WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another excellent example of an RIC Crossley 15 hp Armoured Tender number plate OI 8863 patrolling on the streets of Belfast.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The Fiat 30 Artillery Tractor as seen in posts #5380 & 5396, was powered by a 4-cylinder 60 hp 10.6 litre engine.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The Italian Army's Fiat 20 Artillery Tractor had a 4-cylinder 65 hp 10,618 cc engine giving a speed of 12 km/h and a towing capacity of 40 tons.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

On 8/25/2016 at 12:04, Rockdoc said:

This looks to be a very heavy gun so the pressure on the road surface from each wheel would be pretty high. I would guess that the mud-wheels are being used to protect weak areas of road.

 

Keith,

 

The Italian Gun shown being towed in post #5380 is indeed a very heavy gun, it is a massive 22 ton Italian 305 mm ' Obice da 305 D.S. ' which were produced between 1914 - 1917, with some 44 such guns being manufactured by 2 different joint-venture armament companies, Armstrong-Pozzuoli and Vickers-Terni.

 

Originally designed as a coastal defence gun, it was subsequently fitted to a ' De Stefano ' artillery carriage, named after the gun carriage's designer, and given the designation ' D.S. '.

 

Depending on the type of shell being fired, be it a 442 kg, 348 kg or a 292 kg, the ' Obice ' had a maximum range of 19,200+ yards, with the Obice's barrel having a maximum elevation of 60 degrees.

 

During the Obice's WW1 artillery service with the Italian Army, the De Stefano carriage's wheels were usually fitted with special tracks which were particularly beneficial in the snow and mud often encountered on the Italian Front.

Those special tracks were ' Bonagente ' tracks, named after their inventor, an Italian Artillery Major, Crispino Bonagente. 

 

The ' Bonagente ' tracks, first patented in September 1900, were fitted around the rim of the gun carriage's wheels, and were made up of a series of metallic plates on oscillating supports, with those plates greatly increasing the wheel's area of contact with the ground, thereby spreading the substantial weight of the gun over a much larger area, which was highly beneficial on soft muddy ground or in snow.

 

Another major feature of Bonagente's track invention, was that when the gun carriage's wheels came to a stop, the two plates closest to the ground came together to form a stable raised platform under the wheel ( see attached photos ), which allowed the gun to be immediately ready for firing, with the added benefit of the Bonagente track plates also absorbing some of the gun's recoil.

 

In addition to being fitted to the massive 305 mm ' Obice da 305 ' Gun, the ' Bonagente ' tracks were also fitted to the carriage wheels of much smaller artillery, as seen in John's previous post #5370.

 

The ' Bonagente ' tracks were also officially adopted by the French Army during WW1, and fitted to a range of French artillery.

The British, also used a version of ' Bonagente ' tracks on their heavy artillery during WW1.

 

The attached 2 photographs taken on 2nd June 1918, show front and back views of a massive Italian Army ' Obice da 305 D.S. ' standing on a road in the Italian town of Sandrigo in the Veneto region of N.E. Italy.

This particular region of N.E. Italy bordering with N.W. Slovenia, was the scene of heavy fighting between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces during WW1.

These two photographs give a good overall detailed view of the Italian Army's 305 mm ' Obice da 305 D.S. ', it's ' De Stefano ' carriage, and the ' Bonagente ' tracks fitted to the carriage wheels.

 

Also, in both photographs we can see that when the gun carriage's wheels have stopped, the two ' Bonagente ' track plates closest to the ground, come together to form a stable raised platform to support the gun's weight either when standing, as in these two photographs, or when being fired.

 

The first photograph shows the front view of a massive Italian Army ' Obice da 305 D.S. ' standing on a road in the Italian town of Sandrigo in the Veneto region of N.E. Italy.

 

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]

This photograph shows the back view of a massive Italian Army ' Obice da 305 D.S. ' standing on a road in the Italian town of Sandrigo in the Veneto region of N.E. Italy on 2nd June, 1918, which again shows the ' Bonagente ' tracks fitted to the wheels of the De Stefano carriage, which come together to form a stable raised platform to support the gun's weight when standing, as in this photograph.

 

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]

On 8/22/2016 at 12:51, johnboy said:

The first three axles are on the ground but the fourth looks like it is in the air. The rear wheels of the lorry look similar to those used on guns.

There looks like a chute over/ in front of first axle.

 

Johnboy,

 

With reference to John's post #5370, the new additional information and photographs show that the gun carriage's apparently raised wheels were in fact the raised ' platform ' formed by the ' Bonagente ' tracks, and the ' chute/hopper ' was probably a wheel chock resting atop the Fiat wheel track's storage trough, as was shown in post #5396.

 

Regards,

LF

[johnboy]

LF

I am still not convinced! It still looks as if it is hollow with an opening at the top and a larger one at the bottom. Shame the writing on it is illegible

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

37 minutes ago, johnboy said:

LF

I am still not convinced! It still looks as if it is hollow with an opening at the top and a larger one at the bottom. Shame the writing on it is illegible

 

johnboy,

 

With only the mud/snow track lying in that trough, I am cannot think what else would have been needed in that particular position, and from the other photographs the box below the trough is probably only a storage locker or tool box ?

 

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

9 hours ago, johnboy said:

LF

I am still not convinced! It still looks as if it is hollow with an opening at the top and a larger one at the bottom. Shame the writing on it is illegible

 

johnboy,

 

Here is another much clearer photograph showing a Fiat 70 Artillery Tractor hauling a large Italian Gun, and in this particular photograph we can clearly see that the item on top of the track storage trough is not connected to the trough or the storage box under the trough, and again the item looks distinctly like a wheel chock for the Fiat's rear-wheel.

 

Regards,

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.

 

Edited 29 August , 2016 by Lancashire Fusilier

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The attached photograph shows Austro-Hungarian troops inspecting an Italian 305 mm ' Obice da 305 / Modello 1917 ' Gun captured during the Battle of Caporetto in late 1917.

The massive Italian Gun was photographed in a village close to Udine in the Friuil-Venezia Giulia region of N.E. Italy close to the border with N.W. Slovenia.

This photograph, graphically illustrates the size and scale of the Italian 305 mm Obice Gun, and also gives excellent details of the De Stefano carriage and the Bonagente wheel tracks.

 

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]

A nicely coloured photograph, showing that same Italian 305 mm Obice Gun captured during the Battle of Caporetto, seen in the previous post.

 

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.

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

An interesting photograph showing a Crossley 20/25 Tender being driven by a British soldier, and transporting a large wooden crate guarded by ' Black & Tans '.

The Crossley's number plate letters ' TW ' are for an early Chelmsford, Essex vehicle registration.

Unfortunately, there is no indication where in Ireland this photograph was taken, or what may have been in the wooden crate.

Also of note, the Black & Tan's ' Irish ' style slung revolver holster.

 

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.

 

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The framing of this particular photograph gives the two Italian Army 305 mm ' Obice 305 D.S. ' Guns a somewhat ' alien ' or ' Star Warish ' look, with the gun on left showing what is probably the Obice's maximum 60 degree barrel elevation.

 

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.

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

This photograph illustrates De Stefano's interesting design for the carriage of the massive 305 mm ' Obice 305 ' Gun, with it's unusual shaped rear underside, which cleverly allows the carriage's rear wheels to pivot on their axle under the gun carriage and so giving the Obice 305 excellent manoeuvrability, with the carriage's rear wheels able to traverse in an extremely small turning circle.

 

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.

 

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

This photograph shows an ex-RAF WW1 Crossley 20/25 Tender in post-WW1 civilian use in the village of Winkleigh, Devon.

Interestingly, Winkleigh was the birthplace of WW1 RFC Flying Ace, 2nd Lt. Godfrey Bremridge, AFC., whose father, the Rev. Henry Bremridge was the Vicar of Winkleigh between 1854-1913.

 

The Crossley's number plate letters ' LD ' are for an early London North West vehicle registration, which was probably the Crossley's original RAF number plate.

 

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.

 

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

This photograph gives excellent details of the design, construction and the fitting of the ' Bonagente ' tracks, which in this example, are fitted to the wheel rims on a German 21 cm ' Morser 10 ' Heavy Howitzer.

 

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.

Edited 1 September , 2016 by Lancashire Fusilier

[Lancashire Fusilier]

This photograph shows two British soldiers resting beneath the barrel of a German 21 cm ' Morcer ' Heavy Howitzer, captured on 6th September 1918 during heavy fighting around the town of Saint-Leger.

The Morcer's wheels are fitted with ' Bonagente ' tracks, the same as those shown in the previous post.

The town of St. Leger is some 7.5 miles South of Arras, and 5 miles North of Bapaume in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of Northern France.

 

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]

This photograph shows the same German 21 cm ' Morser ' Heavy Howitzer captured near Saint-Leger, as pictured in the previous post, seen from a different angle.

Several British soldiers have arrived on scene with a team of horses, which presumably, are to be used firstly to extricate the captured Howitzer, and then having hitched the horses to the ' Morser ', haul it back to British lines for salvaging and re-use by the British.

 

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]

With the ending of hostilities in Europe and the resulting downturn in the requirement for military vehicles, Crossley turned their attention to producing civilian motorcars and commercial vehicles, including the then popular Char-A-Banc, and also motor buses.

 

The first two photographs, show examples of Crossley chassis converted as Char-A-Bancs.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Two Crossley Char-A-Bancs, with the single number plate letter ' R ' being for a Derbyshire vehicle registration used between 1903 - 1923.

 

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.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

An example of an early Crossley Motorbus, using the same chassis as that used previously on the Crossley Armoured Tender shown in post # 5401.

The Crossley Motorbus' number plate letters ' ME ' are for an early London North East vehicle registration.

 

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.

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Crossley's extensive factory complex at Stockport, as it was between the wars.

 

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.

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

For my final post relating to ' Crossley ' , here are photographs of Crossley's founders, the two Crossley brothers, Francis William Crossley 1839-1897, and his younger brother William ( later Sir William Crossley 1910 ) 1844-1911.

 

LF

 

 

 

These images are 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]

Sir William John Crossley.

 

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.

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

This interesting photograph shows British use of the ' Bonagente ' type wheel tracks during WW1, as seen fitted to a 6 inch Howitzer in use by the No.1 Royal Garrison Artillery Officer Cadet's School at Trowbridge, Wiltshire during November 1917.

 

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.