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{{Short description|Polish improvised armored car}}
{{Cleanup|reason=reference fixing|date=November 2019}}

[[File:Polski automobil pancerny z obrony Lwowa 1918-19.JPG|thumb|''Piłsudski'' improvised armored car, 1919, named after Piłsudski]]
[[File:Polski automobil pancerny z obrony Lwowa 1918-19.JPG|thumb|Piłsudski's Tank improvised armored car, 1919.]]
'''Piłsudski Tank''' was a [[Poland|Polish]] improvised [[armored car]] from the [[Polish-Ukrainian war|Polish-Ukrainian war]]. Piłsudski's tank was created on the basis of an unknown brand of truck <ref name = magnuski> {{cite book | Surname = Magnuski name = Janusz | author link = Janusz Magnuski | title = Armored cars of the Polish Army 1918-1939 edition = I | publisher = WiS | place = Warsaw | year = 1993 | pages = 28-29 | isbn = 83-86028-00-9 | language = en}} </ref>.
'''Piłsudski's Tank''' ([[Polish language|Polish]]: ''Tank Piłsudskiego''), also known as '''[[Józef Piłsudski]]''', was a [[improvised fighting vehicle|improvised]] [[Armored car (military)|armored car]] used by Polish military during the [[Polish-Ukrainian war]]. It was created on the basis of an unknown brand of truck.<ref name="magnuski">{{cite book |last=Magnuski |first=Janusz |title=Samochody pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1918-1939 |publisher=WiS |year=1993 |isbn=83-86028-00-9 |edition=I |place=Warsaw |pages=28–29 |language=en |trans-title=Armored cars of the Polish Army 1918-1939 |author-link=Janusz Magnuski}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
After [[Battle of Lemberg (1918)|Battle of Lviv (1918–1919)]] in [[Lviv]], the idea of ​​building an armored car was born that would support the assault of infantry on buildings occupied by the enemy.
After [[Battle of Lemberg (1918)|Battle of Lviv (1918–1919)]] in [[Lviv]], the idea of building an armored car was born that would support the assault of infantry on buildings occupied by the enemy.


Second Lieutenant Edward Sas-Świstelnicki received from Capt. Tadeusz Kudelski an order to organize construction, while the vehicle design was developed by prof. Antoni Markowski <ref> {{Cite book | author = Jarosław Waniorek (ed.) | title = Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts place = Warsaw | date = 1993 | pages = 548 | isbn = 83-85218-56-4 | chapter = Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski" | surname r = [[Edward Sas-Świstelnicki | Edward Świstelnicki Sas]]}} </ref>. The construction of the vehicle in the Railway Workshops lasted several days to November 7. <ref> {{Cite book | author = Jarosław Waniorek (ed.) | title = Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts place = Warsaw | date = 1993 | pages = 549 | isbn = 83-85218-56-4 | chapter = Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski" | surname r = [[Edward Sas-Świstelnicki | Edward Świstelnicki Sas]]}} </ref> <ref> {{Quote letter | author = [[Witold Ławrynowicz]] title = Beginnings of Polish armored weapons magazine = [[Glaukopis]] volume = 4 | pages = 220-222 | date = 2006 | url = http://www.glaukopis.pl/images/cale-numery/GLAUKOPIS_nr_4.pdf}} </ref> {{r | magnuski}}.
Second Lieutenant Edward Sas-Świstelnicki received from Capt. Tadeusz Kudelski an order to organize construction, while the vehicle design was developed by prof. Antoni Markowski.<ref name="JW">{{Cite book |author=Edward Świstelnicki Sas |title=Obrona Lwowa. 1-22 listopada 1918. Tom 2. Źródła do dziejów walk o Lwów i województwa południowo-wschodnie 1918-1920. Relacje uczestników |date=1993 |isbn=83-85218-56-4 |editor=Jarosław Waniorek |place=Warsaw |pages=548–549 |trans-title=Defense of Lviv. November 1–22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts |chapter=Szkoła Sienkiewicza – auto pancerne „Józef Piłsudski” |trans-chapter=Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski" |author-link=Edward Sas-Świstelnicki}}</ref> The construction of the vehicle in the Railway Workshops lasted several days to November 7.<ref name="JW"/> {{r | magnuski}}


The vehicle started fighting on November 9 1918, when it supported the attack of Lt Kazimierz Schleyen's unit through the Jesuit Garden. In addition to the commander, the other crew were: Eugeniusz Bernacki and Władysław Kubala (drivers) and Mieczysław Kretowicz, Edward Kustanowicz, Bronisław Nizioł and Stefan Zambelli (machine gunner sights). The vehicle's attack was stopped by the [[barricade | obstacle]] set, and then the vehicle was heavily fired at. To make matters worse, three of the four machine guns that were arming the vehicle were jammed. The vehicle was therefore withdrawn {{r | magnus}}.
The vehicle started fighting on November 9, 1918, when it supported the attack of Lt Kazimierz Schleyen's unit through the Jesuit Garden. In addition to the commander, the other crew were: Eugeniusz Bernacki and Władysław Kubala (drivers) and Mieczysław Kretowicz, Edward Kustanowicz, Bronisław Nizioł and Stefan Zambelli (machine gunner sights). The vehicle's attack was stopped by the [[barricade|obstacle]] set, and then the vehicle was heavily fired at. To make matters worse, three of the four machine guns that were arming the vehicle were jammed. The vehicle was therefore withdrawn.{{r|magnuski}}


Following a collision with a tree after only several days of service, the vehicle’s participation in combat was limited. <ref> {{Quote book | author = Jarosław Waniorek (ed.) | title = Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts place = Warsaw | date = 1993 | pages = 550-552 | isbn = 83-85218-56-4 | chapter = Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski" | surname r = [[Edward Sas-Świstelnicki | Edward Świstelnicki Sas]]}} </ref>. At the end of the struggle, on November 22, the tank was directed to the Lychakivka turnpike to protect it, and then to Plac Krakowski. <ref> {{Quote book | author = Jarosław Waniorek (ed.) | title = Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts place = Warsaw | date = 1993 | pages = 552 | isbn = 83-85218-56-4 | chapter = Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski" | surname r = [[Edward Sas-Świstelnicki | Edward Świstelnicki Sas]]}} </ref>
Following a collision with a tree after only several days of service, the vehicle's participation in combat was limited.<ref>{{cite book | editor = Jarosław Waniorek | title = Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts place | place= Warsaw | date = 1993 | pages = 550–552 | isbn = 83-85218-56-4 | chapter = Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski" | author = Edward Świstelnicki Sas | author-link = Edward Sas-Świstelnicki }}</ref> At the end of the struggle, on November 22, the tank was directed to the Lychakivka turnpike to protect it, and then to Plac Krakowski.<ref>{{cite book | editor = Jarosław Waniorek | title = Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts |place = Warsaw | date = 1993 | pages = 552 | isbn = 83-85218-56-4 | chapter = Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski" | author = Edward Świstelnicki Sas | author-link = Edward Sas-Świstelnicki }}</ref>


The fate of the vehicle after the war is unknown. {{r|magnuski}}
The fate of the vehicle after the war is unknown.{{r|magnuski}}


== Reconstruction ==
== Reconstruction ==
[[File:Tank Jozef Pilsudski - Rekonstrukcja.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction]]
In 2018, the Railway Acceptance Foundation undertook to restore the vehicle. Due to the lack of documentation, the dimensions were calculated according to the Lviv tenement house visible on one of the photographs, which has survived to modern times, serving as a scale.
In 2018, the Railway Acceptance Foundation undertook to build a replica of the vehicle. Due to the lack of documentation, the dimensions were calculated according to the Lviv tenement house visible on one of the photographs, which has survived to modern times, serving as a scale.


The proper armor was made of a few millimeter sheet metal, the so-called mesh protecting the vehicle from below called a "Ledóchowski grid".
The proper armor was made of a few millimeter sheet metal, the so-called mesh protecting the vehicle from below called a "Ledóchowski grid".


The replica of the vehicle was presented to the public for the first time at the celebration of the centenary of regaining independence, November 11, 2018. <ref> http://fkpw.pl/tank/ [access 10.11.2018] </ref>
The replica of the vehicle was presented to the public for the first time at the celebration of the centenary of regaining independence, November 11, 2018.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20181111000048/http://fkpw.pl/tank/</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Improvised armoured fighting vehicles|Pilsudski's Tank]]
[[Category:Polish–Ukrainian War|Pilsudski's Tank]]

Latest revision as of 17:08, 15 August 2024

Piłsudski's Tank improvised armored car, 1919.

Piłsudski's Tank (Polish: Tank Piłsudskiego), also known as Józef Piłsudski, was a improvised armored car used by Polish military during the Polish-Ukrainian war. It was created on the basis of an unknown brand of truck.[1]

History

[edit]

After Battle of Lviv (1918–1919) in Lviv, the idea of building an armored car was born that would support the assault of infantry on buildings occupied by the enemy.

Second Lieutenant Edward Sas-Świstelnicki received from Capt. Tadeusz Kudelski an order to organize construction, while the vehicle design was developed by prof. Antoni Markowski.[2] The construction of the vehicle in the Railway Workshops lasted several days to November 7.[2] [1]

The vehicle started fighting on November 9, 1918, when it supported the attack of Lt Kazimierz Schleyen's unit through the Jesuit Garden. In addition to the commander, the other crew were: Eugeniusz Bernacki and Władysław Kubala (drivers) and Mieczysław Kretowicz, Edward Kustanowicz, Bronisław Nizioł and Stefan Zambelli (machine gunner sights). The vehicle's attack was stopped by the obstacle set, and then the vehicle was heavily fired at. To make matters worse, three of the four machine guns that were arming the vehicle were jammed. The vehicle was therefore withdrawn.[1]

Following a collision with a tree after only several days of service, the vehicle's participation in combat was limited.[3] At the end of the struggle, on November 22, the tank was directed to the Lychakivka turnpike to protect it, and then to Plac Krakowski.[4]

The fate of the vehicle after the war is unknown.[1]

Reconstruction

[edit]
Reconstruction

In 2018, the Railway Acceptance Foundation undertook to build a replica of the vehicle. Due to the lack of documentation, the dimensions were calculated according to the Lviv tenement house visible on one of the photographs, which has survived to modern times, serving as a scale.

The proper armor was made of a few millimeter sheet metal, the so-called mesh protecting the vehicle from below called a "Ledóchowski grid".

The replica of the vehicle was presented to the public for the first time at the celebration of the centenary of regaining independence, November 11, 2018.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Magnuski, Janusz (1993). Samochody pancerne Wojska Polskiego 1918-1939 [Armored cars of the Polish Army 1918-1939] (I ed.). Warsaw: WiS. pp. 28–29. ISBN 83-86028-00-9.
  2. ^ a b Edward Świstelnicki Sas (1993). "Szkoła Sienkiewicza – auto pancerne „Józef Piłsudski"" [Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski"]. In Jarosław Waniorek (ed.). Obrona Lwowa. 1-22 listopada 1918. Tom 2. Źródła do dziejów walk o Lwów i województwa południowo-wschodnie 1918-1920. Relacje uczestników [Defense of Lviv. November 1–22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts]. Warsaw. pp. 548–549. ISBN 83-85218-56-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Edward Świstelnicki Sas (1993). "Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski"". In Jarosław Waniorek (ed.). Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts place. Warsaw. pp. 550–552. ISBN 83-85218-56-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Edward Świstelnicki Sas (1993). "Sienkiewicz School - armored car "Józef Piłsudski"". In Jarosław Waniorek (ed.). Defense of Lviv. November 1-22, 1918. Volume 2. Sources for the history of the fighting for Lviv and south-eastern voivodships 1918-1920. Participants' accounts. Warsaw. p. 552. ISBN 83-85218-56-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20181111000048/http://fkpw.pl/tank/
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