Difference between revisions of "Independent"
Colok76286 (talk | contribs) (→Main armament: Updated tables to new template) |
(Edits) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | <!--In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.--> | + | <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> |
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters"]]. The A1E1, with its five turrets, serve as the instigator of the multi-turreted concept that spread to the Soviet [[T-35]] and the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]]. | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters"]]. The A1E1, with its five turrets, serve as the instigator of the multi-turreted concept that spread to the Soviet [[T-35]] and the German [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]]. | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
=== Survivability and armour === | === Survivability and armour === | ||
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}} | {{Specs-Tank-Armour}} | ||
| − | <!--Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? | + | <!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --> |
| − | |||
| − | If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.--> | ||
'''Armour type:''' | '''Armour type:''' | ||
| Line 47: | Line 45: | ||
=== Main armament === | === Main armament === | ||
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}} | {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}} | ||
| − | <!--Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.--> | + | <!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --> |
{{main|Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)}} | {{main|Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)}} | ||
| Line 56: | Line 54: | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)|47 mm | + | ! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)|47 mm Ordnance QF 3-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds) |
|- | |- | ||
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer | ! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer | ||
| Line 63: | Line 61: | ||
|- | |- | ||
! ''Arcade'' | ! ''Arcade'' | ||
| − | | rowspan="2" | 201 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Shoulder | + | | rowspan="2" | 201 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 8.1 || 11.2 || 13.6 || 15.0 || 16.0 || rowspan="2" | 3.90 || rowspan="2" | 3.45 || rowspan="2" | 3.18 || rowspan="2" | 3.00 |
|- | |- | ||
! ''Realistic'' | ! ''Realistic'' | ||
| Line 71: | Line 69: | ||
==== Ammunition ==== | ==== Ammunition ==== | ||
| − | {| class="wikitable | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" |
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics | ! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics | ||
|- | |- | ||
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition | ! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition | ||
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead | ! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead | ||
| − | ! colspan="6" | | + | ! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) |
|- | |- | ||
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m | ! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Shell Mk.I || APHE || 49 || 47 || 38 || 29 || 22 || 17 | + | | Shell Mk.I || APHE || 49 || 47 || 38 || 29 || 22 || 17 |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | {| class="wikitable | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" |
! colspan="10" | Shell details | ! colspan="10" | Shell details | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 97: | Line 95: | ||
! 0% !! 50% !! 100% | ! 0% !! 50% !! 100% | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Shell Mk.I || APHE || 563 || 1.65 || 1.2 || 9 || 16.5 || 47° || 60° || 65° | + | | Shell Mk.I || APHE || 563 || 1.65 || 1.2 || 9 || 16.5 || 47° || 60° || 65° |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 128: | Line 126: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | Notes: | + | Notes: |
* Turret empty: 181 ''(+20)'' shells. | * Turret empty: 181 ''(+20)'' shells. | ||
| Line 136: | Line 134: | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%" | ||
| − | ! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]] | + | ! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]] |
|- | |- | ||
! Which ones | ! Which ones | ||
| Line 152: | Line 150: | ||
=== Machine guns === | === Machine guns === | ||
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}} | {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}} | ||
| − | <!--Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.--> | + | <!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --> |
{{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}} | {{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}} | ||
| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%" |
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! colspan=" | + | ! colspan="5" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]] |
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! | + | ! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal |
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | | Front left || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -130°/+40° | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | Front right || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -40°/+130° |
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | | Rear left || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -3°/+15° || 0°/+130° | |
|- | |- | ||
| − | + | | Rear right || 4,000 (250) || 390 || -3°/+15° || -160°/0° | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
| − | <!--Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).--> | + | <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> |
'''Gameplay Overview:''' | '''Gameplay Overview:''' | ||
| Line 200: | Line 182: | ||
'''Long Range Engagements:''' | '''Long Range Engagements:''' | ||
| − | Long range engagements are not the strong suit of the Independent. The Independent's gun is unreliable at range, and some enemies will be able to slowly incapacitate the Independent's crew, until it is destroyed. At range, make sure to use cover and not overexpose the tank, as your crew members are your most valuable asset.The turret | + | Long range engagements are not the strong suit of the Independent. The Independent's gun is unreliable at range, and some enemies will be able to slowly incapacitate the Independent's crew, until it is destroyed. At range, make sure to use cover and not overexpose the tank, as your crew members are your most valuable asset.The turret armour may be able to bounce shots at range. |
'''Notable Enemies:''' | '''Notable Enemies:''' | ||
| Line 207: | Line 189: | ||
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| − | <!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".--> | + | <!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --> |
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| Line 224: | Line 206: | ||
* Armour is quite thin | * Armour is quite thin | ||
* Vulnerable to 20mm auto cannons. In many ways they are more effective than normal cannons due to their high rate of fire | * Vulnerable to 20mm auto cannons. In many ways they are more effective than normal cannons due to their high rate of fire | ||
| − | * APHE is inconsistent due to vehicles the Independent will be facing in general have less than 25 mm of | + | * APHE is inconsistent due to vehicles the Independent will be facing in general have less than 25 mm of armour |
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | <!--Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the | + | <!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --> |
===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
| − | During the interwar period, British General Staff requested for a heavy tank design in 1924. The project, undertaken by an engineer named Walter Gordon Wilson, was designed by the Armstrong Siddeley engineering group. The finished prototype model was delivered to War Office in 1926. The design of the tank, named '''"Independent"''', was a multi-turreted design with a total of five turrets. The one in the center held a 3-pounder 47 mm gun while the other smaller turrets at the main turret's corner held Vickers machine guns. The tank can hold 8 crew members, a driver, four machine gunners, and three in the turret. It was around 28 tons and 25 feet long, despite being only 8 feet wide. This length caused some early problems as the tracks were too thin for the width, causing the rear sprocket wheels to peel the vehicle design as it continues to turn. W.G. Wilson attempted to fix this with an epicyclic steering system, but the tracks still wore out quickly. A unique feature on the Independent was a small opening on the left side of the tank that allowed for the placement of a stretcher for wounded crew members inside the tank to be pulled out from. <ref name="TankMuseumA1E1YT">The Tank Museum. ''Tank Chats #24 A1E1 Independent. (3:00)'' YouTube. YouTube, 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSwd7IcY9KA Video]</ref> | + | During the interwar period, British General Staff requested for a heavy tank design in 1924. The project, undertaken by an engineer named Walter Gordon Wilson, was designed by the Armstrong Siddeley engineering group. The finished prototype model was delivered to War Office in 1926. The design of the tank, named '''"Independent"''', was a multi-turreted design with a total of five turrets. The one in the center held a 3-pounder 47 mm gun while the other smaller turrets at the main turret's corner held Vickers machine guns. The tank can hold 8 crew members, a driver, four machine gunners, and three in the turret. It was around 28 tons and 25 feet long, despite being only 8 feet wide. This length caused some early problems as the tracks were too thin for the width, causing the rear sprocket wheels to peel the vehicle design as it continues to turn. W.G. Wilson attempted to fix this with an epicyclic steering system, but the tracks still wore out quickly. A unique feature on the Independent was a small opening on the left side of the tank that allowed for the placement of a stretcher for wounded crew members inside the tank to be pulled out from. <ref name="TankMuseumA1E1YT">The Tank Museum. ''Tank Chats #24 A1E1 Independent. (3:00)'' YouTube. YouTube, 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSwd7IcY9KA Video]</ref> |
During the development and testing process, the Independent design was a item of espionage by the international community. Plans of the design ended up in the Soviet Union and in Germany, with a British officer named Norman Baillie-Stewart court-martialled for supplying secrets to the Germans, including the Independent plans. This espionage influenced several tank designs from these countries, with the [[T-28]] and [[T-35]] in the Soviet Union and the [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] in Germany. | During the development and testing process, the Independent design was a item of espionage by the international community. Plans of the design ended up in the Soviet Union and in Germany, with a British officer named Norman Baillie-Stewart court-martialled for supplying secrets to the Germans, including the Independent plans. This espionage influenced several tank designs from these countries, with the [[T-28]] and [[T-35]] in the Soviet Union and the [[Nb.Fz.|Neubaufahrzeug]] in Germany. | ||
| Line 257: | Line 239: | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
| − | <!--Paste links to sources and external resources, such as: | + | <!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' |
* ''topic on the official game forum;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;'' | * ''encyclopedia page on the tank;'' | ||
| − | * ''other literature.''--> | + | * ''other literature.'' --> |
| + | |||
| + | * [[wt:en/news/4253-development-a1e1-independent-a-land-ironclad-en/|[Devblog] A1E1 Independent - A Land Ironclad]] | ||
| − | + | === References === | |
| + | <references /> | ||
{{Britain heavy tanks}} | {{Britain heavy tanks}} | ||
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}} | {{Britain premium ground vehicles}} | ||
| − | |||
Revision as of 11:58, 18 May 2021
Contents
Description
The Independent (A1E1) is a premium rank I British heavy tank with a battle rating of 1.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters". The A1E1, with its five turrets, serve as the instigator of the multi-turreted concept that spread to the Soviet T-35 and the German Neubaufahrzeug.
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour
| Armour | Front | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 28 mm (0-27°) | 13 mm Top 13 + 10 mm Bottom |
13 mm (0-58°) | 8 mm |
| Main turret | 28 mm (6-48°) Turret front 20 mm (6°) Gun mantlet |
28 mm | 28 mm | 8 mm |
| Secondary turrets | 13 mm (0-3°) | 13 mm | 13 mm | 8 mm |
Notes:
- Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, tracks are 20 mm thick.
- Belly armour is 20 mm thick.
Mobility
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 35 | 5 | 31.7 | 478 | 706 | 15.08 | 22.27 |
| Realistic | 32 | 4 | 327 | 370 | 10.32 | 11.67 | |
Modifications and economy
2 × 40 / 40 / 60 % 2 × 112 / 112 / 112 % | Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Main armament
The QF 3-pounder is a somewhat unique weapon, being one of the few guns you will come across in the British tree capable of firing shells with explosive filler, indeed Amour-piercing high explosive (APHE) is the only ammo type available for it. The explosive filler gives the QF 3-pounder somewhat better damage than that of the far more common QF 2-pounder, however this comes at the cost of significantly worse penetration. The reload rate is also slightly slower than the QF 2-pounder, however it still fairly quick with a shortest possible reload of 3.0 seconds (compared to 2.8 seconds for the QF 2-pounder).
The penetration of the QF 3-pounder is adequate although being lower than that of the QF 2-pounder you may find some targets harder to deal with than you were expecting. Although having fairly good damage the gun is often still not powerful enough to kill some larger tanks with a single shot.
| 47 mm Ordnance QF 3-pounder | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 201 | -4°/+20° | ±180° | Shoulder | 8.1 | 11.2 | 13.6 | 15.0 | 16.0 | 3.90 | 3.45 | 3.18 | 3.00 |
| Realistic | 5.9 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 9.4 | 10.0 | ||||||||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| Shell Mk.I | APHE | 49 | 47 | 38 | 29 | 22 | 17 |
| Shell details | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile Mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | ||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | |||||||
| Shell Mk.I | APHE | 563 | 1.65 | 1.2 | 9 | 16.5 | 47° | 60° | 65° |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
6th rack empty |
7th rack empty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 181 (+20) | 166 (+35) | 151 (+50) | 136 (+65) | 121 (+80) | 106 (+95) | 91 (+110) |
| 8th rack empty |
9th rack empty |
10th rack empty |
11th rack empty |
12th rack empty |
13th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy | |
| 76 (+125) | 61 (+140) | 46 (+155) | 31 (+170) | 16 (+185) | 1 (+200) | No |
Notes:
- Turret empty: 181 (+20) shells.
Optics
The Independent has poor optics, a default magnification of x1.85 is the joint worst in the game (many other tanks have x1.85 optics, but no tank has less); and the maximum magnification of x3.5 is only marginally better than the minimum possible value of x3 (for balance reasons all tanks have at least x3 maximum magnification). Although the optics are objectively poor they are somewhat typical for tanks of this era, and many of the tanks the Independent will face have the same (or very similar) magnification values.
| Independent Optics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Which ones | Default magnification | Maximum magnification |
| Main Gun optics | x1.85 | x3.5 |
| Comparable optics | Nb.Fz. | |
Machine guns
| 7.7 mm Vickers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Front left | 4,000 (250) | 390 | -10°/+15° | -130°/+40° |
| Front right | 4,000 (250) | 390 | -10°/+15° | -40°/+130° |
| Rear left | 4,000 (250) | 390 | -3°/+15° | 0°/+130° |
| Rear right | 4,000 (250) | 390 | -3°/+15° | -160°/0° |
Usage in battles
Gameplay Overview:
The A1E1 Independent is a large and somewhat slow tank that has a fairly unique playstyle. The multiple turret design is rare, with only a few other vehicles having this feature. Unfortunately, the independent's turrets are only armed with machine guns, meaning they will not be useful against most enemies. However, the large size and multiple turret design allows the Independent to survive large amounts of enemy fire. This is not because it has armour capable of bouncing enemy shells, but because it is exceptionally difficult for enemies to knock out all of the crew. The crew count can be considered a sort of health bar, while on low crew the Independent will be easily destroyed. The firepower is decent, but may struggle in many scenarios. The 3 pounder cannon is one of few guns in the British tree that fires APHE, but it suffers from low velocity and an unreliable fuze. The independent is best used as a heavy tank, trying to get close to enemy tanks, and tank damage for friendly tanks.
Close Range Engagements:
At close range the Independent is at an advantage against most foes. The survivability allows it to tank multiple hits from enemies. So long as you are able to destroy the enemy tank within the first few shots, you have the advantage.
Long Range Engagements:
Long range engagements are not the strong suit of the Independent. The Independent's gun is unreliable at range, and some enemies will be able to slowly incapacitate the Independent's crew, until it is destroyed. At range, make sure to use cover and not overexpose the tank, as your crew members are your most valuable asset.The turret armour may be able to bounce shots at range.
Notable Enemies:
There are several tanks that the Independent may encounter near its BR that pose a serious threat to it. These tanks are dangerous because they are able to quickly destroy the Independents' biggest asset, the large crew count. One example is the HO-RO which can knock out the entire tank in a single hit due to it's large artillery cannon. Similarly, the Panzer II series can quickly cut through the crew of an Independent with their KwK-30 and KwK-38 cannons.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- 47 mm gun is adequate
- Large ammo reserve
- One available ammo type makes it easier to use for beginners
- A rare sight. Many players will not know where the critical components are
- It has explosives in the AP rounds, very rare in British vehicles
- Like other large tanks (eg T-35, T-28 and SMK) it is a very complex vehicle to destroy with plenty of turrets, big tracks and curvy/angled parts to soak up rounds and 8 crew members to boot
Cons:
- Very long tank, hard to hide side from flankers
- Only one ammo type
- Armour is quite thin
- Vulnerable to 20mm auto cannons. In many ways they are more effective than normal cannons due to their high rate of fire
- APHE is inconsistent due to vehicles the Independent will be facing in general have less than 25 mm of armour
History
Development
During the interwar period, British General Staff requested for a heavy tank design in 1924. The project, undertaken by an engineer named Walter Gordon Wilson, was designed by the Armstrong Siddeley engineering group. The finished prototype model was delivered to War Office in 1926. The design of the tank, named "Independent", was a multi-turreted design with a total of five turrets. The one in the center held a 3-pounder 47 mm gun while the other smaller turrets at the main turret's corner held Vickers machine guns. The tank can hold 8 crew members, a driver, four machine gunners, and three in the turret. It was around 28 tons and 25 feet long, despite being only 8 feet wide. This length caused some early problems as the tracks were too thin for the width, causing the rear sprocket wheels to peel the vehicle design as it continues to turn. W.G. Wilson attempted to fix this with an epicyclic steering system, but the tracks still wore out quickly. A unique feature on the Independent was a small opening on the left side of the tank that allowed for the placement of a stretcher for wounded crew members inside the tank to be pulled out from. [1]
During the development and testing process, the Independent design was a item of espionage by the international community. Plans of the design ended up in the Soviet Union and in Germany, with a British officer named Norman Baillie-Stewart court-martialled for supplying secrets to the Germans, including the Independent plans. This espionage influenced several tank designs from these countries, with the T-28 and T-35 in the Soviet Union and the Neubaufahrzeug in Germany.
Cancellation
The Independent was tested by War Office all the way until 1935, but it was a troublesome design. Most of the tests focused on its automotive performance, not even passing along to gunnery trials. The Independent was also used in a officer school for recommendations and examinations. The only model built, the prototype, was deemed worn out in 1935 as the War Office saw no need to spend more money on the design when other vehicles were being produced. They retired the Independent and sent the model to the Bovington Tank Museum, where it sits today for display.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
- Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
External links
References
| Britain heavy tanks | |
|---|---|
| Matilda | Matilda III · Matilda Hedgehog |
| Churchill | Churchill I · Churchill III · Churchill VII · Churchill Crocodile · Churchill NA75 · Black Prince |
| Post-war | Caernarvon · Conqueror |
| Other | Independent · Excelsior · TOG II |
| Britain premium ground vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Light tanks | A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) · A13 Mk II 1939 · AEC Mk II · Crusader "The Saint" · Rooikat 105 |
| Medium tanks | A.C.I · Grant I · Cromwell V (RP-3) · Sherman IC "Trzyniec" · A.C.IV · Comet I "Iron Duke IV" |
| Centurion Mk.2 · ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk.5/1 · ▄Sho't Kal Dalet · Centurion Action X | |
| Vijayanta · Khalid · Challenger DS · Challenger 2 OES | |
| Heavy tanks | Independent · Matilda Hedgehog · Excelsior · TOG II · Churchill Crocodile · Black Prince |
| Tank destroyers | Alecto I · Achilles (65 Rg.) · QF 3.7 Ram |
