"Officer" - Light Armored Train VSYUR
Bronepoezd (Armored Train)

White Forces South of Russia

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Light armored train of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia "Officer" before being sent to the front from Rostov-on-Don. 1919 year. Under the name - tricolor Russian cockades. 3-inch cannons are the main artillery system of both white and red BEPOs.

‘Officer’ (‘An Officer’)

After the capture of Yekaterinodar by the Volunteer Army on August 3, 1918, while retreating to Novorossiysk, the Red Army blew up the bridge across the Kuban, and the white armored trains could not take part in the pursuit of the enemy. Thus, from the armored platforms left by the Reds on the left bank of the Kuban, on August 7, an urgent formation of a new light armored train, which later received the name "Officer", began. Initially, it consisted of one open platform with a 3-inch cannon of the 1900 model and two machine-gun armored platforms. Captain Kharkovtsev was appointed commander.

After 2 days, on August 9, in its first battle at the Abinskaya station, the armored train recaptured another closed area with small-caliber guns, where the 3-inch gun was transferred from the open platform.

After another 2 days, the headquarters of the Red Army was destroyed by an armored train at the Tunnelnaya station when moving to Novorossiysk, and after another 2 days it was the first to enter Novorossiysk, where 2 more red armored trains were captured.

The name "Officer", the armored train was assigned on August 16, 1918 (according to other sources, in November 1918 ).

In late August - early September, the armored train took part in the assault on Armavir from the Caucasian side. In the battle at the Gulkevichi station, a machine-gun platform derailed on the damaged track. However, the armored train was lucky here too. It was possible with a fight to retreat 2 versts, dragging the platform along the sleepers, and then put it on the rails.

After the capture of Armavir on September 3 - 4, the "Officer" continued fighting in the Armavir - Nevinnomysskaya direction together with the "Marine" armored train. On September 8, in a battle near the village of Uspenskoe, the captain of Kharkovtsev was seriously wounded. Lieutenant Khmelevsky took command of the armored train.

On September 10, instead of the dead "1st Armored Train", "Officer" moved to the more important at that time direction Armavir - Tuapse, where, together with the "Sea" armored train, he held back the offensive of the Taman army. After White left Armavir on September 13, the "Officer" left for the Caucasian - Armavir branch, where it operated until September 17. Then the armored train was sent to Novorossiysk for repairs.

The "Officer" came out of repair at the end of October 1918, consisting of two machine-gun armored platforms and a landing carriage. Colonel Ionin was appointed its commander. The armored train was directed to the Stavropol-Kavkazskaya branch, where it took part in the battles for Stavropol in this direction.

On October 31, in a battle at the Palagiada station, a steam pipe was broken on an armored locomotive, and the steam pressure in the locomotive's boiler began to drop rapidly. The "officer" barely managed to leave the station in the direction of Ryzdvyaya.

Where did the armored train go after the capture of Stavropol, and there is little information about its actions in 1919. On March 30, 1919, in the battle at the Khacepetovka station, the "Officer" armored train captured the red "2nd Siberian armored train", named in the Volunteer Army in gratitude for its appearance by the name "Glory to the Officer".

On the night of September 20, 1919, "Officer" together with "United Russia" suddenly seized the Kursk station and the city railway station, after which the city was hastily abandoned by the Reds. In October 1919, the "Officer" took part in the assault on Orel together with the heavy armored train "Ioann Kalita". At this time, 3 three-inch (76 mm) guns were installed on the armored train. the capture of Eagle was the time of the greatest success of Denikin's army, and at the same time a turning point in the course of the Civil War. Subsequently, the "Officer", together with the entire army, with battles gradually retreated to the Kuban.

Until February 27, 1920, the "Officer" armored train was in Yekaterinodar to guard the Headquarters and the commander-in-chief's train. On February 28, he left with the Headquarters for Novorossiysk, where he was left during the evacuation to the Crimea. In March, the command of the armored train consisted of 48 officers and 67 soldiers.

Later, another armored train named "Officer" was formed in the Crimea on the basis of the armored train "Slava Kubani". It is not known whether the personnel and weapons of the "Officer" left near Novorossiysk took part in its formation. The last mention of this armored train found so far refers to the battles of October 1920.

"Officer" armored train and armored train crew at Rostov-on-Don, 1919

‘Officer’ (‘Glory to the Officer’)

Another armored train named "Officer"  is often confused with this armored train. The other armored train is more technically called the "Glory to the Officer" and was formed in the Crimea on the basis of the armored train "Slava Kubani". When its name is shortened to “Officer” it becomes confusing.