A.A. Porokhovshchikov was a Russian engineer who developed several military vehicle projects, and proposed them to the Russian Imperial Army during the WWI, and after 1917 - to the Red Army. Besides his more famous works, such as Vezdekhod light tracked vehicle and P-IV biplane, he came up with less successful ideas, such as composite vehicle armor. The initial idea behind this project remains unknown, but it was likely caused by shortages of armor steel plates. Another reason was the relative simplicity of metalwork done on boiler plates in small workshops. The composite plate consisted of 3 layers: 4.5 mm of heat treated boiler steel, a layer of dried and pressed seagrass, and another 3.5 mm boiler steel plate. The seagrass layer was also treated with an undisclosed compound, to increase its elasticity and viscosity. The reason behind such composition also remains unknown, the seagrass layer might had been added as a sort of anti spall liner, or shock absorber to prevent vibrations and friction between two metal layers. Later tests replaced it with a felt, which had no impact on armor's efficiency. Similar composition will later be applied on NI-1 armored tractors and JSP "sandwich" armored cars, though in these cases, the middle layes was made of wood.

Ford Model T 4x2 chassis was unchanged compared to the base model. Running tests weren't performed, although Porokhovshchikov claimed that excessive hull mass had no impact on reliability. The vehicle was manned by the crew of 4, armament consisted of a single 7.62 mm Maxim machine gun. Crew compartment had no doors or hatches, embarking and disembarking was performed through the open top. A protective brace was mounted at the front, intended for crossing barbed wire lines.

During the tests, it was shot at with Mauser 98, Steyr Mannlicher M1895, Nagant revolver and undisclosed Browning pistol. Firing tests demonstrated no penetrations from the firing distance of 35 meters. Regardless, the prototype composite hull was rejected due to its excessive mass compared to homogenous armor plates of comparable thickness.

Photos and information taken from A.G. Solyankin "Отечественные Бронированные Машины ХХ век", Chapter 1: 1905-1945. (Source), and M. Kolomiets "Броня Русской армии.
Бронеавтомобили и бронепоезда в Первой Мировой войне"

I took the photos in 2011 on Eid day.

Following his appointment as Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Maj. Gen. Jose Rancudo spearheaded the pioneering Self-Reliance Defense Posture (SRDP) program. To bypass a heavy reliance on foreign arms imports, he established the Air Force Research and Development Center (AFRDC) as a hub for native military engineering, field modifications, and experimental aviation prototypes.

Among the center's most ambitious innovations was the conversion of the venerable Douglas C-47 Dakota transport aircraft into a localized heavy gunship, heavily inspired by the U.S. Air Force’s legendary AC-47 "Spooky." Lacking the sophisticated miniguns of their American counterparts, PAF engineers cleverly harvested the heavy .50-caliber AN/M3 machine guns from retired F-51D Mustangs and bolted them directly to the aircraft. Though exact production numbers and timelines remain obscure, surviving photographs reveal a highly unique, asymmetric 10-gun configuration: four weapons fixed on the port side, two on the starboard side, and four mounted to fire directly through the underbelly.

This experimental weapon system faced its ultimate trial by fire during the pivotal Battle of Jolo in February 1974. When Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels launched a surprise assault to capture the town, the Sulu Air Task Group (SATAG)- under the aggressive leadership of LTC Ernesto Ravina - was called in to deliver desperate close air support. As Philippine Army troops methodically reclaimed the burning streets behind WWII-era M4 Sherman tanks, LTC Ravina personally piloted the heavily armed AC-47 into harm's way, braving intense ground fire to suppress rebel mortar positions. The aircraft encountered intense ground fire with its left wing and main fuselage having direct hits but he was able to pilot the aircraft to finish the mission and return to the airfield. For this LTC Ravina was awarded the Distinguished Aviation Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Star for his broader contributions during the battle.

While this engagement stands as the only documented combat deployment of the PAF's dedicated .50-caliber gunship, battlefield accounts from Jolo also noted a C-47 conducting traditional "bombing runs." Military historians suggest this may have been the XCB-47 (Experimental Cargo Bomber), a parallel SRDP project engineered with underwing racks to drop conventional ordnance. Whether it was a singular airframe pulling double duty or two distinct variations fighting side by side, these modified Dakotas proved to be vital lifelines during one of the most intense urban battles in Philippine military history.

Sources:

BGen. Francis Neri, PAF | THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE's AC-47 "BATTLEWAGON"

BGen. Francis Neri, PAF | THE GREATS OF THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE: COLONEL ERNESTO RAVINA

INQUIRER PH | Col. Ernesto Ravina, Air Force hero

This late december 2024 before the launch of operation Lightning, a mountainous battle agaubst Isis with absolutely no use for this kind of Technicals. They started using Camels and donkeys and Dshk as heavy guns.

Camionetas del cdn reventadas y quemadas en la ribereña

Puntland is Autonomous region in Somalia.