Softskins, Tractors & APC's
Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger
Braat Overvalwagen Type B
Troop Transporter Version
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-APC01
The Type B ‘Braat’ overvalwagen’s derived their name from a metal-works in Surabaya, Eastern Java. Designed by Engineer Captain Roskott, based on a Chevrolet COE chassis they came in four versions, the most basic of which was the troop-carrying version, 15-16 of which served at Bandung, Java.
Braat Overvalwagen Type B
Marine Infantry Version
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-APC02
One was converted by the Dutch Navy and equipped with an old 1870’s 3.7cm Cannon with a gun shield. Not particularly impressive but it was also backed up with a water-cooled Vickers machine gun.
Braat Overvalwagen Type B
Reconnaissance Version
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-APC03
Between 9-12 of the reconnaissance version of the Braat equipped the 6th Cavalry squadron in the Bandung area of Java during the Japanese invasion. They were each equipped with an undefined number of light machine guns on pintle mounts.
Braat Overvalwagen Type B
SPAAG
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-APC04
A mobile gun platform version equipped with a .50cal and four lighter .30cal’s was designed for airport defence with a slightly modified chassis proving so popular that they were used further afield than Java and well after the end of WW2 and the Indonesian War of Independence.
GMC T-Series 6x4 Truck
Light Artillery Tractor
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-W.Tr01
These vehicles took over from inadequate Morris Commercial D trucks providing sterling service to the 105mm Howitzer and 75mm Field Gun batteries right up to the end of 1942. Being a 6×4 truck, both rear axles were powered significantly improving off road performance.
Chevrolet 1-ton Autolette
Deployed Light AA Truck
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-D.AA.L01
Before Japan’s war began the 4 infantry regiments on Java each received a motorised Afdeling Pantser en Luchtafweer (APLA) company. 9 light Chevrolet trucks were provided each with a water cooled .50 Colt-Browning heavy AA machine gun mounted on a naval mount on the flatbed.
Chevrolet 1-ton Autolette
Limbered Light AA Truck
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-L.AA.L02
These Chevrolet 1940 Model Autolettes retained their civilian style chassis and cab. Each of these APLA company’s were crewed with well trained crews and saw much action during the invasion of Java shooting down a number of enemy aircraft.
Chevrolet COE
High Side Cargo Truck
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-Ge.L01
A number of Chevrolet 1 ½-ton 4×2 Cab Over Engine (COE) trucks were delivered to the Dutch East Indies in 1940, a number of which went on to become the basis for the Braat’s. Many remained to be used as cargo trucks by the KNIL serving in a logistical capacity through the KNIL’s campaigns.
Chevrolet 1-ton
Light Troop Transporter
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-Ge.L02
The emblematic KNIL truck was the 1939 Chevrolet WB 1 1/2 ton 4×2 GS truck with platform body, no cab doors, spare wheel mounted to the left of the cab, troops on transverse benches. In 1940 the KNIL had something around 1700 of these trucks and further 3000 of other designs.
Stadswasht Overvalwagen
Long Wheel Base v.01
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-APC05
The other type of ‘Overvalwagen’ to be produced was the versions for the Stadswasht a.k.a. DEI Home Guard. Almost universally based on a Chevrolet 4×2 chassis, numbers produced are difficult to nail down but over 60 were series produced for the Stadswasht with small variations between runs.
Stadswasht Overvalwagen
Short Wheel Base v.02
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-APC06
Unlike the Braat the Stadswasht vehicles had no fixed armaments but the walls were low enough to allow the occupants to fire freely over the sides, although this made them somewhat vulnerable. Many were appropriated by the KNIL due to the shortage of armour and saw action widely.
Stadswasht Overvalwagen
Short Wheel Base v.03
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.50
£4.50
£8.00
£14.00
WWII-KNIL-APC07
Towards the end of the war a number of these vehicles had their sides cut down and saw their service life extended finding use in the Indonesian war of Independence and onwards.
Vickers Light Utility Tractor
Footboards Down
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.20
£3.50
£6.50
£11.00
WWII-KNIL-D.Tr.T01
The Dutch ordered 72 Boehler 47mm AT guns and a further 80 Light Utility tractors to haul them but in the event only received 30 of the AT guns and an even less 21 Vickers tractors to haul them. In the end the Germans took the remaining numbers from the order complaining about lack of ammo space.
Vickers Light Utility Tractor
Footboards Up
1/200
1/100
1/72
1/56
£2.20
£3.50
£6.50
£11.00
WWII-KNIL-D.Tr.T02
There were design differences from the models used by the Belgian army, from whom the Dutch models were ordered. Whereas the Belgians had two crew facing backwards for the gun, the Dutch version used fold down bench seating to the sides of the vehicle for a total of 6 extra passengers.
