ROSTOV-ON-DON, August 12. /TASS/. Railway troops’ two armored trains will be involved for the first time in almost 15 years in logistics exercises near Volgograd in south Russia in mid-August, a source in the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District said on Friday.
"Two special trains Amur and Baikal of separate recovery railway battalions from the Southern Military District will be involved in the upcoming special logistic support exercises near Volgograd on August 15 for the first time in almost 15 years," the source said.
‘They will practice missions to protect and defend recovered railway bridges across water obstacles from a notional enemy’s reconnaissance and subversion groups," the source added.
Four armored trains were operational in the Russian Armed Forces, with two of them disbanded and deactivated in the late 1990s, the source said.
The remaining two special trains based in Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol Territory and in Volgograd are used according to their designation, the source said.
According to the source’s data, in wartime armored trains can be used to protect important railway facilities. Each armored train carries two ZU-23 antiaircraft systems and a rifle platoon with organic weapons, including machineguns and grenade launchers, the source said.
The armament of special trains in wartime can be supplemented with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles mounted on their platforms.
TASS has no official confirmation of this information.