See full version: How Armored Cars Work
All the wheels on the next armored car, however, and more than 400 years later, turned properly. Rolls-Royce Ghosts were armored by the company for use in World War I, with the first heavy-duty Ghosts seeing service in August 1914. They were used by the Royal Naval Air Service in Great Britain, and came equipped with gun turrets. [links]
And that was the problem -- the cranks and gears wouldn't work as they were drawn. The mechanism, as da Vinci sketched it out, would end up turning the wheels in opposite directions. more
The idea of an armored vehicle predates the invention of the internal combustion engine, it seems. In fact, none other than the multi-talented Leonardo da Vinci made sketches of an armored war vehicle in 1485. It consisted of a circular platform on four wheels with light cannons arranged facing out. These were covered with a cone-shaped shell of panels with a turret at the top for a lookout. Underneath were the cranks and gears to make the wheels turn and propel this proto-tank forward. more
Not long after, no less a romantic figure than Colonel T.E. Lawrence -- Lawrence of Arabia to you and me -- put a fleet of nine armored Rolls-Royces to use in his campaigns in the Middle East. He went so far as to call them "more valuable than rubies" for fighting in harsh desert climates [source: HistoryNet]. more
Armored cars have come a long way in the past century. Next, let's look at what it takes to create a modern armored personal protection vehicle.
Since the beginning of transportation protection has been added to ensure those travel can safely arrive at their destination. [links]
Reports have gone back to the early 1900s when the first cars were introduced and upgraded with materials to stop different types of threats. more
We love answering your questions and helping you get the best protection possible. For immediate questions and if you want to speak with an expert, please call 1-801-393-1075. more
We glean from the Autocar that Frederick R. Simms, the well-known engineer, is constructing for Vickers Sons & Maxim, Ltd., of London, a number of motor war cars, designed to run on ordinary roads. It is propelled by a 14 HP. Daimler motor, and has four different speeds, the maximum being about 16 miles per hour in either direction. Two 8 mm. caliber Maxim guns are mounted in revolving turrets in such a manner that any angle of fire can be obtained. The armor is carried to a height of 6 feet above the axles, and completely encircles the vehicle, like a petticoat. and is suspended from the main framing by independent springs, thus avoiding any tendency to jar, and is connected with the undercarriage by means of lateral stays designed to adjust themselves to the swing of the armor. The front and rear points of the frame are strengthened so as to form rams, and be utilized in cutting a way through crowds. On the top of the armor half-embedded rollers of steel are placed, which revolve freely on their spindles, so as to make it difficult for an opponent to board the car. The bottom of the steel armor plates are provided with a belt projecting about 1 inch, sharpened in case of war. so that the mere passage of the car would inflict heavy wounds on the assailants. This belt may also be insulated and connected to the electric current supplied by the main engine, and thus transmit shocks to those endeavoring to mount the car. These war cars will be introduced under the name of "Simms' Motor War Car." The car will carry, in addition, a military searchlight. The extreme dimensions are: length 26 feet; beam, 8 feet; total weight, 3 tons. Large space for ammunition, stores. etc., is provided. and accommodation for three to six men. The car is also arranged to serve as a tractor, if necessary, for hauling ammunition, war stores. or guns, or for the laying of field wires or for ambulance service.
And, even car is a pretty generous term here. The Motor Scout's basis really was more of a four-wheeled motorized cycle, with all of 3¾ horses and no body to speak of. It was a decent proof of concept for the fundamental idea that you could drive and murder at the same time with the right equipment, but it was far too vulnerable for any serious use. more
For someone who accomplished so many firsts, it's strange most of us don't know Frederick Richard Simm 's name. Not only did he found the Automobile Club of Great Britain and started the first UK car show , he also coined the terms motorcar and petrol. Oh, and he was the first guy to literally stick a gun on a car.
Of course, if you look at that car with a gun stuck on it, you may be a bit underwhelmed, because that is pretty much exactly what the 1899 Simms Motor Scout is: a De Dion-Bouton quadracycle with a big maxim gun mounted up front, and a single iron plate to keep bullets from the people who aren't that crazy about being shot at by a gun on a car from shooting you in the face.
Which may be why Simms went so far on his next attempt.
Simms was the first person to build what we would now call an armored car. In fact, depending on how strict you want to be, I think an argument could be made that Simms made the first tank as well, even though his Motor War Car had wheels instead of caterpillar tracks. I personally think the Motor War Car can be considered the genesis of non-rail based armored motorized vehicles that includes both armored cars and tanks, but I'm sure many will disagree. more
Since the beginning of transportation protection has been added to ensure those travel can safely arrive at their destination.
Reports have gone back to the early 1900s when the first cars were introduced and upgraded with materials to stop different types of threats. more
We love answering your questions and helping you get the best protection possible. For immediate questions and if you want to speak with an expert, please call 1-801-393-1075.