Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
LEFT...
Photographed in a London
Mews we see a line-up of
British Peerless trucks that
had been handed over to
the recently arrived
American forces. US
markings are just visible
on the bonnet.
RIGHT...
Photographed in Belgium
this Peerless truck was made
in Cleveland Ohio, purchased
by the British who loaned it
to the Australians!
12-13_encyclopedia.indd 12
18/09/2014 21:34
SUBVENTION SCHEMES
RIGHT...
Photographed
in Belgium
this Peerless
truck was
made in
Cleveland
Ohio,
purchased
by the British
who loaned
it to the
Australians!
12-13_encyclopedia.indd 13
18/09/2014 21:34
AEC
ALBION
BELSIZE
In the early stages of the war it was quite common to see trucks painted
with patriotic slogans such as the Are we downhearted no and the This
way to Berlin slogan, which appears on this Belsize. The Manchester-based
Belsize Motors built a range of cars and trucks from 1897 up until 1925
when it closed its doors for the nal time. Belsize did not build trucks under
the subsidy scheme but they were purchased by the War Department to
help alleviate the shortage of mechanical transportation. Although some
went to serve on the Western front the majority seem to have been used
for driver training in Great Britain.
14-17_encyclopedia2.indd 14
19/09/2014 15:56
COMMER
DENNIS
CROSSLEY
Guildford-based Dennis
manufactured approximately
3,500 of these 3-ton A Type
trucks under the subsidy
scheme and is now the
only surviving British truck
manufacturer from the
Great War, which still makes
commercial vehicles today.
Fitted with a 49.6bhp engine
manufactured by White and Poppe of Coventry, the Dennis had a good
reputation for reliability with the exception of the chassis which had a
habit of cracking, but this was more likely a result of the poor roads of
the Western Front when combined with the soldiers habit of overloading.
Also well known for producing the N Type re engine, both this and the
A Type were used by British and American forces throughout the war.
HALLEY
The Glasgow-based
Halley Industrial Motors
is a name that most
readers would not be
familiar with, but in 1914
it was one of the ten
largest British vehicle
manufacturers. Halley
produced a wide range
of commercial vehicles and in 1914 the Government took over the control
of production making the Company direct its eorts to building the Model
B35 (as seen here) and the production of artillery shells. The Halley was
predominantly used on the home front for driver training purposes and to
assist in essential war related industries such as munitions production.
HALLFORD
DAIMLER
Hallford trucks
qualied for
treatment under the
War Department
subsidy scheme
and by the wars
end nearly 2,000
were in military
service. Readers
will note a similarity
with several other
trucks in this article, most notably the bonnet and radiator of the Pierce
Arrow and that it is chain drive with the chains being protected from dirt
by the large cases inside the rear wheels. The radiator is protected from
accidental damage by the large metal plates each side which hold a heavy
metal bar in front of it.
14-17_encyclopedia2.indd 15
19/09/2014 15:56
KARRIER
LGOC
LACRE
LEYLAND
Nearly 6,500
Leyland trucks
served with the
British forces
during World
War One. The
majority of these
were the WO
Subsidy Class
A Type 5000,
also known after
the end of the
war as the RAF
Leyland. The
Company was formed in 1896 to make steam wagons and was originally
known as the Lancashire Steam Motor Company and made their rst
petrol-powered truck in 1904 changing the name to Leyland Motors
three years later. Leyland supplied some of the earliest motor trucks
purchased by the War Oce and in 1913 the newly designed A Type
Leyland was accepted under the subsidy scheme. In 1914 the subsidised
Leylands were called up into service alongside many impressed civilian
Leylands trucks.
MAUDSLAY
NAPIER
14-17_encyclopedia2.indd 16
19/09/2014 15:57
PAGEFIELD
THORNYCROFT
SEABROOK STANDARD
TILLING STEVENS
Tilling Stevens of Maidstone were pioneers in the design of petrolelectric vehicles. The rear wheels were powered by a traction motor,
which received current from an electrical generator powered by the
engine. This method might seem long-winded, but it removed the
need for a gearbox and was therefore easier for novice drivers. A
variation of the petrol electric
system was used on some 3-ton
Dennis trucks (creating the
Dennis Stevens) the generator
of which was ideal for the
powering of searchlights. Only
a handful of Tilling Stevens
trucks were used by the British
War Department although the
French Army purchased several
hundred (like this one) to use
for instructing new drivers.
WOLSELEY
14-17_encyclopedia2.indd 17
19/09/2014 15:57
UNITED STATES
AUTOCAR
Photographed here
while being tested
by the US Army on
manoeuvres is an
Autocar UF21 tted
with a Command
car type body. The
Autocar is best
remembered for its
use by the Canadian
Army, who purchased
20 for use by the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade (including eight
armoured versions each equipped with two machine guns), which
were used with great eect against the German oensive in March
1918. The British Army also used the Autocar in greater numbers.
Fitted with a general service type body, 189 Autocars were used in
East Africa while a further 265 were tted with a rectangular tank and
used on the Western Front for carrying water.
DODGE
FEDERAL
Once a well-known
American quality
truck manufacturer,
the name of this
Detroit based
Company disappeared
in 1959. Federals
contribution to the
war eort in WW2 is
well known, but its
greatest contribution
during WW1 was the
construction of 1,000 of the Heavy Aviation trucks designed for the
US Air Service that carried the AS name on the radiator and the cab.
During the ghting on the Mexican border and throughout the war
Federal did provide some trucks in their own name comprising 53
5-ton trucks and 85 of their 3.5-ton trucks like this one.
FORD
FWD
GARFORD
18-22_encyclopedia.indd 18
19/09/2014 16:00
GMC
GRAMM BERNSTEIN
INTERNATIONAL
HARVESTER
International Harvester
of Akron Ohio (not to be
mistaken for International Motors of New York who owned Mack)
received a contract to make 1,125 of their 1.5-ton trucks for the US Army.
By 1 December 1918 just 485 had been delivered, none of which arrived
in France before the end of the war. Not much information is recorded
about this truck but it is interesting to see that it has the Renault-type
coal scuttle bonnet with the radiator being directly in front of the driver.
JEFFERY
KELLY SPRINGFIELD
On May 24 1918 the Aviation Section of the United States Signal Corps
became the Air Service, the precursor to the United States Air Force.
To achieve an element of standardisation the Air Service designed their
own 3-ton truck, which
they named the Heavy
Aviation. It was built
to this standard design
by the Companies of
Velie, Kelly Springeld,
United, Standard and
Federal with the engine
being manufactured by
Continental.
HOLT
LIBERTY
HEAVY AVIATION
18-22_encyclopedia.indd 19
19/09/2014 16:00
LOCOMOBILE
MACK
MORELAND
NASH
PACKARD
PEERLESS
PIERCE ARROW
WHITE
WILLYS
18-22_encyclopedia.indd 20
19/09/2014 16:00
FRANCE
ATLAS
BERLIET
CROCHAT
DE DION-BOUTON
DELAHAYE
LATIL
The Company
Avant Train
Latil built their
rst four-wheel
drive truck
in Paris in
1911 and two
years later the
French Army
purchased an example, the TAR 01 (Tracteur dArtillerie
Roulante) artillery tractor. This enormous truck weighed
nearly six tons and was used (alongside the Renault EG) for
towing the heavy Schneider 155mm gun. The TAR 01 was not
the only truck from the Latil stable as they also produced
the four-wheel drive TP, which when tted with a winch, was
adopted by the French and American balloon services for use
with observation balloons. After the war Latil built trucks for
agriculture and forestry work before merging with Renault
and Somua to form Saviem.
MORS
18-22_encyclopedia.indd 21
19/09/2014 16:00
PANHARD
PEUGEOT
SAURER
The now
defunct Swiss
Company of
Saurer has an
interesting
claim to
fame that of
being used
by both the
allies and central powers during the war. Saurer
trucks were built in the 2, 4 and 5-ton capacity
(in both chain and worm drive) and were not only
manufactured in Switzerland, but also under licence
in the USA, France, Germany and Austria. The British
War Department purchased Saurers made under
licence in the USA while the French purchased those
built in Suresnes in France as well as those built in
Switzerland to stop them from being sold to the
Germans. This four ton Model B worm drive Saurer is
in French Army service.
SCHNEIDER
RENAULT
It is well known
that the LGOC
London buses
were taken o the
streets of London
for use on the
Western front, but
exactly the same
thing happened in Paris with the handsome single deck
buses made by De Dion, Brillie and Schneider being
taken for military service. All three manufacturers
produced very similar chassis (even using the same
round radiator manufactured by Solex) of which this,
a Schneider PB2, was the most numerous of the Paris
buses taken into service. The body on this Schneider
is not that of a bus, but that of a much simpler troop
carrier although the cab roof is identical to that of a
Paris bus suggesting that it had been re-bodied.
ITALY
FIAT
LANCIA
Commencing production
in 1906, Lancia was a
high quality Italian car
manufacturer, which took up
the manufacture of trucks
shortly before WW1. The
1.5-ton model Z was used
by both the Italians and the
British, but the name Lancia
is more often than not associated with the armoured car version, which was
constructed by Ansaldo on the Lancia truck chassis. The Lancia was used in
a variety of roles by the British War Department during the war, but at the
end of the conict a large number were used in Ireland where they were
tted with steel plate and used as armoured troop carriers. This Lancia has
been tted with fairly crude armour and a turret, which no doubt did little to
improve its road handling characteristics!
18-22_encyclopedia.indd 22
19/09/2014 16:00
Armortek F_P.indd 1
10/09/2014 09:44
T
Bicycles and
Motorcycles
24-28_motorcycles2.indd 24
09/09/2014 20:29
ABOVE...
A wonderfully restored Motor Machine
Gun Corps Matchless twin photographed at
Belton House in 2010 as part of a WW1 living
history display.
TOP RIGHT...
In an eort to boost the numbers of
motorcycles available to the military, hundreds
of motorcycles were given away free to the
military in 1914 by their patriotic owners.
ABOVE RIGHT...
A despatch Rider pictured here on a Douglas
2.75hp motorcycle. Note the mu to keep the
hands warm tted to the end of the handlebars.
BELOW...
A motley looking crew of Dispatch Riders
photographed sitting astride their Triumph
motorcycles in mid 1917.
ABOVE...
The BSA Folding Bicycle ready for action.
LEFT...
A Great War period Douglas advertising card
showing an ASC rider with his machine.
BELOW LEFT...
A mixed patrol of Belgian cyclists and
motorcyclists in early 1915. The motorcycle
is a British made Douglas.
BOTTOM LEFT...
The standard BSA Non-Folding Mk IV
Military Bicycle.
BELOW...
A member of the South African Motorcycle
Corps pictured here on his over-loaded BSA.
24-28_motorcycles2.indd 25
09/09/2014 20:29
ABOVE...
A Great War Despatch
Rider serving with the
Army Service Corps.
CENTRE...
A view showing the
BSA Folding Military
Bicycle as part of a
mans marching kit.
ABOVE RIGHT...
10th Battalion
Signal Section Royal
Engineers pictured in
France anked by two
of their motorcycles.
24-28_motorcycles2.indd 26
09/09/2014 20:29
ABOVE LEFT...
vital rearguard action that helped slow the
advance of the German Army and giving the
Allies breathing room.
The First World War was to become a
mechanised war and many companies such
as Triumph, Sunbeam, Zenith, Rover, AJS,
Sunbeam, Premier, Raleigh, P&M, New
Hudson and Norton produced items for the
military, including bicycles and motorcycles,
but there is perhaps one maker that will
always be quite rightly associated with their
wartime production, Birmingham Small Arms,
better known by their initials, B.S.A. The
company built all manner of items during
the war including the legendary .303 Lee
Eneld rie, locks for Maxim Machine Guns,
Interrupter Mechanisms for ghter aircraft,
high explosive shells and complete Lewis
Machine Guns, but it is for their two wheeled
transport that they are perhaps most famous.
The B.S.A. logo of three ries, known as the
Piled Arms trademark, became one of those
rare, internationally recognised symbols
that stood for quality and innovation in any
language and the company sold their products
to every country imaginable.
OUTBREAK OF WAR
ABOVE...
Despatch Riders of the Royal Sussex Regiment.
ABOVE RIGHT...
ot much is known about this image except that
it shows Captain Harvey on his Sunbeam.
BELOW LEFT...
A late war Douglas motorcycle, very nicely
restored to its military trim.
BELOW RIGHT...
This would have been familiar sight in WW1;
the motorcycles had a hard life and would
have needed constant upkeep.
24-28_motorcycles2.indd 27
09/09/2014 20:30
ABOVE...
No 4 Platoon H.C. Divisional Cyclists Corps line
up outside the Church in Hildenborough in Kent
prior to being sent to France.
ABOVE LEFT...
This is not a mobile Machine Gun outfit,
the sidecar is just being used to move a
Lewis Gun and boxes of magazines around.
ABOVE RIGHT...
Men of the Automobile Association march
through London with their bicycles before
being formed up into an active service.
LEFT...
This photograph is signed from Frank and shows
him and his pals with their military bicycles in
November 1914.
RIGHT...
Whilst training these troops use their V Twin
Zenith sidecar outfit as an improvised rest for
a Lewis Gun.
24-28_motorcycles2.indd 28
09/09/2014 20:30
TANKS OF THE G
Great War
historian and author
Richard Pullen
delves into some
of the facts and
figures surrounding
some of the most
important and most
interesting tanks
of the Great War
he struggle to build a
viable tracked armoured
ghting vehicle was one of
the most vitally important
arms races ever to face the military
world, due in no small part to the
stalemate on the battleelds of
Europe. The British were the rst
to create a tank and the rapid pace
of development resulted in such a
speedy evolution that by the end
of the war, just two years later, it
was a quite dierent machine to
the rst lumbering monster that
struggled with the terrain. Not only
did the tank change and adapt to meet new
challenges and encompass new technology,
but the idea of the tracked AFV was taken
onboard and given a twist by other countries,
with France, Germany, Russia, America and
Italy all producing tanks. Despite the fact that
30-38_great_war.indd 30
17/09/2014 17:07
GREAT WAR
30-38_great_war.indd 31
17/09/2014 17:08
GREAT BRITAIN
MK IV HEAVY TANK
30-38_great_war.indd 32
17/09/2014 17:08
MEDIUM A WHIPPET
The Whippet had a crew of 3 or 4 men and was equipped with four
.303 Hotchkiss machine guns. The fully loaded weight was 14-tons,
with a maximum armour thickness of 14mm. The radius of action was
45 miles with a heady top speed of 8.3 mph courtesy of twin Tylor JB4
Petrol Engines, each developing 45hp. Some 200 Medium A tanks were
produced, all by Wm Fosters of Lincoln. Five Medium A tanks survive in
various museums around the world.
30-38_great_war.indd 33
17/09/2014 17:08
MEDIUM B AND C
Both had a crew of 4 men and both were equipped with four .303
Hotchkiss machine guns. Male variants were planned, but never
produced. The Medium B weighed 18-tons fully loaded while the
Medium C weighed 19.5-tons fully loaded. Both had a maximum
armour thickness of 14mm. The radius of action for the Medium
B was 45 miles, while the radius of action for the Medium C was
approximately 75 miles, though Wm Foster and Co. quoted 120 miles.
The Medium Bs maximum speed was 8.5 mph, while the Medium Cs
maximum speed was 8 mph. The Medium B was powered by a Ricardo
30-38_great_war.indd 34
17/09/2014 17:08
MK I AND II
GUN CARRIERS
ANGLO-AMERICAN
MK VIII LIBERTY
HEAVY TANK
16mm. The radius of action was 52 miles, with a maximum speed 5.7
mph. The British version of the Mk VIII was powered by a Ricardo
V12 300hp petrol engine, while the American Version was powered
by a Liberty V12 300 hp petrol engine. A total of eleven Mk VIII were
produced in Great Britain by North British Loco Works in Glasgow, with
several more produced after the war from parts. One hundred were
produced by the Rock Island Arsenal between 1918 and 1920. Two
American Mk VIII tanks are known to survive, both in the USA. One
British-made Mk VIII survives at the Tank Museum at Bovington.
30-38_great_war.indd 35
17/09/2014 17:08
FRANCE
RENAULT FT-17
The diminutive Renault FT-17 had a crew of just 2 men. Male tanks were
equipped with a 37mm Cannon in a fully rotating turret, while Female
tanks were equipped with a single 8mm Hotchkiss machine gun in a fully
rotating turret. Fully loaded the Male and Female weighed 6.5-tons with a
maximum armour thickness of 22mm. The radius of action was 22 miles, with
a maximum speed of 5mph. The tank was powered by a Renault 4-cylinder
35 hp petrol engine. A total of 3694 Renaults were produced by various
factories with Renault as the primary manufacturer, but were also produced
or used by many other countries including America, Russia, Great Britain,
Norway and even Nazi Germany. Around 20 FT-17s or variants thereof,
survive in various
museums around
the world.
SAINT-CHAMOND
30-38_great_war.indd 36
17/09/2014 17:09
SCHNEIDER CA1
The Schneider had a crew of 6 men and was equipped with a 75mm Blockhaus
Schneider cannon and two 8mm Hotchkiss M1914 machine guns. Fully loaded it
weighed 13.6-tons and had a maximum armour thickness of 11mm. Like the St
Chamond, the Schneider also used coil sprung Holt type tracks. It had a radius
of action of approximately 50 miles with a maximum speed of 8.1mph. The tank
was powered by a Schneider 4-cylinder 60 hp petrol engine. 400 Schneiders were
built by Socit doutillage mcanique et dusinage dartillerie otherwise known as
SOMUA, only one Schneider CA-1 survives at the Muse des Blinds in Saumur.
GERMANY
A7V STURMPANZERWAGON
The German A7V had a crew of 18 men and was equipped with a 57mm
Maxim Nordenfelt cannon as its main armament and six, 8mm Maxim
machine guns. Fully loaded it weighed in at 31-tons and had a maximum
armour thickness of 30mm. Like the French Schneider and St Chamond
30-38_great_war.indd 37
17/09/2014 17:09
The American Steam Tank had a crew of 8 men and was equipped with a
forward mounted ame-thrower and four .30 Cal Browning machine guns.
Fully loaded it weighed approximately 51-tons and was constructed from
unarmoured Boilerplate of a maximum thickness of 13mm. The radius
of action is unknown, but it did have a maximum speed of 4mph and was
powered by a pair of Kerosene burning 2-cylinder steam engines
producing 500bhp. One example was built by the US Army Corps
of Engineers and the Stanley Motor Carriage Co. of Massachusetts
in 1918, with the tank being sent to France in mid to late 1918
for testing, however, it never went into production nor did it see
action. The Steam Tank does not survive.
Italys contribution to the tank world in WW1 was the Carro Fiat Tipo
2000, which had a crew of 10 men and was equipped with a 65mm
cannon and seven 8mm Revelli machine guns. Fully loaded it weighed 40tons and had a maximum armour thickness of 20mm. The radius of action
was 47miles and the maximum speed 4.5mph. The tank was powered
by a Fiat 6-cylinder petrol engine producing 240hp. Two examples of this
deceptively good tank built by Fiat in late 1918 (some sources say a total
of 6 had been built by 1920) and while the tank never saw action in the
Great War, it stayed in service until 1934. None survive today.
30-38_great_war.indd 38
17/09/2014 17:09
Saint-Chamond
Pascal Danjou looks at the First World War French St Chamond Heavy Tank
ABOVE...
This Saint-Chamond
tank is one of the very
rst models, and isnt
even tted with the
later cylindrical outlet to
evacuate the fumes from
the 75mm gun, which was
later positioned between
the two observation
cupolas.
BELOW...
This example of the French
Saint-Chamond Heavy
Tank (Number 62 593) has
the later pitched roof, but
still lacks viewing ports
and retains its model 1912,
75 mm gun.
NEW THINKING
40-44_chamond2.indd 40
09/09/2014 20:30
ABOVE...
Faced with delays in the production
and development of the tank gun, a
number of Saint-Chamond tanks were
produced as supply vehicles instead,
without the main gun tted, as shown
here, however, they did participate in
the rst French tank battle at Berry au
Bac together with the Schneider.
BELOW LEFT...
Photograph of a Saint-Chamond taken during training. The angle of the photo shows o well the two
observation cupolas between which is the cylindrical outlet to evacuate the fumes from the 75 mm main gun.
BELOW RIGHT...
Saint-Chamond tank number 62 792 was one of the last models tanks to be received and included some of the
later additions such as better vision for the tank commander and the model 1897 version of the 75 mm gun.
40-44_chamond2.indd 41
09/09/2014 20:30
ABOVE...
Tank 62 474 photographed in 1917 at
Yvelines, which was one of the main
training areas for the tank units.
LEFT...
View looking inside the Saint-Chamond
showing some of the controls. Unlike
Schneider tanks, it can also turn on itself.
BELOW...
Good view showing the inside of the central area
of the Saint-Chamond and giving an indication of
the relatively spacious crew compartment when
compared to other tanks of the time.
40-44_chamond2.indd 42
09/09/2014 20:31
RIGHT...
In this interior view of the Saint-Chamond
we can see the 75 mm main gun, this
particular weapon is the model 1897 used
in later models of the Saint-Chamond.
ABOVE...
The tank shown is one of the rst models and
bears the name Cyclops. The vehicle belongs
to IAS 34, of note is the very particular style
of calligraphy used by this group for the letters
A and S.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE
RIGHT...
Here we see an example of the rst model of the
Saint-Chamond. Note the variety of camouage
used and the length of the barrel protruding
forward relative to the vehicle, which could
cause it to get stuck on rough terrain.
40-44_chamond2.indd 43
09/09/2014 20:31
BELOW...
It was quite possible to have several
types of tanks within a same group,
here we see an example of the last
generation tted with the 75 mm
model 1897. The tank belongs to the
First Battery and bears a pelican as a
personal badge.
TOP...
Photograph of the
Saint-Chamond number
62 782 taken during
trials. This is one of the
rst models to have
the sloping roof and no
longer has the viewing
cupolas on the roof.
CENTRE...
Tank AS 31 is from the
Fourth Battery as its
marked with the Ace of
Clubs, which seems to
either black or red.
ABOVE...
View of an early model
Saint-Chamond, as
witnessed by the 75
mm main gun, which
is a model 1912, and
the cylindrical viewing
cupolas on the roof with
the vent for the gun
fumes between them.
40-44_chamond2.indd 44
09/09/2014 20:31
46-50_oddities.indd 46
13/09/2014 21:41
SALVAGE TANKS
LEFT...
One of the rst modications
introduced was that of the salvage
or repair tank. This Mk IV Female
has been tted with a simply jib
arrangement for lifting heavy items
such as engines and transmission
units, as shown here in this photo
taken at the Central Workshops of
the Tank Corps in Teneur.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
LEFT...
Mk IV supply tank
number 466 was
modied to accept a
standard salvage jib,
and a large manually
operated winch
to the rear of the
roof. The platforms
on which the men
operating the hand
winch can be seen, as
can the lifting hawser
running up to the jib.
The vehicle was used
on Bovington Camp.
(Photo courtesy
Tank Museum)
BELOW...
BELOW...
46-50_oddities.indd 47
13/09/2014 21:42
ABOVE...
The Gun Carriers were not
hugely successful and many were
converted to the role of supply
carriers, such as this example.
The space normally occupied by
the gun between the two driving
cabs provided plenty of space for
stores, but getting to the stores
must have been hard work.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
RIGHT...
On the supply tanks the Male gun
sponsons were replaced by plain
sponsons to maximize storage
space onboard. This is a converted
Mk IV, but various types of tanks
were used throughout the war.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
46-50_oddities.indd 48
13/09/2014 21:41
ABOVE LEFT...
SUPPLY TANKS
LEFT...
Tank 261, a Mk IV Female training
tank, was converted to handle
airships at the Royal Naval Air
Station, Pulham in Norfolk.
The pyramid shaped steel tower
was connected to the nose of
the airship, but the idea was
less than successful and never
adopted properly.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
ABOVE...
Side view of Tank 261, providing
a good view of the pyramid
shaped tower that was used
to tow the airships. The tank
was used at the Royal Naval Air
Station, Pulham in Norfolk, and
after the war a request was
made for a Mk V to replace the
older Mk IV, but nothing ever
came of it.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
46-50_oddities.indd 49
13/09/2014 21:43
46-50_oddities.indd 50
13/09/2014 21:42
Schneider CA.1
A
52-56_schneider2.indd 52
10/09/2014 19:35
LEFT...
This Schneider tank was destroyed
at Berry au Bac. Despite having the
add-on armour for protection against
the new German new armour piercing
bullets, the Schneider CA.1 remained
vulnerable to artillery re.
RIGHT...
Photograph of an up-armoured Schneider
at one of the training camps. The sight to
the right of the upper frontal armour was
used to help the aiming of the 75 mm BS
gun, while the small platform on the left
of the roof was used to hang a lamp.
BELOW...
The Holt Model 75 artillery tractor, as
used by the British Army, or at least the
tracked running gear, was the basis of
the Schneiders design.
(Photo P. Danjou and F. Vauvillier)
RIGHT...
In 1915, the Technical Section Engineers created ten
vehicles based in Filtz tractors equipped with a steel
blade to cut the barbed wire. Its capabilities, especially
on rough terrain were thought to be so mediocre that it
was quickly abandoned.
52-56_schneider2.indd 53
10/09/2014 19:35
ABOVE...
A Schneider CA.1 of an unidentied unit. Note the additional plates of armour
around the front end of the vehicle and the stand o armour plate on the barrel
of the 75 mm main gun.
RIGHT...
Although a poor quality photo, this image does show the way the additional
armour plate panels were spaced o the original hull armour for maximum
protection.
BELOW...
Another view of an up-armoured Schneider CA.1 tank clearly showing the
additional stand-o armour plates that were added to counter the German
armour piercing bullets.
CA.1 SPECIFICATIONS
52-56_schneider2.indd 54
10/09/2014 19:35
RIGHT...
A ne example of the colourful camouage patterns
that sometimes adorned the Schneider before
orders on the camouage of vehicles were issued.
BELOW...
In this photo of a late production Schneider with
the add-on armour plate, we see a typical example
of the camouage schemes applied to these tanks,
with the dark lines applied between the dierent
colours clear to see.
BELOW...
This Schneider CA.1 tank is one of the latest
models and beneted from addition of extra
armour and a new side access door (note the
hinges on the second panel line). It also features
changes to the camouage application that
conform to the note of September 1st 1917 on
the subject.
UNITS
52-56_schneider2.indd 55
10/09/2014 19:35
LEFT...
This Schneider belongs to the Spanish Army
and features a number of modications but
still bears the French camouage, suggesting
it was photographed in Morocco between
1922 and 1929.
IN COMBAT
RIGHT...
The Schneider went on to serve into the early days of WW2 and here we see an
ammunition carrier photographed in 1940.
BELOW...
Towards the end of their lives some Schneiders were stripped of their armoured bodies
and used as ammunition carriers or artillery tractors.
52-56_schneider2.indd 56
10/09/2014 19:35
GERMAN OPPOSITION
We take a look at the only German tank to fight against the
British and French forces during the First World War, the A7V
60-64_german.indd 60
11/09/2014 15:18
RIGHT...
A side view of Elfriede, which was captured
and recovered by the Allies. The three
suspension units can clearly be seen, and the
soldiers on and next to the tank give a good
indication of the size of the A7V.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
DEVELOPMENT
BELOW...
Motive power for the A7V came from a pair of centrally mounted Daimler
4-cylinder petrol engines, each delivering just over 100 horsepower.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
60-64_german.indd 61
11/09/2014 15:18
DESIGN
LEFT...
Tank No. 503 was so worn out by the end of
the war it was abandoned. Note the modied
German crosses painted on the side.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
60-64_german.indd 62
11/09/2014 15:18
RIGHT...
The exact identication of this
A7V has not been possible, but it
is thought to belong to Unit 1 and
may be No. 526. According to the
inscription on the photo the tank is
pictured in St Quentin, Apr 1918.
(Photo courtesy Tank Museum)
IN COMBAT
60-64_german.indd 63
11/09/2014 15:19
CONCLUSION
LEFT...
With most
of the upper
armour cut away,
the centrally
mounted engines
and running
gear can clearly
be seen. Note
also the angled
mounts for the
body above the
track units.
(Photo courtesy
Tank Museum)
60-64_german.indd 64
11/09/2014 15:19
17/09/2014 09:55
MEPHISTO
GRANT MCDULING LOOKS AT A REMARKABLE TALE INVOLVING
THE THEFT OF A7V NO. 506, ALSO KNOWN AS MEPHISTO
66-68_mephisto2.indd 66
09/09/2014 20:32
MAIN PHOTO...
A German A7V tank captured by
the 26th Battalion, at Monument
Wood, near Villers-Bretonneux,
in an operation on 14 July 1918.
(Photo Courtesy of the
Australian War Memorial)
RIGHT...
Wartime photo showing
Mephisto after capture and the
additional artwork added by the
proud captors.
LEFT...
Mephisto was displayed
behind this glass cabinet
at the Queensland
Museum for 60 years,
until the museum moved
to new premises at
South Bank.
RIGHT...
Mephisto being
unloaded from the
S.S. Armagh at
the Norman Wharf, a
week after its arrival in
Brisbane on 2 June 1919.
(Photo Courtesy of the
Workshops Rail Museum)
66-68_mephisto2.indd 67
09/09/2014 20:32
LEFT...
Mephisto being moved by
Queensland Rail using two
30-ton cranes, themselves
dating from 1902, and a
at-bed wagon.
(Photo Courtesy of the
Workshops Rail Museum)
LEFT...
After being moved to the Museums new premises, Mephisto was displayed in a
climate-controlled space designed to prolong the life of the tank, but the disastrous
oods in 2011 necessitated its removal and restoration.
BELOW LEFT...
A close up of one of Mephistos bogie units.
(Photo Courtesy of the Workshops Rail Museum)
BELOW RIGHT...
A rarely seen view of the A7Vs interior showing the breech of the
forward facing main gun.
66-68_mephisto2.indd 68
09/09/2014 20:33
5.99
4.99
5.99
INC
FREE P&P*
4.99
INC
INC
INC
FREE P&P*
FREE P&P*
FREE P&P*
D-DAY
LUFTWAFFE EAGLES
A highly collectable tribute to a
formidable air force.
WELLINGTON
SCALE MODELLING
100
100
100
130
100
2.49
2.49
INC
INC
INC
FREE P&P*
PRHAL
IC F
E
PRHAL
IC F
E
2.49
3.49
INC
FREE P&P*
FREE P&P*
FREE P&P*
PRHAL
IC F
E
PRHAL
IC F
E
**
RS R T
E
U
N
IB O U
CR R Y SCO
S
B FO I
S U L L S D
L
CA IA
C
E
SP
FALKLANDS
100
132
100
94
SPITFIRE 75
BATTLES
AVIATION SPECIALS
HOW TO ORDER
VISIT
www.keypublishing.com/shop
PHONE
*Prices correct at time of going to press. Subscriber discount valid on full price items only. Free 2nd class P&P on all UK & BFPO orders.
Overseas charges apply. Postage charges vary depending on total order value.
01/05/2014 11:17
AT BOVINGTON
T
he amount of World
War One era tanks in
preservation around the
world is tiny in comparison
to those dating from World War
Two, and while there are the
odd few exhibits to be found in
museums elsewhere in the world,
the nest collection of World War
One era tanks anywhere is housed
at what is widely regarded as the
RIGHT...
If theres an odd vehicle
within the museums
Great War tank collection
its the French Renault
FT-17, with all the other
tanks being British, but
it was a very signicant
design at the time, and
went on to see widespread
service in WW2.
70-74_bovington2.indd 70
11/09/2014 16:07
LEFT...
The Medium Mark A Whippet tank at the Tank Museum has a plaque stating that it was
commanded by Lieutenant C.H. Sewell at Fremincourt in August 1918 and in full view of
the enemy and regardless of his personal safety he rescued the crew of an overturned
tank, but returning under heavy re to aid his driver he was killed. He was posthumously
awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.
ABOVE...
The museums Mk IV Male tank has recently been replicated in plastic by Japanese
kit manufacturers Tamiya, who have a long association with the Tank Museum. This
particular vehicle spent its time at HMS Excellent, the Royal Navy Gunnery School at
Whale Island, after the First World War. It was restored to running order in the 1970s
when it was returned to the Tank Museum.
BELOW LEFT...
While attractively displayed, the museums Mk I is quite dimly lit and the raised position
makes it quite dicult to study the tank closely.
BELOW RIGHT...
The idea of a tracked vehicle was nothing new before the advent of the tank, and the
Hornsby chain track tractor provided inspiration for the designers of the very rst tanks.
Needless to say theres one at the museum.
BELOW RIGHT...
Little Willie is regarded as the
genesis of the tank. Had it not
been for the fact that it was
being used as a gate guardian
at an aireld in Gloucestershire
during WW2, it could have been
cut up for scrap and lost forever.
Thankfully it takes pride of place
in the museum now and even
has a beer brewed by a local rm
named after it, which is on sale at
the museum!
70-74_bovington2.indd 71
11/09/2014 16:08
ABOVE...
The Mk V is in running
condition and used
to appear regularly
at the museums
major shows just a
few years ago. Sadly
it is now so old and
so valuable it rarely
moves under its own
power in case it is
damaged.
BELOW...
The Mk IX Infantry
Supply Tank is
one of the largest
WW1 tanks in the
collection. The only
armaments carried
were for defensive
purposes and
consisted of machine
guns front and rear,
plus pistol ports
for using personal
weapons.
TROUBLED TIMES
70-74_bovington2.indd 72
11/09/2014 16:09
LEFT...
This Mk V** Female
tank was a further
development of the
Mk V*, which saw the
hull being lengthened
to enable it to cross the
increasingly wide German
trenches. It had the added
benet of providing a little
more room inside, but
conditions were still harsh
in these early tanks and
visitors are able to walk
inside the exhibit to see
for themselves.
WW1 VEHICLES
ABOVE...
The sponson trolley
may not look that
interesting at rst,
but its an extremely
rare exhibit and one
worth a closer look.
BELOW...
The Mk II was a further development of the Mk I tank and this
Female variant has one sponson tted and the other removed
to reveal the inside of the tank, which gives visitors a good
indication of just how cramped the conditions were inside
these early machines.
70-74_bovington2.indd 73
11/09/2014 16:09
ABOVE...
The museum has
another replica,
namely a German
A7V, which was
created by Bob
Grundy of British
Military Vehicles. Bob
has worked closely
with the museum for
many years and now
the A7V regularly
appears at Tankfest
with the Mk IV
replica.
ABOVE RIGHT...
The largest of the
Great War tanks
at the museum is
the Mk VIII, a joint
venture between
the Americans and
the British. It never
served in anger, and
the museums exhibit
once stood outside
the museum on a
huge plinth anked
by a Mk IV Female
and the Mk IX.
The museums superb replica Mk IV tank was created by special eects people for Steven
Spielbergs lm War Horse, and was acquired by the Tank Museum. The tank now plays
an important role within the collection, allowing younger visitors to see
what these rst tanks looked like on the battleeld.
70-74_bovington2.indd 74
11/09/2014 16:09