Landships II

ralphster30 · Private

Mk VIII liberty trials

jagjetta · Brigadier

Haven't heard of a flamethrower on a Mk VIII, but during the period of 1920-1925, several tests and adaptations of a stoboscopic vision device were carried out. The device replaced the commander's cupola on top of the fixed turret. Rotating vertical slots permitted a 360 degree view. On May 4, 1926, the Ordnance Committee declared the device to be inferior to the periscope and terminated the program.

John A-G

ralphster30 · Private

Thank you for the reply.I am sure i seen this somewhere but have no idea where.I have heard about the cupola.

Ironsides · Legend

Hi, I think you may be thinking of the US Engineer Corps Steam tank heres a link to a good pic and info originally posted by Vilkata.... although the sponsons are missing..
I also understand that there is a pic on the internet of this tank with a turret�but�was photoshopped and therefore a hoax...

http://images.dcr.state.nc.us/wwi/part4/4017.jpg

"Its main armament was a new flame-thrower designed by an officer in the Engineer Corps. Steam engines were chosen so that steam from the boilers could provide pressure for the flame projector. However, this ended up not working, and a seperate 35hp petrol engine was installed to provide 1,600lbs per sq in of pressure, to shoot flame 90 feet from the flame-projector. It also had a secondary armament of 4 machine guns."

Search for "steam tank" using the search option on the forum will get you good deal of info....

Cheers smile

-- Edited by Ironsides on Thursday 6th of August 2009 09:50:46 PM

philthydirtyanimal · Commander in Chief

Another modification that was carried out in the 1930s was the fitting of an 'internal and external cooling system' to overcome leakage problems in the cooling system of the Liberty engine. (Chamberlain and Ellis, 1967).

A planned (but never undertaken) modification was the 44 feet long, 42 ton Tank Mark VIII*. (Chamberlain and Ellis, 1967).

Poniatowski · Major

RP Hunnicutt's book "Firepower, a history of the American heavy tank" has a nice section on the MkVIII, but nothing about a flame thrower variant.

Date: Aug 26, 2009

philthydirtyanimal wrote:

Another modification that was carried out in the 1930s was the fitting of an 'internal and external cooling system' to overcome leakage problems in the cooling system of the Liberty engine. (Chamberlain and Ellis, 1967).

What is referenced there is a modified "internally and externally air-cooled" Liberty that was built and tested in 1932. The engine and tests are detailed on pages 224 to 228 of the book "A Technical & Operational History of the Liberty Engine: Tanks, Ships and Aircraft 1917 - 1960" by Robert J. Neal, Specialty Press 2009.

Jon

�

jcf · Private

The 'internal and external cooling system' refers to a heavily modified air-cooled Liberty designed by Neils Anderson that was built and tested in 1932. The pistons and valves were individually internally air-cooled by air piped through manifold systems inside the engine. It worked very well on test, both on the stand and mounted in a Mk VIII, which was designated "Tank, Mark VIII E1" for the duration of the tests.

Details and photos of the engine are on pages 224 to 228 of the book A Technical & Operational History of the Liberty Engine: Tanks, Ships and Aircraft 1917 - 1960, Robert J, Neal, Specialty Press 2009. (616 pages!)
An excellent book for engine geeks.

Jon