Light Tank Mk IV | Tank Chats

Weighing in at five tons, machine gun armed and with a two-man crew, the Tank, Light, Mk IV was one of a series produced for the British Army by Vickers before World War II, seeing service on the NW Frontier of India. Recently restored, the Mk IV is the oldest running tank in our collection.
Learn about the Mark IV's extensive restoration here: • Vickers Light Tank Mar...
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00:00 | Intro
00:48 | History
03:25 | Development
11:46 | Mark IV
14.48 | Later variants
#tankmuseum #tankchats #davidwilley

[@thetankmuseum]

Hi Tanks Nuts - We hope you enjoyed this video. Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.

[@ianmangham4570]

AWESOME 👍🇬🇧

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

He is so good I'd listen to him describe organizing his sock collection

[@ukgamer2817]

Love the interwar tanks they are overlooked by others far to often

[@robinburt5735]

What does the box just below the main gun do? or is it just additional armour protection? Looks like it might carry extra rounds or something. EDIT: Ah i am guessing it is for ammo for the vickers that is currently not installed?

[@ptonpc]

I really like David and the other presenters. Thankfully you seem to have moved away from the random cuts to a side camera of the presenter. That 'editing' choice was cliched years ago, As for the vehicles and time period, yes,there was so much innovation and politics at the time. People nowadays forget the designers were not stupid. Things were done for reasons.

[@markedwards158]

Good to see David back again. I love his delivery style, informative and educating.

[@DaveSCameron]

Nice.

[@noob464]

I loved David Fletcher for his quirkiness and humor, but this guy is such an AMAZING speaker (I forgot his name =( )

[@jussi8111]

that mk1 with the twin 50 looks so cool

[@chrisivan_yt]

could be a cool new AA in war thunder :D

[@Farweasel]

Quite prescient given the Jabo threat that would soon be unleashed on them in fact.

[@chriskortan1530]

Probably the only really useful version of these tankettes. Unfortunately it took several years into WW2 before the militaries appreciated such a vehicle.

[@carrott36]

@@chrisivan_ytAlready is, the first AA in the British tree. Could be interesting though to have variants with different armaments.

[@Caratacus1]

Those photos of the horse towing the tank and the commanders who were about to be catapulted out of their turrets were brilliant 😁

[@brittakriep2938]

I am german, Brittas boyfriend. My father , born 1938, told me, that in early past wwl the mostly underpowered but overloaded german trucks/ lorries often had a problem to cross the height between my and neighbor village. So often cows, few of poor farmers in my region owned horses, had been used to give trucks ,pulling support'.

[@brittakriep2938]

Ww ll, not ww l, sorry!

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

Always thought it looked like the grandad of Scorpion

[@SuperAKJR]

It's looks like a bren gun carrier on steroids. Or when the short kid in school discovers the weight room. 😂

[@Mr_Dopey]

It's layout is very similar to the German Wiesel.

[@glennpettersson9002]

Like every presentation by David the vehicle is used to tell a much bigger story. Classy 😎

[@panzerpusher]

I'm writing an alternate history set in this period, and even with the changes, this has been excellent for the deep details that give life to the setting. I love every video like this.

[@c.j.zographos3713]

It's always great when David does these chats; well researched and informative, even about lesser known (at least to some of us) vehicles.

[@Farweasel]

Well let me just say *it certainly wasn't 'less well known' to ME* [ I'd never heard of it *at all* until this natty video broke cover ] 🙄

[@dylanmilne6683]

Love nothing more than a bit of Willey on a Friday afternoon!

[@bikenavbm1229]

thanks to all to that helped with the restoration especially Pearson for your generosity, great vid on these stepping stone vehicles. A boring personal connection I used to turn wheel bearing components for Horsman used for military vehicles but I dont know which. Thank you tank Museum for conserving history.

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Last Time i was this early, the French still held the Maginot Line.

[@89volvowithlazers]

Nice to know Pearson Engineering is a going concern experts in the field so UK does have business post brexit good job Pearson. Love this vid. The early Era concepts would make a great unit in war game on this Era only.

[@chriskortan1530]

I have a new appreciation for the philosophy behind these tankettes. I had always considered them worthless beyond enforcing colonial will. A good percentage of the FT tanks had a cannon and even the Panzer 2 at least had a 20mm auto-cannon. The idea that it wasn't just economy but preparing industry and keeping them in business makes a lot of sense.

[@OrangesAndCookies]

Haha, that TC in the first picture showing the little hand grips on the top of turret looks like he scared to death of falling out the tank.

[@ptonpc]

Can't say I blame him. It could be a case of his top half falling out while the bottom stays inside.

[@newhonk]

It looks so happy!

[@MaximumResultsCopy]

Excellent video...thank you! I find the "background" information explaining the context and why a vehicle was built very helpful. There were many problems with British tanks in WW2 but there were all sorts of constraints on the tank program.

[@peterharrington8709]

Great video. Pleased to see Pearson's still doing as little bit in that new / old Vickers factory. Shame it couldn't be more of course.

[@russellnixon9981]

What a great presentation by the master. I always saw these little light tankettes as bad idea but listening to this I now see for the roles in colonial wars and policing it makes sense. I also realize I;m viewing the subject with hine sight. Thanks for this, I now have a better insight to tank development.

[@darreng745]

One of those vehicles which was worth the effort of restoration as it represents a stepping stone in the evolution of tank design during the 1930's

[@causewaykayak]

That was SO interesting ! The wealth of knowledge there. The use of simple light vehicles to train up reserve production capacity was particularly interesting. It's not all nuts and bolts !

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

A school friend's dad, who was a Coldstream Guardsman at the time told us that some Vickers light tanks were in use as combat - not training - vehicles early WWII. Perhaps they were only intended as reconnaissance vehicles or for possible use against German paratroops, but the sight of what he described as "a pram frame wrapped in baking foil" did nothing to raise morale !

[@robinburt5735]

All of the pictures of the Carden-Loyd carriers/tankettes have peeps driving them around without wearing a helmet. This seems like the obvious vehicle to which wearing a helmet would be most advantageous. EDIT: Ah i just google searched images of them and it looks like they mostly did wear helmets using them. Ignore this i guess lol :)

[@chris_hisss]

Truly brilliant design, and ideal. Perhaps underrated but this served the soldiers with more availability than most the other tanks out doing tank things. I don't think I would have payed it much attention had it not been for tank games

[@nikidanberthelsen]

Would be interesting to see 'the top 5 cheap tanks'. Just to see which tanks are the best in regard to cost-compromises. Which would facilitate attrition warfare.

[@ianc8999]

That could actually be interesting, albeit will depend very much on the criteria. As they often say, any tank is great if its only pitted against against infantry, but as soon as other tanks or anti-tank weapons appear, you might think twice! If you go down the "best value" instead of "cheap" route probably end up with T34, Sherman, Stug, and a couple of other 'usual suspects'.

[@foowashere]

Good idea actually, even if the criteria is a bit difficult it's still an interesting discussion.

[@douglasmaccullagh7865]

I'd enjoy seeing a Tank Chat on the MK VI. Thank you for discussing industrial issues behind the light tank series. I was half-way familiar with the mechanical progression, but I learned a lot here. I especially learned about the light tanks in India. That was an eye opener. Thank you!

[@frankbarnwell____]

In some pictures I could imagine an "Un digested breakfast mortar ", as a weapon.

[@HarryFlashmanVC]

It's awesome that this tank was restored at the same factory that built it nearly 100 years ago

[@gunner678]

Love this tank. The early version of scimitar!

[@ATomRileyA]

Great video, really enjoyed listening about the history of these tanks.

[@ShadowDragon8685]

I've been watching the Tank Museum backlog to keep my mind entertained whilst taking long walks in the morning lately. It was very odd to hear you talk for an extended period without a Cameo of Fin the Dog. Damn fascinating stuff about that dinky tank, though!

[@darrenjosephgregory]

Not a tank that particularly interests me but it is wonderful to see how this tank was taken from a bare shell and restored to running order. Amazing work from all involved.

[@alexhunt7810]

Something David isn't mentioning (a little unfairly) is that a lot of the Army budget is being spent on motorising the infantry and artillery, whereas neither France nor Germany were that focused on motorisation

[@Ubique2927]

Britain had so many far sighted brilliant tank thinkers and all of them were ignored by almost everyone except Guderian, Rommel and Hitler.

[@WozWozEre]

We have many, many good ideas and technological breakthroughs, and then repeatedly totally fail to capitalise on them. In almost every aspect of military technology we were very briefly world leaders, from warships to tanks to planes, before dropping the ball and letting others get ahead.

[@babaganoush6106]

@@WozWozEre politicians have spent huge amounts of money and mucked up so much, Churchill not allowing the Computer developments, Duncan Sandys saying the future of aviation was missiles in 1957, TSR2, F111 in the 60's and Cameron dumping the Nimrod/Harrier in the 2010's. Chieftain tank etc I'm sure there were many more

[@drpureinsanity]

​@babaganoush6106 not to be that guy, but sidewinder missles were produced in the United States in 1953 and adopted in 1956. The United States was ahead in aviation.

[@babaganoush6106]

@@drpureinsanity lol

[@glynluff2595]

Guderian was really a radio officer so all his tanks had radios and were controllable. This was the real reason for his early success in vehicles that were inferior to the British and the French. Communication can beat muscle!!

[@dolphingirl12885]

Great seeing examples like this which show the progress in design over the years

[@_ArsNova]

Another fantastically informative video. Even someone who's read books on these tanks can still learn a thing or two, love all the archival photos as well. Cheers!

[@volvorama2369]

Instructions for operation of the clash gearbox included: Before moving off Driver must request confirmation from Tank Commander by asking: "Should I stay or should I go?"

[@theenigmaticgamer]

The German Pz I and II looked a lot more modern and businesslike than the Lt MkIV which resembled something from a funfair vehicle. I noticed the driver’s flap looks like a prime aiming point for anti tank guns. Great video thanks.

[@Crash-zm2qd]

My great grandfather drove these before WW2 broke out he was in Kings Dragoon Guards when they went out to Middle East they were converted to an armoured car regiment and he drove Marmon Harringtons.

[@RichardGoth]

Great restoration... have a bunch of books with pics of it it before restoration, glad to finally see it in one piece!

[@bobthebomb1596]

This series is really interesting, even for non tank buff like myself. Context is so important.

[@danq.5140]

I hope Fynn is still being a good boy. Really enjoyed those Curator at Home videos. 😊

[@stewartellinson8846]

Fascinating - comprehensive and very informative, as ever. thank you

[@TrajanDS]

Dude at 2:45 looks super thrilled about his job

[@bcluett1697]

I love hearing how much thought went into these machines. With missles and artillery being so lethal against the bigger tanks I wouldn't be surprised if some country in the future goes back to tankettes especially if they were drones.

[@manuwilson4695]

Great restoration!👍

[@chriswilkin2112]

Love the fact that someone chisled off the name and factory location thinking that the enemy wouldn't remember that Vickers, the major tank builder and exporter, was based in Newcastle, Oh well. 😂

[@ericbergfield6451]

Really good presentation of these early tanks!

[@stevenbrown8857]

Until recently living near the tyneside vickers factory (well it was 😢) .. this was fab to see

[@larryjohnson1966]

That was a neat tank. Enjoyed the history lesson. Thank YOu.

[@DaiElsan]

With the knowledge we have today. It would be interesting to see what could be created using the chassis as a base point, a light tank giving maximum protection, solid engine, max speed, and good fire power.

[@Hybris51129]

You could take a modern skid steer chassis and practically build a modern version of this thing on that. Edit: 14:35 "Oh dear that's not gone well!"

[@ptonpc]

All part of the plan! :D

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

So Vickers company expanded light tanks opinion around the world...thank you for sharing this wonderful video

[@gizhou3034]

This is episode absolutely brilliant!

[@snipermart]

Just the right size for my garage. Great video again 👍

[@GaudiaCertaminisGaming]

When you think of this as an enclosed tankette it starts to make sense. Although I’ve always liked this tank.

[@tysonator5433]

Great tank chat, very informative

[@nightshiftrider819]

The British making multiple teapot shaped tanks is unusually sus 🤔 ☕

[@Akm72]

😂

[@AyebeeMk2]

genetic enginering: "one lump ot two" refers to the bruising you would get before the suspention was sorted out....

[@scottross5977]

Great video! Also… at 15:57, did I spy a beer bottle atop one of the yellow bollards in the left of the frame? 😉. Reminded me of the coke bottle seen in Ben Hur. 😎

[@iancarr8682]

Really interesting period of the development of the tank and armour

[@suryia6706]

David is such a good speaker. ❤

[@johnlant1730]

David is always in good form!

[@musicwerks]

As always a nice look into the past of military history

[@wbertie2604]

Amazing that new sprockets were made in the same factory almost 90 years on.

[@randyhavard6084]

Thanks for continuing to post great videos

[@seansawyer580]

Love light tanks

[@Ob1sdarkside]

Great restoration

[@BHuang92]

I'm glad they fixed the suspension! The previous videos show it running tippsy!😅

[@chefchaudard3580]

Coil springs with no dampener or shock absorber, no wonder they skipped like kangaroos!

[@TheWirksworthGunroom]

Fascinating how much more mobility and protection these ancient museum pieces have than JACKAL which has no more firepower and is still being ordered.....

[@captiannemo1587]

About time Martel gets some love here.

[@alamore5084]

Angled armour, face hardened. Very cool. If they can tow, shoot and resist machine gun fire a very handy thing to have. It may be that personal one-man armoured modules become a thing again.

[@derekmcmanus8615]

Starship Troopers 😂

[@HorstMichel-mh7gv]

Nice for this insight!

[@iambiggus]

Great history and story.

[@magnusnilsson2397]

Thank you very much.

[@timf6916]

Nice, I always Loved Tanks.

Fascinating tank and story around it. I am struck by how similar the German and British approach was.

[@AllMightyKingBowser]

I have never wanted to hug a tank this much, what a cute looking killing machine

[@rosied6351]

DB looking good, lovely well cut and groomed beard😊

[@simongee8928]

The fact that the TC was provided with two hand grips doesn't say a lot for the handling of this one - ! 😅

[@DanBray1991]

Another great video! Any chance of getting a video on the Czechoslovakian CKD LT vz. 38 or LT vz. 35?

[@AsbestosMuffins]

its kind of interesting in that the real goal of the early tank designers was to bring a large cannon or small artillery piece close in under cover of armor. Then after ww1 a lot of armies backtracked and went to tanks as a means to bring some heavier gun up, then ww2 kicks off and suddenly the mobile cannon concept is cemented

[@Pyjamarama11]

4D chess : Vickers should have edited the makers plate to read "Made in Dresden"

[@Arms872]

Missed ya David!

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

25-20, The strange camouflage was unique to Malta and blended in well with its buildings.

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks 👍

[@WalterReimer]

Cute little fellow. One can imagine swarms of them sweeping across the countryside and disappearing into the woods.

[@imhavingastroke]

another good video!!

[@Profielzondernaam]

I want to play fetch with this tank and feed it responsibly and watch it grow up into a big boy Tank! It will fit on my balcony.

[@ulrichneumann4068]

This Tank looks like the german coldwar tank wiesel. The designer F.Porsche may be inspired of this. The Wiesel is today in german use.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Cheers for the vid.

[@Colinpark]

Always loved the odd look of British light tanks

[@eliasblum753]

A tank for those who don't need to over-compensate for their own shortcomings.

[@marrs1013]

I'm not gonna lie... It is friday night, I might be a few beers in... but this material is just awesome. But of course, it is just my two drunk cents. Go me! Oh well, thumbs up, old beans or what

[@WildBillCox13]

Face hardening, also called tempering, is a process of heat treating one side of a plate. For comparison, compare a standard glass pane of a house window to a tempered glass pane in the side window of an automobile. The heat treated plate is much more resistant to impacts, especially in its center.

[@johndudley5761]

That tank is cool 👌👍

[@tanan6896]

We all miss you David

[@firefox5926]

6:32 also notiveign alot of sloped armour long before the war

[@johnstevenson1709]

I'd love to hear a video about the bad feeling that existed between vickers and royal ordinance

[@peterpan9988]

Very interesting episode. But Mr.Willey's tie is a crime against humanity.

[@nl-oc9ew]

David's tank chats are great. They're almost as great as david's.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

As usual, more than intersting. I might have missed a bit, but did it use track warping to steer?

[@firefox5926]

3:24 see thats some real british army thinking right there .. whereas i would have just asked if vikers could make the sides a little taler and could the put a roof on it