WesWorld

The Times – London – Thursday, 5 January 1939

Reports from Kaunas indicate that the Yugoslav Minister, Mr. Guzina, has been recalled to Belgrade for consultations.


Novosti New Services – Belgrade – Saturday, 14 January 1939

The Ministry of Defence announced that five recently decommissioned minesweepers of the Royal Yugoslav Navy have been sold to Turkey for further service. Sources suggest that they will be turned over to Turkish crews at the port of Bar sometime in February or March.


Swiss Defence Review – Zurich – Friday, 27 January 1939

Yugoslavia continues its programme of military modernisation. Our correspondent in Prague reports that contracts have been signed for further supplies of trucks from Skoda and Tatra, including a contract for several hundred of the Tatra T111 – the firm’s new 10-ton all-terrain truck. It appears that to supplement the output of the Czech motor industry, the General Motors Company of Detroit, Michigan, has received a contract to supply a substantial quantity of conventional motor lorries for the Yugoslav Army’s second-echelon units.


Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Saturday, 18 February 1939

The Defence Ministry announced today that the German Government had approved contracts recently concluded between it and the Bucker Flugzeugwerke for the acquisition of Bu181 Bestmann primary training aircraft, and the licencing of the State Aircraft Factory to produce the aircraft. Bucker will supply ten pattern aircraft and technical assistance to aid the manufacture of the aircraft locally. In parallel, the State Aircraft Factory has contracted with the Hirth Motorenwerke to undertake the local manufacture of the HM405 light aero engine used in the Bestmann trainer.


The Economist – Prague – Tuesday, 28 February 1939

The Accounting Office for Tyres, Axles and Gear Wheelsets reported continued growth of sales within the Yugoslav market. In 1939 the Czech mechanical engineering supplied no less than Kc 3,468,000 of railway components to firms in Yugoslavia, including 2,270 railway wheels and wheelsets and 2,357 railway axles.


Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Tuesday, 21 March 1939

The Defence Ministry announced that it had signed a procurement contract with the Soko Aircraft Factory of Mostar for the supply of no less than 200 of the firm’s Jastrab single-seat fighter aircraft. The firm has been developing the aircraft under a development contract as Project 220, and while the prototype has yet to be flown, sufficient progress has been made to warrant an acceleration of its procurement. No details of the aircraft have been released at this time, and sources refused to answer questions regarding their expectation for the aircraft’s first flight.

Deliveries this quarter under FY38 procurement contracts

LT.38 Light Tank - 21
Skoda 6LT 2-ton Truck - 74
Skoda 6ST 4-ton Truck - 79
Skoda VL2 2-ton Trailer - 37
Tatra 93 2-ton Truck - 160
Ford 81 Chassis - 400

M34 75mm Mountain Howitzer - 31
M35 105mm Heavy Field Gun - 29
M37 150mm Heavy Field Howitzer - 28

Explosia – Cordite – 75 tonnes
Explosia – Trotyl – 75 tonnes
First Brno – Rifle Barrels – 3,000
First Brno – Rifle Receivers – 3,000

Deliveries this quarter under FY39 procurement contracts

Skoda 6LT 2-ton Truck – 9
Skoda 6ST 4-ton Truck – 5
Skoda VL2 2-ton Trailer – 2
Tatra 93 2-ton Truck – 9
Tatra 111 10-ton Truck – 2
Ford 91 1-ton Chassis – 100
General Motors CC-453 3-ton Truck - 250

FlaK33 88mm Heavy AA Gun (M39) – 2
Krauss Maffei Half Track Tractor – 2
Krauss Maffei Half Track Service Vehicle – 0

Aircraft Deliveries

Lockheed Model 18-08 Lodestar – 1 (Civil)
Lockheed Model 212 – 18 (Military)
Handley Page Hereford – 24 (Military)

LT.38 Tank Production at the State Locomotive Works

Jan 1939 – 5
Feb 1939 – 5
Mar 1939 – 8