Landships II

Date: Nov 27, 2005

Ever wonder about this?

Date: Nov 27, 2005

Hi Vilkata,

Well, here's the pin:

To me, it looks quite a lot like this design that was never built:

It was a design by the Automatic Machine Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, dated 14 July 1915 ('Firepower: A History of the American Heavy Tank' R P Hunnicutt). There is no front view, but the sloping sides, the upturned prow, and the fact that on the pin (but not the other images) there are, apart from the two outermost guns on the sides, also three guns above the upturned prow, plus the little cupola atop, all make it strongly suggestive...

Date: Nov 27, 2005

Hello Guys

You are quite right Roger, with your assumption. The American Tank Service Insignia and Patch were designed to resemble this early example of an American Tank. One may not no this, but America put forth at least 20 designs for tanks during the war, and over 100 patens were applied for, for Armoured Cars.

All The Best

Tim R.

Date: Nov 27, 2005

My oh my!!!

That is incredible!

Thank you very much for posting that!

That is simply incredible. The wealth of knowledge and the sheer size of the personal reference libraries of this little community is staggering.

That tank looks pretty interesting too! It seems like the drawings are complete enough that someone could make a model of this vehicle too!

And you know... Those are without a doubt the most stylish drive & idler wheels I have ever seen on a tank.

---Vil.

Date: Nov 27, 2005

Yes, I can only agree with Vilkata: there is an amazing amount of knowledge gathered here on our community!

/Peter K

Date: Nov 29, 2005

A-hah! This is what I meant.
http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/jebmil/.mids/255p.jpg
http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/jebmil/.mids/256p.jpg

That's actually an original 'hat badge'.

The detail on that picture is far superior to the other images I linked to. I like that Automatic Land Cruiser. Really cool.

---Vil.

Date: Nov 29, 2005

DOH!

Here we go again... Even BETTER pictures... Best you'll ever find without actually going out and buying one of these hat badges.

---Vil.

dyphrologue · Private

Hi!

Great site and discussion! I am very impressed by this American "Automatic Land Cruiser". In order to build a scale model of it, is it possible to read any of the measurements on the drawing? I do not have the original Hunnicut's book.

Thanks in advance for any help which will allow to complete my 1/200 collection of AFV history. I attach my "fardier de Cugnot", a French steam car of the XVIII� Century.

Paul

PDA · Legend

That's actually a very clear scan of what is in the book, i.e. the book does not show measurements.

Somebody in this thread mentions patents, so you might be lucky enough to find the patent for this machine and that might contain measurements (one would certainly hope so).

Ironsides · Legend

Doesnt seem to be anything under the designers name Norman Leeds?, apparantly two�mock up hulls�were built Automatic Land Cruiser 1 and 2

Cheers smile

James H · Legend

If this link works it will take you to a thorough explanation of the US Tank Corps and Tank Service insignia. Some interesting items -� it seems the US used images of rhomboids for many years after WWI. And the author claims that the button that started this discussion actually depicted a French tank. Hmmm. A Saint-Chamond possibly, but it looks much more like the one Roger T shows.