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