The Skeleton tank also known as the Spider tank was an experimental prototype tank built in 1918 by the Pioneer Tractor Company, Winona, Minnesota for $15,000 ($ 303,800 in 2024).[1][2] The prototype was ready for trials by October 1918.[3] Designed with several innovative features, some of which were controversial at the time, the Skeleton Tank project did not proceed beyond the single prototype.
Skeleton tank
Skeleton Tank preserved at Aberdeen Proving Ground
Bow of Skeleton Tank. Note boxy fighting compartment and machine gun turret.Right side of Skeleton Tank showing use of iron pipes and plumbing connections to create lozenge or rhomboid shape for trench-crossing.Rear of Skeleton Tank showing gearbox.
The objective of this prototype was to develop a lightweight vehicle capable of crossing wide trenches in a manner similar to the then-conventional heavy British tanks. Unlike the British tanks with their fully enclosed chassis, the Skeleton Tank achieved the requisite lozenge shape by supporting its tracks with a skeleton-like framework formed from ordinary iron pipes joined by standard plumbing connections. Suspended between these track frames was an armored fighting compartment carrying a machine gun turret. The engines were also housed in this armor-protected box.
This arrangement dramatically reduced the weight of the vehicle as compared to the larger British and French tanks while preserving the trench-crossing capabilities of those machines, and there was a belief that most enemy bullets and cannon rounds would pass harmlessly through the structure. However, it eliminated the possibility of mounting weapons in sponsons as in the British tanks and thus limited the armament that could be carried.
Motive power consisted of two Beaver 50 hp (37 kW) four-cylinder engines with a final drive joining to a gearbox suspended between the rear horns of the tracks. This allowed a maximum speed of 5 mph (8.0 km/h).
Specificationsedit
The Skeleton Tank weighed 9 tons and carried a boxy fighting compartment protected by a 1⁄2 inch (13 millimetres) of armor, which was in line with the armor thicknesses on other Allied tanks.
The crew of two consisted of the driver and the commander/gunner who manned the .30 (7.62 mm) calibermachine gun in the turret.
It was 25 feet (7.6 m) long, which compared favorably in trench-crossing potential to the then-standard heavy British Mk IV and Mk V tanks with lengths of 26 ft 5 in (8.05 m) but weights of 28 to 29 tons, and the French Schneider CA1 and Char d'Assault St. Chamond with lengths of 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) and 28 ft 11 in (8.81 m) and weights of 13.5 and 23 tons respectively.
It was 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) wide, narrower than the 10 ft (3.0 m) to 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m) of the British tanks, and slightly higher at 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) vice 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) for the Mk IV/V due to its turret.
skeleton, tank, also, known, spider, tank, experimental, prototype, tank, built, 1918, pioneer, tractor, company, winona, minnesota, 2024, prototype, ready, trials, october, 1918, designed, with, several, innovative, features, some, which, were, controversial,. The Skeleton tank also known as the Spider tank was an experimental prototype tank built in 1918 by the Pioneer Tractor Company Winona Minnesota for 15 000 303 800 in 2024 1 2 The prototype was ready for trials by October 1918 3 Designed with several innovative features some of which were controversial at the time the Skeleton Tank project did not proceed beyond the single prototype Skeleton tankSkeleton Tank preserved at Aberdeen Proving GroundTypeExperimental TankPlace of origin USAProduction historyManufacturerPioneer Tractor CompanyProduced1918No built1SpecificationsMass18 000 lb 8 200 kg Length25 ft 7 6 m Width8 ft 5 in 2 57 m Height9 ft 6 in 2 90 m Crew2Armor0 5 in 12 7 mm Mainarmament1 X 30 7 62 mm caliber machine gunEngine2 X Beaver 4 cylinder50 hp 37 kW SuspensionRigid frame tracksMaximum speed5 mph 8 0 km h Bow of Skeleton Tank Note boxy fighting compartment and machine gun turret Right side of Skeleton Tank showing use of iron pipes and plumbing connections to create lozenge or rhomboid shape for trench crossing Rear of Skeleton Tank showing gearbox Contents 1 Design 2 Specifications 3 Survivor 4 BibliographyDesign editThe objective of this prototype was to develop a lightweight vehicle capable of crossing wide trenches in a manner similar to the then conventional heavy British tanks Unlike the British tanks with their fully enclosed chassis the Skeleton Tank achieved the requisite lozenge shape by supporting its tracks with a skeleton like framework formed from ordinary iron pipes joined by standard plumbing connections Suspended between these track frames was an armored fighting compartment carrying a machine gun turret The engines were also housed in this armor protected box This arrangement dramatically reduced the weight of the vehicle as compared to the larger British and French tanks while preserving the trench crossing capabilities of those machines and there was a belief that most enemy bullets and cannon rounds would pass harmlessly through the structure However it eliminated the possibility of mounting weapons in sponsons as in the British tanks and thus limited the armament that could be carried Motive power consisted of two Beaver 50 hp 37 kW four cylinder engines with a final drive joining to a gearbox suspended between the rear horns of the tracks This allowed a maximum speed of 5 mph 8 0 km h Specifications editThe Skeleton Tank weighed 9 tons and carried a boxy fighting compartment protected by a 1 2 inch 13 millimetres of armor which was in line with the armor thicknesses on other Allied tanks The crew of two consisted of the driver and the commander gunner who manned the 30 7 62 mm caliber machine gun in the turret It was 25 feet 7 6 m long which compared favorably in trench crossing potential to the then standard heavy British Mk IV and Mk V tanks with lengths of 26 ft 5 in 8 05 m but weights of 28 to 29 tons and the French Schneider CA1 and Char d Assault St Chamond with lengths of 19 ft 9 in 6 02 m and 28 ft 11 in 8 81 m and weights of 13 5 and 23 tons respectively It was 8 ft 5 in 2 57 m wide narrower than the 10 ft 3 0 m to 12 ft 5 in 3 78 m of the British tanks and slightly higher at 9 ft 6 in 2 90 m vice 8 ft 8 in 2 64 m for the Mk IV V due to its turret It was never ordered into production Survivor editThe cosmetically restored Skeleton Tank is preserved under a canopy at the United States Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skeleton Tank Notes Zaloga 2017 p 6 Chamberlain amp Ellis 1972 Moore 2017 References Chamberlain Peter Ellis Chris 1972 1974 Pictorial history of Tanks of the World 1915 1945 Galahad Books p 167 ISBN 0 88365 183 1 Moore Craig 2017 Tank Hunter World War One The History Press ISBN 9780750986595 Total pages 240 Zaloga Steven J 2017 Early US Armor Tanks 1916 40 Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 9781472818089 Total pages 48 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Skeleton tank amp oldid 1209198043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
