Once, one of the readers of VO asked me to talk about the use of Russian steam tractors in the war. An article was discovered: “G. Kaninsky and S. Kirilets "Tractors in the Russian Imperial Army" ("Equipment and weapons" 05-2010). But it did not cover a very interesting example of the use of steam tractors in the Russian army during … the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878! In general, he who seeks, sooner or later finds. And here's what was found on this topic …
In 1873, two English self-propelled locomotives "Fowler" with straw fireboxes were tested in Samara. (https://kraeham.livejournal.com/26054.html)
The wars of the first quarter of the 20th century have clearly shown that in a number of cases the railway is not able to meet the ever-growing and varied needs of the army for means of transport. During the war years 1914 - 1918. the limited scope of activity of railway transport and at the same time the richest possibilities of the recently appeared car came to light especially strongly. It is well known that the low level of the German automobile industry before the war and the underestimation of the road transport by the German military command during the war itself led to a number of serious defeats of the German army, which largely caused its defeat. Here it would be appropriate to recall Curzon's apt words about "the victory of the Allied motors over the railways of Germany."
The classical railway, without losing its importance as a powerful means of transport during the war, was forced to make room and make room for the automobile, this new means of transport, often more satisfying the specific requirements of modern armies.
As you know, the beginning of the history of the car is associated with the name of the French engineer Cunier, who tried in 1769 - 1770. build a steam car to transport artillery cargo. The experiment, however, ended in failure.
Cuyunho's "steam wagon".
Well, and the first case of practical application of mechanical road transport for military purposes took place almost 85 years later after the modest experiments of Cunier. In 1854, during the Crimean War, the British used the so-called "road locomotive" (steam tractor) of the Boydel system to transport goods in the Balaklava area. In 1870-1871, that is, during the Franco-Prussian war, the Germans, borrowing the experience of the British, also tried to use tractor traction for transporting military cargo. For this, two steam tractors purchased from the British firm Fowler were delivered to the front.
Steam tractor at work.
The inept use of these machines and the skepticism of the German command towards them led to the fact that these tractors stood idle most of the time. During the entire war, they were in operation for no more than three weeks, and the trips were made over very short distances (10-15 km). In total, about 120 tons of ammunition were transported using trailers and, in addition, several trips were made to transport food, fuel, etc. did not bring any benefit then. Despite the bad experience of the Germans, steam tractors began to gradually penetrate the armies of other countries, such as Russia and Italy. Although the tractors of that time were still far from perfect. They were a heavy (from 4 to 10 tons) machine with a horizontal locomotive boiler. For every horsepower, there was 1 ton of dead weight on the tractor. The main fuel used was coke or anthracite. The speed of movement was not higher than 5 - 6 km per hour. After every hour the water supply had to be renewed. With the help of trailers, the tractor could pull a load 2–2, 5 times its own weight.
In Russia, the first locomotives (steam tractors) appeared in 1857, when the firm of the Butenop brothers first delivered two locomobiles to Russia: an English one with 10 hp. and German in 8 hp. The Ministry of Finance reacted to their work with sympathy and issued a loan of 70,000 rubles for 25 years, and without interest! This helped the brothers expand their production and set up mass production of various fire-fighting equipment, as well as … tower clocks. Locomotives began to be used, but for peaceful purposes.
And then the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 began, and in the Russian army steam tractors were used as an army vehicle!
Steam tractor Fowler B5 "Lion".
So Russia was among those countries that were the first to start supplying the army with steam tractors. Moreover, the earliest facts of the appearance of tractors in the Russian army took place in the early 70s. XIX century So their serious tests began in 1876. And then, after successful experiments, 8 tractors were bought in England (firms of Porter, Fowler and Clayton), and two tractors were built at the Maltsev plant in Bryansk.
And this is how the Fowler B5 tractor looked in 1899 after the British in Africa covered it with armor. Paper model.
By the beginning of the war, the Russian army had 12 steam tractors maintained by a specially trained team of 54 people. and a marching repair shop. In April 1877, shortly after the outbreak of the war, all tractors were sent to the front. Approximately two weeks later, they arrived at the Bendery station by rail. Here they immediately began to transport artillery cargo with their help. For 19 days (from May 7 to May 25), tractors, working on routes with a distance of 2 to 13 km, transported 358 tons of cargo. Then 9 cars were sent to Slatin and the rest to Banyasa station. In Slatina, they were busy transporting siege weapons and other artillery supplies from the city to their positions. From May 25 to June 2, about 165 tons of cargo were transported by these tractors. After that, 4 tractors were self-propelled to the city of Thurn-Magureli, where they arrived on June 13, having successfully completed a journey of 121 km. Here the vehicles were sent directly to the position to carry heavy weapons. The repair shop, together with one tractor, was used to repair implements and install an electric searchlight.
After the Russian troops crossed the Danube, on June 19, tractors from Turn-Magureli were sent by self-propelled gun to the town of Zimnitsa (48 km away). At the same time, they brought here a steam locomotive with electric lighting equipment. Due to insufficient loading in Zimnitsa, the tractors went to vil. Parapan (32 km), where for a month (from August 15 to September 15) they were busy transporting artillery shells from Parapan to Petroshany (13 km). In total, 433 tons of shells were transported here.
Honsby steam tractor. Tests in England, February-March 1910.
By September 18, the tractors were assembled at Fratesti station. Their further work was complicated by the onset of autumn, which ruined the road. At this time, only one tractor systematically worked, used as a locomotive at a water pumping station, in addition, a steam boat and 20 tons of coal were transported from the town of Zhurzhev to the village of Petroshany. The servants who serviced the tractors were mainly engaged in the repair of machines.
Tanganyika native women carry water for a British military steam tractor. "Niva" No. 34-1916.
In the spring, in the second half of March 1878, in accordance with the improvement of the roads, the tractors were again put into operation. They worked in the area of the Banjasy station, the cities of Zhurzhev and Slobodzeya on routes from 4 to 24 km one way. Weapons, shells and provisions were transported as cargo. From March 23 to June 27, 1878, 4,300 tons of cargo were transported.
Fowler tractor 1887For the sake of increased cross-country ability, it was placed on 12-foot wheels.
Then the tractors were transported by ferry across the Danube to the city of Ruschuk. Here, from July 2 to October 11, 1878, they transported 4,006 tons of various military supplies. On the 10th of November 1878, the work of the tractors was completed. According to official data, during the entire stay at the front, tractors transported 9,300 tons of cargo.
Model of the tractor F. A. Blinov 1888. It was driven by a 12 hp steam engine. The speed is 3 versts per hour (3.2 km / h).
All this speaks of the very successful work of the tractors used in the Russian army. The volume of transport work done by them is immeasurably higher than what was done by tractors in the German army in 1870-1871. But if the experience of the Germans in the then military literature was notorious, then the work of tractors in the Russian army was reported as a significant achievement of military technology, which had a great future. Effective and widespread, at that time, the use of steam tractors in the Russian army in 1877 - 1878. represents the beginning and completion of the first stage in the history of the mechanization of military road transport.
The next stage in the development of this type of transport is associated with the appearance of a car with a gasoline engine and dates back to the period of the "Great War" of 1914-1918.
