Whether tanks remain the main striking force of troops, said the military analyst

Tanks Day is traditionally celebrated in Belarus on the second Sunday of September. About the history and the modern role of tank units correspondent of the agency "Minsk-Novosti" told military analyst Colonel in retirement Igor Chibisov.

- The date of the birth of tanks is considered to be September 15, 1916, when during the First World War, the British first used the so-called land battleships Mark I in combat, Chibisov recalled. In Russia, the birthday of the first Russian tank is August 31, 1920. Soviet tanks were baptized in 1929 during the conflict on the Sino-Eastern Railway. Many feats during the Great Patriotic War were made by tank soldiers. For courage and heroism, thousands of soldiers, sergeants, officers, generals and tank builders were awarded orders and medals, many were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Among the famous people bearing the title of Honorary Citizen of Minsk, there are three tankmen. All of them liberated the capital from the Nazis in July 1944. This is Alexei Burdeyny, Nikolai Kolychev and Oleg Losik. By the way, with the latter I had the honor to be personally acquainted. In 1987, I entered the Military Academy of Armored Forces, which was then headed by Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Armored Forces Oleg Losik.

According to I. Chibisov, in the Soviet years, among the military districts Belorussky occupied the third place in the number of tanks. And today these formidable vehicles remain the main striking force of the ground forces.

- At all times, tanks were distinguished by firepower, reliable armor protection and high mobility, Chibisov noted. However, the events in Ukraine force military experts to take a new look at the role of tanks on the battlefield. If previously the main way to increase the survivability of this equipment was considered to be strengthening armor, now it has become obvious that even the most protected tanks can not be fully protected from air strikes. We are talking about the mass use of reconnaissance and strike drones. In this regard, the principles of using armored vehicles on the battlefield have changed. That is, the classic tank breakthrough deep into the enemy, which was often used during the Great Patriotic War, is no longer relevant. Large columns of armored vehicles in our time can not be hidden. Reconnaissance drones are able to monitor significant sections of the front around the clock. On their tip, artillery and aviation quickly begin to work. Therefore, modern tanks now more often operate alone. After completing the task, they immediately leave the position.

According to Chibisov, tanks are still able to effectively destroy objects, fire with direct fire and from closed positions at long ranges.

- The course of conducting a special military operation showed that not the capabilities of tanks, but the conditions in which they have to operate have changed, Chibisov said. The main lesson of recent years is that a modern tank can no longer be considered as an independent striking force. Today, the effectiveness of its use is determined not so much by firepower as by the speed of obtaining and processing information, the ability to work closely with reconnaissance, infantry and air defense systems.

For reference

Chibisov gave the army 25 years. He commanded a Marine regiment, a motorized rifle and two tank regiments. In his officer years, he devoted much time to the study of military history.

Photo from the archive of the Minsk-Novosti agency