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Daimler Model 1915

1915 WORLD WAR 1

History

Together with the car manufacturers Bussing AG and Ehrhardt, Germany's Daimler was tasked with developing an all-wheel drive armored vehicle system to replicate the Belgian success with the Minerva series of cars. Armored vehicles first saw dramatic mass action in World War I (1914-1918), but their tactical value was eventually limited with the advent of trench warfare, which accelerated the development of tanks themselves.

Daimler's contribution became the Daimler Armored Car Model 1915.

This entry complies with the German Army's 4WD requirements and is essentially a Daimler truck with the addition of a Krupp armored superstructure to the working parts and crew compartment. The armor consisted of chrome-nickel stainless steel plates riveted to the frame. Like the rival Bussing A5P, Daimler has 10 occupants.

The engine, mounted in the front compartment, is an in-house model from Daimler, with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an output of 80 hp. Overall, the car can go 150 miles and hit 24 mph on paved surfacesnot to mention off-road.

The vehicle has a 4x2 wheel arrangement on two axles - the rear axle has four tires (two on one side of the hull) to compensate for the added weight of the rear armor, as well as by weapons, ammunition and crew. The armored superstructure features "plate" sides that provide limited protection against small arms fire and artillery jets.

A turret was added to the roof, giving the gunner an excellent angle of fire above the vehicle. The armament package includes 3 x 7.92mm MG08 water-cooled machine guns.

The 21,800-pound vehicle measures 17 feet long, 7 feet wide and 12 feet high.

Like other WWI armoured vehicles, the Daimler Type 1915 was a heavy, large, steel-armored beast of nominal battlefield value, and - compared to German cars of the war - required an excessively large crew Get the best functionality. However, in some cases, especially where enemy infantry is densely populated, the vehicle can be used to attack key positions with relative impunity - that is, unless the heavy vehicle is sunk in soft terrain, Wedged in ditches, or become victim of artillery fire.