Armored Trains

I was killing time in a train shop this afternoon and spotted a couple of books on armored trains, specifically German and Soviet armored trains.

I'm curious if anyone has any information on how effective these things were during the wars. During WWI I would expect them to have been pretty effective but during WWII it would seem that air power would severely reduce their worth, yet apparently the Germans put a good deal of effort into these, especially on the Eastern Front. Whether the Soviets followed their lead or not I don't know. Typical layout seems to be the engine and tender in the center with one or two cars on each end with either a built in protected tank or a tank turret on a special car. There are extensive anti-aircraft cars on each end and also artillery cars. These seem to be offensive or defensive weapons rather than special trains to carry special cargo.

I just finished reading an assay entitled "Peculiarities of Russian warfare" and among other things it touches on Armored trains. The Germans found them most useful against partisan attacks and it mentions how in one sector early in the campaign, air attacks ceased in one sector once armored trains where deployed. I think all in all they where effective. Railway guns are another story...

Another neat thing, In 43' when the I-L2 deployed it was impervious to ALL machine gun and flak. The only thing they found to penetrate the cockpit armor was the 20mm AP round. There where orders forbidding its use except against tanks!! Once the OK was given though, I-L2 attacks ceased for a while because the Russians where taking to many losses.

I have pictures of a armoured train at a rail museum in Poland, if I remember how to post pictures here I will try to do that.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...90ea4f85-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 08:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:35 PM ----------

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...23e89ef8-1.jpg

This train is at a railway museum just outside of Krakow Poland, sorry for the large images.

Seems to me we had a thread about this in the past. Yes, these are a whole different animal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Seems to me we had a thread about this in the past. Yes, these are a whole different animal.

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You are correct.

You are correct the IL-2 was a tough as nails the crew sat ensconced in a bath type arrangement of armour and the3 aircraft could take loads of punishment, like most things Russian not real purdey to look at but undeniably functional.

I recently picked up a pre WWII 1931 dated Estonian Army belt for a private who I'd by the triangular stamp as was assigned to II Soomusrong, (the 2'nd armoured train).
During the research on Estonian armored trains I found a few photos of some Estonian army trains although of a bit earlier period then the belt is dated but may still been in use , Ray

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