King Armored Car

Infobox Weapon
name= King Armored Car


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origin= United States of America
type= Armored Car
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service= 1914-1934
used_by=United States Marine Corps, United States Army
wars=Banana Wars
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manufacturer= Armored Motor Car Company (AMC)
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primary_armament= M1895 Colt-Browning; Lewis Machine Gun on later models
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engine_power=V8
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The King Armored Car was manufactured by the Armored Motor Car Company (AMC). It was the first American armored vehicle, and was ordered by the United States Marine Corps in 1915 for testing before being used by the 1st Armored Car Squadron, which consisted of eight cars. The 1st Armored Car Squadron was the USA's first formal armored unit.

Description

The car had one Lewis Machine Gun (M1895 Colt-Browning on earlier models) mounted in an armored turret to protect the gunner from small arms fire. What more, it was quite easy to transport. It could taken ashore whole; or it could be broken down into smaller pieces to put in motor launches, taken ashore, and reassembled on the beach. It was not an unqualified success, however. It was not very reliable. This problem was compounded by a lack of qualified mechanics, and replacement parts were few and far between.

ervice

The 1st Armored Car Squadron did not see any action during World War I. During World War I, General Pershing refused USMC Commandant George Barnett's offer of a Marine division. Had General Pershing accepted General Barnett's offer, it is highly probable that the 1st Armored Car Squadron would have been sent along with it. The 1st Armored Car Squadron was disbanded in 1921. Five of the vehicles were used in Haiti and Santo Domingo until 1927, and all of the cars were finally disposed of in 1934.

Units

* USMC 1st Armored Car Squadron

External links

* [http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Veh/KingAC/index.html "Quantico King Armored Car pictures"]

References

* Semper Fi: The Definitive Illustrated History of the U.S. Marines Col. H. Avery Chenoweth USMCR (Ret.) Brooke Nihart USMC (Ret.) Main Street Press 2005
*http://www.answers.com/topic/marine-corps-weaponry