Armored artillery trains in the World Wars

Armored artillery trains were the superweapons of the 1890s–1920s, as well as later until the end of WW2. Armored trains were necessary for any army dependent on a railroad network for supply in hostile territory and became mobile platforms for various types of artillery. In modern times armored trains are still used as mobile launch platforms for strategic missiles.

• The earliest armored trains were used in the same way as WW1 tanks except being much slower and dependent on railroad crews laying tracks to advance on the battlefield.

Below is a photo of a WW2 Soviet armored train that has a number of T-34/76 turrets attached and is used similarly to tanks, doing fire support.

• Armored trains were used to protect trains from, for example, raiders or enemy skirmishers, later WW2 skirmishers were often equipped with armored cars, machine gun jeeps, or even half-tracks or light tanks. The armored trains became mobile bunkers able to give protection to railyards, important railroad crossings, and any other railroad matters.

Below is a photo of a German artillery train in WW2. The train has short-range artillery pieces for fire support and a light anti-aircraft piece as well as many machine gun placements