Russian Jeffery-Poplavko Armored Car captured by the Germans.
Tarnopol area, Galicia,
Austria (now Ukraine), summer 1917.
This rare graphic testimony indicates that, apparently, some of the armored vehicles lost by the Russians and their Western allies during the Battle of Tarnopol, were in good condition, and they were consequently reused by their captors.
The armored car was based on the chassis of American Jeffery-Quad truck, four-wheel drive (4x4). It was designed by Captain Poplavko in 1916. Of this armored car were manufactured 31 units, that were intended for a special armored unit of the Russian Army.
The vehicle features a camouflage of circumstances consisting of broad bands of dark color (most likely brown) on the Russian original green.
This type of camouflage, which was probably the original wore when captured, usually applied using a broom as a brush (*).
This Russian Jeffery-Poplavko Armored Car must have been captured - along with many others of the same kind - during the German summer counteroffensive of 1917, near Tarnopol area. Joining them were captured Lanchester -both Russians as British-, Fiat-Izhorsky, Armstrong-Whitworth, Ford and other armored car types.
The photo shows that the Jeffery-Poplavko was in good conditions. Not observed, at first glance, any form armament, although the soldier sitting on the hood is supported, undoubtedly, on the tube of a machine gun. Probably, this armored car would be used to patrol behind the front line. There is no record of him having been used subsequently in the firing line, integrated in one of the "official" German Armored Car Platoons, existing in Russia in late 1917 or in 1918.
(*) The Germans also used this method of circumstance to camouflage vehicles and artillery, but also used rags and sponges, applying “pointillist” color mode, getting a peculiar type of camouflage, characteristic of the last year of the war.
This rare graphic testimony indicates that, apparently, some of the armored vehicles lost by the Russians and their Western allies during the Battle of Tarnopol, were in good condition, and they were consequently reused by their captors.
The armored car was based on the chassis of American Jeffery-Quad truck, four-wheel drive (4x4). It was designed by Captain Poplavko in 1916. Of this armored car were manufactured 31 units, that were intended for a special armored unit of the Russian Army.
The vehicle features a camouflage of circumstances consisting of broad bands of dark color (most likely brown) on the Russian original green.
This type of camouflage, which was probably the original wore when captured, usually applied using a broom as a brush (*).
This Russian Jeffery-Poplavko Armored Car must have been captured - along with many others of the same kind - during the German summer counteroffensive of 1917, near Tarnopol area. Joining them were captured Lanchester -both Russians as British-, Fiat-Izhorsky, Armstrong-Whitworth, Ford and other armored car types.
The photo shows that the Jeffery-Poplavko was in good conditions. Not observed, at first glance, any form armament, although the soldier sitting on the hood is supported, undoubtedly, on the tube of a machine gun. Probably, this armored car would be used to patrol behind the front line. There is no record of him having been used subsequently in the firing line, integrated in one of the "official" German Armored Car Platoons, existing in Russia in late 1917 or in 1918.
(*) The Germans also used this method of circumstance to camouflage vehicles and artillery, but also used rags and sponges, applying “pointillist” color mode, getting a peculiar type of camouflage, characteristic of the last year of the war.
Área de Tarnopol,
Galicia, Austria (actualmente Ucrania),
verano de 1917.
Este raro
testimonio gráfico indica que, al
parecer, algunos de los vehículos blindados, perdidos por los rusos y sus
aliados occidentales durante la batalla de Tarnopol, estaban en buen estado de
uso y que fueron consecuentemente reutilizados por sus captores.
El coche
blindado estaba basado en el chasis del camión estadounidense Jeffery-Quad de
tracción a las cuatro ruedas (4x4). Fue diseñado por el Capitán Poplavko en
1916. De este coche blindado se fabricaron 31 unidades, que fueron destinadas a una unidad blindada
especial del ejército ruso.
El vehículo
presenta un camuflaje de circunstancia, consistente en amplias franjas de color
oscuro (muy probablemente marrón) sobre el verde original ruso.
Este tipo
de camuflaje, que probablemente era el original que portaba al ser capturado,
solía aplicarse utilizando una escoba a modo de pincel (*).
Este coche
blindado ruso Jeffery-Poplavko debió de ser capturado, junto a otros más del
mismo tipo, durante la contraofensiva alemana del verano de 1917, cerca del
área de Tarnopol. Junto a ellos se capturaron Lanchester -tanto rusos como
británicos- Fiat-Izhorsky, Armstrong-Whitworth, Ford y otros tipos de coches
blindados.
La foto
evidencia que este Jeffery-Poplavko estaba en buenas condiciones de uso. No se
observa, a primera vista, ningún tipo de armamento, aunque el soldado sentado
sobre el capó está apoyado, indudablemente, sobre la caña de una ametralladora.
Probablemente este coche blindado se utilizó para patrullar detrás de la
línea del frente. No hay constancia de que hubiera sido utilizado, posteriormente,
en primera línea de fuego, integrado en alguna de las Secciones “oficiales” de Coches Blindados alemanes, existentes en Rusia entre finales de 1917 ó en 1918.
(*) Los
alemanes también utilizaron este método de circunstancia para camuflar
vehículos y piezas de artillería, aunque también utilizaron trapos y esponjas,
aplicando el color al modo “puntillista”, consiguiendo un tipo peculiar de
camuflaje característico del último año de la guerra.
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