Mark V Composite in Estonian service

Infobox Weapon
name= Mark V Composite


caption= Estonian Mark V Composite tanks on the Republics anniversary parade on 24th of February, 1925.
origin= flagcountry|UK
type= Heavy tank
is_vehicle=yes
is_UK=yes
service= 4
1919–1940
used_by= flagcountry|EST
wars= Estonian War of Independence
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=William Foster & Co. of Lincoln
unit_cost=
production_date= 1918–1919
number=
variants=
weight= 33 tonnes
length= 8.25 m
part_length=
width= 3.65 m
height= 2.65 m
diameter=
crew=9
armour= 6–12 mm
primary_armament= 1x57mm gun
200 rounds 3x7.7mm Hotchkiss Machine Guns
10350 rounds
engine= Ricardo petrol engine
engine_power=150 bhp
transmission=
payload_capacity=
fuel_capacity=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
clearance=
vehicle_range=
speed=8 km/h
guidance=The British Mark V Composite tank, a development of the Tank Mark I saw service with the Estonian Army in the Estonian War of Independence from 1919 to 1920.

Design and development

The Mark V was intended to be built as completely new design. When, however in December 1917, the desired new engine and transmission became available, this design was abandoned and the designation switched to an improved version of the Mark IV, in fact a Mark IV as it was originally intended: more power (150 bhp) with a new Ricardo engine, improved steering mechanism and epicyclical transmission, only one driver was needed. Cabin for machine-gunner on the roof. Four hundred were built, 200 each of Males and Females. Several were converted to "Hermaphrodites" by swapping sponsons to give a single 6 pounder gun and extra machine gun.

History

The first Mark V Composite tanks reached Estonia at the end of 1919. [ [http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?79813 Estonian Armoured Machines] . Tiit Noormets & Mati Õun. Tammiskilp 1999. Page 40] As Estonia requested tanks to be sent for the Estonian People´s Force from the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, it was refused. The "Entente" was probably afraid to send larger amounts of war materials to Estonia as it was afraid of that Estonia might be defeated by the Soviet Russia.Fact|date=June 2008 An unexpected opportunity to obtain such tanks came when the Northwestern Army was defeated by the Soviets and was retreating towards Estonia. During the Yudenich Northwestern Army abolishing the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces Johan Laidoner received a permission to takeover the Russian tanks. This action brought four "Mark V" and two "Renault FT 17" tanks to Estonia. According to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief daily order nr.770 on the 26 November 1919 Captain Hans Vanaveski was ordered to organize a training unit under the name of "Tank Class". This unit was placed under the direct orders of the "Reserve Forces" commander. This act was previously approved on 23 November by the Minister of War.

Heavy Tanks Company

Auto-Tanks Division

The end of the division

During the Soviet occupation

The heavy tank company was taken over by the Red Army in February 1941. The tanks were in a very poor condition and hardly able to move by their own power. As the Red Army did not have tank transport platforms for the railway, the tanks were left behind in a warehouse near Tallinn, which was soon after forgotten. The tanks were relocated again in August the same year when they were used to cover the Soviet retreat from Tallinn. "Mark V"s were dug into the soil along the Pirita river coastal line in order to create stationary gun platforms for the defence line. There are no records however of the usage or success of this plan, yet it is certain that it was tried out. [ [http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?79813 Estonian Armoured Machines] . Tiit Noormets & Mati Õun. Tammiskilp 1999. Page 94]

Appearance in World War II

The ultimate fate of these four Estonian Mark V Composite tanks is believed to have been melted down somewhere in the Third Reich into armour steel for the German total war effort. Would the outcome of history have been different these tanks had provided unique exhibits for the Estonian War Museum. [http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?79813
Estonian Armoured Machines. Tiit Noormets & Mati Õun. Tammiskilp 1999. Page 95]

Gallery

ee also

References

External links