Landships II

Here's an interesting quote, from this site http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/tanks.htm (just over halfway down):

During the last months of the war, the Tank Corps, AEF also fielded a battalion of British-built heavy tanks which were deployed with the American 27th and 30th Division and fought in the old Somme Sector. The 301st Heavy Tank Battalion commanded by Ralph Sasse was equipped with the British Mark V and Mark V Star.

Mark V* tanks were used by American 301st Btn in the second Battle of Cambrai in September 27th 1918. Ignoring the advice of British liason ofices some ran into a German anti tank ambush and were badly mauled (one of these may have been the Mk V* Female 'Boche Buster'). This was the first action in which US heavy tanks took part (if you exclude the US manned Schnieders at St Mihel in early Sept1918 as the US did not regard them as heavies). By this time the 301st had relinquished their Mk Vs for MkV*s

On Oct 8th 1918 Major Ralph Sasse of the AEF commanding a Mk V* (radio equiped) attached to the British 2nd Tank brigade won the British Military Cross for his part in thwarting a German counter atttack. 2nd Lt Paul S Haimbaugh US Army commanded another Mk V*(male) in the same action. There is a very good account of his experiences in "The Fighting Tanks" Jones Rarey and Icks. This book contains brief details of all British, French, American and German tank actions between 1916 and 1922

Wow great help you are giving. What exactly is difference between MkV and MkV star?

 

 

More on V v V*

Depending on which source one reads the V* was either 5 or 6 ft longer (three sections of frame). Only way to be certain would be to measure one but I don't think any survive ( I'll raise a four dimensional thumb for a passing time machine)

V* had an extra Hotchkiss (possibly 2 as I think there were at least 2 additional mounts)
Some V*s had extra armoured covers over the rear radiator louvres (possibly a field mod as I think that they vary across machines)

Early V*s (approx 30 - 50) were in fact large scale field mods being  made in France by cutting MkVs in half, adding the exta sections and joining up again. Later ones were factory built (mainly Metropolitan) from the ground up (this might explain variations and even discrepancies in the length specs?).

V*s were 5 tons heavier with same engine so a bit less speedy.

The majority of V*s were female (432 Female to 200 Male)

Infantry Mg crews intended to be carried to forward positions but fumes and heat and noise and.... so bad most prefered to leave the Vickers inside to be carried and walk outside

1st used Amiens Aug 1918

Thanks for this valueable information.

Treadhead wrote:

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".....What exactly is difference between MkV and MkV star?...." I'm a bit confused...we aren't talking about the 'Tadpole' are we? Because at first it was said that..."an extra 5ft section of frame was added behind the sponsons."...then, "were in fact large scale field mods being made in France by cutting MkVs in half, adding the exta sections and joining up again." indicating that the added section was added in the middle.....so, would someone mind shining some clarity on this for one of your devoted students? Tread.-- Edited by Treadhead at 16:59, 2006-02-10

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No not the Tadpole, these where made by lengthening the rear horns of some Mk IVs and MkVs effectively adding a tail (hence the name tadpole). It proved to be not rigid enough (with the increased ground contact the sideways stress when turning was significant) and so the Central Tank Work Shop in France came up with the Mk V* as described by chopping Mk Vs in half and adding new section in the middle (just behind the sponsons). As these proved successful the design was adopted for production back in the UK.

Treadhead wrote:

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Many, many thx Centurion for clearing that one up for me. I guess I must admit to not even knowing that this version of the British Mark even existed... I don't suppose anyone has a pic of this 'lengthened' chassis version? Also, how hard do you think it would be to kit-bash a V* out of a standard Emhar Mark IV kit? Tread.

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You'd be better off starting with a Mk V. However I once did a Mk V* from an Airfix Mk I (ish) and a female at that (long time ago and I suspect my optics might not be so good today). If you're not starting from a MK V you'll have to build a new commanders turret for a start. I'll dig out a Mk V* picture and post. If you really are in a hair shirt mood try a Mark V** (Wilson's redesign of the V*) too late to see action but lots of 'funnies' such as bridge layers (but you'd have to do most of it from scratch)

Howdy Centurion,

Thx for the quick reply, and the provided photo of the MarkV*....after posting my last message, I took a look on my shelf at a book called 'Vehicles At War' by Dennis Bishop and Christopher Ellis published in 1979. It is a pretty good book packed with some nice illustrations. On page #37 there was this illustration of a British Mark V*



This view is from the port side and clearly shows the additional length just aft of the gun sponsons as you previously said {I never doubted you }.
From the illustration there appears to be a double 'dutch' style door access panel installed {just ahead of the numbers 10505}...would this be correct?
Also, where the rear track horn just begins it's downward angle there appears to be an opening of some sort....is that right?

Tread.

Treadders, as with the Mark IX on another thread, you should check out this page:

http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/GreatBritain/BritishHeavyTanks.html

Includes this (in the Patton museum):

And:

Of course, there are others, including this good view of the rear of one:

And how could we forget Peter K's pages on the main site? A review of Cromwell's kit: http://www.landships.freeservers.com/mk5kit.htm

Note the opening, where you mention it Treadders - it's clearer here, on Peter's excellent build:

-- Edited by Roger Todd at 23:06, 2006-02-10

Howdy Chaps!

Once again, many thx for your informative and most helpful input. It all really helps with the R&D ya know

Centurion said; "...You'd be better off starting with a Mk V...."

Now, you all must remember I don't work in Braille scale like most of you fellas, I instead prefer the larger 1/35th scale {easier on the orbs}, so the only 1/35th scale kit of the Mark V I know of is the Interus 'Composite' kit....I don't suppose they built a Mark V** Hermaphrodite did they? Also, did they only build Mark V*'s and Mark V**'s with 'male' sponsons? Because if they didn't, I'd have to rework one side of the Interus kit as well......

Tread.

BTW.....really nice work there on Peter's kit. I hope that my finished project looks half as good.

-- Edited by Treadhead at 17:09, 2006-02-12