overvalwagen

The Overvalwagen's exact origins are unknown, but earliest known records indicate that they were designed sometime in 1940{{Cite book |last=Oktorino |first=Nino |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HclhDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22braat+overvalwagen%22&pg=PA31 |title=Seri Nusantara Membara: Hancurnya Knil Minahasa |date=2018-02-26 |publisher=Elex Media Komputindo |isbn=978-602-04-5394-1 |language=id}} for the {{lang|nl|Stadswacht}} (Urban Home Guards). The {{lang|nl|Stadswacht}} were tasked to maintain order in the cities and to guard against possible airborne assault on urban areas. These so called Type A Overvalwagens was based on Chevrolet 4×2 truck chassis. The Type A was built using Chevrolet truck chassis provided from General Motors factory in Tanjung Priok, with the armor plate using ship steel plating supplied by shipyards, such as the {{lang|nl|Batavia Droogdok Maatschappij}}.{{cite web |first=A.F. |last=Nuyt |url=http://overvalwagen.com/overvalw.html |title=

Stadswacht Overvalwagens |website=overvalwagen.com |access-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619111426/http://overvalwagen.com/overvalw.html |archive-date=19 June 2006 |url-status=dead}}

A more advanced model of the vehicle was later designed and used by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). It was referred to as Type B or more commonly Braat Overvalwagen.{{cite web |first=A.F. |last=Nuyt |url=http://www.overvalwagen.com/overval2.html |title=Army Overvalwagens |website=overvalwagen.com |access-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223011312/http://www.overvalwagen.com/overval2.html |archive-date=23 December 2007 |url-status=dead}} This model was designed by a KNIL Engineer Corps Captain, Luyke Roskott (b. July 25, 1921{{Cite web |title=Eduard Richard Alexander Luyke Roskott (locatie onbekend, 25 juli 1921 - Tokyo POW Camp 1944/09/11, datum onbekend) |url=https://www.oorlogsbronnen.nl/tijdlijn/Eduard-Richard-Alexander-Luyke-Roskott/15/20659 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Oorlogsbronnen.nl |language=nl}} - d. ?) and were based on 1940 Chevrolet 4×2 Cab Over Engine (COE) truck chassis. The beginning of this model's names, Braat, refers to the Machinefabriek Braat NV, which had workshops in Soerabaja {{efn|modern spelling: Surabaya}} on Eastern Java, where they were ostensibly and evidently produced.

Roughly 25 at least were made, though higher numbers say 90{{Cite book |last=Lohnstein |first=Marc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CWdkDwAAQBAJ&q=roskott&pg=PA48 |title=Royal Netherlands East Indies Army 1936–42 |date=2018-08-23 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-3376-1 |language=en}} models were produced domestically in the Dutch East Indies of all variants. It is possible, that the 25 estimate is in reference not to the total made ever, but rather exclusively those produced in Surabaya, though this is unconfirmed.

The Overvalwagen Type A were meant to be used by the {{lang|nl|Stadswacht}} and were organized in mobile columns (rapid reaction forces) to guard the urban areas. It was used by {{lang|nl|Stadswacht}} garrisons in Batavia{{efn|modern day Jakarta}}, Soerakarta{{efn|modern spelling: Surakarta}}, Soerabaja, Medan, and Makassar. As the possibility of war loomed over the horizon, most of the Type A were requisitioned by regular KNIL units and would see action during the Dutch East Indies campaign in such places as Eastern Sumatra, Palembang, and Timor.

The Type B or Braat Overvalwagen were used extensively by KNIL units in the archipelago during the Japanese invasion. Several units were present during the initial Japanese landings on Tarakan, Manado, Balikpapan, Kendari, Ambon and Japanese offensives in Samarinda and Banjarmasin during January–February 1942. It would ultimately saw action during the Japanese invasion of Java in February–March 1942. Apart from the KNIL, the Braat Overvalwagen also saw service with the Dutch Marines as part of the Navy battalion in Eastern Java. The cannon-armed Marines Overvalwagen engaged a Japanese column during the fighting around Soerabaja in March 1942.

After the Dutch surrender on 8 March 1942, surviving units of both Type A and Type B Overvalwagen would see service with the Imperial Japanese Army garrisons in the archipelago. Some units were sent outside of the East Indies to reinforce Japanese forces elsewhere. Several examples were captured by Allied forces on New Britain after the Japanese surrender in September 1945.

Surviving units of both Type A and Type B Overvalwagen would again saw service with the KNIL during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to 1949 against the Indonesian Republican forces. During this conflict, several Type B Overvalwagen were converted for use on the railways. It was converted by welding an Overvalwagen hull to a flat wagon and installing a canvas cover over the open compartment to protect against scorching sunlight and hand grenades. The modification were done by Manggarai railway workshop. These armored wagons were attached to trains in the Priangan area as security measure against possible sabotage or ambush by Indonesian insurgents. The Dutch soldiers dubbed them {{lang|nl|schietwagens}} (shooting wagons).{{cite web |url=https://www.airspace-review.com/2018/06/29/mengenal-panser-rel-tni-ad-bagian-1/ |title=Mengenal Panser Rel TNI AD (Bagian 1) |website=airspace-review.com |date=29 June 2018 |access-date=13 February 2024 |language=ID }} After the end of the conflict in December 1949, the remaining Overvalwagen were handed over to the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD).{{cite web |url=https://www.airspace-review.com/2018/06/30/mengenal-panser-rel-tni-ad-bagian-2/ |title=Mengenal Panser Rel TNI AD (Bagian 2) |website=airspace-review.com |date=30 June 2018 |access-date=13 February 2024 |language=ID }}

The Overvalwagen armored wagons were known as {{lang|id|panser rel}} (rail armored vehicle) by the Indonesian. The unpowered {{lang|id|panser rel}} were used by the Indonesian Army in 1955 in response to sabotage on the Priangan railway lines by Darul Islam rebels. They were attached in front of the locomotive of the trains heading from {{sta|Bandung}} to {{sta|Banjar}} and {{sta|Ciamis}}. The {{lang|id|panser rel}} were manned by personnel from the 4th Cavalry Battalion of Kodam III/Siliwangi. They would escort the trains until the end of the rebellion in 1962. One example is preserved at the Satriamandala Museum in Jakarta.

Beside the unpowered {{lang|id|panser rel}} inherited from the Dutch, the Indonesian Army also created the "Panser Rel V-16" armored draisine, built by the Army Equipment Workshop (precursor of Pindad).{{cite web |url=https://www.indomiliter.com/pindad-panser-rel-v16-ranpur-lapis-baja-pengawal-kereta-api/ |title=Pindad Panser Rel V16: Ranpur Lapis Baja Pengawal Kereta Api |website=indomiliter.com |date=6 February 2017 |access-date=13 February 2024 |language=ID }} It was created by joining two Braat Overvalwagen hulls back to back and installed it on an 8-axle railway chassis. Panser Rel V-16 was powered by two Ford VBA65HI diesel engines and capable of reaching {{convert|80|km/h|mi/h|abbr=on}}. It was armed with two M1919 Browning machine guns, each at the front and the back. The armored draisine was also manned by personnel from the 4th Cavalry Battalion. It saw service in 1955–1959, patrolling and escorting trains between {{sta|Ciawi}} in Tasikmalaya and {{sta|Cicalengka}} on the outskirts of Bandung. It is preserved at the Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi Museum in Bandung.

File:Een overvalwagen van het KNIL geproduceerd door Braat, vermoedelijk op Java, KITLV 45071.tiff|Braat Overvalwagens in Priangan Residency, 1941

File:Hr. Ms. De Ruyter moored in Soerabaja.jpg|HNLMS De Ruyter moored in Surabaya port. KNIL mechanized forces are with a Braat Overvalwagen armored car behind the rest.

File:A Japanese Type 97 tankette and several surendered armoured cars (AWM 096848).jpg|Surrendered Japanese Overvalwagen Type A and Type 97 Te-Ke tankette at Rapopo Airstrip, New Britain, September 1945.

File:A dismantled Dutch scout car and staff car near the Beco to Bobanaro road (AWM 121441).jpg|Derelict Overvalwagen Type A in Portuguese Timor, December 1945.

File:Schoolkinderen op straat bij pantserwagens van Bataljon Infanterie I KNIL, Bestanddeelnr 6-1-4.jpg|Braat Overvalwagen (background, partially obscured) and Marmon-Herrington Mk III (foreground) of KNIL 1st Infantry Battalion in Tangerang, May 1946.

File:Samarinda, Bestanddeelnr 1615-1-1 (cropped).jpg|KNIL forces patrolling in Samarinda with Braat Overvalwagen, April 1948.

File:Panser rel Satriamandala 29122023 3.jpg|Preserved Overvalwagen armored wagon at the Satriamandala Museum, Jakarta.

• Wilton-Fijenoord Pantserwagen

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{{commons category|Overvalwagen armored car}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070328213645/http://www.overvalwagen.com/ Overvalwagen.com (on Web Archive)]

Category:Military equipment of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army

Category:Indonesia in World War II

Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of the Netherlands

Category:World War II armoured cars

Category:Armoured personnel carriers of WWII

Category:Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944

Category:Military draisines

Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of Indonesia