![]() It was remote-controlled, 0.3 meters (1.0 ft) tall, and packed with 90 kilograms (200 lb) of explosives. But the Germans found it and handed it over to automaker Carl F.W. ![]() ![]() After learning that the Germans had taken an interest in his design, Kegresse attempted to hide the prototype by throwing it into a river. That was the philosophy behind the Goliath Beetle, a tiny tank whose job was to blow up much larger tanks.ĭesigned by French engineer Adolphe Kegresse, the Goliath Beetle was developed by Germany during World War II. Sometimes, the best way to fight fire is with fire. In 1948, the Kettenkrads became agricultural tractors, firefighter vehicles, and transports for logging camps. After the war, the concept of a tracked motorcycle died away. In fact, they were so well-received that 8,300 of them were produced during World War II. These tanks were so dependable that they were even used as artillery tractors and runway aircraft tugs. Despite this, the Kettenkrads were mostly used to transport ground-based scouts, especially on the Eastern Front in 1941. It was designed so that it could fit within a Junkers Ju-52, one of the most famous German air transports in World War II. The Kettenkrad was patented and produced in June 1939 to be used by paratroopers. It also had an armored transport “tail” that could carry two soldiers and 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of munitions. It stems from the German ketten (meaning “tracks”) and kraftrad (meaning “motorcycle”) and is exactly what it sounds like-a motorcycle that used tracks for locomotion. The Kettenkrad was one of the smaller World War II cousins of the tank. Whatever role it was supposed to fill, its unique shape has given us an interesting insight into old tank designs. Another idea is that the vehicle was supposed to carry a weapon and could be used as a mobile pillbox or shelter. Some say that it was meant as a recon vehicle while others speculate that it was the next design in the Japanese kamikaze strategy. It didn’t sport any weapons.Īs it was never seen during World War II, many theories exist to explain what role this tank played in the theater of war. It was powered by a two-stroke engine and offered a small viewing port in front for the driver. Close inspection showed that it was made by the Germans and shipped to Japan. But we know it existed because the Soviets captured one in 1945. The Kugelpanzer was never seen on the battlefield. Its name translates to “spherical tank,” which already tips you off to the unique aspect of this vehicle. The Krupp Kugelpanzer was a wunderwaffe (“wonder weapon”) of Nazi Germany. Eventually nicknamed the “Diplodocus militaris,” it was superseded by a superior track-based tank called the Schneider CA1 in 1916. It also took a radius of 100 meters (330 ft) to turn around. While it did its job well, the Louis Boirault Machine moved too slowly, with a top speed of only 1.0 kilometer per hour (0.6 mph). ![]() It was a two-man compartment that moved along an overhead rail, allowing it to conquer tricky terrain and crush enemy barbed wire. Constructed by the French War Ministry in 1915, the Louis Boirault Machine aimed to tackle the problem of a vehicle crossing uneven terrain and ditches, especially the ones filled with enemy troops. The problem with conventional vehicles and trench warfare was that wheels and ditches rarely got along with one another. One of these inventions, the Louis Boirault Machine, was called an “interesting ancestor of the tank.” With this form of warfare, people found new ways to overcome the terrain and get the upper hand on the enemy. Trench warfare, one of the more iconic battle strategies, was developed during World War I.
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