Newsletter 2-26-2003 Articles

The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armoured Fighting Vehicles from 1915 to the Present Day. Christopher F. Foss (General Editor). Spellmount Ltd. Staplehurst, U.K. 2002. Price: 45.00 Pounds Sterling.

There are a great many AFV authors with a few good books to their name who were evidently not consulted by whoever wrote this unfortunate book. I have several of C.F. Foss�s excellent titles on postwar AFVs, most of which are similar guidebook format to that used here. In the case of this encyclopedia, something has gone very wrong. I regret to say that this book was a disappointment replete with a staggering number of errors and omissions which should never had made it to the printing stage. The fact is that there are many articles and books available by authors who have sweat blood to produce and make available new and accurate research- and these should have been consulted when compiling this book.

A number of very rough illustrations (see M60 and Fox sections for examples) contained in some parts of this book indicate to me that this book was not really ready for press when indeed it was published. Many photos show museum vehicles and many drawings are too general or devoid of detail to include in such a highly priced work. I feel that for the money this book is meant to command, good fresh period photos from archival sources, side profile views with colour schemes for each mark of the vehicle, and the most up to date factual material should be considered the least that is to be provided to the customer.

A sampling of simply stupid errors found in this encyclopedia: the T35 Heavy tank sections and the drawings within it are absolutely incorrect, the Lanchester Armoured Cars suffer from an identity crisis, a Crusader Mk2 serves to illustrate the Covenanter section, the Char D2 is completely omitted in the French section, the Daimler Armoured Cars Mk1 and Mk2 are simply not included, the German section is at best basic (if less error ridden than other sections) and even the T34 gets nothing better than a shabby drawing! I could cite at least 100 other examples.

I think it ought to be mentioned, that a good few lesser known tanks and AFVs, like the Czech and Croat T72 variations for example, are illustrated and described in interesting detail. The French Leclerc MBT is given better treatment than most of its contemporaries as well. These are mere hints of what kind of a book this should have been.

If we assume the info on Leclerc or these more obscure types is correct, why are the chapters on major tank producing nations so bad? Moreover, if the section on FV214 Conqueror is so bad, why should I assume that the ones on Tiger Ausf. B or on Italian postwar APCs are accurate? I regret to describe this work as inconsistent, in the main poorly researched, very poorly put together and as poor value for money. If the local libraries do buy it then interested youngsters will be learning these mistakes as gospel truth. Given the sheer volume of AFV research made available to us in recent years this book leaves itself no room for acceptable excuses.

Built at the same time as the "Fiat" armored vehicles at Russian works making use of the "Austin" chassis, which had some advantages. On 25 August 1916 with this firm a deal was closed for the delivery of 60 chassis with double steering controls (other than that they did not differ from the previously used armored cars "Austin" 2^nd series). The dual-stearing chassis were adapted for armored machines of the "Austin" 3^rd series.

In Russia the chassis armor application was done by the Putilovski Works, which had provided designs to the Armoured Department of Military Motor-Car School in September 1916. While in obedience to the order; from 60 of the armored cars, 39 were to have Kegresse traction (half-tracks), which had been already successfully tested on the "Austin" 2^nd series. Initially the works were to follow a production schedule: "10 pieces by 15 January 1917 and then 10 per month until the delivery of the last armored car on 15 June, on condition that the chassis would be delivered three months from the date of order" (i.e. November).

However, because the chassis did not start to arrive in Russia until after January 1917 (by February only about 20 pieces arrived) work on the armored cars was delayed, and after the February Revolution work ceased. Staff-Captain Ivanov observed the building of the combat machines at the Putilovski factory and wrote this report on 18 March 1917. "At present there stand at the Putilov factory the chassis of the "Austin" preparing to be armored, which by July should have delivered 60 pieces. None of them are armored and no progress is being made". Production moved again by August 1917 and by March 1918 two chassis were armored with another three half finished.

It was clear at that time that for "lack of fuel, necessary amount of workers and enterprise nationalization" the Putilovski Works were in no condition to be producing "Austins".

Therefore production was handed over to the Izhorski works, where they were produced from the summer of 1919 to spring 1920.

The Putilov Work's "Austins" did not have time to be used in the to fighting of the First World War. But, were very active in the battles of the civil war.

In constructing the Putilov "Austin" the designers took into account the experiences of combat of the English machines of this types. Foremost the armored cars were designed with diagonally positioned turrets and anti-aircraft machineguns with tooling to elevate them to about 80 degrees. In order to aviod the hits of machinegun bullets finding their way through the chinks between the body and tower (such was the cases for the English "Austins") the turret base had double plates. The drivers in the front and rear steering post had a better view for moving in battle. The iside of the armored car body was layered with felt for the crew's protection against metal splintering off the the armor from hits on the outside. The armor thickness totalled 7.5-mm for vertical and 4-mm for horizontal surfaces. The machines weight with a crew of five men, fuel, supplies and cartridges totalled 5.2 tons and the speed was about 55 km/hr.

(Curious detail: the machines is frequently titled in Soviet literature as the "Austin-Putilov" yet this term does not exist in a single document of that time period. In fact in 1918 to 1921 such armored cars were often termed by the Russians as "Austins").

One of Putilov "Austins" preserved to our days has for the longest time been referred to by "Steel Leader Tribune publication" as the legendary armored car which V.Lenin came forward on in April 1917.

However, the leader of the "World Proletariat" never could have stepped on this machine because the armored car left the factory's workshop in August 1919.

Follows to underline, that once Russia was no longer an ally to the Entente the deliveries dates of chassis and completed armored vehicles permanently stopped. About this one can judged from the work results of a representative in of the Arkchangelsk Reserve Armored Divizion in January 1917. To "Aforesaid representative work well to find and to load for dispatch to Petrograd fifteen "Fiat" chassis, five "Austin" chassis for armoring, five light weight "Austins" and later by chance two trucks and eleven motor-cycles...

The representative was sent on an official journey to find out that the "Austin" chassis for armoring and completed "Austin"armoured cars, which were thought to have been sent to Russia in November, were in fact still in England."

In connection with that, shipment could not come through Arkchangel (Romanov-on-Murman - present day Murmansk - only was built) and the White Sea in the winter months because it was ice-boand, the first transports with chassis and armored machines arrived only in the spring of 1917.

Own (Fiat) 18D 4-cyl. side-valve liquid�cooled petrol engine. Cubic capacity 4053 cc. Maximum output 55-60 bhp at 2000 rpm. Dry twin-plate clutch. 2x 4F1 R gearbox (with reduction gear). Rear-wheel drive. 6.39:1 axle gear ratio. Hydraulic brakes. Rigid axles with semi-elliptic leaf springs (transversal at front, inverted at rear). 32 x 6 tyres. 6-volt electrics. 115-litre fuel capacity. 3-ton winch.

Prototyped in 1931/32 the Dovunque ('go-anywhere') truck chassis was taken into production in 1933 by Fiat's Spa division. From 1935/36 it was made with an improved specification (Dovunque 35), the Tipo 33 (qv) having proved too light and underpowered. Of the new model considerable quantities were delivered, primarily with GS cargo bodywork. Some carried AA guns, others had different bodywork, exemplified by signals vans (radio telemetry) and APC, all built by Viberti. Tyre equipment also varied. Chassis was available until 1948.

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS: Wheelbase 3200 mm (rear axles: 1000 mm) Overall length 5030 mm, width 2070 mm, height 2905 mm. Ground clearance 250 mm. Weight 4490 kg, gross 7160 kg.

Fiat 665NM Blindato

6-cyl. 110-bhp engine (own 365 9365-cc diesel) driving rear wheels via 2x4-speed

gearbox (with reduction gear). Lockable diff. Air-over-hydraulic brakes. Leaf-spring suspension. Tyre size 12.75-24. Wheelbase 3760 mm. Overall dimensions 7100x2670x 2500 mm. Weight 7700 kg approx., gross 12340 (off-road 11340) kg.

Retrofitted armour plating over cab and other areas to provide reasonable degree of protection in combat zone. Used for personnel and cargo carrying.

Hello Bill, sorry for my late answer, I have internet connection only at my work and I'am busy, so I send my letter with photos to you very late. This all copy is for everybody who interested in military, fortifications, army projects etc. It's free for using. I hope these photocopies (photos taken in 1937-39, copy from books about Cz. milit. fort.) help to know something about Czech military fortifications and defend projects released before 2nd World War. Highlands, mountains or bigger rivers - ideal places for defending war, construction of defend fortifications in these areas create very strong obstacle for potential enemy. Czech fortifications was modern and dangerous but it's truth the Czech army had no complete weapons for fight, especially for fire-shooting from military defend buildings. The complete plans of weapons - our army heading wanted to release it until 1942- 1943 years. Some weapons in 1938 was completed. The first heavy fortifications (1936,1937 released) hade many weapons include mine-throwers and heavy canons, only extendable rotary antitank gun was missed (this danger weapon had only some heavy fort.), many of them was prepared to fight. This situation is typical for northeastern border line of Czechoslovakia (northern Moravia), nowday it is Czech-Polish border. But southern part of our state had light fortifications only, there was no heavy objects (army started the construction not before 1938). So this area of Czech border was ideal place for German attack corpses from Austria. And there are no mountains, only one bigger river and a few big lakes. On that account many Czech troops was located there. Munich result (September 30th, 1938) stop all defend construction. A few days later many defend army objects was occupied by German Wehrmacht. Czech army go back from border and give large territory to Germans. It was very hard time for our state and political heading. At that time many people want to fight against German troops, our government afraid of new war in Europe, our politician didn't want start the new conflict in this area. Bill, I want send you basic information about Czech fortifications - text/a few pages A4(about military types of fort., weapons, obstacles...)

Can you help me find iformation on German "Beetle tanks"? They were small radio-controled tanks loaded with explosives. I can't find any imformation anywhere!!!

Hi, I was wondering if you could help...I'm building a 1/35 scale model of a wespe ammo carrier...I know it was a wespe w/o the gun, but can't find any info anywhere on how the ammo racks were set up in this vehicle.Do you have anything on this?

Dear Bill:

Maybe you can help me with something I've been trying to find for some time. Do you know of a scale replica of a Mk. I - V tank that has working treads. I would love to have it for our docents to help answer questions during tours. I've heard that the Ehmar models are pretty bad, I have a little Mk IV 'Male' but it's so small and has convention round wheels underneath the "tracks". Any ideas would be appreciated.

Tod Ruhstaller
Director
The Haggin Museum
http://www.hagginmuseum.org

Please make this address available for the readership, it is basically a huge collection of Canadian Military documents made available as PDF files on line. It is listed in the forwarded letter below. Also, if you are agreeable to it, I would like to supply reviews to your emagazine both of current magazines, books (used and new, whatever I come by) and 1/35th model tanks (don't expect too many panzers as I can only afford to buy kits a few times a year due to the high cost they command these days, as panzers are not my thing I will spend most of my money on Soviet or Commonwealth armour with some US and French types too...all periods too!). At any rate, let me know if that is OK with you.

http://www.forces.gc.ca/hr/dhh/history_archives/engraph/resources_e.asp?cat=1

Where in the USA can I buy a tank that is running and is in operational condition, I am not interested that it really fires it's guns?

I'm interested in obtaining military equipment for a veterans memorial park. Any help would be appreciated. John Weitzel Chairman Veterans Memorial Park of Dixon Illinois. 815 288 4107


Last Update: Thursday, February 27, 2003

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