Valentine tank

Name

There are several proposed explanations for the name Valentine. According to the most popular one, the design was presented to the War Office on St. Valentine's Day, 14 February 1940, although some sources say that the design was submitted on Valentine's Day 1938 or 10 February 1938. White notes that "incidentally" Valentine was the middle name of Sir John V. Carden, the man who was responsible for many tank designs including that of the Valentine's predecessors, the A10 and A11. Another version says that Valentine is an acronym for Vickers-Armstrong Ltd Elswick & (Newcastle-upon) Tyne. The "most prosaic" explanation according to David Fletcher is that it was just an in-house codeword of Vickers with no other significance.

Development

The Valentine started as a proposal based on Vickers' 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 60 mm (2.4 in) armour basis (the same as the A.11) but with a 2-pounder gun in a two-man turret (the A.11 was armed only with a heavy machine gun), a lower silhouette and as light as possible, resulted in a very compact vehicle with a cramped interior. Compared to the earlier Infantry Tank Mk II "Matilda", the Valentine had somewhat weaker armour and almost the same top speed. By using components already proven on the A9 and A10, 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, 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 tanks. The vehicle reached trials in May 1940, which coincided with the loss of much of the army's equipment in France, during Operation Dynamo, the evacuation from 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.

Production

Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage and Wagon—an associate company of Vickers—and Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW) were contracted to produce the Valentine. Metropolitan and the BRCW had built small numbers of the A10, their production runs were just finishing and they delivered their first Valentines in mid-1940. Metropolitan used two sites, with Wednesbury joined by their Midland site in production of the Valentine. Vickers output started at ten per month rising to 45 per month in a year and peaking at 20 per week in 1943, before production was slowed and then production of the Valentine and derivatives stopped in 1945. Vickers-Armstrong produced 2,515 vehicles and Metropolitan 2,135, total UK production was 6,855 tanks.

To develop its own tank forces, Canada had established tank production facilities. An order was placed in 1940 with Canadian Pacific and after modifications to the Valentine design to use local standards and materials, the production prototype was finished in 1941. Canadian production was mainly at CPR Angus Shops in Montreal and 1,420 were produced in Canada of which most were sent to the Soviet-Union, with 2,394 exported from Britain. They formed the main Commonwealth export to the Soviet Union under lend-lease. The remaining 30 were retained for training. The use of local GMC Detroit Diesel engines in Canadian production was a success and the engine was adopted for British production. British and Canadian production totalled 8,275, making the Valentine was the most produced British tank design of the war.

Vehicle layout

The Valentine was of conventional layout, divided internally into three compartments; from front to back the driver's position, the fighting compartment with the turret and then the engine and transmission driving the tracks through rear sprockets. The driver's area contained only the driver and the driving controls. The driver sat on hull centre line, entering through either of two angled hatches over the seat, though there was an emergency exit hatch beneath his seat. The driver had a direct vision port—cut in what was one of the hull's cross members—in front of him and two periscopes in the roof over his head. Driving was by clutch and brake steering through levers, whose control rods ran the length of the hull to the transmission at the rear.

Behind the driver was a bulkhead that formed another hull cross-member and separated him from the fighting compartment. The first tanks had a two-man turret, the gunner on the left of the gun and the commander acting also as the loader on the right. When three-man turrets were introduced, the commander sat to the rear of the turret. The turret was made up of a cast front and a cast rear riveted to the side plates which were of rolled steel. All tanks carried the radio in the turret rear. Early tanks used the Wireless set No. 11 with tannoy for the crew; later tanks had Wireless Set No. 19, which included crew communications with long and short range networks. Turret rotation was by electric motor controlled by the gunner, with a hand-wheel for manual backup. The restrictions that the two-man turret placed on the commander, made more so if they were a troop commander and responsible for directing the actions of two other tanks besides their own, were addressed by enlarging the turret for the Mark III so that a loader for the main armament could be carried. The turret ring diameter was not changed, so the extra space was found by moving the gun mounting forward in an extended front plate and increasing the bulge in the rear of the turret. This increased weight by half a ton on the 2.5 long tons (2.5 t) two-man turret.

A bulkhead separated the fighting compartment from the engine compartment. The engine, clutch and gearbox were bolted together to form a single unit. The first Valentines used a petrol engine and the diesel engine which distinguished the Mark II—at the time Tank Infantry Mark III*— from the Mark I, was based on the AEC Comet, a commercial road vehicle engine. The Mark IV used a GMC Detroit Diesel; these were the majority of those used in the desert campaigns. The gearbox was a 5-speed, 1-reverse Meadows; improved tracks were added to later marks.

Combat history

The Valentine was extensively used in the North African Campaign, earning a reputation as a reliable and well-protected vehicle, which replaced the Matilda Tank. The first tanks went in action with the 8th Royal Tank Regiment in Operation Crusader. During the pursuit from El Alamein, some tanks drove more than 3,000 miles (4,800 km) by the time the Eighth Army reached Tunisia. The tank first served in Operation Crusader in the North African desert, when it began to replace the Matilda Tank. Due to a lack of cruisers, it was issued to armoured regiments in the UK from mid-1941. The Valentine was better armed and faster than the Cruiser Mk II.

The Valentine shared the common weakness of the British tanks of the period, its 2-pounder gun lacked high-explosive (anti-personnel) ammunition and soon became outdated as an anti-tank weapon. Introduction of the 6-pounder in British service was delayed until the loss of equipment at Dunkirk had been made good, so the 2-pounder was retained longer. The small size of the turret and of the turret ring meant that producing mountings for larger guns proved a difficult task. Although versions with the 6-pounder and then with the Ordnance QF 75 mm gun were developed, by the time they were available in significant numbers, better tanks had reached the battlefield. Another weakness was the small crew compartment and the two-man turret. A larger turret, with a loader position added, was used in some of the 2-pounder versions but the position had to be removed again in variants with larger guns. Its relatively low height was an advantage in a battlefield with little cover, allowing it to take up a "good hull-down position in any convenient fold in the ground".

By 1944, the Valentine had been almost replaced in front-line units of the European theatre by the A22, Infantry Tank Mark IV (Churchill tank) and the US-made Sherman tank. A few were used for special purposes or as command vehicles for units equipped with the Archer self-propelled gun.

In the Pacific, 25 Valentine Mk III and nine Valentine Mk IIICS tanks were employed by the 3rd New Zealand Division in the south-west Pacific campaign. Trials in New Zealand had found that the locally developed 2 pounder HE shell lacked power, especially compared to the 18-pounder shell of the 3-inch howitzer, so 18 Valentine Mk III were converted to Valentine Mk IIICS standard by having their main armament replaced by the QF 3-inch howitzer taken from Matilda Mk IVCS tanks, surplus to New Zealand requirements. Other modifications to the nine Valentine Mk IIICS tanks deploying to the pacific included Infantry telephones. The converted tanks carried 21 HE and 14 smoke shells. The other nine 3-inch armed tanks and 16 normal Valentines (with 2-pounder guns) remained in New Zealand for training, the Valentines being retired in 1960.

In Soviet service, the Valentine was used from the Battle of Moscow until the end of the war, mainly in the second line. Although criticized for its low speed and weak gun, the Valentine was liked due to its small size, reliability and good armour protection. Soviet Supreme Command asked for its production till the end of the war. The last use of a Valentine in combat is thought to have occurred during the Cypriot intercommunal violence of the early-1960s. A turret-less Valentine, that had previously been used in a quarry, was used by Greek militia, fitted with an improvised armoured casement, from which a gunner could fire a Bren gun. The vehicle survives and is owned by the Cypriot National Guard, who intend to place it in a proposed new military museum.

Variants

Valentine I (Tank, Infantry, Mk III): (308)

The first model of the Valentine was not used, due to problems from rushed production. Production was by Vickers, Metro Cammell and Birmingham Railway The tank had a riveted hull, was powered by AEC A189 135 hp petrol engine and equipped with a 2-pounder gun and a coaxial Besa machine gun. Its two-man turret forced the commander to also act as the loader.

Valentine II (Tank, Infantry, Mk III*): (700)

Until the Valentine name adopted in June 1941, known as "Tank, Infantry, Mark III*". 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 a loader to ease the duties of the commander. The side armour was reduced from 60 mm (2.4 in) to 50 mm (2.0 in) to save weight.

Valentine IIICS

New Zealand modification of 18 Valentine III carried out by replacing the 2 pounder with a 3" Howitzers from Matilda IVCS tanks.

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 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 ones. The first fifteen were produced with a 7.92 mm Besa coaxial machine-gun, thereafter replaced by a coaxial 0.30 inch Browning machine-gun.

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-pounder gun. The latter meant the loss of the coaxial machine-gun.

Valentine IX

A V upgraded to the 6-pounder 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 machine-gun 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 for the Normandy Landings as well as training in Italy and India. A few were used in Italy in 1945.

Valentine OP / Command

Artillery Observation Post and command version with extra radios. To give more space inside, the gun was removed and a dummy barrel fitted to the front of the turret.

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 line charge equipment. A few used operationally.

Valentine Bridgelayer

An armoured bridgelaying vehicle; a turretless Mk II fitted with 10 m (34 ft) long by 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in) wide Class 30 (capable of bearing 30 long tons (34 short tons)) 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 6-pounder anti-tank mounting

Experimental vehicle built by Vickers-Armstrong to examine the possibility of producing a simple tank destroyer by mounting the 6-pounder 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-pounder in a turret

Valentine Flame-throwers

Two Valentine tanks were modified to carry flame-throwers and 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 the Ministry of Supply) and one designed by AEC with the PWD using a projector operated by compressed hydrogen gas. Both carried the flame-thrower fuel in a trailer and the flame projector was mounted on the hull front. Trials started in 1942 and showed that the gas-operated system was better. From this test installation was developed the Crocodile equipment for the Churchill Crocodile flame-thrower used in the North West Europe campaign in 1944–45.

Valentine 9.75-inch flame mortar

Experimental vehicle with the turret replaced by fixed heavy mortar intended to fire 25 lb TNT incendiary shells to demolish concrete emplacements. Trials only by the Petroleum Warfare Dept, 1943–45. Effective range was 400 yards (370 m) (maximum range 2,000 yards (1,800 m)).

Burmark

"Ark" design using Valentine hull for a light ramp tank to be used in Far East. The 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.

Specialist and Experimental Variants

Operators

 Australia

Canada

Canadian Army received 30 of 1,420 tanks built in Canada. Valentines were used for training purposes.

 Czechoslovakia

11th Infantry Battalion repaired two Valentine wrecks in Tobruk.

1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group received Valentines in spring 1943. These tanks were the first ones officially operated by the Czechoslovak exile army in WWII.

 Iran

Imperial Iranian Ground Forces received some ex-Lend Lease tanks from the USSR after WWII.

 Nazi Germany

Captured Valentines were pressed into service with the Afrika Korps and were designated Infanterie Panzerkampfwagen Mk III 749 (e).

 New Zealand

New Zealand received;

100 Valentine II

75 Valentine III, 18 converted to Valentine IIICS

81 Valentine V

11 Valentine Bridgelayers

 Poland

Polish 1st Armoured Division and various other units of Polish Armed Forces in the West operated Valentine tanks for training.

 Portugal  Romania

Romanian Army captured four Mk III tanks from the Red Army, which were used for testing and anti-tank training.

Soviet Union

Red Army through Lend-Lease received 2,394 British-built and 1,390 Canadian-built tanks.

 Turkey

 United Kingdom

Vehicles based on Valentine chassis

SP 17pounder, Valentine, Mk I, Archer

Carrier, Valentine, 25pounder gun Mk I, Bishop

Tank, Infantry, Valiant (A38)

Around forty Valentine tanks and vehicles based on the Valentine chassis survive. Tanks in running condition are at the Bovington Tank Museum (Mark IX) and in private hands in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The Bovington collection includes two other Valentines, a Mark II and a Valentine Scissors Bridgelayer.

Other examples are displayed at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in the UK; the Royal Military Museum in Brussels, Belgium; the Musée des Blindés, Saumur, France and the Kubinka Tank Museum, Russia; the South African National Museum of Military History.

The Cavalry Tank Museum Ahmednagar, India. have a Valentine Tank and a Valentine Bridge Layer.

In the United States, the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation and the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles own Valentines.

A number of Valentine hulls are in private ownership in Australia. These were sent there after the war for use as agricultural vehicles. Two Canadian-built Valentines survive, Valentine Tank Mk VIIA, no. 838, built May 1943, was a Lend-Lease tank shipped to the Soviet Union. It fell through the ice of a boggy river near Telepino (Telepyne, Ukraine), during a Soviet counter-offensive on January 25, 1944. In 1990 a 74-year-old villager helped locate the tank and it was recovered and offered as a Glasnost-era gift to Canada. It was presented to the Canadian War Museum by independent Ukraine in 1992 and stands on display in the LeBreton Gallery. A Valentine built by Canadian Pacific resides at the Base Borden Military Museum in Barrie, Ontario.

A notable survivor is the only intact DD Valentine, this has been restored to running condition and is in the United Kingdom, privately owned by John Pearson. A number of DD Valentines that sank during training lie off the British coast; several have been located and are regularly visited by recreational divers. Two Valentines lie in the Moray Firth in Scotland and two lie 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) out of Poole Bay in Dorset. These tanks lie 100 metres (110 yd) apart in 15 metres (49 ft) of water. A further tank is known to lie in around 10 metres (11 yd) of water in Bracklesham Bay, south of Chichester in West Sussex; the hull and turret are clearly recognizable as it sits on a gravel mound.

In October 2012, a Valentine Mk IX tank that fell through ice while crossing a river in western Poland during the Soviet Army's march to Berlin was recovered. This, the only surviving Valentine Mk IX to have actually seen combat, is reportedly well preserved and could possibly be restored to operational condition in the future.