Mark VI Light

In 1942 in the Western Desert:

Production ended in 1940.¹

The engine was on the right side of the hull, with the transmission going forward to the front drive sprockets.⁸

The driver sat on the left.⁸

There were two 2-wheeled bogies on each side that were sprung on angled coil springs.⁸ The rear most road wheel aslo was used as the idler wheel.⁸

Light Mk VI:

The engine was in the front beside the driver. Had a Number 7 radio set installed. The cupola had a hexagonal shape.

Light Mk VIA:

Moved the return roller.

Light Mk VIB:

The cupola had a cylindrical shape. Had a mounting for a Bren AA gun on the turret. Was the most numerous and widely used.⁸ Had a single piece louvre over the radiator.¹ The cupola was plainer to simplify production.¹ Had a 5-speed gearbox, and was steered through clutches and annular spur reduction on the final drive.¹

Light Mk VIB India Pattern:

Single periscope for the commander, located in the turret hatch.⁵

Light Mk VIC:

The cupola was removed and replaced by 2 domed hatches. The engine cover only had one inlet louvres and many had a deflector plate in from of the driver's vision block to reduce bullet splash.

Entered service in 1936.¹

By September 1939 there were approximately 1,000 in service.⁸ When the 1st Armored Division was sent to France in May 1940, about 1/2 of its tanks were Mk VIs.⁸

Considered mechanically reliable so was popular in North Africa.¹

Approximately 550 were sent to France and only 6 were saved.⁴ This was the bulk of British tank strength in France and Western Desert¹ in 1940. Used in first line units until 1942.

Used in France¹, Greece¹, Crete¹, Malta¹, Persia, and with the South Africans in Abyssinian, and Australians in Syria ( July 1941)¹. On Malta it was used to tow wrecked aircraft off the runways.¹

Some in Egypt were converted to artillery observation posts. At the first siege of Tobruk the 1st Royal Tank Regiment used 16 of them to deceive the Germans into thinking there were more tanks in the garrison.

Vickers Mk II AA:

Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Australia: Some were purchased in 1939, and were used for training.⁵ Australian forces took over some from the British Army in the Western Desert in 1940.⁵

Canada: Obtained from Britain in 1939 and used for training.⁵

	Light Mk VI	Light Mk VI A	Light Mk VI B	Light Mk VI C
Crew	Commander, gunner, driver.3 31,3,4,5,6,7,8,10	34,8,9,10	31,4,5,8,10	32,4,5,8,10
Physical Characteristics
Weight	10,752 lb6, 11,740 lb3, 11,648 lb 4.68 tons7, 4.8 tons1,5,10, 5 tons4 4,875 kg1, 4,877 kg6	4.8 tons10, 5 tons4, 5.8 tons9	5 tons1,4, 5.2 tons5,8,10 5,080 kg1	5 tons4, 5.2 tons5,10, 5.25 tons2
Length w/gun	12' 11.5"3,4, 13'6, 13' 2"1,5,10 3.92 m7, 3.96 m6, 4.01 m1	12.2'9, 13' 2"10	13' 2"1,5,8,10 4.01 m1	13' 2"5,10 3.94 m2
Length w/o gun
Height	7' 3.5"3,4, 7' 5"1,5,10, 7' 6"6 2.2 m7, 2.235 m6, 2.26 m1	7.3'9, 7' 5"10	7' 5"1,5,8,10 2.26 m1	7'3, 7' 5"5,10 2.13 m2
Width	6' 9"3,4, 6' 10"1,5,6,10 2.01 m7, 2.08 m1,6	6.7'9, 6' 10"10	6' 10"1,5,8,10 2.08 m1	6' 10"5,10 2.06 M2
Ground clearance	10.5"	1' 2.2"9		0.27 m2
Ground contact length		7'9
Ground pressure	7.54 psi	6.9 psi 9		0.53 (kg/cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	.50 cal (12.7 mm) Vickers MG1,3 .50 cal MG4 .5" MG8 .50 Vickers MG5,7,10 12.7 mm (.50") MG6	.50 cal MG4 .5" MG8 .50 cal Vickers MG7,10 2: .303 Vickers MGs9	.50 cal (12.7 mm) MG or 15 mm MG1 .50 cal MG4 .5" MG8 .5 Vickers MG5,7,10	Besa 15 mm MG3,7,8,10 15 mm2,6 .50 cal MG4 15 mm Besa MG5
Secondary	.303 (7.7 mm) Vickers MG1,3 .303 or 7.92 mm MG4,7 .303 Vickers MG5,10 .303" MG8 7.7 mm (0.303") MG6	.303" MG8 .303 or 7.92 mm MG4,7 .303 Vickers MG10	.303 cal (7.7 mm) Vickers1 or 7.92 mm MG Besa1 .303 or 7.92 mm MG4,7 .303" MG8 .303 Vickers MG5,10	MG2 Besa 7.92 mm MG3,6,8,10 .303 or 7.92 mm MG4 .303 Besa MG5 7.93 mm MG7
MG
Side arms
Quantity
Main	40010	40010	40010	1752, 40010
Secondary	2,50010	2,50010	2,50010	2,50010, 2,7002
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	43, 143,7, 158 4-14 or 15.4 4 - 155,10 10 - 156	158 4-14 or 15.4, 4 - 1510 Front: 0.47"9 Side: 0.47"9 Turret Front: 0.59"9 Turret Side: 0.59"9	158 4-14 or 15.4 4 - 155,10	158 4-14 or 15.4 4 - 155
Hull Front, Upper	11-14		16	11-142
Hull Front, Lower	11-14
Hull Sides, Upper	97, 11-13			11-132
Hull Sides, Lower	11-13
Hull Rear	4-6			4-62
Hull Top	4			42
Hull Bottom	3			32
Turret Front	14			142
Turret Sides	11-14			11-142
Turret Rear	11			112
Turret Top	3.5			3.52
Engine (Make / Model)	Meadows1,3,8,10 Meadows ESTL5,6	Meadows8,9,10	Meadows1,8,10 Meadows ESTB/A OR ESTB/B 5	Meadows2,8,10
Cooling		Water9
Cylinders	68,10	68,9,10	68,10	68,10
Net HP	887,8 88@2,800 rpm10	888 @ 2,800 rpm9,10	888 88@2,800 rpm10	888 88@2,800 rpm10
Transmission	5 forward, 1 reverse, Wilson pre-selector gearbox Horstmann inclined springs, parallel in bogies.10	5 forward9, 1 reverse9		5 forward2, 1 reverse2
Steering		Clutch Brake9
Starter		Electric9
Ignition		Magneto9
Fuel type		Gasoline9
Octane
Capacity	74 gallons	29 gallons9		159 liters2
Fuel Consumption - Road		5.4 mpg9
Fuel Consumption - Cross Country		3 mpg9
Power to weight ratio	18.3 hp/ton10	18.3 hp/ton10	16.9 hp/ton10	16.9 hp/ton10
Performance
Traverse	360°3		360°	360°
Max Speed	32 mph6, 35 mph1,3,4,5,8,10 51.5 kph6, 56 kph1, 58 kph7	31 mph9, 35 mph4,8,10	34.78 mph1, 35 mph4,8,10 200 km1	35 mph4,8,10 50.9 kph2
Cross Country	25 mph3			25 mph
Road radius	125 miles1,10, 130 miles3, 215 miles6 200 km1, 201 km6	125 miles10, 155 miles9	124.2 miles1, 125 miles10 200 km1	125 miles10 280 km2
Cross Country radius		87 miles9
Turning Radius	21'			6.4 m2
Elevation Limits	-10° to + 37°3
Fording depth	2'3			0.6 m2
Trench crossing
Vertical Obstacle
Suspension (Type)	Horstmann coil-spring.3	Horstmann5, 2 sets of 2 wheel bogis with springs9		Coil Spring2
Wheels each side	4			42
Return rollers each side	1	19
Tracks (Type)		Dry pin9
Length
Width	9.5"3	10"9
Number of links		1589
Pitch		1.9"9
Tire Tread
Track centers/tread	5' 8.5"3	5.7'9		241 mm2
Production	1936-1942: 1,320 (?)

Sources:

1. 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
2. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
3. 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
4. World War Two Tanks, George Forty, 1995
5. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
6. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
7. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
9. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
10. AFV 5: Light Tanks Marks I-VI, Major-General N. W. Duncan

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