Руссо-Балт С24/40

Russo-Balt C24/40Armoured Car

Russia, 1914

Papermodel 1/43 Scale

In August 1914, on the initiative of the Minister of the Military AdjutantGeneral Sukhomlinov a "machine-gun armored car battery" was formed. Thiswas to be equipped with armoured cars based on the chassis of the Russo-Baltcar "S24/40" with engines rated at 40 hp. The armoured body was developed by A.Ya. Grauen with suggestions by Colonel Alexandr Dobrzhanskaya,who became the first commander of the 1st automotive machine gun company.Armament consisted of three machine guns in firing from fixed appertures togive all round coverage. One machine gun was located in the front of thecompartment, one in the stern, and the third could be deployed in one of twoside positions. The armour was quite thin but the sloped plates somehwatimproved resistance to fire. At best the armour could resist rifle bullets from400m.

The company was formed very quickly, and on Oct. 19 went to the frontequipped with 8 cars and remained there throughout the war, except for athree-month break due to mechanical overhaul.

By the end of 1921 three "Russo-Balt" survived from the first division.