Landships II

Mark Hansen · Legend

Sponson numbering

Gwyn Evans · Legend

Mark

Have responded on GWF, but yes I have seen serials on Mark I/II sponsons though not that I recall externally like this. I can think of a photo showing one on the inside face of the sponson door.

The interesting thing here, and I didn't think of this when I posted to GWF, is that the style and colour of the paintwork is the same as that on the hull. This is not the case in the photo I referred to above. So, perhaps both numbers were painted at the factory, or both were painted in the field. If both were painted at the factory then other tanks should have had the same feature, at least when they were delivered to the Army.

Gwyn

munkeezulu · Corporal

752 was tank C6 (Lt Tarbet, KIA) at Arras.

She was suposedly knocked out on the 9th April, but is also listed as sseing action again pon the 23rd.

There is another photograph of her which is often reproduced; this shows�752ditced close to the Blangy road, niether number is visable however. (See Fletcher, British Mk I Tank, Osprey 2004 Pg. 40).

The number may have been written on the sponson prior to it entraining for Arras, this would ensure the correct sponson went back onto the tank. The Sponsons flexed over time and thus it was importatn to get the correct pair if time wasn't to be wasted re drilling Bolt holes.

Nice Photo by the way, thanks for sharing.

Centurion · Legend

It wasn't the sponson that flexed but the hull when the tank was moved without the sponson in place so even if the same sponson was replaced the holes could still be out of line (so this is unlikely to have been the prime reason for numbering the sponsons). The problem appears to have been addressed by providing a beam to fit across the gap left by the sponson so that the hull was stiffened and no bending tool place. This is observable on some of the Gaza tanks.

Gwyn Evans · Legend

Just for info, Lt Tarbet lost his life to a sniper whilst testing the ground in front of his tank.

Gwyn

Rhomboid · Field Marshal

The 7 Co. operations summary for 9/4/17 shows 752 (C6) as ditched and struck by a shell, presumably in the same location�where�it was photographed from the railway viaduct on the Blagny -�Athies road.�I'm still trying to figure out where Mark's photo was taken - it seems to be in a�pulverized village, some time after the battle. The C Bn. summaries�for 23/4/17 contain an error - C6 on this date is�shown as 776.�This must be incorrect, since 776 was�C22, also in action on this date. I would presume that 752 survived the action on April 9, and is the C6 (incorrectly�listed as 776) which was put out of action by a bent secondary gear shaft on April 23. According to the C Bn.narrative report, this occurred at Athies, which may be the location of Mark's photo.�
Many thanks for sending copies of the diagramatic operational summaries, and the narrative reports, Rob.�

Ironsides · Legend

It would almost seem to be pointless to number the sponsons seperatly unless you can keep the body off the tank significantly rigid, I cant see how a wooden beam would make this possible, steel beams bolted on using the original holes would probarbly work or simply a piece of plate...this sound more like a tankers myth to me and I suspect it was necesary to redrill some of the holes every time the vechicle was moved.......
There is another reason why you might number the sponsons and that would be in order to make sure that they were fitted to the tank they were made for, fits and clearencess were rather hit and miss at that time...in theory a part should fit all other vechiles/machines in practice this task was left to specialist "Fitters" to make things work......Modern computerised machinery has to some extent removed the need for fitters in much production engineering bieng replaced with far less qualified "assemblers"...

Cheers

Centurion · Legend

1] who said it was wooden? Steel
2] with the sponsons removed there is no stiffening across the very large hole left - the beam goes across the MIDDLE of this and photos of this are available - I'll select some and post.

Centurion · Legend

For example

Ironsides · Legend

Hi Centurion, thanks for the pic for some reason I read beam as 'wood' beam, in any case I wouldnt call it a beam rather a bracing plate.......
However I still dont think this would be sufficient as there's no diagonal bracing......what tank is that fitted to?

Cheers

Gwyn Evans · Legend

Centurion's photo is of HMLS Tiger of the Gaza detachment.

Gwyn

Centurion · Legend

There is another photo of a different Gaza tank with a bracing beam. The width of the Tiger beam or plate would provide a degree of diagonal stiffening. It is attached by bolts through the original sponson bolt holes.

28juni14 · Hero

Most interesting, gentlemen.�� I'm impressed with your views, and knowledge ! �It is quite apparent the learning never stops here, thus no diplomas from this little institution of historical bread-breaking.

Mark Hansen · Legend

The timber beam also provided a means of keeping stores in while on the move, especially apparent in the photo of Ole-Luk-Oie on this page.