Question for engineers who know WW1 tanks, or others who have advice

I absolutely love the WWI Mark V British tank and it has been a goal of mine to have at least a model of it because its my favorite tank in the world. I had an idea a couple years ago that what if you took the designs of the Mk V and made it "modern". So you would have the outwards appearance of the Mk V but you have the armor, weapons, power, and all that other jazz of say a Abrams tank. I know its an extreme idea based on how much it costs to build a Abrams but its only an idea. My dream for a while now is to take iconic tanks of WWI and WWII and make them able to stand up to modern tanks in a fight. Mainly because there is nothing more awesome in my mind than seeing a tank from WWII going toe to toe with an Abrams in my mind. But i guess my question is that how costly would it be to try and make Mk V modern, so really the only thing still WWI about it would be its appearance. It would be a thing that could travel around going to fairs and things like that so that people could see something that they would normally have to go to a museum in Europe for. So again, how good of a plan is it and would it really be worth it. If so then how much would it probably cost to do such a thing

 

Welcome to the forums litealfire, I too think about things like this, WW2 era weaponry going against modern weaponry, not necessarily armor, but similar things. As awesome as it would be too see such a spectacle, it would absolutely be hugely expensive, and for most of those tanks, you would have to essentially remake the tank for it to use modern engines, modern transmission, modern guns, and modern day Cannons mounted on Tanks can penetrate just about everything made before 1990, so you would have to add huge amounts of armor to many tanks, but even then that still might not be enough. Cool idea, in a different dimension where such a thing was possible, yeah it would be worth it. Here in reality though, it's definitely not worth it, possible, or practical.

 

I think you could create a modern version of a WWI tank pretty reasonably but it would be like the modern Me-262s. Not really a weapon system but also a lot more reliable and easier to use.

If you try to use a WWI design or even a WWII one and get the military performance, i.e. mobility, survivability, and lethality of say an Abrams you are looking at something that would have to be bigger and heavier than an Abrams vastly more expensive. Now you could take modern materials and make a version that was superior to the one of the time. In the case of a WWI tank that might not even be too expensive (aside from the lethality part).

 

Well thank you all for your input and like i said this is only an idea. I knew from the start that a Mk V would never be able to stand up against a Abrams but i could at least try and match the mobility of it or just as best as i could. Besides there wouldnt be much of a point in upgrading the weapons because i wouldnt want to be in it in a combat situation. Ive always just played around with the idea and even got in touch a long while ago with some people who hand built a Renault Ft 17 replica and they said they did the same thing i would want to but since it is inherently smaller and lighter their main goal was to just make it faster and slightly more mobile in turning so they could drive it around in their towns parade. But once again thanks for all the info, and who knows, if i some how luck up to be one of the few who make it rich then i might even still try it.

 

Nein! Amerikaner schweinhund! Need Bren Carrier mit Panzerschreck fur kaputting Bolshevik panzer und neighbour kids!

 

And on recreation rather than improving on, Guy Martin, JCB & the Norfolk Tank Museum did a cracking replica very recently:
Guy Martin's WWI Tank - All 4

 

Yes you could do this but i would think, why not just get a M4 sherman Calliope and then you have multiple rockets and a main gun as well as a proper tank

 

Well ill be darned somebody is actually doing this. I will be sure to watch this so thank you very much. Though im not crazy about the yellow and brown color but still its another Mk V replica

 

Why not the Calliope? Because Deutsche engineering ist best engineering. Who else could take a filthy Englander tracked gerat and turn it into a wunderwaffe ersatz Panzerjager? Almost as ingenious as the carbon-neutral "Eselpanzerjager mit Funkgerat":



Plus, I like my Shermans without a set of wrongly-assembled scaffolding and surplus plumbing material on the top. And besides, it wouldn't fit into my garage any more if I did the mod.

 

Yeah, yeah. We get it.
Just start the 'life with Easy' thread so we can abuse you properly, while squirming in inadequate envy!

 

I despise you right now with such a burning passion...."Not Available in your area", not to mention I have to be to work in an hour.

 

I'll see your Panzerfaustenburro and raise you a pack of hounds with dynamite packs! Oh wait, the Russkies tried that...

.

 

It's a IV, though I'll concede they can be a bugger to tell apart without a front view.
Colours are just undercoats.

I am kind of unlikable!
Though Mr Martin may need subtitling for the USA. Maybe that delays the transfer.
Doubtless it'll be on Quest or something soon.
It's a relatively light programme, though the glimpses of technology applied were remarkable. Particularly JCB's computers, cutting, & welding.
End result an entirely convincing WW1 replica, though their hunt for a Ricardo engine proved fruitless. Think they used a more modern Rolls in the end.

 

well i seriously didnt expect a simple question to blow up into this. I say let it go on and i guess the calliope wouldnt be the best for a garage but then again, most tanks arnt especially since you would practically destroy the concrete floor and driveway if you have one.

 

You might want to build it on an existing chassis, it may not be an exact model but it will conserve lots of time and effort.

 

Nah, then you end up with that Centurion based thing.
Looks alright from a distance, but always basically wrong.


(Cent ARV based, $100,000 to make for 'League of extraordinary gentlemen' in 2003. Flogged on Milweb for £25k)

Start from scratch! Build it in Polymer!


Maybe a couple of light escorts?
The Weald chaps are almost done with their Ft17 & Tsf
The Weald Foundation | Military Vehicles & Tank Restoration Projects
Perhaps they'll have time to build your turbine powered Mk.V.

Yeah, 'George', watch that Garage floor.
You bastard.