In accordance with the order No. 100 of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, May 29 in Russia celebrate the Day of a military motorist. This date 104 years ago was marked by the formation of a training automobile company in our country. The main goal of its creation was to train professional drivers of military vehicles.
Therefore, the Day of a military motorist in our country is nothing more than a manifestation of respect for these specialists, as well as the full recognition of their inherent merits. What are the responsibilities of a military motorist? The main area of his activity is the wide-profile transportation of goods, people, property. However, today a difficult period has come for these troops. Massive specialized schools are being massively closed, automobile property wasted, domestic military vehicles are being decommissioned, and imported ones are purchased in exchange, which is unsuitable for operation in domestic field conditions. Therefore, many historians today believe that the day of the military motorist 2013 is also a tribute to the once prosperous unit.
Automobile troops in the pre-revolutionary period
It so happened in our country that the merits of military motorists by historians are not mentioned. And the only day they are honored is Military Motorist Day. Although this, of course, is unfair. Without them, it would be impossible to imagine the operational movement of ammunition, soldiers and medicines.
The first mention of the use of cars during military manipulations dates back to 1897, at that time there was only one car on the field, but after only 5 years, five cars left during the battle. Of course, at that time they had low power and heavy weight, but thanks to the professionalism of the drivers, it was they who helped to win the most difficult battles. These cars were De Dion and Lessner. And at the beginning of 1924, the fleet of these troops included almost 8 thousand cars, including even buses. Most of them were purchased abroad.
The development of AB before and during the Second World War
At the end of 1920, the number of military equipment of the Red Army was 7,500 vehicles. But, unfortunately, almost all the cars were of different colors and were in a worn condition. Thanks to the auto reform, in 1929 a significant increase in both the quantity and quality of the Red Army automobile fleet began. In 1940, the Armored Directorate was named the Main Bolshoi. And the creation of the 6th department allowed freeing this department from solving non-core tasks and concentrating on the most important ones.
The beginning of World War II gave a powerful impetus to the development of automobile troops. The tense situation, the need for fast and safe delivery of people and goods has led to an increase in specialized automotive parts. So, already in 1942, a month after the start of large-scale hostilities, a special road department was created. At the very beginning of the war, the entire army accounted for almost 273 thousand vehicles, and already in the middle of 1945 their number increased three times, while almost 10% of the vehicles were German, which our soldiers received in the form of trophies.
Merit of automobile troops during the Afghan war
It is impossible not to appreciate the assistance of automobile troops during the hostilities in Afghanistan. Mined roads, militant attacks, constant shelling - this is all that soldiers had to worry about. However, it was their professionalism, endurance and honor that allowed for the timely delivery of food and ammunition, as well as the fastest possible transportation of wounded soldiers. At the same time, 50 automobile convoys were located and performed their work in Afghanistan.
It is safe to say that the Day of the military motorist is one of the main military holidays of the country. And you can recognize the soldiers included in these troops by a special copper special sign.