Foreward: This month we have three Armored vehicles: the Ho-Ha Type I half-track, the Light Tank Mk VI and the Sd.kfz.302 "Goliath."
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First model: The Japanese half-track Ho-Ha Type I was designed in 1938 with a strong German influence. It was based on an Isuzu lorry chassis with an open-top hull with tarpaulin bows and beveled sides, raised cab, side doors just behind the rear of the cab. It has 4 road wheels, light tank running gear components and just 1 support roller. They were painted in the Japanese 3 color camouflage.
Second Model: The British Vickers Light Tank Mk VI. Based on the Carden Loyd Universal Carrier, the design and type appealed to the British military of the late 1920's. It was cheap, reliable and easy to produce. The idea that it might have to fight another tank was never considered; at worst it might skirmish with other light tanks but its mobility would enable it to evade a heavy tank. However in action against a well armed opponent they simply were death traps. They were painted bronze green or the 5 color desert camouflage with typical British markings.
Third Model: The German Sd.kfz.302 Goliath. It was a remote-controlled tracked bomb. Promptly nicknamed the "Doodlebug" the unmanned "Ferngelenkte Lastentrager" was 1.0m long, .66m wide and .067m high. Controlled by electrical pulses through 2000 feet of three-strand wire. Two wires were for steering and the third detonated the 90.7Kg charge. Fabricated and spot-welded of 10mm grade steel, the hull was designed to be totally expendable, and was divided into three compartments. The front section housed the explosives, the center held the electric motor and a drum in the rear compartment supported the guiding cable. Powered by two 12 volt batteries, the motor was able to give Goliath a maximum speed of 19km/h. Weighing only 362Kg, the demolition vehicle was able to manoeuver quite effectively on most kinds of terrain. They were built by Zandapp of Nurnberg. Typically they were painted in German sand or mottled brown and sand.
In Conclusion: Designers should you like more info on these three vehicles (i.e. photos, drawings or other data), contact me at borg.richard@ssd.loral.com. Others, submit your wish list, the designers do not know what you would like to see unless you tell them.
