A mention was made in another thread about MK1 tanks and track grousers, rather than add to that thread I thought I would post this here.
Now strictly speaking Grousers were not used until the MKIIs and if anyone had told me they were fitted to the MK1 tanks, I would have disagreed with them. Only thing is, I hadn't accounted for the Palestine Tanks, were the rule book was thrown out the window and experimentation and adaptation was the norm. Extra armour, onboard sponson cranes, proper exhausts for the MK1s and it seems... Grousers.
Here is the only evidence I have, but like any discovery, once spotted more examples are found.
"23 Apr 1917 – "C" Battalion, 7 Company, C6, Lt HP Jones – Attached to VI Corps, Broke down. Did not Start. OR Restarted attacked and Knocked out by Shell. Photographed Broken Down, probably in Athies." from munkeezulu's site, here: https://sites.google.com/site/landships/home/lists/listofmkimaletanks
In my experience, proving something did exist is easier than proving it didn't. You only need evidence of one to prove the former, but you need evidence of all to prove the latter (unless it's impossible, of course).
Helen, thank you.
I find this photo at vol. 1 of Tankograd Verlag publication 'British tanks in German service' www.tankograd.com/cms/website.php
It dated by 1917
Helen, thank you. I find this photo at vol. 1 of Tankograd Verlag publication 'British tanks in German service' www.tankograd.com/cms/website.php It dated by 1917
Which is strange because the Mark I was never in German service.
Maybe something has been lost in translation; maybe it would be more accurate to say, "Some British Tanks that the Germans captured".
The publication does not say that mk-1 was used by the German army.
"British tanks in German service" is only name of publication, illustrated by lot of photos, including this one in chapter devoted of history of tanks and their battle use.
So there is nothing strange.
Having read through the intro list of content at 'Tankograd' the only mention is of MkIV's. I think we need to stop this thread drift as it is all about the Mk1 fitted with track extensions (and, it seems, engine exhausts! - but that is another thread drift, sorry!!)
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Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
The publication does not say that mk-1 was used by the German army.
"British tanks in German service" is only name of publication, illustrated by lot of photos, including this one in chapter devoted of history of tanks and their battle use. So there is nothing strange.
Here is another view of the tank, taken by a British photographer. It became bogged in a marshy area on the north bank of Scarpe near Fampoux, while returning from an action at Roeux on Apr. 23, 1917. It remained behind British lines until the Germans retook this area in March 1918.
Thanks for posting this link, Denis. I had seen this photo before, but never in enough resolution to identify the tank as A17. The photo would indicate that A17 survived the Somme battle of 1916, and was destroyed during the Arras offensive in April 1917. By that time, the tank would have been reassigned to C or D Bn. HBMGC. Eight MkI female tanks took part in the Arras/Bullecourt fighting, and records show that two, 524 and 531, were destroyed by shellfire. I suspect it is 531, destroyed by a shell on April 11, 1917 at Bullecourt.
This photo, and that of 716 above, suggest that the MkI veteran tanks from the Somme may not have been repainted before going into action at Arras, and were still in "Solomon" camouflage.