Morris-Martel [SEP] designer
Morris-Martel
The Morris-Martel was a British inter-war tankette developed from prototypes designed by Lieutenant-General Sir Giffard Le Quesne Martel. Intended for reconnaissance, eight were constructed for the Experimental Mechanized Force and were tested against experimental models of the Carden Loyd tankette - built by John Carden and Vivian Loyd as a response to Martel's work - on Salisbury plain in 1927. The project was abandoned after testing with the Carden Loyd design chosen instead, however during its short existence the tankette attracted "quite a lot
1954, the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors awarded Martel £500 for infringement on the design of his bridge by the designer of the Bailey bridge, Donald Bailey.
Martel also continued to pursue his interest in tanks independently. In 1925 he built, in his own garage, a one-man tankette powered by a car engine and capable of a speed of 15 mph. After a demonstration to the War Office, Morris Commercial Motors was contracted to build four test models, the first of which was delivered in