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Britain's Light Tanks Mk IV
Light Tank Mk IV: Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum |
Design
Based on an experimental design by Vickers in 1933.1,6
First British tank to have the hull extending over the tracks.6 The turret was rounder that previous models. Had twin bogies plus a single bogie.
Production
- Light Tank Mk IV:
- Production: 1934 - ?, 1935 - ?
Usage
Some were with front line units at beginning of war. Most were used for training.
| Light Tank Mk IV | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver.2 21,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 9,520 lb2 4.3 tons5, 4.5 tons3, 4.6 tons1,4,6 4,674 kg6, 4,675 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 11' 2"1,2,4,6, 11' 6"5 3.4 m1,6 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 6' 8.5"2, 6' 11.5"6, 7'1,6, 7' 1"5 2.13 m1,6 |
| Width | 6' 8.5"6, 6' 9"1,6, 6' 10"5, 6' 11.5"2 2.06 m1,6 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament (mm) | |
| Main | .303 or .50 MG3 .303 cal (7.7 mm) Vickers MG2 OR .50 cal (12.7 mm) Vickers MG1,2 Vickers .303 MG4,5 OR .50 MG4 7.7 mm and 12.7 mm MGs6 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 4,0005 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 4 - 121,5, 5 - 124 42, 102, 123,6 |
| Hull Front, Upper | |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Meadows1,5,6 Meadows ESTE6 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | 65,6 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 886, 88@2,800 rpm5 |
| Power to weight ratio | 20.7 hp/ton5 |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline6 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°2 |
| Max speed | 35 mph1,6, 36 mph2,3,4,5 56 kph1,6 |
| Cross country speed | 28 mph2 |
| Road radius | 125 miles1,5,6, 130 miles2 200 km1, 201 km6 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -10° to +37°2 |
| Fording depth | 2'2 |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Horstmann coil-spring.2,6 Horstmann inclined springs parallel in bogies.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' 8.5"2 |
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
