Baikonur (Houston as well, but I think they can't help me), I have a problem...
I just found a photo which could help me finding some answers about armoured cars in Finland.
The photo shows Fiat, captured by the whites in Vyborg. This photo is supposedly taken in Vyborg in May 1918. There is a whole novel of Tolstoi written on the side of the car... Unfortunately I am not so good in reading old Russian, so perhaps someone can tell me what it says. I guess it is more or less revolutionary message, but this number 3 here is also interesting.
Attached is also another photo is this same car, taken from other side. There is some text on the other side of the engine cover too. Any ideas?
For backround, there was a headquaters of 42th Army Corps of the Russian army in Vyborg at that time.
Another problem is with this more common photo of Finnish Fiat. I have believed that it is the same car from Vyborg, but there is no text on the side. However, the Fiat used in Tampere had only single rear wheels, so I think it is not that one. Perhaps it is Vyborg Fiat, which is cleaned off the revolutionary texts and photo is taken later?
Written by: Isp. Kom. S.R.S. i K. Dep. = Executive Committee of the Soviet (Board) of the workers, sioldiers and peasants' deputies. A typical slogan of the Revolution in 1917 Here is a the same (but not this one) Armstrong-Whitworth-Fiat in Russia.
P.S. All FIATs (Armstrong-Whitworth/1915 and Izhorski/1916) must have double wheels back!
-- Edited by Ivan on Thursday 24th of February 2011 06:15:01 PM
-- Edited by Ivan on Thursday 24th of February 2011 06:17:39 PM
I trusted on you, Ivan. So, if I think correct, perhaps this car has become to Vyborg from St. Petersburg after the Russian revolution. Or could soldiers of 42th Army corps painted that text in Vyborg?
But this Fiat captured by the Whites in Tampere has only one pair of rear wheels...
-- Edited by MTorrent on Thursday 24th of February 2011 09:51:57 PM
I trusted on you, Ivan. So, if I think correct, perhaps this car has become to Vyborg from St. Petersburg after the Russian revolution. Or could soldiers of 42th Army corps painted that text in Vyborg?
But this Fiat captured by the Whites in Tampere has only one pair of rear wheels...
-- Edited by MTorrent on Thursday 24th of February 2011 09:51:57 PM
Yes! 100% afrer the Revolution. This was the help from Red-Russians to Puna-Suomalainen. (Red-Finns)
Your last photo, I think, Armstrong-Whitwort with Jarrot chassis with new wheels. Also comming from Reds. I think 42th army have all armoured cars drive back to Russia. In 42th army was 1st armoured-car division (batalion) with Russo-Balt, Packard Izhorski and Austin AC's. In Sommer 1917 drive this division from Finland to Petrograd and soon to German front.
-- Edited by Ivan on Thursday 24th of February 2011 10:50:48 PM
Anyhow, first time an armoured car used in Finland was on 23rd January 1918, four days before Finnish revolution, and this car was used by the troops of 42th Army Corps in Vyborg, when they were attacking to the railway station, which was occupied by the Finnish whites.
So, at least one car was given first to the Russian army, not the Red Guards...
Now I prefer the theory that it could be the Jarrot one...
Both Austins were situated in Helsinki during the civil war. It is known that on the 27th Jan 1918 a great arms train arrived from Petrograd to Finland. It stopped in Vyborg, continued then to Helsinki and finally to Tampere. This train included two armoured cars. What is known for sure is that no armoured cars with this train arrived to Tampere, so I suppose they were left in Helsinki and were those two Austins.
The armoured car, which was used in Tampere, arrived to the town on 16th February. It was this Armstrong-Whitworth with Jarrot chassis. Perhaps it was transferred at that time from Vyborg.