Improvizovani Oklopni Samovoz - Croatian NDH Armored Truck
Balkan trucks 2: Croatian boogaloo
The NDH, the Croatian State forces which combatted the Yugoslav Partizans from 1941 to 1945, were not well-supplied with weapons or vehicles throughout their existence. The Germans did not supply them with any up-to-date tanks, only obsolete Panzer Is and old Italian models. This lack of armor forced the NDH to produce their own vehicles, such as this particular design of which several were built. Not much is known about these vehicles, documentation or photographs. The vehicles were either built at the Jajce plant or at workshops in Ljubija. The first photographs of them were taken in May of 1942, so it is speculated that they were completed in early 1942. These specifications go hand-in-hand with a certain Yugoslav armored truck (which I have posted a file of), especially considering that they were produced in the same place, at the same time, and possibly by the same people. These vehicles which stayed in Croatian service saw action with the NDH for over a year. One vehicle was captured by Partizans near Jajce on September 24th via the use of petrol bombs, outfitted with a new engine, and reinstated with the Partizans. However, after an attack on Kupres launched on December 28th went seriously wrong, the captured vehicle was recaptured by the NDH. Information on the vehicles became scarce after 1943.
The construction of the vehicles is surprisingly intricate considering the resources used to build them. The truck on which the vehicles were based is unknown and seems to vary between examples. The entire vehicle is covered in thin armor, and the bed has several firing ports surrounding it. A small turret is mounted on top with a Schwarzlose machine gun, and the vehicle could carry probably around ten or twelve passengers. It was, at least, an ample stopgap for a force that couldn't materialize more than it.
Designed for printing in FDM, but resin would work too.
The NDH, the Croatian State forces which combatted the Yugoslav Partizans from 1941 to 1945, were not well-supplied with weapons or vehicles throughout their existence. The Germans did not supply them with any up-to-date tanks, only obsolete Panzer Is and old Italian models. This lack of armor forced the NDH to produce their own vehicles, such as this particular design of which several were built. Not much is known about these vehicles, documentation or photographs. The vehicles were either built at the Jajce plant or at workshops in Ljubija. The first photographs of them were taken in May of 1942, so it is speculated that they were completed in early 1942. These specifications go hand-in-hand with a certain Yugoslav armored truck (which I have posted a file of), especially considering that they were produced in the same place, at the same time, and possibly by the same people. These vehicles which stayed in Croatian service saw action with the NDH for over a year. One vehicle was captured by Partizans near Jajce on September 24th via the use of petrol bombs, outfitted with a new engine, and reinstated with the Partizans. However, after an attack on Kupres launched on December 28th went seriously wrong, the captured vehicle was recaptured by the NDH. Information on the vehicles became scarce after 1943, with one being captured by the Yugoslavs (possibly the same one!). A smaller truck, in a photograph from 1944, bears a turret and frontal shape very similar to these, so one or more may have been scrapped.
The very interesting story of these vehicles is available at Tanks Encyclopedia: Improvizovani Oklopni Samovoz - Tank Encyclopedia
The construction of the vehicles is surprisingly intricate considering the resources used to build them. The truck on which the vehicles were based is unknown and seems to vary between examples. The entire vehicle is covered in thin armor, and the bed has several firing ports surrounding it. A small turret is mounted on top with a Schwarzlose machine gun, and the vehicle could carry probably around ten or twelve passengers. It was, at least, an ample stopgap for a force that couldn't materialize more than it.
Designed for printing in FDM, but resin would work too. Finally, an actually useful strange design. That is, if anyone actually plays an NDH force...
The NDH, the Croatian State forces which combatted the Yugoslav Partizans from 1941 to 1945, were not well-supplied with weapons or vehicles throughout their existence. The Germans did not supply them with any up-to-date tanks, only obsolete Panzer Is and old Italian models. This lack of armor forced the NDH to produce their own vehicles, such as this particular design of which several were built. Not much is known about these vehicles, documentation or photographs. The vehicles were either built at the Jajce plant or at workshops in Ljubija. The first photographs of them were taken in May of 1942, so it is speculated that they were completed in early 1942. These specifications go hand-in-hand with a certain Yugoslav armored truck (which I have posted a file of), especially considering that they were produced in the same place, at the same time, and possibly by the same people. These vehicles which stayed in Croatian service saw action with the NDH for over a year. One vehicle was captured by Partizans near Jajce on September 24th via the use of petrol bombs, outfitted with a new engine, and reinstated with the Partizans. However, after an attack on Kupres launched on December 28th went seriously wrong, the captured vehicle was recaptured by the NDH. Information on the vehicles became scarce after 1943.
The construction of the vehicles is surprisingly intricate considering the resources used to build them. The truck on which the vehicles were based is unknown and seems to vary between examples. The entire vehicle is covered in thin armor, and the bed has several firing ports surrounding it. A small turret is mounted on top with a Schwarzlose machine gun, and the vehicle could carry probably around ten or twelve passengers. It was, at least, an ample stopgap for a force that couldn't materialize more than it.
Designed for printing in FDM, but resin would work too.
The NDH, the Croatian State forces which combatted the Yugoslav Partizans from 1941 to 1945, were not well-supplied with weapons or vehicles throughout their existence. The Germans did not supply them with any up-to-date tanks, only obsolete Panzer Is and old Italian models. This lack of armor forced the NDH to produce their own vehicles, such as this particular design of which several were built. Not much is known about these vehicles, documentation or photographs. The vehicles were either built at the Jajce plant or at workshops in Ljubija. The first photographs of them were taken in May of 1942, so it is speculated that they were completed in early 1942. These specifications go hand-in-hand with a certain Yugoslav armored truck (which I have posted a file of), especially considering that they were produced in the same place, at the same time, and possibly by the same people. These vehicles which stayed in Croatian service saw action with the NDH for over a year. One vehicle was captured by Partizans near Jajce on September 24th via the use of petrol bombs, outfitted with a new engine, and reinstated with the Partizans. However, after an attack on Kupres launched on December 28th went seriously wrong, the captured vehicle was recaptured by the NDH. Information on the vehicles became scarce after 1943, with one being captured by the Yugoslavs (possibly the same one!). A smaller truck, in a photograph from 1944, bears a turret and frontal shape very similar to these, so one or more may have been scrapped.
The very interesting story of these vehicles is available at Tanks Encyclopedia: Improvizovani Oklopni Samovoz - Tank Encyclopedia
The construction of the vehicles is surprisingly intricate considering the resources used to build them. The truck on which the vehicles were based is unknown and seems to vary between examples. The entire vehicle is covered in thin armor, and the bed has several firing ports surrounding it. A small turret is mounted on top with a Schwarzlose machine gun, and the vehicle could carry probably around ten or twelve passengers. It was, at least, an ample stopgap for a force that couldn't materialize more than it.
Designed for printing in FDM, but resin would work too. Finally, an actually useful strange design. That is, if anyone actually plays an NDH force...
| Filename | Size | Last updated |
|---|---|---|
| Improvizovani Oklopni Samovoz.zip | 148.5 KiB | 2024-12-02 |
