Light Tank Mk IV | Tank Chats

Weighing in at five tons, machine gun armed and with a two-man crew, the Tank, Light, Mk IV was one of a series produced for the British Army by Vickers before World War II, seeing service on the NW Frontier of India. Recently restored, the Mk IV is the oldest running tank in our collection.
Learn about the Mark IV's extensive restoration here: • Vickers Light Tank Mar...
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00:00 | Intro
00:48 | History
03:25 | Development
11:46 | Mark IV
14.48 | Later variants
#tankmuseum #tankchats #davidwilley

Пікірлер: 280

  • @thetankmuseum
    @thetankmuseum10 ай бұрын

    Hi Tanks Nuts - We hope you enjoyed this video. Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.

  • @ianmangham4570

    @ianmangham4570

    10 ай бұрын

    AWESOME 👍🇬🇧

  • @extragoogleaccount6061

    @extragoogleaccount6061

    10 ай бұрын

    He is so good I'd listen to him describe organizing his sock collection

  • @ukgamer2817

    @ukgamer2817

    10 ай бұрын

    Love the interwar tanks they are overlooked by others far to often

  • @robinburt5735

    @robinburt5735

    10 ай бұрын

    What does the box just below the main gun do? or is it just additional armour protection? Looks like it might carry extra rounds or something. EDIT: Ah i am guessing it is for ammo for the vickers that is currently not installed?

  • @ptonpc

    @ptonpc

    10 ай бұрын

    I really like David and the other presenters. Thankfully you seem to have moved away from the random cuts to a side camera of the presenter. That 'editing' choice was cliched years ago, As for the vehicles and time period, yes,there was so much innovation and politics at the time. People nowadays forget the designers were not stupid. Things were done for reasons.

  • @markedwards158
    @markedwards15810 ай бұрын

    Good to see David back again. I love his delivery style, informative and educating.

  • @DaveSCameron

    @DaveSCameron

    10 ай бұрын

    Nice.

  • @noob464

    @noob464

    2 ай бұрын

    I loved David Fletcher for his quirkiness and humor, but this guy is such an AMAZING speaker (I forgot his name =( )

  • @jussi8111
    @jussi811110 ай бұрын

    that mk1 with the twin 50 looks so cool

  • @chrisivan_yt

    @chrisivan_yt

    10 ай бұрын

    could be a cool new AA in war thunder :D

  • @Farweasel

    @Farweasel

    10 ай бұрын

    Quite prescient given the Jabo threat that would soon be unleashed on them in fact.

  • @chriskortan1530

    @chriskortan1530

    10 ай бұрын

    Probably the only really useful version of these tankettes. Unfortunately it took several years into WW2 before the militaries appreciated such a vehicle.

  • @carrott36

    @carrott36

    7 ай бұрын

    @@chrisivan_ytAlready is, the first AA in the British tree. Could be interesting though to have variants with different armaments.

  • @Caratacus1
    @Caratacus110 ай бұрын

    Those photos of the horse towing the tank and the commanders who were about to be catapulted out of their turrets were brilliant 😁

  • @brittakriep2938

    @brittakriep2938

    10 ай бұрын

    I am german, Brittas boyfriend. My father , born 1938, told me, that in early past wwl the mostly underpowered but overloaded german trucks/ lorries often had a problem to cross the height between my and neighbor village. So often cows, few of poor farmers in my region owned horses, had been used to give trucks ,pulling support'.

  • @brittakriep2938

    @brittakriep2938

    10 ай бұрын

    Ww ll, not ww l, sorry!

  • @glennpettersson9002
    @glennpettersson900210 ай бұрын

    Like every presentation by David the vehicle is used to tell a much bigger story. Classy 😎

  • @panzerpusher

    @panzerpusher

    10 ай бұрын

    I'm writing an alternate history set in this period, and even with the changes, this has been excellent for the deep details that give life to the setting. I love every video like this.

  • @bob_the_bomb4508
    @bob_the_bomb450810 ай бұрын

    Always thought it looked like the grandad of Scorpion

  • @SuperAKJR

    @SuperAKJR

    10 ай бұрын

    It's looks like a bren gun carrier on steroids. Or when the short kid in school discovers the weight room. 😂

  • @Mr_Dopey

    @Mr_Dopey

    9 ай бұрын

    It's layout is very similar to the German Wiesel.

  • @c.j.zographos3713
    @c.j.zographos371310 ай бұрын

    It's always great when David does these chats; well researched and informative, even about lesser known (at least to some of us) vehicles.

  • @Farweasel

    @Farweasel

    10 ай бұрын

    Well let me just say *it certainly wasn't 'less well known' to ME* [ I'd never heard of it *at all* until this natty video broke cover ] 🙄

  • @dylanmilne6683
    @dylanmilne668310 ай бұрын

    Love nothing more than a bit of Willey on a Friday afternoon!

  • @bikenavbm1229
    @bikenavbm122910 ай бұрын

    thanks to all to that helped with the restoration especially Pearson for your generosity, great vid on these stepping stone vehicles. A boring personal connection I used to turn wheel bearing components for Horsman used for military vehicles but I dont know which. Thank you tank Museum for conserving history.

  • @comentedonakeyboard
    @comentedonakeyboard10 ай бұрын

    Last Time i was this early, the French still held the Maginot Line.

  • @89volvowithlazers
    @89volvowithlazers10 ай бұрын

    Nice to know Pearson Engineering is a going concern experts in the field so UK does have business post brexit good job Pearson. Love this vid. The early Era concepts would make a great unit in war game on this Era only.

  • @MaximumResultsCopy
    @MaximumResultsCopy10 ай бұрын

    Excellent video...thank you! I find the "background" information explaining the context and why a vehicle was built very helpful. There were many problems with British tanks in WW2 but there were all sorts of constraints on the tank program.

  • @newhonk
    @newhonk10 ай бұрын

    It looks so happy!

  • @chriskortan1530
    @chriskortan153010 ай бұрын

    I have a new appreciation for the philosophy behind these tankettes. I had always considered them worthless beyond enforcing colonial will. A good percentage of the FT tanks had a cannon and even the Panzer 2 at least had a 20mm auto-cannon. The idea that it wasn't just economy but preparing industry and keeping them in business makes a lot of sense.

  • @OrangesAndCookies
    @OrangesAndCookies10 ай бұрын

    Haha, that TC in the first picture showing the little hand grips on the top of turret looks like he scared to death of falling out the tank.

  • @ptonpc

    @ptonpc

    10 ай бұрын

    Can't say I blame him. It could be a case of his top half falling out while the bottom stays inside.

  • @peterharrington8709
    @peterharrington870910 ай бұрын

    Great video. Pleased to see Pearson's still doing as little bit in that new / old Vickers factory. Shame it couldn't be more of course.

  • @russellnixon9981
    @russellnixon998110 ай бұрын

    What a great presentation by the master. I always saw these little light tankettes as bad idea but listening to this I now see for the roles in colonial wars and policing it makes sense. I also realize I;m viewing the subject with hine sight. Thanks for this, I now have a better insight to tank development.

  • @robinburt5735
    @robinburt573510 ай бұрын

    All of the pictures of the Carden-Loyd carriers/tankettes have peeps driving them around without wearing a helmet. This seems like the obvious vehicle to which wearing a helmet would be most advantageous. EDIT: Ah i just google searched images of them and it looks like they mostly did wear helmets using them. Ignore this i guess lol :)

  • @causewaykayak
    @causewaykayak10 ай бұрын

    That was SO interesting ! The wealth of knowledge there. The use of simple light vehicles to train up reserve production capacity was particularly interesting. It's not all nuts and bolts !

  • @darreng745
    @darreng74510 ай бұрын

    One of those vehicles which was worth the effort of restoration as it represents a stepping stone in the evolution of tank design during the 1930's

  • @Kevin-mx1vi
    @Kevin-mx1vi10 ай бұрын

    A school friend's dad, who was a Coldstream Guardsman at the time told us that some Vickers light tanks were in use as combat - not training - vehicles early WWII. Perhaps they were only intended as reconnaissance vehicles or for possible use against German paratroops, but the sight of what he described as "a pram frame wrapped in baking foil" did nothing to raise morale !

  • @douglasmaccullagh7865
    @douglasmaccullagh786510 ай бұрын

    I'd enjoy seeing a Tank Chat on the MK VI. Thank you for discussing industrial issues behind the light tank series. I was half-way familiar with the mechanical progression, but I learned a lot here. I especially learned about the light tanks in India. That was an eye opener. Thank you!

  • @nikidanberthelsen
    @nikidanberthelsen10 ай бұрын

    Would be interesting to see 'the top 5 cheap tanks'. Just to see which tanks are the best in regard to cost-compromises. Which would facilitate attrition warfare.

  • @ianc8999

    @ianc8999

    10 ай бұрын

    That could actually be interesting, albeit will depend very much on the criteria. As they often say, any tank is great if its only pitted against against infantry, but as soon as other tanks or anti-tank weapons appear, you might think twice! If you go down the "best value" instead of "cheap" route probably end up with T34, Sherman, Stug, and a couple of other 'usual suspects'.

  • @foowashere

    @foowashere

    9 ай бұрын

    Good idea actually, even if the criteria is a bit difficult it's still an interesting discussion.

  • @alexhunt7810
    @alexhunt781010 ай бұрын

    Something David isn't mentioning (a little unfairly) is that a lot of the Army budget is being spent on motorising the infantry and artillery, whereas neither France nor Germany were that focused on motorisation

  • @darrenjosephgregory
    @darrenjosephgregory10 ай бұрын

    Not a tank that particularly interests me but it is wonderful to see how this tank was taken from a bare shell and restored to running order. Amazing work from all involved.

  • @frankbarnwell____
    @frankbarnwell____10 ай бұрын

    In some pictures I could imagine an "Un digested breakfast mortar ", as a weapon.

  • @gunner678
    @gunner67810 ай бұрын

    Love this tank. The early version of scimitar!

  • @volvorama2369
    @volvorama236910 ай бұрын

    Instructions for operation of the clash gearbox included: Before moving off Driver must request confirmation from Tank Commander by asking: "Should I stay or should I go?"

  • @chris_hisss
    @chris_hisss5 ай бұрын

    Truly brilliant design, and ideal. Perhaps underrated but this served the soldiers with more availability than most the other tanks out doing tank things. I don't think I would have payed it much attention had it not been for tank games

  • @ATomRileyA
    @ATomRileyA10 ай бұрын

    Great video, really enjoyed listening about the history of these tanks.

  • @dolphingirl12885
    @dolphingirl1288510 ай бұрын

    Great seeing examples like this which show the progress in design over the years

  • @_ArsNova
    @_ArsNova10 ай бұрын

    Another fantastically informative video. Even someone who's read books on these tanks can still learn a thing or two, love all the archival photos as well. Cheers!

  • @Ubique2927
    @Ubique292710 ай бұрын

    Britain had so many far sighted brilliant tank thinkers and all of them were ignored by almost everyone except Guderian, Rommel and Hitler.

  • @WozWozEre

    @WozWozEre

    10 ай бұрын

    We have many, many good ideas and technological breakthroughs, and then repeatedly totally fail to capitalise on them. In almost every aspect of military technology we were very briefly world leaders, from warships to tanks to planes, before dropping the ball and letting others get ahead.

  • @babaganoush6106

    @babaganoush6106

    10 ай бұрын

    @@WozWozEre politicians have spent huge amounts of money and mucked up so much, Churchill not allowing the Computer developments, Duncan Sandys saying the future of aviation was missiles in 1957, TSR2, F111 in the 60's and Cameron dumping the Nimrod/Harrier in the 2010's. Chieftain tank etc I'm sure there were many more

  • @drpureinsanity

    @drpureinsanity

    10 ай бұрын

    ​@babaganoush6106 not to be that guy, but sidewinder missles were produced in the United States in 1953 and adopted in 1956. The United States was ahead in aviation.

  • @babaganoush6106

    @babaganoush6106

    10 ай бұрын

    @@drpureinsanity lol

  • @glynluff2595

    @glynluff2595

    6 ай бұрын

    Guderian was really a radio officer so all his tanks had radios and were controllable. This was the real reason for his early success in vehicles that were inferior to the British and the French. Communication can beat muscle!!

  • @HarryFlashmanVC
    @HarryFlashmanVC4 ай бұрын

    It's awesome that this tank was restored at the same factory that built it nearly 100 years ago

  • @ShadowDragon8685
    @ShadowDragon868510 ай бұрын

    I've been watching the Tank Museum backlog to keep my mind entertained whilst taking long walks in the morning lately. It was very odd to hear you talk for an extended period without a Cameo of Fin the Dog. Damn fascinating stuff about that dinky tank, though!

  • @theenigmaticgamer
    @theenigmaticgamer10 ай бұрын

    The German Pz I and II looked a lot more modern and businesslike than the Lt MkIV which resembled something from a funfair vehicle. I noticed the driver’s flap looks like a prime aiming point for anti tank guns. Great video thanks.

  • @Hybris51129
    @Hybris5112910 ай бұрын

    You could take a modern skid steer chassis and practically build a modern version of this thing on that. Edit: 14:35 "Oh dear that's not gone well!"

  • @ptonpc

    @ptonpc

    10 ай бұрын

    All part of the plan! :D

  • @stevenbrown8857
    @stevenbrown885710 ай бұрын

    Until recently living near the tyneside vickers factory (well it was 😢) .. this was fab to see

  • @bcluett1697
    @bcluett169710 ай бұрын

    I love hearing how much thought went into these machines. With missles and artillery being so lethal against the bigger tanks I wouldn't be surprised if some country in the future goes back to tankettes especially if they were drones.

  • @RichardGoth
    @RichardGoth10 ай бұрын

    Great restoration... have a bunch of books with pics of it it before restoration, glad to finally see it in one piece!

  • @Crash-zm2qd
    @Crash-zm2qd8 ай бұрын

    My great grandfather drove these before WW2 broke out he was in Kings Dragoon Guards when they went out to Middle East they were converted to an armoured car regiment and he drove Marmon Harringtons.

  • @bobthebomb1596
    @bobthebomb15963 ай бұрын

    This series is really interesting, even for non tank buff like myself. Context is so important.

  • @DaiElsan
    @DaiElsan10 ай бұрын

    With the knowledge we have today. It would be interesting to see what could be created using the chassis as a base point, a light tank giving maximum protection, solid engine, max speed, and good fire power.

  • @TrajanDS
    @TrajanDS10 ай бұрын

    Dude at 2:45 looks super thrilled about his job

  • @stewartellinson8846
    @stewartellinson884610 ай бұрын

    Fascinating - comprehensive and very informative, as ever. thank you

  • @GaudiaCertaminisGaming
    @GaudiaCertaminisGaming10 ай бұрын

    When you think of this as an enclosed tankette it starts to make sense. Although I’ve always liked this tank.

  • @wbertie2604
    @wbertie26049 ай бұрын

    Amazing that new sprockets were made in the same factory almost 90 years on.

  • @manuwilson4695
    @manuwilson469510 ай бұрын

    Great restoration!👍

  • @danq.5140
    @danq.51409 ай бұрын

    I hope Fynn is still being a good boy. Really enjoyed those Curator at Home videos. 😊

  • @seansawyer580
    @seansawyer58010 ай бұрын

    Love light tanks

  • @simongee8928
    @simongee892810 ай бұрын

    The fact that the TC was provided with two hand grips doesn't say a lot for the handling of this one - ! 😅

  • @ericbergfield6451
    @ericbergfield645110 ай бұрын

    Really good presentation of these early tanks!

  • @gizhou3034
    @gizhou303410 ай бұрын

    This is episode absolutely brilliant!

  • @chriswilkin2112
    @chriswilkin211210 ай бұрын

    Love the fact that someone chisled off the name and factory location thinking that the enemy wouldn't remember that Vickers, the major tank builder and exporter, was based in Newcastle, Oh well. 😂

  • @larryjohnson1966
    @larryjohnson196610 ай бұрын

    That was a neat tank. Enjoyed the history lesson. Thank YOu.

  • @snipermart
    @snipermart10 ай бұрын

    Just the right size for my garage. Great video again 👍

  • @tysonator5433
    @tysonator543310 ай бұрын

    Great tank chat, very informative

  • @randyhavard6084
    @randyhavard608410 ай бұрын

    Thanks for continuing to post great videos

  • @mohammedsaysrashid3587
    @mohammedsaysrashid358710 ай бұрын

    So Vickers company expanded light tanks opinion around the world...thank you for sharing this wonderful video

  • @eliasblum753
    @eliasblum75310 ай бұрын

    A tank for those who don't need to over-compensate for their own shortcomings.

  • @iancarr8682
    @iancarr868210 ай бұрын

    Really interesting period of the development of the tank and armour

  • @suryia6706
    @suryia670610 ай бұрын

    David is such a good speaker. ❤

  • @BHuang92
    @BHuang9210 ай бұрын

    I'm glad they fixed the suspension! The previous videos show it running tippsy!😅

  • @chefchaudard3580

    @chefchaudard3580

    10 ай бұрын

    Coil springs with no dampener or shock absorber, no wonder they skipped like kangaroos!

  • @johnlant1730
    @johnlant173010 ай бұрын

    David is always in good form!

  • @mikejfranklin7000
    @mikejfranklin70002 күн бұрын

    Wouldn't fancy commanding (or for that matter being inside of) one of those Mk6s. They look even taller than the Mk4, so even more likely to tumble forwards.

  • @alamore5084
    @alamore508410 ай бұрын

    Angled armour, face hardened. Very cool. If they can tow, shoot and resist machine gun fire a very handy thing to have. It may be that personal one-man armoured modules become a thing again.

  • @derekmcmanus8615

    @derekmcmanus8615

    10 ай бұрын

    Starship Troopers 😂

  • @rosied6351
    @rosied635110 ай бұрын

    DB looking good, lovely well cut and groomed beard😊

  • @TheWirksworthGunroom
    @TheWirksworthGunroom10 ай бұрын

    Fascinating how much more mobility and protection these ancient museum pieces have than JACKAL which has no more firepower and is still being ordered.....

  • @ROBERTN-ut2il
    @ROBERTN-ut2il5 ай бұрын

    25-20, The strange camouflage was unique to Malta and blended in well with its buildings.

  • @firefox5926
    @firefox592610 ай бұрын

    6:32 also notiveign alot of sloped armour long before the war

  • @HorstMichel-mh7gv
    @HorstMichel-mh7gv10 ай бұрын

    Nice for this insight!

  • @Pyjamarama11
    @Pyjamarama1110 ай бұрын

    4D chess : Vickers should have edited the makers plate to read "Made in Dresden"

  • 10 ай бұрын

    Fascinating tank and story around it. I am struck by how similar the German and British approach was.

  • @captiannemo1587
    @captiannemo158710 ай бұрын

    About time Martel gets some love here.

  • @Ob1sdarkside
    @Ob1sdarkside10 ай бұрын

    Great restoration

  • @musicwerks
    @musicwerks9 ай бұрын

    As always a nice look into the past of military history

  • @ulrichneumann4068
    @ulrichneumann40685 ай бұрын

    This Tank looks like the german coldwar tank wiesel. The designer F.Porsche may be inspired of this. The Wiesel is today in german use.

  • @magnusnilsson2397
    @magnusnilsson239710 ай бұрын

    Thank you very much.

  • @firefox5926
    @firefox592610 ай бұрын

    3:24 see thats some real british army thinking right there .. whereas i would have just asked if vikers could make the sides a little taler and could the put a roof on it

  • @AsbestosMuffins
    @AsbestosMuffins10 ай бұрын

    its kind of interesting in that the real goal of the early tank designers was to bring a large cannon or small artillery piece close in under cover of armor. Then after ww1 a lot of armies backtracked and went to tanks as a means to bring some heavier gun up, then ww2 kicks off and suddenly the mobile cannon concept is cemented

  • @iambiggus
    @iambiggus10 ай бұрын

    Great history and story.

  • @timf6916
    @timf691610 ай бұрын

    Nice, I always Loved Tanks.

  • @scottross5977
    @scottross597710 ай бұрын

    Great video! Also… at 15:57, did I spy a beer bottle atop one of the yellow bollards in the left of the frame? 😉. Reminded me of the coke bottle seen in Ben Hur. 😎

  • @DanBray1991
    @DanBray199110 ай бұрын

    Another great video! Any chance of getting a video on the Czechoslovakian CKD LT vz. 38 or LT vz. 35?

  • @WildBillCox13
    @WildBillCox1310 ай бұрын

    Face hardening, also called tempering, is a process of heat treating one side of a plate. For comparison, compare a standard glass pane of a house window to a tempered glass pane in the side window of an automobile. The heat treated plate is much more resistant to impacts, especially in its center.

  • @Profielzondernaam
    @Profielzondernaam10 ай бұрын

    I want to play fetch with this tank and feed it responsibly and watch it grow up into a big boy Tank! It will fit on my balcony.

  • @Arms872
    @Arms87210 ай бұрын

    Missed ya David!

  • @nightshiftrider819
    @nightshiftrider81910 ай бұрын

    The British making multiple teapot shaped tanks is unusually sus 🤔 ☕

  • @Akm72

    @Akm72

    10 ай бұрын

    😂

  • @AyebeeMk2

    @AyebeeMk2

    10 ай бұрын

    genetic enginering: "one lump ot two" refers to the bruising you would get before the suspention was sorted out....

  • @jasonz7788
    @jasonz778810 ай бұрын

    Awesome thanks 👍

  • @imhavingastroke
    @imhavingastroke10 ай бұрын

    another good video!!

  • @WalterReimer
    @WalterReimer10 ай бұрын

    Cute little fellow. One can imagine swarms of them sweeping across the countryside and disappearing into the woods.

  • @Colinpark
    @Colinpark10 ай бұрын

    Always loved the odd look of British light tanks

  • @AllMightyKingBowser
    @AllMightyKingBowser10 ай бұрын

    I have never wanted to hug a tank this much, what a cute looking killing machine

  • @JamesLaserpimpWalsh
    @JamesLaserpimpWalsh10 ай бұрын

    Cheers for the vid.

  • @tanan6896
    @tanan689610 ай бұрын

    We all miss you David

  • @johndudley5761
    @johndudley57617 ай бұрын

    That tank is cool 👌👍

  • @dziban303
    @dziban30310 ай бұрын

    Does David remind anyone else of Prof Mike Merrifield

  • @nor0845
    @nor084525 күн бұрын

    The German Wiesel Armoured Weapons Carrier looks quite similar.

  • @marrs1013
    @marrs101310 ай бұрын

    I'm not gonna lie... It is friday night, I might be a few beers in... but this material is just awesome. But of course, it is just my two drunk cents. Go me! Oh well, thumbs up, old beans or what

  • @johnstevenson1709
    @johnstevenson170910 ай бұрын

    I'd love to hear a video about the bad feeling that existed between vickers and royal ordinance