Medium Tank Mk A "Whippet" 1917-1918 combined model of cardboard puzzle 3D umbum | Игрушки и хобби

Medium Tank Mk A "Whippet" 1917-1918 combined model of cardboard puzzle 3D umbum | Игрушки и хобби

Medium Tank Mk A "Whippet" (release 1917-1918).

British middle tank first world war.

Coloring option: the car of the Russian army, Kakhov platzdarm, 1920G.



By the end of 1916, the first experience of using tanks was summarized. Among the British military formed the opinion that heavy machines need to be supplemented with more mobile, which are able to develop success in the breakthrough of enemy defense and act in its operational rear.

The project of such a machine was prepared by the firm W. Foster even before the order comes from the military department. In December 1916, an experienced sample of a tank armed with a machine gun in a rotating tower was produced.

The release of the new tank, which received the name Mark A, began in December 1917. With the manufacture of towers there were difficulties and to accelerate the release of the tank they refused, making in the stern part a fixed wheelhouse, and circular fire provided 4 ball sets for the 7.7mm machine guns гочкис Mk.I. Power installation-2 Taylor car engines with a capacity of 45 hp Each worked for its caterpillar, so the control of the tank was difficult (in fact had to control two machines at once). MK drivers. And they were considered in the tank corps Virtuos. The fuel tank was placed in the most vulnerable location-in the front of the hull. Caterpillar with rigid suspension, similar to the tracks of heavy tanks, gathered on armored frames on the sides of the hull.

The tankists gave the new tank the nickname "uippet" (borzai). At all its shortcomings, the tank developed a speed of up to 13 km/h (it was 2.5 times more, than heavy tanks of those years) and had a huge power reserve-more than 80 km.

Combat baptism Mk. A took place on 26 March 1918. Several cars were involved in a battle near Maye Maye forest, and mass “vippet” was used on August 8 under Amien. They managed to deep into the location of the German troops and together with the horse to conduct the first in the history of the tank raid on the rear.

With the end of the First World War, several “vippetov” along with heavy Mk tanks. V was given to armed forces in southern Russia, they participated in the fighting with the Red Army. Trophy machines were adopted by RKK and called "Taylor" (marked on the engine) served until the early 30 s.

Until our time, only 3 cars have been preserved-in the museums of the UK, the USA and Belgium.