LAND BATTLESHIPS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 896, 23 December 1916, Page 8

LAND BATTLESHIPS.

AUTHOR OF THE "TANKS." SUBMARINE COMMANDER SUETER HISTORY OF THE ARMOURED MONSTERS. Since the advent of the "tanks" in the second phase of the great offensive on the Somme some secrecy has shrouded their history. Mr Lloyd George, in the House of Commons recently, mentioned the names of several officers to whom credit was due, but his statement went very little beyond the mention of names.

The story of the "tanks" has not and cannot yet be fully told, but the mention of the name of Commodore Murray Sueter, R.N., in the House of Commons has carried it one step further.

Commodore Murray Sueter, according to those who are familiar with the facts, had probably more to do with the appearance of the "tanks" as the most modern engine of war than any other man. To him, says the "Pall Mall Gazette," must be given the credit for the inception of the idea, whatever part others may have played in its development and application. In the early days of the war the naval authorities deemed it necessary to establish an aeroplane base at Dunkirk, with temporary bases as far inland as the circumstances at the time permitted. In connection with this plan it became essential that some system of armoured car support should be developed. There was not a moment lo spare, and Commander Samson, who was on the spot, with characteristic ingenuity and skill, made the most of the material available. Within a very short time there were armoured, or protected, cars at work, based on Dunkirk. First Cars Failures. These cars were protected by steel plating, but the thickness of the plates they were able to have gave them little real value. The failure of his first effort did not discourage Commander Samson, and the experiments were continued until a protected car was produced which was capable of resisting enemy rifle fire at point blank range.

The immediate result of this success was that the War Office began to make incruirics, but they went on their own way, and the naval authorities continued to experiment along the lines they had worked out. Commodore Murray Sueter is understood to have returned to London immediately before the fate of Antwerp, where he had, in the course of his duties, obtained a mass of valuable information with regard to the cars—their weaknesses and defects.

On every hand it was admitted that the wrong lines were being pursued. The cars which "worked" between Antwerp ami Dunkirk were obviously lacking in overhead protection; the crews were exposed lo fire from houses and trees, against which they were not secure. It was toward the remedying of this grave weakness that the attention of the authorities directly concerned was then directed, with the result that a car with a revolving turret was produced. This, of course, added materially to the weight, but it was found that several well known chassis were capable of carrying it. After much experimental work the ears were produced, and when the time for their employment came they were successful in doing all that was expected of them. Idea of "Land Dreadnought."

The need for heavier guns than ihc machine suns the cars carried presented another problem for solution, but lorries were built and protected by shields of armour plate which served the purpose with considerable efficiency.

Al this period the insistent demand was for heavier guns, and to the naval men engaged upon the work the "land battleship" idea made an irresistible appeal. With energy, enthusiasm and skill Commodore Murray Sueter tackled the problem, and within a few weeks it was possible to subject to practical tests a "battleship" which answered the requirements as to armour and armament.

Mr Churchill, the then First Lord, and Lord Fisher, the First Sea Lord, approved the "land battleship" idea, but when Sir Percy Scott was consulted he was not favourable to it, being convinced that the enemy would quickly succeed in wrecking the "battleships" by heavy artillery even before they could be brought into action. The size of the target supported Sir Percy Scott's contention, and the strength of the position the famous gunnery expert took up was admitted.

11 was at this point that Commodore Murray Sudor hit upon the idea of adapting the Pedraii system to the "land battleship."

Without delay all the information available in this country and America was obtained, and before Mr Churchill, Mr Lloyd George and a group of high War Office ollieials a demonstration was given of the powers of the "caterpillar" in forcing wire entanglements and surmounting obstacles. ■'",'"

The demonstration was so convincing Ihat instructions were given for the building of a considerable number of "battleships." Commodore Murray Suetcr was instructed to take an important part in bringing the squadron into being, but circumstances interfered to prevent his doing so.

Commodore Murray Sueter, to '■whom therefore a large share of the (credit for the "tanks" must be accorded, was in the early clays of the !present century perhaps England's I most distinguished submarine ollicer, the book he then wrote on the problems of organising that service, in the light of his actual experiences as 1 commander of a submarine, being