Maeor tank
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The Maeor (pronounced Mawr) was an experimental heavy tank developed by the Office of the National Army in the mid-1930s. It was Faneria's only forray into superheavy tank development, and was largely based off the design of the smaller Clai chassis.
| Maeor tank | |
|---|---|
 Prototype of the Maeor 1926-2. | |
| Place of origin | Faneria |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1927-1941 |
| Used by | Office of the National Army |
| Wars | Second Great War |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1927-1936 |
| No. built |
|
| Variants | 1926-1, 1926-2, 1926-3, 1927-1 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | x |
| Length | x |
| Width | x |
| Height | x |
| Crew | 3-5 |
| Armor | up to 3 in |
Main armament | 5" (designer) cannon |
Secondary armament | 2 .35" machine guns |
| Engine | x x |
| Transmission | x |
| Suspension | x |
| Ground clearance | x |
| Fuel capacity | x |
Operational range | x |
| Maximum speed | 8 mph |
| References | |
Design
(Design Company) copied the style of turret used in the Burgundine CtP 17, expanding it to fit a larger cannon and cupola. The entire frame was designed so that crew could almost stand, allowing for two gunners to man machine guns at the fore of the tank. The driver was seated in center, with a radio operator in the rear. The commander would sit in the cupola, while a gunner would man the main cannon. The engine and extra storage were compartmentalized.
Almost immediately, the layout presented issues. Commanders had difficulty communicating during battle with the crew, driver vision was funneled forward, and the main gunner had to aim and load the turret. Additionally, the engine was inaccessible without disembarking, and the high profile of the vehicle made it easy to spot and hit.
The 1926-2 and -3 sought to fix these issues, instead seating the machine gunners, thickening the armor of the tank, and rearranging the side storage compartments. The 1926-2 additiopnally added a rear turret compartment with an additional crewman, but this was removed due to the mechanical issues involved with changing the engine and exhaust layout.
The final version, the 1927-1, eliminated the need for a separate radio operator by seating the commander in the rear with access to the cupola if needed. The commander would also assist the gunner with loading and firing the main gun when able. Partial access to the engine was built-in with a sealing door to prevent fumes from entering the cabin during normal operation in an attempt to mitigate danger to the crew during battle, and the track system was updated to better handle track slippage.
Service History
Prewar
Second Great War
The Maeor remained the primary example of Fhainnin heavy armor until the introduction of the Roac in 1935.