There has been some discussion on this forum about the Mendeleyev tank, but little actual information on it.
The Mendeleyev tank (or self-propelled-gun, to be specific) was one of the first AFVs ever designed, done so by the famous Russian chemist Dimitriv Mendeleyev. Of course, it looks simple, a big box with a turret and a gun, but if you explore the blueprints, you get a surprise...
We'll skip the weaponary, since its obvious, and in this case, almost trivial, and discuss the mechanics. The Mendeleyev was powered by eight drive wheels, four per track, whic dwelled in each corner, meaning the track actually went all the way round the tank. Between them, mounted on each wheel were pistons that provided pneumatic suspension, as well as acting as shock absorbers, so when it went over a rock, the tracks would sink in, creating no return impact (orindeed no return-to-surface at all), and when it went over a depression in the ground, would make no sudden jolt as it went over, as the tracks would sink in.
Most impressively, it could park. To do this, it would find an even spot and the rear drive wheels would then collapse inwards, so the track slipped backwards, hooking onto a steel frame, the pistons would empty, making it drop, and it would park. Making it powerful staionary artillery + a pillbox.
I hope you've found this useful, or at least intersting. I had little genuine iformation availble, so although its fairly short, it took a while to write. Thanks for reading!
__ _______|_|___________ | |_____ | |_____===== |___________________| O o o o o o o o o o o o O Bwa, ha, ha!
-- Edited by Hughbearson on Monday 29th of March 2010 09:27:20 PM
AFAIK the Mendelev who designed the tank was the son of the famous chemist and a marine engineer by profession.
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AFAIK the Mendelev who designed the tank was the son of the famous chemist and a marine engineer by profession.
Exactly so - Dimitri Mendeleev (the chemist) died in 1907. The designer of the this tank was Vasily Mendeleev, his son. There's an article on the Mendeleev tank at http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/WWI/Mendeleev/mend.php - in Russian but Google Translate renders the text as approximately English.
The squatting suspension idea was eventually realised in the WW2 60cm Karl-Gerate self-propelled mortars.
The several other forums in which I hang out are similar - one allows users to edit for up to two days, after that only moderators or the admin can make an edit. I don't know what the 'editable' period is on this board/forum.
The link above is in ActiveBoard -> Example Forum -> User Help AKA 'How Do I' Questions, address http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=190&subForumID=25139&p=2. The moderators there are asleep at the wheel (spam) but when you get past the first page of that there are legitimate inquiry and answer topics dealing with various aspects of using the forum application. I think that is the nearest thing to a FAQ which comes with the application.
An excellent article Aleksandr, thanks for reminding us it is there. We newer members have much to discover - and the Landships site was unavailable for some of the time recently.
-- Edited by Rectalgia on Monday 12th of April 2010 07:51:44 PM
The squatting suspension idea was eventually realised in the WW2 60cm Karl-Gerate self-propelled mortars.
yes, and it reminds me too at the pneumatic suspension device of the experimental Citroen P 103 from the mid thirties, as well at the Swedish S tank. And modern public transport buses who can lower themselves closer to the ground.