Difference between revisions of "Independent"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
''In the description, the first part needs to 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 the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to 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 the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
 +
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{Break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium Rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy tank {{Battle-rating|1}}. 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]].
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and 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 helpfull 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 helpfull 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:'''
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 28 mm (0-27°)  || 13 mm ''Top'' <br> 13 + 10 mm ''Bottom'' || 13 mm (0-58°) || 8 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Main turret || 28 mm (6-48°) ''Turret front'' <br> 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 ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 +
|-
 +
! Weight (tons)
 +
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
 +
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
| rowspan="2" | 31.7 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 34 (AB)
 +
|-
 +
|32 (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|478
 +
|588
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|327
 +
|370
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|15.17
 +
|18.54
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|10.31
 +
|11.67
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
−
''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 flexibilty 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 flexibilty 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)}}
  
−
=== Additional armament ===
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
−
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)|47 mm OQF 3-pounder]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="3" | 201 || -4°/+20° || ±180° || Vertical
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 +
|-
 +
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 +
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| ''Arcade'' || 5.9 || 8.2 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 +
|-
 +
| ''Realistic'' || 5.9 || 7.0 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 +
|-
 +
| 3.9 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===== Ammunition =====
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| Shell Mk.I || APHE || 55 || 53 || 45 || 38 || 22 || 19
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="11" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 +
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 +
''in m:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 +
''in mm:''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 +
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 +
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 +
|-
 +
! 0%
 +
! 50%
 +
! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| Shell Mk.I || APHE || 563 || 1.7 || 1.2 || 25 || 15 ||  || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the A1E1 Independent.]]
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |8th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |9th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |10th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |11th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |12th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |13th<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
|| '''201''' || 181&nbsp;''(+20)'' || 166&nbsp;''(+35)'' || 151&nbsp;''(+50)'' || 136&nbsp;''(+65)'' || 121&nbsp;''(+80)'' || 106&nbsp;''(+95)'' || 91&nbsp;''(+110)'' || 76&nbsp;''(+125)'' || 61&nbsp;''(+140)'' || 46&nbsp;''(+155)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+170)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+185)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+200)'' || style="text-align:left" | No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
Turret empty: 181&nbsp;''(+20)''
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
−
''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)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="14" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Front left turret mount'' || colspan="7" | ''Front right turret mount''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -130°/+40° || colspan="4" | 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -40°/+130°
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Rear left turret mount'' || colspan="7" | ''Rear right turret mount''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -0°/+130° || colspan="4" | 4,000 (250) || 390 || -10°/+15° || -130°/+0°
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the battles ==
Line 27: Line 220:
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
−
 
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''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 kill. There are plenty of turrets, big tracks and curvy/angled parts to soak up rounds and '''8''' crew members to boot.
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''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 armor.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''-->
 +
===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">TheTankMuseum 2016 Time.(3:00)</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.
 +
 
 +
===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 ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!--''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''-->
 +
 
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|wSwd7IcY9KA|Bovington Tank Museum Tank Chats: A1E1 Independent}}
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
  
 
== Read also ==
 
== Read also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/4233-development-leopard-a1a1-modernized-blitzkrieg-en/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> A1E1 Independent - A Land Ironclad]
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
−
''ETC.''
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
* The Tank Museum. ''Tank Chats #24 A1E1 Independent.'' YouTube. YouTube, 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSwd7IcY9KA]
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
 
−
* ''other literature.''
+
{{Britain heavy tanks}}
 +
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Revision as of 18:06, 8 February 2019

Rank IV USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Tu-1 Pack
Independent
uk_a1e1_independent.png
Independent
Britain flag.png Britain
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.3 1.3 1.3
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:2 100 Specs-Card-Eagle.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage Independent.jpg


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

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons) 		Max speed (km/h)
31.7 N/A 34 (AB)
32 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 478 588
Realistic/Simulator 327 370
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 15.17 18.54
Realistic/Simulator 10.31 11.67

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: Ordnance QF 3-pounder (47 mm)
47 mm OQF 3-pounder
Capacity Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Stabilizer
201 -4°/+20° ±180° Vertical
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 5.9 8.2 __.__ __.__ __.__
Realistic 5.9 7.0 __.__ __.__ __.__
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
3.9 __.__ __.__ __.__
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration in mm @ 90°
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
Shell Mk.I APHE 55 53 45 38 22 19
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
in m/s 		Projectile
Mass in kg 		Fuse delay

in m:

Fuse sensitivity

in mm:

Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent): 		Normalization At 30°
from horizontal: 		Ricochet:
0% 50% 100%
Shell Mk.I APHE 563 1.7 1.2 25 15 47° 60° 65°
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the A1E1 Independent.
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty 		8th
rack empty 		9th
rack empty 		10th
rack empty 		11th
rack empty 		12th
rack empty 		13th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
201 181 (+20) 166 (+35) 151 (+50) 136 (+65) 121 (+80) 106 (+95) 91 (+110) 76 (+125) 61 (+140) 46 (+155) 31 (+170) 16 (+185) 1 (+200) No

Turret empty: 181 (+20)

Machine guns

Main article: Vickers (7.7 mm)
7.7 mm Vickers
Front left turret mount Front right turret mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
4,000 (250) 390 -10°/+15° -130°/+40° 4,000 (250) 390 -10°/+15° -40°/+130°
Rear left turret mount Rear right turret mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance 		Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute) 		Vertical
guidance 		Horizontal
guidance
4,000 (250) 390 -10°/+15° -0°/+130° 4,000 (250) 390 -10°/+15° -130°/+0°

Usage in the 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 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).

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 kill. There are 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 armor.

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

Videos

Bovington Tank Museum Tank Chats: A1E1 Independent

References

  1. ↑ TheTankMuseum 2016 Time.(3:00)

Read also

Sources

  • The Tank Museum. Tank Chats #24 A1E1 Independent. YouTube. YouTube, 05 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.[1]


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

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