Light Tank Mk VI
| Light Tank Mk. VI | |
|---|---|
Mk. VIB |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| length | 3.94 m |
| width | 2.06 m |
| height | 2.13 m |
| Dimensions | 5.25 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 3 to 14 mm |
| Main armament | 15 mm MG |
| Secondary armament | 7.92 mm MG |
| agility | |
| drive | Meadows six-cylinder petrol engine 88 hp |
| suspension | Coil springs |
| Top speed | 50.9 km / h (road) |
| Power / weight | 16.8 hp / t |
| Range | 280 km |
The Light Tank Mk VI , a British tank, was built from 1936 to 1940. The type was used by British troops as a reconnaissance vehicle in France, Egypt, Malta and during the occupation of Persia until 1941 during World War II . Since these lightly armored vehicles had no chance against the opposing German tanks, they were decommissioned and scrapped. Some were captured by the German Wehrmacht in the western campaign and converted into self-propelled artillery guns with the 10.5 cm light field howitzer 16 attached .
design
Development of the vehicle was completed when the UK began a major upgrade program. The Vickers Mk VI was mass-produced to replenish the Royal Tank Regiment and the mechanized cavalry regiments. It was designed as an escort and reconnaissance tank and at no time could it compete with tanks from other warring parties, which in 1940 led to the cessation of production.
equipment
The Mk VI was armed with Vickers machine guns , a .50 inch (12.7 mm) and a .303 inch (7.69 mm) machine gun arranged coaxially in the turret and rotated 360 degrees and vertical by + 37 ° could be moved up to -10 °. It was ammunitioned with 200 rounds .50 and 2500 rounds .303 cartridges.
It was also equipped with a radio (No. 9 W / T), which was attached to the rear of the tower in an extension.
Armor
The armor on the MkVI was designed to withstand fire up to .303 inches (7.62 mm, i.e. small arms). At the thinnest point, the thickness was only 4 mm and at the thickest 14 mm (British Official Armor Specification IT70).
drive
The Mk VI was powered by a Meadows ESTB, a water-cooled six-cylinder gasoline engine that developed around 90 hp (88 bhp) at 3000 rpm. The power was transmitted via a preselection gearbox with five forward gears and one reverse gear. The Mk VI reached a top speed of 35 mph (56 km / h).
variants
- Light Tank MK VIA
After the 91 Mk VI, the Mk VIA went into series production. The main improvements concerned the shock absorbers and the engine's cooling system. The track width was enlarged and the wheelbase was lengthened. The new cooling system has been extensively tested in Egypt.
From November 1935 to January 1936, 85 MK VIA were produced.
- Light Tank AA MK I + II
Anti-aircraft tank, on the MK-VIA landing gear
- Light Tank MK VIB
Like MK VIA, but with tropical equipment for the Indian Army, later also made for the British Army. 850 pieces were produced from April 1937 to January 1940.
- Light Tank MK VIC
The final design of the MK VI included the Besa machine guns now available . The Vickers .50 was replaced by the 15 mm Besa and the Vickers .303 by the 7.92 mm Besa. The 15 mm Besa could also fire single fire , its combat rate was reduced to 175 rounds. 130 vehicles of this type were produced.
Technical specifications
| Technical data of the versions of the Light Tank Mk VI | ||
| VIB | VIC | |
| 0 General characteristics | ||
| crew | three | |
| Combat weight | 5.28 t | 5.25 t |
| Ground pressure | 0.53 kg / cm² | |
| length | 3.99 m | 3.94 m |
| width | 2.05 m | 2.06 m |
| height | 2.23 m | 2.13 m |
| Ground clearance | 27 cm | |
| Chain width | 24.1 cm | |
| 0 armament | ||
| Main armament | 12.7 mm MG | 15 mm MG |
| Secondary armament | 7.7 mm MG | 7.92 mm MG |
| Combat load HW | 400 cartridges | 175 cartridges |
| Combat load MG | 2500 cartridges | 2700 cartridges |
| 0 mileage | ||
| engine | Meadows six-cylinder gasoline engine | |
| cooling | water | |
| Displacement | 4.43 l | |
| Bore / stroke | 88/120 mm | |
| maximum rotation | 3000 rpm. | |
| PS | 88 hp | |
| specific performance | 19.6 hp / l | |
| Power to weight ratio | 16.67 hp / t | 16.76 hp / t |
| transmission | five forward gears, one reverse gear | |
| Speed limit road | 56 km / h | 51 km / h |
| Top speed terrain | 41 km / h | |
| Fuel supply | 159 l | |
| Range road | 208 km | 280 km |
| Range terrain | ||
| steering | Steering brake | |
| Rollers | 4th | |
| suspension | Coil springs | |
| Wading ability | 61 cm | 60 cm |
| 0 armor | ||
| Tub front | up to 12 mm | 11 to 14 mm |
| Tub side | 8 to 14 mm | 11 to 13 mm |
| Tub stern | 8 to 14 mm | 4 to 6 mm |
| Tub ceiling | 10 mm | 4 mm |
| Tub floor | 5 mm | 3 mm |
| Tower front | up to 15 mm | up to 14 mm |
| Tower side | up to 15 mm | 11 to 14 mm |
| Tower stern | up to 12 mm | up to 11 mm |
| Tower ceiling | 10 mm | 3.5 mm |
See also
Web links
- Light Tank MK VI historyofwar.org
- Tank Light, Mark VIB (E1949.351) tankmuseum.org
literature
- David Fletcher: British Light Tanks 1927–45: Marks I – VI , Osprey Publishing, 2014, ISBN 9781782003779
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thomas L. Jentz : Die deutsche Panzertruppe 1933-1942 , Podzun-Pallas Verlag 1998, ISBN 3-7909-0623-9 ; P. 276
