Kingdom of Afghanistan Flag 1930-1973
Development
The Disston Tractor Tank was conceived in the early 1930s
during the Great Depression by the Caterpillar Tractor Company. The concept
was to mount an armoured tank body with armament upon an
agricultural tracked tractor, as opposed to designing and manufacturing a tank
from scratch. A Caterpillar model thirty
five [1] provided the base vehicle which was then shipped to the Disston Company to fit the armoured tank body and armament. It was later advertised as the 'Disston Six Ton Tractor Tank' and aimed at “nations with greatly reduced
appropriations” and police agencies [2].
Early versions of the Disston Tank Tractor had an extended front track
assembly, a 30 caliber Colt machine gun and a turret mounted 37mm cannon along with several gun ports.
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| Disston Tractor Tank (early version) Source: Authors Collection |
Late versions were comparatively simplified. They featured a more basic armoured
body with a front grill and retained the original shorter track assembly.
Although the armament remained the same, the turret mounting was removed
along with the side gun ports [3]. A 1935 advertisement for this version pitched it as a tractor that when required could be converted into a tank within the space of two hours rather than a permanent tank.
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| Disston Tractor Tank (late version) Source: Authors Collection |
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| Disston Tractor Tank (late). Note the additional protection for the main gunner Source: Authors Collection |
The total number built of either variant is unclear, with the only available estimate indicating 26 units produced overall.
Although the only confirmed operator of the type is Afghanistan the US
Marine Corps are widely reported as having receiving 16 units [4] and one source also indicates
China received four units [5]. No further evidence can be found by the author to confirm US or Chinese deliveries.
Kingdom of Afghanistan Order
The Kingdom of Afghanistan ordered an unknown number of
early version Disston Tractor Tank in the early 1930s. These were reportedly delivered in 1935, having been
shipped to Karachi, Pakistan and then transferred by rail to Kabul, Afghanistan [6].
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| Four Disston Tractor Tanks in Afghanistan The lack of any armament may indicate that they
have been recently delivered. Source: Author's Collection |
There is conflicting information regarding the number of Disston
Tractor Tanks ordered and delivered to Afghanistan. One estimate indicates that ten were ordered [7]
with another indicting that ultimately only three were delivered [8]. The latter claim can however be dismissed as a minimum of five can be identified through available photographic evidence. A further source indicates that the order was
in fact for nine complete tanks with a further three armoured tank bodies, all of
which were delivered [9].
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| Disston Tractor Tank in Afghanistan. Source: Author's Collection |
Unfortunately there is no information available documenting
the Disston Tractor Tank in service with Afghanistan and it is not known how
long this type remained in active service.
Preservation
At least one example was preserved after being withdrawn from service and displayed in a museum in Kabul alongside other historic Afghanistan armoured vehicles. Unfortunately
this museum no longer exists and this particular vehicle is believed to have ended up in a Kabul scrapyard.
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| Source: Author's Collection |
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| Source: Author's Collection |
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| Source: Author's Collection |
The once preserved example features a front grill, thought to have been an Afghanistan modification. The long barrels of the 37mm cannon and machine gun are not believed to be original and may have been added for display purposes.
To the Grave
At least two separate Disston Tractor Tank examples have
been identified as being located in scrapyards or so called tank graveyards in
Kabul.
One example is of particular interest as it lacks the
extended length tracks instead retaining those from the original caterpillar model
also associated with the later version of the Disston Tractor Tank. Whilst it may have been delivered in this
configuration the potential ordering of three additional armoured bodies may
have enabled Afghanistan to convert some Caterpillar Tractors domestically.
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| This example is likely to be the same one previously on display at the museumdue to the similar barrel and side markings. Source: Author's Collection |
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| A second example possibly at the same site. Note the original shorter tracks. Source: Author's Collection |
Although their current status is unknown these two examples are likely to have represented the last remaining Disston Tractor Tanks in the world.
Notes:
[1] Model forty tractors may have also been used, this replacement model entering production in
1934.
[2] US Military Tracked Vehicles by Fred W. Crimson, 1992 (ISBN: 978-0879386726)
[3] US Military Tracked Vehicles by Fred W. Crimson, 1992 (ISBN: 978-0879386726)
[4] US Military Tracked Vehicles by Fred W. Crimson, 1992 (ISBN: 978-0879386726)
[5] A Place to Live and Work: The
Henry Disston Saw Works and the Tacony Community of Philadelphia by
Harry C. Silcox, 1994 (ISBN: 978-0271030753)
[6] A Place to Live and Work: The
Henry Disston Saw Works and the Tacony Community of Philadelphia by
Harry C. Silcox, 1994 (ISBN: 978-0271030753)
[7] Based on 26 units total, 16 to USMC "the remainder going to Afghanistan - "US Military Tracked Vehicles by Fred W. Crimson, 1992 (ISBN: 978-0879386726)
[8] Tanks
of the World 1915-45 by Peter Chamberlain & Chris Ellis, 1972 (ISBN: 978-0853684978)
[9] A Place to Live and Work: The
Henry Disston Saw Works and the Tacony Community of Philadelphia by
Harry C. Silcox, 1994 (ISBN: 978-0271030753)
