[David_Hayward (RIP)]

1. Djokjakarta and Surakarta are indeed close to each other. Nevertheless, it was still a 200 kilometer train and/or truckride to/from Tjilatjap port. (that's a lot for a Dutchman, but not a lot at all if you are from a bigger country...) REPLY: Apparently drinking water had to be brought in from miles away! There was no power so Diesel generators had top be comamandeered from all over Java. Now, I had not iced this before but because steel was in severe shortage, the production staff improvised an open-sided teakwood cab with canvas top whose construction was so simple it was farmed out to native craftsmen on neighbouring plantations! It was so serviceable that the KNIL standardised it for other truck makes. Oh! I forgot that the official designation of the 'Batavia' Plant was Tandjong Priok. The company was incorporated 3 February 1927 although production started in May 1927. The Plant Code was 'XQ'.

2. "the simulated bamboo-camouflaged plant was apparently near the airbase at Surakarta manned apparently mostly by Australians, and that at Malang manned mostly by Americans"
Were there two GM plants by that time? REPLY: No, just one but it escaped Japanese bombardment. Air raid alarms were frequent.

3. The 750 trucks ordered by KNIL after May 1940 were probably 1941 model year production. Is this the type that looked like the MS we discussed earlier? And what types were produced at the Wonosari plant in 1942? REPLY: there is no evidence but the 4 x 2 types would have been 1941 Models, and looking up my list of US Government contracts I suggest that the trucks without cabs were Modl MS Cowl with Windshield.

4. Do you also have any data referring to GM Java light truck production, such as Chevrolet ambulances, light AA trucks as well as the number and types of GM chassis that were converted to overvalwagen APC's? REPLY: no evidence at all I am afraid.

5. If I am asking to much just say so, but especially the subject regarding armoured GM overvalwagens is my prime research topic at the moment. If these overvalwagens (at least a 130 were built afaik) were indeed converted at the GM plant at Priok in 1940 we should all add a chapter to GM history dealing with armoured car/apc production. I mean, if the chassis was GM, the engine was as well as the production facility, why should these not be called GM armoured cars? REPLY: very interesting point! We know that there were armoured Chevrolet chassis used inthe Spanish Civil War, plus there were the 1935 Ford and Chevrolet armoured chassis in Canada. I would be very interested to know more please as will a US friend of mine.

6. As I said before the GM Priok Plant became a Toyota [truck?] plant and then reverted to GM post-war.

7. If you agree, I can start a new thread about these at the MLU armoured forum page. REPLY: definitely!