The third in the series of Tank Historian, David Fletcher's Tank Chats. Take three minutes and learn all about the Medium Tank MkII*, or Vickers Medium, from the expert. Enjoy!
this was a good tank for its time and it was used with O'Connor's Western Desert Force against the Italians in Libya in 1941. it started to form the recognisable tank shape that we know of later designs, albeit the engine was at the front. i think it looks great and this was one of my favourite photos in the Guinness book of Tank facts and feats, from when i was about 8 years old..i have loved this tank ever since....thought of building one once.
"That was the British way, and no other method would do'. Even if it was a better method, like stopping momentarily in order to fire more accurately. Looks like this one was getting to be ahead of its time. It has all the modern elements. It is i intersting how quickly the armor thickness and thus the gun bore diameters increased. Early WW2 was 47 and 50mm guns, by 43-44 nothing less than a 75mm would do. Great series
Even that is a bit optimistic. The early war was really the era of the 37mm gun, as that was the main caliber used by Germany, USA, and most of the smaller countries. Britain was using the 2 pdr (40mm) while the Soviets had their 45mm. France did have some 47mm in service already but they were actually few and far between, both as tank and anti-tank guns; majority of their tanks also had the 37mm. Germany didn't really start getting the 50mm in service until 1941 and many of their mainstay Pz-III (and all of the Czech tanks, Pz-35's and 38's) went into Russia still equipped with the 37mm. Not to mention that in 1939-40 everybody still had a sizeable chunk of their tank force armed only with machine-guns, HMG or 20mm.
There was actually not that much to choose between the penetration of all those guns (the 47 and 50mm being a bit more powerful than the rest), it was more a question of ammo type and quality, but the larger calibers had the advantage of firing a significantly more powerful HE round (as the weight of the round increases exponentially in relation to the caliber). The British are not involved in this though, because for some crazy reason they decided that their direct-firing guns did not need a HE round at all, despite being able to produce them and even having large numbers in stock.
these are very amazing chats! I love the hands on wit hthe tank there, and lest we forget the shear knowledge of David Fletcher! Keep em coming please!
Great Series just starting watching it, really looking forward to all 48 episodes that are currently out :) Thank you for taking the time to produce these videos
If this was one of the earliest post- WW1 tanks, then that only shows that the rhomboid design of the Mark x series had had its day right after trench warfare ended. Here we have all the elements of a modern tank: 360° rotating turret, mobility over slogging alongside the infantry, a gun designed to fight other tanks, leading an assault, etc.
Great video could you do a video on the cromwell , comet, or the black prince as I know you got one down at the tank museum thanks for the great video any way
Just want to thank David and the folks at the Tank Museum for these wonderful and informative chats, can't wait for the next one. Any chance of you doing a video at some stage about the AC1 Sentinel you have in your collection? It would be great to learn a bit about them as even in Australia this tank is virtually unknown.
I agree! The Australian Army has a Sentinel (AC1) at the Australian Armoured Corps Museum at Puckapunyal, Victoria. It also has a Vickers Medium tank (the Australian Army had a small tank section pre WW2). The place is open to the public and well worth a look!
i have some photos of MK II's being used by the red army in 1941 (or rather captured by the Germans after use). always shocked me to see them, and in addition in the defense of Tarnpol two MK V's WWI tanks were used and captured as well!
Putting this here as I did a lot of reading/researching to compile this for everyone so enjoy! I believe it can be safely assumed the Medium Mark IIs did engage the Italians; just not as mobile units. When the English eventually were forced to abandon their positions the tanks were eventually captured. Due to the poor condition of the tanks (large amounts of wear and tear), lack of any repair parts, and mainly a lack of ammunition for the main guns. Lacking ammo for the main gun would indicate to me that the tanks did engage in combat. There is a chance that some could have possibly seen combat while mobile, but the only unit equipped with the mark II was the 6th Royal Tank Regiment. So to track their story with the 6th RTR read below. As according to commanding officer Lt Col CGD Thrupp on January 6th, 1940 the remaining 12 Vickers Medium Mark II tanks held by the 6th RTR were withdrawn from active roles on that date when the remaining 8 new cruiser tanks arrived to bringing the regiment up to full strength (of cruisers at least) of 23. Now the Medium Mark IIs were not returned to the royal army ordinance corps and instead were retained to give an "I" (assumed to mean instructional) demonstration on the 18th of January; tanks assigned to B squadron. Interestingly the 6th RTR would receive 6 more mark IIs on the 14th to bring them up to a total strength of 18, leaving 2 tanks to act as spares. Next the tanks are believed to have been part of the regimental parade at the Almaza aerodome in Helipolis on February 8th, 1940 as the regiment is stated to have paraded at full strength, though I'm still looking for photographic evidence to confirm I would be confident enough to state they were there. On February 16th, 1940 B squadron gave their second "I" tank demonstration to students of the Middle East Tactical School. The war journals from March to August of 1940 are missing sadly. (New commanding officer Lt Col HS Harland MC) Sometime between March 1940 and January 25th, 1941 the 12 remaining (other 6 unaccounted for in records) had been buried at Mersa Matruh, but were ordered by a Major HWH Mills to be unburied on the 25th and to make as many as possible able to run. The task of retrieving them was not started until February 6th, 1941. The cause for retrieving and repairing the Medium Mark IIs appears to be explained when Lt Col Harland traveled to Cario on the 14th of February, 1941 to discuss challenges the tank regiment was facing; namely it appears they were possibly lacking tanks and had been at times pressed into use as infantry (which they protested). This would explain the retrieval of the tanks as it would at provide more tanks for the regiment. He would return on February 17th, 1941. Further supporting their lack of armor is that on February 25th, 1941 it is stated that the 6th RTR took over 56 vehicles at Tobruk and a squadron was being sent forward to capture M13s (Italian tanks) at Beda Fomm and the removal of M11s from Tobruk on the 28th of February, 1941 (throughout the next months the captured Italian armor was used by the 6th RTR as is noted in the war journal, but not further relevant in relation the the Medium Mark IIs). In the war journal of the 6th RTR no further reference the the Vickers Medium Mark IIs are made after the 6th of February, 1941. It would appear that Major HWH Mills and his crew would recover all 12 tanks (or at least some) and either repair them at the rail head they were stationed at, or they were moved via rail to the Siwa Oasis where as many as possible were repaired. It is known that at minimum three were functional when three were reactivated and sent from the Siwa Oasis to Mersa Matruh in 1942 (in prepartion for the battle of Mersa Matruh June 26th to 29th, 1942). One burned down on the journey and the final two arrived (as you said) and were made into static positions. There is speculation that the Australian's did acquire and use some early on as well, though I cannot find any documentation at this current time supporting that beyond one other person's light research which includes some photos and one photo of a buried Mark II at Mersa Matruh with what appear to be Australian troops. From photos it appears the three that had been reactivated in 1942 were as follows "Crusader" (burned up on the march from Siwa to Mersa Matruh), T46, and T45.
I have to wonder how well that 1920s 3-pounder compared to, say, the SA35 French 47mm gun, the Czech 47, the Soviet 45mm, or the slightly later German 50mm. Wonder if anyone's put together a comparison.
member of the british empire. its a very very very old title awarded to people for outstanding work in their field, or for some highly commendable act......i think.
Bet they had some dude sat on the floor out of camera shot when the back door opened by itself, haha. Love tank chats, all the best to Mr Fletcher and all the staff at the tank museum, I haven't visited yet, but your tank chats are one of the best things on RUclips for a military enthusiast and collector like myself. Hope to have a militar vehicle soon, but living in a flat I have nowhere to put it! Was thinking of a German Mercedes Wolf or British Army Land Rover, would be a step up from my 1990 Toyota hilux, (Which is technically a military vehicle, is used by armies in Africa and the Middle East, and by militias! And mine is painted in olive drab) anyway to anyone reading this, God bless you, merry Christmas, rule Brittania and God save the Queen!
I bet These could have caused Trouble for the many Panzer Is and Panzer IIs that were used in France. That 3-pounder surely would have taken them apart.
I know this is really late but the Panzer I and Panzer II were pretty small tanks and the Panzer IIs 20mm would have no bother piercing this machines armor. This thing was pretty big as well so the Panzer II wouldnt find it too hard to hit it.
This is the first truly modern tank, not the FT FT had one man turret, was designed to attack machine-gun nests, had no dedicated AT gun, and is tiny The Vickers is larger, has relatively modern division of labour, and has a dedicated AT gun, coaxial mg, Id love to hear about the tanks use in the Mohman campaign.
I wondered if the British had upgraded all the Mediums, removed the side MGs, stronger engines, adapted them for desert warfare, added some frontal armor...where they could have been sent to North Africa to counter the Italian threat....sent all their Matilda's and Cruisers to France... could more British tanks have made a difference in the Battle of France? Keep in mind, the Mediums with the 47 mm gun should have been more than a match for any Italian tanks present in significant numbers in 1940.
Not sure how serious this comment is, but if anyone's actually uncertain, that appears to be the same object shown more clearly at 1:16 and 2:38, I would assume a seat for the gunner.
No real anti tank weapons in the 1920s and early 30s... lol... Germans had a 37mm that could go right through this in the late 1920s... as usual.. good video but he falls flat by trying to embellish. .
Always a pleasure to listen David Fletcher.
Listenning to him is very pleasent. Just like Jingles (i hope you watch this)
All agreed chaps
These videos are way too short. Fletcher has a lot of knowledge and story-telling in him, give him more time.
+Elaniago Amen. If Jingles can ramble on for 40 minutes and have 400k+ subscribers, then this guy should be making feature length episodes :)
Meh, I like his brevity.
Having Mr. Fletcher telling you bed time stories.......priceless !
Very interesting as always but could you make them longer? A bit about how they were used, how well did they fare against their counterparts etc.
ptonpc And maybe what their armaments were lol.
The Medium Mk. III is longer.
they weren't used in battle
Please make these longer - they're very interesting with a great presenter but too short - want to watch more .....
Well he is a bit short, but there's none to get personal, he's doing his best
We need way more David Fletcher on youtube!
Shooting a target on the move with the aiming technology at the time must have been maddening.
2:50 "And as you may be able to tell, this particular tank is quite haunted."
The third in the series of Tank Historian, David Fletcher's Tank Chats.
Take three minutes and learn all about the Medium Tank MkII*, or Vickers Medium, from the expert. Enjoy!
+The Tank Museum that tank is the tear 2 medium tank of the UK in world of tanks
+Branden Conover no kidding.
the only time this tank has been in battle
+The Tank Museum Please do a video explaining the engineering features involved in David's mustache.
David Fletcher: we love you and owe you a lot. Thank you for the clear headed and well explained lessons.
Very modern layout: would have been interesting if a few had turrets removed and converted into early APC
Its great that the museum has preserved all of the early tanks and not just the more famous ones from WW 2.
This guy is brilliant....Need longer and more of these !!!
Cool tank, in service for almost 20 years. Thank you Mr. Fletcher. A very succinct review.
Wonderful, yet again! Very interesting tank too, a mix of crudeness and forward looking ideas at the same time.
Want more of this!
this was a good tank for its time and it was used with O'Connor's Western Desert Force against the Italians in Libya in 1941. it started to form the recognisable tank shape that we know of later designs, albeit the engine was at the front. i think it looks great and this was one of my favourite photos in the Guinness book of Tank facts and feats, from when i was about 8 years old..i have loved this tank ever since....thought of building one once.
Always its cool to listen David Fletcher
Very informative, I had NO idea the Crew all had to Stand!
Very nice. Thx Mr. Fletcher.
"That was the British way, and no other method would do'. Even if it was a better method, like stopping momentarily in order to fire more accurately. Looks like this one was getting to be ahead of its time. It has all the modern elements. It is i intersting how quickly the armor thickness and thus the gun bore diameters increased. Early WW2 was 47 and 50mm guns, by 43-44 nothing less than a 75mm would do. Great series
They saw themselves as Land Battleships, firing on the move like a fleet at sea...
Even that is a bit optimistic. The early war was really the era of the 37mm gun, as that was the main caliber used by Germany, USA, and most of the smaller countries. Britain was using the 2 pdr (40mm) while the Soviets had their 45mm. France did have some 47mm in service already but they were actually few and far between, both as tank and anti-tank guns; majority of their tanks also had the 37mm. Germany didn't really start getting the 50mm in service until 1941 and many of their mainstay Pz-III (and all of the Czech tanks, Pz-35's and 38's) went into Russia still equipped with the 37mm. Not to mention that in 1939-40 everybody still had a sizeable chunk of their tank force armed only with machine-guns, HMG or 20mm.
There was actually not that much to choose between the penetration of all those guns (the 47 and 50mm being a bit more powerful than the rest), it was more a question of ammo type and quality, but the larger calibers had the advantage of firing a significantly more powerful HE round (as the weight of the round increases exponentially in relation to the caliber). The British are not involved in this though, because for some crazy reason they decided that their direct-firing guns did not need a HE round at all, despite being able to produce them and even having large numbers in stock.
these are very amazing chats! I love the hands on wit hthe tank there, and lest we forget the shear knowledge of David Fletcher! Keep em coming please!
Love these tank chats
what a splendid machine.
It's massive. I always pictured this tank as a very small vehicle for some reason. I can't believe how tall it actually is. Great vid as ever.
Jingles is right, these need more recognition! David you're one awesome british that seem to really know his stuff. Good job, tally ho!
Such an excellent series of videos. My only complaint is I wish they went on longer, so good
Great info, keep them coming. Many thanks
Great Series just starting watching it, really looking forward to all 48 episodes that are currently out :) Thank you for taking the time to produce these videos
If this was one of the earliest post- WW1 tanks, then that only shows that the rhomboid design of the Mark x series had had its day right after trench warfare ended.
Here we have all the elements of a modern tank: 360° rotating turret, mobility over slogging alongside the infantry, a gun designed to fight other tanks, leading an assault, etc.
This is a wonderful series, hope to see many more. :)
I have such an odd love for this tank. It's really not great, but I love it so much.
This tank makes a lot of sense especially the rear door at the back. Would have like to see this on Christie suspension.
An awesome tank always loved it
With tanks like this the large door was quite handy for escaping.
That back door!! It opened by its self!
"they learned to put up with that in those days" something modern humans could learn something from...
No because it sucked.
On the other hand, arriving on the field of battle already exhausted and barely holding upright is not the best idea
These guys destroyed their knees for no good reason. Just because that part of their tank's design positively sucked on ice.
Thank you
It may be uncomfortable but it sure beats standing outside and taking the machine gun fire!
Great video could you do a video on the cromwell , comet, or the black prince as I know you got one down at the tank museum thanks for the great video any way
Great vid and a great voice! cant wait to go to Bovington later this year. (ps nothing special?!! this was the first ever 3-man turret!)
Thanks.
Just want to thank David and the folks at the Tank Museum for these wonderful and informative chats, can't wait for the next one. Any chance of you doing a video at some stage about the AC1 Sentinel you have in your collection? It would be great to learn a bit about them as even in Australia this tank is virtually unknown.
I agree! The Australian Army has a Sentinel (AC1) at the Australian Armoured Corps Museum at Puckapunyal, Victoria. It also has a Vickers Medium tank (the Australian Army had a small tank section pre WW2). The place is open to the public and well worth a look!
Great video, it would be fantastic if you managed to get through all the museum's tank collection!
Let's hope they will and that the individual videos are very short only because of this :)
Too late for the great war, too early for WW2
Pretty advanced for its time.
Great videos david very informative mabye you could travel overseas and do some more tank reviews when your done in england ?
The Stache is awesome
It's a neat design 👍☺
That's a really cool tank actually! Especially considering it was around in the 20s. Too bad the interior sucked comfort wise.
In 1932 and I have this, I may be the best in the field!
i have some photos of MK II's being used by the red army in 1941 (or rather captured by the Germans after use). always shocked me to see them, and in addition in the defense of Tarnpol two MK V's WWI tanks were used and captured as well!
Putting this here as I did a lot of reading/researching to compile this for everyone so enjoy!
I believe it can be safely assumed the Medium Mark IIs did engage the Italians; just not as mobile units. When the English eventually were forced to abandon their positions the tanks were eventually captured. Due to the poor condition of the tanks (large amounts of wear and tear), lack of any repair parts, and mainly a lack of ammunition for the main guns. Lacking ammo for the main gun would indicate to me that the tanks did engage in combat. There is a chance that some could have possibly seen combat while mobile, but the only unit equipped with the mark II was the 6th Royal Tank Regiment. So to track their story with the 6th RTR read below.
As according to commanding officer Lt Col CGD Thrupp on January 6th, 1940 the remaining 12 Vickers Medium Mark II tanks held by the 6th RTR were withdrawn from active roles on that date when the remaining 8 new cruiser tanks arrived to bringing the regiment up to full strength (of cruisers at least) of 23. Now the Medium Mark IIs were not returned to the royal army ordinance corps and instead were retained to give an "I" (assumed to mean instructional) demonstration on the 18th of January; tanks assigned to B squadron. Interestingly the 6th RTR would receive 6 more mark IIs on the 14th to bring them up to a total strength of 18, leaving 2 tanks to act as spares.
Next the tanks are believed to have been part of the regimental parade at the Almaza aerodome in Helipolis on February 8th, 1940 as the regiment is stated to have paraded at full strength, though I'm still looking for photographic evidence to confirm I would be confident enough to state they were there. On February 16th, 1940 B squadron gave their second "I" tank demonstration to students of the Middle East Tactical School. The war journals from March to August of 1940 are missing sadly.
(New commanding officer Lt Col HS Harland MC) Sometime between March 1940 and January 25th, 1941 the 12 remaining (other 6 unaccounted for in records) had been buried at Mersa Matruh, but were ordered by a Major HWH Mills to be unburied on the 25th and to make as many as possible able to run. The task of retrieving them was not started until February 6th, 1941. The cause for retrieving and repairing the Medium Mark IIs appears to be explained when Lt Col Harland traveled to Cario on the 14th of February, 1941 to discuss challenges the tank regiment was facing; namely it appears they were possibly lacking tanks and had been at times pressed into use as infantry (which they protested). This would explain the retrieval of the tanks as it would at provide more tanks for the regiment. He would return on February 17th, 1941. Further supporting their lack of armor is that on February 25th, 1941 it is stated that the 6th RTR took over 56 vehicles at Tobruk and a squadron was being sent forward to capture M13s (Italian tanks) at Beda Fomm and the removal of M11s from Tobruk on the 28th of February, 1941 (throughout the next months the captured Italian armor was used by the 6th RTR as is noted in the war journal, but not further relevant in relation the the Medium Mark IIs).
In the war journal of the 6th RTR no further reference the the Vickers Medium Mark IIs are made after the 6th of February, 1941. It would appear that Major HWH Mills and his crew would recover all 12 tanks (or at least some) and either repair them at the rail head they were stationed at, or they were moved via rail to the Siwa Oasis where as many as possible were repaired. It is known that at minimum three were functional when three were reactivated and sent from the Siwa Oasis to Mersa Matruh in 1942 (in prepartion for the battle of Mersa Matruh June 26th to 29th, 1942). One burned down on the journey and the final two arrived (as you said) and were made into static positions.
There is speculation that the Australian's did acquire and use some early on as well, though I cannot find any documentation at this current time supporting that beyond one other person's light research which includes some photos and one photo of a buried Mark II at Mersa Matruh with what appear to be Australian troops. From photos it appears the three that had been reactivated in 1942 were as follows "Crusader" (burned up on the march from Siwa to Mersa Matruh), T46, and T45.
I have to wonder how well that 1920s 3-pounder compared to, say, the SA35 French 47mm gun, the Czech 47, the Soviet 45mm, or the slightly later German 50mm. Wonder if anyone's put together a comparison.
Can't wait for the next one.
BTW. What does "MBE" mean?
member of the british empire. its a very very very old title awarded to people for outstanding work in their field, or for some highly commendable act......i think.
Ah I see. He definitely deservers that one then. Thanks for the explanation.
this guy is awesome forget the tank
thankyou for another informaative talk could you please do a talk about the light mk.viii tetrarch?
Don't care about how bad it is in WOT its my first tank I ever got in the game!
WoT is a joke game....
Tier 1-3 are the only ones i actually ever enjoyed in WoT, excluding certain things, like the AT-2.
:I if a game makes war thunder look good, you've got a problem. (No hate, I love WT)
I like how it’s got a larger calibre than the Matilda 2
Fun fact: the vickers medium was the first tank ever with a 3 man turret.
I kind of like it
Jingles sent me. Great video.
I wonder if that color is the right one to use on my Hobby Boss Mark I model of that thing.
Bet they had some dude sat on the floor out of camera shot when the back door opened by itself, haha. Love tank chats, all the best to Mr Fletcher and all the staff at the tank museum, I haven't visited yet, but your tank chats are one of the best things on RUclips for a military enthusiast and collector like myself. Hope to have a militar vehicle soon, but living in a flat I have nowhere to put it! Was thinking of a German Mercedes Wolf or British Army Land Rover, would be a step up from my 1990 Toyota hilux, (Which is technically a military vehicle, is used by armies in Africa and the Middle East, and by militias! And mine is painted in olive drab) anyway to anyone reading this, God bless you, merry Christmas, rule Brittania and God save the Queen!
Holy crap the turret ring diameter of that thing...
The only exit is right alongside the fuel tanks? Ick!
In the USSR 'S BMP (an APC) the exit doors were hollow and served as fuel tanks.
When the rear door swings open, it looks like there's a porcelain toilet in there.
I bet These could have caused Trouble for the many Panzer Is and Panzer IIs that were used in France. That 3-pounder surely would have taken them apart.
I know this is really late but the Panzer I and Panzer II were pretty small tanks and the Panzer IIs 20mm would have no bother piercing this machines armor. This thing was pretty big as well so the Panzer II wouldnt find it too hard to hit it.
I wander how MARK-IV/V would look with its sponsens and vickers medium mk II turret.
This tank looks like an APC with a turret.
It looks remarkably similar, considering the year, to the Scimitar armoured fighting vehicle, imho
Interesting
One was at Aberdeen Maryland, United States.
This is the first truly modern tank, not the FT
FT had one man turret, was designed to attack machine-gun nests, had no dedicated AT gun, and is tiny
The Vickers is larger, has relatively modern division of labour, and has a dedicated AT gun, coaxial mg,
Id love to hear about the tanks use in the Mohman campaign.
I wondered if the British had upgraded all the Mediums, removed the side MGs, stronger engines, adapted them for desert warfare, added some frontal armor...where they could have been sent to North Africa to counter the Italian threat....sent all their Matilda's and Cruisers to France... could more British tanks have made a difference in the Battle of France? Keep in mind, the Mediums with the 47 mm gun should have been more than a match for any Italian tanks present in significant numbers in 1940.
Vickers invented the MICV and didn't even know it...
The amazing mustache
RAF Hendon should do wardbird 'chats'
When a moustache becomes frontal armor ...
very interesting ';-)
An intensely British man
I'm ashamed to admit, all I could think of is how bad this thing is in World of Tanks. Yes I know my mind has been twisted! XD
You mad, it's sick in wot
its awful in wot.
SteveOwnsMC with the howitzer is a one shot kill job
pz i c called, literally every autoloader called.
Gaijin should add this to war thunder
This tank was in a video game and I can’t remember which
I've always wonders what the interior of this tank looked like.
I think some were pressed into frontline service in 1940 after Dunkirk.
why does it need a number plate?
its not like its going on the road
Very tall profile, stands out like a sore thumb!
If he were a member of the Sith Empire he 'd be known as 'Darth 'Stache'
At 2:52 I like to imagine Fletcher lying down on the ground out of view and opening the door from that position
Soup can tanks
👍
That is stupid, why put the number plate so high?
2:55 is that a toilet? The internet said the Challenger II is the only tank to have a toilet
Joshua Lansell-Kenny the internet is the internet
Joshua Lansell-Kenny and why would anyone put a toilet under the turret
Not sure how serious this comment is, but if anyone's actually uncertain, that appears to be the same object shown more clearly at 1:16 and 2:38, I would assume a seat for the gunner.
90 horsepower. (90)
Надо английский учить! Очень интересно, но ничего не понятно
Its just sooo british
Is the yellow west out protesting?
First comment
Not first, "add a message to your video" was posted 1 minute before you.
No real anti tank weapons in the 1920s and early 30s... lol... Germans had a 37mm that could go right through this in the late 1920s... as usual.. good video but he falls flat by trying to embellish. .