The Carden Loyd Mk VI Tankette: A Groundbreaking Piece of Military History

Introduction to the Carden Loyd Mk VI Tankette

Nicholas Moran, a veteran armor officer, introduces Shawn, a mechanical enthusiast who has taken on the ambitious task of creating an authentic reproduction of the Carden Loyd Mk VI tankette, a British interwar machine gun carrier. As Shawn explains, only one original model of this tankette remains today, located in the Bovington Tank Museum. Recognizing the rarity and importance of this vehicle, Shawn and his collaborator began producing reproductions, beginning with their purchase of the project in 2010 from its initial founder, Bob Grundy, who had started the effort in 1995.

Shawn details the distribution of their three completed reproductions. The first remains with Shawn, while the second went to the King of Jordan and the third resides with the Guernsey Armory. This armory, however, faces restrictions on operating tracked vehicles on the road, requiring the tankette to be transported by truck. From armor plating to tracks, the team has meticulously recreated original elements using patterns from surviving components. Shawn emphasizes the use of a Ford Model T engine to ensure fidelity to the original design. He notes that the lightweight, 20-horsepower engine paired with a two-speed gearbox mirrors the functionality and simplicity of the original vehicle.

The historical significance of the tankette, Shawn argues, is deeply rooted in its role as a pioneering vehicle in the development of light armored units. Originally designed for use as a machine gun carrier, the Carden Loyd Mk VI filled a gap in mobile infantry support during the interwar years. Worldwide interest in the vehicle at the time led to its adoption and modifications by several nations, including China, Japan, Germany, France, Poland, and Italy. Some countries gave it localized names and upgraded components, such as Poland's TK-33. France even developed its version, the Chenillette, which enclosed the gunner and driver for enhanced protection.

Shawn underscores the tankette’s importance in the evolution of armored vehicles, noting that it began as modest concepts, including attaching a machine gun to bicycles and tricycles before evolving into a tracked format. By the time the Mk VI emerged, it had proven its worth and became a stepping stone to creating more advanced vehicles.

Technical Features and Historical Design Process

Shawn explains the technical aspects of the Carden Loyd Mk VI, emphasizing simplicity and field adaptability as its core features. The vehicle is powered by a 20-horsepower Ford Model T engine, paired with a two-speed gearbox that uses a straightforward handbrake system for gear changes. Shawn describes the engineering as resourceful but rudimentary, showcasing how designs of the time maximized existing technology to meet new tactical needs.

The early iterations of the tankette began with attaching weapon mounts to modified tricycles and wheeled frames, which eventually evolved into semi-tracked and fully tracked systems. By the Mark VI, full tracks were adopted, making it a definitive model for traversing uneven terrain. Shawn highlights how foreign buyers frequently modified their tankettes to suit local operational needs, including replacing engines and redesigning the superstructure to enclose the crew more effectively.

Operational Capabilities and Usage of the Tankette

Discussing the tankette’s role on the battlefield, Shawn outlines its intended purpose as a mobile machine gun platform, critical for providing infantry with suppression fire. The design included mounts for a Vickers machine gun, which could be used either from a stationary position or while in motion. However, Shawn notes that firing the weapon while moving resulted in low accuracy, making its primary value more about suppressing enemies than inflicting precise damage.

Nicholas Moran and Shawn delve into comparisons with other light armored vehicles that followed. They reference vehicles such as the Bren gun carrier and universal carrier, tracing their lineage to the Mk VI tankette. These vehicles inherited and expanded upon the tankette’s fundamental concepts of mobile infantry support. Shawn points out that later developments included the light dragon, an artillery tractor designed to complement the original tankette’s field role.

From an operator’s perspective, Moran describes the cramped interior layout, complete with a horizontal tiller for steering and a pedal configuration inherited from the Model T. He humorously notes the challenges of fitting into the small vehicle and controlling it, highlighting the practicality and design constraints dictated by its compact size.

The Legacy and Reproduction of the Tankette

The importance of recreating the Carden Loyd Mk VI tankette extends beyond nostalgia, according to Shawn. By reviving a vehicle of such historical significance, these reproductions offer a tangible way to study military technology from the interwar period and better understand the development of mechanized warfare.

Shawn explains the intricate process of reverse-engineering the tankette: his team used original track patterns to recreate new components, ensuring that the reproductions would remain faithful to the 1928 designs. Among the reproduction challenges, he found the process of replicating the drive system particularly tricky, as its antiquated brake-band mechanics posed unique issues. Shawn notes that the tankette originally employed a convertible roof, referred to as an "Indian pattern hood," designed to offer some protection from harsh weather, especially in tropical climates. This attention to detail further enriched the authenticity of the reproduction.

What was said, and when

The points this article makes, who said each one, and the moment in the recording where it was said. Every time below opens the recording at that moment.

• Nicholas Moran introduces Shawn, who is creating an authentic reproduction of the Carden Loyd Mk VI tankette. 00:06.
• Only one original model of the Carden Loyd Mk VI tankette remains, located in the Bovington Tank Museum. Shawn, 00:14.
• Shawn and his collaborator began producing reproductions after purchasing the project in 2010 from Bob Grundy, who started it in 1995. 00:20.
• Three reproductions of the Carden Loyd Mk VI tankette have been completed: one stays with Shawn, one is with the King of Jordan, and one is at the Guernsey Armory. 00:26.
• The Guernsey Armory faces restrictions on operating tracked vehicles on the road, requiring the tankette to be transported by truck. Shawn, 00:47.
• Shawn's team has recreated original elements of the tankette using patterns from surviving components. 01:04.
• The reproduction uses a Ford Model T engine to maintain fidelity to the original design. Nicholas Moran, 01:21.
• The tankette’s lightweight, 20-horsepower engine paired with a two-speed gearbox mirrors the functionality of the original vehicle. Nicholas Moran, 01:21.
• The Carden Loyd Mk VI was originally designed as a machine gun carrier filling a gap in mobile infantry support during the interwar years. Shawn, 03:04.
• Worldwide interest in the tankette led to its adoption and modification by nations such as China, Japan, Germany, France, Poland, and Italy. Shawn, 01:30.
• Poland developed the TK-33 variant of the tankette. Shawn, 01:30.
• France created the Chenillette variant, which enclosed the gunner and driver for enhanced protection. Shawn, 02:51.
• The tankette evolved from concepts such as attaching machine guns to bicycles and tricycles. Shawn, 02:21.
• By the time of the Mk VI, full tracks were adopted, enhancing its ability to traverse uneven terrain. Shawn, 02:30.
• The Carden Loyd Mk VI tankette was powered by a 20-horsepower Ford Model T engine with a two-speed gearbox and a handbrake system for gear changes. Nicholas Moran, 01:21.
• Early iterations of the tankette included semi-tracked and fully tracked systems. Shawn, 02:30.
• Foreign buyers frequently modified tankettes to local needs, including changes to engines and redesigning the superstructure. Shawn, 02:30.
• The tankette’s primary purpose was as a mobile machine gun platform, providing infantry suppression fire. Shawn, 03:04.
• The vehicle was designed to mount a Vickers machine gun for stationary or mobile firing. Shawn, 03:19.
• Firing the Vickers machine gun while moving resulted in low accuracy, emphasizing its suppressive capability. Shawn, 03:19.
• Vehicles like the Bren gun carrier and universal carrier trace their lineage to the Mk VI tankette. Shawn, 03:45.
• The light dragon, an artillery tractor, was a later development complementing the tankette’s role. Shawn, 03:58.
• The Mk VI tankette had a cramped interior, requiring occupants to navigate with a horizontal tiller for steering and pedals similar to a Ford Model T. Shawn, 05:25.
• Recreating the tankette involved reverse-engineering components, ensuring designs remained faithful to the 1928 original. Shawn, 01:04.
• The reproduction had difficulties replicating the antiquated brake-band mechanics of the original drive system. Nicholas Moran, 07:33.
• The tankette originally employed a convertible roof, referred to as an "Indian pattern hood," for weather protection, particularly in tropical climates. Nicholas Moran, 08:10.
• The effort as a way to study military technology from the interwar period and mechanized warfare development. Nicholas Moran, 01:53.