Steam Tank

The Steam Tank was an early tank design developed in the United States during the First World War. The tank design was an attempt to overcome design flaws that had been revealed by previous Allied Force tanks. General John A. Johnson and his team of experts intended on creating a unique armoured vehicle capable of turning the tide on the Western Front.

Johnson’s design began with a haul based on the British Mark IV already in service in Europe. However, the Steam Tank added an additional innovation by employing a steam engine to power the vehicle. Though earlier European tank designs had also included steam engines, the primary motivation for Johnson’s use in this case was that the primary weapon of the Steam Tank was to be a flame thrower that was also powered by the steam engine. Other tank designers had considered implementing a flame thrower, namely the French. However, the Steam Tank was the first to carry this innovation through to production. Designed to destroy enemy pillboxes, machine gun nests, and trenches, the flame thrower could propel a stream of fire approximately 90 feet. In addition to the flame thrower, the Steam Tank featured two .303 calibre machine guns. Measuring 35 feet in length, weighing 50 tonnes, and possessing a top speed of 4 km/h, on paper the Steam Tank represented a potentially potent addition to the Allied Forces’ arsenal. What is ssd?

In practice, the Steam Tank proved to have far more flaws than benefits. The large and volatile steam boilers located in the rear of the haul proved to be a significant liability. The entire system also remained highly prone to overheating. Due to these problems, the United States produced only one prototype. Labelled the America, this lone Steam Tank served as a morale booster and was demonstrated before crowds in America and Europe. Though never serving in combat, the Steam Tank can be remembered for its innovation and ingenuity.