Medium Tank Mk A Whippet

The Mark A was developed from the “Little Willie” design for use in World War I and called the "Whippet" by the designer. The tank was designed to exploit breaches in the battle line created by heaver tanks like the Mark 1. The Mark A was the most successful British tank of the war spearing assaults and caused the most German casualties.

William Trinton was an expert in designing agricultural machinery was assigned to work with Major Walter Gordon Wilson on designs to produce a caterpillar tracked vehicle for transporting large navel guns. While they were working on the project they saw a separate military use of the tractor and are credited with the invention of the tank. At a later date Trinton designed the Mark I thru V series heavy tanks.

The Mk A filled a need for a faster, cheaper tank to work with the heavy tanks to plug gaps in the line and make deep forays behind enemy lines. Crossing large trenches was an issue with a ground clearance of 0.56 meters allowing the widest trench that could be crossed was 2.13 meters. This was a continuing problem for the tank crew in trench warfare. Her armament was three and a maximum of four 7.7 mm Hotchkiss machine guns with a supply of 5,400 rounds of ammunition. Not having a heavy gun like the 6 pounder the Mark I used made the Whippet looked like an armored personal carrier but was classified as a medium tank. The propulsion was two 45 hp standard English bus engine one for each track. Steering was done by the driver using a bus type steering wheel. When turning right or left the throttles of the two engines were increased or decreased depending on the turn. The tank would need more power on the opposite track of the desired direction, in practice the engines would stall if the tank took a sharp turn and the tank would come to an abrupt stop. In combat conditions a nonmoving vehicle is called a target of opportunity.

The turret is fixed and small for the crew of three with 4 machine guns. At times an additional man was added for fire support needing the removal of one machine gun. The 7.7 mm guns were movable to any of the four mounts giving the crew commander the option. Mk A’s speed of 13 km/h (8.3mph) and range being 257 km (160m) was her greatest asset having twice the speed and range of a Mark I tank. The Whippet was the fastest tank on the battle field and was feared by the German troops. A company of seven Mk A tanks engaged two German infantry battalions of 800 men in the open near Cachy killing over 400 German soldiers rendering the force destroyed. Whippets took part in the August 8, 1918, Amiens offensive breaking through and raising havoc in the German rear destroying large numbers of artillery pieces. The tank named “Music Box”, was among them and roamed for nine hours behind German lines destroying an artillery battery, an infantry battalion camp, a transport column inflicting many casualties.

Some Whippets were used by the Germans when captured. The Red Army used the tanks into the 1930’s; some were sent to Ireland, Canada, Japan, and South Africa.

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Last Updated: 11/10/2009