The designation "tank corps" or TK first appeared since 1942, during the start of the Great Patriotic War. Before this terrible event, it was just a brigade that did not exist as a separate unit. The tank corps is essentially the same mechanized corps, but still it was defined as a new type. These units rarely went into battle first. Usually all tank corps were a reserve, they left only when it was insanely necessary and urgent support was needed in battle. Later, a year after the formation of the corps, "tank armies" appeared, and the TCs were introduced into their composition as the main force of this very army.
History of the Creation of the Guards Tank Corps
If we started talking about the corps, then we can't help but remember the guards. "Guards" have always been different from others, from use to the history of occurrence. The creation of tank corps did not begin immediately after the appearance of the first tanks. As such,they have existed since the 1930s, because the inter-troops already had tanks, and the defense industry completely allowed and even supported the creation of such large vehicles with fully movable hulls. According to some sources, already in the 37th year of the XX century there were so-called tank corps, which already had separate brigades, both light and heavy, but they were completely disbanded and renamed.
In the 1940s, motorized divisions began to be created, which also included such heavy equipment, but due to the huge loss of power of the Soviet Union, the remaining vehicles were withdrawn away in order to save at least something to repel the fascist invaders. A few years later, when the defense industry began to show good results, it was decided to reorganize tank corps in order to form a new type of troops, completely independent from other types of ground units.
Brigades success
As such, the battle path of the tank corps was very simple. They no longer appeared in operations on land as part of a detachment, they were a completely independent unit, the commander of which was already directing his "subordinates". With the help of tank corps, it was possible to make a breach in the accumulation of enemy forces, inflict huge damage or even completely destroy enemy forces.
They were indispensable troops during offensive operations and played almost the most important role in them, because because of their enormous strength they instilled fear inthe enemy, forcing the infantry units to flee as if from fire. Their use was very beneficial against the infantry troops of the enemy, in such battles the Nazis had no chance of winning.
Compositions and weapons
Already in 1942, the first tank corps were formed. This decision of the high command gave "trumps" in the hands of the Soviet army. Literally a few months after the tank corps were formed, they went to the front. Among them were the first, second, third and fourth TK. These brigades fought against the Nazis with valor and honor!
Composition of the TK in the Great Patriotic War
This is:
- 150 heavy vehicles (60 T-34, 30 KV, 60 T-60);
- 4 120mm mortar;
- 42 82 mm mortar;
- 20 76.2mm guns;
- 20 37 mm anti-aircraft guns;
- 539 cars;
- 12 45 mm anti-tank guns.
Later, in the tank corps, there was a place for such divisions as the guards mortar with rocket launchers of the M-13 and M-8 type, a motorcycle battalion with hundreds of vehicles, as well as a reconnaissance battalion, which includes armored vehicles and armored personnel carriers. In total, there were approximately 700 souls operating these machines.
Further fate of TK
The formation of tank corps was completed in May 1943. At that time, 24 corps had already been formed, the forces of which were quite enough to stop the advance of the fascist invader inland and to push him away from the borders.
Afterafter the end of the Great Patriotic War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, all tank corps were divided into divisions, receiving a new abbreviation TD, and the brigades became regiments. Such changes have occurred in most CIS countries.
Ural Corps, or the History of the most famous TK of our country
This TC was formed by simple Ural workers of a tank building plant, who published an article with a screaming title "And above all plans - hulls!". It expressed the need to produce as many tank and self-propelled vehicles as possible for the whole corps.
Not only for their courage and strength, this volunteer tank corps became famous, but also for the will to win, the desire to achieve the goals. It is known that even the top authorities spoke positively about him, and the response to the defiant article came from the Kremlin. Stalin himself gave the green light to such an initiative and determined the name "30th Ural Volunteer Tank Corps", and he was placed under the command of Rodin, an experienced tanker who already had experience in managing divisions, as well as the rank of major general.
The first achievements of the UDTK and its new name
Three months later, for the brave battles and courage shown by the Ural Tank Corps, Iosif Vissarionovich renames it the 10th Guards, and all soldiers serving in this corps are issued awards for services to the Soviet Union. In these battles, our tanks performed their task with valor, which helped our soldiers in the following battles.
After these events, the volunteer corps also participated in the battle for the liberation of Lvov, for which it was again renamed Ural-Lvov, for the courage with which the soldiers fought for this city, as if for their own. Immediately after this operation, five soldiers of the Red Army received the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union", and almost seven thousand more people were assigned to various orders and awards for their courage and honor in the liberation of the city of Lvov.
Interesting facts
On the North African front during World War II, German soldiers had a "tradition for good luck" to run vehicles over a pile of camel dung. The allies, observing this picture, immediately realized what was happening, and created mines that disguised themselves as these same piles, and thereby blew up several tanks. Our comrades in the fight against the Nazi invaders were even more cunning and subsequently made a mine with the appearance of manure already crushed by a caterpillar, as if someone had already passed here
- In 1940 in England, everyone who was in the resistance or in one way or another could be attacked by the German invaders was given a pamphlet that described the method of confrontation. “You need to arm yourself with an ax or a heavy piece of wood and take a place on a hill like a tree or the second floor of a building. When the tank is close, jump down on the turret and hit it hard. When the enemy shows his head, throw a grenade inside the car and run as far as possible.”
- When there were not enough tanks in the USSR, andtheir production had not yet been so extensively deployed, it was ordered to turn ordinary tractors into these same tanks. Yes, yes, that's exactly what it is. Sheathed with armor sheets, with a pipe on the "tower", with flashing lights and sirens, such a "tank" drove into the enemy's location at night, frightening and putting to flight. For this, he was nicknamed by ordinary soldiers NI-1, which meant "To be frightened."
- As such, the name "tank" comes from the English word tank, which means "tank" or "tank". The very first cars sent to help the USSR by the British were disguised as these same water tanks, because the shape and size made it possible to safely place them on a train and send them to help the Allies. Our soldiers, having heard the translation of the word tank, began to call the combat vehicle “tub”, but then abandoned this name.
