Vickers Medium Mark II

Vickers Medium Mark II
Vickers Medium Mk.IIA* at U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen
TypeMedium tank
Place of originUK
Service history
In service1925–1939
Production history
ManufacturerVickers
Produced1925–1934 (including reworking)
Specifications
Mass12.2 long tons (12.4 t)[1]
Length17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m)[1]
Width9 feet 3 inches (2.82 m)[1]
Height8 feet 10 inches (2.69 m)[1]
Crew5

Armour0.25 inches (6.35 mm) to 0.315 inches (8.0 mm)[1]
Main
armament
QF 3-pounder (47 mm)
Secondary
armament
4 × 0.303 (7.7 mm) Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié machine gun
2 × 0.303 Vickers machine gun
EngineArmstrong Siddeley V-8
90 horsepower (67 kW)[1]
Power/weight8 hp/tonne
Suspensionhelical springs
Operational
range
193 km
Maximum speed 15.6 mph (25.1 km/h)[1]

The Vickers Medium Mark II was a British medium tank built by Vickers during the interwar period of the First and Second World Wars.

The Medium Mark II, derived from the Vickers Medium Mark I, was developed to replace the last of the Medium Mark Cs still in use. Production and rebuilding ran from 1925 until 1934. The tank was phased out of service from 1939, replaced by the Cruiser Mk I. It featured several improvements over the Vickers Mark I: a higher superstructure with the driver's visor on top of it instead of in front of it; an improved suspension protected by armour skirts; and Rackham clutches, providing a primitive form of mechanical servo-control. Due to a slightly higher weight its rated speed was somewhat slower than that of the Medium Mark I, at 13 mph (21 km/h) compared to 15 mph (24 km/h).

  1. ^ a b c d e f g War Office 1930 Handbook for the Marks II, II* and IIA Medium Tanks