N.Z. TANK

Grey River Argus, 30 October 1941, Page 6

N.Z. TANK

GENERAL PUTTICK’S COM-

MENDATION.

CHRISTCHURCH, October 28

“The report is certainly an answer to some of the superficial and stupid criticism thrown about by people who did not know the first thing about the business,” said Mr. Semple, this morning, commenting on the report prepared by the Chief of the General Staff, General Puttick, on the Dominion-built tank. ‘■l was impressed with the skill and ingenuity displayed by those concerned in the tank’s design and manufacture,” said General Puttick. “The arrangement of the turret and of the ma’chine-guhs was ingenious and efficient.”- The adaption of a commercial vehicle entailed certain disadvantages such as excessive size, particluarly height, low speed and vibration. The machines weight of 25 tons was too great for certain bridges, and thus limited its employment. The trailer provided for the transportation of the tank enabled the machine to be moved very rapidly over long distances. Manoeuvrability. cross-courttry performance, and machine-gun power were good. As the turret added more than two feet to the height, a'nd the six mach-ine-guns provided were more than sufficient, General Puttick recommended that the turret should he removed. Conditions inside the tank were good. General Puttick said that as tanks and Bren gun carriers were now coming to hand, no futher local pattern tanks could be constructed. He recommended, however, that the existing three tanks should be retained; but that the turrets should be removed, and the bullet splash through the gun mountings should be eliminated; The three tanks would be employed for beach defence.

Mr. Semple said that he was delighted with the report, because it justified the efforts made by Mr. T. G. Beck, District Public Works Engineer in Canterbury, and the men associated with him in the building ,of three tanks. Mr. Beck was a civil servant and could not repl’ to his critics, from whom he had to put up with many cheap sneers. ‘That tank was an -honest-to-God effort to do something with the material at our disposal,” added Mr. Semple when raiders were at our backdoor. " Instead of sitting aown and moaning, we felt we ought to do something to manufacture weapons that would help to defend our country and our people. It was designed and carried out by Mr. Beck, in conjunction with Mr. A. D. iodd, engineer at P.W.D. workshops at Temuka, and Mr. A. J. Smith, overseer. The first tank was made at Temuka, and two more at Addington workshops, where Mr. Hoare and his men did invaluable work. For the sake of the men concerned, I ampleased with General Puttick’s report. He put the tank through an acid test, and it came out with flying colours. I agree with the General now that modern tanks with proper armoured steel /are coming to hand, there is no need to make any more converted tractor tanks.”