The Holt Tractor Company was a pioneer in the development of industrial and tracked tractors, and the Army evaluated their 15-ton model during the early months of 1917. Although these monsters eventually evolved into full track-laying vehicles, the early models used a separate steering front wheel and were essentially halftracks. Holt made no effort to shroud the engine, and considering the massive size, almost straight-through exhaust, elaborate gear mechanisms and steel-on-steel track assemblies, they were slow and noisy. Despite its 20-foot length, it had a turning circle (inside diameter) of only 10 feet. A total of 232 of these 15-ton vehicles were shipped to the war in Europe before the Armistice; the Army's first order of 200 had been delivered between November 1917 and April 1920. Weighing just over 25,000 pounds, they were employed primarily to pull field artillery weapons. They were replaced by the 20-ton version.
The Holt Tractor Company was a pioneer in the development of industrial and tracked tractors, and the Army evaluated their 15-ton model during the early months of 1917. Although these monsters eventually evolved into full track-laying vehicles, the early models used a separate steering front wheel and were essentially halftracks. Holt made no effort to shroud the engine, and considering the massive size, almost straight-through exhaust, elaborate gear mechanisms and steel-on-steel track assemblies, they were slow and noisy. Despite its 20-foot length, it had a turning circle (inside diameter) of only 10 feet. A total of 232 of these 15-ton vehicles were shipped to the war in Europe before the Armistice; the Army's first order of 200 had been delivered between November 1917 and April 1920. Weighing just over 25,000 pounds, they were employed primarily to pull field artillery weapons. They were replaced by the 20-ton version.
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