounds strange, but it was in the first months of the war turned out to be a very effective air defense armored. those compositions, which is equipped with bronevagonami (broneplatformami) from 37 or 25-mm anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft guns DShK. by the way, Defense of the train title speaks not only about the composition of BP weapons, but also supplies it to the Defense Forces.
I would like to recall a single document, which for some reason there is little mentioned today, but that shows the value of BP for the Red Army in the early months of the war. People's Commissariat of Defense 29 October 1941 year issued a directive for the number 022ss.
By number visible, that top secret document. Essentially the same, This directive prescribes in a short time to create 32 (!) divisions of armored trains! true, in the division (on new staff) There were only two BP, but still, agree, scale shows the values of these arms.
by the way, we talk a lot of common phrases about the heroism of the people in the rear. In the case of performing this feat directive resulted in "excess" 20 armored train! instead of the planned 65 BP released in the USSR 85! And this is the end 1942 of the year!
Undeservedly forgotten exploits armored train crews. Meanwhile, 5 BP (2 as part of the Red Army and 3 as part of the NKVD) awarded the Red Banner. Ten separate divisions of armored trains have received honorary titles.
According to official data, for the period of the Great Patriotic BP destroyed 370 tanks, 344 guns and mortars, 840 guns, 712 cars, 160 motorcycles and two armored trains! And for the German armored train pilots were generally uncomfortable purpose - 115 downed aircraft!
Not without a loss. And the losses were enormous. According to official data, for the period of World War II, we lost only in the Red Army 65 armored train! Of them, 63 at 1941-42 years. AT 1943 year two trains lost.
Probably, should tell you about one episode 1941 of the year. One of the many episodes, a story which shows not only the heroism of the Russian soldiers, but also daring and healthy "audacity" Red Commanders.
In August 1941 , the German landing in Ukraine managed to capture Juliani station. Unfortunately, station wagons were among several other cargoes, which houses equipment for the needs of the Red Army Aviation. Engines and other spare parts for repair. At that time,, when every working plane was its weight in gold - a very valuable cargo.
To protect yourself, Germans at the entrance to the station was dismantled rails and blew a small bridge. However, this did not stop the crew of armored train "Warrant A". This armored train consisted of broneparovoza (typical armored locomotive Ov series) and three broneploschadok, armed with there 4 guns and 24 gun.
The commander of the armored AS. Slug night sent a team of repairmen, and a group of fighters for the restoration of the railway track and the bridge. Once the railroad and the bridge were restored, armored train at full speed in 4 morning rushed to the station and opened heavy fire on the stunned enemy.
As a result of actions of the armored train station was liberated from the German assault. more precisely, Germans are terrified fled, unable to bear the psychological burden. what, properly, and it was part of the plan of the Soviet soldiers and commanders. Taking advantage of the panic, armored crew hitched wagons with valuable cargo, and brought them in Kiev.
It is logical to assume, that the main losses of the Red Army had to carry 1941 year. but, in the case of BP, this statistic does not work. AT 1942 year lost twice as many trains, than in 1941. 42 lost an armored train in one year. And that says a lot.
1942-first considered the most difficult for the entire period of the war. The Germans had total superiority in aircraft and tanks. And in these circumstances, the officers had no other options, how to use the armored train "in full". For simultaneous reflection attacks on the ground and from the air.
Sometimes it is necessary to explain the harmfulness of such tactics, even for the most well-armed and autonomous object. It is impossible to simultaneously perform several maneuvers. especially limited. Armored in the 1941-42 Years had to act that way. Soviet bombers? No, heroes, who were ready to die well is realizing.
today that, who is in the museum of the armored train, unclear, how in general the train could fight on the front line. Especially if you have at least some understanding of the composition of the enemy, his arms, of the overall military situation at that time.
A huge goal, which is difficult to disguise not only from enemy aircraft, but also from terrestrial intelligence. Fumes of the engine far enough visible. The path of advance-retreat seen any. From the railway this monster will not go anywhere. armor? 20-mm no armor for the guns of World War II ...
heavily armed? Already to the middle of the war called it a powerful hard. Armored turret of armored priori stronger than the same towers tanks. A artillery and mortars in the field of parts even more powerful.
Even aircraft with the advent of more advanced scopes and more powerful weapons become disastrous for BP. Hit bombs and air guns have become quite frequent ...
A crew of trains not only fought and died. they defeated! On a victory, known and described a number of authors is not a sin to remember today. About, Ilya Muromets Adolf Hitler destroyed! It is a historical fact.
epic names, is not it? So we liked. Stationary same language, this phrase sounds different. Soviet armored train "Ilya Muromets" in the battle to destroy the German armored train "Adolf Hitler".
Armored Train "Ilya Muromets"
In late May, 1944 , Soviet positions near the Ukrainian city of Kovel subjected to three-minute artillery bombardment. Exploration roughly calculated the location of the enemy's batteries, after which the aircraft was sent to the area to clarify the location of the enemy guns. the result of a flight not made - in this area there was nothing.
However, ground reconnaissance continued battery search and the next day, at 9 morning, scouts have spotted the smoke of a steam locomotive. Which allowed them to conclude that the actions of an enemy armored train. Data were taken command. Destroy armored train was commissioned commander of the 31 th separate battalion of armored trains.
headquarters 31 division operation to destroy the "German" was developed. Directly duel was supposed to lead a new armored train "Ilya Muromets".
Knowing the punctual Germans, Soviet commanders have used it to improve their own position. The Germans not only started shooting at the same time, but also a place for firing did not change. Worked sighted landmarks.
AT 8 am "Muromets" took up position to attack. German appeared a few minutes before 9. Line of sight between the trains was not, which is quite remarkable. Both BP are in the closed position. Therefore, "Ilya Muromets" is focused on the enemy salvo.
After a volley of German armored Soviet artillery fired a volley at the enemy already PSU. However, it was not possible to destroy the first salvo German. The second volley sounded almost synchronously. The Germans managed to turn the tower in the direction of the Soviet armored train.
And here, approximately 15 minutes after the start of the duel, "Muromets" showed its strength. The thing is, that the train was in service had rocket launchers. Here is the "Katyusha" and regaled "Muromets" German. The result is impressive attack. "Ilya Muromets" no hits and losses, German, Ironically, it was "Adolf Hitler", received such injuries, that it was decided not to rebuild.
After a brief historical overview it is time to go to the description of specific armored trains. Employment not less interesting and informative, than historical excursus. So that - to be continued.
