Landships II

Hughbearson · General

HMLS Dragonfly - real?

Rob · Legend

HMLS Dragonfly, was, from what I can work out, the Mk II which is now on display at Bovington with a Mk I Female Sponson (difference being that it's fitted with Vickers guns, whereas, at least in action, Mk II's had Lewis) - I do believe that at some point it was fitted with a Female and a Male sponson, as at the museum there is a Male sponson on a trailer.

I don't know where they got the name Dragonfly from, as to whether that was a real Mk I or not.

In reality, the Mk II at Bovington served at Arras, and I believe was a Male (i'm sure someone will confirm or deny that), it's a shame it's not restored as to how it appeared in action, as it's probably the oldest Tank to have seen action

Hughbearson · General

Thankingyou for information.�I suppose that my original intention of building a model of our unusual hybrid would not work, since I wanted a more combat suited peice. Oh well, at least thats the Dragonfly mystery cleared up.

Ironsides · Legend

Hi The�MKII Supply tank at Bovington�has been named Dahlia, The flying Scotsman and HMLS Dragonfly the last whilst on display as a garden ornament outside The�school of tank technology, it was a real fighting tank that saw action as a male at least 3 times.....

I saved an article from�Bovinton news which includes some photos you need word to open it.......

Cheers smile

-- Edited by Ironsides on Wednesday 21st of July 2010 09:48:09 PM

Rob · Legend

Very interesting Ironsides, great reading. Wonder how much it would have cost to get it back to 1917 Arras Male specification, especially compared to the cost of the Tiger!

Hughbearson · General

I read that it seems that HMLS Dragonfly was a supply tank, though maybe not the one in the museum.

Ironsides · Legend

Hi Hugh...

"Even so, try as we might it has not been possible to identify any D Battalion tank with that name so it could have been made up and the HMLS added for its historic flavour."

No evidence for "Dragonfly" in WW1 at all it seems.....

However I think you can still model it in its display form although you would need to use the Airfix female kit.... for the sponson.... i find the history and display modifications though just as interesting and may do a "HMLS Dragonfly" myself..... of course a complete set covering "Dahlia"(male MKII)�and "The Flying Scotsman" ( which may be interpreted as a supply tank) would complete the set....

Cheers wink