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10 Second War Stories brings military history to life through stories, veteran profile, force profiles, and equipment guides across all nations and conflicts.

What was the TKS tankette?

The TKS was a tiny armored vehicle that ran on metal tracks and carried a crew of two. Poland began building these machines in 1934 based on a design from Britain. Because they were small and cheap to make, Poland was able to build hundreds of them to protect the country.

What was the main job of the TKS?

The TKS was built to scout the land and find out where enemy troops were hiding. It also went on patrols to keep an eye on important roads. When foot soldiers were in trouble, these little tanks could drive up to give them extra help.

Why was the TKS so hard for enemies to see?

This vehicle was much smaller than a regular tank, standing only about four feet tall. Because of its tiny size, soldiers could easily tuck it away in tall grass or thick bushes. It could also hide in deep roads that were sunken into the ground, making it very hard for the enemy to spot.

Did the TKS have powerful weapons?

Most of these machines only carried a single machine gun, which was not strong enough to stop big enemy tanks. Right before the war in 1939, a few were updated with a powerful 20mm cannon. These special tankettes were finally strong enough to punch holes through enemy armor.

What is a famous story about the TKS?

A brave Polish sergeant named Roman Orlik became a hero during the war. He used his tankette equipped with a 20mm cannon to set up a clever surprise ambush. He successfully destroyed several German tanks before the enemy even knew he was there.

Home Library PolandTKS Tankette

Tankette

TKS Tankette

A tiny two-man armored vehicle used for scouting and infantry support in 1939.

Poland Introduced 1934 Panstwowe Zaklady Inzynierii (PZInz)Role: Reconnaissance and light patrol

Specifications

Weight

2.8 tons

Crew

Armor

Up to 10mm

Top Speed

25 mph

Armament

One 7.92mm machine gun or 20mm autocannon

History

The TKS was a very small armored tracked vehicle developed in Poland during the 1930s. It was based on an earlier British design and was cheap enough for Poland to build in large numbers. Because of its tiny size, it could hide in bushes, tall grass, and sunken roads where enemy tanks could not easily spot it.

Most TKS tankettes carried only a single machine gun, which made them ineffective against heavily armored tanks. However, a small number were upgraded with a 20mm autocannon right before World War II. In one famous battle, a Polish sergeant named Roman Orlik used his cannon-armed TKS to destroy several German tanks in a surprise ambush.