First tank???

[Voriax]

Guess this should go to the hardware forum but check this link about German Fahrpanzer: http://www.kithobbyist.com/AFVInteriors ... hrpan.html

And no, they weren't V4 revenge weapons or last ditch efforts in '45

Voriax

[AbsntMndedProf]

I don't know what the first tank was, but surely credit has to go to Leonardo Da Vinci for one of the first tank designs:

http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il ... oTank.html


http://instruct.westvalley.edu/robinson ... da%20Vinci's%20tank.jpg

Eric Maietta

[Griefbringer]

Interesting looking stuff, though I wouldn't call it a tank as it did not have motive means of its own (engine), but relied on horses - so basically just an armoured horse-carriage.

Horse-drawn vehicles designed for combat are not exactly a new thing - Bohemian Hussites did it already in the 15th century, and there have been other attempts since then, too. I think there is at least one Western movie illustrating an armoured wagon - not sure if that was based on imagination or real-world idea.

Griefbringer

[Vetkin]

The first 'tank' I think is the Roman Phalanx

Shields all around to protect against arrows, or am I thinking of a different thing?

[AbsntMndedProf]

Vetkin posted:

"The first 'tank' I think is the Roman Phalanx"

I think you mean the roman formation called 'the turtle'. Here is a picture of a recreation of this formation with miniatures:

Eric Maietta

[Belisarius]

Originally posted by Vetkin
The first 'tank' I think is the Roman Phalanx

Shields all around to protect against arrows, or am I thinking of a different thing?

If we're getting academic here, I'd like to say - it depends in what qualify as a tank. Egyptian chariots used pretty much the same tactics as WWII tanks did.... :p :rolleyes:

[AbsntMndedProf]

Belisarius posted:

"If we're getting academic here, I'd like to say - it depends in what qualify as a tank. Egyptian chariots used pretty much the same tactics as WWII tanks did...."


I bet they'd burn pretty good if you hit one with a flammenwerfer. Say! Would that qualify them as the first M4? :D

Eric Maietta

[Griefbringer]

Hmm, I guess to be defined as tank (armoured fighting vehicle) a vehicle should have:

1.) autonomous motivity and off-road/track movement capability
2.) some kind of armament
3.) some kind of armour - at least enough to stop small arms fire

I guess the earliest working thing close to the above specifications were the pre-WWI armoured cars, though they probably had horrible off-road mobility.

As for ancient ideas, the Troyan horse was pretty close to the first APC, though it was a bit lacking in mobility.

Griefbringer

[WhiteRook]

wow - this one could run into a lot of posts don't ya know!
I think both the China and or Korea both had some contrapions that would fit into the leonardio style.

[Hades]

I think its been proven that the chariots werent tanks but apcs and were never used in combat as the movies show them being used.

[Vetkin]

Wow that turtle looks pretty strong, no rear armor though hehehe

[Belisarius]

Originally posted by Hades
I think its been proven that the chariots werent tanks but apcs and were never used in combat as the movies show them being used.

Don't know about the movies, but I've learned that chariots were used by archers? Sweep forward, shoot and turn around for another volley.