In 1914 the Armoured Car Corp was formed in New York, in November of that Year it announced that it would build a vehicle, based on a Federal truck chasis, 'to replace the cavalry on the modern battlefield'. One suspects they had an eye on a European market. I can find no evidence that the vehicle was ever built, had it been the attached link shows what it would have looked like. The driver would have shared his cab with a very large petrol (gas) tank, this would have made the vehicle a potential mobile furnace like the French Schnieder tank. The rounded rear section would have been filled with ammo. The capacious turret mounted two maxims side by side.
I wonder if the Jeffrey Quad armored car the Americans had in 1914 was inspired in any way from this project armored car (does it have a name?)
No I think they were parallel developments. There were in fact a number of differing cars all built on the quad chassis. One is reputedly a 1914 model (although some references make it 1915). This had a 'pillbox' shaped turret (a mini version of the shape used by ACW monitor class ironclads). It has some (very) general similarities to the Armoured Car Corp vehicle but nothing that makes a strong case for their being a connection. One of these went off on the punitive expedition into Mexico.
The M18 was designed by the Services and Supplies element of the AEF as a convoy escort and wanted 150 to be manufactured but Pershing vetoed the idea so only a mock up was actually completed
I think you did a great impression on the 1914 Federal, and the M18. How about the Fogal AC. I will send what I have on it after I finish the 150,200 and 1500 ton tank projects.
All the Best
Tim R
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"The life given us by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal" -Cicero 106-43BC
The catalogue of Churchill papers refers to "Report by Chief Transport Officer, Admiralty, On A design for an armoured car submitted by A Henry Savage-Landor, which was ingenious, but impracticable". Does any one have access to this or other details?
One wonders if he was in any way connected with Walter Savage Landor the Victorian man of letters and profesional curmudgeon. Although this car did not get built there is a photo in existance of an improvised Home Guard armoured car circa 1941 that does contain a number of the features of this vehicle - who knows if there is any real connection?
Doubtless many (most, all?) of you have seen something about the British inventor Simms who produced first a machine gun armed quadcycle and then a much more substantial war car (1902). However in 1901 Simms produce both an armoured rail car and designs for a turetted version of the war car. The rail car was shipped off to East Africa and its ultimate fate unknown. The war office wasn't interested in the war car. Possibly the difficulty of steering may have been an issue - the driver sat well down in the hull (admidships) and steered using a set of mirrors. I enclose an impression both of the railcar and the turretted war car. Icidentaly guess what Simms went on to develop - an amphibious tank? a concrete trench crusher? No he was a member of the team that developed that most English of devices - the Teasmaid ( a sort of combined alarm clock and electric kettle that for generations has been producing an early morning cuppa for middle England.) http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1114252/simm.jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-11/1114252/simmx.jpg