Vickers Utility Tractors in the Netherlands East Indies

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Stellan Bojerud
2) What happned with the tractors captured by the Germans? Did they use them or hand them over to their allies?

Stellan, I suspect they were put into German service together with the Vickers Utility Tractors of the Belgian Army. They had at least three versions in service: two infantry (with different track bases) and one cavalry version. I guess the Germans did not know they captured Vickers Utility Tractors manufactured for the KNIL, and regarded them as just another Belgian Army type. The German Army designated the Belgian Vickers Utility Tractors as Artillerie Schlepper VA 601(b) and used them as light artillery/supply tractors.

To prove this thesis we now have to hunt for a picture of a KNIL tractor with its typical side benches in German service!

HTH,
Hanno

A Belgian tractor serving with the German Army after its capture:

Source: http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/bel/Belgium.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

A Belgian tractor serving with the German Army after its capture:

Source: http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/bel/Belgium.htm

Here´s the same picture as featured on Life Magazine @ Google:

German soldier in unidentified tank. This picture was taken sometime during the German Western European campaign. Unsure if it is 1940 or 1939.

[wim sikkelbein]

another one fresh off the "keep them rolling" mailing list

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by wim sikkelbein

another one fresh off the "keep them rolling" mailing list

Excellent Wim, thanks!

Here´s another one, this time a Belgian Army Vickers Utility Tractor, with other weaponry being turned in to the German captors, 29 May 1940.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Utility Tractor 1932 Personnel Carrier

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Caption: "photograph captioned 1934 Belgium Familleureux. The sides seem to hinge and drop down to provide leg rests for the passengers who are carried on the two sides. This vehicle was used by the Dutch Army to tow a 47mm anti tank gun, the crew riding on the tractor"

Source: http://tankdevelopment.blogspot.co.u...l-carrier.html

David Reasoner: "The KNIL in the Netherlands East Indies ordered 80 of these tractors from Familleureux in Belgium. Unfortunately, the German invasion and occupation of Belgium meant that only 20 or 21 of the order were actually delivered, the remainder being confiscated by the Germans. The KNIL used them for towing both the 47mm Boehler antitank gun and the Rheinmetall 2cm Flak30 antiaircraft gun."

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Survivor for sale on Milweb (no interest with the seller).

Could this be one of the tractors originally ordered by the Dutch?

Vickers Utility Tractor Schlepper VA601B
Found at a collection in a barn in Germany.
He had bought it in the sixties at a scrap dealer near Monte Casino, famous for its Battle around the monastry.
It is a Vickers Utility Tractor, only about 300 ever made.
Ordered by the Belgian army and the Dutch army just before WW2.
They all were confiscated by the German army and used by them throughout WW2.
There are 4 known of existence in the world and this should then be number 5.
These museums have an example in their collection: Museum Bronbeek, Arnhem (KNIL-versie met een 20-mm luchtafweerkanon) Koninklijk Museum van het Leger en de Krijgsgeschiedenis, Brussel Musée des Blindés de Saumur, Parijs Museo di Guerra per la pace “Diego de Henriquez”, Triëst.

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