Morris-Martel

The Morris-Martel was a British inter-war tankette developed from prototypes designed by Lieutenant-General Sir Giffard Le Quesne Martel. Intended for reconnaissance, eight were constructed for the Experimental Mechanized Force and were tested against experimental models of the Carden Loyd tankette - built by John Carden and Vivian Loyd as a response to Martel's work - on Salisbury plain in 1927.[5] The project was abandoned after testing with the Carden Loyd design chosen instead; during its short existence the tankette attracted "quite a lot of publicity" and was a pioneer of the tankette concept.[6][1]

Morris-Martel
Type	Tankette
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1927-1928
Used by	United Kingdom Prototype's only
Wars	None
Production history
Designer	Sir Giffard Le Quesne Martel
Designed	1925
Manufacturer	Morris Motors[1]
Unit cost	$2,465
Produced	1927
No. built	8
Variants	1-man and 2-man variants
Specifications
Mass	2.25 long tons (2.29 t)[2]
Crew	1-2 depending on model
Armour	0.3 in (7.6 mm)[3]
Main armament	3-pounder 47 mm cannon[4]
Secondary armament	Four × Vickers machine guns[4]
Engine	Morris Motor 16 bhp
Suspension	Leaf Spring
Ground clearance	18 Inches
Maximum speed	30 mph (48 km/h) on road

References

Notes

1. Ford (1997) p. 25.
2. American Defense Preparedness Association (1930). "Morris-Martel Tank". Ordnance. XI–XII: 27.
3. American Defense Preparedness Association (1931). "Morris-Martel Tank". National Defense. XII: 27.
4. Forty (1984) p. 42.
5. Harris (1995) p. 210.
6. "CROSSLEY MILITARY VEHICLES AFTER WW1". CROSSLEY MOTORS LTD. Retrieved 29 December 2012.

Sources

• Harris, J. P. (1995). Men, Ideas, and Tanks: British Military Thought and Armoured Forces, 1903-1939. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-71-904814-1.
• Ford, Roger (1997). The world's great tanks: from 1916 to the present day. Barnes & Noble. ISBN 0-76-070593-3.
• Forty, George (1984). A photo history of tanks in two world wars. Blandford Press. ISBN 0-71-371216-3.

External links