Russian armoured train Yenisei

Last updated
Yenisei
Type Armoured train
Place of origin Ukraine
Russia
Service history
In service2022–Present
Used byFlag of Russia.svg  Russia
*Flag of the Russian ground forces.svg  Russian Ground Forces
Wars 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designer Ukrainian Railways
Manufacturer Ukrainian Railways
No. built1
Specifications
Length131 m (429.7 ft)
Diameter1,435mm gauge [1]
Passengers1,000 (claimed)

Armor 20mm rolled steel [ citation needed ]
Sandbags with wooden panels [2]
Mine-resistant ballast materials [2]
Main
armament
1x 30 mm autocannon 2A42 (BMP-2)
Secondary
armament
1x ZU-23-2 cannon
Few dozen Machine Gun slots
Few 82-BM-37 mortars
Engine2x ChME3-type locomotive

The Russian armoured train Yenisei is an armoured train currently in use by Russia in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to Ukrainian sources, Yenisei was constructed out of parts stolen from Ukrainian Railways in the Kharkiv region. [3]

Contents

Specifications and details

The train is protected by armoured plates of unknown thickness and is designed to transport materials, to restore and demine tracks that are damaged, and for engineering reconnaissance. [4] However, the train also has a ZU-23-2 and a mounted BMP-2, [3] and thus is also suspected of being prepared for combat operations. Russian sources dispute Yenisei's role as a combat vehicle, claiming rather that the train is used for humanitarian purposes such as the delivery of water, medicines and food for civilians in Donbas, and evacuating over a thousand people from the combat zones. [5]

The train is currently made up of at least two ChME3-type locomotives plus eight wagons (two of which are platforms from the BMP-2 and ZU-23-2). [6] [7] On a whole, Yenisei is made up of two empty platform wagons for cargo, logistical and construction purposes at the front and end of the train, a platform wagon mounting the BMP-2 as the 'head', followed by an anti-air wagon mounting the ZU-23-2 gun alongside an enclosed cabin with six machine-gun slits, the first ChME3-type locomotive, a machine gun wagon with more gun slits, a goods wagon, another machine-gun wagon and the second ChME3-type locomotive. [8] [9] In addition to the above weapons, Yenisei also ferries a group in charge of maintaining and firing a number of 82-BM-37 mortars both either on or outside of the train. [10] In terms of length, each wagon is made from the standard United Wagon Company Sgmmns 40’ flat car, which is 40 feet long. [1] Combined, Yenisei is a 131 meters long.

Like Volga, this is not the first armoured train used in the Russo-Ukrainian War, as a few other armoured trains were recorded transporting logistical and military goods through Crimea in March 2022. [11] [12]

History

Not much is known on Yenisei's military service outside of Russian claims that it was primarily used for refugee evacuation. In December 2023, however, new videos emerged showcasing an armoured train exercise. [13] The train - likely to be Yenisei given the presence of a loaded BMP-2 - was conducting a new form of engagement procedure that was more 'front-line' than the traditional 'rear-line' logistical support role it was originally given. In this exercise, the train would quickly load one or two BMP-2s with its optimum personnel before entering near the front-lines to swiftly drop off heavy equipment and personnel and then promptly disengaging from the battle scene. [14] Given the dominance of Russian rail-lines in Eastern Ukraine that streamlines Russian logistics, the exercise indicates a change in Russian armoured train tactics, with trains such as Yenisei becoming an important asset for resource distribution and armed transportation across the occupied areas. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infantry fighting vehicle</span> Type of armored personnel carrier with direct-fire support

An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe defines an infantry fighting vehicle as "an armoured combat vehicle which is designed and equipped primarily to transport a combat infantry squad, and which is armed with an integral or organic cannon of at least 20 millimeters calibre and sometimes an antitank missile launcher". IFVs often serve both as the principal weapons system and as the mode of transport for a mechanized infantry unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanized infantry</span> Units with transport and combat vehicles

Mechanized infantry are infantry units equipped with armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMP-3</span> Infantry fighting vehicle

The BMP-3 is a Soviet and Russian infantry fighting vehicle, successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2. The abbreviation BMP stands for Boevaya Mashina Pekhoty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMP-2</span> Soviet infantry fighting vehicle

The BMP-2 is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following on from the BMP-1 of the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MT-LB</span> Soviet combat vehicle

The MT-LB is a Soviet multi-purpose, fully amphibious, tracked armored fighting vehicle in use since the 1970s. It was also produced in Poland, where its YaMZ engine was replaced by a Polish 6-cylinder SW 680 diesel engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMD-2</span> Airborne infantry fighting vehicle

The BMD-2 is a Soviet airborne infantry fighting vehicle, introduced in 1985. It is a variant of BMD-1 with a new turret and changes to the hull. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armoured train</span> Military railway train

An armoured train or armored train is a railway train protected with heavy metal plating and which often includes railway wagons armed with artillery, machine guns, and autocannons. Some have also had ports used to fire small arms from the inside of the train, especially in earlier armoured trains. For the most part, they were used during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower into a new location. Most countries have discontinued their use – road vehicles became much more powerful and offered more flexibility, train tracks proved too vulnerable to sabotage and attacks from the air, and air transportation was an even more flexible way to relocate firepower to a new location. However, there have been occasional uses in the late 20th century and early 21st century. The Russian Federation has used improvised armoured trains in the Second Chechen War (1999–2009) and in its invasion of Ukraine (2022–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-4</span> Infantry fighting vehicle

The BTR-4 "Bucephalus" is an amphibious 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) designed in Ukraine by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shipunov 2A42</span> 1980 Soviet 30 mm autocannon

The Shipunov 2A42 is a Soviet/Russian 30 mm autocannon. It is built by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company and named after A. G. Shipunov.

The Soviet BMP-1 is a tracked, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) with a long service history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atom (infantry fighting vehicle)</span> Infantry fighting vehicle

The ATOM is a heavy 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) jointly developed by the Russian company Petrel and the French company Renault Trucks. The vehicle is established on the basis of the French Véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie (VBCI) IFV which is produced by Renault. The prototype of the ATOM was first unveiled during the 2013 Russian Arms Expo at Nizhny Tagil, equipped with a unique fighting module.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armoured Forces (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

Armoured Troops are the corps in the Ukrainian Ground Forces, the main striking force of ground troops. They are used primarily in conjunction with mechanized forces in key areas and perform the following tasks:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Tank Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 4th Tank Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi is an armored formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

The Russian armoured train Volga is an armoured train currently in use by Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Unlike its sister train Yenisei, which is built primarily for logistics and refugee ferrying, Volga is primarily used for engineering, reconnaissance, mine clearance, restoration of damaged railway tracks, and escorting cargo within the Ukrainian combat zones.

The Russian armoured train Amur is an armoured train currently in use by Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Unlike the newer trains Yenisei and Volga, Amur was already built long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both Amur and its sister train, Baikal, were reactivated back in 2016, originally for rear-line logistical purposes.

The Russian armoured train Baikal is an armoured train currently in use by Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Unlike the newer trains Yenisei and Volga, Baikal was already built long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both Baikal and its sister train, Amur were reactivated back in 2016, originally for rear-line logistical purposes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Russian flat cars obtain ERA certification". Railwaypro. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Second Russian armored train deployed in Ukraine with BMP-2 IFV loaded on railway car".
  3. 1 2 "PHOTO: The Russians assembled an armoured train from Ukrzaliznytsia cars stolen in the Kharkiv region". Rail Target. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  4. "What is the armored train "Yenisei", involved in a special operation in Ukraine". Gaming Deputy. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  5. "Footage of the work of the Russian armored train "Yenisei" in Ukraine appeared on the Web". Chernayakobra. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  6. "The Russians have developed an armored train "Yenisei" from diesel locomotives stolen in the Kharkiv region". newsreadonline. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  7. "Video of the Russian "Yenisei" armoured train operating in Ukraine with ZU-23-2 cannons and BMP-2". Rob Lee Twitter. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  8. "Russian special armored train "Yenisei"". Youtube. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  9. "Russian military Central MD "Yenisei" armored train in the zone of operation in Ukraine". Youtube. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  10. "Russia Flaunts Its 'Unique' Armored Train Armed With Mortars, Anti-Aircraft Guns, IFVs, Drones & Soldiers – Watch". News.
  11. "Russian 'Armored Train' Equipped With Automatic Cannons & Painted With 'Z' Mark Joins The Ukraine Invasion". Eurasian Times. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  12. Trevithick, Joseph. "A Russian Armored Train Has Joined The Invasion Of Ukraine". The War Zone. The Drive. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  13. "俄军"装甲列车"部队在战区后方训练,准备奔赴战场?". Sohu. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Troops of the Russian 'armored train' train behind the combat zone". Bulgarianmilitary. Retrieved 29 December 2023.