COMMERCIAL MOTORS
Second Report of the Berlin Show
15th February 1906
In
continuation of my report I send you a photograph of the Opel-Darracq armoured
motorcar, designed and built by Herr Emil Schmidt, of the Opel Garage, Berlin,
to the order of the German War Office. The outlines of the vehicle are similar
to an ordinary heavy motorcar, with one or two exceptions. The whole of the
body is heavily armoured with steel plates, and the surface is constructed with
as few projections as possible, to allow of bullets glancing off it. With the
idea of making the machine nearly invulnerable, the driver is completely
covered over with a metal sheeting, and this is provided with two sight holes. The
steel plate used is 2.362 inches thick, and is capable of resisting bullets
from modern infantry rifles. The interior is fitted with six seats: two for the
general in command and his aide-de-camp, two revolving seats for the staff
officers, and two front ones for the driver and attendant. The armanent
consists of two quick-firing Mauser machine guns, each of which will fire 200
rounds per minute. One of these guns is placed in a dome over the back portion
of the body, and can he made to swivel in any direction if necessary: the
second one is placed in the fore part of the body, and its barrel projects
through the front wail of the vehicle. The range of the latter weapon is
naturally more restricted than the former, owing to is position, but at the
same time the horizontal angle through which the barrel can be moved is a
comparatively large one. Two telescopes are placed between the fixed and
revolving seats—one on each side of the car—and these are supnorted on
immovable stands. There are, also, two desks, for the accommodation of maps,
and these are illuminated by small electric lamps. The internal fittings also
include the following: —Two leather sword sheaths, two map cases, two provision
cases, one chronometer, one compass, a baggage rack, two tyre covers, four air
tubes, and a complete set of tools.
COMMERCIAL MOTORS
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