485:
497:
473:
413:
375:, the operational weight was still 27 long tons (27 t) and the speed only 4.3 mph (6.9 km/h). The tank could also carry supplies in a tray on the roof behind the commander's armoured observation turret (being the highest point at 8.7 feet (2.64 m)), while towing up to three loaded sledges. Rackham tried to improve internal conditions by putting a large silencer on the roof together with ventilation fans; but there was still no separate engine compartment and it is, therefore, questionable whether the project achieved the goal of a vehicle capable of delivering a squad of infantry in fighting condition, even given the severely limited operational range of the Mark IX.
33:
461:
506:
384:
352:
space 4 m (13 ft 1 in) long and 2.45 m (8 ft 0 in) wide, enough room for thirty (officially even fifty) soldiers or ten tons of cargo. To ensure sufficient stiffness for the chassis, the floor was reinforced by heavy transverse girders. The infantry inside had to contend with the control rods for the gears running along the roof and the drive shaft through the middle. Unfortunately for the infantrymen, no seats were built in for them in the tank.
930:
940:
344:
351:
As there was no time for a completely new design, the Mark IX was based on the Mark V, with the hull lengthened to 9.73 m (31 ft 11 in). The 150 hp
Ricardo engine was moved to the front, the gearbox to the back and the suspension girders left out entirely. This created an inner
273:
fire, though tanks had been invented to solve that problem. On many occasions, positions gained at great cost were immediately lost for lack of infantry to consolidate. It was thought this problem might be solved by cramming a few infantry soldiers into each tank, but the atmosphere inside was of
334:
but by the end of the Great War only three had been finished, out of a total ultimate production run of thirty-four. A specially-designed sledge developed by the tank workshop in France, that allowed an additional 10 long tons (10 t) of stores to be hauled, was tried.
274:
such poor quality that the soldiers became ill and eventually lost consciousness. When exposed to fresh air again, the crew were incapacitated for about an hour while recovering from the noxious fumes inside the tank. They would be sick and suffer from severe headaches.
321:
began constructing two prototypes of a pure transport vehicle that would become the Mark IX, which could also serve as a supply tank. The prototypes were approved the following year, at a time when it had become clear that a possible alternative, the stretched
424:
was improved by fitting drums at the front and sides. Long wooden boards were attached to the track links but at one side of the board only; as they reached the curve of the track they would project, acting as paddles. Pictures were made of a floating tank in
399:
after the low front track silhouette that gave a snout-like appearance – was used as the basis of two conversions: one of the first three built was used as an armoured ambulance, while another was rebuilt as an amphibious tank by the staff of the test base at
484:
394:
The Mark IXs were used for some years after the war. Pictures exist of vehicles carrying the designation "IC" painted on their hulls, probably indicating they were indeed used as "Infantry
Carriers". The type – named
472:
433:
but there are doubts as to its veracity. The photographs show that a large rectangular superstructure had been placed around the cab and from this superstructure pipes projected upwards, likely the outlets of
359:
in France), a mechanic, and a machine gunner who could man a gun in a hatch at the rear. A second machine gun was fitted in the front. Designed as an armoured personnel carrier, the type had elements of an
368:, through which the soldiers could fire their rifles. Four of the total of sixteen loopholes were in the four oval doors (two to each side) through which soldiers could embark and disembark.
269:
often could not keep up with the tanks; not because soldiers were too slow—the early tanks themselves could only move at a walking pace—but because soldiers on foot remained vulnerable to
985:
305:
design proved a failure and the type was still designated as a tank, a 'Mark IX' to succeed the Mark VIII but that requirement was soon dropped due to its complexity.
355:
The crew proper consisted of a driver sitting on the left and a commander sitting to the right of him (the first time in a
British tank making this concession to the
980:
933:
505:
460:
975:
282:
32:
496:
669:
713:
943:
596:
724:
635:
615:
838:
412:
420:
Already a bulky vehicle — the probable reason the Mark IX was selected as the basis for an amphibious tank — its
910:
894:
662:
286:
647:
326:
tank, was unsuited for infantry transport. Two hundred Mark IXs were ordered from the tractor manufacturer
853:
331:
250:
955:
679:
655:
361:
242:
46:
641:
858:
429:
on 11 November 1918, the day of the
Armistice. According to oral tradition, this vehicle was named
863:
843:
478:
Mark IX Tank
Amphibious Conversion in Welsh Harp Reservoir, with all of its passengers out on top
327:
80:
825:
285:
was ordered to design an armoured vehicle specifically for troop transport. He cooperated with
848:
785:
8:
951:
868:
833:
421:
318:
314:
290:
884:
365:
278:
138:
4: 1 commander, 1 driver, 1 mechanic, 1 machine gunner; up to 30 men could be carried.
631:
611:
915:
683:
490:
Mark IX Amphibious
Conversion, with two men alongside it, at Welsh Harp Reservoir
442:
426:
388:
356:
246:
189:
767:
446:
302:
148:
969:
795:
790:
762:
742:
708:
677:
323:
185:
757:
747:
737:
293:. Design was complicated by a demand that the vehicle could be fitted with
777:
752:
732:
401:
383:
298:
270:
811:
435:
277:
In the summer of 1917, at the same time as another 'carrier' tank, the
69:
511:
Inside the troop compartment of the preserved MK IX tank at
Bovington.
700:
343:
266:
294:
416:
Mark IX Amphibious
Conversion heading into Welsh Harp Reservoir
372:
466:
Mark IX at Dollis Hill, prior to the amphibious modifications.
438:. The vehicle was for the occasion manned by Navy personnel.
407:
691:
262:
226:
308:
297:, converting it into a more modern battle tank than the
371:
Despite the use of thinner—0.39 inches (10 mm)—
622:TANK Facts and Feats: A Guinness Superlatives Book
378:
364:, as along each side of the hull there were eight
986:Armoured personnel carriers of the United Kingdom
628:Armoured Fighting Vehicles of World Wars I and II
967:
608:TANK: A History of the Armoured Fighting Vehicle
663:
574:
572:
562:
560:
558:
548:
546:
544:
610:Kenneth Macksey and John H Batchelor (1970)
939:
670:
656:
624:Kennith Macksey 3rd Edition (1980) Page 61
569:
555:
541:
441:The last surviving Mark IX now resides at
981:Military vehicles introduced in the 1910s
934:Armoured fighting vehicles of World War I
595:
411:
382:
342:
201:5.6 horsepower per tonne (4.2 kW/t)
165:2 x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns
976:World War I tanks of the United Kingdom
630:by Jack Livesey, Anness Publishing Ltd
249:. It was the world's first specialised
106:27 tonnes (27 long tons; 30 short tons)
968:
944:List of combat vehicles of World War I
347:Internal arrangement of a Mark IX tank
651:
309:Prototype construction and production
281:, was under development, Lieutenant
177:none, but loopholes for 16 soldiers
114:9.73 m (31 ft 11 in)
13:
193:150 brake horsepower (110 kW)
14:
997:
130:2.64 m (8 ft 8 in)
16:British armoured fighting vehicle
938:
929:
928:
839:Delaunay-Belleville armoured car
642:Tank Mark IX No. 936 (E1949.364)
504:
495:
483:
471:
459:
408:"The Duck" Amphibious Conversion
122:2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
31:
379:Operational history and project
911:Killen-Strait armoured tractor
895:Pierce-Arrow armoured AA lorry
532:
523:
338:
315:Armstrong, Whitworth & Co.
261:During the first actions with
256:
87:
1:
589:
357:prevailing traffic conditions
7:
854:Pierce-Arrow armoured lorry
582:, The Crowood Press, p. 178
287:Eustace Tennyson d'Eyncourt
10:
1002:
680:armoured fighting vehicles
452:
332:Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
251:armoured personnel carrier
956:Tanks in the British Army
924:
903:
877:
824:
804:
776:
723:
699:
690:
601:The British Tanks 1915-19
580:The British Tanks 1915-19
362:infantry fighting vehicle
243:armoured fighting vehicle
225:
213:
205:
197:
181:
169:
157:
147:
142:
134:
126:
118:
110:
102:
97:
86:
76:
65:
60:
53:Place of origin
52:
47:Armored personnel carrier
42:
30:
23:
859:Rolls-Royce armoured car
516:
328:Marshall, Sons & Co.
81:Marshall, Sons & Co.
864:Seabrook armoured lorry
844:Lanchester armoured car
265:, it became clear that
578:David Fletcher, 2001,
566:Fletcher (2001) p. 168
552:Fletcher (2001) p. 169
538:Fletcher (2001) p. 167
529:Fletcher (2001) p. 155
417:
391:
348:
289:, the chairman of the
849:Peerless armoured car
786:Medium Mark A Whippet
415:
386:
346:
221:20 miles (32 km)
387:The Mark IX tank at
952:History of the tank
869:Talbot armoured car
834:Austin armoured car
603:, The Crowood Press
319:Newcastle-upon-Tyne
291:Landships Committee
231:6.9 km/h (4.29 mph)
885:Gun Carrier Mark I
418:
392:
349:
313:In September 1917
279:Gun Carrier Mark I
61:Production history
963:
962:
820:
819:
235:
234:
993:
942:
941:
932:
931:
697:
696:
672:
665:
658:
649:
648:
604:
583:
576:
567:
564:
553:
550:
539:
536:
530:
527:
508:
499:
487:
475:
463:
427:Hendon Reservoir
228:
89:
35:
26:
21:
20:
1001:
1000:
996:
995:
994:
992:
991:
990:
966:
965:
964:
959:
946:
920:
916:Pedrail Machine
899:
873:
816:
800:
772:
719:
686:
684:First World War
676:
597:Fletcher, David
592:
587:
586:
577:
570:
565:
556:
551:
542:
537:
533:
528:
524:
519:
512:
509:
500:
491:
488:
479:
476:
467:
464:
455:
443:The Tank Museum
410:
389:The Tank Museum
381:
341:
311:
259:
247:First World War
218:
216:
192:
174:
172:
162:
160:
143:
38:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
999:
989:
988:
983:
978:
961:
960:
948:
947:
936:
925:
922:
921:
919:
918:
913:
907:
905:
901:
900:
898:
897:
892:
887:
881:
879:
875:
874:
872:
871:
866:
861:
856:
851:
846:
841:
836:
830:
828:
822:
821:
818:
817:
815:
814:
808:
806:
802:
801:
799:
798:
793:
788:
782:
780:
774:
773:
771:
770:
765:
760:
755:
750:
745:
740:
735:
729:
727:
721:
720:
718:
717:
716:("Big Willie")
711:
705:
703:
694:
688:
687:
675:
674:
667:
660:
652:
646:
645:
644:tankmuseum.org
639:
625:
619:
605:
591:
588:
585:
584:
568:
554:
540:
531:
521:
520:
518:
515:
514:
513:
510:
503:
501:
494:
492:
489:
482:
480:
477:
470:
468:
465:
458:
454:
451:
409:
406:
380:
377:
340:
337:
310:
307:
303:Mark VIII tank
301:, in case the
258:
255:
241:was a British
233:
232:
229:
227:Maximum speed
223:
222:
219:
214:
211:
210:
207:
203:
202:
199:
195:
194:
183:
179:
178:
175:
170:
167:
166:
163:
158:
155:
154:
151:
145:
144:
140:
139:
136:
132:
131:
128:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
104:
100:
99:
98:Specifications
95:
94:
91:
84:
83:
78:
74:
73:
67:
63:
62:
58:
57:
56:United Kingdom
54:
50:
49:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
998:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
973:
971:
958:
957:
953:
945:
937:
935:
927:
926:
923:
917:
914:
912:
909:
908:
906:
902:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
882:
880:
876:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
835:
832:
831:
829:
827:
826:Armoured cars
823:
813:
810:
809:
807:
803:
797:
796:Medium Mark C
794:
792:
791:Medium Mark B
789:
787:
784:
783:
781:
779:
775:
769:
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
730:
728:
726:
722:
715:
712:
710:
709:Little Willie
707:
706:
704:
702:
698:
695:
693:
689:
685:
681:
673:
668:
666:
661:
659:
654:
653:
650:
643:
640:
637:
636:1-84476-370-6
633:
629:
626:
623:
620:
617:
616:0-684-13651-1
613:
609:
606:
602:
598:
594:
593:
581:
575:
573:
563:
561:
559:
549:
547:
545:
535:
526:
522:
507:
502:
498:
493:
486:
481:
474:
469:
462:
457:
456:
450:
448:
444:
439:
437:
432:
428:
423:
414:
405:
403:
398:
390:
385:
376:
374:
369:
367:
363:
358:
353:
345:
336:
333:
329:
325:
320:
316:
306:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
275:
272:
268:
264:
254:
252:
248:
244:
240:
230:
224:
220:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
191:
190:petrol engine
187:
184:
180:
176:
168:
164:
156:
152:
150:
146:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
96:
92:
85:
82:
79:
75:
71:
68:
64:
59:
55:
51:
48:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
950:Background:
949:
890:Mark IX tank
889:
778:Medium tanks
627:
621:
607:
600:
579:
534:
525:
440:
430:
422:displacement
419:
396:
393:
370:
354:
350:
312:
283:G.J. Rackham
276:
260:
239:Mark IX tank
238:
236:
198:Power/weight
77:Manufacturer
72:G.J. Rackham
18:
725:Heavy tanks
436:bilge pumps
402:Dollis Hill
339:Description
299:Mark V tank
271:machine gun
257:Development
215:Operational
188:6-cylinder
90: built
970:Categories
812:Renault FT
701:Prototypes
590:References
206:Suspension
153:10 mm
93:34 (total)
768:Mark VIII
447:Bovington
366:loopholes
245:from the
171:Secondary
878:Carriers
763:Mark VII
743:Mark III
714:"Mother"
678:British
638:Page 121
599:(2001),
431:The Duck
295:sponsons
267:infantry
209:unsprung
173:armament
161:armament
66:Designer
25:Mark IX
805:Command
758:Mark VI
748:Mark IV
738:Mark II
682:of the
618:Page 46
453:Gallery
397:The Pig
324:Mark V*
253:(APC).
186:Ricardo
37:Mark IX
753:Mark V
733:Mark I
634:
614:
373:armour
182:Engine
149:Armour
127:Height
111:Length
904:Other
692:Tanks
517:Notes
263:tanks
217:range
119:Width
632:ISBN
612:ISBN
237:The
159:Main
135:Crew
103:Mass
43:Type
330:of
317:in
88:No.
70:Lt.
972::
954:,
571:^
557:^
543:^
449:.
445:,
404:.
671:e
664:t
657:v
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
