Landships II

philthydirtyanimal · Commander in Chief

Tank Mark II

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

The female tank in the film clip appears to have an inscription on the front horn - does anyone know what it is?

Gwyn Evans · Legend

I've seen this discussed before - possibly on this Forum. Just can't quite put my finger on it...

Thinking cap on!

Gwyn

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

I had�wondered if this tank might have been a MkI with a "Petrograd" inscription (which should be on the rear horn of female MkI's), but having seen Phil's clip this tank does appear to be a MkII.

philthydirtyanimal · Commander in Chief

Unfortunately I can't get a clear screenshot to work from (not that I have any amazing image scrutinising software anyway!).

I cant decide if it is one long name of about 7 or 8 large characters all in capitals, or if it is two short words along the lines of "something de Something" (like Creme de Menthe, but she was a mark I).

Another problem I have is I dont have a list of possible names of Mark II at Arras; I only recognise the famous ones.

I've sent a shortened version to the nice chaps at the tank museum, so hopefully they can help.

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

Here is the info which I have been able to collate about the tanks used at Vimy/Arras/Bullecourt.

Mark Hansen · Legend

Rhomboid,
I can help you with a bit of info for your table. 578 is C21, "The Perfect Lady". The number is visible (barely) at the rear of the tank in a photo in, I think, "Tanks and Trenches".
I put together a sequence of photos which shows C21 and C26 crossing a small trench. From the sequence it would appear that C26�may be�WD 787, providing that no other tank is between the two.

-- Edited by Mark Hansen at 05:50, 2008-03-19

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

Thanks, Mark. I wonder if this sequence was taken while these tanks were moving up on 10/4/17 to attack Monchy. Both tanks had ditched at the Harp on 9/4/17. Looking more closely, I can make out "The Perfect Lady" on C21, but I'm having more trouble seeing the "578".

philthydirtyanimal · Commander in Chief

Unfortunately the Tank Museum cannot identify this tank, although�they confirmed it is a mark II.

Is it my eyesight, or do the apertures for machine guns look as though they could still carry Vickers, rather than being changed to hold the smaller Lewis?

Mark Hansen · Legend

The apertures for the machine guns is the same as the Vickers. There was a small piece fitted to reduce the size for the Lewis. If the piece is dirty or rusted or a different colour, it can look as if it is absent.�The piece is probably there but the definition of the image is too low to show it. Photo attached to show an example.

philthydirtyanimal · Commander in Chief

Thanks Mark. In England we would call that 'sleeving', and I was going to too, but it probably isn't called that in USA, Australia etc. And a translator program would give a peculiar answer!

Dont think it would have helped with the identification, anyway! (so I dont know why I said it!)

But the sponsons (or at least the one on this side) are empty. And it looks like it is in France, but not in battle. So I wonder if this is in the training area near Blangy: two fields on either side of the Blangy-Humerveil road. (Tanks and Trenches, p22)

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

Thanks for trying to find the tank's name, Phil. I've added the info presented by Mike Cooper on the Missing-Lynx forum to an updated list of Arras tanks. The locale could well be the training�area near Blagny -�the ground�has the churned up appearance I've seen in some photos of Bovington - however, the troops seem to be wearing steel helmets, which could also suggest a location nearer to the front line.

Mark Hansen · Legend

Sorry to have left this up in the air somewhat. I've attached the full image this time. I can't remember where it is but it's definitely in France and relatively close to the front.

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

Thanks for posting the photo, Mark. Regarding the locale, the construction of the trench appears similar to photos of the Hindenberg Line - for example look at some of the photos of 586�taken from�the trench at Bullecourt. There also seems to be a large cemetary in the background, which suggests proximity to a village. At a guess, the photo may have been taken near Neuville Vitasse or Tilloy. The camo on the gun shields looks somewhat atypical, and why has an "X" been marked on the sponson?
This page http://robert.martin16.googlepages.com/tanks_at_arras_1917�gives a complete list of the Arras tanks.

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

I think the tank bellied in the trench may be 587 (C49) which ditched�near the start line at Arras Cemetary on 9/4/17.�Many thanks to Munkeezulu for transcribing the Arras tank operation summaries.�