8 replies to this topic

[Old Tom]

I have come across a brief reference to this tank as being intended for use in a major offensive in 1919 planned by Fuller. I am aware that a few Medium Bs and Cs were produced at the end of the war but were not, I think, deployed. The Medium D is a new one to me. I would appreciate an outline description, please.

Old Tom

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Old Tom, on 27 June 2012 - 02:55 PM, said:

I have come across a brief reference to this tank as being intended for use in a major offensive in 1919 planned by Fuller. I am aware that a few Medium Bs and Cs were produced at the end of the war but were not, I think, deployed. The Medium D is a new one to me. I would appreciate an outline description, please.

Old Tom

Here is some reference information and photographs of the British Medium D tank.
Regards,
LF

" The Medium D was the last British tank design of WW1. Design work was started in October 1918 and only the mock up was finished before the end of the war. With the end of the war, all tank production ceased. It appears that only one was ever created and that was done in 1920 for testing. The Medium D incorporated a new "rope" track system with articulated shoes. A male version was planned using the short 6pdr, but this was never built. Seen as the British post war tank of choice but because of mechanical problems this design was ultimately discarded. "

Crew - 3
Weight - 20 tons
Length - 30 feet
Width - 4 ft 5 ins
Height - 9 ft 2.5 ins
Armour - 8 - 10 mm
Powerplant - Armstrong Siddeley Puma 240 hp
Armament - 3 x .303 Hotchkiss MG
Speed - 23 mph.

2

Attached Files

•  Med D 1.jpg   72.52K   1 downloads
•  Med D 3.jpg   84.03K   0 downloads

[centurion]

The 2nd photo is the wooden mock up

The Medium D** was an amphibious tank
 smalld.jpg   64.81K   0 downloads

[centurion]

The Medium D showing the flexible "snake" tracks
 0587047887.jpg   41.38K   1 downloads

[centurion]

Lancashire Fusilier, on 27 June 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

Here is some reference information and photographs of the British Medium D tank.
Regards,
LF

" The Medium D was the last British tank design of WW1. Design work was started in October 1918 and only the mock up was finished before the end of the war. With the end of the war, all tank production ceased. It appears that only one was ever created and that was done in 1920 for testing. The Medium D incorporated a new "rope" track system with articulated shoes. A male version was planned using the short 6pdr, but this was never built. Seen as the British post war tank of choice but because of mechanical problems this design was ultimately discarded. "

2

The tank shown is the Modified Medium D with a 4 man crew. There was also the Light Infantry Tank which was almost identical in layout and track but slightly smaller and lighter. At one time it was proposed that this be used to police distant parts of the Empire but it was decided that armoured cars could do the job as well and at a fraction of the cost.

[Old Tom]

Very many thanks.

Old Tom

[RobL]

centurion, on 27 June 2012 - 05:27 PM, said:

The Medium D showing the flexible "snake" tracks
0587047887.jpg

And illustrating the anti-invisible sheep device too by the looks of it!

[RobL]

Some other photos and video footage of one in the water (not quite sure if it's being placed in for testing, or being pulled out after testing gone wrong!)

[centurion]

RobL
I think what you have are a combination of different clips showing testing of the Medium D**. One part shows the tank after a successful outing on a river,Thames I think, when it found itself unable to get back out of the water - the bank defeating it. I'm not sure what the bit with the lighter shows  it being retrieved by other means possibly?