Supply tanks late 1918
In February 1918 five Carrier companies were created in Bovington (H2TS), ( Major Watson incorrectly says six, S62.p225, the 2nd Gun Carrier Company was renamed the 6th Supply tank Company in late November 1918) these were initially intended to carry infantry forward, presumably when the Mk IX Carrier tanks were built. However a decision was soon made to equip the companies with supply tanks and use them for supply duties (S62.p225) . The carrier companies were renamed Tank Supply companies in May1918 (H2TS), each Tank Supply Company was supposed to be equipped with 24 supply tanks, four sections of six tanks; some of these tanks were Top Towers (One section at least of Fifth Tank Supply Company, S62.p239); the top towers were not fitted with Supply sponsons but retained their female sponsons (CWa). The five Tank Supply Companies deployed to France in May (2TSC) and June 1918 (4TSC).
In addition the two Gun Carrier Companies were provided with Supply tanks to supplement their Gun Carrier Tanks, long since reduced to supply carrying duties.
On May 30th 5th and 13th battalions' each drew six tenders [supply tanks] that had been fitted with Hotchkiss gun mountings, these were painted with the word "BAGGAGE". (W24)
The fighting Battalions were supposed to hand their supply tanks over to the Tank Supply Companies, but some supply tanks remained with their battalions. In some instances the supply tanks were handed over to the Tank Supply Companies in situ, the battalions crews were simply replaced with those of the Supply Companies and the tanks remained with the fighting battalion.
On 24th July 1918 three Mk IV supply tanks were sent from 5th Tank Carrier Company to Central Stores to have soft steel sponsons fitted. (CW)
25 Mk IV were sent from No 3 Advanced Workshops to Central workshops on July 30th 1918 to be fitted with top Towing gear. (CW)
18 or so Top Towers were in Central Workshops in September 1918 (the number varies a little from Day to Day), sometimes they are included in the fighting MKIV total and sometimes in the Supply tank total (CWa).
The Supply tanks did good work throughout the final 100 days battles, some even engaging the enemy with their single MG. Its worth noting that the duties of the supply tanks could start several days prior to attack and continue long after the fighting tanks had been withdrawn. It is also worth noting that the role was not without risk, the tanks usually operated well within range of the enemies guns and occasionally had to unload whilst under small arms fire.
Supply tank narratives (incomplete)
Battle of the Sambre
2 Tank Supply Company 4 November 1918 with IX and XIII Corps
Sources
W1. War Diary No1 / A Battalion Tank Corps / A Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W2. War Diary No2 / B Battalion Tank Corps / B Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W3. War Diary No3 / C Battalion Tank Corps / C Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W4. War Diary No4 / D Battalion Tank Corps / D Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W5. War Diary No5 / E Battalion Tank Corps / E Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W6. War Diary No6 / F Battalion Tank Corps / F Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W7. War Diary No7 / G Battalion Tank Corps 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W8. War Diary No8 / H Battalion Tank Corps 1917 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W9. War Diary No9 / I Battalion Tank Corps 1917 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W21. War Diary 1st Brigade Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps / Tank Corps. PRO WO 95/97
W22. War Diary 2nd Brigade Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps / Tank Corps. PRO 95/
W23. War Diary 3rd Brigade Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps / Tank Corps. PRO 95/104
W32. War Diary of No.2 Salvage Corp H.B.M.G.C. July 1917 – 1919. PRO WO 95/96
WO 95-91-6 pg13 War Diary, HQ Heavy Branch MGC, Appendix 85, List of 3rd Brigades tanks showing Manufacturers numbers and Battalion numbers.
S7 – Fletcher, David (2004). British Mark I Tank. Osprey
S11 - Fletcher, David (2001). The British tanks 1915-19