Britannia (tank)
Britannia is a preserved First World War British Mark IV Female heavy tank. It toured Canada and the United States to raise money.[1] Later renamed Liberty it is now displayed at the United States Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen, Maryland.[2]
| Mark IV | |
|---|---|
 British tank Britannia in Victory Loan Parade, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Type | Tank |
| Place of origin | UK |
| Service history | |
| Used by | British Army US Army |
| Wars | First World War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | |
| Manufacturer | see text |
| Unit cost | about £5,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 31.4
tons (28.4 tonnes) Female: 27 tons (27.4 tonnes) |
| Length | 26 ft 5 in (8.05 m) |
| Width | Male: 13 ft 6 in (4.12 m) |
| Crew | 8 |
| Armour | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
Main armament | Female: five .303 Lewis guns |
| Engine | Daimler-Foster, 6-cylinder in-line sleeve valve 16 litre petrol engine 105 bhp at 1,000 rpm |
| Transmission | Primary: 2 Forward, 1 Reverse Secondary – 2 speed |
| Fuel capacity | 70 Imperial gallons |
Operational range | 35 mi (56 km) |
| Maximum speed | 4 mph (6.4 km/h) |
History
The Tank was reported as taking part in battles in Flanders.[1]
In 1917 it toured Canada as part of the Victory Loan Parade to sell war bonds; it was seen on the streets of Montreal on November 19, 1917,[3] and Toronto on November 21, 1917.[4]
On February 23, 1918, it was reported that it got into an accident during a training exercise at Fort Dix, New Jersey, [5] the tank then toured, for the Liberty Loan parade under the Britannia name.[6] It was in the second Liberty Loan parade in New York City during February of 1918.[7] Also, appearing in Boston in April 1918.[6]
Preservation
It was renamed Liberty and is now displayed at the United States Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen, Maryland, joining the Ordnance Museum collection in 1919. After decades of exposure to the elements, it is in poor condition.[2]
Notes
References
- Atwater, W. F.; Hand, S. D.; Hardin, M. J; Edwards, E. W.; Chamsine, G. (2021). "The Measurement and Modeling of a World War I Mark IV Tank Using CLR and CCD Camera/Line Scanning Systems in an Outside Environment" (PDF). Service Metrology Case Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 12, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- "British Tank to Climb Bunker Hill After Trip Through Boston Today". The Boston Post. Boston: Richard Grozier. 2021. ISSN 0743-1791. OCLC 66652431.
- "Tank "Britannia" in the Victory Loan parade, [Toronto, Ont.], 21 Nov., 1917". Library and Archives Canada. November 21, 1917. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- "Tank Britannia, undamaged by slight mishap at Camp Dix, performs many remarkable feats". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas: Belo Family. February 23, 1918. ISSN 1553-846X.
- War Department (February 1, 1918). "Motor Vehicles - Tanks - British - British tank lumbers up 5th Ave., N.Y.C., in Great Liberty Loan Parade". Photography by Kadel & Herbert. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- "British tank "Britannia" taking part in the Victory Loan Parade on Sherbrooke Street". Library and Archives Canada. November 19, 1917. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- "The Britannia, the British Tank which saw service in Flanders and took part in the Liberty Loan parade on Fifth Avenue, cruising a limousine in the streets of Toronto, Canada. During the recent victory loan parade". New York Times. December 2, 1917. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved November 19, 2021.