Unusual Tanks

THE TSAR TANK: 1915

Left: The Tsar tank: 1915 A tank is normally reckoned to be an armoured fighting vehicle moving on caterpillar tracks. The Tsar tank, developed by Imperial Russia from 1914 onwards, instead used two huge front wheels in a tricycle configuration; the idea was that the enormous wheels could deal with any likely depth of trench. Most tanks like to keep as low a profile as possible, but this was a conspicuous exception. It would have been extremely visible on any battlefield. The spoked wheels at the front were nearly 9 metres (30 ft) in diameter, but the third wheel at the back was only 1.5 metres (5 ft) in diameter. Each front wheel was powered by a 250 HP Sunbeam engine. Sunbeam produced a wide variety of aero-engines, and is not currently known which design was used. The likeliest candidate is the Sunbeam Maori, a V-12 giving 250 HP from a 12-litre displacement. Tests did not go well; the tank was underpowered and the rear wheel was prone to getting stuck in soft ground. The project was abandoned, and the tank was eventually scrapped in 1923. The Tsar tank has rather brief Wikipedia page. Apologies for the picture quality. No better pictures appear to exist. Note the two men on top of the tank body and one standing in the sponson, which has no gun mounted. The top turret has apertures for guns but none are mounted.

Left: The Tsar tank: 1915 This image (I am not sure if it is a model or a rendering) gives a much clearer view of the Tsar-tank's construction. There was a circular turret on top of the main body; it appears to have four guns at 90-degree spacing, so presumably did not traverse. The turret is too small to hold a decent-sized gun, and the field of fire is restricted as the turret is below the top of the front wheels. There is also a turret with at least one gun underneath the main body, with an even more restricted field of fire, and two further guns mounted in sponsons on each side.

THE BOIRAULT BRIDGE TANK: 1914

Left: The Boirault Bridge tank Version-1: 1914 This prototype machine stretches the definitition of what is a tank; it is usually just called the Boirault machine. It had one huge track made from girders configured as six giant links that completely encircled the driving machinery inside it. The prototype had a top speed of only 1.9 mph. (3 kph) The arrangements for steering were basic indeed, consisting of a main jack that lifted the whole machine; then it could be turned up to 45° by hand effort from the outside or by a system of smaller jacks controlled from the inside of the machine. It was not a practical evolution under enemy fire. The Boirault machine has a Wikipedia page. There is some more info here.

Left: The Boirault Bridge tank Version-1: 1914 This gives a better idea of the construction and operation. The driving machinery was an 80 HP petrol engine mounted inside an A-frame construction.

Left: The Boirault Bridge tank Version-1: 1914 This shows the complicated system of chains that propelled the tank. There appear to be weights added at each side of the A-frame, presumably to increase stability. There is more info and pictures of the Boirault Bridge tank here.

Left: The Boirault Bridge tank Version-2: 1916 A second version of the bridge-tank was built in 1916 that was lighter and more compact, with armour protecting the engine and the driving compartment. It had some degree of real steering control, but the minimum turning radius was an enormous 100 meters. The speed remained extremely low at 1 km/h. (0.6 mph)

Left: The Boirault Bridge tank Version-2: 1916 As for the first version, power transmission was by chains. The man on the left is believed to be M. Boirault. After testing, the whole Boirault project was abandoned.

THE TREFFASWAGEN: 1917

Left: The German Treffaswagen tank: 1917 The Treffaswagen (which Google Translate unhelpfully renders as 'Treffa's car') was a tank project developed under contract by the Hansa-Lloyd works of Bremen, in parallel with the much better known A7V, which was the only German tank used in combat in WW1. The prototype was finished on February 1, 1917. It had two 11 ft diameter steel wheels at the front, with a rectangular armoured body between them. The rear wheel was more of a big roller, and was used for steering; it had two smaller-diameter steel wheels on each side, whose porpose is currently unknown; possibly they were to resist the central roller getting bogged. It can just be seen at the right. The body carried a forward-facing 2cm TUF gun, and on either side was a machine gun that fired through a central hole in the front wheel. They were intended for firing enfilade into trenches. This would have been potentially very destructive, but the Allies were quite aware of the need to build traverses into their trenches to prevent that sort of thing. The prototype had a crew of four; commander, driver, gunner, and loader, and it weighed 18 tons. Only one prototype was constructed, and thoroughly tested during February and March 1917. The results were disappointing; the centre of gravity was too far forward and if the front wheels dug into a ditch the tank could flip over onto its back. This actually happened once in the summer of 1917. The Treffaswagen was rejected in favour of the A7V. (Fun Fact: the approximately 50 captured British Mark IV tanks used by the Germans outnumbered the 20 A7V's they produced) The Treffaswagen has a short Wikipedia page. (in Dutch)

Left: The German Treffaswagen tank: 1917 The Treffaswagen prototype seen from the rear, with a man to give the scale. Note the two smaller steel wheels on each side of the rear roller, purpose currently unknown. Maximum speed was 10 km/h (6.2 mph)

THE SKELETON TANK: 1918

Left: The USA Skeleton Tank: 1918 The Skeleton Tank was an American attempt to duplicate the trench-crossing abilities of the British rhomboid tanks, in a much lighter and simpler vehicle. The tracks ran around a relatively light frame largely constructed of steel piping, which was easily repaired and. The frame could be dismantled for railway transport. Inside the frame of the 'Skeleton Tank' was a small armoured box holding the crew of two. The hope was that most shells would pass unhindered through the open frame, though it looks to me as if at least half of the shells coming directly from the side would hit the armoured enclosure. This is the front of the tank. The armoured box had a gun turret on top and an engine on each side it. The driver had a horizontal vision slit at the front of the box, and the commander/gunner (not a very practical combination of jobs) had a vision slit in the turret. There is a good deal more information in the Tank Encyclopaedia.

Left: The USA Skeleton Tank: 1918 Only one example was built, carrying a dummy gun and turret; it was ready for testing by October 1918, but after the November 1918 Armistice development was canceled, along with most other tank development programs. It never saw any active militiary service. It cost $15,000 to construct the one prototype which is a bit under $250,000 US dollars today.

Left: The USA Skeleton Tank: 1918 The WW1 Skeleton Tank is shown here as it was stored at the US Army Ordinance Proving Grounds, Aberdeen. It has now been moved to Fort Lee. This is the rear of the tank; the rectangular box contains the transmission gearing.

THE ANSALDO MIAS/MORAS TANKETTE: 1935

Left: The Ansaldo MIAS/MORAS 35: 1935 The Motomitragliatrice blindata d'assaulto (MIAS) was a one man tracked vehicle built by the Ansaldo corporation in 1935. It had a 250cc 5 HP engine which gave 5 km/hr forward speed and 2 km/h in reverse. Remarkably there was no seat for the one man crew, thus the crewman had to scuttle about in a crouch to follow the MIAS as it moved. The forward armour was designed to stop German 7.92x57mm Mauser rounds at the front, but the side armour would only stop Italian 6.5x52mm Carcano rounds. This was standard rifle ammunition; any sort of armour piercing ammunition would go straight through. The MIAS was armed with a 6.5mm machine gun with 1,000 rounds. Ansaldo also built the Moto-mortaio blindato d'assaulto (MORAS), which was the same vehicle, but with the machine gun replaced with the odd 45mm Brixia mortar which used blank rifle cartridges to launch 500 gm high explosive mortar rounds. Fifty rounds were to be carried. The Italian Army were keen on tankettes, such as the L3/35, which came utterly to grief every time it encountered Matilda: Queen of the Desert. Neither the MIAS or the MORA went into production, the Italian Army rightly declaring it useless for modern warfare. There is an excellent page on the MIAS/MORAS at Tanks-encyclopedia.com.

THE RUSSIAN JUMPING TANK: 1937

A tank that can jump across rivers and other obstacles sounds like a ridiculous proposition. But the Soviet Russians tried it.

Left: The TPP-2 jumping tank: 1937 The following quoted text comes from "Report on the trials of the TPP-2 vehicle", confirmed by Barykov 1938, Leningrad, Kirov factory #185: January "The TPP-2 tank "Tank Preodoleniya Prepyadstviy" [Obstacle Crossing Tank] is designed to cross obstacles by jumping over them. A jump in this case is defined as the tank breaking contact with the ground and flying through the air freely." "The TPP-2 is designed to use the kinetic energy of a moving tank. In order to test the principle of jumping using an artificial ramp, a tractor on the T-26 chassis was used. In order to increase speed, the tank's mass was reduced, and the tractor was without: The upper armour plate (roof) Various equipment, extra braces The tank was only loaded with 1/3rd of its fuel capacity"

The idea is that the tank would build up speed, and rush at the obstacle. At the correct moment the four snail-shaped wheels (described in the report as "the eccentric gear") would be lowered so their smallest diameter engaged with the ground. As the tank's momentum carried it forward, the snail-wheels would rotate and lift it off the ground.

As you might imagine, testing did not go entirely smoothly. While the tank could certainly be made to jump, it did not jump far and sustained considerable damage to its engine and transmission when it landed. The driver's seat was fitted with hydraulic shock-absorbers.

THE WHITE RABBIT TRENCH-DIGGING TANK: 1939

Left: The White Rabbit on trials, rear view: 1939 This extraordinary tank design was to supposed to advance across the battlefield in a trench it dug for itself as it proceeded. When it reached the enemy front line it was planned to stop and act as a ramp for tanks and infantry who had followed behind it along the trench. It was planned to be built in substantial numbers. The assumption was of course that WW2 would be a static affair of trenches like WW1. But it was anything but, and the project was reduced in urgency, and finally abandoned in May 1941. The idea was originally conceived by Winston Churchill during WW1. The name White Rabbit was supposedly derived from the character in Alice In Wonderland who was always popping down holes. It was officially called Cultivator No.6, no doubt to obscure its real purpose. The prototype was nicknamed "Nellie". The machines were built by Ruston-Bucyrus. They were originally inteded to be powered by a single 1000 HP Merlin aircraft engines, but since these were badly needed for aircraft, twin 600HP diesels made by Davey, Paxman and Co were used at the suggestion of that great man Sir Harry Ricardo. Diesel fuel would have been much safer than the petrol used by the Merlin. It was an enormous machine planned to be built in substantial numbers. The overall weight was 130 tons and the length was 77 feet 6 inches. (23.62 m) It was built in two sections, to be split for transportation. There is an excellent detailed Wikipedia page on the White Rabbit.

Left: The White Rabbit on trials, front view: 1939 This view shows the huge snowplow-like structure on the front of the White Rabbit. The machinery just below it presumably did the digging. Note the transverse tracks behind the snowplow; presumably they were for steering whilst digging forward. Only very limited steering was possible while digging.

Left: The White Rabbit on trials, side view: 1939 This shows the installation of the two Paxman diesel engines, in line ahead. The tracks can be seen running across the top. Note the oval door (reminiscent of a submarine) giving access to the engine department from the front.

Left: The White Rabbit on trials, side view: 1939 Another view: the tracks ran right round the profile of the tank, as on the WW1 rhombus-shape tanks. It is possible the middle figure is Winston Churchill.

THE SCHOFIELD TANK: 1940

The Schofield tank was developed in New Zealand when the Pacific war was getting closer and there seemed little prospect of getting fighting vehicles from Britain. It had both four wheels and tracks.

Left: The New Zealand Schofield tank in wheel mode: 1940 The changeover from wheels to tracks, and vice versa, could be accomplished from within the hull. The wheels and the track sprockets shared common axles. There is a Wikipedia page.

Left: The New Zealand Schofield tank in track mode: 1940 The wheels were carried on the side of the tank when not in use. They look very vulnerable to combat damage. Initial trials were not very successful; an improved version was ready by 1942 but by then tanks were arriving from Britain and the US. In 1943 the project was abandoned. The prototype was put into storage and then scrapped post-war. Other fighting vehicles that are wheeled and tracked can be found on the 'N-wheel car' page: The Stridsvagn FM/30 L-30: 1931 The ADMK Mulus : 1935 The Austrian RR7: 1936

THE KUGELPANZER BALL TANK: WW2

Left: The German kugelpanzer tank: WW2 This montrosity was produced during WW2 by Krupp. Kugelpanzer literally means 'spherical tank'. Its purpose is still the subject of speculation; was it for reconnaissance, or wire-laying? It is usually called a tank, but with armour 5 mm thick at best, it would not do very well against real tanks. There was a central cylindrical compartment with a single direct vision slit at head height, and below that is a welded-up hatch which could have been used by a machine-gun. There was an access hatch at the rear. The kugelpanzer was powered by a one-cylinder two-stroke engine, with which it could reach a slow 8 km/h. (5 mph) Steering and stabilisation was by a single wheel at the rear, which can just be seen in the picture at top right. The only Kugelpanzer is in the Kubinka tank museum, having been captured by the Red Army; and apparently the Russians are very secretive about its materials of construction and the engine. It is very hard to see why- if it really had any military secrets it would never have been displayed in the first place. There is more information at tanks-encyclopedia.com. The Kugelpanzer also has a Wikipedia page.

Left: The German kugelpanzer tank: WW2 This gives a good view of the little wheel at the rear. It does not look well-suited to crossing difficult ground. The idea of a spherical tank goes back to at least 1936; see Popular Mechanix. The Kubinka Museum also has the only Maus super-heavy tank prototype, and also the only four-tracked tank prototype; Object 279.

THE GERMAN WARGEL LW 3 TANK: 1942

Left: The German Wargel LW 3 tank: 1942 This picture greatly resembles the Treffaswagen above, but it is a later example of the big-wheel idea called the Wargel LW 3, built by Lauster GmbH in 1942. The LW 3 was one of a series of Lauster designs running from LW 1 to LW 7. For example, the Lauster Wargel LW 5 had four big wheels and was constructed in 1943 to be a towing vehicle for a trench plough and as a heavy tank recovery vehicle. 'Wargel' is Swabian for a roller or drum. There is more information here.

THE SWEDISH S-TANK: 1961

The opposite philosophy to that of the Tsar Tank was adopted by the Swedish Stridsvagn 103, better known as the S-Tank. This had some radical design features to give it a very low profile for a tank.

Left: the Swedish Stridsvagn 103 fixed-gun tank The S-tank has no turret, giving it a very low profile. The Bofors 105mm L/62 gun is fixed to the chassis; elevation and depression are carried out by adjusting the hydropneumatic suspension. The gun is trained left and right by the tank turning, which it can do smoothly and precisely, even if there are obstacles around the tracks. It can swivel on its own axis. It could be argued that the S-tank is more of a self-propelled gun, but its envisaged combat role was that of a tank. The first two production prototypes were completed in 1961, and full production began in 1965. The last S-tank was retired in 1997, being replaced by the Stridsvagn 122 tank, which is based on the German Leopard tank and has a conventional turret.