Belgian Coast Casemate used by the Germans in the Atlantic Wall, Belgium, probably in Lombardsijde Beach. Circa 1943.

Belgian Coast Casemate used by the Germans in the Atlantic Wall. 

Belgium, probably in Lombardsijde Beach. 

Circa 1943

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E, Sd.Kfz. 181., Russia, Winter 1943-44.

'THE KING OF THE STEPPES'

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E, Sd.Kfz. 181 

Russia, Winter 1943-44

UNL-2, Type 2 Turrets, Armored Car of the 5th Regiment of Popular Militias, Madrid Front, Spain, late 1936.

UNL-2, Type 2 Turrets, Armored Car of the 5th Regiment of Popular Militias, 

Madrid Front, Spain, late 1936.

Republican Army Armored Cars. Madrid Front, Spain, late 1936.

The crew of an Republican BA-6 Armored Car and an Improvised Armored Car, belonging of the 5th Regiment of Popular Militias, fraternize in the street of a village integrated to the defensive system of the Madrid Front. The crew of the BA-6 Armored Car was composed only of Russian soldiers belonging to the Soviet Union Army.

The Improvised Armored Car of the 5th Regiment was made​​, probably, on the chassis of a bus or long chassis truck type Somua or Hispano-Suiza. It was equipped with two turrets (exceptional circumstance in the configuration of Improvised Armored Cars in the Spanish Civil War) armed with Hotchkiss 7.7-mm Machine Guns (manufactured under license in Spain) and with about 18 loopholes for individual weapons use, reason why it had to take a considerable number of militiamen.

On this rare armored vehicle I have not found any information indicating its existence. Although most likely must have been built in Madrid or the surrounding area during the first months of the war.

CORRECTION: 

The Improvised Armored Car IS NOT. IT IS ACTUALLY AN ARMORED CAR OF THE UNL-2 SERIES. (UNL = UNIÓN NAVAL DE LEVANTE). This armor belongs to a second variant of the UNL-2 series, which is characterized by carrying two turrets on the flat roof of the vehicle, of which at least five units were manufactured.

On the side of the vehicle reads: 5º Regimiento = 5th Regiment. Down the front of the vehicle: ... ?- Jerez? = Sherry?.

This famous militia unit (5th Regiment) organized and commanded by members of the Communist Party of Spain, dissolved itself and joined the new People's Army of the Republic on January 22, 1937.

On the other hand, the first BA-6 Armored Cars arrived in Spain on October 15, 1936 and were sent in early next month to strengthen the Madrid front.

They did next to tanks T-26 also arrived from the USSR on the same dates.

The BA-6 were used in exploration and coverage missions to the service of the tanks and infantry respectively.

In these actions it became evident the combat effectiveness of the powerful (then) 45-mm cannon. The BA-6 Armored Car had the same turret that the T-26 Tank and obviously carried the same weapons. 

The lesson is not learned during the Spanish Civil War by Germans and Italians (and the rest of the main contenders in the WWII), on the option Soviet extreme firepower in their combat vehicles, would be hard-learned on the battlefields of Europe and Africa, especially in the battlefields of the Soviet Union.

The BA-6 Armored Car in 1936 could destroy virtually any existing battle tanks in the world.
 
This capability was no impediment to fulfill the primary mission for which it was designed: the usual recognition tasks, sometimes avoiding contact and combat with the enemy, and sometimes using their firepower to force and get information about the enemy.

We can deduce that the photograph was taken around Madrid (Madrid Front) between November 1936 and early January 1937.

 Coches Blindados del Ejército Republicano. Frente de Madrid, España, finales de 1936.

Las tripulaciones de un Coche Blindado republicano BA-6 y de un Coche Blindado Improvisado, perteneciente al 5º Regimiento de Milicias Populares, confraternizan en la calle de un pueblo integrado en el sistema defensivo del Frente de Madrid. La tripulación del Coche Blindado BA-6 estaba compuesta únicamente por soldados rusos pertenecientes al Ejército de la Unión Soviética.

El Coche Blindado Improvisado del 5º Regimiento fue realizado, probablemente, sobre el chasis de un autobús o de un camión de chasis largo tipo Somua o Hispano-Suiza. Estaba equipado con dos torretas (hecho excepcional en la configuración de los Coches Blindados Improvisados en la Guerra Civil Española) armadas con ametralladoras Hotchkiss de 7,7-mm (fabricadas bajo licencia en España), y con unas 18 troneras para el uso de armas individuales, por lo que probablemente trasportaba un considerable número de milicianos.

Respecto a este raro vehículo blindado no he encontrado ningún tipo de información que indique su existencia. Aunque muy probablemente debió de construirse en Madrid o en sus alrededores, durante los primeros meses de la guerra.

CORRECIÓN: 

El Coche Blindado Improvisado, NO ES TAL. EN REALIDAD SE TRATA DE UN COCHE BLINDADO DE LA SERIE UNL-2. (UNL = UNIÓN NAVAL DE LEVANTE). Este blindado pertenece a una segunda variante de la serie UNL-2, que se caracteriza por portar dos torretas sobre el techo plano del vehículo, del que al menos se fabricaron cinco unidades.

En el lateral del vehículo se lee: 5º Regimiento. Abajo, en la parte delantera del vehículo: ¿...? ¿Jerez?.

Esta célebre unidad miliciana (5º Regimiento), encuadrada por mandos del Partido Comunista, se disolvió como tal y entró a formar parte del nuevo Ejercito Popular de la República el 22 de enero de 1937.

Los primeros Coches Blindados BA-6 llegaron a España en barcos procedentes de la URSS el 15 de octubre de 1936. A principios del mes siguiente fueron enviados como refuerzo al amenazado Frente de Madrid, junto a los Carros de Combate T-26, llegados también a España en los mismos transportes.

Los BA-6 fueron utilizados en misiones de exploración y cobertura, como vehículos de apoyo de las formaciones de carros de combate o de las unidades de infantería.

En estas acciones se hizo patente la eficacia en combate del potente (para la época) cañón de 45-mm. Los Coches Blindados BA-6 llevaban la misma torreta que el Carro de Combate T-26 y por tanto ambos portaban el mismo tipo de armamento.

La lección no aprendida durante la Guerra Civil Española por alemanes e italianos (así como por el resto de los principales contendientes en la 2ª G.M.), sobre la opción soviética de extremar la potencia de fuego en sus vehículos de combate, habría de ser duramente aprendida en los campos de batalla de Europa y África, especialmente en los campos de batalla de la Unión Soviética.

El Coche Blindado BA-6, en 1936, era capaz de destruir prácticamente cualquier carro de combate existente en el mundo. 

Esta capacidad no constituía impedimento alguno para cumplir la misión principal para la cual fue concebido: las usuales tareas de reconocimiento, unas veces evitando el contacto y el combate con el enemigo, y otras veces utilizando su capacidad de fuego para forzar y obtener información sobre el enemigo.

Podemos deducir que la fotografía fue tomada en los alrededores de Madrid (Frente de Madrid) entre noviembre de 1936 y principios de enero de 1937.

Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G as Ersatz M10 - Panzer-Brigade 150 - Battle of the Bulge, December 1944, Malmedy, Ardennes, Belgium.

GERMAN 'PANTHER' TANK TURNED INTO A FAKE AMERICAN M-10 TANK-DESTROYER

The German Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G as Ersatz M10. 

Belonging to the 150 Panzer-Brigade, special unit under the command of Otto Skorzeny, 

created to carry out Operation Greif. 

Battle of the Bulge 

Malmedy, Ardennes, Belgium December 1944.

British PzKpfw V Panther Ausf G 'Cuckoo'. Reichswald, Germany, 1945.

British PzKpfw V 'Panther' Ausf G 'Cuckoo'. 

Reichswald, Germany, 1945.

British Vickers Mark VIB Light Tank. Near Dunkirk, May-June 1940, France.

British Vickers Mark VIB Light Tank. 

Near Dunkirk, May-June 1940, France.

The 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own)

On 9 September 1922, the 13th/18th Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own) was formed by amalgamation of the 13th Hussars and the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own).

In December 1935, it was named as 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own).
In April 1939 was integrated into the Royal Armoured Corps as a Regular Cavalry Regiment.

During the Battle of France of 1940, was added to the 1st Infantry Division as H.Q. Divisional Troops, serving as the reconnaissance regiment (armoured) of the Division.

The 13th/18th Regiment during the French campaign, was composed of twenty-eight Vickers Mark VIB light tanks and forty-four Carriers.

1st Infantry Division (United Kingdom) - Battle of France 1940

Order of Battle (OOB), France 1940

G.H.Q. (1st Infantry Division)

General Officer Commanding: Major-General H. R. L. G. Alexander

Divisional Troops (H.Q. Troops)

HQ Royal Artillery

2nd Field Regiment, (35, 42, 53 & 87 Batteries) Royal Artillery

19th Field Regiment, (29, 39, 96 & 97 Batteries) Royal Artillery

67th (South Midland) Field Regiment, (265 (Worcester) & 266 (Worcester) Batteries) Royal Artillery

21st Anti-Tank Regiment, (Q, Y, Z & BB Batteries) Royal Artillery

HQ Royal Engineers

23rd Field Company, Royal Engineers

238th Field Company, Royal Engineers

248th Field Company, Royal Engineers

6th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

Other H.Q. Troops

13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) [Divisional Cavalry].  Attached from G.H.Q. Troops

2nd Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun). Attached from G.H.Q. Troops

1st Divisional Signals

1st (Guards) Infantry Brigade – (Brigadier M.B. Beckwith-Smith)

3rd Battalion, The Grenadier Guards

2nd Battalion, The Coldstream Guards

2nd Battalion, The Royal Hampshire Regiment

1st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

2nd Infantry Brigade – (Brigadier Charles Edward Hudson)

1st Battalion, The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)

2nd Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)

6th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders

2nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

3rd Infantry Brigade – (Brig T.N.F. Wilson)

1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)

2nd Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

1st Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry

3rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

'The Elephants of Timoshenko', KV-1 in Ukraine, 1942.

'The Elephants of Timoshenko' 

Soviet KV-1 Tanks in Ukraine, 1942