Austria-Hungary formally came into existence on 29 May 1867 and was dissolved on 31 October 1918.1 When the Empire went to war on two fronts in 1914, the Army possessed no armoured trains. During the first months of the war, the Austro-Hungarian Army was forced to pull back in the face of Russian forces which outnumbered them three-to-one, and they were unable to transfer sufficient men from their second front due to initial Serbian Army successes. In view of the serious situation, local commanders organised improvised armoured trains, such as the one formed by Captain Schober, commander of the 15th Railway Company. These improvised trains served as the basis of experiments leading to the production series which was built during the Winter of 1914–15.
These eight standardised armoured trains were built by MÁV in the Budapest-North workshops. In his study published in 1992,2 Professor Dr Wolfgang Sadowny showed that no official classification had in fact existed. The author had previously accepted an incorrect classification commonly used in the 1980s. To rectify the situation, we can now use Dr Sadowny’s classification system, as follows, to describe the makeup of the three types of armoured train (from front to rear):
– Infantry wagon/engine/infantry wagon = Type A, of which the prototype was PZ II.
– Wagon with turret-mounted gun/engine/infantry wagon/second engine/wagon with turret-mounted gun = Type B.
– Artillery wagon/infantry wagon/engine/infantry wagon = Type Ae or Ae* according to the type of artillery wagon.
The ten standard armoured engines were all of the MÁV Class 377 (overall length of 8.105m [26ft 7in]), while Dr Sadowny classifies the infantry wagons into three types:
– Type 1: using Type 140 wagons, with handbrakes, lockers for equipment mounted beneath the body, and an observation cupola (six examples built).
– Type 2: using wagons Types 148 to 150, without handbrakes, water tank carried centrally, locker for additional coal supply (seven examples built).
– Type 3: using Type 150 wagons, with a water tank at the end nearest the leading engine, and machine-gun positions at the ends (two examples were built, and were used only with PZ VII and VIII).
The first five armoured trains (Type A) were divided between the Eisenbahn-Linienkommando Debreczen (three units) and the Feldtranportleitung3 at Miskolcz (the remaining two units), to carry out reconnaissance missions and cover troop withdrawals. The first two trains reached the Front on 10 November 1914, and the three others, apparently with a sixth train added, followed at intervals up until 20 November. The Type B trains, PZ VII and VIII, entered service in March 1915. These two armoured trains included armoured wagons with a turret (approx 270 degrees horizontal field of fire) mounting a 7cm L/30 gun (the actual calibre of these guns, designed for use on torpedo boats, was 66mm). Five such wagons were built, one going to reinforce PZ V, while PZ I and II each received an artillery wagon built in 1915 on tender chassis.
Following Italy’s entry into the war on 23 May 1915, two armoured trains were built in the workshops at Villach, in Carinthia. Initially numbered I and II, to avoid confusion they were subsequently renumbered as PZ IX and X in late October 1915.
The first armoured train designed by Captain Schober, commander of the 15th Railway Company, seen here in Galicia in 1914. The intention is obviously to provide the train commander in the armoured engine with an elevated position compared to the low profile of the infantry wagons (with their less comfortable firing positions), for him to be able to see over both ends of the train.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
In the Spring of 1915, the workshops at Neu-Sandec began construction of the second armoured train designed by Captain Schober. Initially it was composed of a Class 59 engine and two six-wheel wagons. On 1 May 1915 the train was ready, and after several tests, the Class 59 engine was replaced by fully-armoured engine No 97.247 coupled to tender No 76.177. A new motorised six-wheel wagon was also included, armed with a turret mounting a 7cm L/30 QF gun. This wagon was powered by a petrol-electric engine driving the central axle, and when detached on reconnaissance it could run at up to 40km/h (25mph). The complete train was crewed by sixty-five officers and men, and in addition to the main gun it was armed with eight machine guns. After modifications, it returned to service in July 1915, initially under the name of its designer, as Panzerzüg Schober, then in the Spring of 1916 it was redesignated PZ XI.
The numerical series contained another train, PZ XII, of which no trace remains in the official archives. Powered by a Class 229 engine, it appears to have comprised two armoured wagons built on Series O originals, to a design closely resembling that of Captain Schober’s first armoured train.
Aside from the standard armoured train designs, several experiments were carried out, such as adding a high-sided bogie wagon protected with lengths of rail and armed with an 8cm gun to PZ VII; or again mounting a 10cm naval gun on a wagon attached to PZ V. In addition, improvised armoured trains were also built to meet local needs: in the Spring of 1915, an armoured train was built at Cracow using armoured engine No 229.85 and two wagons armed with machine guns. When Romania entered the war on 28 August 1916, the Railway Command at Bucovina ordered the construction of a train to protect the Jakobeny-Dorna Völgy line. Lastly, at least one narrow-gauge armoured train was put into service on the metre-gauge network in Bosnia.
The Class 59 engine of Captain Schober’s first armoured train, with hastily-added armour which covers only the most vital parts.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
This photo shows the prototype train PZ II just out of the shop, without its artillery wagon which would not be built until 1915, and also lacking its observation cupola. Note that the machine-gun embrasures in leading wagon No 140.914 are inset at the top at an angle, whereas later photos of PZ II show that they were modified to sit flush with the armoured sides.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Tactically, the armoured trains were operated in pairs for mutual support, as proposed by Captain Kossowicz, commander of the 5th Railway Company. The same deployment would be adopted by the Red Army.
Following the relative stabilisation of the various fronts, the need for armoured trains lessened, and in September 1917 it was decided to demobilise six trains: thus PZ I, III, VI, X, XI and XII were laid up, and only PZ II, IV, V, VII and VIII remained in service (PZ IX having been destroyed during the previous month). The remaining trains were organised in a new manner, with the artillery wagon leading, then the engine, followed by an infantry wagon. A second infantry wagon would be held in reserve in the support train. The existing rolling stock was redistributed, making the later trains difficult to identify in photographs. In the Spring of 1918, a number of armoured trains were built to the Russian broad gauge for operations in Russia, but at the time of writing no trace of their deployment and fate has come to light.
At the end of the war, the surviving trains (PZ I to VII and PZ XI) were shared out between the following countries (refer to the corresponding country chapters for their subsequent use):
– PZ IV, VII (1917 numbering), XI (less its engine) and parts of PZ I, VI and VIII to Hungary.
– PZ III and part of PZ VIII to Poland.
– PZ II and parts of PZ VI and VII to Czechoslovakia.
– PZ V and part of PZ I to Yugoslavia.
The excellence of their basic design, their capacity for further development and their underlying durability are proved by their continual employment up until 1945, often in adverse conditions.
Drawing of MÁV Class 377 engine.
(Paul Malmassari)
The rear wagon (No S 150.003) of PZ II before modification of the machine-gun embrasures. Note the arrangement for the machine-gun fitting in the door facing away from the engine, and also the coupling rail, doubtless attached to a safety wagon. There were no cowcatchers/stone guards fitted to the infantry wagons of PZ I, II and III.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
PZ I entered service with only two wagons and the engine, but in 1915 this artillery wagon was added. Note the safety flat wagons in front.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
A rare interior view of an infantry wagon, with the shield for the lateral machine gun. The external armour was 12mm thick, fitted over a 40mm layer of wood, plus an internal layer of armour.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Here is PZ I apparently leading a part of a different armoured train.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
PZ II has here received its header wagon built on a tender chassis and armed with a 7cm L/30 chase gun.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Here the side machine-gun positions of the infantry wagons are clearly vertical and flush with the armour sides. The header wagon is armed with a 4.7cm gun on each side, and these, plus the 7cm chase gun, gave it formidable firepower.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Two views of PZ II (with the number painted on the engine) being inspected by Archduke Karl, who would become Emperor on 21 November 1916 as Karl 1. Note that the cab window is not yet protected by armour.
(Photos: Paul Malmassari Collection)
At the rear of PZ II can be seen a high-sided bogie wagon which appears to be carrying a field gun. Behind engine MÁV 377.116 is wagon No S 150.003 and in front, No 140.914.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
A superb photo of one of the side-mounted 4.7cm l.F.K. guns in the header wagon of PZ II.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
PZ II photographed on 5 August 1915, festooned with traditional decorations for a public celebration.4 The Austrian flag flies proudly in front of the left-hand wagon, on which the column on the rear facing the engine denotes the handbrake. Note also the rectangular armour plate covering the engine cab.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Probably a view of wagon No S 148.105 of PZ V in camouflage, fitted with the cowcatchers used on PZ IV, V and VI.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
An overall view of a Type B PZ. Four hooks seen on the armour skirt around the turret were used to clamp the turret in place when travelling.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
A fine attempt at camouflage on PZ VII, easily recognisable by the circular ventilator cowls on the turret.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
The artillery wagon with its 70mm turret was characteristic of Type B armoured trains. On this wagon, which is carrying sleepers and lengths of rail, is painted the name ‘Oberleutnant Becker’, perhaps the commander of the train.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
This overhead view is interesting because it allows us to see the horizontal armour on the top of the engine. Detailed differences sometimes allow us to tell one MÁV Class 377 engine from the others. The lighter tone of certain armour plates tell of more recent additions. This is PZ VII, and the artillery wagon in the foreground is No 141.172, fitted with angular ventilator cowls on its turret.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
This armoured wagon mounting a 10cm L/50 naval gun, seen here at the exit from the Montfalcone tunnel in the Summer of 1916, was temporarily attached to PZ V.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
This view of PZ VII allows us to see the shape of the rear face of the artillery turret of wagon No 141.963 which precedes one of the engines, either MÁV 377.455 or 377.118. Between the two engines is wagon No S 150.271.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
PZ VII was immediately recognisable by the round shape of the armoured ventilator cowls on wagon No. 140.963, while the wagon at the other end of the train had angular ones.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Some time in 1915 this high-sided bogie wagon MÁV No Ikn 169.011 armoured with a double row of rails was coupled to PZ VII. The chase gun was an 8cm5 Feldkanone M 05. The wagon was dismantled in December 1915 as it blocked the field of fire of the wagon behind it.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
A fine photo of life on the Italian or Russian Front, with a Škoda 30.5cm Model 1911 howitzer and the pensive crew of a Type B armoured train observing the piece. No doubt some are wondering how they could carry off the howitzer for some additional firepower.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Red Cross postcard representing an attack on the Russians, specifically the Cossacks, with a certain amount of artistic licence.
(Postcard: Paul Malmassari Collection)
The Carinthian PZ I which would become PZ IX, seen here on 1 October 1915, with its original number ‘I’ painted on its sides. The embrasures allowed the crew to bring to bear two Russian machine guns and thirty personal weapons. The engine is probably a Class 97.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Several months later, an ‘X’ has been added beside the ‘I’ to form the number 9 in Roman numerals. The crew complement of each of these Carinthian PZ was two officers and thirty-three men. PZ IX would be destroyed by Romanian artillery fire on 29 August 1916.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
The second of the Carinthian armoured trains, with its engine No 63.07, was given the designation PZ X in the revised numbering system. The armoured wagons are Ke 65.370 (on the right) and K 802.163 (on the left). Here it is seen at Tarvis.
(Photo: HGM)
The engine of the improvised armoured train built by the 19th Railway Company in the Summer of 1916, probably a Class 94 of the Bucovina Railway.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
This improvised armoured train was employed in 1916–17 in the Jacobeny region of Bucovina, before being destroyed in May 1917.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
An overall view of the train.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
The header wagon bearing the inscription ‘19 E.K.’ after the 19th Railway Company which built it.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
The initial configuration of PZ Schober, with a Class 59 armoured engine, identical to the one which powered the original armoured train designed by Captain Schober. The two wagons are numbered 314.706 and 334.457.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
The improved version of PZ Schober was built in the Spring of 1915 and was renumbered PZ XI in 1916. The new engine (its lower armour protection not yet in place) was No 97.247 coupled to tender No 76.177. Here the train has not yet been fitted with the antennae on the wagon roofs.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
This view of the entire train allows us to compare the two sides of the motorised armoured wagon, and to note the presence of the radio masts, as shown in the drawings below, and which would ultimately be removed. Also, in this configuration the motorised wagon is coupled to the rear of the train.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
The front end of the wagon is differentiated by having only three firing embrasures, compared to five at the rear end, plus the radiator grill. Here the searchlight can be clearly seen, together with its power cable which feeds it at all angles of training of either its housing or the turret.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Rear view of motorised wagon No 303.343 (in German a Motorkanonenwagen). It weighed 45 tonnes and was 9.86m (32ft 4in) long overall. The cylinder on top of the turret contains a trainable searchlight.
(Photo: Fortepan)
In this photo dated March 1916 note the machine guns mounted in the firing embrasures, the stone guard fitted in front of each end wheel, and the Austro-Hungarian flag proudly flown. On each of the three wagons in the train, access was by hatches in the roof, reached by means of the handrails and steps at each corner.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
An inspection by Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen, on the Carpathian Front in February 1917. Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Hungarian Army, he would be dismissed from his post by the Emperor just a few days later.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
In this previously unpublished photo, from a glass-plate negative, note the flat face of the low-profile infantry wagon facing the tender. On each of the two infantry wagons, this end had a machine-gun port in the centre. In the diagram reproduced below the lead wagon is shown running with this flat face forward, so this position would then become the chase gun.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Probably the only photo showing the wreck of PZ XI, perhaps as the result of an artillery bombardment to judge by the churned-up earth. PZ XI was withdrawn from service in September 1917.
(Glass-plate negative, date and place unknown: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Engine No 97.247 of PZ XI with its fully-armoured tender seen at Roveretto. Under the canvas sheeting is railcar No 303.343.
(Photo: HGM)
The theoretical layout of PZ Schober. It appears that the normal position for the motorised wagon was at the rear of the train, perhaps to enable it to manoeuvre independently in case the train was immobilised.
(Plan: Private Collection)
Drawing of the motorised wagon. A close inspection of the observation slits in the turret shows that they are neither symmetrical nor regularly spaced.
(Plan: Private Collection)
Drawing of one of the two identical infantry wagons, clearly illustrating the armour protection formed from lengths of rail.
(Plan: Private Collection)
Drawing of engine No 97.247 with its tender No 76.177.
(Plan: Private Collection)
In 1916 the train which would later be numbered PZ XII was attached to XXV Army Corps, powered by a Class 229 2-6-2 tank engine, coupled to an auxiliary armoured tender. The appearance of the armoured wagons is very similar to those of Captain Schober’s first train, illustrated at the beginning of the chapter.
(Photo: Hungarian Historical Service)
PZ IV (new numbers in 1917) was put together with units from PZ VII. Here we can clearly see one of the hooks which held the turret in the travelling position.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
An unidentified armoured train, which we believe to be an Austro-Hungarian unit in Galicia, perhaps dating from after the Russian retreat in May 1915. Close inspection of the original photo reveals an inscription in Cyrillic letters on the door of the building visible between the chimney and steam dome of the engine.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
An unofficial badge issued to commemorate ‘Christmas at the Front’ in 1916.
(Badge: Paul Malmassari Collection)
An unofficial badge produced for the Hungarian crews of armoured trains in 1914–16.
(Badge: Paul Malmassari Collection)
Two Type B armoured trains were built. But in this photo we are looking at either a reorganisation, or rolling stock brought together at the end of the war. Note the smoke deflector on the left-hand engine.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
In 2003 the Austrians commemorated their armoured trains by issuing this postage stamp, showing the artillery wagon which was perhaps the most iconic image of these trains.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
An armoured train assembled by the Czechs: the engine is probably No 377.362 from PZ VI (recognisable by the cupola on the cab roof), coupled between the wagons of PZ II which was captured in Prague. The nearest wagon is No 140.914, and the one behind the engine is No 150.003. The Czech soldiers are wearing Italian uniforms.
(Photo: Paul Malmassari Collection)
SOURCES:
Books:
Hauptner, R, and Jung, P, Stahl und Eisen im Feuer (Vienna: Verlagsbuchshandlung Stöhr, 2003).
Scopani, Paolo, L’Ultima guerra dell’impero austro-ungarico, Storia fotografica delle operazioni militari sul fronte russo, serbo-albanese ed italiano 1914-1918 (Novale-Valdagno: Gino Rossato Editore, 2002).
Journal articles:
Lankovits, J., ‘Panzerzüge in Österreich und Ungarn’, Eisenbahn (Austria) (1986), No 8, pp 142–6; No 9, pp 164–7; No 10 pp. 184–6.
Sawodny, Wolfgang, ‘Die Panzerzüge Österreich-Ungarn und ihre Verbleib’, Eisenbahn (Austria) (1992), No 2, pp 26–8; No 3, pp 44–6; No 4, pp 64–6; No 6, pp 105–8.
Website:
http://www.heeresgeschichten.at/
1. The Austrian and Hungarian armoured trains after this date are covered in their individual chapters.
2. Sawodny,‘Die Panzerzüge Österreich-Ungarn und ihre Verblieb’, p 26.
3. Debreczen Line Railway Command and Campaign Transport Directorate.
4. Probably in commemoration of the battle of Petrovaradin in 1716, a victory over the Ottoman Empire.
5. The actual calibre was 76.5mm.