Austin-Putilov sketch from Soviet magazine.
Austin-Putilov
General characteristics
Crew	5
Length	4.9 m
Width	2.0 m
Height	2.58 m
Weight	5.2 t
Armour and armament
Armour	4-7.5 mm
Main armament	2 x Maxim machine gun
Secondary armament
Mobility
Power plant	Austin 4-cylinder inline, 4 stroke, water cooled gasoline engine 50 hp (37 kW)
Suspension	4x2 wheel
Road speed	55 km/h
Power/weight	9.6 hp/tonne
Range	200 km

Austin Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced during the First World War. The vehicle is best known for its employment by the Russian Army in the First World War and by different forces in the Russian Civil War. Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... An early Maxim gun in operation with the Royal Navy The Maxim gun was the first self-acting machine gun. ... Gasoline, also called petrol, is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons and enhanced with benzenes to increase octane ratings, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Military armored cars A French VBL reconnaissance vehicle. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... In russian, word army means armed forces in general. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... The Russian Civil War was fought from 1918 to 1922, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, and immediately after and because of Lenins dissolution of the Russian Constituent Assembly, between Communist forces known as the Red Army and loosely allied anti-Communist forces known as the White Army. ...

Production history

Austin-Putilov sketch from Soviet magazine.

Austin-Putilov sketch from Soviet magazine.

British Austins

In August 1914, just after the beginning of the First World War, the army of the Russian Empire started to form armoured car units. Due to limited production capabilities of the country's automotive industry it was decided to order a number of vehicles abroad. A committee was sent to United Kingdom, but didn't find armoured car which met the requirements - overhead protection and two machine gun turrets. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Official language Russian Official Religion Russian Orthodox Christianity Capital Saint Petersburg (Petrograd 1914-1925) Area Approx. ... Turret (highlighted) attached to a tower on a baronial building in Scotland In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects from the wall of a building, such as a medieval castle or baronial house. ...

To meet these requirements, Austin Motor Company designed a new armoured car. The vehicle, known as Austin 1st series, was based on a passenger car chassis with rear axle drive. Wheels were wooden, spoked, with pneumatic tyres and an additional set of wheels with full rubber tyres for use in combat was carried. Two Maxim machine guns were mounted in separate turrets placed on both sides of the hull behind the driver's cab. The vehicle was protected by armour plates 3.5-4 mm thick screwed to a body frame. The crew of four - commander, driver and two gunners - could enter or leave the vehicle via a door on the lef side of the cab or via big two-leaf rear door. On 29 September 1914 48 armoured cars were ordered. One car costed 1,150 pounds. After arrival to Russia the front and turrets armour was replaced with 7 mm plates. First combat experience, however, revealed that the protection was still too weak and the vehicles were fully rearmoured at Izhorski Works, Izhorsk. Improved armour made Austins much heavier, resulting in limited mobility and sometimes causing chassis damage. However, the car was still considered more successful than alternative designs by, among others, Armstrong Whitworth, Renault and Sheffield-Simplex. The Austin Motor Company was British manufacturer of automobiles that rose to be a major motorcar brand, the dominant partner after merger with Morris in the 50s but declining after absorption into British Leyland. ... ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom Inflation rate 2. ... Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. ... Renault S.A. is a French vehicle manufacturer producing cars, vans, buses, tractors and trucks. ...

On 6 March 1915 the Russians ordered 60 vehicles of an improved design, known as Austin 2nd series. This time a chassis of a 1.5 ton truck with more powerful engine was used. The hull was shorter, with thicker armour, driver's cab roof was modified to improve machine guns' angle of fire. Less welcome was a removal of rear access door. The army also decided it wants rear driving post, so after arrival to Russia all vehicles were fitted with redesigned rear hull section, which housed a second driving post and additional hatch. Another upgrade was the addition of MG side shields.

60 units of Austin 3rd series were ordered on 25 August 1916. The vehicles were similar in characteristics to the 2nd series, but had modified rear hull with driving post, MG shields, bulletproof glass in front vision slots and lacked big side windows.

Yet another version, with strengthened chassis and double rear wheels, sometimes referred to as Austin model 1918, was ordered in 1917 but due to events in Russia none were delivered.

Russian Austins

In 1916 a decision was made to produce a Russian armoured car on the well known Austin chassis. 60 chassis units - identical to those used in 3rd series - were ordered from Austin. The mission of building armoured hulls was entrusted to Putilovski Works, Saint Petersburg. It was planned to build the cars by July 1917, but work was virtually brought to halt by the February Revolution and the subsequent chaos. Only in March 1918 first cars were produced. Later the production was transferred to Izhorski Works. A total of 33 vehicles were produced in 1918-1920. In contemporary Russian documents the model was referred to as Russian Austin (Русский Остин - Russkij Ostin), but eventually became better known as Austin-Putilov (Russian Остин-Путиловец - Ostin-Putilovets). Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and Petrograd (Петрогра́д, 1914–1924), is a city located in Northwestern Russia on the delta of the river Neva at the east end of the Gulf of Finland... The February Revolution (N.S.: March Revolution) of 1917 in Russia was the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917. ...

Twelve hulls identical to those of Austin-Putilov were mounted on a Kegresse halftrack chassis, resulting in Austin-Kegresse. Production continued from July 1919 until March 1920 when it was stopped by shortage of materials and parts. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

Russian Austins' most obvious features were diagonally placed MG turrets (in order to reduce width) and additional right side door. They also had MG mounts with better elevation and other minor improvements.

Service history

Russia

Arrival of the 1st series Austins allowed to start forming automobile machine gun platoons (Rusian пулемётный автомобильный взвод - pulemyotniy avtomobilniy vzvod or автопулемётный взвод - avtopulemyotniy vzvod). First platoons (5-12), formed according to the organization no. 19, had each three Austins, four staff cars, a truck, a workshop truck, a tanker truck and four motorcycles, with personnel of four officers and 45-46 soldiers. Further platoons (13-24, 26-28, 30-36), formed according to the organization no. 19, received only two Austins but had a gun section consisting from a gun-armed Garford armoured car, a staff car, a truck and a motorcycle. Platoons 5 to 12 received an additional Garford. Crews of those auto-MG platoons consisted entirely from volunteers. Most of platoons were used in Western and South-Western Fronts, some platoons in the Northern Front and Caucasus. In combat they were attached to divisions or regiments. Platoon is a term from military science. ... The Buick Century Series 60 A staff car is a vehicle used by a senior military officer, and is part of their countrys white fleet. ... The driver of this DAF tractor with an auto-transport semi-trailer prepares to offload Å koda Octavia cars in Cardiff, Wales For other meanings, see Truck (disambiguation). ... A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods. ... A tank truck or tanker lorry is a motor vehicle designed to carry liquefied loads or cargo on roadways. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Officer may refer to: Holders of an office Academia Chief Academic Officer · Sabbatical officer Military Officer (armed forces) Officers Training Corps · Reserve Officers Training Corps Corporate Law enforcement Customs officer · Peace officer · Police officer · Prison officer · Probation officer Politics and government Chief medical officer · Political commissar · Presiding Officer · Returning Officer... A soldier is a person who serves in an armed force for pay. ...

By mid-1916 it was evident that larger units should be formed to make armoured cars more effective. In August, platoons were arranged into twelve armoured automobile battalions were formed (Russian броневой автомобильный дивизион - bronyevoy avtomobilniy divizion or автобронедивизион - avtobronedivizion), each attached to a specific army. Each battalion was formed from two to five former platoons, which were renamed to sections while retaining old number. In some cases, for example in the Caucasus theatre, the platoon organization was retained. Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols A battalion is a military unit usually consisting of between two and six companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. ... Army (from French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force. ... A section is an infantry unit in the British Army consisting of eight soldiers, including a Corporal as section commander, a Lance-Corporal as second-in-command, and six privates. ...

In the Russian Civil War Austins were used by many participants, including both Red and White armies, Ukrainians etc.. The Red Army had the biggest number of vehicles, including all Austin-Putilov and Austin-Kergesse and most of the 3rd series. In Soviet service the cars were organized to armoured automobile units (Russian броневой автомоильный отряд - bronevoy avtomobilniy otryad or автоброневой отряд - avtobronevoy otryad), similar in strength to a WWI-era platoon: three MG-armed cars and one either gun-armed or MG-armed, four staff cars, five trucks, a tanker truck, a workshop truck and four motorcycles. The RKKA Austins also saw combat in the Polish-Soviet War. By 1921 the RKKA possesed about 16 Austins 1st series, 15 2nd series, 78 3rd series and Putilovs. British-built Austins were removed from service by 1931, and by 1933 Russian-built ones were also retired. The Russian Civil War was fought from 1918 to 1922, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, and immediately after and because of Lenins dissolution of the Russian Constituent Assembly, between Communist forces known as the Red Army and loosely allied anti-Communist forces known as the White Army. ... The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (in Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya), the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ... The White movement, whose military arm is known as the White Army (Белая Армия) or White Guard (Белая Гвардия, белогвардейцы) and whose members are known as Whites (Белые, or the derogatory Беляки) or White Russians (a term which has other meanings) comprised some of the Russian forces, both political and military, which opposed the Bolsheviks after the... Combatants Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic Second Polish Republic Commanders Mikhail Tukhachevsky Semyon Budyonny Joseph Stalin Józef PiÅ‚sudski Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Strength 950,000 including reserves 5 million 360,000 including reserves 738,000 Casualties Unknown, dead estimated at 100,000 - 150,000 Unknown, dead estimated at...

The Austin-Putilov on dislay in St. Petersburg is often referred to as the armored car which Vladimir Lenin stood on to address demonstrators in April 1917. However, it cannot be true as this armored car left the factory in 1919. Lenin redirects here. ...

Other users

• Some of the completed model 1918 Austins were fitted with Hotchkiss M1914 machine guns and given to the British Army. Sixteen of those vehicles saw action in France from June 1918. Some cars were sent to the Caspian Sea region to protect the Baku oil fields. Austins were also used by the British in the Anglo-Irish War.
• A few Austins model 1918 ended up with the Japanese Army, where they remained in service until early 1930s.
• Polish Armed Forces captured up to 20 Austins in the Civil War and Polish-Soviet War. Some were subsequently employed by the Polish. Five remained in service after the war, some until the 1930s.
• Two Austins 3rd series, initially sent by the Soviets in 1918 to help the Red Guards in the Finnish Civil War, were taken over the Finnish Army which used them until the mid-1920s.
• Estonia used two captured Austin-Putilovs, named Tasuja and Suur Tõll.
• Latvian Army used one Austin 2nd series, named Zemgaleetis.
• One 3rd series Austin was used by the Romanian Army.
• 2-3 cars were given by the Soviets to the Mongolian People's Army in the early 1920s.
• In 1919 four vehicles, two 2nd series and two 3rd series, were used by the German Kokampf armoured unit.
• The last active Austin was probably the vehicle employed by the Austrian Army until 1935.

The Hotchkiss machine gun was the standard machine gun of the French Army during World War I. It was made by the French arms company Hotchkiss et Cie, which was set up by American engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss after he moved to France in the 1860s. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea of Eurasia between Asia and Europe. ... Municipality: Baku Area: 1000 km² Altitude: -28 m Population: 2,074,300 census 2003 Population density: 1280 persons/km² Postal Code: AZ1000 Area code: 012 Municipality code: BA Latitude: 41° 01 52 N Longitude: 21° 20 25 E Mayor: Hajibala Abutalybov The Baku region. ... Combatants Irish Republican Army United Kingdom Strength 15,000 British Army c. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... Wojsko Polskie (WP, Polish Army) is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. ... During the Civil War in Finland, 1918, the Red Guards were the rebellious supporters of totalitarian who were defeated by the anti-Socialist White Guards and (Imperial) German forces, who feared the Russian Revolution was spread to Finland by the Reds rebellion. ... Combatants Whites: White Guards German Empire Swedish volunteers Reds: Red Guards Bolshevist Russia Commanders Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim Ali Aaltonen Eero Haapalainen Eino Rahja Kullervo Manner Strength 50,000 - 90,000 50,000 - 90,000 Casualties 3,450 killed in action 1, 400-1,650 executed 46 missing 5,200... The Finnish Army (Finnish: Maavoimat) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. ... Motto: Latvian: TÄ“vzemei un BrÄ«vÄ«bai (English: For Fatherland and Freedom) Anthem: Dievs, svÄ“tÄ« Latviju! Capital Riga Largest city Riga Official language(s) Latvian Government Parliamentary democracy  - President Vaira VÄ«Ä·e-Freiberga  - Prime Minister Aigars KalvÄ«tis Independence Latvia considers itself continuous with the first republic   - Declared... The Romanian Army has completely overhauled its equipment and today it is one of the most modernized armies in its region. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The name of the Military of Austria is Bundesheer (Federal Army). For a short while between 1918 and 1921 the Austrian semi-regular army was called Volkswehr (peoples defence), fighting against Slovenian occupation forces in Carinthia. ...

Variants

• Austin 1st series (or model 1914) - based on a passenger car chassis with 30 hp engine and rear axle drive. Wheels wooden, spoked. 3.5-4 mm armour, eventually replaced with 7 mm plates. Weight with original armour 2.66 ton. Road speed 50-60 km/h. Road range 250 km. Crew of 4 (commander, driver and two gunners). 48 units built.
• Austin 2nd series (or model 1915) - based on 1.5 ton truck chassis with 50 hp engine, shortened hull, thicker armour, redesigned driver's cab roof, no rear door. After arrival to Russia were fitted with a redesigned rear hull section (with second driving post and rear hatch) and MG side shields. Weight 5.3 ton. Road speed about 60 km/h. Road range 200 km. Crew of 4-5. 60 units built.
• Austin 3rd series - Modified rear section and in the driver's cab, rear driver post, MG side shields, bulletproof glass in front vision slots, no big side windows, no rear hatch. Weight 5.3 ton. Road speed about 60 km/h. Road range 200 km. Crew of 4-5. 60 units built.
• Austin model 1918 - Strengthened chassis, double rear wheels. 70 vehicles were ordered, but were not delivered due to events in Russia in 1917.
• Austin-Putilov - Had locally produced hull designed by the Putilovski Works, with diagonally placed MG turrets, right side door and thicker armour. Chassis, the same as in the 3rd series, were still ordered from Austin. Armour 4 to 7.5 mm thick. Weight 5.2 tons. Road speed about 55 km/h. Road range 200 km. Crew of 5. 33 built.
• Austin-Kegresse (or Austin-Putilov-Kegresse) - Austin-Putilov hull mounted on a half-track chassis. Weight 5.8-5.9 tons. Road speed about 25 km/h. Road range 100 km. 12 built.
• Armoured hulls of damaged Austins were sometimes (mostly during the Russian Civil War) mounted on other chassis, usually White, Fiat or Packard. The combination of White chassis and Austin hull is sometimes referred to as White-Austin.

References and external links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Austin armoured car

• M. Baryatinskiy, M. Kolomiets - Austin Armoured Cars, Modelist-Konstruktor, Bronekollektsiya 1999-02 (М. Барятинский, М. Коломиец - Бронеавтомобили Остин, Моделист-Конструктор, Бронеколлекция 1997-01).
• Derela.republika.pl
• Landships.freeservers.com