WesWorld

Privredni Vjesnik, Thursday, 13 November 1947

The Jasenica Equipment and Machinery Company of Smederevska Palanka continues the manufacture and assembly of the AT.47 mobile antitank gun for the Royal Yugoslav Army. Derived from the LT.43 light tank the AT.47 is armed with a variant of the M40 75mm divisional gun, the Army’s standard antitank weapon. Production is continuing at the rate of twelve units per month, though this could be increased should orders be received from abroad – the vehicle has been demonstrated to the Syrian Army.

Novosti News Service, Sunday, 16 November 1947

The sail training ship Pelikan has called at the Iberian port of Cadiz on her voyage from the Caribbean.

Yugoslav Steamer Beograd, The Bund, Shanghai, Friday, 21 November 1947

Tugs warped the Beograd into her position alongside the quay. For Konstantin Prigal and his Flying Pandurs, their voyage to China was over – but now their adventures would truly begin. He expected consular officials to come aboard to help process his men through the maze of Chinese officialdom and expedite the safe transfer of their vehicles and equipment to whatever means of transport the Chinese had prepared. As the start of the rally was far inland, he wondered how that might be accomplished. But for the moment he was content to wait, and hope that no one started the race without him.

Novosti News Service, Durrës, Wednesday, 26 November 1947

The sail training and oceanographic research ship Pelikan has returned home from her long voyage to the Americas and the Caribbean.

Report of the Hungarian Military Attaché, Belgrade, Friday, 28 November 1947

Production of the M43 service rifle has reached the point where it has supplanted the M29 rifle in most regular units of the Royal Yugoslav Army; production is continuing at a high level. Production of the M47 general purpose machinegun has also been boosted, and its widespread issue is being hastened. Much materiel is being refurbished and stored in depots around the country for use by territorial militia forces in the event of invasion; a situation which is unlikely at the moment but one which the Yugoslav general staff obviously considers possible.

Production of the M40 field car and M41 light truck have been scaled back, while manufacturing resources have been concentrated on the M44 medium truck and the M46 artillery tractor. The long-term motorisation plan of the Yugoslav military is reaching maturity, with a majority of vehicles in service of domestic design and manufacture. Developmental work continues on a replacement medium tank – agreements have been reached with the Skoda Works for local manufacture of an engine and transmission for the vehicle, and a French 90mm gun has been selected as its main armament. A prototype has yet to be completed.

Further details of the light recoilless weapon under development at the Zastava Works have come to light. It is an 82mm weapon intended for use by the infantry, replacing both the M40 rocket launcher and the M40 Divisional Gun within Yugoslav infantry battalions. Development is being pursued under the designation T47; it is expected that a procurement decision will be made before the end of the year.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Saturday, 29 November 1947

Late yesterday the Defence Ministry announced that it had entered into negotiations with the British Gloster firm to acquire an additional twenty-five examples of the firm’s Meteor fighter aircraft.

Novosti News Service, Duvno, Monday, 1 December 1947

Prince Tomislav joined other dignitaries here at the official opening of the Blažuj Plywood Lumber Factory. This firm will provide much needed employment in this region of the kingdom, and it is expected to have more than four hundred workers by spring.

Novosti News Service, Belgrade, Monday, 8 December 1947

The Ministry of Defence has announced the conclusion of a second contract with the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company for the supply of a further twenty-five of its Meteor fighter aircraft. The new contract, calling for the supply of eighteen single-seat and seven two-seat aircraft, came after brief negotiations. There had been considerable speculation that the Royal Yugoslav Air Force would seek a more capable aircraft, but sources at the Ministry indicated that the purchase of additional Meteors is to be regarded as an interim measure, as aircraft development has entered a new phase of rapid change. Deliveries are expected to commence sometime in the spring.

Belgrade, The Ministry of Defence, Wednesday, 10 December 1947

Major General Lav Rupnik was reviewing the latest reports on Soko’s jet aircraft development programme, and was at once relieved and concerned. The programme was progressing, but the results were not encouraging enough to question his recommendation to purchase additional Gloster Meteors; but soon the Royal Yugoslav Air Force would have to make major decisions on re-equipment if it was to maintain credibility in the face of the threat from Italy.

Two prototypes of the Zolja research aircraft were flying at this point, with a third under construction. The first, fitted with Hirth engines, had flown in August and proved underpowered; the second, powered by a pair of Gnome-Rhone TRAC-1C turbojets, showed greater promise but handling problems with the design were exposed by the greater power of the French engines. Reading the reports Rupnik gathered that the third prototype, with Junkers Jumo powerplants, might have similar issues.

The design team, however, held out hopes for the future in their plan for a redesign, which would see an aircraft fitted with tricycle landing gear – which promised to correct some of the handling issues. With continued funding, they reported, a service-worthy aircraft might be flown sometime in 1948.

Novosti News Service, Friday, 12 December 1947

The Ministry of Defence has announced that it has concluded an agreement to lease three examples of the German-built Arado Ar234 light bomber for a period of six months.

The Soko Works, Mostar, Tuesday, 16 December 1947

A novelist might have described the meeting as ‘A Gathering of Eagles’; the subject being the future of the firm’s aircraft development programme. Boris Cijan and Stanko Obad, leaders of the design team, with their staff, were closeted with Velimir Radojkovic, chairman of the National Aviation League, and Goran Maksimović, the project’s patron in Parliament. The latest progress reports on the ‘Zolja’ research aircraft lay before each of them.

“We know we have problems with the design,” said Cijan, in some agitation. “Telling us over and over that we do will not help matters.” His last comment was directed towards Radojkovic, who had spent the last ten minutes on the subject.

“But when will you engineers come up with an aircraft that the air force can use?” Radojkovic demanded. “You told us that the last redesign would work.”

“That is not what was said,” Obad replied, in quiet earnestness. “We felt that by redesigning the airframe we could have the first ‘Zolja’ prototype flying before the end of the year – and not only do we have the Hirth-powered aircraft available, we have the second with the French engines; and the third, with the German engines, will fly soon as well.”

Radojkovic was agitated. “But the airplane is not combat-worthy!”

Cijan took up the cudgels. “It was not meant to be; it was to test our abilities to design a modern jet aircraft; and we have made mistakes. The tail-wheel configuration, while adequate for traditional aircraft, will not do for jet aircraft – their landing speeds are too great; the structural forces on the empennage has proven greater than anticipated, and the stop-gap bracing has induced flutter at high speeds. We could certainly fly the aircraft at greater speeds if we wished to crash it and kill the pilot.”

“And I thank you for your caution,” said Maksimović, deadpan. “That would also kill any hopes of a domestic jet warplane for ten years.”

“Precisely,” Cijan agreed.

“So you speak of a third design,” Maksimović continued, picking up the report. “This would address the issues you have uncovered thus far?”

Obad nodded in agreement. “It is a far heavier aircraft, and here we have incorporated provision for armament in the design from the outset. If we can get funding, we would hope to have a prototype flown by the middle of next year.”

“As you know, the Government has ordered a second batch of Meteors from Britain; General Rupnik could not be convinced otherwise.” Maksimović had tried to hold off committing Yugoslavia’s hard currency reserves as long as possible. “Given the faster pace of western designs, it is unlikely that we can continue to avoid a major purchase decision. The middle of next year may be too late.”

“Then we will have to burn the midnight oil,” Cijan admitted.

Novosti News Service, Bar, Sunday, 21 December 1947

The second minelayer for the Royal Yugoslav Navy, Minelayer B, was launched today at the Adriatic Shipyards here. Her sister, Vojvodina, was completed here last month, and is presently undergoing training before taking her place in with the fleet. Preparations are underway in the yard for the construction of vessels in the new year, signalling further expansion of the navy.

Report of the Hungarian Military Attaché, Belgrade, Tuesday, 23 December 1947

The decision of the Yugoslav Government to acquire additional examples of the British Meteor fighter aircraft came as a surprise to many here; the progress made by the Soko firm in developing its own aircraft had been much touted. More disturbing perhaps are the plans announced to consider the acquisition of German-built jet bomber aircraft; if pursued, it will put the Yugoslavs one up on Italy, and put them ahead of their Warsaw Pact allies.

Reports from several sources suggest that the Royal Yugoslav Navy will concentrate on construction of support vessels; the Project 1947 Beta minelayers are not to be continued beyond the two units now under construction. Rumours abound that the Yugoslavs are seeking to construct craft capable of carrying out amphibious landings along the Adriatic shore; given the overall ascendency of the Italian Navy this would seem foolhardy. Nevertheless personnel have been drafted from the Yugoslav riverine flotilla to an amphibious training unit at Kotor.

Work on the domestic tank design continues; the first examples of the new semi-tracked infantry carriers have been delivered, though production thus far is quite limited. Contracts for additional machine tools and plant equipment have been placed in France and Germany.