WesWorld

Novosti News Service – Durrës – Wednesday, 3 April 1940

His Majesty King Aleksandr visited the city today to formally open the Royal Oceanographic Institute, an establishment dedicated to the exploration of the sea. The institute will occupy the quarters of the former Royal Summer Villa. The choice of Durrës as the location for the institute affirms the Crown’s commitment to development of the southern portion of the nation, and follows the announcement of the Government’s plans for reconstruction and expansion of the port.

His Majesty also commissioned the oceanographic research and sail training ship Pelikan , an expression of friendship and gift of His Majesty Tsar Boris of Bulgaria. The Pelikan , a steel barque with auxiliary motor, will be a mobile extension of the Royal Oceanographic Institute, and her permanent crew will be engaged in research tasks and explorations in the far corners of the world. It is reported that the Pelikan will be fitted with high-powered wireless equipment enabling her to report directly to her home station in Durrës, and she will regularly carry a film crew to document the research efforts of her crew. The Pelikan will also represent the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in international sailing competitions, and will from time to time carry groups of cadets to learn the rigours of the sea. She will be entered in this year’s Tall Ships Race and, carrying a cadet contingent including His Highness Crown Prince Petar, it is hoped that she will uphold the national honour this year and in the future.


Novosti News Service – Uzice – Saturday, 6 April 1940

During a campaign stop here Prime Minister Karasec announced that the Government would proceed with the Drina Hydroelectric Project, which promises to bring hundreds if not thousands of jobs to this region and spur continued economic development through electricity production. The announcement was very well received by the crowds gathered, buoying Mister Karasec’s hopes for a reaffirmation of his electoral mandate. Opinion polls suggest that Mister Karasec’s National Democratic Party will maintain its parliamentary majority.

Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Friday, 19 April 1940

The Defence Ministry has announced that it has reached an agreement with the British Government to acquire radio location systems from British manufacturers. It is expected that such systems will be deployed to increase the national air defence; their deployment by the Navy is unconfirmed at this time.


Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Thursday, 2 May 1940

The Defence Ministry has placed orders for an initial quantity of one hundred examples of the recently developed 75mm divisional field gun, with deliveries expected to commence early in next year. It is believed that the Government of Romania will also adopt this weapon as a replacement for a considerable portion of its artillery park, though details of any such transaction have not been announced.


Novosti News Service – Pristina – Wednesday, 22 May 1940

Five examples of the Soko Jastreb single-seat fighter aircraft were delivered today to the 62nd Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron at Statina Air Base to begin that unit’s conversion to the nation’s first indigenous fighter aircraft, replacing its elderly PZL P.11s. As production gains strength at the Soko factory in Mostar, additional units are expected to convert to the new type.

Delivery Status Report, 30 June 1940

Deliveries from Abroad

Skoda 6LT 2-ton Truck – 74
Skoda 6ST 4-ton Truck – 28
Tatra 93 2-ton Truck – 78
Tatra 111 10-ton Truck – 18
Ford 91 1-ton Chassis – 720
General Motors CC-453 3-ton Truck - 250
Skoda Superb 3000 Tender – 67
Raba 38M Botond Prime Mover – 38
Saurer 4CT1D 4.5-ton Truck – 34
Skoda 6VD 5-ton Truck – 14

FlaK33 88mm Heavy AA Gun (M39) – 1
Krauss Maffei Half Track Tractor – 1
Krauss Maffei Half Track Service Vehicle – 0

M34 75mm Mountain Howitzer (Skoda) – 70
M35 105mm Heavy Field Gun (Skoda) – 57
M37 150mm Heavy Field Howitzer (Skoda) – 57


M40 87mm Gun Howitzer (Vickers) – 30
M38 122mm Divisional Howitzer (Russia) – 90

AT-36/75 Medium Tank (Atlantis) - 45


Domestic Ground Ordnance Production

M35 Service Pistol:3,000
M29 Service Rifle:40,500
M28 Machine Rifle:1,590
M32 Machinegun:960
M37 Submachinegun:9,000
M39 Aircraft Machinegun:450
M37 Tank Machinegun:300
M35 Mortar:150
M27/31 Mortar:90
M34 Antitank Rifle:90
M36 Antitank Gun:90
M30 Light Antiaircraft Gun:90
M36 Light Antiaircraft Gun:60
M40 Field Gun-Howitzer:23
M32 Hand Grenade:42,000
Small Arms Ammunition :37,200,000
Artillery Ammunition:186,000


Domestic Vehicle Production for Royal Yugoslav Army

Skoda 6LT 2-ton Truck:90
Skoda 6ST 4-ton Truck:30
Zastava M40 0.25-ton Truck:44
LT.38 Light Tank (gun tank):75
Salvage Tank on LT.38 Chassis:23
Assault Howitzer on LT.38 Chassis:15
Lazar Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle:72
Nemanja Armoured Car:20


Domestic Vehicle Production for Export
Lazar Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle (for British Army):24


Aircraft Deliveries

Focke Wulf Fw190A-4:25
Miles Master:0
Ikarus IK-2:30
Bucker Bu181:30
Soko Jastreb:12

Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Tuesday, 28 May 1940

The Defence Ministry has confirmed reports of an industrial mishap at the Zastava Ordnance Works. Two technicians and two other workers were killed in an explosion in an experimental workshop; four other workers were seriously injured. Damage was confined to a single, separate building and production at the ordnance works has not been adversely impacted.


Novosti News Service – Priboj – Monday, 3 June 1940

The first Austin motor car assembled by the Fabrika Automobile Austin rolled off the assembly line today in a special ceremony. While the present output of the factory is confined working up imported vehicles, it is hoped that in the near future locally produced components will be incorporated into the vehicles, that have been affectionately dubbed “Yugos” by the factory’s workers.


Novosti News Service – Belgrade – Thursday, 13 June 1940

Reports from within the Defence Ministry suggest that the trials of the Zastava Work’s 75mm divisional gun are progressing satisfactorily. It has, apparently, demonstrated excellent ballistic performance and is quite mobile, under both motor and horse traction. According to one source it has also been tested as a potential antitank weapon, firing solid shot at high velocity.