This blog provides images and information on interwar tank development by Vickers Armstrong Ltd. The photographs used have come from two works albums from Vickers Armstrong Ltd, held by the Beamish Museum and used here with permission. They also cover other vehicles including half tracks and wheeled transport.
Friday, 31 July 2015
Check it out
I have added a new permanent page to the blog to host David Fletcher's Tank Chats, which the tank Museum has published on YouTube.
This is a series of short films with Mr Fletcher talking about vehicles in the museum's collection.
Theose of interwar interest include the Vickers Medium and the Type E; the Carden Loyd MG Carrier; and Lanchester armoured car; The others in the series include the WWI Mk II tank, and the A 13 Cruiser and Mk VI B Light Tank.
Friday, 24 July 2015
Col Breyer D of A
The D of A was the Directorate of Artillery, part of the Master General of the Ordnance's Office with the responsibility for placing government tank orders with manufacturers. I have no further information on Colonel Breyer or which of the officers in the photo he is.
Vickers 16 tonners Ns 1 & 2 1927
The captions read 14mm turrets and petrol tank protection. No front plate. 14 mm turret walls and tank front. 9 mm sides. The twin guns were not good for the want below for two belt boxes.
A1E1 Vickers Independent under construction 1926
The caption reads Independent: 28mm plating in F.C and turret. £ pdr and Vickers in main turret. $ auxiliary turrets. Rear L.H. was anti aircraft.
Armstrong Siddeley Dragon
The Dragon towed the gun instead of carrying it like the transporter. This is the vehicle which inpressed Captain Sheryer so much at TTS as a machine of great reliability, making a run of 100 miles in one day with only one involuntary stop, and was the first tracked vehicle to last 1,000 miles before track wear put it out of commission. The engine was an air cooled aircraft enginee.
18 pdr Transporter 1922
This machine carried the 18 pdr inside the vehicle, rather than towing it like the later Dragons. The Vickers Armstrong captions state 80 HP Wolse;ey engine, 20 mph. !st machine builtat Sheffield. Weight 5 3/4 tons without gun and crew. Drg started Merch 1922. delivered to Farnborough end of November.
18 pdr Transporter Mk II was about 63 track. Mk III was 66. Hence the wide ramp on one side.
Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Birch Gun 1928/9
The third and final type of Birch Gun, Mk IE, the last two vehicles built. The gun was houses in a barbette. The top half of the shield was open at the rear.
Cavalry Porte Vehicle with Handrails 1935
This looks to be a forerunner of the Cavalry Carrier.which dsted to 1936.
Transport Vehicle 1931 French Front Line
Not very clear about what the caption means, Carden Loyd based and possible inspiration for the Renault UE?
Light Tank Foreign Sales 1933 Vickers Armstrong Suspension
Without idlers
