The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - The British Valentine Tank Feb. 14, 2006

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[alfa6]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

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THE VALENTINE TANK

Based on the A10 Cruiser tank, the Valentine was privately designed by the Vickers-Armstrong corporation (hence its lack of an "A" designation) and was submitted to the War Office on February 14, 1938. Like many other projects, the Valentine was rushed into production following the loss of nearly all of Britain's equipment during the evacuation at Dunkirk.

Several versions exist concerning the source of the name Valentine. The most popular one says that the design was presented to the War Office at St. Valentine's Day (February 14). Some sources, however, claim that the exact date the design was submitted was February 10. According to other version, the tank was called Valentine in honor of Sir John Valentine Carden, the man who led the development of the A10 and many other Vickers vehicles. Yet another version says that Valentine is an acronym for Vickers-Armstrong Ltd Elswick & Newcastle-upon-Tyne.



The War Office was initially deterred by the size of the turret and the crew compartment. However, concerned by the situation in Europe, it finally approved the design in April 1939. The vehicle reached trials in May 1940, which coincided with the loss of nearly all of Britain's equipment during the evacuation at Dunkirk. The trials were successfull and the vehicle was rushed into production as Infantry Tank III Valentine.

The Valentine remained in production until April 1944, becoming Britain's most mass produced tank during the war with 6855 units manufactured in the UK (by Vickers, Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage and Wagon and Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon) and further 1420 in Canada. They were the Commonwealth's main export to the Soviet Union under the Lend-lease Act, with 2394 of the British models being sent and 1388 of the Canadian (the remaining 30 were kept for training).



The Valentine was Britain's most mass produced tank during the war, having manufactured 6855 and a further 1420 in Canada. They were the Commonwealth's main export to the Soviet Union under the Lend-lease Act, with 2394 of the British models being sent and 1388 of the Canadian (the remaining 30 were kept for training). In Soviet service, they were quite popular due to their small size, reliability, and generally good armour protection. In Soviet service, the Valentine was used from the Battle of Moscow until the end of the war. It was employed mostly on the southern fronts, both because of the proximity to the Persian supply route and in order to avoid using the tank in very cold climate. Although criticized for its speed and its weak gun, the Valentine was liked due to its small size, reliability and generally good armour protection.

The Valentine was something of an oddity, having the weight and size of a cruiser tank, but the armour and speed of an infantry tank. Though its armour was still weaker than the Matilda and, due to its weaker engine, it shared the same top speed, its high reliability and lower cost kept it in the war.



By 1944, in the European Theater of Operations the Valentine was almost competely replaced in the frontline units by the Churchill and the US-made Sherman. In the Pacific the tank was employed in limited numbers at least until May 1945.

There were 12 variants of the Valentine as follows:



Valentine I (350) The first model of the Valentine, it was not sent out due to problems from rushed production. It was equipped with a 2 pdr. gun and a coaxial machine gun. Its cramped turret forced the commander to also act as the guns loader. It used a 135 hp gasoline engine.

Valentine II (700) This model used a 131 hp diesel engine in order to increase its range. It first saw combat during Operation Crusader, at which point it began to replace the Matilda.

Valentine III A larger turret was installed, allowing the addition of a dedicated loader to ease the duties of the commander.

Valentine IV A II using an American 138hp GMC diesel engine. Though it had slightly lower range, it was more silent and reliable.

Valentine V Valentine III with the American GMC engine.



Valentine VI A Valentine built solely in Canada. It used a cast hull and a Browning machine gun in place of the Besa.

Valentine VII Improved version of the VI- it had jettisonable fuel tanks, new tracks and an expanded turret similar to the III. Also built only in Canada.

Valentine VIII A III upgraded with the QF 6 pdr gun. In order to fit it, the coaxial machine gun and the loader crewmember had to be removed. The side armour was made thinner to reduce weight.

Valentine IX A V upgraded to the 6 pdr. gun. Similar reductions as the VIII.

Valentine X A new turret design and better 165hp GMC engine. A coaxial machine gun could be fitted again. Also used welded construction.

Valentine XI An X upgraded with the OQF 75mm gun. Only served as a command tank.



Valentine DD Valentines fitted with Straussler's Duplex Drive. Used by crews in training for the Sherman DD's of the Normandy Landings.

[Soaring Feather]

Good Sunday morning FOXHOLE!

[Soaring Feather]

Hi Wneighbor, nice seeing you even if for a moment. Life gets in the way of life sometimes.

[snippy_about_it]

Oh I love it! Good morning miss feather.

[snippy_about_it]

Howdy there. Good to see you. Don't worry about being away we wouldn't forget you. ;-)

[snippy_about_it]

Ah, Tennessee, radu's state. It sure is pretty.

[snippy_about_it]

I bet you are right although I was thinking Monticello.

[snippy_about_it]

Our little baby boy turned 8 months old yesterday.



The Foxhole Sunday update on Sarge:












Hmmm, somebody chewed off the end of the hose...Sam, was it you?

[w_over_w]

25. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States. The park was named for the smoke-like bluish haze that often envelops these fabled mountains.

This one caught my suspicions, but it's true. If you thought Arizona's Grand Canyon was first . . . not even close.

10 Most Visited National Parks

[w_over_w]

Gee, I wonder what's first?

Gee, I wonder what was behind the "red X"?

[w_over_w]

He's a good lookin' boy. He only seems to smile in the pic with the chewed off hose. And I recall him smiling in the pics showing mud on his face after a good backyard dig.

Hmmmm . . .

[snippy_about_it]

I wonder if it because the smokies are so much more accessible?

[snippy_about_it]

Oh yeah, he's happiest when he's getting into trouble fun.

xoxoxoxo

[snippy_about_it]

Sam says there are enough foxholes in the backyard to start our own defensive position. We may have too!

[snippy_about_it]

grrr.

too=to

[w_over_w]

Sam says there are enough foxholes in the backyard to start our own defensive position.

LOL! We had a Basset hound growing up, but the expression my dad used was, "our backyard looks like the surface of the moon."

xoxoxox

[snippy_about_it]

lol. Dogs!

[Wneighbor]

Morning ladies. I hung around for a little bit last night but then my uncle came in with some supper and I abandoned ya'll again.

It's a quiet and dreary day here today but I'm resting. LOL.. need it. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

I'd abandon this group for good food too! ;-)

[Peanut Gallery]

good to see you! hope you are having a nice lazy Sunday. We just got back from church. The guys went to lowes to get a seed spreader. We are going to try to seed some buffalo grass.

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies and gents. Flag-o-Gram.