Britannia (tank)

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Britannia is a preserved First World War British Mark IV Female heavy tank. It toured Canada and the United States to raise money.[1] Later renamed Liberty it is now displayed at the United States Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen, Maryland.[2]

Mark IV
British tank Britannia in Victory Loan Parade, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TypeTank
Place of originUK
Service history
Used byBritish Army
US Army
WarsFirst World War
Production history
Designer
Manufacturersee text
Unit costabout £5,000
Specifications
Mass31.4 tons (28.4 tonnes)
Female: 27 tons (27.4 tonnes)
Length26 ft 5 in (8.05 m)
WidthMale: 13 ft 6 in (4.12 m)
Crew8

Armour0.5 inches (12 mm)
Main
armament
Female: five .303 Lewis guns
EngineDaimler-Foster, 6-cylinder in-line sleeve valve 16 litre petrol engine
105 bhp at 1,000 rpm
TransmissionPrimary: 2 Forward, 1 Reverse
Secondary – 2 speed
Fuel capacity70 Imperial gallons
Operational
range
35 mi (56 km)
Maximum speed 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
Tank on display
Liberty as it is now displayed at the United States Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen, Maryland

History

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The Tank was reported as taking part in battles in Flanders.[1]

In 1917 it toured Canada as part of the Victory Loan Parade to sell war bonds; it was seen on the streets of Montreal on November 19, 1917,[3] and Toronto on November 21, 1917.[4]

On February 23, 1918, it was reported that it got into an accident during a training exercise at Fort Dix, New Jersey, [5] the tank then toured, for the Liberty Loan parade under the Britannia name.[6] It was in the second Liberty Loan parade in New York City during February of 1918.[7] Also, appearing in Boston in April 1918.[6]

Preservation

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It was renamed Liberty and is now displayed at the United States Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen, Maryland, joining the Ordnance Museum collection in 1919. After decades of exposure to the elements, it is in poor condition.[2]

See also

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Notes

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References

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