This week we look at the series of machine gun armed British light
tanks of the 1930s, and add two new book reviews
LIGHT TANKS
The Light Tank Mark I of 1930 was the first light tank to be ordered
into production for the British Army, although only a very small
number were produced, and the type was used for experiments and trials
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkI.html
The Light Tank Mark IA was the second light tank to be ordered by the
British Army, and was a slightly improved version of the Mark I.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkIA.html
The Light Tank Mark II was the first light tank to be produced in
significant numbers for the British Army, although only sixteen of the
basic Mark II were produced, alongside 29 Mark IIAs and 21 Mark IIBs.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkII.html
The Light Tank Mark IIA was the designation given to twenty nine Mark
IIs built by the Royal Ordnance Factory at Woolwich during 1931.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkIIA.html
The Light Tank Mark IIB was the designation given to twenty one Mark
IIs built by Vickers-Armstrong during 1931.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkIIB.html
The Light Tank Mark III was a slightly modified version of the Mark
IIA, produced by the Royal Ordnance Factory at Woolwich.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkIII.html
The Light Tank Mark IV was the last two-man light tank to be produced
for the British Army, and the first in which the armoured hull was
used as the chassis
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkIV.html
The Light Tank Mark V was the first three-man light tank to be
produced for the British Army, after a series of two-man tanks.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkV.html
The Light Tank Mark VI was the most numerically important light tank
to see service with the British Army, with 1,682 produced in four
versions between 1935 and 1940.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_light_tank_mkVI.html
BOOK REVIEWS
English Castles 1200-1300, Christopher Gravett. A useful introduction
to the topic, covering the construction and design of the castle, life
in the castle in war and peace and the main conflicts that involved
the English castles during this period. Well illustrated, with some
good reconstructions of castles as they might have appeared at the
time.
http://www.historyofwar.org/bookpage/gravett_english_castles.html
Fallen Eagle: How the Royal Navy Captured Napoleon, Norman MacKenzie.
A fascinating book that looks at the crucial period between the battle
of Waterloo and Napoleon going into exile on St. Helena, giving an
insight into the political manoeuvring in Paris that led to Napoleon's
second fall from power and the concerns of the British naval officers
to whom he surrendered.
http://www.historyofwar.org/bookpage/mackenzie_fallen_eagle.html
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