"A VSF French Landship! - L'Eclair " Topic

"April 1877 saw another Great Power join the Landship club, namely France. The announcement didn't come as a surprise to the British Government as S.O.E. had kept the Cabinet abreast of these developments on the continent as their best agent Edward Bigger was on the job!

In early 1877 Emperor Napoleon III pressed his General Staff to equip his armies with a Super Armoured Wagon capable of exceeding the capabilities of every other countries Landships. Under pressure to deliver on the Emperor's request they turned to France's mastermind of the time, Gustave Eiffel. They contracted him to design and present a prototype to them by the end of March 1877.

Eiffel gladly accepted the charter and he went to work with enthusiasm. The design called for a vehicle with four heavy main guns, four light secondary guns and a higher speed than any of the other countries existing designs while matching their armour. The plan he came back to the General Staff surprised them. The enterprising Eiffel ensured he could meet their demanding timelines and specifications by organising a British manufacturer to supply the hull and drive train while to complete the Landship he designed an ingenious superstructure to be built by the industrious French industrialists…."

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Amicalement
Armand

Very nice!

I plan to angle the bow on mine, to clear ditches and ramps easier.

Dan

Glad you like it my good friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Captain Darling originally called it Le Eclair, but a native speaker on LAF pointed out the above is more 'French.'

Using my best powers of rationalization, I stated:

'Alas, Eiffel was being assisted in the final write up by an American engineering student who offered to work for free for the experience, and worth every centime. He mucked up the final draft, which was quickly submitted to the appropriate committee, and by the time the smoke cleared, not even the Emperor would try 'knitting fog' against the French bureaucracy. '

The good Captain appreciated my effort, but graciously accepted the suggestion of renaming.

As for obstacles, the Captain's Landships seem to spend a fair time on improved roads, you'll notice… ;->=

Doug