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 6^th March 1918, the first tail being fitted by the 18^th; the second, strengthened tail was fitted by the 23^rd.

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

General Tank Information