As the promised Mark IV tanks had not arrived by early 1917, it was decided, despite the protestations of Stern (see below), to ship the 25 training vehicles in Britain to France, where they joined the other 20 Mark IIs and 15 Mark Is at the Battle of Arras in April 1917.
Da de lovede Mark IV kampvogne ikke var ankommet i begyndelsen af 1917, blev det besluttet, trods protester fra Stern (se nedenfor), at sende de 25 træningskøretøjer i England til Frankrig, hvor de fik selskab af de andre 20 Mark II og 15 Mark I kampvogne i slaget ved Arras i april 1917.