Armored train Ilya Muromets bench model. “Ilya Muromets”: why the Krauts were so afraid of the Soviet armored train

Continuing the series of articles about armored trains of the USSR, we admit two things.

First of all, we literally fell in love with these railway complexes. This is probably due to initial insufficient knowledge of the issue.

And secondly, the creators of armored trains, engineers, designers, craftsmen, workers, as well as the BP crews, today seem to be brilliant adventurers, people for whom nothing was truly impossible.

At least, these are the conclusions that come to mind upon close acquaintance with armored trains. In general, both they built and fought. From the heart.

Today we will talk about specific armored trains known to many. Considering that readers are “technically prepared,” today it’s more about exploits, about daily work, about people...

No matter what, the main thing in any armored train is the people. Fighters (railroad workers at the BP are also fighters!) and commanders. Artillerymen, machine gunners, anti-aircraft gunners, repair crew workers, locomotive crews, train crews, bakers, orderlies. In short, the crew!

Let's start with the promised most massive armored train of the Red Army, developed in 1942 - BP-43.

The armored train BP-43 consisted of an armored steam locomotive PR-43, located in the middle of the train, 4 artillery armored platforms PL-43 (2 armored platforms on both sides of the armored locomotive), 2 armored platforms with anti-aircraft weapons PVO-4 (at both ends of the armored train) and 2-4 control platforms on which materials or landing troops necessary for repairing the railway track were transported.

Typically, an armored train included 1-2 armored vehicles BA-20 or BA-64, adapted for movement by rail.

During the war, 21 BP-43 armored trains were manufactured for the Red Army. The NKVD troops also received the same number of armored trains of this type.

“Heavy” armored trains were armed with 107 mm cannons with a firing range of up to 15 km. Reservations (up to 100 mm) provided protection for vital components from armor-piercing shells of 75 mm caliber.

On one refueling with fuel and water, the armored train could cover up to 120 km with a maximum speed of 45 km/h. Coal (10 tons) or fuel oil (6 tons) were used as fuel. The mass of the armored train's warhead did not exceed 400 tons.

The crew of the combat unit consisted of a command, a control platoon, platoons of armored cars with turret crews and on-board machine gun sections, an air defense platoon, a traction and propulsion platoon and a platoon of railway armored vehicles, which had 2 light armored vehicles BA-20zhd and 3 medium armored vehicles BA-10zhd, adapted for movement along the railway track.

Armored vehicles were used for reconnaissance at a distance of 10-15 km and as part of security (patrol) on the march. In addition, landing forces consisting of up to three rifle platoons could be located on the cover platforms.

Most of the most famous BPs were BP-43. The most successful design was the Kozma Minin armored train, built in February 1942 at the Gorky-Moskovsky carriage depot under the leadership of engineer Leonid Dmitrievich Rybenkov.

The combat part of this armored train included: an armored locomotive, 2 covered armored platforms, 2 open artillery armored platforms and 4 two-axle control platforms.

Each covered armored platform was armed with two 76.2 mm cannons mounted in turrets from T-34 tanks. In addition to the 7.62-mm DT machine guns paired with these guns, the armored platforms had four 7.62-mm Maxim machine guns in ball mounts on the sides.

The open artillery platforms were divided along the length into three compartments. 37 mm anti-aircraft guns were installed in the front and rear compartments, and the M-8 missile launcher was located in the central compartment.

The thickness of the side armor of the armored platforms was 45 mm, the covered armored platforms had top armor 20 mm thick.

Protected by armor 30-45 mm thick, the armored steam locomotive was used as traction only in combat conditions. An ordinary steam locomotive was used during the campaign and during maneuvers. The tender of the armored locomotive was equipped with a commander's cabin connected to the driver's booth by an armored door.

From this control room, the commander of the armored train controlled the actions of the armored platforms using telephone communications. For external communications he had at his disposal a long-range radio station RSM.

Thanks to the presence of four long-barreled 76.2-mm F-32 cannons, the armored train could provide a high concentration of artillery fire and conduct targeted fire at a range of up to 12 km, and the M-8 launchers allowed it to successfully hit enemy personnel and equipment, working across areas.

During the war, the armored train shot down 14 (according to the recollections of Commissioner Alexei Potekhin) or 15 (official data) aircraft. Participated in the defense of Tula, the liberation of Orel, Bryansk, Gomel.

Once upon a time, the militia gathered by Kozma Minin liberated Moscow from the Poles. And three hundred and thirty-three years later, “Kozma Minin” was already liberating the Poles from the Nazis. This is such a historical collision...

“Kozma Minin” ended the war, as befits a hero, in the enemy’s lair. True, he could not enter Berlin. The Germans blew up the bridge over the Oder. So, the armored train stopped 50 kilometers from Berlin.

But, after the surrender of the Nazis, as part of the division he ensured the safety of the passage of the government train with the delegation of the Soviet Union to the Potsdam Conference of Heads of Government.

No less famous is the "twin brother" of "Minin" - BP "Ilya Muromets".

The armored train "Ilya Muromets" was built in 1942 in Murom. It was protected by 45 mm thick armor and did not receive a single hole during the entire war. The armored train traveled from Murom to Frankfurt-on-Oder.

During the war, he destroyed 7 aircraft, 14 guns and mortar batteries, 36 enemy firing points, 875 soldiers and officers. In addition, the hero "Muromets" destroyed an armored train of the Wehrmacht.

In our history, it is generally accepted that the armored train bore the name of the Fuhrer, therefore its destruction carries an additional sacred meaning. A Soviet armored train, named after a Russian epic hero, destroys an enemy armored train named after Hitler.

There is a small problem. Alas, the Adolf Hitler armored train did not exist, just as there was not a single combat unit except the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler division, bearing the name of the German Fuhrer.

About Leibstandarte, too, not everything is so clear; the name of the division can also be translated as “Bodyguards of Adolf Hitler.” Actually, the division was formed on the basis of the Fuhrer’s personal guard. No one else bore the name of Hitler: neither units, nor ships, nor canals, nor cities or towns. We did not find any mention of an armored train.

But that’s not the point, if anything, is it? The point is that the crew of the Soviet armored train "Ilya Muromets" destroyed a German armored train. And this is a fact that does not become any less significant because the destroyed armored train did not bear the name of the Fuhrer.

Well, a beautiful myth that was invented... Oh well! War is always an information war. And what matters most? That's right, victory. Real, not made up. After all, reality is always brighter and more interesting than myth.

And in our reality, the 31st separate special Gorky armored train division, which included the Ilya Muromets and Kozma Minin armored trains, was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky. For outstanding military achievements.

To be honest, the fight between “Ilya Muromets” and a German armored train was a big story. It took a lot of time to understand in detail what happened there.

The story that has reached this day and is still being rewritten is that “Ilya Muromets” and the German BP came almost head-on. In fact, this whole story with one salvo that destroyed the enemy’s BP into pieces is quite fantastic.

And now we want to present our version to the court. Different from what is generally accepted on the Internet.

So, a German armored train (Not “Adolf Hitler,” as it turned out, but No. 11 or No. 76, we are still clarifying) in June 1944 began to systematically and regularly fire at the targets of our troops in the area of ​​​​the Kovel station in the Volyn region of Ukraine.

Some sources give this picture:

“Taking advantage of the pedantry of the Germans and the terrain, the headquarters of the armored division developed an operation plan. The artillerymen simultaneously had to disable the railway track in order to cut off the enemy armored train's escape route, and the Ilya Muromets had to have a parking lot closer to the invisible battery. In order not to frighten off the enemy, we decided to begin operations without shooting.”

Let us leave all this to the conscience of those who wrote it, since this literary work is completely untrue. Further in the text there was data on the consumption of shells (10 per gun). What makes the picture absolutely fantastic?

Let us remember that “Ilya” had 4 F-34 cannons with a caliber of 76 mm. Total - 40 shells to destroy enemy tracks and armored trains. No shooting.

Of course, there was shooting. And there was simply excellent work by the artillery reconnaissance officers of our armored train. While the Germans were having fun, a map of their movements was drawn up and the point from which the fire opened was calculated. And naturally, shooting was carried out. From the position from which Ilya was supposed to open fire. This was the essence.

During research on this topic, we came across the memoirs of captain (at that time) Alexander Vasilchenko, an artillery reconnaissance officer of a howitzer regiment. Vasilchenko said that in cases where it was undesirable to draw attention to the fact of the shooting, the shooting was carried out with training shells. That is, perfect blanks that did not explode.

It is possible, very possible, that along the approach routes of the German armored train they targeted precisely this way. As an option - armor-piercing shells.

It was not worth shooting the rocket launchers, since this is still work on areas.

But nevertheless, it’s a hell of a task for scouts and spotters. But we managed it in the end.

Further. Indeed, the punctuality of the Germans is a thing that allowed them to use it for their own purposes. The time the German armored train reached the point of opening fire was known for certain, and this point was calculated quite accurately.

1. “Ilya Muromets” advances, in the dark, carefully, without unmasking itself, to a predetermined position. With the first rays of the sun there is a preliminary guidance to the place where the German should go. Then everyone burns their nerves in bundles, and the reconnaissance and spotters also have their eyes.

2. The guns are contaminated by high-explosive fragmentation shells. That’s right, the explosion of a HE projectile makes it possible to quickly detect the location of the impact and adjust further shooting. PC units are also charged. Both.

3. After drinking coffee and having breakfast, the Germans begin to advance. The crew of the Ilya Muromets is waiting for the end of the process. As soon as reconnaissance gives the go-ahead that a German is in position, the first salvo follows.

The first installation of rockets fires. Just sighting, a few missiles, then adjustments and fire of two installations. The aiming point is behind the armored train with the aim of destroying the railway track.

The Ilya's guns fire the first, sighting salvo. Adjustment and then really quick fire, all in the same place, on the track, or on the locomotive, but this is more difficult.

From the fact that the German power supply unit remained in place, it follows that it was most likely hit along the way. And precisely RS, because a 76-mm projectile is not enough. But the 82-mm rocket is fine for us.

4. The Germans, naturally, having found themselves in such a bind, begin to urgently turn their towers towards “Ilya”. But, unlike our fighters, they need time to turn around, aim, and adjust. Time they simply don't have.

By the way, the flight range of the RS-82, which Ilya was armed with, gives an understanding of the distance at which the battle took place. The F-34 cannon was capable of throwing a HE grenade 9-10 km, and an armor-piercing projectile flew 4 km. The RS-82 could fly 5.5 km.

From here the battle distance was less than 5 km. Not point-blank, but...

5. The Germans fire the first sighting salvo. A maximum of 5-6 minutes have passed since the start of the battle. To put it mildly, the shells do not land near our armored train. This is due to the lack of coordinates, the fuss caused by an unexpected battle, and so on.

Well, the Germans didn’t like fuss, what to do.

But ours could, they knew how, they practiced. We do not know how long it took the Ilya Muromets fighters to reload the RS installations. But we think it’s less than the standard 10 minutes.

6. Second salvo of “Ilya Muromets”. I mean, rockets. The guns had to pick at the Germans without stopping. The sight is no longer on the rails, but on the armored train itself.

Actually, that's all. Got it. The fight is over.

The report noted that “the enemy’s armored train was enveloped in white clouds of smoke or steam.” Obviously, they hit the cauldron.

A month later, in July 1944, Kovel was released. And Soviet soldiers discovered a broken-down German armored train. The best confirmation of the success of the Ilya Muromets crew.

Here's the story. It is clear that the armored trains did not meet head-on, otherwise they would not have had to wait to photograph the broken enemy armored train. But - it’s just wonderful.

The only battle between two armored trains in the entire Second World War ended in our victory “with a clear advantage.”

In the next part we will talk about the armored train, from which our close acquaintance with trains began. This will be armored train No. 13 "Tula Worker" and its twice-peculiar story. In detail and with video stories of the creators of his second incarnation.

Photo: Monument-armored train “Ilya Muromets”

It is known that the only land artillery duel during the Second World War took place between the armored trains “Adolf Hitler” and “Ilya Muromets”, which ended in a convincing victory for the latter. The fact itself is worthy of the Guinness Book of Records, but we know offensively little about this. This was the main motive, in obedience to which I began to dig into this topic several years ago.

The task seemed quite simple to me. Find the performance characteristics of both, find the memories of the participants, try to reconstruct the course of the fight and, in general, everything... However, as I completed this task, I felt that I was stuck in an almost detective story. And if so, then we should answer the questions unambiguously and without hesitation within the framework of Roman law: “Who?” “With whose help?”, “What?”, “Where”? "When?" etc.

So " Who"or rather" What“- although it is believed that a train is the closest land transport to a ship, which for a sailor is clearly an animate creature.

From a personal file :

“Ilya Muromets” armored train of the 1942 model, together with the same type “Kozma Minin”, constituted the 31st separate Gorky (later “Gorky-Warsaw”) division of armored trains. The combat unit of the "Muromites" included: Armored steam locomotive (1 piece), covered armored platforms (2 pieces), open artillery armored platforms (2 pieces), two-axle control platforms (4 pieces).

Armament: 76.2 mm cannons, in turrets from T-34 tanks (4 pcs. - 2 for each covered armored platform, BP), 7.62 mm Maxim machine guns in ball bearings in the sides (8 pcs. - 4 per 1 BP), + 7.62 mm DT machine guns coaxial with cannons (4 pcs).

Open artillery sites: 37-mm anti-aircraft guns (4 pieces - 2 per BP), M-8 missile launcher (2 pieces - 1 per BP).

Reservations: the thickness of the side armor of the armored platforms was 45 mm, the covered armored platforms had top armor 20 mm thick. The armored steam locomotive, protected by armor 30-45 mm thick, was used as traction only in combat conditions. An ordinary steam locomotive was used during the campaign and during maneuvers.

Thanks to the presence of four long-barreled 76.2-mm F-32 cannons, the armored train could provide a high concentration of artillery fire and conduct targeted fire at a range of up to 12 km, and the M-8 launchers allowed it to successfully hit enemy personnel and equipment.

It is reliably known that the train passed from Murom to Frankfurt-on-Oder, destroying 7 aircraft, 14 guns and mortar batteries, 36 enemy firing points, 875 soldiers and officers, and... the enemy armored train "Adolf Hitler"

Beautiful, powerful, bright. Can you imagine the reversal of the towers and a powerful salvo...

And here is the first “Oops!” Let's start with the fact that the date, place and... description of the famous battle differ significantly. call the Kovel region (July 1944), others - the Chernihiv region and generally attribute the destruction of the Adolf Hitler train to the partisans (and this is no later than the autumn of 1943), others - the Poznan region (the exact date is unknown). This is what Novaya Gazeta writes (No. 61, August 23, 2004):

"At the beginning of World War II<How is that? Strange - World War II has been going on for 4 years now> the armored train "Ilya Muromets" left the Murom workshops - in a frontal attack<Were they walking towards each other on the same track?> near Poznan, the train, also known as number 762, emerged victorious from the battle with the Adolf Hitler train...”

And the fourth sources mention Frankfurt an der Oder (February 1945). A bit too much...

Let's take a look at the map. Let's say we make a mistake with the place of the duel on the Poznan/Frankfurt line, no matter what - it's one railway line and it's only 180 km. The French call the Battle of Borodino the “Battle of Moscow” (this is 100 km). That is, if the duel took place somewhere in the middle, it can be considered both “on the approaches to Frankfurt-on-Oder” and “in the vicinity of Poznan.”

According to some sources, it can be assumed that we are talking about “Adolf Hitler’s armored train,” i.e. in essence - staff personnel, yes, with armor, but by and large not an armored train. Wasn’t it the proud hero who rolled him into a thin pancake? But Hitler’s “armored car” survived the war and went to the Allies as trophies.

What about the enemy? After all, the loss of a combat unit named after the native Fuhrer was probably also psychologically significant, and certainly could not have gone unnoticed

As of June 22, 1941, the Red Army had 53 armored trains (of which 34 were light), which included 53 armored locomotives, 106 artillery armored platforms, 28 air defense armored platforms and more than 160 armored vehicles adapted for movement by rail. There were also 9 armored tires and several motor armored cars. In addition to the Red Army, operational troops of the NKVD also had armored trains. They had 25 armored locomotives, 32 artillery armored platforms, 36 armored motor cars and 7 armored cars.

The anti-aircraft defense of Soviet armored trains was usually very powerful. The Germans only had so-called “anti-aircraft” armored trains that had something similar.

The Germans also had an unexpected division of subordination to the BP. So, for example, the so-called “anti-aircraft” armored trains were subordinate to the Luftwaffe. Considering the capabilities of the factories, and the same traditions, that is, there were entire design bureaus that had been working in this direction since the 20s. We can safely say that the Red Army had an overwhelming advantage in armored trains. Which, unfortunately, was very quickly lost in the first months of the war. Many trains went to the enemy as trophies.

German sources, as a rule, are very meticulous, and do not cite a combat unit with this name. Oberstleutnant von Olzewski - (permanent Fuhrer of armored trains) in the book “German Railway Troops 1939-1945” never mentions a train named after Hitler. Another authoritative author, Wolfgang Zawodny, does not mention him (“German Armored trains on the Russian Front 1941-1945” Schiffer Military History Atglen.PA).

But it’s unlikely that the Germans would name some tattered armored tire after Hitler, about which there is nothing to say... “Panzertsugs” were sometimes actually given their own names: “Berlin”, “Max”, “Werner”, “Moritz”, etc. And so Here we need to make one important remark.

On the picture: Communications center in one of the carriages of Hitler's personal train.

Unlike the USSR, in Germany it was not customary to call armored trains loudly. If you compare the Soviet and German lists, you can observe an obvious contrast - most of the “Germans” have numbers and only a few proper names. Ours, like ships, always have names “Moscow Metro”, “Railroadman of Kuzbass”, “Soviet Siberia”, “People’s Avenger”, “Victory”, “Luninets”, “For the Motherland!” and so on. And only some have numbers, moreover, taken according to the “out of the blue” principle in order to confuse the enemy. So, the same “Ilya Muromets” has No. 762, which does not mean that as of 1942, the Red Army had 762 armored trains!

An armored train in the USSR is a symbol of victories in the Civil War, a symbol of the power of Soviet industry. And undoubtedly, in terms of building armored trains, the USSR was ahead of the rest of the planet, and bypassing it in a circle! But in the mass consciousness, since it is German and mechanical, it must be something grandiose, technically impeccable. However, the majority (and the overwhelming majority) of their armored trains were captured. And not only, by the way, Soviet ones.

At least a dozen Polish-made Panzertsugs fought as part of the Wehrmacht. By the way, Poland in 1939 was not a sheep at all, contrary to popular belief, and, like the USSR, it had certain traditions in the field of armored train construction. These traditions were such that even the USSR did not hesitate to include Polish armored cars in its trains. (The trophies were divided “fraternally” in 1939).

Probable opponents of “Ilya Muromets”. Since 1943, turrets from “Tigers” and “Panthers” have appeared on German armored trains..

The Wehrmacht also included French (there are quite a few photos of armored trains with Somua S-35 tank turrets in the literature), as well as Czech armored trains. And there were enough of them. They carried out their tasks of protecting communications routes, anti-aircraft defense of railway facilities, etc. For the Germans, this was not a symbol or a source of pride, but a purely utilitarian tool. And this is not a reason to give sonorous names. Let us also recall the considerations of the German Ministry of Propaganda regarding the name of the ship after Hitler. It was believed that the sinking of the Hitler would be irreparable damage in an ideological sense. It is all the more doubtful to send an armored train with that name into the partisan hell. (But the fight against partisans is one of the main tasks of armored trains on the Eastern Front. And in the Balkans too).

Descriptions of the battle also vary greatly. Thus, some sources claim that the trains “collided” on the rails almost by accident and were forced to navigate according to the situation, others - that the duel was the result of a deep and thoughtful intelligence operation. Some report that "Adolf Hitler" masterfully maneuvered, escaping from the fire of "Muromets", others - that "Muromets" covered it with the first salvo...

Soviet armored train in position. 76 mm gun with an extended barrel - the main caliber of the Ilya Muromets.

Here is an excerpt from the book “ARMORED TRAINS IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1941-1945” (AUTHORS: Efimiev A.V., Manzhosov A.N., Sidorov P.F.):

“The morning of June 4 turned out to be cloudy, with occasional light rain. MM. Kravchenya and his assistants arrived at the observation post long before the scheduled start time. But an unforeseen circumstance awaited them. The tree from which the surveillance was conducted lay broken on the ground. What is this? Did a random shell fly in or did the Germans get wind of the impending strike? Will all the preparations really go down the drain? The mystery seemed unsolvable. They chose another tree, established contact and reported to the headquarters of the armored division. We decided not to cancel the operation and wait until nine in the morning.

The time has come. Driver A.V. Soldatov brought “Ilya Muromets” into position. The gunners, waiting for the signal, prepared to fire.

Senior Lieutenant M. M. Kravchenya was tormented by doubts. The clock hands moved inexorably across the dial. It’s already two minutes to nine, and still no sign of the expected goal. Will it appear or not? And suddenly his gaze discerned barely noticeable streaks of smoke, and only then he saw the muzzles of guns bristling in our direction and conveyed to the command room:

- The target is in place! Get started!

From the control room of “Ilya Muromets” came:
- On target! Ten shells per gun! Rocket launchers in two salvos! Armored trains! Fire!

Shots from both sides rang out almost simultaneously. The gunners of “Ilya Muromets” showed superb skill. The mysterious enemy was covered from the very first salvo. The stealth battery managed to turn the muzzles of its guns towards the Ilya Muromets and fire a return shot. But the shells missed their target. "Katyusha" completed the defeat of the enemy armored train. Soon it was all over. Clouds of steam hung above the armored train. Apparently, the shell hit the boiler of the locomotive.

When Kovel was liberated from the Nazis on July 6, 1944, the soldiers of the 31st division visited the broken armored train. The Nazis never bothered to remove the remains of the mangled car. The soldiers learned that the enemy armored train was named after Adolf Hitler.”

Very important! The date July 4 and the place Kovel are given. But according to German data, as of July 4, 1944, there were no losses of armored trains. In the period from June to August, Olzhevsky and Zavodny (they do not contradict each other) cite the following losses: Army Group “Center” No. 1 and No. 61 (destroyed on the same day, 06/27/44, No. 28, 06/29/44), No. 74 destroyed 07/29/44 , No. 66 - 30.07. As part of Army Group Northern Ukraine No. 63 on July 17, 1944. And as part of Army Group North No. 67 (07/27/1944) and No. 51 (08/13/1944).

Based on the above passage, we can understand that it was not about a “frontal attack,” as Novaya Gazeta writes, but about a positional duel. Moreover, observers most likely could not, for some reason, reliably confirm the destruction of the German armored train. It was just a matter of “hitting.” OK then. Positional duel. But with whom?

The battle for Kovel lasted 127 days. In this way, it is possible to determine which of the “panzertsugs” were in Kovel at that time.

Photo documents are provided. (Actually, there is only one photographic document - Soviet soldiers looking at the defeated iron “Fuhrer”).

Photo considered canonical: Soviet soldiers inspect the damaged armored train "Adolf Hitler". In fact, there are a lot of questions about the photo..

Based on this photograph, it is clear that the German armored train included an Artillery car “BP 42” with a 76.2 mm Soviet F.K. gun placed on it. 295/L and a 20-mm quad anti-aircraft gun. Normally there were 2 of these cars + a command one + at least 2 more auxiliary ones. That is, it turns out that we met opponents of almost equal strength. “Muromets” also had a “Katyusha”, but this weapon is dubious against an armored train... (Although, it depends on what it covers).

Kovel is a large railway junction and a dozen Panzertsugs could have guarded it or passed through it at different times, retreating. On this section of the front at that time, 2 armored trains No. 74 and No. 63 operated (and were destroyed) (but the latter much later). Some English-language sources report that the 74th included the so-called “BP ​​44 armored platforms.” Quite possible. It has just arrived after a deep modernization in Warsaw. The main feature of these platforms was that they had turrets from the Tigers. Apparently, they really hit him with the first salvo. If 88-mm shells had hit the Muromets, it would not have been able to avoid damage.

What really happened? One can only guess here. Most likely a duel took place. Most likely, it led to damage to the German armored train that was incompatible with further operation, which is why it (or maybe several armored cars) was abandoned at the Kovel station.

There is also mysterious evidence: “Near Kovel, the commander of the Ilya-Muromets armored train, N.A., died. Popkov. He was buried at Globa station. The Germans once again informed the command that the armored train had been destroyed. However, only the bathhouse car and the cabin burned down, and the armored train itself emerged from the battle with honor. General I.I. Kretov arrived at the station and personally presented the Red Banner of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR to the personnel of the division.”

That is, the train still received hits and damage? As for the name Adolf Hitler, that was most likely the case. The Red Army soldiers who found a pile of scrap saw a piece of inscription, something like “Adolf Hitler is our helmsman.” In place of “our helmsman” is a hole from a 76.2 mm shell. For a Soviet person living in a world where everything, from a tank factory to a workshop for the production of fittings for water closets, bears the name of Stalin, the name of an enemy armored train named after the leader is completely normal, organic. A Red Star correspondent arrives here. ABOUT! What a great title! On July 8-9, 1944 “Adolf Hitler was destroyed!”

But the Third Reich, for all its similarities, is not a copy of the USSR. didn't exist not a single combat unit , except for the division “Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler”, which bears the name of the leader. And even then, the name of the division can also be translated as “Personal Guard (Guard) of Adolf Hitler” (in fact, the division was formed on the basis of the original personal guard of the Fuhrer). The Luftwaffe division "Hermann Goering" is another exception that proves the rule.

War is also propaganda - information war. And everything that brings victory closer is good in it. This is probably how the myth about the destruction of the armored train “Adolf Hitler”, which never existed, was born. It’s a pity that for so many years he has remained such a myth. Reality is always brighter and more interesting than myth, especially since in reality there are living people with everything that is inherent in living people of flesh and blood, fears, weaknesses and heroism. After all, the personnel of the Soviet armored train “Ilya Muromets” destroyed the German armored train. And this is a fact that does not become any less significant that the destroyed armored train did not bear the name of the Fuhrer.

In the photo above: Adolf Hitler (left) in front of his staff train. Hitler's train consisted of 15 carriages, of which only two were armored platforms with anti-aircraft guns. The remaining carriages were intended for Hitler himself, his guards and headquarters services.

Trains began to be armored and armed in the first half of the 19th century. But this type of mobile armored vehicle showed itself most actively during the Great Patriotic War, although it was previously used by both warring sides in both the First World War and civil campaigns. Even in both Chechen conflicts, special armored trains were used, four of them are still in service with the Russian army. The most effective in military campaigns can rightfully be called Soviet armored trains, some of which survived the entire Second World War.

Special Division

At the beginning of 1942, the 31st separate armored train division was formed in the Soviet army. Previously, such a formation had not existed in any army in the world. Armored trains were equipped with rocket artillery and guns protected by tank turrets. The division's combat units operated for three years, until May 1945. Soviet armored trains reached the capital of the Third Reich.

The division, awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky, destroyed the fascist armored train "Adolf Hitler", over forty artillery and mortar batteries, more than twenty individual guns, almost one and a half dozen bunkers, about a hundred enemy machine gun points, dozens of enemy aircraft.

The division's combat units had sonorous names that instilled awe in the hearts of the enemy.

"Russian Ghost" "Ilya Muromets"

“Ilya Muromets” was given to the soldiers of the Soviet army by Murom railway workers in 1942. The armored train was equipped with 45 mm armor and was never penetrated by an enemy shell during its operation. “Muromets” is the first armored train of its kind to be equipped with Katyusha rocket launchers. In a minute, this mobile colossus “covered” an area equal to four hectares, within a one and a half kilometer radius.

"Muromets" was a fairly fast and relatively silent armored train, but at the same time it had colossal firepower. For which he received the nickname “Russian Ghost” from the Germans. The “ghostiness” of the armored unit, meanwhile, had very real results: during the Great Patriotic War, “Ilya Muromets” shot down 7 enemy aircraft, destroyed a dozen enemy artillery and mortar installations, hit over 30 firing points and killed more than 800 Nazis.

The most famous battle of the Muromets was the battle in 1944 near Kovel with the fascist armored train Adolf Hitler, the only head-on battle of such armored vehicles in the Great Patriotic War. And our railway giant emerged victorious from this battle.

“Ilya Muromets” did not reach Berlin only 50 kilometers, and then only for “technical reasons”: the bridge over the Oder was destroyed.

"Kozma Minin" shot down 15 aircraft

Another armored train from the glorious cohort of a separate armored division, operating since February 1942. Gorky railway workers also built it at their own expense. The Minin anti-aircraft artillery mounts could hit 12 kilometers, in addition, large-caliber and anti-aircraft machine guns were mounted on the KM platforms. Over the three years of operation, the Minin shot down 15 enemy aircraft, and the KM provided great support to our troops who fought on the Kursk Bulge.

"Baltic" support in breaking the Leningrad blockade

The Baltiets armored train is one of the first such combat units operating in the Soviet army since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The fate of the construction of this machine does not differ from the history of the appearance of its other analogues - the “Baltiets” was also manufactured at their own expense by the workers of the Leningrad-Baltic Electric Depot. The armored train became operational in July 1941 and was sent to the Leningrad Front. The Leningrad junction had a well-developed railway network, and therefore the Baltiets could carry out daring maneuvers without harming itself, as a result of which it inflicted significant damage on the enemy.

The armored train provided serious assistance during the breaking of the siege of Leningrad in January 1943, supporting the infantrymen with artillery strikes. During the decisive offensive of the Soviet troops, liberating the northern capital from the Nazis, “Baltiets” advanced along with the advancing formations of the Red Army.

Formidable force

The armored train was built in Murom in a short period of time. According to various sources, it took about three to four months to create a formidable combat vehicle. Initially, they decided to give him the name of the hero Ilya Muromets. But Colonel Neplyuev, who came to pick up the train, decided that it was not suitable. Like, not suitable for wartime. And I decided to call it “For the Motherland.” But the builders of the armored train did not agree and staged a rally. In the end, the combat vehicle received number 762, but according to the documents it went as “Ilya Muromets”.

The armored train could be called “For the Motherland”

And in 1942, “Ilya Muromets” began its combat journey from the Bryansk Front. Its armament was impressive in its power: heavy guns, anti-aircraft guns, machine guns... For the first time in the history of armored trains, rocket-propelled mortars were also used (Katyushas were installed on the Muromets). The main task of the vehicle was to destroy enemy fuel depots, weapons, artillery batteries and equipment.

“Ilya” fought its first battle in April 1942 near the Vypolzovo station. Then he made a foray into Mtsensk captured by the Germans. Here an armored train bombed the station to interrupt the loading of enemy trains.

The Germans could not close their eyes to the appearance of an “avenger” in their rear, so a hunt began for the armored train. Moreover, she walked both on the ground and in the air. German aviation turned out to be luckier than the rest. The planes managed to track down the Soviet armored train and attack it. In that battle, the Nazis destroyed the headquarters car, in which the commander of the 31st division of armored trains, Major Grushelevsky, the chief of staff of the division, Pisemsky, as well as the correspondent of the newspaper “Gudok” Bukaev, were killed.

German intelligence buried “Ilya” several times

But those damages did not put Muromets out of action. Soon he went to the front again. The Germans did not believe that the armored train was built in the USSR. Because it was distinguished by powerful weapons, thick armor and high speed. They say that the Soviet Union had neither the time nor the funds to create it. It was believed that the Americans handed over the train to the USSR. And after each battle, Luftwaffe agents reported that Ilya was destroyed. But again and again he went on the warpath.

Main fight

“Muromets” had a chance to take part in one of the few armored train battles in the history of World War II. He had a worthy opponent - a German with the eloquent name “Adolf Hitler”. The battle took place in 1944.

Koval (a large railway junction in the Volyn region) began to be systematically subjected to short artillery shelling. And with pedantic precision - at nine o’clock in the morning. There was no way for Soviet soldiers to detect enemy deployments. But the Germans were let down by their unchanging schedule. Intelligence managed to notice clouds of smoke. It became clear that an enemy armored train was operating. “Ilya Muromets” set off to eliminate him. He was assisted by artillerymen, who were supposed to destroy the railway track with precise strikes so that the enemy would have no options for maneuver. They decided to carry out the operation quickly, without preliminary shooting.

The battle of the armored trains turned out to be fleeting. The guns of "Ilya" and "Adolf" struck almost simultaneously. But Soviet artillerymen turned out to be more accurate. And the Katyusha salvoes finished off the German armored train. The Adolf was covered in clouds of steam - one of the shells hit the steam boiler. The enemy was finished.

Opponents of equal strength met in battle

The Germans were unable to take away the remains of their combat vehicle. Therefore, the Soviet soldiers who fought on the Muromets, after the liberation of Koval, personally looked at the defeated enemy. It was then that they learned that the armored train bore the name of their most important enemy.

Myths and legends

After the war, information kept popping up that there was no battle between “Ilya Muromets” and “Adolf Hitler”. They say that the “duck” was launched to raise the morale of Soviet soldiers. And as irrefutable evidence they cited German documentation, in which there is not a word about an armored train with that name.

The fact that “Ilya” existed and fought is beyond doubt. His glorious military path is not discussed either. But the authenticity of the main battle is almost impossible to prove or disprove. There are references to several places (the dates are also different) in which two armored trains fought. This is, so to speak, the first problem. The second is that “Muromets” allegedly dealt with Hitler’s headquarters train. Then there could be no talk of a full-fledged confrontation. In addition, after the war the allies took it as a trophy.

As mentioned earlier, there is no mention of the Adolf Hitler armored train in German documents. And it was not in the character of Germany to give such loud names. The most that the Germans were capable of was to assign their own name to the technology. For example, "Berlin" or "Werner". But this was also rare. Usually they made do with banal numbers. But in the USSR it was just the opposite. All equipment received beautiful and proud names: “Soviet Siberia”, “People’s Avenger” and so on. Numbers were also used, but they were assigned in a “random” order to confuse the enemy.

In the USSR, technology was given eloquent names

In addition, the Germans thought about the consequences. No matter how perfect the technology was, it could be destroyed. And how would ordinary soldiers react then, having learned about the death of Hitler, even if embodied in metal?

Descriptions of the battle also vary greatly. Some sources speak of a positional duel, while others speak of a frontal confrontation. Somewhere it is stated that “Hitler” put up fierce resistance, managing to destroy the headquarters carriage, somewhere – that it was put out of action almost instantly. In general, you can choose any version you like best.

Most historians agree that the battle at Koval actually took place. And it happened on one of the 127 days while the operation to liberate the railway junction was taking place. And the enemy of “Muromets” was armored train No. 74 with an armored platform BP44. Its main advantage was its turrets from the Tigers. And if such a shell had hit a Soviet armored train, its armor would not have saved it. Therefore, the version of the “first salvo” is most likely closest to the truth.

Now about the name. After the liberation of Koval, when the soldiers came to look at the defeated enemy, they seemed to have discovered a partially intact inscription with the name of the Fuhrer and “something else.” The last part could have been simply damaged by a shell. Considering how the equipment was named in the USSR, the soldiers could have decided that the inscription was the name of the train. Perhaps the Red Star correspondent also picked up this idea. After all, it turned out to be a fantastic headline.

"Ilya Muromets" carried out about 160 military operations

But even the not entirely clear situation with the defeated enemy does not detract from the military merits of “Ilya Muromets”. He has more than 160 fire attacks to his credit. They destroyed 14 guns and mortar batteries, 36 fascist firing points, 7 aircraft and about 875 soldiers and officers. As well as countless liquidated trains and freight trains. For numerous military merits, the 31st separate special Gorky division of armored trains (which included the Muromets) was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

In 1971, “Ilya Muromets” went to the parking lot in his native Murom. It remains here to this day.