1st Armored Car Squadron (United States Marines)
Encyclopedia
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
which was intended to utilise armored cars in combat. The unit was formed in 1916 in Philadelphia under Marine Captain Andrew B. Drum
Andrew B. Drum
Andrew B. Drum was an officer in the United States Marine Corps.In 1916, Captain Drum was the founding officer of the new 1st Armored Car Squadron, 1st Marine Regiment at Philadelphia. The squadron never saw combat, and was disbanded in 1921....
, falling under the Headquarters of the then-new 1st Marine Regiment.
Inspired by the British Army's use of the Rolls-Royce Armoured Car
Rolls-Royce Armoured Car
The Rolls-Royce armoured car was a British armoured car developed in 1914 and used in World War I and in the early part of World War II.-Production history:...
, Franklin Roosevelt (then Assistant Secretary of the Navy) purchased two vehicles from the Armor Motor Car Company of Detroit. These were tested, and six more King Armored Car
King Armored Car
The King Armored Car was manufactured by the Armored Motor Car Company . It was the first American armored vehicle, and was ordered by the United States Marine Corps in 1915 for testing before being used by the 1st Armored Car Squadron, which consisted of eight cars...
s were acquired and assigned to the squadron.
The unit never saw combat, and was disbanded at Quantico
Quantico
Quantico may refer to:* Quantico , a 2005 science fiction/thriller novel by Greg Bear* Quantico, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Wicomico County, Maryland, United States...
in May 1921.
Sources
- At Marines.com
- Kenneth W. Estes. Marines under armor: the Marine Corps and the armored fighting vehicle, 1916-2000. Library of Naval Biography. Naval Institute Press, 2000. ISBN 1-55750-237-4, 9781557502377. Pg 3 http://books.google.com/books?id=DDw7TzT0-HkC&pg=PA2&dq=Armor+Motor+Car+Company+Detroit&client=firefox-a&cd=10#v=onepage&q=Armor%20Motor%20Car%20Company%20Detroit&f=false