Tank Mark II, female

The chief external differences from Mark I lay in the tail wheels, which were not used on Marks II and III and later heavy tanks, the narrower driver's cab and the 'trapezoid' hatch cover on the roof. Only fifty tanks each of Marks II and III were produced. They were unarmoured, in the sense that the steel from which they were built was not heat treated to make it bullet proof. The reason being that these tanks were only intended for use as training machines.

 

Built as a Male Tank, No. 785. Took part in the battle of Arras, April 1917. Various features, in particular the hinged hatch on the cab roof and internal modifications show that this tank subsequently served in the supply role. Returned to the UK after the war. Exhibited as a Gate Guardian at Chertsey for some years. Around this time it was modified to resemble a Mark I, complete with tail wheel assembly and fitted with sample Male and Female sponsons In this guise it subsequently came to the Tank Museum, bearing the name HMLS Dragonfly. With the arrival of the Mark I Hatfield Tank, it reverted to a Mark II, remained a hermaphrodite, and was later renamed Flying Scotsman when the lettering was detected beneath later layers of paint. Strangely there is no trace of the name Flying Scotsman in 6th Battalion records.

 

A more detailed account of the wartime history of this tank can be found in Tankette Volume 18, issue number 2.

 

For more detailof the type see; British Mark I tank 1916 by David Fletcher. New Vanguard 100 (Osprey Publishing 2004 isbn 1 84176 689 5)

The British tanks 1915-19 by David Fletcher (Crowood Press 2001 isbn 1 86126 400 3)

 

VEHICLES Features

 

 

Full Tracked

 

Tracks/Wheels

 

 

2 x 6 pdr (57mm) MG

 

Armament - Main Weapon Type

 

 

Daimler in line double sleeve valve, 6 cylinder

 

Engine

 

 

2 speed main gear box, two secondary gear boxes

 

Transmission

 

 

No sprung suspension

 

Suspension

 

 

4 Machine Guns

 

Armament - Secondary Weapon Type

 

 

Vehicle Statistics

 

 

8

 

Number (Crew)

 

 

28tons

 

Weight (Overall)

 

 

3.7mph

 

Maximum (Speed - Road)

 

 

Petrol

 

Type (Fuel)

 

 

10.00mm

 

Maximum (Armour Thickness)

 

 

6pdr

 

Calibre (Main Gun)

 

 

105bhp

 

Power (Engine Output)

 

 

50gall

 

Volume (Fuel)

 

 

23ml

 

Radius (Range)

 

 

332rounds

 

Number (Projectile)

 

 

8.05m

 

Length (Overall)

 

 

4.19m

 

Width (Overall)

 

 

2.44m

 

Height (Overall)

 

 

()

Done