Bob Semple tank

Infobox Weapon
name=Bob Semple tank


caption=
origin=NZ
type=Tank
is_vehicle=yes
length=4.20 m
width=3.30 m
height=3.65 m
weight=25.4 tonnes
suspension=
speed=24 km/h (off-road 8-9 km/h)
vehicle_range=160 km
primary_armament=4x Bren light machine guns
secondary_armament=
armour=8+12.7
engine=6-cylinder diesel
engine_power=95 kW
pw_ratio=
crew=8

The Bob Semple tank was a tank designed by New Zealand Minister of Works Bob Semple during World War II. Originating out of the need to build military hardware from available materials, the tank was built from corrugated iron on a tractor base. Designed and built without formal plans or blueprints, it had numerous design flaws and practical difficulties, and was never put into mass production or used in combat. Despite this, it has become something of an icon of the New Zealand 'do it yourself' mentality.

Design and construction

The original idea behind these tanks was to create armored vehicles using local materials and resources. It was decided that a ‘tractor-tank’ would be an adequate design, as if the need for defense arose, a large tank superstructure could be bolted upon a tractor base within a few hours, allowing for quick transformation and deployment of the tanks. The tanks were constructed without the use of any formal plans or blueprints. Working from an American postcard depicting the conversion of a tractors to a ‘tractor-tank’, Bob Semple and TG Beck (Christchurch District Works Engineer), improvised the design of the tanks. Using resources available to Bob Semple as Minister of Public Works, the tanks were quickly produced in their Christchurch workshops. The final product was an armored vehicle, standing 3.5 metres tall, clad mild steel and corrugated manganese plates, sporting 6 machine-guns and an 8 man crew.

Handling and performance

Due to the limitations of requirements and resources, the tank was a functional failure. By using a large tractor as a base, and bolting on a hastily designed and poorly constructed tank superstructure, the resultant tanks were inadequately armored, extremely heavy (20-25 ton), unstable, restricted by tractor gearing to slow speeds, and had to stop to change gears. Furthermore, due to the shape of the underlying tractor and undue vibrations, shooting from the tank was both difficult and inevitably inaccurate.

Final result

In the end, due to their impracticality, the tanks were rejected for use by the New Zealand Army, dismantled, and restored to their previous state as tractors. Built during the war hysteria, these tanks were a civilian effort to design and create a means to protect New Zealand. In doing so, the tanks arguably showed a self reliance and vigor in the nation, uplifting their morals. Used mainly for processions, these tanks were warmly received in Christchurch, Auckland and many other parts of the country. They stood as a symbol of hope for New Zealanders, at a time they needed it most.

References

*"By Design: A brief history of the Public Works Department Ministry of Works 1870-1970" by Rosslyn J. Noonan (1975, Crown Copyright) (pages 172-173).

*"No8 Wire: the best of Kiwi Ingenuity" by Bridges, Jon & Downs, David. Auckland, N.Z. : Hodder Moa Beckett, 2000
*"Defending New Zealand : ramparts on the sea 1840-1950s" by Cooke, Peter. Wellington, N.Z. : Defence of New Zealand Study Group, 2000.
*"New Zealand Yesterdays : a look at our recent past" by Keith, Haimish. Sydney, N.S.W.: Reader’s Digest Services, 1984.

External links

* [http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/WWII/sempl/ Bob Semple tank or New Zealand's "NI" (Russian)]
* [http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/newzealand/newzealand.html English info]
* [http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/Photos/Disc5/IMG0034.asp A Bob Semple tank in Christchurch (photo)]