Mark V Tank markings

[Panzer Bob]

Does anyone have information about the Pennant insignia on the nose of Mark V tanks in 9th Battalion, Tank Corps in the summer of 1918? It is clearly visible on tank I.7 in the thread below, and partly visible in at least on other photo, but these are the only photos I have seen depicting it. My son and I are building a Mark V model and would like to depict one from 9th battalion just before the Battle of Sauvillers.

 

 

[Gareth Davies]

As the quoted thread says it's the grenade badge, with the motto Qui s'y frotte, s'y rule, of the French 3rd Division. The 9th Bn worked with the French at the Battle of Moreuil (also known as Sauvillers) on 23 Jul 18 and after the battle the French gave the Bn the honour of wearing their badge.  So a tank just before the battle wouldn't have had the badge.  

[dgibson150]

You are right Gareth, but I think Panzer Bob was querying the emblem, which looks like a pennant, on the front of the tank.

 

David Fletcher's book on the Mark V includes a drawing of "I16", number 9172 which has no special marking on the front. I don't know what date it is meant to be, but obviously after Moreuil/Sauvillers because the Grenadiers icon is directly below the "I16" on the side of the tank.

 

This of course does not explain the front marking in Jim Hood's photograph which I would have thought was taken late 1918/1919. Maybe something to do with the Army of the Rhine? The Imperial War Museum has quite a few photographs of 12th Battalion Tanks in Cologne, but none appear to have any special markings on the front, so maybe this is not the answer.

 

David

[Gareth Davies]

RTFQ Davies!

[dgibson150]

Gareth - I had to google that to understand.

 

Panzer Bob - Could I ask why someone in the USA would want to model a 9th Battalion tank, particularly pre Sauvillers/Moreuil? Intriguing.

 

David

[Sidearm]

On ‎19‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 13:42, dgibson150 said:

You are right Gareth, but I think Panzer Bob was querying the emblem, which looks like a pennant, on the front of the tank.

 

David Fletcher's book on the Mark V includes a drawing of "I16", number 9172 which has no special marking on the front. I don't know what date it is meant to be, but obviously after Moreuil/Sauvillers because the Grenadiers icon is directly below the "I16" on the side of the tank.

 

This of course does not explain the front marking in Jim Hood's photograph which I would have thought was taken late 1918/1919. Maybe something to do with the Army of the Rhine? The Imperial War Museum has quite a few photographs of 12th Battalion Tanks in Cologne, but none appear to have any special markings on the front, so maybe this is not the answer.

 

David

I wouldn't trust any of the drawings in the book mentioned. It was a new artist and they are awful.

 

I'd hazard a guess that the pennant is in Battalion colours, so the top half of the pennant is red and the lower half brown.  The distinction between the colours isn't enough for it to be readily apparent on a B&W photo.

 

Gwyn

[dgibson150]

I am having trouble trying to upload an attachment. I will try again tomorrow.

Edited 20 December , 2017 by dgibson150

[Panzer Bob]

On 12/19/2017 at 13:24, dgibson150 said:

Gareth - I had to google that to understand.

 

Panzer Bob - Could I ask why someone in the USA would want to model a 9th Battalion tank, particularly pre Sauvillers/Moreuil? Intriguing.

 

David

To commemorate the Centennial my son and I are building models of tanks from the major combatants. We’ve done an A7V and a Renault FT in US service, now we’re onto a Mk V.

We were intrigued by the story of how 9th Battalion earned their French 3DI badge. The French sent an English-speaking poilu to ride in each tank; and the combined action was a success. It’s just a fascinating story!

[dgibson150]

You are right Panzer Bob that it is  great story.

 

I found a photograph of a 9th Battalion tank in the War History of the 51st Infantry Regiment. The quality is very poor and I wondered if anyone had either come across a copy of the original photograph, or could suggest where one might look to track it down.

 

I will try and upload the photograph, something that was a total failure last night.

 

David

[Panzer Bob]

5 hours ago, dgibson150 said:

You are right Panzer Bob that it is  great story.

 

I found a photograph of a 9th Battalion tank in the War History of the 51st Infantry Regiment. The quality is very poor and I wondered if anyone had either come across a copy of the original photograph, or could suggest where one might look to track it down.

 

I will try and upload the photograph, something that was a total failure last night.

 

David

Lovely picture! Thank you for sharing!