The Whippet Tank

[oskar2ndchev]

Here's a video of the the Medium Mk A Whippet (usually just known as the Whippet). Compared to some of the other available models, this one is a real speed demon.

[trench digger#50]

Thats amazing fast you can barley see it!! Was it true that most tank crew had to be hospitalized after fighting in the more larger tanks?

[trench digger#50]

Thats crazy, that could make someone glad to be a mud cruncher/ foot logger.

[forty8r]

With the engine and tank in the front it would seem easy to knock out this tank. From what I read 7 tanks broke through one sector and wiped out two German infantry battalions killing over 400. Ouch!

[cplcampisi]

Nov 12, 2009 12:31:13 GMT -8 forty8r said:

With the engine and tank in the front it would seem easy to knock out this tank.

Nah, the engine is protected by the gas tank in front of it. ;-)

Despite being backwards, the Whippet did compartmentalize the engine from the crew, a definite improvement over the heavier tanks. Unfortunately it's novel method of steering didn't work in practice.

[trench digger#50]

Sorry Seph, i didn't post that, it was cplcampisi that posted it

[trench digger#50]

Oh i didnt see his signature , what can i say Tony is an awesome name.
Do you know how many tanks were used in the battle of the Somme? (On the allied side)

[1886lebel]

49 British Mk.I tanks were to be used at the Battle of the Somme on the 15 September 1916 at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, of the 49 tanks available on the 15th of September, only 32 made it to the start line, and of these, only 21 made it into action.
Somewhere in one of my books it lists the names and numbers of each one and what happened to it during the battle.
Patrick

[trench digger#50]

May I ask what this book is called and any other details i would need to find it?

[flagpiper]

Aye Seph, four bloody Mikes and each one of us a handsome, bubbly, and checky treasure to any unit on the field. You are sooooo lucky mate!

Shy and reserved as ever, Mike (aka Michael) Stuckey

[1886lebel]

The book is called "The Devil's Chariots, The Birth & Secret Battles of the First Tanks" by John Glanfield published by Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 4152 9.
Another excellent book on the subject is "The Ironclads of Cambrai: The First Great Tank Battle" by Bryan Cooper published by Cassell Military Paperbacks ISBN 0 304 36363 4
I had picked up both of the books at The Imperial War Museum in London when I went there in April of 2008.
I also bought a excellent condition original WWI Royal Tank Corp cap badge at a militaria show at Bovington Tank Museum.
Patrick

[RMLI_SGT]

Nov 13, 2009 0:44:09 GMT -8 @rsm2ndbtnlf said:

Gawd elp us! As if I ain't got enough wiv four Mikes in the unit!

Seph

Seph,

You will have to do what we did in one of my old units that had 4 guys named Larry in it. We named them Larry 1, Larry 2, Larry 3, & Larry 4. They got their number by seniority in the unit.

Bob

[cplcampisi]

Nov 12, 2009 13:29:45 GMT -8 @rsm2ndbtnlf said:

With a top speed of a breathtaking '8'-MPH, the Whippet was the Formula -1 tracked AFV of its day. Also armed with between three to five machineguns [dependant upon the mark], its no wonder that it put the fear of the devil on the Hun.

Out of interest, the Whippet tank chassis spurned the worlds first SP-Gun.

Tony.. "Unfortunately it's novel method of steering didn't work in practice.".... your obviously talking about the detached pair of huge steering wheels to the rear of the original Mk.1 Tank?

Seph

Actually I did mean the Whippet. I am aware that the Mk. I Heavy tank had those trailing wheels that could only be used in very gentle turns, and didn't work out in practice. The Whippet had something like an ordinary car steering wheel for steering. When turned to the right, it would apply a brake to right track, while opening the throttle on the left engine. A very clever idea, but in practice it was too difficult to control. A sudden turn could also cause one engine to stall, leaving the tank spinning. Instead, drivers would simply lock one track to make turns.

-Tony

P.S. I thought the Gun Carrier Mk. I was developed independently and preceded the Whippet?

[qms]

Nov 12, 2009 10:16:24 GMT -8 @rsm2ndbtnlf said:

Yes.. very true. However, the fledgeling 'Tank Corps' was considered at that time as being THE Corps to be with, so they were never short of recruits.

The 'Tank' was also thought to be the winning punch to end the war once and for all. If the Tank had been used as those who had thought up the concept had wanted it to be used = en-masse... instead of in ones and twos initially.... the war could very well have been ended a year or so earlier. However, we know from history that this was not the case, and the British High Command did not learn from their mistakes. The massive breakthrough at Cambria was not followed through... partly due to there not being enough reserves, [glow=red,2,300]but also because Sir Douglas Haige (a Cavalryman) had no confidence in this new techknowledgy, or how to exploit it.[/glow]

In effect, the Germans took back very quickly.. all ground lost.

Seph

Actually, Haig embraced the new technology (remember, he ordered large numbers of tanks - sight unseen - and used them at the first opportunity - so, perhaps if they'd been delivered en-masse inseted of dribs and drabs...)
The problem at Cambrai wasn't so much Haig as Wilson(?), his Chief of Staff who was too much of a 'Yes man' and didn't like to give Haig news which might upset him (like correct intelligence).

Tom