The last British Heavy - the Mark V

As German anti-tank weapons proliferated, even the Mark IV was showing flaws on the battlefield. The steering was problematic, it was vulnerable from behind, and the overheating machineguns were a significant flaw.


The Mark V had a new engine and a new gearbox that improved the top speed to 8 kilometers per hour. More fuel was added, increasing road range from 56 kilometers to 70 kilometers. The Mark V reverted to Hotchkiss machineguns, but with a new flexible ammunition strip that improved the available rounds per strip from 14 to 50. An extra machinegun was added, firing to the rear, the first time a heavy rhomboid had a rear-firing weapon. It kept the shortened 57mm, but reduced the ammunition load from 332 rounds to 207. Armor was significantly thickened, from 12mm on the front and 8mm on the side to 16mm and 12mm respectively.

The first Mark Vs arrived in France in May 1918. By August, there were enough in-country for 288 Mark V and Mark V* tanks to be involved in the Battle of Amiens. Mark V tanks were given to the White Russians during their Civil War, and Lithuanian and Latvian Mark Vs served until 1939.

Surviving examples: The Bovington Tank Museum has a running Mark V Male. For non-running tanks, there are 2 Males (1 in UK, 1 in US), 2 Females (1 in UK, 1 in Russia), and 4 Hermaphrodites (which had one male sponson and one female sponson). Three of the Herms are in Ukraine and one in Russia. The American Male and British Female are lengthened versions intended to cross larger trenches.

Tank Mark V Male
Fire Control: 0
Stabilization: None
Armament: 57mm L/23.5 in left sponson, 57mm L/23.5 in right sponson, Hotchkiss Mk 1 left sponson, Hotchkiss Mk 1 right sponson, Hotchkiss Mk 1 forward, Hotchkiss Mk 1 rear
Ammo: 207x57mm, 5700x7.7mm
Fuel Type: G, A
Veh Wt: 26.3 tonnes
Crew: 8 (driver, commander, 2 gunners, 2 machinegunner/loaders, 2 machinegunners)
Maint: 13
Tr Mov: 8/4
Com Mov: 4/2
Fuel Cap: 450
Fuel Cons: 50

Config: Veh
Susp: T: 6
HF 3
HS 2
HR 2

Mark V Female:
Change armament to: 2x Hotchkiss Mk 1 left sponson, 2x Hotchkiss Mk 1 right sponson, Hotchkiss Mk 1 forward, Hotchkiss Mk 1 rear
Ammo:12972x7.7mm
Veh Wt: 25.4 tonnes
Crew: 8 (driver, commander, 6 machinegunners)