WI: Tanks in the Russo-Japanese War

[Ellie]

How could there be development of tanks or a tank-equivalent in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905? What if the Russians designed them first? Or the Japanese?

 

[KACKO]

For Russia you will need this guy concept:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Blinov

combine maybe with this guy concept:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levavasseur_project

It will not be tank as we know it now. More like self propelled artillery. But after all WWI British tanks were similar in concept.

However performance of available engines could be a problem.

 

[Driftless]

The Russians created this bad-boy about ten years later. It didn't work - the trailing "wheels" got stuck too easily.

IF it could have been made to work, can you imagine the psychological impact of seeing this type of contraption rolling across the plain?

 

[Reader347]

How could there be development of tanks or a tank-equivalent in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905? What if the Russians designed them first? Or the Japanese?

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The French FT-17 was powered by an engine of about 35-40 horsepower. If such an engine is available, and endless tracks, then what's needed is the idea to combine them into a vehicle. Or either side could have modified armored cars that already existed. There are plans for armored vehicles ever since Da Vinci, after all.

 

[Driftless]

Davidson Auto Battery Armored Car

An example from 1900: Davidson Auto Battery Armored Car

http://www.warwheels.net/DavidsonAutoBatteryINDEX.html

 

[Driftless]

Found another candidate

http://www.webcitation.org/query?ur...ers/1975/armcar1.htm&date=2009-10-26+00:27:52

".....At the beginninig of the 1900's, Czarist Russia demonstrated great interest for armoured cars. During the Russian-Japanese War, Gen. Nakashidze, the Cossack Corps Commander-in-Chief, devised a plan to supply the Cavalry Corps with armoured cars.

In 1905, Russia placed a purchase order (36 ordered but only one delivered) for Charron armoured cars (an improved version of the above presented model). In spite of its advanced technology, a mass production was not planned, due to the Russian industries lack of capacity and to the conservative approach of the Czarist Army. It was then decided to continue buying cars from abroad.

In 1902, at the Paris Car Exhibition, Charron-Girardot et Voigts presented their Automitrailleuse, a semi-armoured car, derived from a touring car model, bearing a machine gun on the rear. Although this vehicle remained at a prototype stage (only two cars were actually produced) mainly because of its excessive cost, the excellent impression made on military observers pushed the company, two years later, to design a new, duly improved, version.

Charron car's main features were : weight 3 tons, 30 hp engine capable of 45 km/hr on route (30 km/hr on field), fully armoured (6 mm nichel/steel plates Lebel Big Rifle's bullet resistant), armed with a Hotchkiss MG mounted on a 360 degree traverse turret (designed by Guye, a French Navy officer). Wooden wheels were protected by steel plates and its tyres, stuffed with special material, could work even burst. The car was equipped with portable U-shaped tracks for trenches and two headligths for night operations...."

 

[Kome]

Keep in mind the Russians spent much of the war retreating...

Found another candidate

http://www.webcitation.org/query?ur...ers/1975/armcar1.htm&date=2009-10-26+00:27:52

".....At the beginninig of the 1900's, Czarist Russia demonstrated great interest for armoured cars. During the Russian-Japanese War, Gen. Nakashidze, the Cossack Corps Commander-in-Chief, devised a plan to supply the Cavalry Corps with armoured cars.

In 1905, Russia placed a purchase order (36 ordered but only one delivered) for Charron armoured cars (an improved version of the above presented model). In spite of its advanced technology, a mass production was not planned, due to the Russian industries lack of capacity and to the conservative approach of the Czarist Army. It was then decided to continue buying cars from abroad.


Amongst the others there was the acquisition of one Armstrong-Withworth armoured car, in 1913, which did not, however, give satisfactory results being too heavy and subject to several mechanical failures....."

Nice! Good find.