VIEWS ON THE CREATION AND USE OF FIELD DEPOTS DURING OPERATIONS (COMBAT ACTIONS)

Abstract

Logistical support of troops (forces) during operations (combat actions) involves the creation of a significant number of field storage units and depots for material and technical means, which should store substantial number of supplies. But in modern conditions, these field depots become an attractive target for the enemy since tthey occupy a large area of several square kilometers (i.e., with a low probability of misses during fire attacks), have clear features that do not confuse them with another spatial object. Field depot is also characterized by extremely low mobility – for example the deployment time of field fuels and lubrscants depot with a capacity of 600 cubic meters is about a day (approximately 20 hours).
 The importance of this problem is known, but in many cases experts build a model of creation and deployment of field depots not taking into account not only progress in the development of weapons, but also changes in the enemy's views on combat operations. The experience of Anti–Terrorist Operation and Joint Forces Operation clearly confirms the abovementioned problem. A representative example of this thesis – The main provisions of the logistics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This document states that it is necessary to provide for the establishment of separate material and technical means storage departments in order to create and disperse material and technical means stocks, bring them closer to the troops (forces), reduce the distance of delivery and increase the efficiency of material and technical means use. But in this formulation, without providing specific recommendations, the norms of the Basic Provisions remain to be only vain wishes.
 In view of the above, it is concluded that the field depots and storage units for material and technical means reserves should be highly mobile, with a short deployment–folding and loading–unloading time, maximally protected from the enemy, including its subversive-reconnaissance groups, and have high camouflage properties. One of the most appropriate options for solving this problem may be the creation of rolling stock on the basis of a special military train, i.e. equipped in conventional railway carrieage (passenger and freight), tanks and railway platforms.