The T-32 (Š-I-D) tankette was a
Czechoslovak-designed
tankette used exclusively by the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia during World War II. Its design was based on the Škoda
MU-4
The Mu, also known as M, was a series of Japanese solid-fueled carrier rockets, which were launched from Uchinoura between 1966 and 2006. Originally developed by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Mu rockets were later operated ...
tank and built specific to Yugoslav specifications.
History
In 1935 at the request of the
Royal Yugoslav Army, Škoda developed a prototype of the T-32 by replacing the main armament of an MU-4 with a
37mm A3 anti-tank gun. Satisfied with the prototype, the Yugoslav Army ordered eight vehicles in 1936. The eight vehicles were delivered and formed their own independent armored company as part of the Royal Yugoslav Army. Although being assigned to the army, the tanks were initially used for air base defense duties at the
Royal Yugoslav Air Force
The Royal Yugoslav Air Force ( sh-Latn, Jugoslovensko kraljevsko ratno vazduhoplovstvo, JKRV; sh-Cyrl, Југословенско краљевско ратно ваздухопловство, ЈКРВ; ( sl, Jugoslovansko kraljevo vojno letalstv ...
base near
Zemun.
Operational history
In April 1941 at the commencement of the German
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The invasion of Yugoslavia, also known as the April War or Operation 25, or ''Projekt 25'' was a German-led attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II. The order for the invasion was p ...
, the eight T-32s were stationed in and around the Zemun airfield. However, the tanks were ordered south to the city of
Niš in order to attack Axis forces advancing on the city. En route to Niš, the tank column engaged German forces near the town of
Topola. Some of the T-32 tanks were captured intact by the Germans after crews abandoned their vehicles. These captured tanks were sent to the Škoda factory to be refitted as training vehicles for
Waffen-SS panzer division units. Following refitting, they were put into service with the designation "Pz.Kpfw. T-32 732(j)".
Appearance
The Royal Yugoslav Army painted their T-32s in a dark green,
ochre
Ochre ( ; , ), or ocher in American English, is a natural clay earth pigment, a mixture of ferric oxide and varying amounts of clay and sand. It ranges in colour from yellow to deep orange or brown. It is also the name of the colours produced ...
and chocolate-brown camouflage pattern.
Notes
References
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{{Weapons of Czechoslovakia
Tankettes of the interwar period
Tankettes
Military vehicles introduced in the 1930s
Yugoslavia in World War II