History of rhombuses
Initially, the British wanted to create a tank by booking a tractor chassis and attaching a cannon to it. Then they would have got something like the German A7V or the French "Saint-Chamon". Such a monster would knead the dirt well, but would give in to the vertical relief. And the latter on the fronts of the First World War was in bulk - trenches, craters from shells, and so on.
Then Ernest Swington, the inventor of the tank, decided to put tracks around the entire hull. This is how the famous diamond-shaped silhouette turned out - it was simply the most optimal in terms of overcoming steep slopes.
The name "tank", which the car gave birth to, appeared almost by accident. It was assumed that the novelty could, if not turn the tide of the war, then at least produce a strong tactical effect. Therefore, the product was kept in the strictest confidence. They were “disguised” as large water tanks prepared for shipment to Russia. They wrote doodles in Russian: "CAUTION PETROGRAA". And they were labeled as "tanks", that is, as tanks.
Life inside the "diamond" was a real hell - the temperature was 40 degrees, the smell of mechanisms and working engines, a disgusting view. But the new tool was quite effective, although it did not solve the problem of trench warfare overnight. Having appeared, the tank has already changed the face of the war forever.
Adventures of the British in Russia
Tanks were actively used throughout the war, starting with their debut on the Somme. From dozens of cars, they quickly moved on to mass production. "Rhombuses" were riveted in thousands of pieces. They went into battle in the hundreds.
And, of course, they went beyond the First World War as soon as it ended. Once, for example, on the battlefields of the Civil War in Russia. Both as part of the interventionist troops and as "rhombuses" handed over to white. Tanks decorated with the inscriptions "United Russia", "For Holy Russia" and others rumbled across the vast expanses of Russian turmoil.
And where there is war, there are trophies. The Germans in the First World War produced so few tanks that in the First World War they had more captured "rhombuses" in their army than their A7Vs. Something similar happened with the Red Army - it actively mastered any technique that it could get its hands on. And British tanks received a second life in Soviet Russia.
"Rhombuses" were on the balance sheet of the Red Army right up to the 30s, when the rapid development of the Soviet tank industry made them unnecessary. They wanted to give up the tanks for melting, but that's all. The fate of some trophies was decided by Voroshilov, whom they reminded of the times of the victories of his youth. They made monuments all over the country.
Only 5 of the tanks sent to this case have survived to this day - all Mark V models. One machine-gun "Female" and 4 "Hermaphrodites" armed with a cannon and machine guns. The latter, by the way, are the only ones (for Mk. V) in the world - and all are located in the expanses of the former USSR. Where we are with you now and go.
Monument 1: Arkhangelsk
The "female" was sent to Arkhangelsk, where she reminds us of the British intervention. And also that our ancestors managed to overcome this very intervention - not only driving the British from their land, but also capturing trophies.
This is, perhaps, one of the most inconvenient cars for inspection and photographing - from above the "rhombus" is protected by a roof made of corrugated board, and on the sides - glass walls attached to a welded frame. This certainly helps against vandals, but at the same time makes the tank the least interesting from the point of view of casual visitors. But if you find yourself in Arkhangelsk, it is quite possible to drop in to admire the curiosity - not every city has one.
The coordinates for the navigator to find it easier and faster: 64.544479, 40.517095.
Museum: Moscow region
The first of the four "hermaphrodites" is located near the town of Kubinka, in the Patriot park.
He moved there from the famous Central Museum of Armored Weapons and Equipment, commonly known as the Cuban Tank Museum. And it definitely did good - the conditions of the inspection in the "Patriot" are incomparably better. The hangars of the old museum were famous for the chilly cold in the winter, and in the summer they simply did not allow them to properly examine the exhibits - the tanks were tightly set side to side, resembling a herring in a barrel.
“Patriot” is another matter - there are no global problems with light, you can get around from all sides, it is always warm inside, except that you cannot climb. In this sense, the creation of the Ministry of Defense is a definite plus - especially in comparison with the "old" museum.
Monument 2: Kharkiv
Another "hermaphrodite" is located in Kharkov. The condition of the exhibit, let's say, is not the best. But there is an unconditional plus in the convenience and clarity of the inspection - the tank is in the open air, and nothing prevents you from going around it from all sides. There are also no problems with light - due to the lack of a roof, as in Arkhangelsk.
True, due to the tension between Russia and Ukraine, problems at customs are possible - at any moment another unpredictable political combination may begin, new laws may be adopted that will complicate your task. But if you are in Kharkov anyway, take a look at the "rhombus".
Navigator coordinates: 49.992875, 36.231070
Monument 3: Lugansk
But where the customs office is allowed without any problems, it is at the entrance to the Lugansk People's Republic. You don't even need a passport - you show a regular Russian passport, get registered, and now you are already on the territory of this young country.
Do not be afraid of enemy artillery - it has not fired massively at the central quarters for several years. And you won't go to the front line, where you can still hear the sounds of small arms or mortars. At least by accident - first you have to overcome at least 3 checkpoints.
In Luhansk, there are supermarkets, apartments for rent, taverns - rubles are accepted everywhere. The local population is not just friendly - it is no different from the population of any Russian city of the same size. Especially when compared with the Kuban - here even the South Russian dialect is the same.
And there are as many as two tanks of the Great War - the Lugansk "rhombuses" survived all the hardships of the 20th century and have survived to this day. Of course, at one time they looked rather ugly, but in 2009 they were quite qualitatively restored at the local diesel locomotive plant. And to look at them today is quite pleasant. Moreover, the tanks are in the open air, access is not restricted by anyone - you can even climb in and inspect the colossus from above.
A memorial in memory of the Civil War is attached to the Luhansk “rhombuses”. In 2017, traces of shelling were still visible on it - human sculptures of Red Army soldiers and granite slabs were hooked. So the civil war of the XX century was superimposed on her companion, but already from the XXI.
If you are brought to Lugansk on business, then it is stupid to disdain as much as two "rhombuses". They can be found at coordinates 48.576948, 39.307068.
