Exercises in the mountains of North Ossetia, or why horse army?

A variety of exercises and maneuvers are held in the Armed Forces of Russia. It is difficult to ignore the teachings in which the team was involved, using the horses of the so-called pack-transport platoon. We are talking about the teachings of the 34 th Karachay-Circassian motorized rifle (mountain) brigade, held in North Ossetia. As part of the exercise, the delivery of ammunition by horses of the Mongolian and Karachai breeds to the mortar battery was worked out. The press service of the Southern Military District talks about the progress of the exercise (quote TASS):

More than 1,5 military personnel, about 350 pieces of equipment, 10 army helicopters were involved in the exercises aviation Mi-8, Mi-35, Mi-28N, unmanned aerial vehicles and about 40 horses of a military transport platoon.

It may be that the use of horses in the teachings of the armed forces of the 21st century may seem archaic to someone, but in difficult mountainous terrain, the delivery of ammunition and food without the use of pack animals is a real problem. It is the Karachai and Mongolian horses that are ideally suited for transporting ammunition in the mountains, since these animals are particularly enduring.

In Russia, it is planned to create another pack-transport unit that will use horses. This is a platoon of the 55 Brigade of the Central Military District - in the Republic of Tuva. And the plans of the Ministry of Defense - the completion of a complete unit by the end of November this year.

Comments

[Teberii]

The horse needs all the more special breeds. Bred for such purposes.

[prosto_rgb]

Without conics and pack animals in difficult terrain, no matter how.
Or sit on the bases along the roads and do not stick your nose out.

[reservist]

Quote: prosto_rgb

Without conics and pack animals in difficult terrain, no matter how.

34th mountain brigade. Pack transport platoon
http://topwar.ru/uploads/images/2015/773/vtdj600.jpg
taken from here http://twower.livejournal.com/507945.html

[kamikaze]

in the mountains without a horse like a desert without water.

[kamikaze]

in the mountains without a horse like a desert without water.

[veksha50]

Quote: Teberii

The horse needs all the more special breeds. Bred for such purposes.

They have become a rarity, unfortunately ...

[zloybond]

a lot has been lost in the use of horses in the army. Not everyone, or rather, many no longer know how to raise a horse, how to put a wounded man on his feet, how to care for. Basically, all cavalry training comes down to: let's go .... !!!! and until the horse dies.
In relation to all this, our current military, especially those recruited temporarily, would be nice to start at least with the book of Lieutenant Mamontov "Campaigns and Horses". To understand .... what is the work of a horse.

[Alexey Boukin]

Pack horses were also used in the 105th Airborne Division. This division was intended for warfare in the desert mountains.

[Vadim237]

If there is nothing, you can eat horsemeat - horse and transport and food.

[jjj]

While the Germans were sitting without fuel in the first months of the war, ours managed to transfer both artillery and ammunition on horseback

[avt]

Quote: jjj

While the Germans sat without fuel in the first months of the war,

Nothing like this ! They selected horses along with carts to increase the mobility of the infantry, the bill went into hundreds of thousands. Look at Müller Hildebrandt's handbook on the ground forces. These are only liberoids about "horse marshals" who can compose fairy tales. And the Germans are practical people, and most of the tank generals from the cavalry left after going through the First World War. horses are needed in brigades, laughter laughs - and spirits with donkeys climbed quietly to where to go with a helicopter as a brass band in public.

[Giant thought]

It is a very correct decision to create such packaged transport units, our country is large and you can’t travel everywhere, and for aviation the weather can be non-flying.

[dr.star75]

As the saying goes, a Cossack horse is a wife in the steppe (such a song), but seriously, they are now trying to make army combat assistants from bees, cockroaches and other animals, and here we have it, ready to eat it.

[reservist]

Quote: dr.star75

As the saying goes, a horse is a Cossack in the steppe-wife (a song like this)

with the song, however, a mistake came out ...

[dr.star75]

Yes, I know, I wrote a joke.

[Alameido]

All the same, his MO has brains, did not invent a mechanical horse)

[veksha50]

Quote: Alameido

All the same, our MO has brains, did not invent a mechanical horse)

This is because Serdyuk "left" on time ... Otherwise, he would have thought of a few lards to cut the heavy weights ...

[alex74nur]

In high mountain conditions, the horse is the ideal vehicle

[tol100v]

Quote: alex74nur

In high mountain conditions, the horse is the ideal vehicle

But no one has yet canceled the Russian soldier!

[jjj]

And if two soldiers from the construction battalion ...

[lukke]

Until autobahns were built in the mountain ranges, the FPS and the Moscow Region will use horses, because they did not come up with replacements there ...

[S_Baykala]

Quote: dr.star75

As the saying goes, a horse is a Cossack in the steppe-wife (a song like this)

With all due respect, I cannot but quote:

From pine, whether my shroud is birch is planed.
This silence is not good for sunset.
Only a checker Cossack in the steppe girlfriend,
Only a Cossack saber wife in the steppe.

Or did you mean any other song?
If humor - I apologize, but it sounds very ambiguous.

[dr.star75]

Yes, I joked, I thought I would like it.

[Bombardier]

On the eve of Victory Day and the topic of the article:

The role of cavalry
The cavalry corps of the Red Army were the most stable formations of the Red Army in 1941. They managed to survive in the endless retreats and entourage of the first year of the war. Cavalry was, first of all, the only means that allowed for deep embraces and rounds, as well as to carry out effective raids behind enemy lines. At the beginning of the war, in 1941–1942, cavalrymen played a crucial role in defensive and offensive operations, essentially taking on the role of motorized infantry of the Red Army, since at that time the number and readiness of these formations in the Red Army was insignificant. Cavalry, therefore, before the appearance in the Red Army of motorized units and formations was the only maneuverable means of the operational level. In the second half of the war, since 1943, when the mechanization of the Red Army improved and the mechanisms of tank armies were adjusted, cavalry began to play an important role in solving special problems during offensive operations. In the second half of the war, the Red Cavalry made a breakthrough deep into the enemy’s defense and formed the outer front of the encirclement. In the case when the offensive was on highways of acceptable quality, the cavalry could not keep up with motorized formations, but during raids on dirt roads and off-road cavalry did not lag behind motorized infantry. The advantages of cavalry include its independence from fuel. Its breakthroughs to great depths allowed the Red Army to save the infantry and tank forces, providing a high rate of advance of the armies and fronts. The number of cavalry and tank units in the Red Army was almost the same. There were 1945 tank armies in 6, and seven cavalry corps. Most of both of them bore the title of guard towards the end of the war. Figuratively speaking, the tank armies were the sword of the Red Army, and the red cavalry was a sharp and long sword. Used in the Great Patriotic War and loved by the red commanders in the Civil cart. Ivan Yakushin, lieutenant, anti-tank platoon commander of the 24th Guards Cavalry Regiment of the 5th Guards Cavalry Division recalled: “The carts were also used only as a means of transportation. In equestrian attacks, they really turned around and, like in the Civil War, spied, but this was infrequent. And as the battle ensued, the machine gun was removed from the cart, the horse breeders were taken away, the cart also left, and the machine gun remained. ”

[Bombardier]

On foot
The cavalry found their application at the end of the war. Konstantin Rokossovsky wrote about the use of the cavalry corps in the East Prussian operation: “Our equestrian corps N.S. Oslikovsky, breaking ahead, flew into Allenstein (Olsztyn), where several trains with tanks and artillery had just arrived. With a dashing attack (of course, not in an equestrian system!), Stunning the enemy with guns and machine guns, cavalrymen captured the echelons. ” It is significant that Rokossovsky emphasizes that cavalrymen advanced on tanks, dismounting. This was the classic tactic of using cavalry against motorized units. When meeting with tank formations, the riders dismounted, and the horses were led away to a safe place with the horse guides attached to each cavalry unit. The Red cavalrymen entered the battle with tanks on foot.

[alkur]

Love for animals makes us kinder!

[chelovektapok]

Horses in the mountains will pass where no "jeep" can get through. Take out the payload and the fighters. But a horse is not a motorcycle. You must be able to handle her. Not everyone can. Therefore, such teachings are very useful for our Warriors. I remember at one time I even learned to shoot from the saddle at air targets. How to aim, what lead, what stirrup to transfer the weight to when aiming. My great-grandfather had a horse farm and raised horses. Well, this is before the revolution. I myself only saw destroyed mounds overgrown with nettles in that place. But in my childhood, being in the summer, there were horses that followed me like dogs. Genetic memory coincided with us. In a mountainous area without a War Horse - nowhere. By the way, horses and mules are the most hard workers. Stallions - only for the tribe. More than two, no discipline. They laugh and fight among themselves. Who is more important to find out. Our Military is reviving a good deed!

[veksha50]

"and about 40 horses of a pack-transport platoon" ...

Oh, how they are needed in the highlands ... Only in a figurative sense a good horse now probably stands like an armored troop-carrier or a tank ... Well, there aren’t any of them, in the villages - there are only a few, without any selection ...
Elite horses are grown in stud farms, and here we need work horses, the Kyrgyz-Mongolian spill ... You need at least one stud farm to run work horses, so that there are enough for the army and small agricultural producers ...

[Thunderbolt]

“At first we thought that such small horses would not take away soldiers with full equipment,” recalled the war veteran Ivan Yemelyanovich Kushnir. “But the Mongolian proverb that the strength of a horse is learned in running turned out to be true. Having passed the difficult military roads on Mongol horses, we were convinced that that they are strong, do not know fatigue and are unpretentious in food. In short breaks between battles, they themselves nibbled the grass, gnawed the bark of trees and were always ready to join the battle. They sensed danger together with the owner, their gait was light and silent, so that the enemy did not notice the approach of an entire cavalry regiment, which made it possible to imperceptibly go to the rear of the enemy. And before the long journey, the Mongol horse sniffed the owner and whinnied quietly, releasing rare drops of tears from clever eyes. With what love the soldier speaks of his loyal friends, with whom many front-line roads have been covered! ..

[fomkin]

I immediately remembered my father’s stories. In the 30s he served urgent in equestrian artillery. It is a pity that I do not have a literary gift and I can’t convey unique episodes from the life of a soldier with horses. But I will say, he listened to his memories with his mouth open. My childhood was already connected with horses, so the topic is interesting to me. I just can’t keep silent for a short time, their mind and cleanliness shocked me.

[Corsair0304]

I support. In the mountains, horses will give odds to cutting-edge technology for a long time to come. And in the end, if it works and works well, then why reinvent the wheel? That's when they create something breakthrough like teleportation then it will be possible to send horses to rest. In the meantime - service and service again.

[Humpty]

A horse in the mountains is a man. But only in skilled hands and where the grass is good. Highlanders, in the sense of people living in high mountains do not use a horse, because she is gluttonous and does not see and does not understand cracks on the glaciers. But in the conditions of the Caucasus and Altai, where the grass is rampant (in summer) and there are no long glaciers, the Mongolian breed and its cheap crosses are quite good among the Kyrgyz, at least until 4500 it has no problems but only with good feed.

[torp]

In general, the idea is good: you can go to hard-to-reach areas and at worst you can always eat a horse if necessary!

[Bombardier]

To eat? Which horse are you serving with? Well, I don’t know ... Do you have an animal in the house?

[chelovektapok]

Tatars do not understand, used to ride food! And the horses really smell good. Breath - it smells of milk. The cheeks are round, the lips are velvet, the eye is purple in the light. In the East, if a girl was compared with a young mare, the highest praise for the exterior and the standard of Beauty!

[Humpty]

The horse of the Mongolian breed is quite suitable. I don’t know about the Karachaevskaya breed, moreover, I have doubts. Because there are no mountainous areas on the territory of Russia, where more passable pack animals were required - Mongolian horses are a very optimal option. The horse has a lot of shortcomings, but in the conditions of the mountains of Russia they probably will not notice them. An unconditional plus of the horse is speed and the ability to cross fords of medium complexity.
Not when the motor does not replace the horse. Of course, in certain conditions, without fanaticism.
The horse is certainly not a yak, but in Russia the yak is not optimal, the relief allows.

[avt]

Quote: Humpty

The horse is certainly not yak,

How much in life doesn’t you train yourself? But really a mountain dweller - optimized for height - you can’t imagine any better.

Quote: Humpty

. The horse has a lot of shortcomings, but in the conditions of the mountains of Russia they probably will not notice them. An unconditional plus of the horse is speed and the ability to cross fords of medium complexity.

Donkeys are still suitable, but not a heroic-looking animal, although in terms of endurance, and even in the mountains, you need to take a head start on horses. Korshunov said - after the war, they started a mountain climbing campaign, but simply maneuvers involving civilian climbers, they say an indicative climb, but you will reach the mountains with packaged ones. And since the route was long, aviation was obliged to drop part of the cargo — first, horse feed, and then equipment and food for people . But they mixed up in the end they had to run after the fodder, and then they came back and hauled with the horses what they had thrown off to the people.

[Humpty]

Kharkiv Pogrebetskiy team 1931, a few days after the battle with the Basmachi. 48 kilometers up the Inylchek Glacier.

[Humpty]

Gedin did not seem to be caught in a lie, rather, someone from the Russian Geographical Society bitten a horse, but in the photo there is place 5450. Photo from another Suped Gedin opupey, sort of 1899.

[Humpty]

It may bust with the photo, but here's another. The place is the same as in the photo from the expedition of Gedin, only our time. Ishak, although a beast is harmful, especially if gobbled gobies scattered by some rogue, but if the snow conditions allow, it works much higher than even a Mongolian horse can.

[guran]

Quote: dr.star75

As the saying goes, the horse is a Cossack in the steppe-wife

well brother you give ...

[dr.star75]

Yes, I joked! I thought to write food Corrected the wife. Also a joke. I mean, it's too early to write off a horse.

[Chills]

Europeans also use horses. The truth is peculiar ... well, they are ... Europeans

[jjj]

With jet acceleration catches up

[Next]

Quote: Oznob

Europeans also use horses. The truth is peculiar ... well, they are ... Europeans

Well, one word Europeans. Tolerance is above all. Or maybe a hint to the stallion on which he is riding. You will come first waiting for a reward.

[Signaller]

I fully support. During the war, we also had cavalry units. With checkers on tanks, it's clear that no one went, but the maneuverability of the cavalry in the wooded and swampy terrain was very great. ... For the cavalry, the forest-swampy terrain did not serve as an obstacle. Horsemen skipped the forest on the move - "fly", as it were. Not like the motorized infantry, for which roads are needed. Well, the mountains are generally without options. And the horsemen themselves, in their physical qualities, were very different from the ordinary infantry, due to constant training on horses. Personally, I myself know how a horse trains the body, since he kept up to three horses.

[prishelec]

Quote: Signaller

During the war years, we also had cavalry units. With drafts on tanks, it’s clear, no one went,

But some of us went with tanks to the tanks!

[vanavatny]

do not scold much - just a funny picture caught

[S_Baykala]

Quote: dr.star75

Yes, I joked, I thought I would like it.

Yeah, I also joked recently, hesitated to unsubscribe. They stuck minuses - mom don’t cry, many young, hot - without thinking minus slap them all (herd feeling). Although it’s not for the hooks here, it’s still unpleasant.

[dr.star75]

Vaughn posted a picture, already in the minus came out.

[robinson]

Quote: Humpty

at least until 4500 has no problems

Hm. Are there any facts? According to experience, horses have norms up to 3000 meters, and even then point blank, camels are better, donkeys are very good. Passed by ...

[Humpty]

Quote: robinson

Hm. Are there any facts? According to experience, horses have norms up to 3000 meters, and even then point blank, camels are better, donkeys are very good. Passed by ...

The threshold for an inappropriate breed horse is even lower than 3000. Above 4500, we have no dimes at work for horse affairs. And up to this height - the working days of workers, grooms and other grain cutters.

[Humpty]

Camels are higher than I did not see on Khunjerab, there are about 4800. A camel walker on a gentle slope is a good one, it can’t get a little cooler and there isn’t enough food for it, just like a horse there. Up to 4500 horses work confidently with us, but they eat off at 3600 below.

[robinson]

Quote: robinson

We passed ...

I did not understand how to add a lot of photos to the post.

[buser]

as pack animals it is better to use mules, hinnies and donkeys. They are unpretentious, more durable, don’t even need to be shod. But it seems easier to get a horse right now, and they are more familiar to the military.

[Kornilovets]

There is a very good experience in the Second World War, as a horse-mechanized group.

As a rule, it included:
- 1 or 2 cavalry corps;
- 1 mechanized housing.

When colliding with enemy tanks, cavalrymen dismounted and repelled the attacks of tanks or other motorized formations of the enemy.

"In general, the style of the use of the Red Army cavalry in various operations in 1944 was similar: a deep" piercing "blow."

Took part:
- Counteroffensive near Moscow;
- Battle of Stalingrad;
- Operation "Bagration";
- Lviv-Sandomierz operation;
- They liberated Eastern Europe.

Here is information on this topic.

http://www.bibliotekar.ru/antisuvorov/51.htm
http://tankfront.ru/ussr/cavalry/1gvkmg.html
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2,_%D0%98%D1%81%D1%81

%D0%B0_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%

D1% 87

It’s not a fact that we need to create now, cavalry of 10–20 thousand sabers, but I think that in a place with airmobile, mechanized units, for deep raids, as part of the surrounding units, etc. may well come in handy. Moreover, Russia is reviving the Cossacks.
Cossack hundreds who can act both on foot and horseback.
It is necessary to object, glorious Cossack regiments.

"here is a fragment of the book"
Summarizing the actions of the horse-mechanized group, which included N.S. Oslikovsky, we can say the following. The group entered into the breakthrough on the second day of the operation from the turn of the river. Luchesa, for 10 days - from June 24 to July 3 - passed with fights along the axis of movement for about 300 km. The fighting took place in difficult conditions of a wooded and swampy area. The most important achievement of the group was to cross such a significant water barrier as Berezina, on the western coast of which the Germans had prepared a defensive line in advance. Cavalry actually led the advance of the front. From the Luchesa River to the Berezina and further from the Berezina, the horse-mechanized group led the infantry all the time, being 25-30 km from it. The infantry caught up with the group only on Berezina, moving mainly in marching orders, finishing off the centers of resistance bypassed by cavalrymen.

[Imandra]

Akhal-Teke Palomio

[rskrn]

On the use of cavalry during the Great Patriotic War there is a film Cavalrymen from the Liberators cycle.

[seregatara1969]

in the mountains in the fog, then who will fly? and the horses are right there