Wheeled / Tracked Tank

Wheeled / tracked tank “Scofield”

  It should be noted that the wheeled-tracked tanks in the 20-30 years trying to build in many countries, which seems consistent with the spirit of the time. However, neither in France nor in the Czech Republic nor Sweden could not reach the perfection of machinery Walter Christie. The fact is that apart from him all the designers of these countries have gone the wrong way, and at the same tank and attached a track and wheels. Nevertheless, even if the concept combining wheeled and tracked propulsion was already clearly unsuitable for vehicles since World War II, attempts to create a wheeled-tracked tank was still going on …

In 1940 the whole of Europe has already rattled the war, but in New Zealand has been peaceful. But … only “de facto”, because “de jure”, as in Britain, it was at war wiTh the Axis powers. Whatever it was, but from the threat of invasion was not insured and it is why the New Zealands began to urgently step up its armed forces. The reports reaching proposals were discussed and, if found worthy of attention, and sent for execution. One such proposal came from EJ. Scofield , representative of the company “General Motors” in Auckland, at the meeting of representatives of government and the army, he demonstrated his model of wheeled / tracked chassis, which was approved by them as a fighting machine production in New Zealand. Already in July 1940, work began on the manufacture of wooden mock-up, a monTh later he was maDE, after which the 19-Th of August the War Department ordered two specimens of the metal to conduct sea trials. But did was still only one car, although the initial success is so inspiring “General Motors”, the company commissioned in Canada 48 chassis Chevrolet “CKD 60 cm, on which, and had to do wiTh tanks, chassis arrived a year later, when the order already canceled!

Nevertheless, in December 1940 the prototype was ready and he began to experience. The design was very tech: engine, gearbox, rear axle and wheels were borrowed from 3-ton truck RHD “Chevrolet 4×2, and their alterations to a minimum. The engine, as well as on the car, located in the front, behind him in the central part of the body – the driver and gunner, and already in the fodder is another gunner in an armored turret. Armed wiTh Vickers machine guns, tanks, and its design was quite a lot of original features. For example, the Office of the roof could go up / while the rear machine gun turret was required to deploy a 180? Driver’s seat could also be raised and lowered, thus achieving a good overview of the car while driving out of the combat situation.

The front wheels were withdrawn altogether, and were covered by a curved armour sheets that same respect back, which had been leading, then the motion on the tracks they were transported in special containers on boTh sides of the shell behind, and when I had to go on wheels, the force of the motor tracks fell and Two members of the crew were removed and consolidated on the rear axles of the driving wheels caterpillar mover. When driving on the wheels tracked propeller off, so when driving on the highway it is much less wear, and do not damage roads, and up to speed on the wheel carriage was significantly higher. When you go to caterpillar longitudinal girder on which affirm the truck wheels and tank treads lowered himself on track. Rear-wheel drive wiTh the same posting and the crew was removing them in containers. It required 7 minutes to go wiTh the wheels on the tracks and 10 – wiTh the caterpillars on the wheels. The wheels were not podressoreny, resulting in such a tank could be moved only on roads wiTh a good finish. But to the average of the track wheeled not sag, it had to be suspended on each siDe of the chains.

Weight of the tank was 6 tons, power 6-cylinder gasoline engine Chevrolet – 216 l / sec. Cruising on the wheels was 350 miles, and the maximum speed of about 50 miles per hour on wheels and 25 miles on the tracks. The crew consisted of three people: a driver, assistant machine gunner and commander of the arrow.

Test started to fail, because the engine overheats, a lot of complaints about the control system of the front wheels. Nevertheless, in December 1941 test run through the machine withstood Auckland. Run in the opposite direction was less successful, as well as the subsequent tests at the sites, where it turned out that the tank is very easy to “lose” front wheel while driving on the tracks. In addition the tank had a low cross while moving on the tracks on the sandy soils.

Nevertheless, the project interested in a number of experts who spoke in favor of the machine has been improved in accordance wiTh the foregoing observations, and her arms – strengthened.”Schofield” suggested that the Government reconsider the project, promising to improve it, and most importantly put the tank 2-pound / 40-mm antitank gun / English production, it can manifest itself in the fight against the tanks.

The final version of the tank was manufactured in December 1942 in the railway workshops Hutt Valley. Marina turned much more complete and even superficially looked much more perfect. The entire chassis has been entirely borrowed from the BTR “Universal Carrier”, wiTh the exception of supporting rollers, armored bulwarks caterpillars removed. Heavy horizontal beams Caterpillar tracks were replaced by the lighter M-shaped. Permanent wheels on the tank is left and when driving on the tracks was required to remove boTh pairs – and the front and rear. The design for this, but easier, because now the front steering wheels were fixed to the front axles of the wheels and rails were raised and lowered simultaneously wiTh the rear, during the course of the change. From the crew needed only to remove and put on wheels and goes up and down tracks as before from the tank. The engine, as well as on the first sample was placed in the front, but more compact. The driver sat on the right, and his assistant – on the left, wiTh the upper hatches they open in different directions. In the open top of the tower housed the commander, also serve as a loader and gunner, gunner guns. 7.92-mm machine gun Besa (Besa) was paired wiTh 40-mm gun on the right, sight – on the left. Ammunition gun was 52 shells and 12 to 14 boxes of shops for the machine gun, each of which contain 225 rounds of ammunition. Rotate the tower was carried out manually by rotating mechanism on the left siDe of the tower. The thickness of the turret front was – 11 mm, sides and rear – 6 mm in front of the case – 11 mm, siDe, rear and bottom – 6 mm, roof enclosures – 4 mm.

Weight of the tank was 6.5 tons, power 6-cylinder gasoline engine Chevrolet – 235 l / sec. Transmission – type “Marmont-Herrington CTLS-4TA. Fuel provided in the range of 420 miles. The tank was developed about 50 miles on the highway and 20 miles of terrain.

Tests in January 1943, Maori were successful, and most importantly they are held in parallel wiTh the testing intelligence BA White, and APC “Universal”, which allowed more objectively evaluate the pros and cons of the new machine. It was agreed that in general the car failed, even so, that have shown interest in it and in the UK, where, and sent the prototype. In the tests, the chief showed interest in her medical corps, who believed it possible to use it as a high-speed armored ambulances and parachute troops, intending parachuted this tank in the European theater wiTh gliders “Horsa”.

October 11, 1943 the tank was shown to the British Government on Horse Guards ParaDe in London, then on the ground in Chobheme again began to test it. They again found a number of shortcomings, but overall design was justified and the tank is easily passed from the wheels on the tracks and back. It was noted that the comments maDe in principle, be eliminated, however, produce such a tank British military was considered irrational. The fact is that in 1943 in New Zealand have already walked in the lend-lease tanks from the United States and British factories produced a lot of its own equipment. There was no support and the proposal to create Scofield on chassis 25-pound self-propelled gun. Its short existence, this tank has finished in the scrapyard …