World War One – the first major war our world had seen involved 28 countries, cost over $200 billion dollars and killed over an estimated 15 million people.
The tragic four years from 1914 – 1918 had a drastic effect on technology and revolutionised modern warfare. The war began with soldiers riding horseback with rifles and ended with troops armed with machine guns in tanks, submarines and bombers.
So what role did the humble car have in the First World War?
Type D Vauxhall – Britain
The Type D Vauxhall first rolled of the production line in 1915 and crossed battlefields on the western fronts. The Type D was reserved for military higher –ups and made an appealing alternative to travelling through conflict zones by horseback
Rolls Royce Armoured Car – Britain
Britain’s Royal Naval Air Service raised the first Rolls equipped armoured car squadron and had vehicles at the front line within weeks of the outbreak of war. The Rolls Royce was highly effective in the field and civilian production of the car essentially stopped.
The armoured vehicle was constructed on ‘the Ghost’ which first built in the 1906 was the only vehicle built by the Rolls Royce company until the launch of ‘Phantom 1’ in 1925.
Renault AG1 Landaulets – France
In 1914 the Renault Taxi was re-purposed to ferry troops from Paris to the frontlines in the famous ‘Battle of Marne.’
Weeks after First World War One erupted, the French capital was under threat from German invaders. French military chiefs requisitioned hundreds of taxis and their drivers, giving them the risky mission of getting thousands of troops to the battlefield.
With British troops at their side, France had the first victory and saved Paris from German invasion.
Ford Model T – United States of America
The earliest Fords were used only as Ambulances as Henry Ford, who publicly opposed the war, refused to let his cars be used in combat roles. Prior to America’s involvement in 1917, Ford authorised the sale of the Model T to British Military strictly for Ambulance use only.
Once the United States became involved Ford’s disposition changed and thousands of vehicles were sold to the United States Military.
A year before World War One erupted Henry Ford and his team created the first automobile assembly line. These techniques ended up proving to be crucial to the war efforts.
Gas Bag Cars
During the First World War in many areas of the UK and Europe petrol supplies were tight to non-existent for civilian vehicles. All petrol was diverted to the Militaries efforts and as such passenger cars, taxis, buses and trucks were unable to access fuel supplies.
They instead sought alternative energy sources and Coal gas became popular. The gas was stored in large rubber bags which were attached to the roof of the vehicle.
Due to the size of the balloons drivers were urged to stay below 30 miles per hour (48KM’s) due to potential hazards of overhead bypasses and bridges as well as to keep the bags secure to the roof.
