Elenco Armored Car - Manual (Page 10)

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Today, tanks seldom operate alone, and are organized into armored units, which involve
the support of infantry, who may accompany the tanks in armored personnel carriers
or infantry fighting vehicles. Tanks are often accompanied by reconnaissance or
ground-attack aircraft. Due to its formidable capabilities and versatility, the battle
tank is generally considered a key component of modern armies.
The Evolution Of The Military Tank
Fifteenth Century
• Leonard Da Vinci draws plans for the Armored Car, a moveable war machine designed
to protect its crew while firing weapons at the enemy at close range.
Early Models
• In 1770, Richard Edgeworth of Great Britain designed the first caterpillar track,
a continuous metal belt that enabled vehicles to move more easily over uneven terrain.
During the Crimean War, the English, on the battlefield, used a limited number of
steam-driven tractors with caterpillar tracks.
• In 1899, British engineer, Frederick Simms, designed an internal combustion vehicle
with revolving turrets with two guns and a bulletproof shell.
World War I
• In 1915, a prototype was created in Britain called “Little Willie” for The Royal Navy.
• Colonel Ernest Swinton organized a successful test of the Killen-Strait Armoured
Tractor at the start of World War I.