Holt gas electric tank
Encyclopedia
The Holt Gas-Electric Tank was the first prototype tank
built in the United States
in a collaboration between the Holt Manufacturing Company
(now Caterpillar Inc.
) and the General Electric Company. The tank, built during 1917-18, was the only one of its kind built, as testing proved it lacked the agility and maneuverability required. The crew number is often given as six, on the assumption there would be two machine gunners, a gunner and loader for the main gun, a driver and a commander.
, with pivoting track frames. There were ten road wheels at each side. The tank was 7 foot tall, 16 in 6 in (5.03 m) long, and 9 in 1 in (2.77 m) wide. The vehicle had a Holt 90 hp, 4-cylinder engine fitted with a General Electric generator driving an electric motor for each track; a comparable petro-electric system had earlier been used for the French St Chamond
that also was fitted with a lengthened Holt suspension. To prevent overheating the transmission—a constant problem with electrical types—a complicated water cooling system had been installed.
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
built in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in a collaboration between the Holt Manufacturing Company
Holt Manufacturing Company
The Holt Manufacturing Company traces its roots to the 1883 establishment of Stockton Wheel Service in Stockton, California, United States. Benjamin Holt, who was later credited with patenting the first workable crawler tractor design, incorporated the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1892...
(now Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
) and the General Electric Company. The tank, built during 1917-18, was the only one of its kind built, as testing proved it lacked the agility and maneuverability required. The crew number is often given as six, on the assumption there would be two machine gunners, a gunner and loader for the main gun, a driver and a commander.
Construction
The tank was based on a lengthened and modified version of the suspension of the Holt Model 75Holt tractor
The Holt tractors were a range of caterpillar tractors built by the Holt Manufacturing Company, which was named after Benjamin Holt- Military Use :...
, with pivoting track frames. There were ten road wheels at each side. The tank was 7 foot tall, 16 in 6 in (5.03 m) long, and 9 in 1 in (2.77 m) wide. The vehicle had a Holt 90 hp, 4-cylinder engine fitted with a General Electric generator driving an electric motor for each track; a comparable petro-electric system had earlier been used for the French St Chamond
St Chamond (tank)
The Saint-Chamond was the second French heavy tank of the First World War.Overall an inadequate design born of commercial rivalry, the war ended before it was replaced by British heavy tanks.-Development:...
that also was fitted with a lengthened Holt suspension. To prevent overheating the transmission—a constant problem with electrical types—a complicated water cooling system had been installed.