TheHolt tractors were a range ofcontinuous track haulers built by theHolt Manufacturing Company ofStockton, California which were named after company founderBenjamin Holt.
Between 1908 and 1913, twenty-seven of the first 100 Holt caterpillar track-type tractors were used on theLos Angeles Aqueduct project, which provided a good proving ground for these machines.[1]
They were widely used by the British, French and American armies in theFirst World War for hauling heavy artillery including theBL 9.2-inch howitzer and theBL 8-inch howitzer.[2] Around 2,000 Holt 75s along with 698 Holt 120s and 63 Holt 60s saw military use during the war.[2] The FrenchSchneider CA1 andSaint-Chamond and GermanA7V tanks were based on Holt tractors.
There were at least three models used for military purposes: the Holt 75, the Holt 120 and to a lesser extent the Holt 60. The Holt 75 was first produced in 1913.[2] It used two tracks for steering. It had a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) and had agasoline engine.[3] In addition to US production 442 Holt 75s were built in Britain byRuston & Hornsby in Lincoln.[2] Production of the Holt 75 was to continue post war until 1924.[2]
The 120 horsepower (89 kW) model had a tiller-type steering wheel at the front that was usually covered. It weighed about 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg),[4] and was developed in direct response to a request for a heavy artillery tractor.[2] The prototype was produced in 1914 with production beginning in 1915.[2]
The Holt 60 which saw limited use in the war was introduced in 1911.[2]
US militarysoft-skinned vehicles ofWorld War I | |
|---|---|
| Cars &trucks | |
| Artillery tractors | |
British Empiresoft-skinned vehicles of theFirst World War | |
|---|---|
| Cars andlorries | |
| Buses | |
| Motorcycles | |
| Artillery tractors | |
