Škoda Henlein

Only preserved Škoda Henlein
Type	Light assault vehicle, Armored Personel Carrier
Place of Origin	Sudentenland
In Service	1994 - 2000
Main armament	2x 7,92 mm MG 34
Secondary Armament	1x M16 Assault rifle with M203 Grenade launcher
Avaiable armament	90 mm RPG, personal weapons
Armor	Unknown, but enough strong against cardiges up to .50 BMG
Engine	1.9 liter hybrid engine (Diesel and Zyklon B)

The Škoda Henlein (Type 781-56K) was a light assault vehicle born from the chaotic post-Cold War era, a bizarre fusion of civilian practicality and military brutality. Developed in the mid-1990s, this one-of-a-kind war machine was built from the humble Škoda Favorit chassis, but its modifications made it anything but ordinary. Designed for rapid, close-quarters combat in urban settings, the Henlein was outfitted with an unsettling array of offensive and defensive features, including machine guns, a toxic exhaust system, and a self-destruct mechanism ominously named the Direct Combustion System. This twisted engineering masterpiece was a chilling testament to the era’s extremes, turning an affordable civilian car into a tool of warfare and psychological terror.

Development

The development of the Škoda Henlein was driven by the evolving demands of the 1990s post-war era, when military strategies called for a vehicle that was fast, maneuverable, and capable of operating in tight urban combat environments. Following the relative success of Škoda’s civilian lines such as the Special line, Silverline, and Sportline, the engineers behind the Henlein sought to create something entirely new—a compact, yet formidable military vehicle.

While these previous models had achieved a certain level of market appeal due to their affordability and practicality, the Henlein's creators aimed for something more radical: a new, rounded vehicle design that would be inconspicuous yet capable of delivering heavy firepower and psychological impact. The rounded shape, inspired by these earlier consumer lines, wasn’t just for aesthetics—it was meant to enhance mobility and make the vehicle more suitable for rapid deployment in narrow streets and urban warfare zones.

Thus, the Henlein became a highly specialized machine, blending the reliable mechanics of Škoda’s civilian cars with a militaristic design philosophy. It was a dark evolution of the brand's previous successes, repurposed for the grim realities of close-quarters combat.

Henlein

The Škoda Henlein stands as one of the most unsettling and grotesque developments of post-Cold War military experimentation, a brutal fusion of civilian ingenuity and lethal military intent. Designed for urban warfare, this light assault vehicle was built on the foundation of the Škoda Favorit, but every trace of its modest civilian origins was consumed by dark innovation.

Design and Structure

At first glance, the Henlein’s rounded body seems to be a quirky, even comical nod to Škoda’s past civilian lines, like the Silverline and Sportline. But this deceptive shape was tailored for function. Its smooth curves allowed it to slip through narrow streets while the mounted antlers—yes, antlers—served as a unique antenna array. Not just a symbol of defiance, these intricate twelve-point antlers held a communications system with twelve times the memory capacity of standard vehicle antennas. It wasn’t just about sending and receiving signals—it was about outsmarting the enemy by sheer absurdity.

Armament

Beneath the seemingly whimsical exterior, the Henlein bristled with weaponry. Hidden beneath the front headlights were two MG 34 machine guns, capable of spitting out 900 rounds per minute of 7.92 mm ammunition. While old by modern standards, these guns were reliable and devastating in urban combat. The Henlein’s compact form allowed it to approach targets before unleashing its firepower.

An M16 rifle with an under-barrel grenade launcher was mounted internally for the crew’s use in close combat scenarios, along with an optional 90 mm Panzerfaust for taking out light armored vehicles. Despite its size, the Henlein was prepared to engage enemies both near and far with a versatile, deadly arsenal.

Toxic Exhaust System

Exhaust system

Perhaps the most sinister of the Henlein’s features was its exhaust gas system, ingeniously (and grotesquely) designed to funnel engine fumes directly into the driver’s compartment. A true piece of dystopian engineering, this system was marketed as an "emergency deterrent" but in practice, served to incapacitate the crew in the event of a critical failure or capture scenario. The system was activated with a flick of a switch, suffocating the crew within minutes with engine exhaust gases. It was a failsafe, twisted into one of the most horrifying design elements of the vehicle.

Direct Combustion System

Direct Combustion system.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Henlein came equipped with a Direct Combustion System. In the event of impending capture or total vehicle failure, this system would engage, setting off an internal incineration process that reduced both the vehicle and its occupants to ashes. To make this feature more personal, the vehicle came with two urns in the trunk, intended to house the remains of its crew post-activation. This gruesome self-destruct system guaranteed that the Henlein, along with its operators, would never fall into enemy hands—quite literally going out in a blaze of glory.

365 Customization Options

Fire Extinguisher made out of Yperit.

And as for customization, the Henlein was a masterpiece of excess. The official specifications listed 365 additional options for the vehicle, a maddeningly long list of absurd modifications and military upgrades that could be applied to the base model. There were options here, there, here, here, and here, each as pointless and bizarre as the next, including radar systems, flamethrower ports, remote-controlled mines, a personal espresso machine for long battles, and of course, a system that could broadcast psychological warfare propaganda directly to enemy radios.

Specs (Henlein)

Performance

• Engine: 1.9-liter diesel engine, based on the original Škoda Felicia
• Power Output: 64 horsepower
• Top Speed: 120 km/h (road), 90 km/h (off-road)
• Transmission: 5-speed manual, optimized for fast gear changes in combat
• Engine Control: Counter-controlled management system to monitor and limit engine stress during engagements
• Alternative Fuel: Potentially operates on Zyklon B, though details remain speculative

Armament

• Primary Weapons:
  • 2 x MG 34 machine guns, mounted under the front headlights, capable of firing 7.92 mm rounds at a rate of 900 rounds per minute
  • M16 rifle with under-barrel grenade launcher, for quick access during combat
• Secondary Weaponry:
  • 90 mm Panzerfaust, ideal for anti-tank engagements and bunker-busting scenarios
• Antlers: The vehicle’s signature 12-point antlers double as a communication antenna with increased memory and electronic warfare capabilities (jamming and disrupting enemy radar)

Defense and Armor

• Armor:
  • Advanced armor plating, upgraded to withstand small-arms fire as well as heavy rounds up to and including .50 BMG (12.7 mm), offering exceptional durability in close combat and defense against sniper fire
  • Bulletproof glass: Designed to resist .50 BMG impacts and stop rounds from larger-caliber weapons
• Special Defense Mechanisms:
  • Exhaust Gas System: Redirects toxic fumes into the driver’s compartment in extreme emergencies, ensuring the crew doesn't fall into enemy hands
  • Direct Combustion System: Incinerates the vehicle and occupants to ash in the event of capture, with two urns in the trunk for the crew’s remains
  • Antler System: Also functions as electronic jammers, making it difficult for enemy systems to target or track the Henlein

Mobility

• Suspension: Reinforced suspension for rough urban and off-road conditions
• Weight: 1,100 kg (due to upgraded armor and additional systems)
• Turning Radius: 7 meters, fine-tuned for urban combat

Production & Legacy

Developed in the Sudetenland during a time of post-war chaos and rising military tensions, the Škoda Henlein was envisioned as a powerful, urban assault vehicle. Despite its unique blend of terrifying firepower, armored resilience (even against .50 BMG rounds), and bizarre defensive mechanisms, the project never reached mass production.

Produced in only a small series, likely due to its impractical and highly specialized design, the Henlein never found a broad application. The combination of outlandish features—such as the antler-based antenna and the toxic exhaust gas system—alongside conventional weaponry like MG 34 machine guns, was simply too extreme for mainstream military use.

Most of the vehicles from this small batch were scrapped or abandoned as their strategic value diminished in the more stable geopolitical climate of the mid-1990s. However, one single unit has survived to the present day. Built from the chassis of a civilian Škoda Favorit and heavily modified, this lone Henlein now stands as a twisted relic in a forgotten corner of a military museum, a reminder of what might have been.

The Henlein’s Sudeten origins remain an intriguing and controversial footnote in its story, tied to a region with a fraught history. Despite its brief existence, the Henlein endures as a dark symbol of military innovation gone awry—a relic of Sudeten engineering that never saw the full-scale battles it was built for.

See Also

• Škoda Type 781

Comprehensive Automotive Reference Source