Sailors and Armor in Kolchak's Army

[drownte]

Does anyone have any information on naval units in Kolchak's army and also whether or not he had any tanks or armored cars?

[Ataman]

Kolchak's Army of Siberia did maintain a fairly significant force of marines, both from the remnants of the Pacific Fleet and those of the various waterways under his control (most predominantly the KOMUCH-controlled Volga). His army also received several tank shipments from the allies, though they were not as numerous nor as effectively used as those of the Western Whites. The armoured cars used by his forces were the standard fare of the Whites, being a mixture of WW1-era vehicles and local modified cars.

Unfortunately, I cannot locate any free documents to help you with specific information. Osprey's "White Armoured units of the RCW" book covers the topic quite well in my opinion. As for Kolchak's naval troops and regular infantry, I recommend checking out Kolchakiya.ru (link below)

Link: http://www.kolchakiya.narod.ru/uniformology_main.htm (This is a Russian site, so I recommend using Google Translate or a similar program)

[Mark Plant]

I'm pretty sure no tanks reached Kolchak's actual forces in the field. Some were landed in Vladivostok, so officially he received them. On paper.

There was no realistic chance of transporting them the distance, nor were there the support crews required (Denikin's and Iudenich's tanks were crewed and repaired by Brits). Given his inability to even supply his men with decent uniforms and ammunition, the tanks would have languished without the necessary fuel or parts. The only ones I know were used were those stolen and used by the Reds.

Even assuming his supply problems were mysteriously overcome, tanks would have been of no use to Kolchak anyway. He was basically on the defensive by the time they would have arrived. Even when on the offence he faced no fortified cities or strongpoints that they were useful for. His biggest military issue was river crossings, which is precisely what tanks are worst at.

[ts]

try "White sailors of Admiral Kolchak" on http://siberia-miniatures.ru/forum/showthread.php?fid=12&tid=38

[cuprum]

Link to information on the sailors in the army of Kolchak you already have - this has all the information that I have.
For armored vehicles in Siberia can say the following:



And the white and red active and in fairly large quantities used armored trains. Among them were many impromptu. Just armored widely used interventionists: the Czechs, Poles and Americans.



Tanks Renault FT-17 in quantities of 10 units were delivered to Vladivostok by the Americans, but they stole the red partisans and the tanks were used in battles against the whites. Other tanks in the East was not.

Armored vehicles in the Far East and Siberia have been lower than in central Russia. Nevertheless, they also took part in battles. According to various estimates, the figures are as follows:

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/321/11945247.jpg

- the Red Army on the Eastern Front in 1918 - 18 armored cars;
 - at the White Army in the East in the summer of 1919 - 8 armored car at the front. In addition, 3 armored car built in Vladivostok;



 - at the interventionists: Czechs - 8-10 armored cars (often installed on railway platforms, as part of an armored train) -1-2 Polish armored car,



- the Japanese - 7 armored vehicles.

In general, this question poorly studied and so far none who are not systematic. Perhaps these figures will change in the future.