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YET ANOTHER LITTLE MYSTERY
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| Many years ago I remember being puzzled by this fitting on the turret of a Medium Tank. I asked Colonel Peter Hordern, who was curator here at one time, and he said it was some sort of light, probably a signalling light. |
Tank Museum photo No 0733/D/5 |
| There was no reason to doubt this so for the want of any better information I settled for that. The other day we went to a Toy and Collectors’ Fair at Shepton Mallett and a friend came away with this exquisite model, in near enough mint condition. |
![[image] Dinky Toy 151a Medium Tank](images/new-images/dinky_toy_151a.jpg) |
This is Dinky Toy 151a Medium Tank which came out in 1937 and, as you can see, has that same odd fitting on the turret top. Which of course started a discussion.
As you can see the device is in the same place on the model and the top photo but now look below. |
![[image] Medium Mark I](images/new-images/bob_icks_medium_mark1.jpg) |
This photo comes from Colonel Bob Icks’ book Tanks and Armored Vehicles published in New York in 1945. As you can see this Medium Mark I has the same fitting, on the opposite side of the turret and sticking out in front of the turret on some sort of plate. Having surveyed all the photos in the Tank Museum collection we can make the following observations:-
It is only seen on Medium tanks in Britain, never in the Middle East or Australia for instance.
It is only on a few tanks, in groups one in three at the most.
It is not always in the same place on the turret.
W e have ruled out it being a light because we believe that it would have to retract inside the turret.
It might be a compass but if so it must be a repeater compass because the tank commander would never be able to see it from the cupola, and one in three might suggest a troop or section leader.
We have also abandoned the idea that it might be some sort of smoke bomb discharger again partly because it would be difficult to reach but also because, as you know, what goes up must come down and unless the launcher is set at an angle the odds are it would come down on the tank itself.
So, as ever, we are looking for the answer; guessing can be fun but it is not a lot of use but if you do actually know,
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Numbered photos can be bought from the Tank Museum Shop
(please note down the number of the photos you are interested in) |
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To view previous article(s) in this series, click here |
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