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VIII "The International" | |
 While all British Tanks from the Mk I to the Mk V essentially were variations of the same basic
ideas, only gradually improved, the Mk VIII was a completely new design, incorporating all the lessons and innovations that had been made during the previous
years. This new tank was thought to be used as an important factor in the big offensives that were planned to win the war for the allies in 1919. Thus there were plans to manufacture som 4.450 of
them, in a joint large scale British-American-French project. (There of it's
nick-name: "The International".) Hull and armament were to be produced in the UK, the engines in the USA, some other parts in France. The design resulted in a comparatively heavy tank, weighing some 37,5 tons, but with excellent trench-crossing
capability.
The MK VIII sported a heavy armament: two 57mm cannons and no less than seven MG:s. The hull was comparatively narrow when compared to it's
fore-runners, but it was still well-designed, with effective compartments for
crew, engine etc, effectively reducing the problems of noise and fumes. The vision was also much improved compared with earlier tanks: among other things the Commander had his own rotating cupola at the top of the hull. |
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The war ended before the Mk 8 could be used in action, and the large production orders were
cancelled. The Americans, however, utilized the large number of components that had been
manufactured, and in 1919-20 assembled some 100 vehicles at their Arsenal at Rock Island, making only some slight
changes, notably swapping the planned Hotchkiss MG:s for Browning MG:s encased in special armoured
sleeves. The Mk 8 was used by the US Army until 1932. Some were shipped to Canada in the beginning of WW2, were they were used for
training. For more info on this tank, click
here! |
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shows the American version, and represents a vehicle used by the 67th U.S. Armoured Regiment. It is made up from
the excellent Cromwell kit, with only som slight modifications. (E.g. I removed the semaphore, as the Yanks don't seem to have used
them.) Click on the thumbnails below to see more photos of this
model:
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Weight |
37,5 tons |
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Maximum Armour |
16 mm |
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Maximum Road Speed |
8 km/h |
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Armament |
2 x 57mm cannon & 7 x 7.62mm Browning MG:s |
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Crew |
8-11 men |
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