The Fiat Omsk models are here

There were two models, one with a casemate and the other with a turret.

Their origin is unknown. It is based on two assumptions:

– a construction in Omsk, headquarters of Admiral Kolchak, head of the main white force in the east who was fighting the Bolsheviks. This hypothesis is the least likely.

– a construction in Vladivostok directly from chassis of American vehicles landed in the port by Dalzavod factory (Fiat or Hurlburt chassis). This hypothesis is the most likely, indeed, all the known photos were taken in Vladivostok.

The chassis concerned could be fiat chassis constructed in the United States by the American subsidiary in Poughkeepsie (the same that was provided for the Fiat Izhorski) , but it could also be other American chassis because the port of Vladivostok in 1918-1919 was a real pile of material in particular American.

There were only three examples built seen on photos): two with a casemate and one with turret, it is not known if there have been others because the information on these vehicles is almost non-existent.

In all cases, there were two types;

– a type with a casemate who carried two maxim machine guns mod 1910 on a sliding plate, each machine gun being independent. Two copies were constructed bearing numbers 1 and 2 in white letters.

– a type with a turret carrying a single Maxim mod 1910 machine gun. A single copy built with the number 3 in white lettering.

Note that the cars saw their number highlighted red after the capture of the city by the Red Army on January 31, 1920.

Several photographs were taken during the demonstration of March 20, 1920. After the election on 6 March 1920 of the council with Sergei Lazo at his head, a demonstration of support was organized by the Bolsheviks and abundantly photographed.

On the night of April 4-5, 1920, the Japanese tried to take control of the city and arrested Lazo and other members of the council in the building of the commission of the rural council and investigation Poltava street. One of the casemate cars was immobilized at this point and it’s this one who was photographed on several occasions with sometimes Japanese soldiers who claimed to have captured it.

The casemate model :

The casemate model was based on a 4X2 chassis with double rear wheels. The wheels were made of solid rubber. The engine compartment was armored with a double swing door at the front for cooling and side hatches for maintenance. The firing compartment was original with two parts « suspended » on either side of the axis of the body, each one carried a Maxim 1910 machine gun. The firing angle was 180 ° to 200 ° each, so that there was a possibility of firing on 360 ° but possibility to concentrate the fire of the two machine guns on one target. The machine guns were moved via a sliding plate. Access was via a single door on the left. They had numbers 1 and 2 on the pictures. Note that the cars saw their number highlighted red after the capture of the city by the Red Army on January 31, 1920. the fate of the casemate models is unknown.

The turret model:

The chassis was shorter than the casemate type, it was also a 4X2 with twin rear wheels. The wheels were made of solid rubber. The front is of the same design but the battle compartment only carries a single rotating turret with a Maxim 1910 machine gun. Access is through a single small door on the left side. It bears the number 3 on the photos, number also red outlined sometimes after.

Having been abandoned after a breakdown, the turret model was captured and included in the Japanese Army’s machine gun detachment with a Japanese machine gun and a white star on the front of the radiator. Following the departure of the Japanese contingent, it is confirmed that the turret model later went to Korea and Manchuria as part of the japanese troops there.