In part one; reference was made to the "aurometrallodara" (self propelled MG) otherwise known as the Bilbao 1932 armoured car.

Early after 14/4/1931 the new government of the second republic saw the need to reinforce and expand the security corps. Following the proposal of the "gobernacion" the security ministries announced the formation of the "Guardia de Asaltos" on the 30/1/1932.

These Asaltos were to be motorised shock troops, armed with both individual and collective weapons from pistols, to machine guns, rifles, and light machine guns to mortars and armoured cars. Initially organised into 14 assault groups (18 in 1934) each having 3 companies supported by a specialist company.

Each specialist company had a HQ element, a mortar and gas section, and a motorised section of 3 armoured cars.

The 3 armoured cars were the Bilbao's, built by the railway department of the Yard Spanish Society (SECN) Sestao, (Bilbao). The design had been produced by a SECN engineer in close collaboration with a captain of the Asaltos engineer corp.

The basic vehicle was the Dodge 4x2 1930 of Detroit USA who provided the chassis with Chrysler motor, gearbox, and wheels using only the mudguards, lights and front bumper from the vehicle bodywork. A 'T' shaped iron girder was mounted on the chassis, and steel plates were riveted on it, forming the body structure.

The body had a strong appearance although the armour was poor, in which the fighting compartment acted as a cage. There were 2 front seats for the commander and driver and 2 folding seats for the rest of the crew. Access doors could be opened from both ends, and there were 6 shielded windows along the front and sides plus a seventh rear window. The rear hull was extended by a bin for luggage and spares.

On the centre of the roof was a fully rotateable cylindrical turret, with a flet mantles with a ball and socket for the 7mm Hotchkiss 1924 MMG, it had upright spotting slots and an access lid on the top.

The Bilbao was produced through 2 series, the first of 36 vehicles were supplied to the 18 assault guard companies, and a second series of 14 supplied to the cavalry "Grupo de auto ametalladoras - canon" reduced to 12 in August 1936 as 2 were returned to Sestao's factory.

Today, there is a Bilbao perfectly preserved and fully operational at the "Escela de Logisica del Ejercito" - the only known survivor from those built between 1932 and 1936.

Large illustrations (slow: 151K)

Technical Data:

Crew: 4 + 5
Weight: 4.800 kg. aprox.
Length: 5'44m. Width: 2'07m.
Height up to motor bonnet: 1'43m.
Height up to the roof: 2'01m.
Total height: 2'60m.
Bottom distance to floor: 210mm.
Wheel base: 3'43m
Front wheel distance: 1'50m.
Rear wheel distance: 1'57m.
Wheels: 6 with 32x6 tyres
Suspension: 4 springs
Motor: 6 cylinder Chrysler, water cooled, 63HP.
Transmission: By hand,4AV.IR. 4x2
Speed: 50 km/hour.
Armour: 3mm steel plates
Armament: one 7mm Hotchkiss

More AFVs in SCW

Part IV: Soviets and Germans
Part III: Foreign Material
Part II: Bilbao Armoured Car
Part I: Beginning of the War