Talk:Tachanka

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[edit] Tachanka tactics

"The tactics of tachanka are similar to that of the technical. It could approach the target pretending to be a civilian vehicle and then open up with well-aimed fire, or it could spray a target area while moving at high speed."

Can anyone actually provide evidence of a tachanka ever being used in this way? Pretending to be a farmer is rather difficult given the size of the water-cooled Maxim machine gun and the supporting riflemen needed for an isolated carriage to sneak up to an enemy (multiple unfamiliar farmers approaching in several carts at once obviously ruins whatever element of surprise this sneaking up affords, and a single machine gun would not be enough to overwhelm any sizeable enemy force before they had a chance to disperse and return fire). Also, given that most horse-drawn carriages have a minimal, if any, suspension, "spraying" while moving would provide almost no results. From what I have read, the tachanka was mainly used as a rapid form of transportation for machine guns, the speed of which would take the enemy by surprise (remember they were used before the automobile or the tank was introduced to the battlefield), that is, the cart itself would mostly remain stationary after getting in firing position, and as a way to provide suppressive fire onto pursuing cavalry after raids. Moonshiner 04:36, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

I have strong doubts about the tactics used by Nestor Makhno as claimed in the article. While I can't imagine that this tactic was actually ever used. Move in at the enemy, turn the tachankas around and fire at point-blank at the same spot? This idea is simply ridiculous. A single machine gun of the enemy would be enough to make a mess of horses and men. And why use a machine gun? To eliminate are point target at point blank range they use hand grenades ... The tachanka provided mobility and it was certainly good at that. But MGs are used for supression and cover, not for direct assaults. The description given in this article is simply propaganda. 141.13.8.14 09:47, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I've read that Makhnovian army used tachankas mainly against enemy cavalry. Tachankas approached enemy cavalry hiding after Makhnovian cavalry, which imitated the charge then spread to the sides. Tachankas then turned and fired at enemy attacking cavalry causing great losses. Makhnovians used tachankas not only in the battle, but also to transport infantry, that improved mobility of the army (about 100km each day). But sources are in Russian. I'm also doubt that it was Makhno himself who invented tachanka tactics (sources?). It is only known that Makhnovian army was first who used it. --Igor "the Otter" 19:41, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

After the russian poem there was a passage that read "Ironically this implies that the Tachanka was not very effective at actually killing the foe". I understand the author's reasoning but I think it is incorrect and he got the wrong impression.- Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg 08:30, 3 November 2005 (UTC)