Samochód pancerny wz. 34

Samochód pancerny wz. 34

Replica of armoured car 34 based on construction of GAZ 69
Type Armored car
Place of origin  Poland
Service history
In service 1934-1939
Wars Invasion of Poland (1939)
Production history
Designed 1928
Specifications
Weight 2.2 t
Length 3.62 m
Width 1.91 m
Height 2.22 m
Crew 2

Armor 6-8 mm
Main
armament
7.92 mm wz. 25 Hotchkiss machine gun or 37 mm SA-18 Puteaux gun
Engine gasoline
Suspension wheels
Operational
range
250 km

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.

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