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Was the Bob Semple tank effective?
It is possible that the Bob Semple tank could have been potentially useful in battle, as it was planned to have a 37 mm anti-tank gun rather than the Bren gun in the turret; the armor also was not completely without bullet resistance, so it might have been at least somewhat effective in the event of an invasion.
How fast is the Bob Semple tank?
Power came from the original Caterpillar 6-cylinder diesel outputting around 127 horsepower which led to limited road speeds to a pedestrian 15 miles per hour in ideal conditions and operational ranges out to 100 miles.
When was the Bob Semple tank made?
The first Semple tank prototype came together at the Public Works Department workshop in Temuka in 1940, with two more built in early 1941 at the Railway Workshops in Addington, Christchurch. They weren’t all bad. For one, the kitset concept was brilliant.
What was the Bob Semple tank made of?
Bob Semple tank An eight-member crew manned the Bob Semple Tank. Its main armament consisted of six Bren light machine-guns positioned on each side, intended to provide a 360-degree cover. Its six-cylinder diesel engine was capable of reaching speeds of 24 kilometers per hour which was good considering its weight of more than 25 tons.
Who was Robert ‘Bob’ Semple?
In 1940, Robert ‘Bob’ Semple was given the portfolio for National Service; the de facto Minister for War, where, in a remarkable U-turn, he helped implement conscription. The idealist Semple had become the hardened fighter and pragmatist Semple.
Was Semple an idealist or a hardened fighter?
The idealist Semple had become the hardened fighter and pragmatist Semple. A man of strong convictions, virulently anti-authoritarianist and anti-communist, Semple was now an experienced political boxer.
What ever happened to John Semple?
Upon his release in September 1917, Semple toured the coalfields and was very well received. After WW1, his political career waned until the Labour party returned to power in 1935 and he became a cabinet Minister for Public Works. This time, when war broke out, Semple was still fighting for the common people but was much less tolerant of dissent.