“Our Armoured Train” Interactive Combat Experience

Stalin Line has unveiled a new project: the “Our Armoured Train” training exercise, offering participants an immersive experience of a real battle.

The first to take part in the battle were journalists and representatives of travel companies actively involved in inbound tourism. Our correspondent was among the first to enter the fray. Watch how it all unfolded.

 

Alexander Metla, Executive Director of the Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex

‘We have sought to create an interactive experience that immerses participants as fully as possible in the atmosphere of a real battle. For a time, visitors can experience what it was like to be Red Army soldiers and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of those grim years. The training exercise is conducted under the supervision of experienced instructors.’

In April 2019, the Historical and Cultural Complex’s armoured vehicle collection was expanded with an accurate replica of a Great Patriotic War-era armoured train, recreated from original drawings produced by the Kolomna Works in the 1930s and 1940s.

 

The armoured train stands on a 270-metre section of railway track with an operational set of points. It consists of a steam locomotive and four armoured wagons. Locomotives of this type were first built in 1915 and remained in production for more than 20 years.

 

 

The restorers rebuilt an EM steam locomotive constructed in 1933, recreated the armoured wagons with gun turrets and produced Hiram Maxim machine guns that fire using a gas-and-oxygen mixture.  In the summer of 2019, a railway bridge across a body of water and the pre-war-style Sovetskaya passenger station were also built within the complex.

 

“Our Armoured Train” Becomes Interactive

The organisers of the “Our Armoured Train” Exhibition decided not to rest on their laurels. They transformed the display from a conventional visitor attraction into an interactive complex where Great Patriotic War battle reenactments could be staged.

 

The necessary military engineering structures were built, and replicas of German armoured vehicles and full-size targets representing enemy troops were installed. Systems simulating return fire from enemy armoured vehicles are due to become operational in the near future.

 

The first training exercise took place on 11 December. According to the scenario, armoured vehicles and infantry units of German fascist forces attempted to break through to Minsk. An armoured train stood in the attackers’ path. Journalists and other invited guests played the role of Red Army soldiers.

 

The roar of artillery, the rattle of machine guns, columns of flame and billowing smoke make you forget reality for a while. It is as though a time machine has carried you into the past. It is kill or be killed... Enemy infantry appear from all directions. You must take them all down before they reach the armoured train. The armour rings as it deflects shrapnel, but even armour has its limits.

 

On the horizon, fascist armoured vehicles prepare to open fire.  The armoured wagon may not withstand a direct hit. You must fire first! Fire!

 

 

The mission is complete and the enemy has been defeated. It is time to relax and have a bite to eat at the station.

 

 

 

Participants are issued with period kit for the duration of the battle. They put 1935-pattern tank crew overalls on over their own clothes, followed by tank crew helmets.

Participants form up on the parade ground in front of the armoured train for an introductory safety briefing. The armoured wagon commander then assigns the combat mission.

The personnel board the armoured wagon and take their assigned positions according to the crew roster.

On-site instruction is provided on how to operate the weapons.

The battle includes firing a machine gun at full-size enemy targets and engaging armoured vehicles with a turret-mounted gun.

After completing the mission, the personnel receive their food rations and recover their strength and fighting spirit in an authentic 1940s atmosphere.

A photo session by the armoured train and disabled enemy tanks.

Everyone returns their uniforms and equipment to the stores and becomes a resident of the 21st century once again.

Depending on the size of the group, the training exercise lasts approximately 50 minutes to 1.5 hours.