Tank forces of the USSR

 Tank forces Armed Forces of the USSR-a branch of the Armed Forces inGround forces Of the Armed Forces of the USSR, which existed from 1929 to 1977.

The troops were the main striking force of the country's ground forces and a powerful means of armed struggle, designed to solve the most important tasks in various types of military (combat) operations. Had names in Russia, the imperial and Soviet periods, with:

1914-armored forces

1929-mechanized troops (MV)

1936-automobile armored troops (ABTV)

December 1942-Armored and Mechanized Forces (BTiMV)

1953-Armored Forces (BTV)

1960 to 1977-tank forces (TV).

They were armed with tanks, self-propelled artillery units, armore dpersonnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and other armoredvehicles.

Background

The appearance of tanks is associated with the need to solve the problem of breaking through the positional defense, equipped in engineering terms and saturated with artillery, machine guns and mortars. For the first time during During the First World War of 1914-1918, tanks (32 Mark I vehicles) were used by the British in the operation on the Somme River (1916). And in 1917 in the area of the city Cambrai British troops massively used more than 350 tanks in one day of battle. Despite their technical weakness and tactical mistakes in their use, the tanks proved to be a promising new tool capable of interacting with infantry and use artillery to overcome positional defenses and develop tactical success into operational success.

Armored Forces (1914-1929)

The appearance of armored units in the Russian army occurred on August 19, 1914. The first formation of a new branch of the armed forces in the world was the 1st automobile machine-gun company, armed with 12 armored vehicles with machine-gun and cannon armament. By mid-1917, the Russian army had 7 armored trains and 13 armoreddivisions (about 300 armoredvehicles).

Tanks of its own production in the Red Army during the war There was no civil war in 1918-1920[3]; their tasks were performed by armored forces consisting of automobile armored detachments (avtobroneotryad), which were also based on armored vehicles and armoredtrains. In January 1918, the Council of Armored Units ("Tsentroron") was created to manage all automobile armored units and units the republic. Its functions included placing government orders for the construction of armored cars, and from April 1918, armored trains. During the period from November 1918 to March 1921, only the main factories that fulfilled government orders produced 75 standard armored trains, 102 armored platforms and over 280 armored vehicles.

"Tsentroron" also solved technical, administrative-drill and agitation-political tasks, as well as provided training for command staff and junior specialists. In May 1918, inAn armored school for training armored unit commanders was opened in Moscow, and then the Moscow separate automobile armor detachment was deployed, where junior specialists of automobile armor units were trained. The percentage of trained specialists of armored units as a percentage of the number of personnel has steadily increased:

Parts	End of 1918	End of 1919	Late 1920
Armored trains	45	58—60	71
Auto armor detachments	45	up to 64	80
Auto-tank detachments	-	-	11

In August 1918, on the basis of "Tsentroron" was created Central, and thenMain armor control. In December 1920, the first Soviet light tanks began to enter service with the Red Army Sormovo plant.

In March 1919, units of the 2nd Ukrainian Soviet Division captured French tanks (then called tracked armored cars) in a battle with French troops "Renault FT-17", which served as the prototype of the first Soviet tankcc.

The first tank unit on the territory of the RSFSR-an armored division at Council of People's Commissars Soviet Ukraine — was created in Kharkiv by kraskom Selyavkin in 1919 from captured French FT-17 tanks captured from the Allied expeditionary forces in Southern Russia near Odessa. Subsequently, this first tank unit in the USSR was transformed intoThe tank squadron of the Red Army (the so-called "Lefortovskaya") (1922), the main striking force of which was captured British Mark V tanks.

During the Civil War, the practice of using armored units was developed. They were special military units designed to support rifle and cavalry divisions, brigades and regiments. During the Civil War, the armored forces, despite their insignificant share in the army (by the end of the war — 0.41 %), played an important role in military operations.

A year later, in early September 1923, the armored forces underwent new organizational changes. Separate small tank detachments (armored detachments) were consolidated into a relatively large formation — a "squadron" of tanks, which consisted of two flotillas: heavy and light.

— A. I. Radzievsky.Tank Strike. 1977

Since 1928, the production of MS-1 tanks ("small, medium") began. For the first time, the MS-1 (T-18) was used in combat during the conflict on the CER in November 1929.

Mechanized Forces (1929-1936)

In 1929, it was created Department of mechanization and motorization of the Red Army(UMM Red Army). Tanks became part of the mechanized forces. In 1930, the 1st Mechanized Brigade had a tank regiment with 110 tanks. In 1932, the 11th (in the Leningrad Military District) and 45th (in the Ukrainian Military District) mechanized corps were formed. As of 1932, the 45th Mechanized Corps had over 500 tanks.

In 1932, the Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization of the Red Army was founded (now Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation).

The local wars of the late 1930s and, especially, the French campaign of 1940 showed the crucial role of mechanized shock formations. Soviet military theorists (S. N. Ammosov, V. K. Triandafillov, K. B. Kalinovsky, etc.) developed the basics of the combat use of armored forces, which provided for the massive use of tanks in the most important areas. In the mid-1930s, this was reflected in the theory of deep operation and deep combat. In accordance with the concept of a" deep offensive operation "adopted in the Red Army[5], the role of the strike force was assigned to mechanized buildings. The main idea of the theory was to strike at the entire depth of the enemy's defenses using artillery, aircraft, armored forces and airborne troops in order to defeat the entire enemy task force. In the course of a deep operation, two goals were achieved — breaking through the enemy's defensive front with a simultaneous strike to its entire tactical depth and immediately introducing a group of mobile troops to develop a tactical breakthrough into an operational success.

In 1931-1935, the Red Army began to receive light, medium, and then heavy tanks of various types. An intensive process of saturating the troops with automobile and armored vehicles, which had to be tested and improved, began. In this regard, on April 4, 1931, by order of The 22nd Research and Testing Automobile Armored Training Ground (NIABP)was established by the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR Mechanization and Motorization Departments Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (military unit (Military Unit) No. 68054).

Auto-armored troops (1936-1942)

The creation of mechanized and tank units marked the beginning of a new branch of the armed forces, called the armored auto forces. The Central Department of Mechanization and Motorization in 1937 was renamed toAuto-armored management (and later in Main Armored Vehicle Department).

By the beginning of 1936, 4 mechanized corps, 6 separate mechanized brigades, 6 separate tank regiments, 15 mechanized regiments of cavalry divisions, and a significant number of tank battalions and companies had been created. Separate tank battalions as part of rifle divisions were intended to strengthen rifle units and formations when breaking through enemy defenses. They were supposed to work together with the infantry, without breaking away from it for a long distance, and were called infantry direct support tanks (TNPP).

By the end of 1937, the Red Army had 4 tank corps, 24 separate light and 4 heavy tank brigades.

In 1938, armored car troops received combat experience at Lake Khasan (1938), and then on the Khalkhin Gol River (1939) and in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. Based on the experience gained, tanks with more powerful armor and more powerful weapons ( T-34-76 medium tank and heavy tank) were developed and adopted by 1940. KV-1).

In November 1939, due to an assessment of the experience of using tanks in theIn Spain, the existing 4 mechanized corps were disbanded and a new type of connection was introduced — a motorized division. By May 1940, 4 motorized divisions (258 tanks each), separate tank and armored brigades were created.

However, on July 9, 1940 The NKO of the USSR approved a plan for the restoration of mechanized buildings. On October 4, the NGO reported Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU on the completion of the formation of 8 mechanized corps, 18 tank and 8 mechanized divisions. By December 1, 1940, the Red Army had 9 mechanized corps (including 18 tank and 9 motorized divisions, as well as 2 separate tank divisions) and 45 tank brigades (40 T-26 and 5 — BT brigades).

The day before During the Great Patriotic War on June 1, 1941, the Red Army had 1,392 tanks of new types — T-34-76 and KV-1. Another 305 tanks were produced in June 1941. Thus, the number of heavy and medium tanks, which had no analogues in the Wehrmacht in terms of shock power, as of June 22 , 1941 in the Red Army was at least 1,392 units. By total number of tanks and assault guns The Red Army also had a numerical advantage: 15,687 against 4,171 concentrated on the eastern front by the Wehrmacht.

In the first weeks of the war, mechanized corps launched counterattacks (Battle of Dubno-Lutsk-Brody, Lepel counterattack), suffered significant losses and were forced to conduct defensive battles together with the rifle troops. Heavy losses in tanks and the inability to quickly restore them forced the Soviet command to use tanks in order to directly cover the infantry, for operations from ambushes, increase the stability of the defense of rifle troops, for conducting private counterattacks. By the autumn of 1941, all mechanized corps were disbanded (in accordance with the directive letter).General Staff of the Supreme Command of July 15, 1941), the main organizational units were tank brigades and individual tank battalions. The Soviet command did not have large formations for conducting offensive operations.

As of December 1, 1941, 1,730 tanks remained in the active army[10]. The Soviet government took measures to organize the production of tanks, as a result of which their number in the active army increased rapidly: by May 1, 1942 — 4065, and by November — 6014 tanks. In the spring of 1942, it became possible to form tank, and later mechanized corps. Two tank armies of mixed composition were also created, which included tank, mechanized and rifle formations-the 3rd and 5th tank armies. October 16, 1942 People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR he issued an order that required the use of tank brigades and regiments for direct support of infantry, and tank and mechanized corps as echelons of success development in order to disunite and encircle large enemy groups.

Thus, during 1942, the program was implemented in the institution-building of the armored forces that allowed by January 1943 to be in armor, two tank armies, the 24th tank (two of them were in the stage of formation), 8 mechanized (two of them completed the formation of a) buildings, as well as a significant number of different brigades and regiments for the NCE.

Armored and mechanized forces (December 1942-1953)

In December 1942, the automobile armored forces became known as armored and mechanized troops. The Office of the Commander of Armored and Mechanized Forces was established and the post of Commander of armored and mechanized forces was introduced.

In 1943, self-propelled artillery units (SU-122) entered service, which were intended for mobile fire support of tank formations. The number of tanks in the tank and mechanized corps was increased, and self-propelled artillery, mortar and anti-aircraft units were included. January 16, 1943 by decree The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR introduced the title of Marshal of armored forces.

The formation of tank armies of uniform composition began — in January 1943, the 1st and 2nd tank armiesappeared By the summer of 1943, there were already five tank armies, which consisted of two tank and one mechanized corps, as well as a large number of separate tank and mechanized corps.

The number of tanks participating in operations was constantly increasing:780 tanks participated in the Battle of Moscow (1941-1942).Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) — 979[ 10], in Belorussian Operation (1944) — 5200, inBerlin Operation (1945) — 6250 tanks and self-propelled guns. According to Army General A. I. Antonov[16], "...the second half of the war was marked by the predominance of our tanks and self-propelled artillery on the battlefields. This allowed us to carry out operational maneuvers on a huge scale, surround large enemy groups, and pursue them until they were completely destroyed."

The repeated and radical reorganization of this branch of the armed forces during the Great Patriotic War was caused by changes in the methods of conducting combat operations during the war years and was aimed at achieving constant compliance of the forms of organization of tank troops with the methods of conducting combat and operations. At the same time, the country's economic capabilities for the production of weapons and military equipment were a limiting factor.

Trends in the development of tank forces included:

continuous increase in the firepower and impact power of units, formations and formations;

giving, especially to corps and armies, the necessary autonomy when conducting combat operations in isolation from rifle formations;

constant commitment to ensuring high mobility and mobility for all organizational forms;

providing units, formations and formations with the ability to successfully conduct combat and operations in various terrain conditions;

creating an easily managed organization of regiments, brigades, corps, and armies.

Upon completion Great Patriotic War Resolution issued State Defense Committee of the USSR No. GKO-9488ss, dated July 9 , 1945, "On the additional staffing of armored and mechanized troops of the Red Army". According to this decree, part of the rifle divisions were transferred to the staff of mechanized divisions and included in the composition of Armored and mechanized troops. In some cases, cavalry divisions and airborne divisions were also reorganized into mechanized divisions.

Armored and mechanized troops stationed inIn Eastern Europe, they were one of the most important factors in deterring the ruling circles Great Britain and the United States from conducting a military operation against the USSR. After analyzing the ratio of forces of the USSR and former allies (1.56: 1-for equivalent armored divisions; 2.53: 1-for all equivalent divisions of the ground forces), the plan for Operation Unthinkable was sent to the archive, and subsequent plans for the war against the USSR were already developed at the NATO level. According to the country's defense plan for 1947, the armed forces were tasked with ensuring the integrity of the borders in the West and East, established by international treaties after World War II, and being ready to repel possible enemy aggression. In connection with the creation of NATO, a gradual increase in the size of the Soviet armed forces began in 1949: the country was drawn into an arms race.

In 1953, the post of chief of the armored forces was introduced.

In service The Soviet Army had up to 60,000 T-54/55 tanks. They formed the basis of the Soviet Army. Tank forces were part of the armored strategy.

The creation of the T-55 made it possible to conduct combat operations in a nuclear war.

Tank Forces (1960-1977)

In December 1960, the Department of the Chief of Tank Forces was created and the post of Chief of Tank Forces was introduced. This position was abolished in 1977.

As a result of the arms race, by the beginning of the 1960s, only 8 tank armies were deployed in the western Theater of Operations (4 of them in the GSVG)[21]. New series of tanks entered service: T-64 (1969), T-72 (1973), T-80 (1976), which became the main battle tanks The Soviet Army. They had different equipment by type of engines and other important components, which greatly complicated their operation and repair in the army.

In the army in 1987, there were 53.3 thousand tanks[22]. According to the information Ministry of Defense of the USSR, as of January 1 , 1990, there were 63,900 tanks in total (including in the zone of the CFE Treaty that was being prepared for conclusion— 41 580[23]), 76 520 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers[21]. According to other sources, in the early 1990s, the country had 65 thousand tanks — more than all the countries of the world combined[24]. Oskotsky, Zakhar Grigoryevich writes that as of January 1, 1991, the Soviet Army had over 69 thousand tanks in units and in storage[25]. In the period 1955-1991, the Soviet tank forces were the strongest in the world.

In accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe of November 19, 1990, the Soviet Union pledged to reduce conventional weapons on European territory to 13,300 tanks (20,694), 20,000 armored vehicles (29,348), and 13,700 artillery pieces. The treaty finally put an end to the possibilities of the Soviet tank roll, marking the end of the era of the great tank confrontation.

Manual

Chiefs of the Tank Forces of the Armed Forces

1929-1934-heads of the Mechanization and Motorization Department of the Red Army, 1934-1942-heads of the Red Army Armored Vehicle Department, 1942-1954-commanders of armored and mechanized forces, 1954-1960-heads of armored forces, 1960-1980-heads of tank forces, 1980-1995-heads of the Main Armored Vehicle Department of the Ministry of Defense, since 1995-heads of the Main Armored Vehicle Department of the Ministry of Defense

November 1929-April 1936-I. A. Khalepsky-Commander of the 2nd rank (1935),

May 1936-June 1937-G. G. Bokis-Divisional Commander,

November 1937-June 1940-D. G. Pavlov-komkor, from March 1940 commander of the 2nd rank,

June 1940-December 1942 Ya. N. Fedorenko-Lieutenant General of the tank forces,

december 1942-April 1947 — Ya. N. Fedorenko — Lieutenant General of the tank forces (before 1943), Colonel-General of the tank forces (before 1944), Marshal of the armored forces,

April 1947-April 1948-P. S. Rybalko-Marshal of the Armored Forces,

December 1948-April 1953-S. I. Bogdanov-Marshal of the Armored Forces,

April 1953-May 1954-A. I. Radzievsky-Colonel-General of the tank Forces,

May 1954-May 1969-P. P. Poluboyarov-Colonel-General of the tank forces (until 1962), Marshal of the armored forces,

May 1969-November 1977-A. H. Babajanyan-Marshal of the Armored Forces (until April 1975), Chief Marshal of the armored forces,

January 1978-March 1987-Yu. M. Potapov-Colonel General,

March 1987-November 1996-A. A. Galkin-Colonel-General.

Educational institutions

As of September 1, 1940 The following military educational institutions were subordinated to the Main Automobile Armored Department of the Red Army:

Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization named after I. V. Stalin

Oryol Armored School

Kharkiv Armored School

Ulyanovsk Armored School

Kiev Tank Technical School

1st Saratov Armored School

2nd Saratov Armored School

Leningrad Automobile School

Poltava Automobile School

Borisov Automobile School

Leningrad Armored Training Courses

Kazan advanced Training Courses

On September 20, 1941 The following military educational institutions were subordinated to the Main Automobile Armored Department of the Red Army:

1st Saratov Red Banner Tank School.

2nd Saratov Tank School.

3rd Saratov Tank School.

Kazan Tank School.

1st Ulyanovsk Red Banner Tank School named after Lenin.

2nd Ulyanovsk Tank School.

Syzran Tank School.

Stalingrad Tank School.

Maykop Tank School named after Frunze.

1st Kharkov Tank School named after Stalin.

2nd Kharkiv Tank School.

Chkalov Tank School.

Chelyabinsk Tank School.

Kungur Tank Technical School.

1st Gorky Automobile Motorcycle School.

2nd Gorky Automobile Motorcycle School.

Ostrogozhsky automobile motorcycle school.

Rybinsk Automobile Engineering School.

Kamyshinsky tractor School.

Tractor school.

Red Banner BT Advanced training courses for the Red Army commandstaff.

Kazan advanced training courses for military-technical personnel of ABTV.

Kharkiv advanced ABT Advanced Training courses for the Red Army Reserve commandstaff.

Solikamsk Aerial School.

Kotlas Aerial School.

As of 1985.

Military Academy:

Military Academy of Armored Forces (Moscow)

Higher command schools:

Blagoveshchensk Higher Tank Command School

Kazan Higher Tank Command School

Tashkent Higher Tank Command School

Ulyanovsk Guards Higher Tank Command School

Kharkiv Guards Higher Tank Command School

Chelyabinsk Higher Tank Command School

Higher engineering schools:

Kiev Higher Tank Engineering School

Omsk Higher Tank Engineering School