Tadpole tanks
Tadpole info
Tadpole tails were an innovation designed to improve the trench crossing ability of Rhomboid tanks. They were not a success and were apparently only ever fitted to several trial vehicles.
They did not see action.
Three vehicles were fitted with tadpole Tails by Central Workshops in France.
In March of 1918 a male and Female MkIV were fitted with Tadpole tails. The work was started on 6th March 1918, the first tail being fitted by the 18th; the second, strengthened tail was fitted by the 23rd.
At least one other Mark IV male was fitted with Tadpole tails and used in trials at Dollis Hill, these trials included fitting a stokes mortor between the lengthened tails ( X8.p34) .
On 5 August 1918 Mk V male, 9001 was fitted with a tail and issued to No.3 Advanced Workshops.
Some tails were fitted to tanks in England.
Fosters converted a MkIV in December 1917. (S3.p224)
A Mark V female, 9277 was fitted with a tadpole tail, (X67.p29) possibly at Fosters yard where this tank had given a (Tadpole tailless) demonstration to King George V.
Three hundred sets of tails were manufactured and shipped to France, the first arriving in may 1918, they were never fitted. (S3.p224)
Some photographs exist of these tanks (see below) and others of the tails (X3e).
Tails photographed at Central Workshops, Teneur: IWM Q 9199: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205091046
Other Photographs:
Mk IV male, Dollis Hill
IWM Q14481: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213163
IWM Q14481: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205249589 , X11.p120
IWM Q14482: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205249590
unknown location
IWM Q 70962: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205316279
IWM Q 70963: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205316280
IWM Q 70964: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205316281
IWM Q 70965: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205316282
Foster's Yard
IWM Q 70966: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205316283
Mk IV male illustrated: Art. IWM ART 3891: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/78 , note that the tank is drawn light green.
9001 – X9.p7
9277 – X67.p29
A Mk V: IWM HU 60877: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205040129 , no on-line image available, Oct 2013
From Central Workshops War Diary PRO 95/117
6 March 1918 – New tail for MKIV put in hand with one Male and one Female machine.
18 March 1918 – First Tadpole completed.
23 March 1918 – Second Tadpole completed with strengthened Tail.
5 August 1918 – MkV, 9001, fitted with Tadpole tail and issued to No.3 Advanced Workshops.
Sources
Primary Source: Central Workshops War Diary PRO 95/117
S3 - Devils Chariots (2001) John Glanfield