Like it or not, war tends to drive humans to innovate and create technology. That technology sometimes comes from unexpected places, like tractor companies. In this video an announcer cheerfully tells the story of International Harvester’s automatic mine laying trailer that is both scary and amazing at the same time.
We’re not sure if this machine ever made it into production or into the war front, but watching it work is both fascinating and horrifying. The ability to lift the ground, plant the mine, and leave virtually no sign of anything being out of place is amazing. The guys passing over that ground hours or days after the work was done would certainly have a different opinion of things.
Most interesting is the fact that this machine was engineered and produced by International Harvester. Obviously their experience in creating farming equipment was put to use here for military purposes. We’re not sure we’d want to be the guy driving the tractor that had to pull this trailer of BOOM along!
Thanks for the tip Jack!
You wonder about what the people at IH were thinking in the R & D department. ” Hey Bob…I got an idea for a new machine” “Harvester, seeder, combine?” “NO a landmine layer.” …….”YOU ARE A SICK PUPPY!!!!!”
Most folks don’t know (for a reason) that International Harvester also manufactured the M1 Garand for WWII.
BSA motorcycles stands for British Small Arms.
War mongers
Just don’t forget we already laid those mines!