The Bob Semple Tank continues to be the
laughing stock of World War 2 buffs and casual spectators alike. And it's hard to blame them.
It takes just one quick glance to appreciate that the tank has very little in common with
the well-composed, robust and dynamic designs of many such vehicles that excelled
during the global conflict. However, there’s prideful courage behind its
creation, as it was conceived by New Zealand to prepare for a possible conflict with the
technologically superior Japanese armed forces. At the time, New Zealand didn't have the
experience nor the resources to develop a tank; it only possessed an anxious
need to protect its people. Consequently, they took what little resources they
had and created weapons to defend themselves at all costs, knowing full well that their allies
around the world would be hard-pressed to help them in time if a sudden Japanese assault began.
Thus the worst tank ever built was born… Fear of an Invasion
By September of 1939, when Britain declared war on Germany, New
Zealand was no stranger to global conflicts. The small nation had sent expeditionary
forces to the European theater in World War 1 and had valiantly fought in
the name of the Commonwealth. Now, as another global conflict loomed
over Europe, New Zealand was ready to provide support to the United Kingdom in its
effort to stop the Third Reich on its tracks. However, New Zealand was not an
industry-heavy nation, and besides manpower, there was little they could provide to face
the Axis superpowers and their war machines. In addition, most locals thought that
the conflict would resemble World War 1, in which the main battlefronts
were fought on European soil. However, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and
declared war on the United States in 1941, New Zealand suddenly realized that the
fight could reach their front yard. The Japanese Empire’s expansionist intentions
suddenly became apparent, and New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser realized that his
country lay right in the middle of a possible Japanese invasion route. He also realized how
outdated and small their armed forces were. Not only that, but Britain and the United
States had their hands full at the moment, and Fraser knew they would not be able to
save New Zealand from a Japanese conquest. The US Pacific fleet had been considerably
weakened during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and it would take months to bolster it.
On the other hand, Britain was busy resisting the German Blitz and protecting
its supply line from America. If Japan was to launch an attack on New Zealand, the island
would be on its own, at least for some months. However, Peter Fraser was determined to
make a stand against the Empire of the Rising Sun should things come to worst. Thus, New
Zealand developed a rapid armament program with practically zero resources on stock, transforming
anything they had into modern warfare tools. Making Do With merely a small and outdated air force, New
Zealand was forced to accept obsolete World War 1 aircraft from their allies to bolster
their numbers. When that wasn’t enough, they began modifying small de Havilland D.H.86
passenger planes to convert them into bombers. The makeshift combat planes were used mainly
to attack German boats and Japanese raiders, as the modified aircraft could not hold
their own against modern Japanese fighters. New Zealand’s naval fleet was also
severely lacking in numbers and technology; the small nation was so desperate
to increase its maritime strength that it also began converting
civilian ships into combat vessels. SS Monowai was a merchant ship bought by New
Zealand in 1930. Having been built in 1924, the vessel was already obsolete by modern seafaring
standards. Nevertheless, on October 21, 1939, the Royal New Zealand Navy requisitioned Monowai
and fitted it with a wide array of guns to convert it into HMNZS Monowai, an armed merchant cruiser.
However, Fraser knew that such desperate efforts would not deter a Japanese invasion,
and if foreign troops were to land on the beaches of New Zealand, they would need
land forces and vehicles capable of facing the powerful Japanese ground troops.
The biggest concern for the New Zealand military was the terrifying prospect
of confronting Japanese armed vehicles. As of December of 1941, New Zealand had no
armored vehicles at their disposal and knew that a Japanese amphibious attack would likely
include their mighty Type 95 HA-GO light tanks, which would tear through their infantry if
they didn’t have armored vehicle support. To meet such a significant challenge, New
Zealand turned to Bob Semple, the Minister of Works known for thinking on his feet and
resolving big problems in a pragmatic way. New Zealand’s tank program for World
War 2 would now fall on his hands. The Bob Semple Tank Bob Semple took his task with
eagerness and excitement. However, he was confronted by an utter lack of crucial
resources like funds, steel, engines, and guns. He thus decided to use existing vehicles
and modify them to meet the needs at hand. The chosen vehicle was the American
Caterpillar D8 construction tractor, a powerful, reliable, and versatile tractor
used around the world for construction work. Furthermore, New Zealand had 81 of them
available for conversion, making it the logical option to carry out Semple’s plan.
Bob Semple’s scheme was filled with potential, as the military would create a series of
conversion kits that could be mounted on a D8 tractor on very short notice, and the
tractor could be used as a construction tool until an incoming invasion was inevitable.
But that's as far as the Semple tank’s qualities went, as the rest of its features were rather
unremarkable compared with others of the time. The unit was fitted with 0.31-inch
armor with an additional layer of 0.5-inch corrugated steel plates welded on top. It was also armed with six 0.303-inch Bren light
machine guns that pointed in all directions. For the main torrent, Bob Semple had
planned for a 37-millimeter anti-tank gun to offer some threat to the Japanese light
tanks. However, New Zealand was unable to get a hold of such guns, and an additional Bren
light machine gun was used as the main cannon. The 25-ton contraption was to be moved
by the American Caterpillar D8 tractor. But although the D8 was a
capable construction machine, burdening it with a 25-ton load pushed
the civilian vehicle to its limits. When the first two converted tanks were shown
in public for the first time, the reception was dismal. Both the press and the general public
ridiculed the tank for its peculiar look, with some people even believing that the steel
plates were actually corrugated roofing sheets. Still, the military stood by its design
and called the tank a Mobile Strong Point. Little did they know that testing would reveal
many additional faults in Bob Semple’s creation. The Worst Tank Ever Built
Once the Bob Semple tank was tested, all the disastrous flaws that would earn its placement
as the worst tank ever built quickly surfaced. Its outer shape was the most obvious hindrance.
The tank’s exterior design was far from efficient, and its unusual 12-foot height made
it highly unstable when moving, always risking tumbling over whenever it
was driven on bumpy terrain or over a ditch. In addition to the instability,
the tank’s almost square frame made it a massive target for the enemies. In
comparison, most tank designs of the time tried to keep the height down as much as possible to
make the vehicle less visible by anti-tank crews. The tank also suffered when it came to its
speed and lumbering movement, as it could only reach a maximum speed of 7.5 miles per hour
while the Japanese Type 95 could thread at 28. Maneuverability was also a concerning issue, as
the Semple tank was unable to turn while moving. Instead, it had to stop awkwardly, change
directions, and then accelerate again. Most modern tanks, including the Type
95, could easily turn while on the move. Fuel efficiency also left a lot to be desired.
Even with its mediocre speed and agility, the vehicle could only reach an
operational range of 99 miles, while the Type 95 could travel
for 132 miles without refueling. In regards to weapon systems, the New Zealand
tank was overwhelmingly outclassed. Its six machine guns were effective against infantry
as long as the unit was stationary. When confronting vehicles, the Bren machine guns were
a threat only to non-armored trucks and cars, as the 0.303-inch rounds would
harmlessly bounce off of any modern tank. Also, most World War 2 tanks' main cannons
would quickly dispatch the tank's thin and segmented armor, rendering the New Zealand
contraption basically useless against the Type 95. After extensively testing the Bob Semple
tank, it was deemed unusable for combat, and the project was scratched.
Only two tanks were ever built, and they would soon be converted back to
tractors for civilian construction use. Still, as disappointing and absurd as the tank
turned out to be, it did showcase the will and effort of a small nation to fend on its own and
fight against overwhelming odds for an ideal. Thank you for watching our video! Let
us know your thoughts on the Semple Tank and the New Zealander’s quest to
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