N.Z. MADE TANKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 27 October 1941, Page 6

N.Z. MADE TANKS

MAJOR-GENERAL PUTTICK’S REPORT FURTHER CONSTRUCTION NOT RECOMMENDED Wellington, Tin Day. The report of Minor-General Puttick. Chief of the New Zealand General S a IT, on the tank manufactured in New Zea land from a commercial tractor to Ihe design of the Public Work:: Department engineer. \\a. released today. "I was impressed with the ; kill and ingenuity cli: placed bv those con cerncd in the tank's ’dr.-ign and mami factum.” said Major-General Puttick. “The arrangement "f the turn I and of the machine-guns was ingenious and efficient.” The adoption of the commercial vehicle enta i led cert ai n d isad va nta ges height, low speed and vibration. The machine’s weight of 25 tom, was too great for certain bridges and thus limited us employment The trailer provided for the transportation of (he* tank enabled the machine to be moved very rapidly over long distances. It: inanoeuvrcability. the eross-counlrv performance and machine-gun fire power were good. As the turret added over two feet to its height and the six machine-guns provided were more than sufficient. Major-General Puttick recommended that the turret should be removed. Conditions inside the tank were good. Major-General Puttick said that as tanks and Bren carriers wennow corning to hand no further local pattern tanks should be constructed. He recommended, however, that the existing three tanks should be retained but that the turrets should be removed and bullet splash through the gun mountings should be eliminated. The three tanks wj»» be employed for beach defence.- P.A.