Schofield tank
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Light Tank, Wheel-and-Track (Schofield) |
|
| Schofield | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) |
| Length | 3.99 m |
| Width | 2.6 m |
| Height | 2.02 m (Tracks) 2.1 m (Wheels) |
| Weight | 5.21 Long tons |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 6 - 10 mm |
| Main armament | Ordnance QF 2 pounder |
| Secondary armament | 7.92 mm Besa machine gun |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | Chevrolet petrol 6-cylinder 29.5 hp |
| Suspension | Horstmann suspension |
| Road speed | 45 mph (Wheels) 27 mph (Tracks) |
| Power/weight | |
| Range | 560 (Wheels) |
The Schofield tank was named after it's designer, E.J.Schofield, who worked for General Motors, in Wellington, New Zealand. In the desperate days of 1940, with little likelihood of weapons coming from Britain, New Zealand needed to look to their own resources.
The Schofield tank was based on the chassis of a General Motors 6 cwt truck utilizing the suspension from a Universal Carrier (the Bren Gun Carrier). The armour plating was provided by the New Zealand Railways. The turret contained a 2 pounder gun and co-axial Besa machine gun. The four wheels shared drive and idler sprockets with the track, and the move from wheels to track, and vice versa, could be made from within the hull.
A prototype was completed in 1940 but the project was not taken any further. In 1943 the prototype was shipped to Britain to be evaluated. Its fate after the war is not known.
