Landships II

I see John Glanfield refers to the first contraption in "The Devil's Chariots" - page 106:

When Crompton was asked to modify the half-ships as separate fighting units, the question of how to get them over trenches without nosediving was carefully avoided by the committee. The proposed solution was so painfully ineffective that nobody claimed it. A rectangular iron frame like a flat roof canopy was built over one of the tractors, set some 6ft above the platform. Three heavy poles each fitted with a broad base-plate was suspended from either side of the frame to hang just clear of the ground. It was hoped that when the ship surmounted a trench parapet and rocked over into its descent, the lead pair of crutches or 'elephant feet' could be swung forward to rest on the far side of the trench. With its nose suspended over the gap the machine was theoretically free to drive across on the heels of track still in ground contact. The remaining feet were intended to keep the machine upright during the manoeuvre. The idea was a total failure, amusing only in retrospect. It was indicative of mounting desperation at Burton.