Armored vehicles of Bulgaria. Part of 1. Start. 1934-1942
For the first time the Bulgarians met with a new type of military equipment - tanks, in 1917, when a group of officers making a visit to Germany were shown captured tanks of the Allies.
However, 17 in November 1916 of the year during the battle on the Dobruzhansky front in Romania, the Bulgarians managed to seize the Austin armored car from the Russian troops. The further fate of the captured armored car is unknown.
After the defeat in the First World War, Bulgaria was forbidden to have many types of weapons, including tanks. The Allied Control Commission was sympathetic to Yugoslavia and Greece and sought to isolate and weaken Bulgaria. However, changes in world politics in the early 30s, when many European countries ceased to comply with previously reached agreements, allowed Bulgaria to begin strengthening its armed forces.
In 1934, the Bulgarian Ministry of War decided to purchase in Italy 14 tank shoes Fiat-Ansaldo L3 / 33, 14 heavy truck-transporters of the Rada tankettes, anti-aircraft guns and other military equipment worth 174 million levs on 6-8 loan under X. years old. The tankettes proper cost the Bulgarians 10.770,6 thousand leva. 1 March 1935. The first transport with equipment arrived at the port of Varna. It is this day that is considered the date of birth of the Bulgarian tank forces, and the Italian wedge shoes were the first Bulgarian tanks.
All tankettes were sent to the 2-th Automobile Battalion in Sofia. Of these, the 1-I tank company was formed. She became a division of the 1 Engineering Regiment. The staff of the company consisted of 4 officer and 86 privates. It is worth noting that the Bulgarian wedges were armed with 8-mm Austrian Schwarzlose machine guns instead of the Italian FIAT 35 or Breda 38. It was this caliber that was standard at that time in the Bulgarian army.
A second tank company was formed in 1936 with a staff of 167 people. And she did not have tanks. 4 September 1936 of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with the British company British Vickers-Armstrong to supply 8 light tanks Vickers 6-ton Mark E in a single-strike version, with a Vickers 47-mm gun from the same company. The tanks cost the Bulgarians 25.598 thousand leva, including spare parts and ammunition. The contract was approved by the government of Bulgaria in a month - 4 of October 1936 g. The first tanks began to arrive at the beginning of 1938. By 4 the tank was sent in two platoons. At the end of the year, the 2-I tank company took part in exercises with a motorized infantry regiment and motorized artillery. Both tank companies participated in 1939 in maneuvers near the town of Popovo.
Since tanks without trucks are only half strength, the government also purchased Opel 100 trucks (PKW Р-4) 4х2, and in 1938, Pavezi Italian tractor units (P-50-4W) for heavy artillery. Thus, by the 100 in the Bulgarian army there were 1938 trucks, 338 special vehicles, 100 ambulances, 160 tractors and 50 tanks.
1 January 1939. Both companies were combined into the 1 9th Tank Battalion. The battalion had a headquarters, two tank companies, a branch for repairing equipment, and a total of 173 servicemen. Formally, the battalion was assigned to the school of reserve officers, however, in reality, the first company was based on the southern border - in Kolarovo and Karmanliysko, and the second company - in the area of Polski Trmbesh and Roussenko, along with the Dunav 5 Infantry Division.
Naturally, this situation did not suit the Bulgarian leadership, and it appealed to Germany with a request to sell him tanks. Strangely enough, Germany did not refuse, and in February 1940, Bulgaria received at a very low price the first 26 of Czech tanks Skoda LT vz.35, 10 were expected during the summer. The tanks were armed with the Czech 37 mm gun Škoda A-3. However, the Bulgarians received 10 LT vz.35 already in 1941 year - 10 T-11 tanks (export version LT vz.35 for Afghanistan), with Škoda A-37 X-gun. Czech tanks were materiel 7 th tank company.
In Europe, the Second World War has already begun, in which Bulgaria supported Germany. However, modest Bulgarian armored troops was not enough to confront Yugoslavia (107 machines: 54 light Renault R35 tank, 56 obsolete tanks Renault FT-17 and 8 Czech tankettes Skoda T-32), Turkey (96 Renault R35, 67 Soviet T-26 , no less than 30 British Vankers Carden Loyd tanket, 13 light tanks Vickers МКVI b, no less than 10 Vickers 6-ton Мк Е, 60 of Soviet gun cars BA-6). Although the Bulgarians were superior to Greece (11 Renault FT-17, 2 Vickers 6-ton Mk E, 1 of the Italian Fiat-3000).
Under an agreement with Germany from 23 on April 1941, the Bulgarians acquired 40 Renault R-35 tanks. The price is 2,35 million German marks. Trophy French cars were in poor technical condition and could only be used as training. Nevertheless, four companies were formed, making up the 2 tank battalion.
Also in 1941, from Italy for the Bulgarian army was delivered 100 army trucks FIAT 626.
In the spring of 1941, Bulgaria announced partial mobilization. The 1 Tank and 2 Tank Battalions became part of the 1 Tank Regiment. Its formation was announced on 25 June 1941 in Sofia. He became the basis of a tank brigade. It includes staff, reconnaissance, armor, motorized infantry, motorized artillery, special motorized, medical units and service units. The regiment was stationed in the barracks of the 1 Cavalry Regiment and subordinated to the army headquarters. The regiment consisted of six mouths. In addition to the tanks, 24 (4х2) 3-ton Austrian Xenumx-3,6s Opel-Blitz 36, 18 BMW R-35 and 2 Prague motorcycle were part of the company’s mouths. The regiment was commanded by General Genov. The command staff of the regiment underwent specialized training in Germany.
At the end of July, the 1 Tank Regiment was transferred to a new location - in the camp "Prince Simeon", in 10 km west of Sofia. The main problem of tankers was the lack of radio equipment, they were equipped with Czech Skoda tanks, but French Renault were almost completely deprived. The Bulgarians rightly believed that this was the result of sabotage by the French, who were preparing the tanks for shipment to the Balkans. Another problem was the inexperience of the Bulgarian tankers - they could not participate in the battles. On 15 August, the regiment consisted of an 1.802 officer and lower ranks.
In October, tankmen got a chance to distinguish themselves from 1941. The tank regiment was sent to the east of Bulgaria, to the city of Yambol, where military exercises were planned. And then Renault R35 2 Battalion tanks "showed" themselves. Many of them took the path to the maneuver area due to mechanical damage and road conditions. In fact, the battalion did not participate in the exercises. Skoda of the two companies of the 1 battalion and the Vickers of a separate 2 tank company turned out to be much safer.
At the end of 1941, the team underwent minor routine changes. Her engineering company received a pillar column that was not yet available. 19 March 1942. Two platoon brigades participated in firing. One platoon of 5 Skoda LT Vz tanks. 35 shot at targets at distances 200 and 400 meters from 37-mm guns and showed, according to Bulgarian and German observers, good results. Tankmen from a platoon Renault R35 fired only with machine guns, their crews still lacked experience.
In March, the 1942 brigade had the following number of military equipment:
Brigade headquarters: 3 Skoda LT-35 (1 tank with radio equipment).
- Headquarters of the tank regiment: 2 Skoda LT-35 (1).
- I tank battalion:
headquarters: 2 Skoda LT-35 (1).
- 1 Company: 17 Skoda LT-35 (4);
- 2 Company: 17 Skoda LT-35 (4);
- 3 Company: 8 Vickers Mk. E and 5 Ansaldo L3 / 33.
- II tank battalion:
headquarters: 1 Renault R-35 (1) and 3 Ansaldo L3 / 33;
- 1 — 3 Company: Renault R-13 35 (all without radio equipment).
Intelligence Squad: 5 Ansaldo L3 / 33.
Interestingly, the Vickers company was not considered a tank, but on the contrary, an anti-tank unit.
In the spring of 1942, the brigade was given a motorized air defense battery. She had fifteen 20-mm guns and 15 light machine guns.
The Germans noted significant progress in the development of the brigade, but German advisers also noted major shortcomings. The main one of them was the crew brigade - the slow-moving and deprived radio stations Renault R-35 could not be used in combat conditions in one tier: the brigade could be employed only in parts. The output was seen in the complete replacement of the French cars - either with Skoda, or with German-made tanks with 75-mm guns. Also, the Bulgarians needed armored vehicles for the reconnaissance unit, light mortars for the infantry regiment, bridge laying machines for an engineering company.
In the period from 29 to 31 in May 1942, the brigade participated in exercises near Sofia, which showed some improvement in the elements of interaction between tank crews and infantrymen. The actions of brigade intelligence, a number of other units were rated as "bad." The Bulgarian command decided: to call a German specialist. 11 July such a specialist arrived in Sofia. It was Lieutenant Colonel von Bulow (von Bulow). His main task was to coordinate the actions of tankers, gunners and infantry on the battlefield. Gradually, the efforts of the German began to bear fruit. If at the exercises in Dimitrovo, near the town of Pernik, at the end of August the old problems of the brigade once again made themselves felt, then at the maneuvers in Stara Zagora from 14 to 20 of October 1942, the “armored cars” showed themselves, “well ". By the way, by this time the brigade already had 3.809 fighters and officers.
On the materials of the sites:
http://alternathistory.org.ua
http://477768.livejournal.com
http://www.tankfront.ru/index.html
http://www.prowars.ru/ALL_OUT/TiVOut9801/BolPz/BolPz001.htm
http://www.militarists.ru
However, 17 in November 1916 of the year during the battle on the Dobruzhansky front in Romania, the Bulgarians managed to seize the Austin armored car from the Russian troops. The further fate of the captured armored car is unknown.
After the defeat in the First World War, Bulgaria was forbidden to have many types of weapons, including tanks. The Allied Control Commission was sympathetic to Yugoslavia and Greece and sought to isolate and weaken Bulgaria. However, changes in world politics in the early 30s, when many European countries ceased to comply with previously reached agreements, allowed Bulgaria to begin strengthening its armed forces.
In 1934, the Bulgarian Ministry of War decided to purchase in Italy 14 tank shoes Fiat-Ansaldo L3 / 33, 14 heavy truck-transporters of the Rada tankettes, anti-aircraft guns and other military equipment worth 174 million levs on 6-8 loan under X. years old. The tankettes proper cost the Bulgarians 10.770,6 thousand leva. 1 March 1935. The first transport with equipment arrived at the port of Varna. It is this day that is considered the date of birth of the Bulgarian tank forces, and the Italian wedge shoes were the first Bulgarian tanks.
All tankettes were sent to the 2-th Automobile Battalion in Sofia. Of these, the 1-I tank company was formed. She became a division of the 1 Engineering Regiment. The staff of the company consisted of 4 officer and 86 privates. It is worth noting that the Bulgarian wedges were armed with 8-mm Austrian Schwarzlose machine guns instead of the Italian FIAT 35 or Breda 38. It was this caliber that was standard at that time in the Bulgarian army.
Italian Tanket Fiat-Ansaldo L3 / 33 at the pre-war exercises of the Bulgarian army
A second tank company was formed in 1936 with a staff of 167 people. And she did not have tanks. 4 September 1936 of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with the British company British Vickers-Armstrong to supply 8 light tanks Vickers 6-ton Mark E in a single-strike version, with a Vickers 47-mm gun from the same company. The tanks cost the Bulgarians 25.598 thousand leva, including spare parts and ammunition. The contract was approved by the government of Bulgaria in a month - 4 of October 1936 g. The first tanks began to arrive at the beginning of 1938. By 4 the tank was sent in two platoons. At the end of the year, the 2-I tank company took part in exercises with a motorized infantry regiment and motorized artillery. Both tank companies participated in 1939 in maneuvers near the town of Popovo.
British light tanks Vickers 6-ton Mark E on the exercises of the Bulgarian army
Since tanks without trucks are only half strength, the government also purchased Opel 100 trucks (PKW Р-4) 4х2, and in 1938, Pavezi Italian tractor units (P-50-4W) for heavy artillery. Thus, by the 100 in the Bulgarian army there were 1938 trucks, 338 special vehicles, 100 ambulances, 160 tractors and 50 tanks.
Italian tractor Pavesi P4 / 100 of the Bulgarian army tows 88-mm German anti-aircraft gun FlaK-36
1 January 1939. Both companies were combined into the 1 9th Tank Battalion. The battalion had a headquarters, two tank companies, a branch for repairing equipment, and a total of 173 servicemen. Formally, the battalion was assigned to the school of reserve officers, however, in reality, the first company was based on the southern border - in Kolarovo and Karmanliysko, and the second company - in the area of Polski Trmbesh and Roussenko, along with the Dunav 5 Infantry Division.
Naturally, this situation did not suit the Bulgarian leadership, and it appealed to Germany with a request to sell him tanks. Strangely enough, Germany did not refuse, and in February 1940, Bulgaria received at a very low price the first 26 of Czech tanks Skoda LT vz.35, 10 were expected during the summer. The tanks were armed with the Czech 37 mm gun Škoda A-3. However, the Bulgarians received 10 LT vz.35 already in 1941 year - 10 T-11 tanks (export version LT vz.35 for Afghanistan), with Škoda A-37 X-gun. Czech tanks were materiel 7 th tank company.
Bulgarian Tsar Boris III in the tank Skoda LT Vz. 35, presumably during military maneuvers in 1941
Bulgarian tank T-11 (export Skoda LT Vz. 35 for Afghanistan) on pre-war exercises
Build Bulgarian tanks Skoda LT Vz. 35 (left) and T-11 (right) on the drills
In Europe, the Second World War has already begun, in which Bulgaria supported Germany. However, modest Bulgarian armored troops was not enough to confront Yugoslavia (107 machines: 54 light Renault R35 tank, 56 obsolete tanks Renault FT-17 and 8 Czech tankettes Skoda T-32), Turkey (96 Renault R35, 67 Soviet T-26 , no less than 30 British Vankers Carden Loyd tanket, 13 light tanks Vickers МКVI b, no less than 10 Vickers 6-ton Мк Е, 60 of Soviet gun cars BA-6). Although the Bulgarians were superior to Greece (11 Renault FT-17, 2 Vickers 6-ton Mk E, 1 of the Italian Fiat-3000).
Under an agreement with Germany from 23 on April 1941, the Bulgarians acquired 40 Renault R-35 tanks. The price is 2,35 million German marks. Trophy French cars were in poor technical condition and could only be used as training. Nevertheless, four companies were formed, making up the 2 tank battalion.
Bulgarian Renault R-35 on exercises
Also in 1941, from Italy for the Bulgarian army was delivered 100 army trucks FIAT 626.
Italian truck FIAT 626
In the spring of 1941, Bulgaria announced partial mobilization. The 1 Tank and 2 Tank Battalions became part of the 1 Tank Regiment. Its formation was announced on 25 June 1941 in Sofia. He became the basis of a tank brigade. It includes staff, reconnaissance, armor, motorized infantry, motorized artillery, special motorized, medical units and service units. The regiment was stationed in the barracks of the 1 Cavalry Regiment and subordinated to the army headquarters. The regiment consisted of six mouths. In addition to the tanks, 24 (4х2) 3-ton Austrian Xenumx-3,6s Opel-Blitz 36, 18 BMW R-35 and 2 Prague motorcycle were part of the company’s mouths. The regiment was commanded by General Genov. The command staff of the regiment underwent specialized training in Germany.
Truck Opel Blts 3,6-36s
At the end of July, the 1 Tank Regiment was transferred to a new location - in the camp "Prince Simeon", in 10 km west of Sofia. The main problem of tankers was the lack of radio equipment, they were equipped with Czech Skoda tanks, but French Renault were almost completely deprived. The Bulgarians rightly believed that this was the result of sabotage by the French, who were preparing the tanks for shipment to the Balkans. Another problem was the inexperience of the Bulgarian tankers - they could not participate in the battles. On 15 August, the regiment consisted of an 1.802 officer and lower ranks.
Bulgarian officers of the 1 Tank Regiment against the background of the T-11 tank
In October, tankmen got a chance to distinguish themselves from 1941. The tank regiment was sent to the east of Bulgaria, to the city of Yambol, where military exercises were planned. And then Renault R35 2 Battalion tanks "showed" themselves. Many of them took the path to the maneuver area due to mechanical damage and road conditions. In fact, the battalion did not participate in the exercises. Skoda of the two companies of the 1 battalion and the Vickers of a separate 2 tank company turned out to be much safer.
At the end of 1941, the team underwent minor routine changes. Her engineering company received a pillar column that was not yet available. 19 March 1942. Two platoon brigades participated in firing. One platoon of 5 Skoda LT Vz tanks. 35 shot at targets at distances 200 and 400 meters from 37-mm guns and showed, according to Bulgarian and German observers, good results. Tankmen from a platoon Renault R35 fired only with machine guns, their crews still lacked experience.
In March, the 1942 brigade had the following number of military equipment:
Brigade headquarters: 3 Skoda LT-35 (1 tank with radio equipment).
- Headquarters of the tank regiment: 2 Skoda LT-35 (1).
- I tank battalion:
headquarters: 2 Skoda LT-35 (1).
- 1 Company: 17 Skoda LT-35 (4);
- 2 Company: 17 Skoda LT-35 (4);
- 3 Company: 8 Vickers Mk. E and 5 Ansaldo L3 / 33.
- II tank battalion:
headquarters: 1 Renault R-35 (1) and 3 Ansaldo L3 / 33;
- 1 — 3 Company: Renault R-13 35 (all without radio equipment).
Intelligence Squad: 5 Ansaldo L3 / 33.
Interestingly, the Vickers company was not considered a tank, but on the contrary, an anti-tank unit.
Soldiers and officers near the tank Vickers 6-ton Mark E, 1941
In the spring of 1942, the brigade was given a motorized air defense battery. She had fifteen 20-mm guns and 15 light machine guns.
The Germans noted significant progress in the development of the brigade, but German advisers also noted major shortcomings. The main one of them was the crew brigade - the slow-moving and deprived radio stations Renault R-35 could not be used in combat conditions in one tier: the brigade could be employed only in parts. The output was seen in the complete replacement of the French cars - either with Skoda, or with German-made tanks with 75-mm guns. Also, the Bulgarians needed armored vehicles for the reconnaissance unit, light mortars for the infantry regiment, bridge laying machines for an engineering company.
In the period from 29 to 31 in May 1942, the brigade participated in exercises near Sofia, which showed some improvement in the elements of interaction between tank crews and infantrymen. The actions of brigade intelligence, a number of other units were rated as "bad." The Bulgarian command decided: to call a German specialist. 11 July such a specialist arrived in Sofia. It was Lieutenant Colonel von Bulow (von Bulow). His main task was to coordinate the actions of tankers, gunners and infantry on the battlefield. Gradually, the efforts of the German began to bear fruit. If at the exercises in Dimitrovo, near the town of Pernik, at the end of August the old problems of the brigade once again made themselves felt, then at the maneuvers in Stara Zagora from 14 to 20 of October 1942, the “armored cars” showed themselves, “well ". By the way, by this time the brigade already had 3.809 fighters and officers.
On the materials of the sites:
http://alternathistory.org.ua
http://477768.livejournal.com
http://www.tankfront.ru/index.html
http://www.prowars.ru/ALL_OUT/TiVOut9801/BolPz/BolPz001.htm
http://www.militarists.ru
To be continued ...
Information