This tank introduced the use of the fascine, a bundle of brushwood, bound with chains, about 10 ft (3.0 m) long and 4.5 ft (1.4 m) in diameter carried on the front. The changes caused delays, such as adapting the design for the bulky Lewis cooling barrel, and later, problems when the Hotchkiss strips had to be stored in positions designed for Lewis gun magazines. It was not until a flexible 50 round strip was fully developed in May 1917 that the Hotchkiss would become the standard machine gun for tanks again. The Hotchkiss was fed from a rigid strip which was trimmed down to only 14 rounds for tank use no sooner had the machine gunner guided the fall of shot onto the target then it was time to change the strip and the process repeated. Despite its vulnerable barrel and a tendency to overheat or foul after prolonged firing, the Lewis used compact drum magazines which could hold up to 96 rounds. The decision to standardize on the Lewis gun was due to the space available within the tanks. Two of the machine guns were operated by the gun loaders. The guns had a 100 degree arc of fire but only the starboard gun could fire straight ahead. The sponsons were not mirror images of each other, as their configuration differed to allow for the 6 pdr’s gun-layer operating his gun from the left and the loader serving the gun from the right. The Mark IV Male carried three Lewis machine guns – one in the hull front and two in the sponsons – as well as the two sponson guns (now shorter barrelled QF 6 pdr 6 cwt guns). It remained in official British service until the end of the War, and a small number served briefly with other combatants afterwards. The Mark IV was first used in mid-1917 at the Battle of Messines Ridge. A total of 1,220 were built: 420 “Males”, 595 “Females” and 205 Tank Tenders (unarmed vehicles used to carry supplies), which made it the most produced British tank of the War. The major improvements were in armour, the re-siting of the fuel tank, and easier transportation. Introduced in 1917, it benefited from significant developments on the first British tank, the intervening designs being small batches used for training. The Mark IV was a British tank of the World War I. Useful info about this kit and package can be found on the Tamiya website Here’s a little bit about the British Mk.IV Male (Photo: British Mk.IV tank with un-ditching bean in 1917) Export version with 5 figures and working motor
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