American Harley-Davidson Armoured Sidecar's, WW1
This is a US Military Harley Davidson with an added gunshield and armoured chassis with sidecar, built in 1916 and designed by William Harley, and armed with a M1909 Hotchkiss / Benét–Mercié machinegun converted to 30-06 in it's land fed by straight ammunition strips you can see down to the left of the image- the variant used for these armoured motorcycles was the 'Portative' lightweight variant, and it was attached to the motorcycles via the tripod mount and used with 3 linked together 25 round feed strips for a total of 75 rounds ready in the initial engagement, with additional strips behind the gunner's position.
There was a few of these up-armoured bikes that saw limited use by Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing (1) in the Pancho Villa Expedition by the US military to the Mexican Civil War between March 14, 1916, to February 7, 1917 (2), as well as armed variants being used later during WW1 as part of specialised 'Motor Mobile Infantry' units, with various different armaments, armour (or lack of it) as well as in more conventional non-armed roles like medical transport. Non-armoured, only Hotchkiss armed examples were used in a Motor Mobile Infantry unit in New Jersey, for example.
"The need of the Army for motorcycles, side cars and bicycles was so tremendous that for many months during the war practically the entire output of these vehicles most suitable for Army use was taken by the Government. It was found that the Indian and Harley-Davidson motorcycles were best adapted to meet the necessities of the American Expeditionary Forces in France and these types were standardized for overseas shipment" This report, "America's Munitions" published in 1919 by the Assistant Secretary of War, also stated that by 1 November 1918, 12,376 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were completed, along with 14,054 Indian motorcycles. In total, 20,007 motorcycles of the two manufacturers were shipped overseas by the end of WW1.
1- https://www.stripes.com/news/soldiers-on-motorcycles-might-be-most-effective-in-afghanistan-1.224839 , (June 8, 2013)
2- Jowett, Philip S.; De Quesada, Walsh, Stephen. 'The Mexican Revolution, 1910–20'. Osprey Publishing. p. 61 (2006)
