Overvalwagens!
Stadswacht Overvalwagens
Introduction
On the picture on the front page of this website you can see a 1940 "Overvalwagen" (assault vehicle)
or armoured personnel carrier of the Dutch East Indies Homeguards (Stadswacht). This was in fact an
armoured truck on Chevrolet 4x2 chassis. Little is known about them and they deserve more attention.
To dismiss them as "improvised" or "armour clad" trucks is definitely outdated. Overvalwagens were
relatively well made and series produced. Although the Overvalwagens had many deficiencies and
often played roles they were not up to, they were used extensively by the Dutch, the Australian army
on Timor, then by the Japanese and after that both Dutch and Indonesians during the Indonesian
Independence War (1945-50).
In all 90 Overvalwagens of all types were built.
Much is known about the use of these vehicles, but not about the technical features. Common
knowledge says the chassis were Chevrolet 4x2 (and since the Overvalwagens were produced in
1940, most if not all must have been 1940 models).
In the original plan to raise and arm Homeguards (Stadswacht/Urban Guards) provision was made for
around 65 Overvalwagens. It is not sure how many were produced. Several dozen of these Stadswacht
vehicles have been identified.
Chassis were provided by General Motors at Tandjong Priok (Chevrolet), while shipyards (Batavia
Droogdok Maatschappij e.g.) provided the armour cut from steel ship plating. The sides of the vehicle
were double plated and the troops usually stuffed their bedrolls and rucksacks between the two plates.
The armour protecting the driver and commander in the front was just one plate however. The troops
as well as the driver had to embark and disembark through a steel door at the rear end of the
Overvalwagen.
The troops sat facing inward on steel benches, one on each side of the vehicle. If seated they would
have a considerable protection, if standing they would be exposed to enemy fire from their waist up.
The driver’s and commander’s compartment were enclosed at the top. The commander could open a
hatch in the roof and use it as a shield.
The Stadswacht was meant to maintain order while the Army (K.N.I.L.) would do the real fighting. The
Overvalwagens were therefore basically designed for the internal security role and were to be
deployed in and near the larger urban centres. They were organised in mobile columns (rapid reaction
forces). In addition to the armoured Overvalwagens there would be also unarmoured troopcarriers or
"manschappenauto's", light trucks and motorcycles. Only in case of an airborne assault on the city the
Stadswacht and its Overvalwagens would be in the front line. As the war approached and the lack of
real armour was felt, most Stadswacht Overvalwagens were taken over by the K.N.I.L. Many were sent
to other parts of the NEI and used as APC or armoured cars in various actions (notably Eastern
Sumatra, Palembang, Timor).
The Stadswacht vehicle had no fixed armament but the troops it carried could fire their guns and light
machineguns from various points while standing in the back. Next to the driver (on his left,
Overvalwagens were all right-hand drives) a light machine gun could also be fired through a firing port.
All Stadswacht vehicles seem to have the same hull, but the position and construction of headlights
differed. It seems that headlights were added to the vehicles locally. Referring to the headlights one
could distinguish at least 4 different production series: Batavia, Eastern Java (Soerakarta and
Soerabaja), Makassar (Celebes/Sulawesi) and Medan (Sumatra) types.
Overvalwagen of the Stadswacht (Home Guard) of
Batavia (now Jakarta). Designed and built in late 1940
on 1940 Model Chevrolet 4x2 trucks. The Batavia
Stadswacht operated 12 of these vehicles. Note the
armoured wheels, designed to protect the tyres from
bullits and to make sure the vehicle could get home
with a flat tyre, running on the steel plate. (pic:
internet).
Front view of same vehicle (picture from Orient
Magazine 1941) during a parade in Batavia late 1941.
The coat of arms of the Batavia Stadswacht is painted
on the front of the vehicle. Note small searchlights on
hull sides.
The engine received fresh air through a radiator below
the nose of the vehicle (visible in this picture). To
reach the engine the top of the hood could be opened.
Visibility from inside the overvalwagen was poor,
especially for the driver. Crews complained about this
and the vehicle was especially difficult to maneuvre
when turning or driving backwards.
In the last case the vehicle commander had to stand
up and expose himself to give directions to the driver.
Batavia Stadswacht undergoing
Overvalwagen drill. Note rear door. All
crew members and troops had to enter
and leave the vehicle through the rear.
Backpacks and bedrolls were usually
stowed inside against the hullsides.
Note the shields that protected the vehicle
commander. Driver and gunner sat under
semi-enclosed hull front (pic: unspecified).
This is probably a
picture of the vehicle
park of a company of
the Batavia
Stadswacht (that had
1350 men by 1942 in 6
companies) (pic: JJ
Nortier. De Japanse
aanval op Java, 1994)
This is a picture of a heavily modified ex-Stadswacht overvalwagen, used by
the Dutch Army during the Indonesian Independence War around 1948/49. In
the Dutch Army the overvalwagen was known as "pantserknots". This
particular vehicle was used by the HQ company of a Dutch infantry batalion at
Poerbolinggo. The picture can be found in a book by Hans Gerritsen,
Hinderlaag bij Sindoeradja. The overvalwagen has been "cut down" at the rear
where a low placed Vickers machine gun is visible. The chassis is by no means
original and a discussion by Wheels and Tracks Magazine several years back,
revealed that this was a 4x4 CMP truck chassis.
Hans Heesakkers provided this picture of a
similar vehicle (or possibly the same?)
employed by the Dutch Army in the same
period. The driver's and commander's
hatches have been improved to provide better
visibility. The front bumper is most likely an
ex-CMP truck's bumper. Radiator louvres have
been added to improve colling of the engine. A
spare wheel is fitted behind the left mudguard.
Overall, this overvalwagen looks much better
and since it seems to be based on a 4x4
chassis, it must have been a usefull vehicle.
The headlights suggest this is an ex-Batavia
Stadswacht vehicle.
The Soerakarta Stadswacht in Central Java possessed
one vehicle. Note the different headlights: these are
built against front mudguards. Many overvalwagens
carried ladders on the outsides of the hull. This vehicle
boasts an antenna and must be equipped with a radio,
which was rare. Note crew wearing German Stahlhelm
and brandishing Mauser guns. Some NEI auxiliary
forces used this type of helmet, most notably the
Soerakarta and Medan Stadswacht (pic: Stabelan
Magazine).
Rear view of
same vehicle,
showing rear
door. Note
vulnerability of
troops
standing
(Picture from
Djokja
en Solo).
Yokyakarta, 1949. The
Indonesain Independence War
is ending. The Dutch forces
abandon the city. An
Overvalwagen is still in use
with them. It is of the same
"Eastern Java" series as the
Soerakarta and Soerabaja
vehicles (headlights built
against front mudguards). Note
steel plate covering front wheel
is missing (pic: Marsroutes en
dwaalsporen).
Parade of Soerabaja (Surabaya)
Stadswacht in 1941. A city with a large
European population it had a 1200
strong Stadswacht with an unknown
number of Overvalwagens. Here are
two with similar headlights as the
Soerakarta type. Leading the way is a
1941 civilian Chevrolet 4x2 1,5 ton
truck, locally converted to open
troopcarrier or squadcar (Picture from
Soerabaja: Beeld van een Stad).
Overvalwagen of the Makassar
Stadswacht (on the island of
Celebes/Sulawesi. The
Makassar Home guards had at
least 3 vehicles. Note the
streamlined headlights (Picture
from Zwaan: Gouvernementeel
Intermezzo).
Remnants of an
Overvalwagen on Timor,
1945. The Australian
Forces defending Timor in
1942 operated a small
number of Overvalwagens.
Headlights built to the front
of mudguards. Same
series as Makassar
vehicles (picture from
AWM site).
Overvalwagens of the Medan (Sumatra) Stadswacht.
One of a series of five vehicles delivered, these cars
have the headlights fitted to the bonnet sides. These
Overvalwagens were to be used intensively by K.N.I.L.
Landstorm and Militie companies during the Japanese
assault on Northern Sumatra. (pic: Zwaan)
Medan Stadswacht
Overvalwagen.
Headlights as above.
Crew and troops in
German Stahlhelm
(picture from: Medan,
beeld van een stad).
In september 1945 the Imperial
Japanese Army handed in its
equipment on the island of New Britain
to the Allies after surrender. Hundreds
of tanks and other vehicles were
parked on an airstrip. On this picture 3
ex-Stadswacht Overvalwagens can be
seen. The first one can be identified by
its headlights as an ex-Medan
(Northern Sumatra) vehicle (picture
from the Australian War Memorial).