The absence of the large differential gear, as fitted on the earlier models, gave accommodation for a machine-gun in the rear wall of the tank, and also allowed for large entrance doors in the back portion of the roof.
A greatly improved type of rear cab was fitted, and thus provided excellent all-round vision, and also rendered possible the fitting of the unditching beam to the tracks from the inside of the machine. This was accomplished through the side flaps of the rear cab of the Mark V, whereas on previous models it had been necessary for members of the crew to expose themselves to hostile fire, in the event of the tank becoming ditched in action, as the beam could only be attached and detached from outside.
CHARACTERISTICS OF BRITISH TANKS USED DURING THE GREAT WAR
| Characteristics. | Mark I. | Mark IV. | Mark V. | Mark V star. | Medium Mark A. | Guncarrier. | ||||
| Male. | Female. | Male. | Female. | Male. | Female. | Male. | Female. | |||
| Length with Tail | 32′ 6″ | 32′ 6″ | 43′0″ | |||||||
| Length without Tail | 26′ 5″ | 26′ 5″ | 26′5″ | 26′5″ | 26′5″ | 26′5″ | 32′5″ | 32′5″ | 20′0″ | 30′0″ |
| Width | 13′ 9″ | 13′ 9″ | 13′6″ | 10′6″ | 13′6″ | 10′6″ | 13′6″ | 10′6″ | 8′7″ | 11′0″ |
| Height | 8′05″ | 8′05″ | 8′2″ | 8′2″ | 8′8″ | 8′8″ | 8′8″ | 8′8″ | 9′0″ | 9′4″ |
| Weight, equipped | 28 tons | 27 tons | 28 tons | 27 tons | 29 tons | 28 tons | 33 tons | 32 tons | 14 tons | 34 tons |
| Crew | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 7 O.R. | 1 officer 2 O.R. | 1 officer 3 O.R. |
| Armament | 2 6-pdrs. and 4 Hotchkiss guns | 5 M.G.s and 1 Hotchkiss gun | 2 6-pdrs. and 4 Lewis guns | 6 Lewis guns | 2 6-pdrs. and 4 Hotchkiss guns | 6 Hotchkiss guns | 2 6-pdrs. and 4 Hotchkiss guns | 6 Hotchkiss guns | 4 Hotchkiss guns | 1 Lewis gun |
| Engine | 105 h.p. Daimler | 105 h.p. Daimler | 105 h.p. Daimler | 105 h.p. Daimler | 150 h.p. Ricardo | 150 h.p. Ricardo | 150 h.p. Ricardo | 150 h.p. Ricardo | 2 Tyler, 45 h.p. each | 105 h.p. Daimler |
| Maximum Speed | 3.7 m.p.h. | 3.7 m.p.h. | 3.7 m.p.h. | 3.7 m.p.h. | 4.6 m.p.h. | 4.8 m.p.h. | 4.0 m.p.h. | 4.0 m.p.h. | 8.3 m.p.h. | 3.0 m.p.h. |
| Average Speed | 2.0 m.p.h. | 2.0 m.p.h. | 2.0 m.p.h. | 2.0 m.p.h. | 3.0 m.p.h. | 3.0 m.p.h. | 2.5 m.p.h. | 2.5 m.p.h. | 5.0 m.p.h. | 1.75 m.p.h. |
| Radius of Action | Hours 6.2, miles 12 | Hours 6.2, miles 12 | Hours 7.5, miles 15 | Hours 7.5, miles 15 | Hours 9.0, miles 25 | Hours 9.0, miles 25 | Hours 7.5, miles 18 | Hours 7.5,miles 18 | Hours 10.0, miles 40 | Hours 7.5, miles 15 |
| Spanning Power | 11′6″ | 11′6″ | 10′0″ | 10′0″ | 10′0″ | 10′0″ | 14′0″ | 14′0″ | 7′0″ | 11′6″ |
Note.—(i) The Mark V star tank could carry twenty men in addition to its crew.
(ii) The Gun-carrier could carry 10 tons weight of stores.
(iii) Radii of Action are only approximate; they depend on the nature of the ground, efficiency of the crew, etc.
The Mark V One Star Tank ([Plate VII]—see [p. 220])
The Mark V star machine was 6 ft. longer than the Mark V, and the weight of the male, equipped, was approximately 33 tons. There was no change in the nature of the armament, or in the number of the crew, which consisted of eight all told. In addition to the crew, the machine was capable of carrying twenty to twenty-five other troops and would cross a 14 ft. trench, as against 10 ft. for the Mark V.
The general mechanical arrangement of this tank corresponded with that of the Mark V, the same engine and transmission system being adopted, with the addition of a Cardan shaft between the flywheel and gear-box, which was rendered necessary by the additional length of the machine.