Overvalwagens!
Staff and Command Cars
The Dutch East Indies forces mainly used civilian vehicles (sedans, convertibles, light trucks/vans) as staff
and command cars before WW2. These were mainly of the General Motors family (Chevrolet, Opel),
imported through GM Java. These were all 4x2 vehicles and were only able to drive on the main roads. By
the end of the 1930's however, the need was felt to obtain purpose built vehicles that were able to follow
the troops and guns in all terrains. Several vehicles were tested in 1939 after which several orders were
placed with European companies. When war broke out in Europe these orders could not be fullfilled and
attention shifted to US manufacturers. The Marmon-Herrington Company was approached for a new 4x4
vehicle. Later during WW2, some US Army type command cars were delivered to the Dutch West Indies.
K.N.I.L. Staffcar of the old type, a
Chevrolet van from the late 1920s.
Many were still in service by 1945
(some even after 1945). This one is
pictured in Col. Heshusius' book on
K.N.I.L. Cavalry, while crossing a
pontoon bridge and probably belongs
to one of the Cavalry Squadrons on
Java. This type of vehicle came in
many different versions and uses:
Staff/command, signal corps/radio
truck, etc.
Chevrolet Artillery
Battery Staffcar of
the First Howitzer
Battalion (AIHw) on
show in Batavia,
mid 1930's. A later
model than the
previous picture
(picture from
Stabelan Magazine)
Light artillery Staff car on Opel
P4 passenger car chassis. The
Opels' front wheel suspension
was sufficient to allow driving
on certain rougher terrain
types, but this was by no
means an all terrain vehicle
(Wheels and Tracks).
Austin cars used as
staff cars leading a
Engineer and Signals
Battalion during a
parade in 1939
(Indisch Militair
Tijdschirft).
Ford V8 convertible staff
car leading a Cavalry
Squadron during a K.N.I.L.
parade. Probably a civilian
vehicle, but US Army used
similar cars as staff cars
and Marmon-Herrington
offered an all-wheel drive
version (picture from
Stabelan Magazine).
Chevrolet Cars for very senior officers, operated
by K.N.I.L.'s Motordienst. Late 1930's civilian
model as imported by GM. (Picture from Tanda
Mata K.N.I.L.). Bart Vanderveen in Wheels and
Tracks Magazine has suggested these cars were
Australian sourced and assembled by GM Holden.
Other cars used as staff cars were Chryslers, 1941
and 42 Chevrolet models and others.
Another likely
Australian-sourced
GM Holden
product was this
Chevolet staffcar
pictured at
KNIL-ML (Military
Aviation) Andir
Airbase near
Bandung.
A Ford/Marmon-Herrington 4x4 Commandowagen of
the K.N.I.L. on Java. Each motorised artillery battery
received one (total number of Commandowagens
delivered to the Dutch East Indies was 50). Note the
front bumper roller. The vehicle was equipped with a
winch (at the rear) in order to tow guns and other
vehicles in emergencies. (Picture Stabelan Magazine)
Better side view of the Commando-
wagen. A simple and straightforward
design, it was built on a 1-ton Ford
chassis. (Picture Indisch Militair Tijd-
schrift). To the right one in service with
the First Howitzer Battalion, Batavia
A Dodge WC7 in
service on Curacao,
Netherlands Antilles
(Dutch West Indies),
between 1942-45. It is
not clear when this
vehicle was
delivered.(Picture
Dutch
Beeldbank/National
Archives)
Dodge Command
Reconnaisance Car
3/4 ton 4x4 WC56,
serving with tank unit
of the Dutch forces in
Surinam (Dutch West
Indies) during WW2
(Picture through Hans
Heesakkers).
