The Automobile, page 814. November 9, 1916.
Fiat Armored Trucks in Battle Service
AMERICAN automobile chassis are numerous on the battlefields of France, both as the conventional passenger car and covered with armor plate. These armored cars are built both on motor truck and passenger car chassis, depending upon the character of the service for which they are intended.
Thus massive, heavy chassis are used for field work where thick, weighty armor plate is a necessity, due to possible exposure to heavy fire and where speed is a secondary consideration.
For swift, light armored types powerful passenger car chassis are frequently utilised, the plating not being as heavy since these cars are usually employed for scout work and quick dashes, so that they are not called upon to sustain heavy rifle or artillery fire for any length of time.
A number of the armored cars now in service in the Somme district and around Verdun are built on Fiat chassis produced in the American factory of the Fiat Co. at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
The illustration shows one of these Fiat armored cars. The motor is a 65-hp. type; wheelbase is 128 in.; transmission four-speed; and clutch multiple disk. In fact, the chassis with the exception of heavier springs, dual rear wheels, and the double steering controls, is identical with the model 55 passenger car chassis which the Fiat company is producing as its regular standard car.
The chassis is equipped with the regular forward steering, so that the front driver operates the car as under ordinary conditions. There is a rear steering arrangement, so that the second operator facing backward at the rear end of the car can steer the car backward and have the car under the same control as the front operator —the advantages being that the armored car can run up as close to the firing line as desired, use the turret guns, and immediately back straightaway without having to turn around and subject the car to broadside firing from the opposing lines.
The radiator at the front of the car is armored with a V-shaped plate, so that any bullets striking will be deflected, without doing any damage.
On the chassis are mounted two rapid-fire guns in revolving turrets. Both the front and rear operator are protected by shields over the slits in the armor plate, through which they may look while under fire. The front operator has an opening, which is kept open when not in danger, but which can be closed down to the minutest point when approaching the firing line, giving almost perfect protection.
The chassis is equipped with dual wheels rear, single wheels front. No air is used in the tires, so that puncture is not as serious as with air-filled types, the regular casing being filled with a special filler material adopted by the English government, although these tires are mounted on demountable rims for quick changing if necessary.
Thus massive, heavy chassis are used for field work where thick, weighty armor plate is a necessity, due to possible exposure to heavy fire and where speed is a secondary consideration.
For swift, light armored types powerful passenger car chassis are frequently utilised, the plating not being as heavy since these cars are usually employed for scout work and quick dashes, so that they are not called upon to sustain heavy rifle or artillery fire for any length of time.
A number of the armored cars now in service in the Somme district and around Verdun are built on Fiat chassis produced in the American factory of the Fiat Co. at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
The illustration shows one of these Fiat armored cars. The motor is a 65-hp. type; wheelbase is 128 in.; transmission four-speed; and clutch multiple disk. In fact, the chassis with the exception of heavier springs, dual rear wheels, and the double steering controls, is identical with the model 55 passenger car chassis which the Fiat company is producing as its regular standard car.
The chassis is equipped with the regular forward steering, so that the front driver operates the car as under ordinary conditions. There is a rear steering arrangement, so that the second operator facing backward at the rear end of the car can steer the car backward and have the car under the same control as the front operator —the advantages being that the armored car can run up as close to the firing line as desired, use the turret guns, and immediately back straightaway without having to turn around and subject the car to broadside firing from the opposing lines.
The radiator at the front of the car is armored with a V-shaped plate, so that any bullets striking will be deflected, without doing any damage.
On the chassis are mounted two rapid-fire guns in revolving turrets. Both the front and rear operator are protected by shields over the slits in the armor plate, through which they may look while under fire. The front operator has an opening, which is kept open when not in danger, but which can be closed down to the minutest point when approaching the firing line, giving almost perfect protection.
The chassis is equipped with dual wheels rear, single wheels front. No air is used in the tires, so that puncture is not as serious as with air-filled types, the regular casing being filled with a special filler material adopted by the English government, although these tires are mounted on demountable rims for quick changing if necessary.
NOTE
Although the transcribed text contains some absolutely false statements, such as the alleged existence of French armor on American chassis (Fiat armored in the Somme and Verdun!), as well as other errors, I thought it would be interesting to publish it in this post.
--------------------
Aunque el texto transcrito contiene algunas manifiestaciones absolutamente falsas, como la supuesta existencia de blindados franceses sobre chasis americanos (¡Fiat blindados en el Somme y Verdún!), así como otros errores, he considerado interesante publicarlo en este post.
No comments:
Post a Comment