/Vehicles/Allies/UK/05-HevyTanks/A1E1-Independent/File/Independent.htm | Up-dated:

 

Vickers A1E1 Independent Heavy Tank

Ce char conçu comme un cuirassé terrestre provoqua une véritable révolution dans la conception de chars lourds avec ses tourelles multiples. Si beaucoup de nations envièrent les Anglais pour le prestige que leur procurait ce char, beaucoup de spécialistes et de gouvernements étaient effrayés par le prix de ce monstre et doutaient de son utilité tactique. La production débuta en 1925 mais un seul exemplaire fut réalisé en raison de coupures budgétaires. Les Allemands, les Japonais et les Russes reprirent à leur compte le principe des chars multi-tourelles. Ce sont les russes qui poussèrent le concept à son paroxysme avec leurs fameux T-28 et T-35 (fort semblable au Independent). Les Polonais, les Américains et la France envisagèrent également de produire leur propre version mais abandonnèrent vite le projet. De telles monstres étaient difficile à diriger et coordonner l'action des armes de bord était impossible. L'independent avait un équipage de 8 hommes et pesait 31.5 tonnes. Il avait un blindage variant de 13 à 28 mm. L'armement était constitué d'un canon de 3-pdr (47 mm) et de 4 mitrailleuses .303cal (7.7 mm).

This tank designed as a terrestrial battleship caused a true revolution in the design of heavy tanks with its multiple turrets. So much of nations envied the English for prestige that this tank got to them, much specialists and governments were frightened by the price of this monster and doubted of its tactical utility. The production began in 1925 but only one specimen was carried out because of budgetary cuts. The Germans, the Japanese and the Russians took again on their account the principle of multi-turrets tanks. They are Russian who pushed the concept to its paroxysm with their famous T-28 and T-35 (extremely similar to Independent). The Poles, the Americans and France also planned to produce their own version but gave up the project quickly. Such monsters were difficult to control and to coordinate the action of the weapons was impossible. Independent had a crew of 8 men and weighed 31.5 tons. It had a shielding varying from 13 to 28 mm. The armament consisted of a gun of 3-pdr (47 mm) and 4 .303cal machine-guns (7.7 mm).

 

Vickers A1E1 Independent

 

Type: Heavy Tank
Crew: 8
Number built: prototype

Length: 7.6 m | Width: 2.7 m | Height: 2.7 m | Weight: 33000 kg
Armament
Main: Ordnance QF 3 pounder Vickers (47 mm) | Ammo: ? rounds | Secondary: 4 × 0.303 Vickers MG| Ammo: - rounds
Armor
Maximum: 28 mm | Minimum: 13 mm
Automotive & Suspension
Engine: Armstrong Siddeley V12 | Horsepower: 370 hp | Power/weight ratio: 7.38 hp/t
Suspension: unsprung
Performances

Maximum Speed : 30 km/h on road, ? km/h off road | Range: ? km
Fording depth: ? m | Trench crossing: ? m | Vertical obstacle: ? m

 

 

Drawings

 

 

Heavy Tanks

 

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