Samochód pancerny wz. 34
Encyclopedia
Samochód pancerny wz. 34 ("armored car 1934 pattern"), was a standard light armored car used by the Polish Army
during the September Campaign
of 1939.
The vehicle was based on the earlier half track samochód pancerny wz. 28, which entered service in 1928. The original vehicle proved to be unpopular with its crews who were unhappy with its handling, low maximum speed as well as poor cross-country capabilities and it was decided to rebuild it as a wheeled vehicle. The new version of the armored car entered service in 1934.
The cars were built in a number of versions with different engines and slightly different armored plates. They were armed with either 7.92 mm version of Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun
(karabin maszynowy Hotchkiss wz.25) or the short-barreled 37 mm Puteaux SA 18
gun.
By 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War the car was obsolete but was still in use by some reconnaissance units.
Polish Land Forces
The Polish Land Forces are a branch of Poland's Armed Forces. They currently contain some 65,000 active personnel and form many components of EU and NATO deployments around the world.-History:...
during the September Campaign
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939.
The vehicle was based on the earlier half track samochód pancerny wz. 28, which entered service in 1928. The original vehicle proved to be unpopular with its crews who were unhappy with its handling, low maximum speed as well as poor cross-country capabilities and it was decided to rebuild it as a wheeled vehicle. The new version of the armored car entered service in 1934.
The cars were built in a number of versions with different engines and slightly different armored plates. They were armed with either 7.92 mm version of Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun
Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun
The Mle 1914 Hotchkiss machine gun became the standard machine gun of the French Army during World War I. It was manufactured by the French arms company Hotchkiss et Cie, which had been established in the 1860s by American industrialist Benjamin B. Hotchkiss...
(karabin maszynowy Hotchkiss wz.25) or the short-barreled 37 mm Puteaux SA 18
Puteaux SA 18
The Puteaux SA 18 was a French semi-automatic gun, used from World War I onward, primarily mounted on combat vehicles.It was a simple but reliable weapon with a high rate of fire. It was primarily intended to be used against infantry and machine-gun nests, due to its low muzzle velocity which...
gun.
By 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War the car was obsolete but was still in use by some reconnaissance units.
External links
- Wz.34 armoured car at Polish Armour 1918-1939 website