As soon as the Brits found out the steering tail on the MK 1 wasn't that neccessary , it was removed from the MK1's.
The steering tail was pivotted in holes in the aft trackhorns ,
What was done with the remaining holes, after the tail assembly was removed ? Did they leave the holes as is ,or did they cover the pivothole with some kind of of blankplate?
I studied a lot of pictures, but I coundn't find a clear picture of this.
What I did find out is that the brackets which hold the bar on which the springs where attached were removed .
greetz
Ronald
-- Edited by SMK on Saturday 16th of April 2016 08:32:49 AM
I think the holes in the rear horns for the tail frame pivot posts were left uncovered when the tails were removed. The photo of HMLS Nutty, a Gaza wreck, seems to show a circular hole below the chain drive sprocket cover. The second photo appears to show a wrecked MkI, probably destroyed in the Arras fighting in 1917, with a similar hole. In this case the sprocket covers have been removed, but there is no "halo" around the pivot post hole as there are around the sprocket holes, suggesting that the pivot post hole never had a cover.
As Rhomboid has stated the pivot points for the tail wheel assembly were never covered or sealed. One of the odd things about this area of the tank is right next to it is an observation/mud-shoot hole that also stayed uncovered. I have attached a photo of the rear of my 1/6 scale model, in it you will see the pivot point bracket and the observation hole next to it. There were holes like this all along the inside bottom of the tank. In fact there is one in the bottom corner with its cover on. It has always surprised me that the hole next to the pivot point has no cover as it provides direct access to the Drive Gears and a possible way to disable the tank.
