Valentine Tank - Variants

Variants

Valentine I (Tank, Infantry, Mk III): (350 units produced); The first model of the Valentine, it was not sent out due to problems from rushed production. The tank had riveted hull, was powered by AEC A189 135 hp petrol engine and equipped with a 2 pdr. gun and a coaxial Besa machine gun. Its two-man turret forced the commander to also act as the gun-loader.

Valentine II (Tank, Infantry, Mk III*): (700); This model used AEC A190 131 hp 6-cylinder diesel engine. In order to increase its range, an auxiliary external fuel tank was installed to the left of the engine compartment.

Valentine III: Modifications to the turret design - moving the front turret plate forward and a larger rear bulge - gave room for the addition of a dedicated loader to ease the duties of the commander. The side armour was reduced from 60 mm to 50 mm to save weight.

Valentine IV: A Mark II using an American 138 hp GMC 6004 diesel engine and US-made transmission. Though it had slightly shorter range, it was quieter and highly reliable.

Valentine V: Valentine III with the GMC 6004 diesel engine and US-made transmission.

Valentine VI: Canadian-built version of IV. Initially known as Tank, Infantry Mark III*** It used some Canadian and American mechanical parts and a GMC diesel engine. Late production vehicles had cast glacis detail along with more use of cast sections instead of fabricated. First 15 produced with a 7.92 mm Besa coaxial machinegun, thereafter replaced by a 0.30 inch Browning coaxial machinegun.

Valentine VII: Another Canadian version, it was essentially the VI with internal changes and No. 19 Wireless replaced the No. 11 radio set.

Valentine VIIA: Mark VII with jettisonable fuel tanks, new studded tracks, oil cooler and protected headlights.

Valentine VIII: AEC diesel engine and turret modification to take 6 pdr gun, this meant the loss of the coaxial machine gun.

Valentine IX: A V upgraded to the 6 pdr gun as VIII. Similar armour reduction as the VIII. On late production units an upgraded, 165 hp version of the GMC 6004 diesel was installed, somewhat improving mobility.

Valentine X: A new turret design so that a Besa coaxial machinegun could be mounted again. Welded construction. The 165 hp engine was used in place of the 130 hp engine in some production.

Valentine XI: An X upgraded with the OQF 75 mm gun and 210 hp version of the GMC 6004 diesel. Welded construction. The Canadian cast nose introduced into British production Only served as a command tank.

Valentine DD: Valentine Mk V, IX and Mk XI, made amphibious by the use of Nicholas Straussler's Duplex Drive. Conversions by Metro-Cammell of 625 tanks delivered in 1943-1944. Used by crews training for the M4 Sherman DD tanks of the Normandy Landings as well as training in Italy and India. A few were used in Italy in 1945

Valentine OP / Command: Observation Post and command version with extra radios. To give more space inside, the gun was replaced with a dummy.

Valentine CDL: A continuation of the Canal Defence Light experiments. The conventional turret was replaced with one containing a searchlight.
Valentine Scorpion II: Mine exploder, turretless with flail attachment. Never used operationally.
Valentine AMRA Mk Ib: Mine exploder with Armoured Mine Roller Attachment. Never used operationally.
Valentine Snake: Mine exploder, using Snake mine clearing equipment. Few used operationally.
Valentine Bridgelayer: An armoured bridgelaying vehicle; a turretless Mk II fitted with 34 ft x 9.5 ft Class 30 scissors bridge. Several dozen were produced, some of them supplied to the USSR. Used in action in Italy, Burma and North-west Europe.
Valentine with 6pdr anti-tank mounting: Experimental vehicle built by Vickers-Armstrong to examine the possibility of producing a simple tank destroyer by mounting the 6pdr in its field carriage on the hull in place of the turret. Trials only, 1942 not required since the Valentine could be fitted with a 6-pdr in a turret
Valentine Flamethrowers: Two Valentine tanks were modified to carry flamethrowers. These were tested by the Petroleum Warfare Department to determine which system was best for a tank-mounted flame projector. One used a projector pressurised by slow burning cordite charges (designed by Ministry of Supply) and one designed by AEC with the PWD used a projector operated by compressed hydrogen gas. Both carried the flamethrower fuel in a trailer and the flame projector was mounted on the hull front. Trials started in 1942 and it showed that the gas-operated system was better. From this test installation was developed the Crocodile equipment for the Churchill Crocodile flamethrower used in the North West Europe campaign in 1944-45.
Valentine 9.75 inch flame mortar: Experimental vehicle with turret replaced by fixed heavy mortar intended to fire 25 lb TNT incendiary shells to demolish concrete emplacements. Trials only by Petroleum Warfare Dept, 1943-45. Effective range was 400 yards (maximum range 2,000 yards).
Burmark: "Ark" design using Valentine hull for a light ramp tank to be used in Far East. End of the war precluded further development.
Gap Jumping Tank: Experiments with rockets late in the war to propel a Valentine tank across an obstacle such as a minefield.