The Belgian Armoured Car Division

[Ignatieff]

Have just finished Nic Cornish's enjoyable 'The Russian Army and the First World War'.

Near the end he mentions that "The Belgian armoured car division underwent an epic journey through Siberia"

Anyone know anything about this?  What happened, what were they equipped with, any actions, etc?

thanks

Ignatieff

[former user]

http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/postal-history/wwi-belgium-armoured-car-division-in-russia/
http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russia/Russia_00.htm

that's what I found

[cdr]

What do you need to know ?
Essentially there were belgian armoured cars and cyclists active on the Russian front from 1915 to 1917. The cars were Mors armoured cars armed with machine guns and light artillery. They saw a lot of action. There is eg a story of how three cars destroyed a Austro Hungarian train in the field. The unit ended up in Vladivostok. Some soldiers and maybe a car joined up with the White Russians of Semenov and fought in the civil war

Carl

[Ignatieff]

Thanks guys.  That's perfect.  I can forsee a scenario coming on!

[Johan]

some more info can be found here:

http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/postal-history/wwi-belgium-armoured-car-division-in-russia/

[Schogun]

Now we need someone (Company B???) to make Minerva and Mors armored cars!

[Ignatieff]

I'll second that (and will buy three of each!)

[former user]

weren't they exchanged for lanchesters and RR for Russia?

[Will Bailie]

Now we need someone (Company B???) to make Minerva and Mors armored cars!

I understand that Brigade Models (nb NOT Brigade Games) is working on a Minerva to go with their 1914 Belgians.  Maybe a polite request could encourage them to expediate things.

[Ignatieff]

I understand that Brigade Models (nb NOT Brigade Games) is working on a Minerva to go with their 1914 Belgians.  Maybe a polite request could encourage them to expediate things.

That's a good suggestion....

[cdr]

The Belgian Armoured Car Division (about 350 strong) consisted of 2 batteries with an armoured command car, 3 armoured mors gun cars (armed with a 37 mm gun and a light machine gun), 2 armoured mors machine gun cars (armed with a hotchkiss heavy machine gun), a motorised supply battery, and a cyclist unit (partly equipped with Indian and Harley Davidson motor cycles). The cyclists used the Lewis as LMG.

The vehicles were in Russian green with a large Russian cockade on the sides and small Belgian and Russian flags on the front.

At least one Mors was used to the German army and later used by the Freikorps.

Replacement vehicles were russian. The Belgian army used the Lanchester for a bit on the Western Front

Hope this helps

Carl

ps Happy New Year

[Ignatieff]

Carl

Marvellous.  Many thanks

Have a good one when it comes

I

[Chairface]

That is a brilliant story! Through China to the US..... Amazing!