The Valentine  At quick glance there would seem to have been little point the Valentine in 1940 as the tank offered essentially the same as the Matilda II but had thinner armour, at closer inspection the Valentine had significant advantages over the Matilda II, it was approximately 20% cheaper to build than the Matilda II, it required around 30% less man hours to build than a Matilda II and it was exceptionally reliable. The first production Valentine was completed in June 1940, too late to see action in France. Production increased rapidly and by the end of the year, despite only being in production for half the year nearly equalled Matilda II production for the entire year. The Valentine is odd in British tank doctrine as it didn't fit properly into either a Cruiser or Infantry tank concept but it was liked by it's crews as it was easy to drive and more importantly was extremely reliable, something that couldn't be said for other British tanks of the period, it's very low profile was also used to great advantage. Armour consisted of cast and rolled plates and was generally 60mm thick, although the turret front was slightly thicker at 65mm, this offered excellent protection against the German 37mm and good protection against the German 50mm guns at medium ranges but obviously offered little protection against the German 88mm flak guns and the long 75mm guns. Armament originally consisted of a 2pdr gun in a 2 man turret, this offered tactical disadvantages and so a 3 man turret was designed and was known as the Valentine III, as with other 2pdr armed tanks the 2pdr could be replaced with a 3" Howitzer which offered High Explosive and Smoke shell. With the increase in German armour thickness and as with other British tanks the 6pdr was installed in the Valentine, the first version to carry the 6pdr was the IX and the Besa machine gun was removed. The first 6pdr armed Valentine was completed in August 1942, later in the Mk X the machinegun was added back. The Mk XI replaced the 6pdr with a 75mm gun. Other variants of the Valentine included a Scissor Bridge and in March 1942 the first Bishop was completed, this installed a 25pdr Howitzer on a Valentine chassis. In 1943/44 some of the 2pdr and 6pdr tanks were converted to a Duplex Drive, similar to that used on Shermans. A self propelled tank destroyer mounting a 17pdr gun was based on the Valentine hull - the Archer. Name | Valentine I | Valentine II | Valentine III | Valentine IV | Type | Infantry | Infantry | Infantry | Infantry | | | | | | Production Date | June 1940 | 1940 | | | Total Production | 309 | 1590 | 606 | 660 | | | | | | Crew | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | (In turret) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | Length | 18'-9.7” | 18'-9.7” | 18'-9.7” | 18'-9.7” | Width | 9'1-1” | 9'1-1” | 9'1-1” | 9'1-1” | Height | 6'-6.7” | 6'-6.7” | 6'-6.7” | 6'-6.7” | | | | | | Weight | 17.05 | 17.05 | 17.05 | 17.05 | Ground pressure | 11.15 | 11.15 | 11.15 | 11.15 | Ground clearance | 8” | 8” | 8” | 8” | | | | | | Track type | Stamped | Stamped | Stamped | Stamped | No per track | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 | Weight of one Track | 1825 | 1825 | 1825 | 1825 | Track width | 14” | 14” | 14” | 14” | | | | | | Engine | AEC Petrol | AEC Diesel | AEC Diesel | G.M.C | B.H.P | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 8 | Max road speed | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Average road speed | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | Gear box type | 22 Clash | 22 Clash | 22 Clash | Synchro Mesh. Clash | Gears | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | | | | | | | | | | | Fuel consumption (road) – MPG | 1.16 | 3.14 | 3.14 | 2.5 | Fuel consumption (cross country) | 0.82 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.5 | Petrol/Oil capacity | 60.5 | 36 | 36 | 36 | Auxiliary capacity | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | Radius of action (road) | 102 | 199 | 199 | 158 | Radius of action (cross country) | 72 | 121 | 121 | 95 | Trench Crossing | 7'-9” | 7'-9” | 7'-9” | 7'-9” | Vertical obstacle | 3' | 3' | 3' | 3' | Fording height | 3' | 3' | 3' | 3' | Gradient | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | | | | | | Main Armament | 2 Pounder | 2 Pounder | 2 Pounder | 2 Pounder | Ammunition | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | Secondary Armament | Besa 7.92 | Besa 7.92 | Besa 7.92 | Besa 7.92 | Ammunition | 3150 | 3150 | 3150 | 3150 | Transverse type | Hand & Electric | Hand & Electric | Hand & Electric | Hand & Electric | Max elevation | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | Max depression | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Turret Ring Size | 57.5 | 57.5 | 57.5 | 57.5 | Optics | No.30 | No.30 | No.30 | No.30 | | | | | | Armour | | | | | | | | | | Lower Hull Nose | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Upper Hull Nose | 30(I.T.80) | 30(I.T.80) | 30(I.T.80) | 30(I.T.80) | Hull Front | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Hull Sides | 60(I.T.80) | 50(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Hull Rear Lower | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Hull Rear Upper | 17(I.T.70) | 17(I.T.70) | 17(I.T.70) | 17(I.T.70) | Hull Roof (Front) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | Engine Deck | 10(I.T.70) | 10(I.T.70) | 10(I.T.70) | 10(I.T.70) | Hull Floor Front (Hull front forward) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | Hull Floor Rear | 7(I.T.100) | 7(I.T.100) | 7(I.T.100) | 7(I.T.100) | | | | | | Turret Front | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | Turret Roof (Front) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | Turret Roof (Middle) | 10(I.T.100) | 10(I.T.100) | 10(I.T.100) | 10(I.T.100) | Turret Roof (Rear) | 15(I.T.100) | 15(I.T.100) | 15(I.T.100) | 15(I.T.100) | Turret Sides | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Turret Rear | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | Name | Valentine V | Valentine IX | Valentine X | Valentine XI | Type | Infantry | Infantry | Infantry | Infantry | | | | | | Production Date | | | | | Total Production | 1216 | 685 | | | | | | | | Crew | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | (In turret) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | Length | 18'-9.7” | 19'-5”, 20'-9” with 6pdr V | 19'-5”, 20'-9” with 6pdr V | 20'-10” | Width | 9'1-1” | 9'1-1” | 9'1-1” | 9'1-1” | Height | 6'-6.7” | 6'-11” | 6'-11” | 6'-11” | | | | | | Weight | 17.05 | 17.2 | 17.2 | 17.2 | Ground pressure | 11.15 | 11.28 | 11.28 | 11.28 | Ground clearance | 8” | 8” | 8” | 8” | | | | | | Track type | Stamped | Stamped | Stamped | Stamped | No per track | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 | Weight of one Track | 1825 | 1827 | 1827 | 1827 | Track width | 14” | 14” | 14” | 14” | | | | | | Engine | G.M.C | G.M.C | G.M.C | G.M.C | B.H.P | 8 | 7.56 | 9.6 | 9.6 | Max road speed | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Average road speed | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | Gear box type | Synchro Mesh. Clash | Synchro Mesh. Clash | Synchro Mesh. Clash | Synchro Mesh. Clash | Gears | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | 5 Forward 1 Reverse | | | | | | | | | | | Fuel consumption (road) – MPG | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | Fuel consumption (cross country) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | Petrol/Oil capacity | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | Auxiliary capacity | 30 | - | - | - | Radius of action (road) | 158 | 89 | 89 | 89 | Radius of action (cross country) | 95 | 53 | 53 | 53 | Trench Crossing | 7'-9” | 7'-9” | 7'-9” | 7'-9” | Vertical obstacle | 3' | 3' | 3' | 3' | Fording height | 3' | 3' | 3' | 3' | Gradient | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | | | | | | Main Armament | 2 Pounder | 6 Pounder | 6 Pounder | 75mm | Ammunition | 60 | 53 | 44 | 44 | Secondary Armament | Besa 7.92 | - | Besa 7.92 | Besa 7.92 | Ammunition | 3150 | - | 1575 | 1575 | Transverse type | Hand & Electric | Hand & Electric | Hand & Electric | Hand & Electric | Max elevation | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | Max depression | 15 | 8 | 8 | 8 | Turret Ring Size | 57.5 | 57.5 | 57.5 | 57.5 | Optics | No.30 | No.39 | No.39 | No.50 x 3 | | | | | | Armour | | | | | | | | | | Lower Hull Nose | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Upper Hull Nose | 30(I.T.80) | 30(I.T.80) | 30(I.T.80) | 30(I.T.80) | Hull Front | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Hull Sides | 50(I.T.80) | 43(I.T.80) | 43(I.T.80) | 43(I.T.80) | Hull Rear Lower | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Hull Rear Upper | 17(I.T.70) | 17(I.T.70) | 17(I.T.70) | 17(I.T.70) | Hull Roof (Front) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | Engine Deck | 10(I.T.70) | 10(I.T.70) | 10(I.T.70) | 10(I.T.70) | Hull Floor Front (Hull front forward) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | Hull Floor Rear | 7(I.T.100) | 7(I.T.100) | 7(I.T.100) | 7(I.T.100) | | | | | | Turret Front | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | Turret Roof (Front) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.90) | 20(I.T.90) | 20(I.T.90) | Turret Roof (Middle) | 10(I.T.100) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | 20(I.T.80) | Turret Roof (Rear) | 15(I.T.100) | 10I.T.100) | 10(I.T.100) | 10(I.T.100) | Turret Sides | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | 60(I.T.80) | Turret Rear | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | 65(I.T.90) | Production of Valentine Tanks by year (UK Only) | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | Valentine (2pdr) | 345 | 1663 | 1728 | 570 | - | - | Valentine (6pdr) | - | - | 245 | 1084 | 629 | 96 | Bishop | - | - | 136 | 13 | - | - | Valentine Scissor Bridge | - | - | 102 | 90 | - | - | DD Valentine | - | - | - | 26 | 247 | - | Sources - AVIA 46 188, AVIA 22 456-514, WO 194
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