Challenge Tanks invented before WWI

Clibanarius

Banned
What it says on the Tin.

How would you plausibly have a viable Tank invited before or just in time for WWI and used in large numbers?

Bonus if you can get some of the more pressing bugs ironed out before the war starts.
 
Cook

Cook

Banned
In 1912 Lance de Mole from South Australia submitted a proposal to the British War Office, for a 'chain-rail vehicle which could be easily steered and carry heavy loads over rough ground and trenches' complete with extensive drawings. The War Office rejected the proposal and his idea had to wait until 1916 until anyone took any interest in it. The British Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors eventually made a payment of £987 to De Mole to cover his expenses and promoting him to an honorary corporal.

Have the War Office pay more attention to him the first time round. Earlier than that might be a bit hard.
 

robertp6165

Clibanarius said:
What it says on the Tin.

How would you plausibly have a viable Tank invited before or just in time for WWI and used in large numbers?

Bonus if you can get some of the more pressing bugs ironed out before the war starts.
Click to expand...

It could have happened as early as 1908, if David Roberts of Hornsby and Sons had listened to the officer who suggested such a vehicle at the time.

In the linked thread, there are some interesting ideas about what such a vehicle could have looked like and how it might have been used.
 
Cook

Cook

Banned
Perhaps armour plating on a steam tractor for pre-1900, but the performance is going to be questionable.
 
Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf

The difference is between an armoured tractor, and tracked armour with heavy weapons

Armoured tractors would make sense if they were coming under fire whilst towing artillery, for example, then armouring them would seem like common sense

The idea of sticking a gun, or a few guns on them, would need another push

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 

Josephus

Even the Austria-Hungarians were on track 1913
Click to expand...

The post linked to is somewhat inaccurate. The Burstyn tank was never built, all that ever existed were drawings and a tiny model in the Vienna Heeresgeschichtliches Museum. The anecdote cited took place earlier with the Austro-Daimler armored car, between 1904 and 1908, iirc. A-H could have had the first armored cars, too. *grumbles* FJI was certainly hard-working and had a first-rate military education, but, well, it took place when rifled cap-lock muskets were bleeding edge tech, and he wasn't a genius by a wide margin.
 

arctic warrior

Josephus said:
The post linked to is somewhat inaccurate. The Burstyn tank was never built, all that ever existed were drawings and a tiny model in the Vienna Heeresgeschichtliches Museum. The anecdote cited took place earlier with the Austro-Daimler armored car, between 1904 and 1908, iirc. A-H could have had the first armored cars, too. *grumbles* FJI was certainly hard-working and had a first-rate military education, but, well, it took place when rifled cap-lock muskets were bleeding edge tech, and he wasn't a genius by a wide margin.
Click to expand...

Well I didn't look closer into it earlier on but you're right.
Even if they rejected the idea it was on track though... ;)
 
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