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Peugeot

In 1920, Poland bought 18 or 19 armored cars made by Peugeot. They were modified and improved versions of Peugeot armored car model 1918. In 1939 some were stationed in Katowice (Silesia). On September 1, 1939, several units were used in the fighting around the suburbs of Chorzow. One was destroyed while trying to recapture a coal mine in Michalowice.

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Samochód Pancerny Ford Tfc (Ford Tfc Armored Car)

Sometimes called Ford FT-B. A project in 1920 to design a home grown Polish made armored car based on the Ford Model "T" was made by Eng. Tadeusz Tanski and Gerlach and Pulst in Warsaw manufactured vehicles. Production between June and September 1920 produced 16 to 17? cars. 8 Ford Tfc’s formed 1 Kolumna Samochodów Pancernych (1 Armored Cars Column) and was involved in Battle of Warsaw (August 1920) and raid on Kowel (September 1920), besides other smaller battles.

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The Soviet Austin-Putilov

Shown above is a (now) Polish Austin-putilov in the 1920. This vehicle was captured from the Soviets in the Russo-polish war of 1920 and renamed from Stenka Razi to Poznanczyk. A point of interest - Poland was the only nation to ever defeat the Red Army. The Austin-Putilov was a British design, though mostly produced and used in Russia. The Russians took the basic chassis (that was all that could be supplied by the over stretched Britsh production lines) and modified it considerably to cope with the harsh Russian conditions. Inprovements included later replacing the rear wheels with tracks and adding additional armor and rear steering. Both in terms of numbers and performance, the Austin/Austin-Putilov is considered by some to be the most important armored car the Russians possessed during WW1. Many saw action in the internal fighting surrounding the October revolution and afterwards in the Russian Civil War. After 1918 some saw service in the Polish and Japanese armies. This vehicle proved itself to be extremely rugged. For specifications go the section on WW1. Poland had more than 20, in different variants. All were captured in 1919-20, during Polish-Soviet war. The last ones were withdrawn in 1931. The name of the vehicle type was "Stenka Razin" or Styenka, depending on the translation.

There were five basic variants of Soviet Austins:
- three variants of English-built Austins (mod. 1914 - 48 cars, model 1915 - 60 cars and model 1918 - 60 cars, not all delivered due to the revolution). Maybe there were more Austins sent to Russia - the sources tell different numbers.

- Austin-Putilov, with an armored body built in Russia (33 cars were made in 1919-20) - improved, with thicker armor and diagonal turrets.

-More than 10 Austins of all types were captured by Polish - most of them were used by Polish, at least 5 survived and were used after the war.

- the last variant was Austin-Putilov-Kegresse  (only 12 cars built), with half-tracked chassis. It was very rare type, but a few vehicles (at least 2) were captured and used by Polish. They were ex-Soviet: "Ukrainiets" and "Putilovets" vehicles. The picture is depicting damaged Ukrainiets (with a slogan "Vsya Vlast Sovyetam" - All power to the Soviets) , after its capture.

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Other Captured Soviet/German Armored Cars

Other captured Soviet vehicles used in Polish service were the Fiat-Izorski, several White armored and partly armored cars. White armored cars were a kind of "improvised" ones. The Soviets were just putting armored bodies of some damaged armored cars, mostly Austins, onto White truck chassis. Two of them were captured by Polish: they were used with the names "Mars" and "General Haller". The Poles also used two so-called "half-armored" White cars. They were probably Polish-built upon truck chassis'. They were open-topped and had 5 MGs.Also captured were at least two Peerless. The Peerless was initially a SP-AA gun, with 40mm Vickers gun. It was British construction, on US Peerless truck chassis. 12 were sent to Russia. Later, some of the guns were dismounted (lack of ammo?), and those cars were armed with a few MGs and used as armored cars. One of them was captured by Estonians, and served as "Pohjan Poika", later "Pisuhand". Poland captured at least two vehicles, armed with 4 MGs in the sides. One of them was improved by adding a turret in late 1920. Three Garford-Putilov were captured and armed with a 76mm gun. The Jeffery-Poplavko used the very good and modern US Jeffery 4017 chassis - it was 4x4, 4 wheel steering. The body was Russian-built. Data states 2 MGs, but it could have 4 MGs in all sides of casemate. It had excellent off-road capabilities, almost as good, as tanks. 30 cars were built. At least 1 was used by Polish, as "Wnuk" (Grandson). The Poles obtained at least one Ehrhardt M17 during the Wielkopolskie uprising in of 1919. The name given that armored car was "Pulkownik Kazimierz Grudzielski".

wz.28

The wz.28 was a design was based on the French Citroën-Kegresse B2 10CV. Having bought 135 of these units from France, Polish engineers decided to convert 90 of them into armored cars. The vehicle did not fulfill the hopes of the army, being slow (35kmh max) and unreliable (the drive). Many were remanufactured into the wz.34 series.

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Motorcycles CWS M55, CWS M111 (Sokol 1000)

(details soon)

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wz.29

10 armored cars designated wz.29 Ursus were produced in 1929. All 14 were placed in the Mazovian Cavalry Brigade and saw combat against Germany.

Citroen - Kegresse P.14, 17, 19

These half-track vehicles were designed by the Russian engineer Adolph Kegresse. Adolph Kegresse was the chief of the Russian Tsar’s garages and escaped to France during the 1917 revolution. In exile, he designed a whole series of military vehicles for his adoped home and other interested nations.

PZInz.302

Michal Derela writes: The PZInz. 302 tractor was a variant of the Polski FIAT 508/518 military car. The PF-508/518 was constructed in Poland by the PZInz works, using some parts of the Fiat licensed PF-508-III (front and engine) and PF-518 (rear axle), hence the name. The drive was 4x2, the engine was 24 HP and the maximum speed was 65 kph. The car had some off-road features, like a reducer in the gearbox, a differential lock, rotating spare wheels and a self-pulling device on the rear wheels. These cars were produced from 1937 in several versions. The main variant was the PZInz. 302 tractor for a 37mm AT-gun and 80 rounds of ammo, used only in two motorized brigades and few other units (the rest of the Polish AT artillery was horse-drawn). PF-508/518 cars were also used as radio vans, telephone line layers, artillery service cars, etc. A small series of HMG-equipped cars were used in the two motorized brigades. Despite 4x2 drive, PF-508/518 cars had good off-road characteristics, up to 400 were made in all variants.

The Polski Fiat 621L 2.5 ton truck 

Polski FIAT 621L. was the most common Polish pre-war truck and the basic military truck in 1939. It was an improved and strengthened copy of the Italian FIAT 621, produced in the PZInz works from 1935-39. The PF-621L was a 2.5t 4x2 truck with a 46 HP engine. In 1938 the new streamlined cab was introduced. From among 9,500 produced before the war, the Army had 1,400 in 1939, not counting the mobilized civilian ones. A small number of heavier PF-621R 3-ton trucks (on a bus chassis) was also used. PF-621's were used as general service trucks, and also as troop carriers in the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade (10 BKZmot) and Warsaw Armored-Motorized Brigade (WBP-M). ~ author: Michal Derela

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The ZIS-5/5V truck

(no information)

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C2P

The C2P was designed to tow a 75 mm gun for light artillery units.  Once in the service with the army though, it was mainly used to tow the Bofors 40 mm wz.36 anti-aircraft gun. This tankette was based on Polish TK tankette.

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The Wz.34, C4P Half Track

Michal Derela writes: The C4P was the most well known variant of the wz.34 halftrack car (not to be confused with the wz.34 armored car). This was a Polish-constructed derivative of the Polski FIAT-621 truck. Production began in 1935 in the PZInz works and about 350-400 were completed in all versions. At least 80 of them were C4P artillery tractors. Early tractors had a short chassis frame and an open cab. Later tractors had a longer frame, a platform and a closed cab similar to the PF-621 truck. In 1939 the C4P artillery tractors were used in two Motorized Artillery Battalions: the 16th of the 10th Cavalry Bde and the 2nd of the WBP-M motorized brigade. They towed 75mm wz.97 field guns and 100mm wz.14/19P howitzers, fitted with rubber tyres. Each Battalion had two four-gun batteries with 18 tractors. In the 11th AA Artillery Battalion C4P tractors were used to tow 75mm wz.36 Star AA-guns. Apart from the C4P, older French Citroen-Kegresse tractors were used in the sparsely motorized Polish artillery. The basic wz.34 halftrack car was used in several variants, such as a halftrack truck with closed cab and long platform, a workshop car and an ambulance.

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C7P

The chassis was based on the 7TP light tank. The picture on the top right is the same as the top left except it is larger and of better quality (both are poor). The artillery piece is a 220mm howitizer.

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wz.34

Produced in 3 versions, this was the most popular and best armored car in the pre-war Polish Army was the Type 34. The car equipped armored battalions until just before the start of the Second World War when they were reorganized into independent armored squadrons. During the Polish campaign, these cars did see some combat, they were; however, obsolete and worn out and their use was limited. The Type 34 was based on the earlier Type 28 and between 1934-37, some ninety Type 28's were converted to the Type 34 configuration. The Type 34 was constructed of steel sheets, rolled and hardened. The interior of the car was divided into a combat compartment, engine compartment, and a turret. A weakness of the design was the floor, which was made of wood and unarmored. Converted from the wz.28 on a local basis, the some vehicles had differing engines, transmissions, and other minor details as a result. Thirty vehicles were armed with the 37mm SA-18 Puteaux L/21, the rest were armed with 7.92mm Hotchkiss wz.25 machine guns.

PZInz.342

PZInz.342 was a prototype of 4x4 artillery tractor (it was to be designated C5P).

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wz.34 Halftrack

(no information)

The PZInz.322

A simple 2 wheel drive tractor that was to be used as a prime mover for various light equipment. Only 3 were built prior to the outbreak of WW2.

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PZInz. 130

The PZInz. 130 was an amphibious tank built on the same chassis as the 4TP. It featured a rudder and a 3 blade propeller. The tracks also assisted in water propulsion. This tank was not accepted for production.

The experimental 4TP, PZInz. 140

The 4TP was a 4.3ton, two-man reconnaissance tank designed in 1936, with a turret offset to left. Only one prototype was built. Perhaps the most famous 4TP was the amphibious adaptation applied to this design. Based on the same chassis as the 4TP this vehicle was tested but was not in production prior to the outbreak of war with Germany and the USSR. Features included a torsion bar suspension.

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The 10TP

The four man wheel & track fast tank 10TP weighed 12.8 tons. The 10TP had a Christie type suspension, so it was able to run with and without tracks. The 10TP was fitted with a V12 210hp engine, had 20mm thick armor and a 37mm gun.

(No picture possible)
The Medium tank 14TP

There were two tanks with this designation. The prototype was planned for year 1938 and production for 1940. Similar to the 10TP, the weight increased to 14 tons and was powered by a 300hp Maybach engine. The uncompleted prototype was destroyed. This tank, though having large Christie wheels, was never intended to run "trackless". Instead, this tank was following normal development, as in the USSR, to do away with the notion of running with and without tracks.

(No picture)
The Heavy tank 20/25TP

A multi-turret design considered in 1936, but never built. The tank was to have "conventional" bogie type rollers instead of the Christie road wheels suggested for the 4, 10, and 14TP designs. Exact specifications are unknown.

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The Polski Fiat 508

This was the Polish "Jeep" and served in various roles as a command vehicle, ambulance, scout, and any other form as needed by military personnel.

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The Polski Fiat 518

(no information)

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The Renault R35

The total number of Renault R35 tanks in Poland in 1939 is given by Rajmund Szubanski (one of the best sources to a subject of Polish tanks in September 1939 campaign) at 50. Renault R35 were mobilized as 21 Batalion Czolgów Lekkich (Battalion of Light Tanks) which counted 45 tanks. This unit did not see action in September of 1939 but was evacuated to Romania. From remaining R35 tanks and 3 Hotchkiss H35 tanks, which were in Poland for evaluation, an improvised company was formed. This company took part in battle at Kamionka Strumillowa on September 22, 1939, as a part of Group “Dubno”. A Company from German 44 Infantry Division was attacked and defeated. Germans lost 87 prisoners and a ford at Bug River was gained.

The Polish/German Panzer III

3 PzKpfW III Ausf. G were captured by the Carpathian Lancers in Egypt in 1941. All three were numbered consecutively 1 to 3. Shown here is vehicle number 2. All vehicles were used for training only.

The Polish/German Panzer IV

At least one PzKpfw IV ausf. H was used by the Warsaw Tank Brigade of the 2nd Corps in Italy during 1944.

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The Polish/German Panzer V

Two Panthers ausf. G were captured by the Poles during Warsaw uprising. The first one was named officially: "Pudel" (the Poodle, a pseudonym of killed Polish soldier), but the crew called it "Magda" (Maggie).

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The Polish Matilda 1

In the years between 1940 and 1942, Polish units used 18 Matilda-1 tanks. First by the 10^th Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej (Armor Cavalry Brigade), which guarded of a part of Scotland's beaches near Dundee-Montrose. After 1941, the Matildas were sent to training units for the teaching of mechanical techniques and driving. In 1942, the British received all the Matildas-1 tanks back from the Poles.

The photo to the right above shows a Polish Matilda 1 - captured by the Germans in Poland in 1939. Do you have any information on this tank?

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The Polish/Italian AB-41 Armored Car

Used for training by the Carpathian Lancers in Egypt from June 1942.

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The Polish/Soviet T34/85

Exact numbers and data is unknown.

The Polish/Soviet SU85

This drawing is of the Polish SU85 number 324 built in Factory no.402221 Swierdlovsk and used by the 13th Polish Artillery Regiment. This vehicle was used during battles in Chechoslovakia in 1945. This SU85`s wartime kill record was: 2 tanks, 14 cannons, 16 mortars and 114 trucks - impressive!

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The Polish/Soviet SU100

Polish Army received during  two SU-100s during WW2 from the Soviets. More were delivered after the war. The Poles used these self propelled guns into the late 50s. Some of them were rebuilt into engineering vehicles . One SU-100 is on exhibition in NATO Officer Armor School at Poznan in Poland.

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The Polish/Soviet ISU-122

Polish Army received 22 ISU-122 tanks from the Soviets during the Summer of 1944. Polish ISU-122s took part in the battles in Chechoslovakia and the Berlin Operation. The Poles lost 16 units in combat. You may still see 4 ISU-122s in Poland today. They are located at the Museum of the Polish Army at Warsaw, The Military Museum at Kolobrzeg, The Military Museum at Poznan, and at The Officers NATO Armor School at Poznan.

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The Polish/Soviet ISU-152

The Poles received 10 ISU-152s from the USSR (more were received after the war). The first were delivered in November 1944. It was ISU no.40532 joined to 3rd Training Tank Regiment (Szkolny Pulk Czolgow). Polish ISU-152s were used in combat during the battles on Wal Pomorski (Baltic harbor), near Szczecin city, (old North Prussia), and in the Berlin Operation. During the Berlin Operation, the 13th Polish Artillery Regiment equipped with SU-85 and ISU-152 fought near Klietz city and went deep into German territory. Polish ISU-152 were scrapped in early 60s. Some of these ISU were rebuilt to engineering vehicles. Today there are 2 surviving ISU-152s in Poland (at the Officers Tank School at Poznan and in the Military Museum at Kolobrzeg) and at least one in Russia (Dukla city).

The Polish/Soviet SU-152

Polish Army received three Soviet SU-152s. Two were given to the Officers Tank School and one to the  3rd Training Tank Regiment. All three Polish SUs were used as trainers in years 1945-`49. One SU-152 is on exhibition on cemetery of Soviet soldiers at Cybinka in Poland.

The Polish/Soviet JS-2 (IS-2)

Exact numbers are unknown.

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The Polish/Soviet JS-3 (IS-3)

Polish Army received only two Is-3s. These tanks were delivered in 1946. The first was used in Military Technic Academy at Warsaw (Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna), the second Polish IS-3 was send to Officers Armor School (Oficerska Szkola Wojsk Pancernych) at Poznan city. (this IS-3 is still on exchibition.) Painting: Polish IS-3s carried normal Soviet olive drab painting and had Polish white eagles on turrets.

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The Polish/Soviet T34/76

Shown is a model 43. The Poles had some 71 model 42 and 43 T34/76 tanks.

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The Polish/Soviet BA64 Armored Car

(no information)

The Polish/Soviet BA20 Armored Car

Polish units received 4 Ba-20 armored cars (also in railroad version - BA-20ZD), wchihc were joined to 31. and 59.Division of Armoured Trains of 1.Polish Army(1.WP) Polish BA-20 were used since 1944 to 01.1945. Polish divisions with BA-20 fought mainly near Warsaw . After January 1945 they were probably given back to the Soviets Unfortunately any photos of Polish BA-20 do not seem to exist. Most probably had standard Soviet painting (dark geen/olive drab) with Polish insignias (white eagle).

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The Polish/American M4 Sherman

Michal Derela writes: The Sherman was the basic tank in Polish armored units in the West 1943-47. The 1st Armoured Division, fighting from Falaise (France) to Wilhelmshaven (Germany) used M4A4 Sherman V and VC (Firefly), and from December 1944 - M4A1(76)W Sherman IIA. The 2nd Warsaw Armored Brigade, fighting in Italy, used M4A2 Sherman III, later also M4 Sherman I and IC (Firefly) and M4A1 Sherman II.

The Polish/Canadian Grizzley

Though this tank is preserved at the Polish Army Museum. There is no evidence that the Polish army ever used this vehicle. The vehicle was obtained after the demise of the USSR.

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The Polish/American M17 Halftrack

Polish units on the east used 20 M-17 MGCs, which were received by the Poles in January of 1945. The Polish M-17s had normal American olive drab (FS 34087) painting with Polish insignias. M-17s were also used in large numbers by Polish units on the west.

The Polish/American T48, SU-57

One of the least known American tank destroyers. Armed with a 57mm main gun, this halftrack was not produced in series for the USA (hence it's "T" designation). GMC did produce the vehicle for the British. By the time it entered service, the main gun was found wanting. Instead, the 650 vehicles were shipped to the USSR, who at the time wanted anything they could get. A small number found their way into the Polish People's Army in 1945. This example is seen at the Polish Army Museum in Warsay.

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The Polish/Soviet T-70

In period between 07/1943 to 01/1945, Polish units in the east (Ludowe Wojsko Polskie) used 53 T-70s. Poles lost 12 T-70s in combat. T-70 were used mainly in 1^st Polish Tank Regiment (Pulk Czolgow), the 3rd Training Tank Regiment (Szkolny Pulk Czolgow) and at least one in 27^th Regiment of Self-propelled Altillery (Pulk Altylerii Samobieznej). The Polish High Officers Tank School had 18 units. After WW2, Polish T-70s were used in combat against the Ukrainian UPA (Nationalist) units in years 1945-47. A T-70 was found in the Bieszczady forest and restored. It is now is in very good condition and on exhibition in High Officer Tank School at Poznan city.( Wyzsza Szkola Wojsk Pancernych w Poznaniu).

Kubus APC

Kubus saw service in the Warsaw Uprising. Kubus, translated as "Jackie", a nick name of "Jacob", is currently preserved in the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw. It was built upon a Chevrolet truck chassis, and used during the first days of the Warsaw uprising in August of 1944. It was designed to carry an assault squad and had no fixed weapons. Firing ports for installed for 2 LMGs and rifles or SMGs. It was used during the attack on Warsaw University.

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The Polish/German SdKfz-251/1 ausf.D

Two, possibly more SdKfz-251/1 ausf.D were captured and used during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. One was named "Szary Wilk" (in English - Grey Wolf. Originally named "Jas" - in English - "Johnny"), and was modified by adding an armored roof made by adding two armor plates opening to the sides. When closed, they made a kind of a sloped "house roof" above the crew compartment. Between them and hull sides were rifle ports. At least one other SdKfz-251/1 ausf. D was captured and named "Starowka" which is the name of the oldest district of Warsaw.

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The Polish/German SdKfz-250/10

This is captured SdKfz.250/10 with 3,7cm PAK cannon used in 13th Polish Artillery Regiment of 1st Polish Army, March-May 1945, Poland. This vechicle was painted in standard ex-German colors: dark sand (dunkelgelb RAL 8002,   FS 33275-33434). German cross was overpainted by most probably green paint.

The Polish/German Steyr RSO

A German  Steyr RSO was captured by 4^th Polish Heavy Tank Regiment of 1^st Polish Army on the east (4.Pulk Czolgow Ciezkich z 1.Armii Wojska Polskiego) in Poland 1944. This RSO was painted: overall sand/dark yellow and camouflage using red brown and dark green. There was painted on the doors white Polish eagle(without crown) on the red square with white border.

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The Polish/American Jeep

Shown is a Jeep of 4th Polish Heavy Tank Regiment of the 1st Polish Army in the east as it would have appeared in  1945. The model picture, submitted by Jakub Marszalkiewicz, was painted overall olive drab/dark green. Jakub states that the jeep probably had an American star on the engine cover. Jeeps were used in large numbers by Polish units in the west and east.

Ursus A Ambulance

Ursus AW Bus

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Ursus A Truck

Michal Derela writes: The Ursus A truck was the first truck mass produced in Poland and the main military truck in the early thirties. It was an improved licensed copy of the Italian SPA 25C Polonia 1.5t truck, 450 of which were imported and assembled in Poland. The Ursus A was produced from 1928 in the "Ursus" works, which were nationalised as a part of PZInz concern in 1930. It was 2-ton 4x2 truck with a 35 HP engine, and a maximum speed of 60 km/h. A later variant, the A-30, had a 40 HP engine and a capacity of 2.5t. The first series had an open cab with a "convertible" top, replaced soon by a "hardtop", and finally a closed cab. Ursus trucks were produced until 1931, with about 900 made for civilian and military purposes. Most of the Army trucks (and civilian mobilized ones) were used in 1939, along with SPA trucks. Although obsolete by that point, they were tough and reliable trucks.

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The Saurer 4BLDP Bus

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British Cromwell Cruiser Tank

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The Polish Tank Uniforms

Shown are a captain and a standard issue 1939 tank helmet.

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The Polish US6 Studebaker

The 1st Polish Army in east Poland 1944/45 used this Polish US6  mainly as artillery tractors for 122mm howitzers. They were used mainly as an artillery tractor. They were painted in original American olive drab and any American insignias were overpainted with Polish ones.

Last Update: Wednesday, March 12, 2003