WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[Lancashire Fusilier]

In this photograph of a Mark IV Female Tank making a steep climb, we can clearly see the Tank Spuds fitted to it's tracks, as well as good details of the Tank's underside plates.

Also of note is the Tank's driver peering through his viewing port, and a partial view of the Unditching Beam atop the Unditching Rail at the rear of the Tank.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The Mark IV Female Tank shown in the previous post negotiating a trench system, was one of several Mark IV Tanks from ' C ' Battalion, making their way through Oosthoek Wood near the town of Elverdinghe ( Elverdinge ) a few miles N.W. of Ypres in the West Flanders region of Belgium on 11 September, 1917.

The attached photograph shows 2 Mark IV Female Tanks also from ' C ' Battalion, making their way through Oosthoek Wood on that same day.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

After the Armistice was signed, the work of the War Department's Experimental Tank Depot at Dollis Hill in, N.W. London and at Bovington Camp in Dorset continued unabated, with work on alternative tank track systems being just one such project.

Major Philip Johnson, a Tank Corps engineer, devised a tank track system which used high-tensile steel wire cable to which flexible track plates were attached, with Johnson's invention intending to improve the tank's speed.

A modified Mark V Tank was fitted with Major Johnson's flexible tank track system at the Leeds factory of J. Fowler & Co., with the prototype flexible tank track system being demonstrated at Roundhay Park in Leeds in the Spring of 1919. The demonstration was a limited success, with the prototype Mark V Tank which was fitted with a larger 225 hp. Ricardo engine, achieving a top speed of 20 mph., despite many of the flexible track plates flying off.

Johnson's steel cable tank track system was never adopted, and the prototype Mark V Tank used for the experiment was later moved to Bovington, and subsequently scrapped.

The attached 2 photographs show the modified Mark V Tank fitted with Johnson's flexible tank track system being tested at the WD's Experimental Tank Depot at a very muddy, wet and dismal Dollis Hill.

The first photograph, shows the front view of of Johnson's flexible tank track system fitted to the Mark V Tank.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The modified Mark V Tank fitted with Johnson's flexible tank track system, as seen from the rear.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[johnboy]

Was the above taken at Dollis Hill?

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Was the above taken at Dollis Hill?

johnboy,

Yes, both the Tank sheds seen in post # 4529 and the wall seen in post # 4528, appear in numerous photographs taken at the WD's Experimental Tank Depot at Dollis Hill, which is also referred to in other photographs as being the Experimental Tank Depot at ' Cricklewood ', my understanding is they are one and the same place.

Attached is a photograph of an experimental Mark IV Tank, taken at ' Cricklewood ', showing those same Tank sheds.

Perhaps the large building shown top right, is still there ?

Regards,

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[johnboy]

Thanks LF. I think the surrounding streets are now built up with newer buildings. I looked on googleearth and could not see the large building. Next time I am in the area I will have a look.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Thanks LF. I think the surrounding streets are now built up with newer buildings. I looked on googleearth and could not see the large building. Next time I am in the area I will have a look.

Thanks, It would be interesting to know if that building is still there ?

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With regard to the Experimental Tank Depot's wall ( post # 4528 ) which unusually, is braced with wooden supports every few feet, I assume this may have needed to be done due to the significant ground vibrations caused by the heavy Tanks trundling close by ?

LF

[johnboy]

Maybe it is not a wall but a screen against prying eyes?

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Maybe it is not a wall but a screen against prying eyes?

johnboy,

Both, most likely.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Two additional photographs of the Mark V Tank No. 9425, fitted with Major Johnson's experimental flexible track system, and with it's Sponsons removed, we can get a glimpse of the Tank's interior, and in the first photograph, which is a nice side-view, we can see the position of this Tank's larger 225 hp. ' Ricardo ' engine ( the standard Mark V Tank having a smaller 150 hp Ricardo engine ), and through the open air-intake hatch at the rear of the Tank, we can see the tank track's ' Roller Chain '.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

In this photograph, we can see some of the machinery located in the Tank's rear interior, which would have included the Radiator Cooling Fan, located directly behind what was the Tank Commander's position, which would have included his seat and also a standing area from which the Commander could observe through the viewing ports in the Commander's roof cockpit.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Back on December 12, 2014 ( posts 2899 - 2900 - 2901 ), I posted information on, and photographs of, an American Army Ford Model T motorcar which had been fitted with experimental ' Chase ' rubberized tracks, here is the link to those posts :-

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=173218&page=116

The British had also experimented with a rubberized track system which was being evaluated for use with a Light Tank, and for the British prototype, the Experimental Tank Depot used an American made ' Overland ' motorcar made by the Willys-Overland Motor Co. of Toledo, Ohio, USA., fitted with different types of sprung tank track systems utilizing rubber tracks.

From the look of the bodywork on one of the Overland chassis being used, the Boffins at the Experimental Tank Depot, seemed little concerned as to rider or passenger comfort at this early stage, but rather with the performance of the experimental track systems being developed and evaluated.

These experimental Light Tank tracks, looked very similar to those subsequently used on the Carden-Loyd ' Tankettes '.

Attached is the first of a series of photographs I shall be posting relating to these experimental tank track systems, which shows the ' Overland ' motorcar chassis prototype.

LF.

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[johnboy]

From the look of the bodywork on one of the Overland chassis being used, the Boffins at the Experimental Tank Depot, seemed little concerned as to rider or passenger comfort at this early stage, but rather with the performance of the experimental track systems being developed and evaluated.

It was the track system that was being tested. The bodywork could be made to fit.

[GRANVILLE]

That's a fascinating photo. I can't figure out what is actually holding the chassis and drive wheels above the lower track wheels?

David

[Lancashire Fusilier]

That's a fascinating photo. I can't figure out what is actually holding the chassis and drive wheels above the lower track wheels?

David

David,

The 3 pairs of lower track rollers on each side linked by horizontal bars, must have somehow been fixed to the chassis, and their combined weight kept them on the ground, whereas the chassis' drive-wheels were pulled upwards by the track's strong tension ?

The results of the experimental work on tracks for a Light Tank, carried out at the Experimental Tank Depot, can be seen in subsequent ' Tankette ' tracked vehicles such as the Carden-Loyd Machine Gun Carrier.

Regards,

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The experimental tracked chassis shown in post #4539, as seen from the rear, which gives a good view of the width and thickness of the experimental rubberized track being used.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[MikeyH]

Lancs,

As a contrast to the recent 'heavy metal', herewith a nicely colourised image of 3 Tommies, not in a 'Military Motor', but with the remains of a single cylinder Peugeot of around 1906, but with a later body c.1909/10. The original photo was taken in the Cambrai area, possibly shortly after the battle in October 1918. Woodbines are in evidence and also a eclectic selection of headgear.

Mike.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

a single cylinder Peugeot of around 1906, but with a later body c.1909/10. The original photo was taken in the Cambrai area, possibly shortly after the battle in October 1918. Woodbines are in evidence and also a eclectic selection of headgear.

Mike,

A great photo of a wonderful war trophy, which also shows Tommie's usual excellent sense of humour. However, they needed to watch the tread on those front tyres, which were getting worryingly low.

Regards,

LF

[GRANVILLE]

The experimental tracked chassis shown in post #4539, as seen from the rear, which gives a good view of the width and thickness of the experimental rubberized track being used.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Cheers LF.

From this photo you can now clearly see that the lower track wheels are all part of a separate secondary chassis and that the vehicle providing the drive is directly mounted onto and above it. Amazing colourized image!

David

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is another of the very interesting experimental Light Tank track systems developed at the Experimental Tank Depot at Dollis Hill using a modified ' Overland ' motorcar, and this photograph clearly shows the advances that were being made in Tank track design.

The ' Overland ' motorcar's registration No. LB 8536, was issued in N.W. London ( Dollis Hill ) between March 1908 and April 1909, and this prototype vehicle is clearly an upgrade to that shown previously.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Two photographs showing details of the experimental tracking system fitted to the ' Overland ' motorcar, as seen in the previous post.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

2.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Harry R. Ricardo's ' Ricardo ' Tank Engine

Harry Ralph Ricardo ( 1885-1974 ) was born in London, was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied Civil Engineering.

On leaving College in 1906, he set up his first company, the Two-Stroke Engine Co., which manufactured small engines suitable for fishing boats and small vehicles, which Ricardo himself also used in a small motorcar of his own design, the Ricardo ' Dolphin '.

Ricardo's small engine project was not particularly successful, and in 1915 he set up a new company, Engine Patents Ltd., which focused on the design of much larger six-cylinder engines.

Through connections Harry Ricardo had with the Tank Industry dating back to his time at Cambridge, Ricardo was invited by the War Department to investigate various problems which existed with the Daimler Tank engine, which had been used in British Tanks from the Mark I to the then current Mark IV Tank, these main problems being that the Daimler engine was known to be under-powered, and it also produced excessive exhaust smoke, which greatly assisted enemy reconnaissance in identifying a Tank's position.

Ricardo was asked to come up with a design for a new more powerful Tank engine intended to be fitted in the new Mark V Tank, and also deal with the smoky exhaust issue. The result, was Ricardo's more powerful, cleaner burning, six-cylinder 150 hp Tank engine.

The War Department accepted Ricardo's Tank engine design for the Mark V Tank, and production of the new ' Ricardo ' six-cylinder 150 hp Tank engine soon reached 100 engines per week with engine construction being sub-contracted to various engineering companies including Crossley Brothers Ltd, and L. Gardner & Son Ltd., both in Manchester.

A larger 225 hp ' Ricardo ' engine was subsequently produced, and fitted in the Mark V* Tank.

This first photograph shows Ricardo's ' Dolphin ' motorcar, circa 1908.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.