Landships II

James H · Legend

British Army of the Rhine after 1918 - Any Tank Details?

mad zeppelin · Commander in Chief

Armoured cars, Austins of the 17th Bn, came first, in December 1918. Later, in 1919, you have some 12th Bn tanks in Cologne, and later still 5th Bn tanks in Düsseldorf (and some other undisclosed locations). That's what I find flipping through my stuff.

James H · Legend

Thank you, MZ. I have found a short film of Mark Vs in Cologne, including 9162: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060000161

If you google around you'll find plenty of pics. An excellent article with pics here

Tank numbers visible so far: 9162, 9339, and 9434, I think.

I think this episode counts as "Combat Experience" or "Inter War" or something, so I might add a passage or two to the Wikipedia articles/sections on the Mark V. They do need some corrections.

Talking of which: when I've attempted to correct the Wikipedia references to the Mark V between 1941 & 1945, there's been a lot of sabotage by a couple of contributors who insist, among other things, that the Mark Vs photographed in the Lustgarten were used in action against the Red Army. There is, of course, no evidence to support that at all, just supposition, but it doesn't deter them. I recently found a "reputable source" that does state that these two tanks didn't play an active part in the Battle of Berlin, but even that isn't guaranteed to deter the disruptors. That being the case, it would be most helpful if Landshippers would join me in insisting that the correct version of history appears in these articles.

Happy New Year.

mad zeppelin · Commander in Chief

The 12th Bn tanks were seen at a parade celebrating the signing of the Versailles Dictate, hence on 28th or 29th or 30th of June, 1919. The 5th Bn tanks near Düsseldorf main station are more difficult to fathom, because D'dorf didn't belong to the British zone of occupation. I'd think they were moved there in reaction to the Ruhr Area fighting in April 1920 (after the Kapp Putsch had failed). One sees French troops marching near them (also being outside their occupation zone).

Ned · Brigadier

Thanks for the video link. Quite interesting.

Hedi · Lieutenant-Colonel

In the movie, why is the tank in the middle so high?

mad zeppelin · Commander in Chief

Must be jacked up at the front part (the rear seems to be level with the other tanks). It's not a terrain feature, a later photograph (without staring crowd) shows all four tanks standing perfectly level at the same location.