PIBWL presents:

Polish improvised armoured trains of the SOK (Railway Protection Service)

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	© Michal Derela, 2002	Updated - 09. 04. 2002 - separated and enhanced draisines

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History and organization - Nr. 1 "Szczecin" - Nr 2. "Grom" - Nr. 3 "Huragan" - Nr. 4 "Błyskawica" | Draisines

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The improvised armoured trains of the Railway Protection Service (Służba Ochrony Kolei - SOK) are one of the most obscure parts of the history of the Polish Armour. Unfortunately, most of the information and data are only approximate ones, because of very scarce sources. The only few available and published photos are of very poor quality. Most of the information below are taken from the pioneering research by Janusz Magnuski, but we have also tried to identify or correct some of the wagons of German origin.

The origin of SOK armoured trains

After the World War II had ended, the warfare lasted still in the south eastern areas of Poland. Polish units of the Army, Internal Security Corps (KBW) and Citizen Militia (Milicja Obywatelska, MO - the name of Polish Police in 1944-89) were still fighting with Ukrainian nationalist partisans of the UPA - Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The UPA partisans were murding and terrorizing Polish inhabitants of these areas and fighting against Polish authorities, finding some support in inhabitants of Ukrainian nationality. At that time, the masses of people of Ukrainian nationality were being moved to Soviet Ukraine, while people of Polish nationality were being moved from Soviet area. Among others, UPA partisans were attacking the railways, stations, bridges and the transports of people. In order to protect the railways, the new armed security formation was created: Służba Ochrony Kolei (SOK) - the Railway Protection Service, subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, not the Army (Ministry of Defence). To carry out its duties more efficiently, in the autumn of 1945 the SOK HQ started forming of the improvised armoured trains, with the Army's help. They were meant to patrol the tracks, and protect the transport trains on dangerous areas. Their crews were formed from the volunteers of SOK, as well as soldiers, officers and NCO's.

However the forming of the crews was not a problem, but the completing of the equipment was not so easy. Unfortunately, despite numerous armoured trains took part in the heavy warfare on Polish territory in 1939 and 1944-45, and the Germans had even an armoured trains' training base in Rembertowo near Warsaw, yet not much of the armoured rolling stock survived in Poland after the war. Most ex-German armoured wagons and locomotives were immediately carried away by the Soviet Army as a booty. Only few of armoured rolling stock survived, usually damaged or destroyed. After the repairing in railway workshops, they were used to create a few improvised trains. Some freight wagons were fitted with an improvised cover, like the concrete (like in the trains of 1918-20...). The forming of the new trains took place in Warsaw and Cracov mainly, most of them were sent to the south-east of Poland then.

Armoured train nr. 2 - the 76.2mm wz.43 gun on a flatcar

The first armoured train, nr. 1 "Szczecin", was formed probably in the end of 1945. In October 1945 the train nr. 2 was formed, probably bearing the name "Grom" later. A year later, in October 1946, another train nr. 3 "Huragan" went into service, and in December 1946 the last train nr. 4 "Błyskawica" was formed. In 1946-47 years, these trains were known by the numbers mainly, the names were officially given later. In the later period the names were used first of all. The armoured trains were re-organized during the service, and their composition was changing. Unfortunately, the information below as for the trains' composition and service is very partial and incomplete.

In the early 1947 the existing four armoured trains formed the SOK armoured train unit (dywizjon pociagów pancernych SOK), commanded by Cpt. Marian Jarosz. The unit's base was a small railway station in Zagórz near Sanok town (south-east of Poland). The unit took part in combat against UPA in Bieszczady Mountains. Later the unit received also one or two armoured draisines. In April 1947 the unit was subordinated to Gen. Stefan Mossor, a commander of a newly-created Operational Group "Wisła" (Vistula). The armoured train unit, along with Group's units, took part in the Operation "Wisła", which aimed to displace all the inhabitants from Bieszczady Mountains and their neighbourhood to other parts of Poland, in order to cut UPA partisans off of supplies or shelter. It was a brutal mean, but it put an end to a terror of UPA partisans in Poland (in the Soviet Ukraine the fight of communist government with UPA lasted till the sixties). (It must be noted by the way, that Bieszczady Mountains are currently one of the most beautiful places in Poland). The Operational Group was disbanded on 31 July 1947, the armoured train unit was as well. Two armoured trains (probably Nos. 1 and 2) were moved to the Military District V HQ (DOK V - Cracov), and the other two (probably Nos. 3 and 4) were moved to the Military District VII HQ (DOK VII - Lublin). These Districts carried out further combat with the remainder of UPA, until 1948. The armoured trains were probably used in this further combat as well. Some of these armoured trains existed in SOK up to the late 40's. Due to the lack of serious threats of the railway transport, they were used mainly for training of the SOK guards. From time to time, however, they were used in raids against ...the thefts of a coal on stations. Most likely the armoured trains of the SOK were liquidated in the 50's.

This improvised armoured train was formed as the first one, probably in the end of 1945. Most crew was completed of the SOK guards from Szczecin (Stettin) - hence the later name of the train. The train was formed in Jaroslaw near Przemysl, under direction of SOK district chief T. Kulak. Initially, it was a wide track gauge train (a gauge of 1524mm, used in Russia). The train was operating on wide gauge tracks in the area of Medyka (on Polish-Soviet border) - Lubaczow - Rawa Ruska. Due to a reconstruction of the railways in Poland, the train was later converted to a standard gauge of 1435mm (most probably the locomotive was changed).
In March 1946 the train was took over by the crew formed in Warsaw, commanded by 2nd Lt. J. Steinbock. In November its crew went to the railway workshops in Ostrow Wielkopolski to take over the new train (nr. 4 "Błyskawica"). The old train nr. 1, with a part of the crew, was handed over to Cpt. A. Wierzbicki.

Initial composition:

- unarmoured freight steam locomotive, 1524mm gauge, of Soviet series E (Rus: "Э"), the sub-series is not known. They were built in a few differing sub-series in 1916-36, an axle arrangement: E (0-5-0, wheel arrangement 0-10-0), 4-axle tender, power output - more than 1000 HP.
- three improvised armoured wagons (rebuilt freight wagons), protected with concrete.

There is no information as for the later composition, but it must have changed.

• Fully armoured steam locomotive series Tw1 (ex-German). It was a standard locomotive of German armoured trains of the early stage of the WWII, of German series (Br) 57^10-35 - the former Prussian series G10. The train used also unarmoured locomotives.
  
  The freight locomotive series Tw1 (Br 57^10-35) was a design of Robert Garbe, 2500 were built in 1910-25. Axle arrangement: E (0-5-0, wheel arrangement 0-10-0) with a 3-axle tender. Twin steam engine, working on superheated steam (E-h2).
  Data of an unarmoured locomotive: length without a tender: 11.6 m, with tender - about 18.7 m; weight without a tender: 69.5t. These locomotives were used with different armour styles in early German armoured trains, since 1942 a standard armour pattern was introduced (a drawing).
  
  
• 2 - 3 infantry (assault) wagons, two-axle (probably armoured freight wagons?)
  
  
• artillery wagon: a flat car with Soviet 76.2mm wz.43 (M.1943, OB-25) regimental infantry gun.
  The data of the gun: weight - 600 kg; barrel's length - L/19.4; horizontal angle of fire +/-30° (without changing position); maximum elevation: -8° +25°; maximum rate of fire - 10-12 rds/min; maximum range of HE shell - 4200 m; produced in 1943-46.
  
  
• 2 flat cars (protecting the train against derailment)
• it is possible, that armoured wagon nr 0870026 (Polish number) was used in this train as well. It was 4-axle artillery wagon of BP-44 standard, built by the Germans using the captured Soviet wagon. It might have belonged to armoured train Panzerzug 25, destroyed on 13 January 1945 near Kielce.
  
  Armament in German service consisted of 2 howitzers 10.5cm (105mm) leFH-18/40 in rotating turrets (angle of fire: 360° and about 300°) and the crew's machine guns MG-34 (or MG-13) in 6 MG ports in the hull. It also had at least 4 rifle ports. Presumably in Polish service the wagon nad no artillery. Currently the wagon is preserved in Railway Museum in Warszawie, along with Panzertriebwagen 16) and is fitted with dummy guns. Probably the wagon's armament in Polish service consisted of machine guns and rifles only, and it was used as infantry wagon.
  
  Total weight - about 60 t; length/ width/ height - about 1300/ 320/ 390 cm; fully armoured with 20-50mm armour.

Armoured train nr. 3 "Huragan"

Poor photo of armoured train nr. 3 - from the left: a flat car, the armoured wagon with Wirbelwind turret, a locomotive series Tw12 and two armoured wagons. The soldiers are armed with 7.62mm DP LMG's.

Armoured train nr. 3 was created in October 1946. Its commander was Lt. Władysław Indyk. In 1947, like other trains, it was based in Zagórz and used in combat against UPA. In 1948 the train was in the SOK Officer School in Toruń. The name "Huragan" means the Hurricane.

Initial composition (approximate):

• unarmoured heavy freight locomotive series Ty2 (ex-German standard wartime locomotive series (Br) 52 "Kriegslok"), or Ty42 (the same, but built in Poland after the war). Axle arrangement: 1'E (1-5-0, wheel arrangement 2-10-0), 4-axle tender. Twin steam engine, working on superheated steam (1'E-h2).
  
  
• 2 - 3 armoured infantry wagons, 2-axle, numbers: 0870001, 0870002, 0870150 (see the drawing below).
  
  Wagon nr. 0870001 was most probably former German non-standard infantry wagon with AA-gun emplacement. In Polish service it was equipped with a searchlight.
  Wagon nr. 0870002 was probably ex-German one. On a painting from the late 40's, one part of this wagon has nr. 0870002 painted, while the second part has nr. 0870154 (?) - it is not clear. In Polish service the wagon was equipped with a searchlight.
  The silhouettes of both wagons on the drawing below were corrected by PIBWL.
• 2 flat cars

Later composition:

• Partially armoured freight locomotive series Tw12 (ex-Austrian series kkStB 80) - axle arrangement: E (0-5-0, wheel arrangement 0-10-0), 3-axle tender. Steam engine: 2-cylinder, twin or compound, working on superheated steam (E-h2 or E-h2v). They were built since 1909. Length without tender: 11.1 m, heigth - 4.57 m. Improvised partial armour added in Poland?
  
  
• 2 armoured infantry wagons, 2-axle, nos: 0870001 and 0870002 (as above)
  
  
• armoured wagon, ex-German, 2-axle.
   It was a German late-war variation of a typical artillery and anti-aircraft wagon (Artillerie und Flakwagen) of German construction, type BP-42 or BP-44. Typical wagons of this kind were armed with a quadruple 20mm AA gun Flakvierling-38 with a protective shield, while this one is fitted with a turret of Wirbelwind self-propelled AA gun, armed with the same quadruple Flakvierling-38 gun. Such wagon was used in the German PZ 65 train, possily also in others. Turret sides were armoured with 10mm armour, the top was open.
   A drawing on the right is a reconstruction by PIBWL (corrected on 02.03.2002). The wagon also had an artillery turret in its lower part, armed with 76.2mm field gun (type BP-42 - drawing) or 105mm howitzer (type BP-44). The wagon had 6 MG ports and several rifle ports in the sides and corners. It is not clear, if the wagon still had its gun or howitzer, and the Flakvierling-38 AA gun in the Polish service. Possibly it was armed with MG's and rifles only and employed as an infantry wagon.
  Total weight - about 34 t, armour: 15-30mm.
  
  
• 2 flat cars

Armoured train nr. 4 "Błyskawica"

Armoured train nr. 4 - ex-German command wagon.

The train was formed in December 1946 in Cracov. It utilized ex-German rolling stock repaired in railway workshops in Ostrow Wielkopolski. The commander was Lt. J. Steinbock, then Lt. C. Paczosa. The crew consisted partially of nr. 1 train's crew. Until June 1947 the train nr. 4 was stationed at Zagórz near Sanok. After the combat with UPA had eneded, it was moved to Zawada near Zamosc. It operated on lines: Zawada - Zwierzyniec - Bełżec and Zawada - Hrubieszów. The name "Blyskawica" means the Lightning.

A composition (approximate):

• a locomotive of not known type (the locomotive series Tr12 - Austrian series 270, on a sketch by J. Magnuski, might be an example only)
  
  
• artillery wagon. It was a 2-axle armoured freight wagon, with a rotating turret of BT-7 light tank, armed with 45mm tank gun and a coaxial machine gun 7.62mm DT. This wagon was probably of German origin, completed of captured Soviet equipment (similar wagons with tank turrets were used in German railway tracks' protection armoured trains - StreckenschutzZug, eg. in StreckenschutzZug "Stettin" - PzZug 51).
  
  
• armoured infantry wagon, 2-axle, ex-German. It was a typical command wagon (Kommandowagen) of German construction, type BP-42/44. The wagon had rifle ports in the sides. The wagon in Polish service retained rail aerial on a roof, but it is not known, if it still had its original German radio - it might have been fitted with Soviet radio instead.
  Weight - about 32.5 t, armour: 15-30 mm.
  
  
• armoured infantry wagon, 2-axle, ex-German (possibly of Soviet origin) - no data available.
  
  
• 2 flat cars. On the drawing by J. Magnuski (below) there are two ex-German anti-aircraft wagons type I(E) or II(E), without armament. In German service such wagons were used in special AA-trains and armed with two 20mm or 37mm guns in two end emplacements, protected with concrete rings. It is not clear, if the train really had such wagons, since J. Magnuski does not mention them.

See armoured draisine of SOK here.

A sketch by J. Magnuski, showing the presumable look of Polish improvised armoured trains of SOK (Railway Protection Service). The wagon of train nr.3 is corrected by the PIBWL, according to the text.

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Sources:
1. Janusz Magnuski, "Wozy bojowe LWP 1943-1983"; Wydawnictwa MON, Warsaw 1985