Iran -- Description and travel; World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Iran
"A" Squadron arrived at Hamadan on June 7th. At this time General
Bicherakoff's troops were concentrating at Manjil. The Jungalis
under Kuchik {255} Khan were prepared to permit the Russian forces to
continue their withdrawal to Russia, but were opposed to the passage
of any British troops through their territory to Enzeli, a port on
the Caspian. General Bicherakoff refused to sever his connection
with the British, and prepared to attack the Jungalis who were
entrenched covering Manjil Bridge. He applied to General
Dunsterville for such assistance as he could give.
Orders were received by the Brigade on June 8th for all cars to
proceed to Kasvin, to take part in these operations. The cars were
much in need of overhaul after their long trip from Bagdad, and the
work of getting them ready for the road was pushed forward as fast as
possible, cars as they became ready being sent forward. One battery
left Hamadan on June 9th, and the whole squadron was on the road by
June 13th.
At this point the Rubberine tyres with which the cars were fitted
gave considerable trouble, and failed to stand the wear necessitated
by running over metalled roads. The average mileage per tyre worked
out at 60 instead of 500 miles, and spares were soon used up. To
obtain further supplies from railhead 400 miles distant necessitated
a delay of at least ten days. By stripping some cars it was possible
to maintain the others on the road, but by June 27th only two cars
were mobile.
As regards the failure of Rubberines, it must be remembered that
these tyres are solely intended for {256} work in action, and not for
long-distance running. However, pneumatic tyres had not been sent
from England, and efforts to supply the deficiency by local purchase
failed. Some tyres were purchased, but it was not possible to get
the necessary fittings to enable Warland rims to be efficiently
converted to take the pneumatics.
As soon as the abnormal expenditure of Rubberines was experienced,
arrangements were made to maintain a sufficient supply, and the cars
were not off the road again on this account, although they consumed
in one month 75 per cent. of the estimated year's supply.
Considering that a single Rubberine tyre weighs 200 pounds, the
strain imposed on the transport of the Brigade in maintaining a
sufficient supply was considerable.
From June 13th to July 20th the cars were mainly employed on convoy
duties, and for defensive purposes at Resht and Manjil.
On June 28th one armoured car was in action along the Kasmar road,
supporting infantry who were attempting the rescue of an A.S.C.
officer who had been captured by the Jungalis. Captain J. Macky was
wounded in this engagement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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