The forerunners of tanks part2



The Motor War Car designed by R.F.Simms



  

An important step in developing armoured vehicles was the invention by the British Vickers Company in 1902, the "Motor War Car". It was designed by R.F.Simms. This vehicle has 6 mm of amour. Its weaponry includes two Maxim machine guns(at the rear)and a  QF 1 pounder pom-pom gun(at the front). It has four wheels and was equipped with a 16 horse-power Cannstatt Daimler engine which enables it to move around with a speed of 9 miles per hour(14.5 km/h)

A De Dion-Bouton armoured vehicle seen on manoeuvres in the battlefield.

At the start of World War 1(1914-1918), heavy auto-mobile industries were already running in various parts in Europe. This includes the De Dion-Bouton company from France, Otto-Langem company from Austria, Daimler-Benz company from Germany, Rolls-Royce company from Great Britian and Hispano-Suiza company from Spain. The products manufactured was actually extra amour plating fitted onto an ordinary auto-mobiles. Thus, considerable number of vehicles with amour plating was seen on the battlefield. They had perfect mobility but can only be used on roads. They are mostly equipped  with machine guns and cannons.

However, with the existence of armoured vehicles, the era of tracked vehicles will thus be coming soon.