I enclose a photo I've come across - apologies if any have already seen it. I think there may be a copy somewhere in the AWM (but thats not where I found it). Its a lost of supply tanks parked - somewhere. It provides some interesting items. Firstly whilst most of the tanks are Mk IV supply tanks there are also some some MK V*s to be seen. One seems to have no sponson and instead sliding doors but another has supply sponsons. Secondly those numbers on the cabs of the two tanks in the foreground are they their WD serial no.s? I don't remember seeing any other tanks with it in that position.
They certainly are serial numbers. It is actually not that unusual to see them painted in the centre of the cab on Mark IVs as seen here. I have a number of contemporary photos on file with them in that position. It doesn't seem to happen with other Marks though.
I read the two numbers as 4546 and 8123. The latter served with 9th Battalion, then 4th Battalion before being disabled on 13 August 1918 and handed over to salvage on 21 August. The tank reappears serving with 2nd Tank Carrier Company on 4 November 1918.
Which Mk V* has the supply sponsons? If you mean the one furthest from the camera (1), they are the regular male sponson type. You can see the MG ball mounting in the sponson side which supply sponsons do not have.
I don't think the Mk IV (2) to the rear of the above mentioned tank has sliding doors but has a supply sponson pushed in. The dark area which looks like an open door is the gap between the frame and supply sponson. The word "SUPPLY" is just visible on the sponson side and the rear of the sponson is visible as a small, darker area.
It looks like the Mk V* (3) behind the Mk IVhas a female sponson. The sponson dividing strip is just visible above and below the unditching rail of the Mk IV supply tank (6) whose number also looks to me to be 8128.
The Mk V* (5) has a male sponson. The narrow area above the gun shield can be made out underneath the unditching rail of the Mk IV supply tank (6).
... It doesn't seem to happen with other Marks though...
It's rare to find photos, but it did happen, usually with postwar photos. This one was taken around July 1919 and shows Mk V male 9015 with the cab WD number. I date it to about then because of another image showing the same tank crushing trees which was dated 26th July 1919.
Mark - thanks for proving me wrong, it's the best way to learn!
I won't be adamant that the number is 8123 and not 8128. However, 8128 is the subject of photo E05424 in the AWM. Unfortunately the image isn't on-line but the caption says:
"The front and side view of a Mark IV Supply Tank located at a tank park outside the village of Villers-Bretonneux. Note the tank is marked with 'supply', 'G S 5' and the number '8128' on its back and side."
Accepting that the photo posted by Centurion might have been taken at a different time, I don't see G S 5 painted on our tank. So I don't think it's 8128.
Regarding Mark's latest post, I have 9015 as being "Baby Doll" of the US 301st Tank Battalion in Minneapolis in July 1919. See other photos elsewhere on this Forum.
So what's that painted on the glacis? "Here comes the Baby Doll"???
Mark - thanks for proving me wrong, it's the best way to learn!
I won't be adamant that the number is 8123 and not 8128. However, 8128 is the subject of photo E05424 in the AWM. Unfortunately the image isn't on-line but the caption says:
"The front and side view of a Mark IV Supply Tank located at a tank park outside the village of Villers-Bretonneux. Note the tank is marked with 'supply', 'G S 5' and the number '8128' on its back and side."
Accepting that the photo posted by Centurion might have been taken at a different time, I don't see G S 5 painted on our tank. So I don't think it's 8128.
But I'm quite content to be proved wrong again!
Gwyn
I think the photo probably was taken at the same time and may be of the same tank. The captions for E05422, E05423, and E05424 all have a tank park near Villers-Brettoneux as the location. Possibly the AWM have miscaptioned E05424 or the number isn't on this side of the tank for reasons unknown.
