Friday 31 July 2015

Check it out


I have added a new permanent page to the blog to host David Fletcher's Tank Chats, which the tank Museum has published on YouTube.

This is a series of short films with Mr Fletcher talking about vehicles in the museum's collection.

Theose of interwar interest include the Vickers Medium and the Type E; the Carden Loyd MG Carrier; and Lanchester armoured car; The others in the series include the WWI Mk II tank, and the A 13 Cruiser and Mk VI B Light Tank.

Friday 24 July 2015

Vickers Medium at works, no armament


Col Breyer D of A


The D of A was the Directorate of Artillery, part of the Master General of the Ordnance's Office with the responsibility for placing government tank orders with manufacturers. I have no further information on Colonel Breyer or which of the officers in the photo he is.

Vickers 16 tonners Ns 1 & 2 1927




The captions read 14mm turrets and petrol tank protection. No front plate. 14 mm turret walls and tank front. 9 mm sides. The twin guns were not good for the want below for two belt boxes.

A1E1 Vickers Independent under construction 1926



The caption reads Independent: 28mm plating in F.C and turret. £ pdr and Vickers in main turret. $ auxiliary turrets. Rear L.H. was anti aircraft.

Armstrong Siddeley Dragon


The Dragon towed the gun instead of carrying it like the transporter. This is the vehicle which inpressed Captain Sheryer so much at TTS as a machine of great reliability, making a run of 100 miles in one day with only one involuntary stop, and was the first tracked vehicle to last 1,000 miles before track wear put it out of commission. The engine was an air cooled aircraft enginee.

18 pdr Transporter 1922





This machine carried the 18 pdr inside the vehicle, rather than towing it like the later Dragons. The Vickers Armstrong captions state 80 HP Wolse;ey engine, 20 mph. !st machine builtat Sheffield. Weight 5 3/4 tons without gun and crew. Drg started Merch 1922. delivered to Farnborough end of November.


18 pdr Transporter Mk II was about 63 track. Mk III was 66. Hence the wide ramp on one side.

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Mark "C" Japan 1927


Birch Gun 1928/9


The third and final type of Birch Gun, Mk IE, the last two vehicles built. The gun was houses in a barbette. The top half of the shield was open at the rear.

Birch Gun 1925/6


Second type of Birch Gun, with gun shueld.

Birch Gun 1924/5


The first type of Birch Gun, with no gun shield

Patrol Tank 1932


A.10.E.1. 1936

Prototype of the A10 "Heavy Cruiser" tank

A.9.E.1. 1935


Prototype of the A9 Cruiser Tank.

Independent Tank 1926 Armstrong Siddeley Engine


16 Ton Tank 1929 Medium Mk III


Cavalry Porte Vehicle with Handrails 1935


This looks to be a forerunner of the Cavalry Carrier.which dsted to 1936.

Transport Vehicle 1931 French Front Line


Not very clear about what the caption means, Carden Loyd based and possible inspiration for the Renault UE?

Two man wheel cum track 1927




Medium or Light Tank Mk II 1926


Medium or Light Tank 1926 Armstrong Siddeley Engine


Command Tank 1937


Amphibious Tank 1938 War Office No 2


Amphibious Tank 1932 War Office No 1


Amphibious Tank 1932 Chertsey no 2


Medium Tractor 1934 AEC Engine


Medium Tractor 1930 Armstrong Siddeley Engine



Medium Tractor 1930 No 1 Dorman Engine


6 Ton Tank Mk F Single Turret also China 1934 Greece 1934 Bulgaria 1938


6 Ton Tan 1930 Japan also USA 1931 Italy 1931


6 Ton Tank Experimental Vehicle


Light Tank Two Man 1927


Light Tank One Man 1926


Light Tank Argentine


Light Tank Conical Turret 1935 Belgium




Light Tank Foreign Sales 1935 Flat Sided Turret Horstmann Idlers also with Shock Absorbers 1935


Light Tank Foreign Sales 1933 Vickers Armstrong Suspension



With idlers (the small wheels supporting the top of the track)


Without idlers

Light Tank 1928 Mk VII Carden Loyd


Light Tank Mk VIb India 1936


Light Tank Mk V 1935 War Office & Egypt also India 1935


Light Tank Mk IV 1935 War Office also India 1935


Light Tank Mk IIb 1932 War Office also India 1933


Light Tank Mk Ia 1930 War Office also India 1931



Light Tank 3 Man 1929