Steam powered AFV's

TheMuffinKing · Post by **TheMuffinKing** » 2005-10-10 05:46am

Has there ever been an attempt at a steam powered tank? Would such a design be possible/feasible/practical?

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2005-10-10 05:49am

The landraider

.
Seriously, why would anyone build a steampowered tank in the modern age?
The amounht of fuel needed would make this vastly unfeasible, look at the amount of fuel needed for a train and the size of the boiler then remmember that it doesnt scale down directly.

AMX · Post by **AMX** » 2005-10-10 06:33am

There was, in 1918, in the US.
Didn't go past prototype stage.

Spoonist · Post by **Spoonist** » 2005-10-10 06:49am

During WWII there where some who could run on alternative fuel, like wood, but they where not steam powered per say.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-10-10 10:40am

Since we have no use for steam so long as we have diesel and kerosene, there's no point. And you don't pluralise with apostrophes.

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-10-10 07:18pm

I've been sketching some "theoretical" designs for my Industrial Age Roman Empire RPG. Steam is too bulky and risky for general use on the battlefield. Specialised weapons like steam-powered battering rams, or a vehicle using steam to both drive it and fire its cannon could have some potential...

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2005-10-10 07:19pm

Well nuclear reactors are steam powered as well... Has anyone seriously considered a nuclear powered tank?

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-10-10 07:57pm

Alyeska wrote:Well nuclear reactors are steam powered as well... Has anyone seriously considered a nuclear powered tank?

Knowing the US love for nuclear-powered thingamajiggers in the early '50s? Probably, I do believe there are a few sketches kicking about in HAB actually...

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2005-10-10 09:12pm

The US designed and built a steam tank in 1918, the reason for the steam engine was because steam pressure was used to power its main armament, a massive flamethrower. Steam overall is a bad idea for armored vehicles, it produces a huge amount of waste heat which heat of the vehicle, bad for the crew, and if a steam line bursts the high pressure steam will literally melt flesh. Steam engines also tend to have poor power to weight ratios and eat up volume.

Alyeska wrote:Well nuclear reactors are steam powered as well... Has anyone seriously considered a nuclear powered tank?

http://img105.echo.cx/img105/8802/hunni ... 1615bf.jpg

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-10-11 07:47am

Eh, it's no Bolo. Where's the megaton/second firepower and multi-missile VLS cells?

NoXion · Post by **NoXion** » 2005-10-11 08:03am

I remember waaay back in the days when I was a lurker a thread where somebody posted this picture of a truly enormous AFV (Talking approx. 500m long here), and somebody claimed it was nuclear powered. I suppose nuclear reactors would be more sensible on larger designs.

Does anyone know where that picture comes from?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-10-11 09:05am

Not even Bolos are 500 metres long, that's just excessive. 120 metres, maybe on the last marks, but half a klick? It could always have been that joke model Shep (I think) posted rendered in CG a while back.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2005-10-12 02:15am

Admiral Valdemar wrote:Not even Bolos are 500 metres long, that's just excessive. 120 metres, maybe on the last marks, but half a klick? It could always have been that joke model Shep (I think) posted rendered in CG a while back.

With the five turrets on it? God I love that thing.

Cykeisme · Post by **Cykeisme** » 2005-10-12 01:54pm

Whoa, what are Bolos, and what's this 500m long nuclear-powered AFV? Pictures?