Valentine Tank - History

History

Valentine started as a proposal based on their experience with the A9, A10 specification cruiser tanks and the A11 (Infantry Tank Mk I). As a private design by Vickers-Armstrongs it did not receive a General Staff "A" designation; it was submitted to the War Office on 10 February 1938. The development team tried to match the lower weight of a cruiser tank - allowing the suspension and transmission parts of the A10 heavy cruiser to be used - with the greater armour of an infantry tank. Working to a specification for a 60mm armour basis (the same as the A.11) but with a 2 pdr gun in a two man turret (the A.11 was armed only with a heavy machine gun), and a lower silhouette and as a light as possible resulted in a very compact vehicle with a cramped interior. Its armour was weaker than the Infantry Tank Mk II "Matilda" but, due to a lower powered engine, the lighter tank had the same top speed; however, the new design was easier to produce and much less expensive.

The War Office was initially deterred by the size of the turret since they considered a turret crew of three necessary to free the vehicle commander from direct involvement in operating the gun. Concerned by the situation in Europe, however, it finally approved the design in April 1939 and placed the first order in July for deliveries in May 1940. At the start of the war, Vickers were instructed to give priority to the production of tank. The vehicle reached trials in May 1940, which coincided with the loss of much of Britain's materiel in France during the evacuation at Dunkirk. The trials were successful and the vehicle was rushed into production as Tank, Infantry, Mark III; no pilot models were required as much of the mechanics had been proven on the A10, and it entered service from July 1941.

The first Valentines used a petrol engine with conventional steering. The Mark II used a diesel version of the engine and the Mark IV a GMC 'Detroit' diesel; these were the majority of those used in the desert campaigns. Improved tracks were added and the No. 19 Wireless replaced the No. 11.

The Valentine remained in production until April 1944, becoming Britain's most-produced tank during the war, with 6,855 units manufactured in the UK by Vickers, Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage and Wagon and Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon. Metropolitan and the BRCW had both built small numbers of the A.10 and so had previous experience: their production runs were just finishing and they delivered their first Valentines in mid-1940. Production by Vickers peaked at 20 tanks per week, in 1943.

For developing its own tank forces, Canada had established its own tank production facilities. After modifications to the Valentine design, to use local standards and materials, 1,420 were produced Canada. All, bar a few of the Canadian production, were sent to the Soviet-Union, alongside 2,394 of British production. They formed the Commonwealth's main export to the Soviet Union under the lend-lease programme. The remaining 30 were retained for training. The use of local GMC 'Detroit' diesel engine in Canadian production, was regarded as a success and the engine was subsequently adopted for British production.