Independent Tank
Manufacturer: Vickers
1924 the General Staff of the British Army ordered a prototype of a heavy tank, which became known as the Independent. Largely designed by Walter Gordon Wilson, its 35.8-litre (2,180 cu in) V12 air-cooled engine was designed by Armstrong Siddeley. It also incorporated a new hydraulic braking system which had to be specially developed due to its weight and speed.
1926 The prototype was delivered to the War Office and displayed to the leaders of Dominion governments.
The tank was the subject of industrial and political espionage, the plans ending up in the Soviet Union, where they may have influenced the design of the T-28 and T-35 tanks.
1933 Norman Baillie-Stewart, a British military officer, was court-martialed for providing the plans of the Independent (among other secrets) to a German contact. He served five years in prison.
The tank continued to be use din experiments until 1935 when, worn out, it was retired to Bovington Tank Museum, where it is preserved.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wikipedia [1]