No. I Lincoln Machine

The Tritton Machine
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The first vehicle designed to meet the requirements issued in the memorandum of 9 June 1915.
The Admiralty Landship Committee called for a speed of 4 mph (6.4 km/h), autonomy for 6 hours, the ability to cross a wall 5 ft (1.52 m) high with a 45° slope, and a trench 8 ft (2.44 m) wide.

The crew was to be six, and the armament was to consist of a light cannon and two machine guns. The armour was to protect against rifle shots and shrapnel.

Power was provided by a standard Foster-Daimler engine with a displacement of 13,000 cm3 and a power output of 78 kW, the power being transmitted via a conical clutch to a Foster two-speed gearbox and via a differential to a chassis fitted with Bullock tracks. This, with a total vehicle weight of 14,733 kg, was sufficient to achieve a speed of 3.5 mph (5.6 km/h).

Steering was possible by braking the differentials or by turning the two large steel steering wheels attached to the rear of the vehicle. The simple box-shaped hull carried a revolving turret with a mock-up of a 2-pounder (40 mm) gun on the ceiling plate. The vehicle crew consisted of 4-6 men.

Sources:
David Fletcher; British Mark I Tank 1916; Osprey New Vanguard 100 ISBN 1841766895
Jacek Stolarz; Czolgi Brytyjskie 1914-1918; Militaria 30
David Fletcher; The British Tanks 1915-1919; Crowood Press Ltd; ISBN 1861264003
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The first test run was carried out on 9 September at the Foster's factory and the first shortcomings were immediately apparent. The first problem was the greater length of the vehicle and thus the greater contact length of the tracks with the ground.
The vehicle had problems turning. Fortunately, William Tritton knew his stuff and came up with a relatively simple modification that solved the problem.


The underside of the running gear was not straight but curved. He called it a "fish belly". Under normal conditions, there were about six links on each side in contact with the ground. On softer ground, more came into contact with the ground and this reduced the specific pressure and the vehicle did not fit any further.
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No. I Lincoln Machine in its first version with flat bottom tracks.
No. I Lincoln Machine -


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No. I Triton Machine after modification
the bending of the lower part of the belts is clearly visible
No. I Lincoln Machine -


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Photos from No. I Lincoln Machine tests with modified tracks. The tarps were intended to disguise the vehicle's true purpose.

Source
No. I Lincoln Machine -


No. I Lincoln Machine -


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Diskuse

The name Lincoln Machine would refer to the place where the tank was manufactured, i.e. at William Foster & Co. Ltd., based in Lincoln.


The name Little Willie used for the next successor was an allusion to Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. It was to be used for the first time by Lt. Col. Ernest "Eyewitness" Swinton, a British Army journalist, when demonstrating the tank on 11 September 1915.
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