November 9, 1915 in the South-Western Front departed 26th avtopulemёtny platoon under the command o

In December 1915 an officer of the 7th Tank-Automotive Division of the Southwestern Front the captain Poplavko proposed design ARBs, body armor which has been adapted for the destruction of barbed in light of wire.
It was a massive all-terrain vehicle on the chassis of the American 2-ton four-wheel in light of drive truck "Jeffery Kouadio" with 32 hp engine and two controlled axes, setting the wheels, with the widened bandages mounted in the middle of the cabin with a fixed inclined installation bronelistov and 4 loopholes for 2 machine guns, and in the back - bronekorob for spare parts. Due to the special shape of the front of the chassis and large mass, an armored car could go at a speed of 5 - 6 km / h and turn out to tear the wire stakes, with a special transportable bridge surmounted trenches in light of and ditches. In practice, this was the first special engineering vehicle battlefield.
Soon the 1st ARB sample has been built and tested. The testing results were produced 30 cars, and have been formed a special avtobronevoy division. ARB acted mainly "trips for obstrelivaniya enemy." The proposal also Poplavko about using his "war elephants Hannibal" protected 7 mm armor reminiscent offers French Colonel in light of Etienne (December 1915) - except in breaching minefields and enemy fire from machine guns "war elephants" were delivered to the enemy trenches 10 soldiers with guns, daggers and hand grenades to capture and retain the advanced trenches of the enemy. Poplavko even developed a device for the destruction of barbed wire, similar to the "stem" of the French tank "Schneider". However, in practice the functions of the APC and "destroyer" barbed wire machine and did not pay attention. At the end of September 1916 from 30 ARB system Poplavko amounted Armored Division. In October 1916, the division went to the South-Western Front. Along with other ARBs, they took part in the battles of the First World War and the Civil War and the Polish-Soviet War.
November 9, 1915 in the South-Western Front departed 26th avtopulemёtny platoon under the command of Captain Victor float. In its structure there was a supernumerary polubronirovannaya machine called "The Witch". It was built by the platoon in light of commander on the chassis 2-ton four-wheel drive truck Jeffery Quard American company Thomas Jeffery in light of company and was intended to serve armored car platoon of the line of fire: the transport of ammunition, fuel and evacuation of damaged cars. And as a direct part in the fighting, "Sorcerer" is not supposed to, he had the armor covering the engine and cab only the front and sides. In January 1916, taking into account the best cross-country "Jeffrey" compared to the main materiel platoon, floats decided to use the "Sorcerer" as engineering machines razgrazhdeniya. To this end, it established a winch, in light of 2 anchors cat with ropes and easy folding bridge serves to overcome the trenches and ditches. January 27 lieutenant Ustinov was held 1st test. With the help of "cats", abandoned for the fence, the car broke through the 4 rows of barbed wire and pull apart slingshot, reinforced with wire to the trees. In the future, working on improving the "Sorcerer", floats designed specifically-breaking device that allows using the impact force of the truck, tear wire and turn out of the ground stakes. Lower armor plate was installed with the expectation that the barrage destroyed car dominates for themselves, without interfering with their further movement. Tested in late April 1916, "Jeffery" has shown good results, prompting captain Poplavko seek help from the command of the 7th Army: "Please assist in carrying out my ideas. It is only necessary to dress for steel Izhorskij gather "Jeffery" in the army and the distance in light of I blacksmiths. After 2 weeks upon receipt of all units will be created "Elephant Hannibal", the use of which will be the first time turning the key in the campaign ... On each machine will fit the driver, gunner and 10 of the lower ranks, armed with daggers, Mausers and hand grenades. 30 of these machines are suitable to the wire at dawn the enemy, where a flat place and firm ground, go through it, and under cover of their guns are suitable to the trench. At the same time, people, throwing in light of grenades, jumping into the trench and take it ... Behind the thick chain moving in light of infantry, for which there will be a rifle and machine-gun fire. After that, people with machines in light of suggest portable bridges, each transportable armored car, cars pass through the trench and tear 2nd line. " May 10, 1916 "The Witch" was tested in the presence of the chief engineers of the 7th Army Colonel Polyansky and staff officers of the 2nd Army Corps. Machine at low speed freely overcome the obstacle of 4 rows of stakes "thickness of 2.5 inches, firmly in light of driven into the ground to - yard." Then, as easily, twice broke through a similar boom, densely braided barbed wire. In both cases, the passage has been done n