British Mk V* and Mk V** Tank

 

One of the obvious means of countering tank attacks was to increase the width of trenches. To meet this contingency, increasing length - and, hence, better trench-crossing ability - became a trend in the heavy tanks built towards the end of the war. The “Tadpole Tail” tried on Tanks Mark IV and Mark V was not really successful and a much better alternative way of modifying standard tanks was worked out in February 1918 by the Central Workshops of the Tank Corps in France. This was, in effect, to cut a Mark V in half and insert three extra side panels be­hind the sponsons. This increased the length of the tank by 6 ft and its length overall to 32 ft 5in. The standard Mark V could cross a trench about 10 ft wide, but the modified type - designated Tank, Mark V* - could deal with a 14 ft trench. The increased length of the Mark V* made for a more roomy hull and it was proposed to carry into the attack four spare machine-gun crews in tanks of this type, the idea being that the machine­gunners could be set down in forward positions to support the cavalry ad­vance. Mark V*s were first used in action in August 1918 at the Battle of Amiens and extra machine-gunners were taken up in the way proposed. The Mark V* had the imperfections of ventilation of the ordinary Mark V, however, and the unfortunate passen­gers, overcome by fumes and heat, were unfit to be of much immediate use when disembarked.

The Mark V* was mechanically the same as Mark V, apart from the ex­tended transmission, so the increased length and weight (5 tons heavier) made for a more sluggish performance. The protection and armament were similar to that of the standard Mark Vs except that, in both Male and Female versions, an extra Hotchkiss machinegun was introduced.

Six hundred and thirty-two Mark V*s were built, of which only 200 were Males, the main contractor - as for the Mark V - being the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Co. although the first few dozen seem to have been constructed, like the prototype, in France by the Tank Corps. They took part in most tank actions until the war's end. Mk V*:s spearheaded the decisive Allied offensive around Amiens on August 8th, 1918 - "The Black Day of the German army. It performed well, although the extra weight reduced speed somewhat, and the lengthened hull reduced manoeuverability considerably. (The modifications were not accompanied by any upgrades to the motor and drive train.) One eye-witness describes the problems of the new tank: "the heavy machines showed a tendency to slip their tracks and also to slide backwards if resting on a slight incline, and owing to this slipping about, their great length and weight, and their quickness in turning, they wrought much havoc, knocking down and crushing many a slender tree, until it looked as if a herd of clumpsy elephants had stampeded through the wood". (Mitchell) The American 301st Tank Battalion was partly equipped with them and served with the British Tank Corps.

The photos below show the Mk V** that can be seen in Bovington, and have been kindly taken and supplied by Knut Erik Hagen. Notice that the external differences between the Mk V* and the Mk V** were small, save for the absence of the side engine grilles and square cupola on the back they looked exactly the same.

On the Mk V**

The overall length of the Mark V** was identical to that of the Mark V* -32 ft 5 in - and the gap it could span was also about 14 ft. The general appearance was also much the same, although the chief external difference -the commander's fixed turret immediately behind and raised above the driver's position - gave the clue to the main feature of the internal rearrangement. The engine was placed further back, permitting the command turret to be brought forward and also improving the balance and the transmission arrangement.

The engine used was a six-cylinder Ricardo but uprated to produce 225 h.p. and this gave a better top speed of 5.2 m.p.h. Handling qualities, compared with Mark V*, were also improved as a result of the better balance and a re­design of the hull contour which, among other things, gave about 6 in. longer track contact with the ground. The ventilation system was rearranged and the grilles in the hull sides, characteristic of Marks V and V*, were eliminated.

Large orders for Tanks, Mark V** were cancelled at the end of the war and, after the Armistice, only a few were completed in 1918-1919. These were used for several years after the war for various experiments with equip­ment such as tank bridges.