Polish Floating Tank PZInż.130

The concept of introducing floating tanks to the equipment of the Polish Army was formulated in the "Plan for the Expansion of Armored Weapons” developed in 1932.  The task of developing a new vehicle was commissioned in 1935 by the State Engineering Institutes (PZInż.). The project worked in cooperation with the Office of Technical Research of Armored Weapons (BBTBr.Panc.) and was led by President Edward Habich. Prototype 130 was completed in the autumn of 1936, and in August 1937, after factory trials, the prototype of the tank was transferred to the army for testing. Buoyancy and field tests received positive assessments from the military commission. The tank's design was considered successful and modern. Despite this the tank was not designated for production. In view of the increase in the number of enemy troops with anti-tank measures, it was decided that the armor of the tank (8mm thick) and its armament were too weak for it to carry out tasks on the battlefield in accordance with its intended purpose. After the tests the prototype of the tank was transferred to Ursus in the summer of 1939, where it was taken over by German troops after the surrender of Warsaw in September, 1939. The ultimate fate of the tank is still unknown.

I made a model of the tank on a scale of 1:25 on the basis of the plans published in “The Little Modeler No. 9/95” and in the Monthly Cardboard Modelers, Cardboard Hobby Number 1, January, 2007. In designing the model I adopted the expected variant of armament with a 20mm cannon. For better effect I also painted the treads with paint "Pactra," no. A54.

Photos - Dariusz Jamioł