History 29/12/19 Why the Russian soldiers go “on the armor”
In the 90-ies of the last century, Russia started the war in the Caucasus. As more than a hundred years ago, the Russian army was forced to fight in the mountains and valleys, where life and customs have changed little since the days of Imam Shamil. Then the whole world has seen pictures in which the Russian soldiers enter the captured towns and villages “on the reservation”, that is, not inside the armored vehicles, and sitting on them. The Western world was perplexed, not only civil, but also many soldiers. Soldiers on the BTR – it’s the perfect target for a sniper, said one. Others asked questions about the nature of this phenomenon: heroism, recklessness or eternal Russian “ride”?
Western countries since 1945 have not participated in the wars on its territory. Soviet, and later Russian army, after the capitulation of Japan participated in several full-scale military conflicts, including within the borders of the state. Many people, who had no real combat experience, was really very difficult to understand what to be “on Board” for a number of reasons is much safer than inside the vehicle.
Habit is second nature
actually, the habit of Russian soldiers ride “on the armor” has its roots in the early 40-ies. The photographs of the great Patriotic war, you can see the famous T-34 tanks, which sit densely Soviet soldiers. When I had to step in off-road conditions, the tanks were the perfect vehicle for transporting infantry to the front. About any of APC at the time was out of the question. The infantry had to rely on luck and that the German bullet is not shot down under the tracks of the multi-ton machine. Immediately after the war, the Soviet army started developing its first vehicles entered service in the late 40’s-early 50-ies. However, the first serious test of opened their numerous disadvantages.
About the problems that vehicles BTR-70 faced in real combat conditions of the Afghan war, recounts doctor of military Sciences V. G. Grigoriev the article “the History of armored personnel carriers.” In addition to the large fuel consumption and high fire-engines, the main drawback of the BTR-70 was the inadequate thickness of the armor. During the Afghan war they got even poluprezritelno the nickname of “tin”. Inside the crew was protected only against small arms. If the car has been the target of a grenade or run into the bomb, with high probability, all who were inside, waiting for death. Those who were “on Board” was a chance to fly into the ditch, but to stay alive, escaped with bruises and abrasions.
After the Afghan war tradition drive “on the reservation” continued, Russian soldiers participating in the Chechen campaigns. In the wars in the North Caucasus were also used BTR-70, and it is improved to consider mistakes of the Afghan version of the BTR-80. However, in the Caucasus, the Russian army once again had to deal with an opponent who is familiar with challenging terrain. Fighters rarely engage in open battle, preferring guerrilla tactics of guerrilla warfare: ambush, setting land mines in the path of Federal troops and that the soldiers always had to be alert to spot the threat and go on alert. Quickly jump off the armor and use it as a shelter, and in the case of blasting armored vehicles to retreat to a safe distance – it was a vital advantage in war on foreign soil.
a Necessary measure
There is another, more prosaic explanation of mass travel “on the armor”. As already noted, and the Afghan and Chechen wars took place in hostile territory. This meant that each grouping had to have a sufficient supply of ammunition in the case of the environment or other unforeseen situations. An interesting detail can be found in the report on the supply of the 40th army in the war in Afghanistan. Additional ammunition boxes were encouraged to place in the troop compartment. It turns out that the soldiers were forced to switch to armour due to the fact that inside the APC was Packed with ammunition. In other words, the autonomy of groups was increased at the expense of the safety of the soldiers.
of Course, the risk to get shot while “on Board” are quite high. However, if a bullet could whistle by, in the case of blasting on a land mine painful death in the “tin” will be guaranteed to all members of the crew. It just so happened that don’t trust our soldiers to armored vehicles, preferring to rely on the soldier’s fortune.
This trick has caused great surprise NATO soldiers, after all, was a gross violation of the Charter. In Western countries, where the army is a contract, such violations are a reason not to pay the soldiers insurance.
© Russian Seven
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