Polish Armoured Train Smialy - 1939 Version

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

An interesting train - a one off - with a long history.

The train is famous for having served under four flags - Austrian, Polish, Soviet and German and its participation in several wars in the period from 1914 to 1945.

In 1918 the Poles captured an Austrian armoured train. The train was renamed Śmiały - polish for 'Bold' (also called armoured train number 53) and entered service in 1918.

It was sent to Lwów to fight against the Ukrainians in the Polish-Ukrainian war.

In the period up to the second World War the train was stationed in the 2nd Battalion of Armoured Trains located near Kraków. It was modernised by receiving improved wagons and a Ti3 type armoured locomotive.

In September 1939 the train was assigned to the Łódź Army. After participating in a couple of battles in the opening days of the War the train was withdrawn to Warsaw, then to Brześć, and finally to Lwów where it was captured by the invading Soviet Army. The train then served in the Soviet Army till it was captured by the Germans in 1941.

A short train, in the 2nd World War Verions it consisted of a flat wagon, artillery car, armoured wagon, engine, armoured wagon, artillery car and another flat car. It was also operated as a flat wagon, artillery car, engine, armoured wagon, and another flat car.

In the 1st World War period the train included tank carriers for Renault 17 tanks and operated as a far longer train.

THe pictures below are typical for the 1939 on