"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
No it's not new. The tank in the foreground is the prototype Medium A - the Tritton Chaser. The one behind is one of the Mark IIs used in the Oldbury trials. The photo looks as though it was taken at Dollis Hill - the wall in the background is very suggestive of that location.
I have seen the photo before, but can't immediately recall just where.
I was going to say that the fence (concrete 'plank' wall?) in the background looks like the one in the background of other photos in David Fletcher's British Tanks 1916 to 1919 book, and, as Gwyn says, that is said to be Dollis Hill.
I hadn't seen the photo before, though, so thanks for posting it.
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...The one behind is one of the Mark IIs used in the Oldbury trials...
Actually, that heavy is a Mk IV (or just possibly a Mk III). It has the higher view slits above the view ports, the roof support for the unditching rails, and the cab roof attachment points (for the camo netting?). It looks like the silencer is there but I can't see the rear roof box; not sure if that's due to the angle of the picture.
James, in order to make absolutely sure it's not a Mk III, would it be possible to get a better scan of the image, especially of the cab area?
I've done the best I can with these. The Chaser seems to be attached to the towing hook on the Rhomboid. Who's towing whom? And are the wooden doors of the sliding type?
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
That's interesting. Now I really need to track down where I've seen this before, as I'm sure the photo was captioned.
Gwyn
It's a pity this image doesn't show the cab roof edge clearly as that would clear up the confusion immediately. It certainly can't be a Mk II. One other oddity is the attachments at the lower rear and front. My guess would be that this Mk IV is an experimental model or testbed.
I think that in David Fletcher's books about the British tanks he shows photos and/or discusses a tank used around the workshops that was fitted with sliding doors. Presumably the engineers/mechanics had a good reason for this, at the time. Mr Fletcher, to my knowledge, talks of just the one tank modified in this fashion. If it was an engineer's 'assistant' vehicle, it would have been rather easy to rivet on some extra towing points etc.
I believe that Centurion (remember him?) mentioned the 'tank with sliding doors' a few times in this forum, also. There may even be photos. Or I may be mixing up this Mark IV (III?) with a Mark V or V*.
But I do have a creeping feeling of déjà vu (I'm sure I've had that feeling before) about this. Not this particular photo, but this particular tank.
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...I believe that Centurion (remember him?) mentioned the 'tank with sliding doors' a few times in this forum, also. There may even be photos. Or I may be mixing up this Mark IV (III?) with a Mark V or V*...
Centurion's query was about some Supply Tanks, and Mark cleared that matter up. The trouble is that the doors shown above appear to be wooden, like back yard gates.
According to the running order for the Trials, the tanks present were: the Tritton Chaser; the Gun Carrier; a standard, brand new Mk IV; 4 Mk IIs, with various drives; and Mother, fitted with a Daimler petrol-elctric engine.
But DF suggests that the Mk IV was actually a Mk I upgraded to Mk IV standard. Moreover, the rhomboids were all painted with a broad horizontal stripe of a distinguishing colour so that they could be identified at a distance, and I can't make one out on the vehicle behind the Chaser.
What all this establishes, I'm not sure. I can't find any mention of those things that look like giant wingnuts. They don't seem to have any connection with the various drives. Are they something to do with tensioning the track?
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Hmmm. That is definitely a Mark V. But I still have this feeling that I have seen a Mark IV with sliding doors in a photo in a DF book. I am (very far) away from my 'library' so I can't be precise. I'm sure that the photo I'm trying to recall shows the tank inside a workshop. Not much help; sorry.
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In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.
Hmmm. That is definitely a Mark V. But I still have this feeling that I have seen a Mark IV with sliding doors in a photo in a DF book. I am (very far) away from my 'library' so I can't be precise. I'm sure that the photo I'm trying to recall shows the tank inside a workshop. Not much help; sorry.
IIRC, I know of a photo in a DF book of a pair of tanks inside a workshop, alongside a whippet, that have sliding doors. Unfortunately, I haven't got the book handy, but at least one of the tanks was a Mk V** and I think the other was a V or V*.
-- Edited by Mark Hansen on Saturday 18th of July 2009 06:30:12 AM
...But DF suggests that the Mk IV was actually a Mk I upgraded to Mk IV standard. Moreover, the rhomboids were all painted with a broad horizontal stripe of a distinguishing colour so that they could be identified at a distance, and I can't make one out on the vehicle behind the Chaser...
It's possible that it has been upgraded. The Mk IV wasn't that much more advanced than the Mk I. I think that it's more likely that whatever this photo shows, it isn't one of the Oldbury tanks.
