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Modeller Build Logs
Scratch-building the PP 2 Armoured Train |
| By Pawel Kowalski | | Started: | Oct 31, 2006 | | Updated: | Nov 10, 2006 |
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This is a blog describing my attempt to scratch-build the Polish PP 2 "Smialy" armored train. I had for a long time wanted to build an armoured train. There is simply something about the sheer size, the fortress / battleship like appearance that appeals to me.
I choose the Smialy train, because, being one of the first dedicated armoured trains in Polish service, and having a notable history, it has received quite a bit of exposure in the eyes of the contemporary media and the historians of today. Meaning, there are plenty of resources regarding the train.
I hope that this blog may help other modelers by showing how not to do a specific task, and the same time the modelers reading the blog may help me with encouragement and technique. |
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| A short history of the Smialy train - Part2 | Oct 31, 2006 |
A short history of the Smialy train - part2
After the Soviet wars, the train was completely modernized. First, with two new artillery wagons, then with a new locomotive, and finally a new assault wagon. So in essence, the whole train was replaced, piece by piece. Each of the artillery two wagons had a 122mm howitzer, one 76,2mm gun, and six machine guns. The assault wagon had four permanent machine gun positions.
In the next fifteen years the train was upgraded, by having its two 122mm howitzers replaced by two 100mm howitzers of Polish manufacture, and its 76,2mm soviet guns were re-chambered to fire 75mm shells. Also it received two anti aircraft machine guns in armored turrets. In total the train had two 100mm howitzers, two 75mm cannons, (one of each per artillery wagon) and 18 machine gun positions (four in assault wagon, seven in each artillery wagon). It also received a new number, PP 53
In this configuration it defended Poland in 1939 against the German invasion. The same tactics were used as before, holding in a well hidden space (such as a forest, or a canyon), and when the enemy is well within range, pop out with guns blazing. While the majority of Polish tanks were of no match for the German tanks, the German tanks were no match for the 75mm cannons or the 100 howitzers of the Smialy train. The Smialy made numerous counter attacks on German tank formation, and with considerable success, but as the Polish lines broke, the train lost its freedom to move, and was forced to continuously pull back.
The nature of a armored train is to spearhead an attack, to with its machine guns provide a firebase, and with its guns provide both direct and indirect fire support for an infantry attack. In the defense role its armour is not enough to withstand a constant bombardment, as say a pillbox, and the nature of track placement means that it, more often than not, is highly visible. Add to this the highly mobile nature of German armored units, the effective communication, and suddenly the armored trains become much less useful as they were in the wars of 1918-1921. Also, in the 1918-1921 wars, the railroad network was of the highest importance, both opposing forces as they used the railroad to supply the forces, but the road network of West Poland was much more elaborate, and the Germans were able to move far greater numbers cross country than had been the case of the adversary in the earlier wars.
It was later in the campaign sent to defend the city of Lwow, but when it finally arrived on the 18th of September, all lines were broken, and a effective defense was impossible. On the 22nd of September the commander ordered the crew of the train to disband. Fate is not without irony, the train ended its service in Polish hands where it career had originally started. The commander in September 1939 was Captain Mieczylaw Mainowski, who later became Major and died in a burned Sherman in France in the battles for Falaise.
After the Soviets marched into Lwow, they captured the train and, replacing the gauge to Russian wide gauge, the train's wagons were used by the NKWD in the defense of the Soviet Motherland. However, at some point in 1941, its wagons were captured from the Red Army, and they were pressed into service, this time defending the Fatherland as part of PzZug 10 A. (How's that for fate ?? When the Soviets held the wagons, they were losing, when the Germans captured the train, they began losing the war...)
The tracks of the train disappear in late 1944, and the final resting place of the wagons is to this date unknown. Perhaps it survived the war waiting to be discovered on some sidetrack somewhere ...?
The picture below shows Smialy's configuration in the late 1930's From left to right; artillery wagon, locomotive, assault wagon, artillery wagon. On either end of the train are flatbed cars, used to haul extra material, such as tracks for immediate repair. |
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