AFV’s and large commercial/industrial vehicles began to benefit from EMFEM weight reduction just prior to the First World War. However, these vehicles still relied upon traction drive in the form of wheel or track. Experiments with bipedal locomotion initially showed little hope of serious application until the development of gyroscopic field focusing which ushered in a new age of fighting vehicles.
The development of the first world war Mechanical men or “Mech’s” was rapid from lightly armed tottering early designs through to the towering Russian giant of the Second World war, the T-334 Svyatogor.
Some Background on the Russian T-334:Russia remained as the sole champion of Bipedal AFV’s after WW1. This was not by choice but rather a matter of practicality owing to Russia’s own inner turmoil during the period and the years following the conflict. By the early 1930’s all other nations had ceased operating the type completely or had relegated it to secondary non-combatant duties. Russia had been in a technological state of flux and had lagged behind the west in all the Tesla based technologies. However they had taken bipedal AFV technology to an advanced state.
The German push towards Moscow in late 1941 were among the darkest days for Russia but it is strongly believed that without the T-134 Moscow may well have fallen. The Machine was outclassed in almost every way but was numerous and operated by committed, almost fanatical crews. In the late spring of 1942 the T- 234 began to appear in greater numbers and fought well during the new German offensive during July.
In 1943 the final variant, the T-334 Svyatogor, entered service being the largest, most heavily armed and powerful Bipedel AFV to be developed anywhere. The whole series had been big and always prey to air attack particularly from the ME626 Donnervogel. The T334 was almost three stories high but incorporated a heavy machine gun turret which was initially a huge surprise to the Germans and many unsuspecting ME626 fell to the T-334
Flack variants were produced having their entire weapon points devoted to 20 & 30mm AA cannon and were dispersed among standard armoured variants causing huge casualties to attacking aircraft. However, the Achilles heal was the height of the machine especially the T-334 which was easily targeted from concealed vantage points.
By 1944 the T-344 could no longer depend upon its armour once the Luftpanzer Jaguar 2 came into service and, although a risky business, leg sweeping was accounting for more and more of the vehicles. The LP Jaguar 2 was perfect for leg sweeping if timed correctly with the forefoot fall during the step. Once down the machine was down for good.
By the end of the war new technologies had overtaken the T-334 such as the Volkosob but Russia has forever had a soft spot for the BAFV and the mighty Svyatogor.
Background to the above imageThe problem with the very early Luftpanzer, and in particular the Jaguar 1-A, was its frequent need to recharge its shields. The armour was not as thick as would have been preferred in order to save weight but this was considered to be acceptable as the lack of thickness was made up for by shielding which was fine until the shield efficiency dropped which it did rapidly.
Of course, later variants and especially the Jaguar MK2, were in another class altogether owing to vastly superior power generation. However, the early power units should perhaps have never gone into production as the above image shows. The Russian T-334 crews loved to happen upon a recharging Jag 1, they blew up in a most satisfying way if you got them in the capacitor.
I'm not so clued up on AFV's so apologies for stupidity beyond the obvious in the above.
