Skeleton tank

[3] Designed with several innovative features, some of which were controversial at the time, the Skeleton Tank project did not proceed beyond the single prototype.

The objective of this prototype was to develop a lightweight vehicle capable of crossing wide trenches in a manner similar to the then-conventional heavy British tanks.

This arrangement dramatically reduced the weight of the vehicle as compared to the larger British and French tanks while preserving the trench-crossing capabilities of those machines, and there was a belief that most enemy bullets and cannon rounds would pass harmlessly through the structure.

Motive power consisted of two Beaver 50 hp (37 kW) four-cylinder engines with a final drive joining to a gearbox suspended between the rear horns of the tracks.

The cosmetically restored Skeleton Tank is preserved under a canopy at the United States Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Bow of Skeleton Tank. Note boxy fighting compartment and machine gun turret.
Right side of Skeleton Tank showing use of iron pipes and plumbing connections to create lozenge or rhomboid shape for trench-crossing.
Rear of Skeleton Tank showing gearbox.