Landships II

Long Tom · Brigadier

Mark IV Beutepanzers-Modified Or Not?

CharlieC · Legend

Long Tom wrote:
Did the Germans actually modify captured Mark IV's beyond remarking and repainting? Which would seem rather surprising with tanks being little used by them anyway.

They did - initially only armament was changed out - the Lewis guns were swapped with a "Germanised" version which could fire German ammunition and the guns (on males)

were changed out for 57mm Nordenfelt guns similar to the A7V guns.

As experience with operating the Mark IVs was gained the tanks were modified with escape hatches, compass (similar to A7V) in the roof between the driver and commander,

modified unditching beam rails to avoid snagging the compass cover, T-Gewehr rifles on female tanks as an alternate to Lewis guns, electrical signal lamps for fire control like the A7Vs and speaking tubes.

Regards,

Charlie

mad zeppelin · Commander in Chief

As CharlieC says. However, it's worth to note that visible modifications increased over time. Early Beute Mk.IVs were pretty much looking unmodified (except for the 57-mm Maxim-Nordenfelt guns and their gun shields in male vehicles). That the Lewis machine guns fired German 7.92-mm bullets won't show. - Many vehicles had repair plates riveted over former damage.

Roughly speaking, from March to July 1918, the modifications (except guns in males) weren't visible. Starting in August, vehicles were receiving escape hatches and compasses, raised rails for undichting beam followed installation of compasses. Thus, vehicles with early Buntfarben coat (Iron Crosses still) and those with fully developed Buntfarben varnish (Balkenkreuze) should also display the full range of modifications.

Long Tom · Brigadier

mad zeppelin wrote:
As CharlieC says. However, it's worth to note that visible modifications increased over time. Early Beute Mk.IVs were pretty much looking unmodified (except for the 57-mm Maxim-Nordenfelt guns and their gun shields in male vehicles). That the Lewis machine guns fired German 7.92-mm bullets won't show. - Many vehicles had repair plates riveted over former damage.
Roughly speaking, from March to July 1918, the modifications (except guns in males) weren't visible. Starting in August, vehicles were receiving escape hatches and compasses, raised rails for undichting beam followed installation of compasses. Thus, vehicles with early Buntfarben coat (Iron Crosses still) and those with fully developed Buntfarben varnish (Balkenkreuze) should also display the full range of modifications.

Wonder if Takom might do a Beutepanzer version with modifications.

Pierantonio · Lieutenant-Colonel

MR Modelbau from germany makes a conversion for MK IV armed with 57mm Nordenfelt guns

www.mrmodellbau.com/_shop/product_info.php

You can get the compass cover from a resin copy of Meng A7V drive cab compass but you have to scratch the raised rails for undichting beam