The tachanka was a field improvised mobile machinegun platform developed by Bolshevik revolutionary forces during the Russian Civil War.  It consisted of a Maxim M1910 machinegun placed facing rearward in a light horse-drawn cart or wagon and was used to provide fire support for infantry and cavalry units. 

They were used on a very large scale during the Russian Civil War, especially by the 1st and 2nd Soviet cavalry armies.  Tachanka were also used by Anarchists in the Ukraine under the leadership of Nestor Makhno.  In combat these anarchists would cover the Maxim gun and pretend to be transporting hay or other agricultural products.  Then after they achieved the element of surprise, they would fire upon their target.  Makhno's anarchists used these tactics first against the White forces, and then against the Bolshevik forces until they were ultimately wiped out by the Red Army.

The tachanka were phased out of service in the 1920's as they were replaced by armored cars like the Austin-Pultov cars.  Some of these vehicles did see action during the Great Patriotic War with partisan units, but its use during that war was very limited.

The Tachanka was most often used by Cavalry units.  At the first sign of combat the tachanka crew would dismount and provide fire support for the cavalry units that moved in to engage the enemy in close combat.  The rear mounted machine gun also provided excellent fire against pursuing units.

It was highly mobile and easy to manufacture, in fact, virtually any wagon or cart could be made into a tachanka.  It could also move across almost any terrain, unlike the armored cars used by the White armies which were usually restricted to roads.  Unfortunately the tachanka was not armored and its crew had little protection from enemy fire.

Here you can see what the Tachanka replaced and what type of vehicle eventually replaced it.  You can find out more about these when we have them on the site by clicking on the links below.

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you.  We hope you can find them as useful as we have.

• The Russian Civil War (I) The Red Army, by Mikhail Khvostov and Andrei Karachtchouk, published by Osprey Military, Copyright 1996 by Reed International Books