Tankopedia
WW1HeavyHeavy TankUnited Kingdom

Tank Mark II

In service 1917 - 1918

An unarmoured-steel training batch rushed into combat at Arras, where German armour-piercing bullets went straight through it.

Built byMetropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Co.

Tank Mark II
Knocked out British Mark II female tank — drakegoodman collection, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Development history

The Mark II was ordered as a training and trials machine, built from mild steel rather than hardened plate because it was never meant to face fire. Shortages at the front sent it into action anyway at Arras in April 1917, where the new German K bullet punched through its plating with ease and casualties were severe. Its real contribution was experimental: Mark II hulls tested the Wilson epicyclic gearbox and hydraulic transmissions that made the Mark V a one-man drive, and several were converted into supply carriers and wireless tanks.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. Mark II Male

    1917

    Two 6-pdr guns in sponsons; mild steel plate

  2. Mark II Female

    1917

    Machine-gun armament only in smaller sponsons

  3. Wireless and supply conversions

    1917-18

    Sponsons removed, used as radio and stores carriers

Notable actions

  • Battle of Arras (1917)