Škoda PA-II Zelva
After testing the PA-I armored car, the Czechoslovak military gave Škoda an extensive list of claims. The military was not satisfied with the layout of the armored vehicle, its characteristics and weapons. In this regard, the developer had to deal with the revisions of the project. The number of identified shortcomings was so great that as a result of fine-tuning, a new project Škoda PA-II Zelva appeared. It used a large number of developments from the previous project, but a number of important features of the appearance of the machine underwent changes.
The chassis of the base PA-I armored car has been significantly improved. In particular, it received a new 70 hp Skoda gasoline engine. Such a project update was supposed to simplify the construction of armored vehicles by eliminating the need to purchase imported motors. The drivetrain, suspension and wheels remain the same.
The Škoda PA-II armored car was named Zelva ("Turtle"). This "name" of the armored car was associated with the design of the updated armored hull. In an effort to improve the characteristics of armor protection and reduce its weight, the authors of the new project completely redesigned the body of the base armored car. As a result, instead of an angular design of flat panels, the PA-II received a distinctively shaped body with many curved parts. The new hull reminded engineers of a turtle shell, which is why an alternative name for the project appeared.
Despite the different shape, the Škoda PA-II armored hull was proposed to be assembled from the same sheets as in the case of the PA-I. The roof and bottom were 3 mm thick, the rest of the panels were 5.5 mm thick. Armor panels of this thickness could stop small arms bullets, and their specific location further increased the level of protection. At the same time, however, the original body of the Turtle armored car was quite difficult to manufacture. Before installing rolled armor plates on the frame, they had to be given a specific shape, which affected the complexity and duration of construction.
The layout of the internal volumes of the PA-II and PA-I armored cars was almost the same, with the exception of a few features. The Turtle's engine was located above the front axle, and its radiator was raised up. The engine and radiator were covered with an armored hood of a characteristic shape. Two drivers were to be located in the front and rear of the fighting compartment. For the convenience of work, the control posts were located on the longitudinal axis of the machine. The road could be monitored through hatches at the top of the bonnet and rear cowl. In a combat situation, these hatches had to be closed and the situation was monitored through the viewing slots. For boarding and leaving the car, two doors were retained in the sides.
The armament of the Škoda PA-I armored car caused some complaints from the military. Two machine guns installed in one tower were considered insufficiently powerful weapons, and their placement affected combat capabilities. For this reason, the new Škoda PA-II Zelva armored car received four Schwarzloze MG.08 machine guns at once. Machine guns were mounted in ball mounts at the sides, in the front and rear of the fighting compartment. The total ammunition of the machine guns exceeded 6,200 rounds. The placement of weapons made it possible to provide an almost circular attack on targets, as well as get rid of the rotating turret.
The crew of the PA-II armored car consisted of five people - two drivers and three gunners. It was assumed that the fourth machine gun, if necessary, can be used by one of the drivers.
The Škoda PA-II Zelva armored car turned out to be quite heavy - its combat weight exceeded 7.3 tons. At the same time, its length reached 6 meters, width and height were 2, 1 and 2, 4 m, respectively.
Main elements of the base chassis are retained and a 70 hp engine is used. allowed to provide the new armored car with sufficiently high driving characteristics. "Turtle", refuting its own name, could accelerate on the highway to 70-75 km / h. The power reserve reached 250 kilometers.
The first prototype of the Škoda PA-II Zelva armored car was built and tested in 1924. Testing the new car showed its advantages over the armored vehicles of the previous model, which affected the decision of the military. Already in December 24, the Czechoslovak army received the first serial PA-II armored car. In total, 12 PA-II armored vehicles were built. However, two vehicles quickly lost their armor and became training vehicles.
In 1927, Škoda brought the PA-II Delovy armored car for testing. The front part of his armored hull had new contours, due to changes in the armament complex. A 75 mm gun was placed in the front of the fighting compartment. The firepower of the modernized armored car has increased significantly, but the change in other characteristics affected the fate of the project. The power plant of the cannon armored car remained the same, and the combat weight increased to 9, 4 tons. The mobility of the PA-II Delovy armored car was insufficient, which is why the military abandoned it. Soon the only cannon armored car was dismantled.
The Škoda PA-II Zelva armored car had rather high characteristics and therefore quickly interested some third countries. Already in 1924, Škoda began to receive offers to purchase equipment of a new model. Nevertheless, the workload of production made it possible to sign only one contract. In accordance with this document, a few years later, three "Turtles" were handed over to the Austrian police. In Austria, one of the armored cars received a small commander's dome with observation devices.
Czechoslovakian Škoda PA-II armored cars were used until the mid-thirties, after which they began to be sent to the reserve. Austrian cars, in turn, were actively exploited until 1938. A certain number of PA-II armored vehicles went to the German troops a little later. It is known that several former Czechoslovak vehicles received radio stations and loop antennas. Germany used the captured armored cars for police purposes. After the end of World War II, three armored vehicles were returned to the Austrian police. The fate of the Czechoslovakian Škoda PA-II Zelva armored cars remains unknown.
Škoda PA-III and PA-IV
A further development of the line of armored vehicles, started by the PA-I armored car, was the PA-III vehicle. The development of this armored car began in 1926-27. The goal of the project was to improve the PA-II armored car while maintaining and improving characteristics. It was assumed that the updated project will simplify the construction process and thereby contribute to reducing the cost of production vehicles.
The chassis of the new Škoda PA-III armored car was made on the basis of the corresponding units of the previous car. At the same time, the chassis received a less powerful engine. The authors of the new project considered that the use of a 60 hp gasoline engine. will allow you to maintain acceptable characteristics. The design of the undercarriage remains the same.
The armored hull of the PA-III was developed using the experience gained from the creation of two previous projects. Like the body of the PA-I armored car, it consisted of a large number of smooth panels mated at different angles. In the construction of the hull, sheets were used with a thickness of 3 mm (roof and bottom) and 5.5 mm (sides, forehead and stern). The layout of the internal volumes has been slightly changed. In the front of the car, the engine and radiator were still located, but they were completely covered by the frontal parts of the body. In the middle and aft parts of the hull, there was a habitable volume with crew jobs.
The crew of five was still attended by two drivers, accommodated in the manned space. The front helm was moved to the starboard side, the rear - to the left. Drivers had to use inspection hatches. The placement of the hatches, as before, negatively affected the view from the driver's workplaces.
On the roof of the fighting compartment of the armored car there was a swivel tower of a conical shape with a wall thickness of 5, 5 mm. In the frontal leaf of the turret there was a ball mount for the 7, 92-mm machine gun ZB vz. 26. The tower shooter could attack targets in any direction. To increase the firepower in the front and rear sectors, the PA-III armored car received two more machine guns of the same type. One of them was installed in the middle of the frontal sheet of the fighting compartment, the other in the stern. There was an interesting searchlight on the rear wall of the tower. The searchlight had an armored body that protected it from bullets and shrapnel. In combat conditions, the searchlight had to be rotated around a vertical axis. After that, its glass elements turned out to be inside the tower, and an armored hull remained outside.
The Škoda PA-III armored car had slightly smaller dimensions and weight in comparison with previous Czechoslovak developments. Its combat weight did not exceed 6, 6 tons, length was 5, 35 meters, width did not exceed 2 meters, height - 2, 65 m.
In comparison with the PA-I and PA-II armored cars, the new PA-III had less weight, but at the same time it was equipped with a less powerful engine. This led to some deterioration in mobility: on the highway, a new armored car could reach speeds of no more than 60 km / h. The power reserve remained at the same level - about 250 kilometers.
Until 1930, Škoda built 16 PA-III armored vehicles, including one prototype. The army used the alternative designation OA vz. 27 (Obrněný automobil vzor 27 - "Protected car model 1927"). Over the next decade, the new armored vehicles were actively used by the Czechoslovak military, after which they changed owners. After the partition of Czechoslovakia, three armored cars went to the Slovak army. The same number of vehicles were captured by Romania, and the rest of the equipment, apparently, fell into the hands of the Germans.
On the basis of the PA-III armored cars, the PA-IV machine was created, which differed from them in some design features and weapons. No more than 10 vehicles of this modification had a slightly modified shape of the armored hull, other wheels and a 100 hp engine. According to some reports, PA-IV armored cars received 6 mm armor. Several armored vehicles of the new model were equipped with a 37-mm cannon installed in the frontal sheet of the hull instead of a machine gun. In addition, the PA-IVs were armed not only with ZB vz. 26 machine guns, but also with the older MG.08.
In 1939, several PA-IV armored cars went to the German army. Due to insufficient performance and outdated design, these vehicles were used as police vehicles. Some armored cars received radio stations and loop antennas. The exact fate of the built Škoda PA-IV is unknown.
Tatra OA vz. 30
In the twenties, Tatra proposed an original car chassis architecture. Instead of the classic frame, it was proposed to use a tubular beam in which some transmission units could be placed. Oscillating axle shafts were to be attached to this beam. Such an architecture of the undercarriage promised a noticeable increase in cross-country ability on rough terrain. One of the first vehicles built according to this scheme was the Tatra 26/30 truck. The military appreciated the interesting proposal. Soon, the army of Czechoslovakia wished to receive an armored car based on the chassis of a new truck. This is how the OA vz project appeared. thirty.
From 1927 to 1930, Tatra built several prototype and experimental machines on which various ideas were tested. Only in 1930 did an armored car appear suitable for use by the troops. The Tatra 72 truck became the basis for the serial armored cars of the new model. At the heart of the chassis of this car was a hollow beam, inside which the propeller shaft and other transmission units were located. On the sides, the axle shafts of the wheels were attached to the beam. All chassis axle shafts were equipped with leaf springs. With a 6x4 wheel arrangement, the original chassis weighed only 780 kg, which can be considered a record in some way. The base chassis was equipped with a Tatra T52 petrol engine with a capacity of only 30 hp.
It was proposed to assemble the armored body of the OA vz. 30 vehicle from sheets with a thickness of 5.5 mm. The panels of a relatively large size had to be mounted on the frame using bolts and rivets. The material and thickness of the armor were selected taking into account the developments in the previous Czechoslovak projects of armored vehicles. The layout of the armored hull was standard for vehicles based on commercial trucks. In front of the hull there was an armored engine hood, behind which there was a large habitable volume. There was a conical tower on the roof of the hull. The hull had two side doors and one aft door for boarding the car. In addition, there was an additional hatch in the turret roof.
The armament of the armored car OA vz. 30 consisted of two machine guns vz. 26 caliber 7, 92 mm. One of them was placed in the turret, the second - in the frontal sheet of the hull, to the left of the vehicle axis. Thus, the crew of the armored car consisted of a driver and two gunners. The possibility of installing an anti-tank gun on a new armored car was considered. An analysis of the characteristics of the vehicle showed that it would not be able to carry such a powerful weapon, and the development of a new armored car was required. Despite the desire of the military, such a machine was not even designed.
According to the Czechoslovak classification of military equipment, the OA vz. 30 armored car belonged to the class of light armored vehicles. Its combat weight did not exceed 2.3 tons (according to other sources, 2.5 tons). The length of the car was equal to 4 meters, width and height - 1, 57 and 2 m, respectively. With such a mass and dimensions, the new armored car could accelerate on the highway to a speed of about 60 km / h. On rough terrain, the speed dropped to 10-15 km / h. The 55-liter fuel tank was enough for 200 kilometers.
The first prototype of the Tatra OA vz. 30 armored car was built in 1930 and soon went for testing. The military several times gave the developers a list of their comments and claims, which is why the refinement of the armored vehicle continued until the 1933 year. At the very beginning of 1934, army units began to receive serial armored cars of a new model. Until mid-1935, Tatra built and handed over to the customer 51 armored vehicles OA vz. 30.
The first years of service of armored vehicles Tatra OA vz. 30 are not of particular interest. Fifty combat vehicles were used in combat units and took part in maneuvers several times. Peaceful life ended in 1938, when obsolete armored cars first took part in hostilities. Tatra machines were used to suppress riots in the Sudetenland. At the beginning of the next 1939, armored vehicles OA vz. 30 were used in the war with Hungary. For several months of fighting, 15 vehicles were lost.
Several dozen armored vehicles soon went to the Germans. Under the new designation PzSpr-30 / T, this technique was used in police units. There is information about the conversion of the former Czechoslovak armored cars into command and propaganda vehicles. So, in 1941, seven cars with loudspeakers were sent to the Eastern Front. Several armored cars OA vz. 30 ended up in the Slovak army.
The former Czechoslovakian armored vehicles were used with varying success in the fight against partisans in the occupied territories, but their characteristics were sometimes insufficient. In the middle of 1944, all the remaining worn-out OA vz. 30 armored cars were sent to German tank ranges, where they were used as targets.
ČKD TN SPE-34 and TN SPE-37
In 1934, ČKD received an order from the Romanian gendarmerie. Romania wanted to get a relatively cheap armored car suitable for police use. Taking into account these requirements, the TN SPE-34 armored car was created.
The chassis of the Praga TN truck became the basis for the police armored car. The armored car was supposed to work only in urban conditions, so a chassis with a 4x2 wheel arrangement and an 85 hp Praga engine. deemed fit for use. The two-axle chassis was equipped with leaf springs, single front and double rear wheels.
The armored hull of the ČKD TN SPE-34 had an interesting design. Only the engine and the fighting compartment were covered with armor plates 4 mm thick. The aft hull was made of ordinary metal. The armored "box" of the fighting compartment ended behind the turret, and the sloped rear of the hull had no protection. Apparently, this design of armored units was chosen to facilitate the design. In the frontal sheet and sides of the hood there were shutters for engine cooling and hatches for its maintenance. In the frontal sheet of the hull, hatches were provided for monitoring the road, in the sides - doors. On the roof of the fighting compartment there was a conical tower with a flat frontal sheet. The tower was assembled from sheets 8 mm thick.
The armament of the TN SPE-34 armored car consisted of one vz. 26 machine gun with 1000 rounds of ammunition. If necessary, the police could use 100 smoke grenades stacked in the fighting compartment. The crew of a police armored car for Romania consisted of three people.
The new armored car, despite the original design of the armored hull, turned out to be quite heavy - its combat weight reached 12 tons. The total length of the vehicle was 7, 99 m, width was 2, 2 m, height - 2, 65 m. one refueling. For participation in police operations in urban conditions, such characteristics were considered sufficient.
The Romanian gendarmerie was extremely limited in funds, which is why it was immediately able to purchase only three armored cars of a new model. A little later, in 1937, by order of Romania, the construction of new Czechoslovak armored cars began, which was a modernized version of the TN SPE-34. The ČKD TN SPE-37 armored car differed from the base vehicle only with a new engine of slightly higher power and an armored hull design. The sides of the new armored car were made of two panels placed at an angle to each other. The characteristics of the two armored vehicles were almost the same, but the TN SPE-37 could accelerate on the highway to 50 km / h. In 1937, the first prototype of a new armored car was built, and a little later, ČKD assembled and handed over to the customer four production vehicles.
Seven armored cars ČKD TN SPE-34 and TN SPE-37 were used to suppress riots before the start of World War II. There is no exact information about the further fate of this technique, but it is known that the last armored cars of the Romanian gendarmerie, built in Czechoslovakia, were written off and disposed of only at the end of the forties.
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At the end of 1934, the military of Czechoslovakia made an important decision. After analyzing the state and prospects of armored vehicles, they came to the conclusion that there was no need for further construction of combat vehicles with a wheeled chassis. Being simpler to manufacture and maintain, the wheeled mover was inferior to the tracked one in cross-country ability and other important characteristics. Based on the results of the analysis, it was decided to stop all work on the creation of new wheeled armored vehicles. All armored vehicles of the near future were supposed to have a tracked chassis. The last large-scale armored car of Czechoslovakia, which appeared in the interwar period, was the Tatra OA vz. 30. He also holds a record in the total number of vehicles built - the army received 51 armored cars of this type.
