Although the vertical volute spring suspension was reinforced compared to the CTL tanks, it was not really fit to support a weight of 22 US tons (20,000kg). The MTLS tank was an enlarged version of the CTMS tank which, in turn, was based on the Combat Tank Light series (CTL), designed by Marmon-Herrington in the mid-1930’s.
Photo: Nicholas ‘The Chieftain’ Moran Design Both pictures taken at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The production order was taken over by the US Army and production of the 200 MTLS was halted by the US after just 125 pieces had been built. Due to the company having no experience handling an order this big, they suffered from huge production delays and only a small number of the CTLS made it to the East Indies before Java was occupied by the Japanese and all transports were canceled. It was agreed that the complete order of CTMS and CTLS and 100 MTLS tanks should be delivered before 1st July 1942. Two hundred of these were the MTLS-1GI4 model. So, the KNIL turned to the United States and bought a total of 628 Marmon-Herrington tanks instead. Four Vickers tanks, including two amphibious models, were obtained and, satisfied with the results of testing, the KNIL placed an order for 73 light tanks and 45 gun-armed command tanks, but due to the outbreak of the war, only 20 light tanks were delivered before the UK blocked all exports. Starting in 1936, the KNIL tried to re-equip itself, as it had been neglected for nearly twenty years.
Photo: Nicholas ‘The Chieftain’ Moran Dutch order The unusual machine-gun mount in the side of the turret stands out. Armed with twin 37mm guns and up to 7 machine guns, the tank was a one of a kind. During the spring of 1941, 200 pieces were ordered by the Netherlands Purchase Commision for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (Dutch: Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger, abbreviated to ‘KNIL’), in a desperate move to equip itself with tanks. The Marmon-Herrington MTLS-1GI4 is probably the most unusual tank produced by the Marmon-Herrington company before and during the Second World War. United States of America/Kingdom of the Netherlands (1941-1957)
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