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Britain's Infantry Tank Mk III, Valentine Mk II12
Infantry Tank Mk III, Valentine Mk II on exercise in the United Kingdom in August 1941: Imperial War Museum |
Infantry Tank Mk III, Valentine Mk II of the 50th Royal Tank Regiment near Mareth Line, March 1943: Imperial War Museum |
Infantry Tank Mk III, Valentine Mk II: Imperial War Museum |
Infantry Tank Mk III, Valentine Mk II, of the 48th Royal Tanks, 21st Army Tank Brigade in Suffolk in June 1941: Imperial War Museum |
Infantry Tank Mk III, Valentine Mk II*: |
There was a periscope in the turret roof for the commander.9 The gunner had a Vickers tank periscope in the turret roof.9 He also had a Telescope Sighting No. 30 Mk I or Mk IA.9 There were two Vickers periscopes on the room of the hull for the driver.9
Variants
- Valentine II, Mk II*: (with 75 mm) As Mk I with AEC diesel8 131hp. Those used in desert were fitted with long range fuel tanks and sand shields.
| Valentine Mk II | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Driver, commander, gunner9 39,12 |
| Radio | Wireless Set No. 1112, Wireless Set No. 199 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 16 tons9, 17 tons12 16,000 kg |
| Length w/gun | 17' 9"9, 19' 4"12 5.89 m12 |
| Length w/o gun | 17' 9"9 5.41 m |
| Height | 7' 5.5"9, 7' 6"12 2.27 m, 2.29 m12 |
| Width | 8' 7.5"9, 8' 8"12 2.63 m, 2.64 m12 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament (mm) | |
| Main | 40 mm OQF 2 pdr Mk IX or X9 2 pdr OQF Mk IX or X, L/52 2 pdr5,6,9,10 1: 2 pdr (40 mm) OQF12 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 0.303" Bren MG, AA9 |
| MG - coaxial | 1: 7.92 mm Besa MG9,10,12 |
| Side arms | 2" Smoke discharger9 |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 609 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | Besa: 3,1509 Bren: 6009 |
| Side arms | Smoke bombs: 189 |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 30@68°9 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 60@21°9 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 60@0°9 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | 659 |
| Turret Sides | 609 |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | A.E.C. Type A 1909, AEC10,12, AEC Comet9 |
| Bore / stroke | 120 mm9 / 142 mm9 |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | I-69, 612 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 13110,12, 131@1,800 rpm9 |
| Power to weight ratio | 8.1 hp/ton9 |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | Meadows Type No. 22, sliding pinion, 5 forward, reverse9 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Diesel9,10,12 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | 36 gallons9 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | |
| Max speed | 15 mph9,12 24 kph12 |
| Cross country speed | |
| Road radius | 90 miles9,12 145 km12 |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 3'9 |
| Trench crossing | 7' 9"9 |
| Vertical obstacle | 3'9 |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Slow motion with 2 groups of 3 bogies9 |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | 39 |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 14"9 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 1039 |
| Pitch | 4.36"9 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 7' 3"9 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- AFV 6: Valentine Mark III, B.T. White
- The Royal Armoured Corps Tank Museum, Tanks 1919-1939 The Inter War Period, 1966
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
- Western Allied Tanks 1939-45, David Porter, 2009
