This Beute Mark IV is the "Lotte", one of the numerous german "Beute Panzerwagen" destroyed the 1th June 1918 near La Pompelle Fort (East of Reims). This day, the "Beute" Mark IV "Lotte", "Liesel", "Heinz", "Max", "Moritz", "Hedda" were destroyed or blown up by their crew.The french artillery destroyed four of these "Beute" Mark IV.The same day, one other german tank, the A7V "Lotti" was also destroyed near La Pompelle Fort. All the tanks were left in the ground in 1918-1923 years but only one, the "Lotte", destroyed near the "route nationale" between Reims and Châlons-sur-Marne, was preserved until 1940 and destroyed by the germans after 1940.The others "Beute" Mark IV were sold as old iron in 1920 years. The 15th July 1918 in Champagne, the losses were also heavy for "Beute" Mark IV, germans lost the "Olaf", "Wolf", "Bertha", "Bob", "Kerlchen", "Kathi" and a other whom the name is not known, because the tank was totally destroyed by french artillery and cut literally in piece.At least, three tanks were destroyed by "anti-tank" 75 mm gun (on special mounting) and at least two by "mines" (french shells of heavy artillery with special fuse buried in the ground). Yours sincerely, Guy François.
L 52 was this tanks original battalion number. By this stage of the war nearly every British heavy tank had a name that began with the battalion letter, in this case L and the tanks name was "Lyric". The tank itself was not a beute tank but put in place to replace a previous beute tank.
Thank you, Mark, for your reply! I have many 1918 and 1919 photographs of all german Beute Mark IV tanks and the A7V "Lotti" destroyed near La Pompelle and also one of "Lotte", taken in 1925 with the Malta Crosses still visible but with painting in bad condition. I am very interested by the date of replacement of the original Beute Tank by "Lyric"! Yours sincerely, Guy François.
It's in amazing condition, seeing as it's been lying out in the open for 20+ years.
What happened to it?
I thinkthis isEstoniain 1941.In Estonia, thethree tanksMk V (the names"Paalik", "Uku" and "Wahtula"),were in the armyuntil 1939.When Russiancameto Estonia,the tankswere sentto the warehouse.Duringthe defense of Tallinin 1941,Russiansreintroducedtheminto battle -allwere takenWehrmacht. Here is picturesof the captured formerEstonian"Uku"in1941.
I have some some photographs and drawings of the "75 sur chevalet de tir" for anti-tank use in 1918, they are on the french Forum "Pages14-18" new subject of this day in pages "artillerie". Yours sincerely, Guy François.
