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Post Info TOPIC: US Tracked Steam Tank


Legend

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US Tracked Steam Tank
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Has anyone seen, or knows of, drawings of the US Tracked Steam tank? This was built in Boston in 1917-18 using Stanley

steam technology by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It looked something like an obese version of a British rhomboid tank.

Regards,

Charlie

 



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Legend

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I don't know of any drawings, but there are several photos in existence, one or two with a photoshopped turret on top of the cab. We had a discussion here about the purpose of the two pairs of prongs fixed to the front horns.

In his book, Jack Alexander says that the tank was not armoured but made of boilerplate, and the tracks were of ordinary cast steel. It was a prototype project  rather than a combat vehicle.



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Legend

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I agree it was a just a prototype. I had thought since we now have a model of the Holt Steam Wheel Tank, the other steam tank shouldn't be

neglected. Anyone else notice the tracked steam tank uses two different track elements? - I wonder what the thinking was that came up with 

that solution.

Perhaps I've got steam thingies on the brain at the moment - just finished my 1/25 Holt Steam Tank based on Andrey's cardmodel.

Not sure about the "cast steel track elements" - steel casting was in its infancy in WW1, the only furnaces which can give enough superheat

to the steel for successful casting are arc furnaces and induction furnaces - there were very few of these around in WW1.

Regards,

Charlie



-- Edited by CharlieC on Monday 4th of January 2016 11:23:30 AM



-- Edited by CharlieC on Monday 4th of January 2016 12:19:22 PM

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Legend

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Two elements to the tracks - in what way?

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Legend

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I wasn't right but the track arrangement is still weird.

In most tanks the track links have "male" and "female" joins. It looks like the steam tank had a single

type of link but the links were rotated 180 deg with respect to its neighbouring link. The links were symmetrical

so this would work. I do notice the tracks are linked with a pin and this is located with a washer and split pin.

Regards,

Charlie 



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Legend

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Yes, I see what you mean, Charlie. I think the Skeleton Tank has much the same design, just smaller in scale.

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Field Marshal

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K-Wagen also had two different track elements.  Presumably all were of civilian design from earth-moving equipment?

Tony



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