Light Tanks Mk II:
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum
Built by Vickers-Armstong starting in 1929.1
The turret was rectangular with sloping sides.6 There was a hatch in the rear of the turret for the commander, and one in front of the driver. Had 2 sets of twin bogies with a raised rear idler. The Mk IIA had some improvements made and became available in 1933.
Used primarily for patrol in the British empire.1 In 1935 the 7th Light Tank Company in Quetta, India, was called out to patrol the streets after an earthquake to prevent looting.1 They also used their vehicles to pull down the damaged buildings.1
Most vehicles used for training until 1942. Some Mk IIA and IIB were in Western Desert Force in 1940. MK IIAs used by a South African battalion in the Abyssinian campaign (1941).1
Light Tanks Mk IIA:
Modified air louvers on the sides.6 Had an extra fuel tank installed.6
Light Tanks Mk IIB:
Modified air louvers on the sides.6 Had a single large fuel tank.6
| Light Tank Mk II, IIA, IIB | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver.2 21,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 9,520 lb2 4.25 tons4,5, 4.5 tons1,3,6 4,572 kg1,6 |
| Length w/gun | 11' 8"5, 11' 9"1,2,4,6 3.5 m1, 3.58 m6 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6' 7"1,6, 6' 7.5"2,4, 6' 9"5 1.9 m1, 2.01 m6 |
| Width | 6' 1"5, 6' 3"1,6, 6' 3.5"2,4 1.9 m1, 1.91 m6 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament (mm) | |
| Main | .303 (7.7 mm) Vickers MG.1,2,6 .303 MG3 .303 Vickers MG4,5 B: Vickers .303 MG |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 4,0005 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 4 - 101,3,4,5 42, 102,6 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 15 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | 10 |
| Turret Front | 10 |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | 4 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Rolls-Royce1,2,4,5,6 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | 65,6 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 665,6 |
| Power to weight ratio | 15.5 hp/ton5 |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Eletrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°2 |
| Max speed | 30 mph1,2,3,4,5,6 48 kph1, 48.3 kph6 |
| Cross country speed | 20 mph2 |
| Road radius | 125 miles5, 130 miles1,2,6, 150 miles, 209.2 km1,6 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -11° to +37°2 |
| Fording depth | 2' 3"2 |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Horstmann coil spring.2,6 Horstmann horizontal springs.5 Wilson pre-selector gear box.5 |
| Wheels each side | 4 |
| Return rollers each side | 1 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 9.5"2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 5' 2.5"2 |
| Production | 1929-1941: 36 Mk II: 1931: 164 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- World War Two Tanks, George Forty, 1995
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- AFV 5: Light Tanks Marks I-VI, Major-General N. W. Duncan
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
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