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Author Topic: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?  (Read 681 times)

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Offline cannonmn

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Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« on: March 02, 2009, 05:54:20 AM »
Here's another gem from the Army's "inventions" collection, National Archives RG156, Entry 70, Box 1. Other than the title, "Steam Storm Car," I know nothing, but would venture a guess that this drawing dates from ca. 1814-1825. This seems reminiscent of some of Da Vinci's drawings. Unfortunately these drawings were enclosures to letters which of course have been filed elsewhere. It looks like there's at least some kind of reference number on the back, but I was in too much of a rush at the time to photograph it or take notes.

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Offline BoomLover

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2009, 06:51:16 AM »
Thanks for posting this one, Cannonmn! Looks like a C.C.C. (Crowd Control Contraption) with Mortars and Howitzers, and spikes....a real war machine!  The idea has been used in the movies, "Wild Wild West", with Will Smith, they had a steam powered beast like this! BoomLover
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Offline cannonmn

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2009, 11:24:52 AM »
Uh oh, was looking thru some other things I copied at the Archives and found another paper on it, and the concept dates from 1867!  So this dummy (me) was only about a half-century off.

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Offline Artilleryman

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2009, 11:39:57 AM »
The notes on this would be very interesting.  Obviously no one thought this concept was practical.
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Offline Victor3

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2009, 03:01:03 AM »
Quote from: cannonmn on March 02, 2009, 11:24:52 AM
So this dummy (me) was only about a half-century off.

 Without a date reference, I would have guessed it to be a new and improved Roman chariot.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2009, 07:16:35 AM »
I thought it was an artillary car for a train.  Looks like two cannon and four mortor in an enclosed train car.
{K }being the track and the {I} being the coupling to the other cars.
Was not sure if {D} was field of fire for the cannon and mortor or spikes to repell attackers.
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Offline RocklockI

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2009, 12:54:56 PM »
I am a fan of the "Steam Storm Car" ,not that I'd actually want to ride in it and use it as something tells me there might smokie situation inside PDQ !

God forbid there'd be powder being loaded in one mortar inside with other hot mortar fuses fling all around !!!

Gary
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Offline cannonmn

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2009, 05:33:55 PM »
We're in luck, today by accident at the Archives I found the letter that goes with the picture.  I didn't take time to read the letter, I just took pictures of it after I realized what it was.  When I get all my photos sorted out in a day or two (took about 750 photos there today) I'll post the letter.
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Offline cannonmn

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Re: Steam Storm Car with 6 cannons, early tank?
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2009, 06:55:30 PM »
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