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

See Educational Sources

[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.

[PAR35]

The capitol building is made from Texas pink granite. It served as the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1840-1842.

That's quite an accomplishment for a building which wasn't built until 1888. It does claim to have the largest square footage of any state capitol building.

15. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

My stock response. If it's a natural lake, why does it have a man - made dam at the end of it?

Professional sports teams include the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Houston Astros, Houston Comets, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Texas Rangers.Uhhh . . . hello? The Houston Texans.

And last year, the Saints.

24. The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge. Built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.

Not wholly in the US, but "On July 26th 1848, the first Niagara Suspension Bridge was completed. "http://www.niagarafrontier.com/bridges.html#b1

Or you can have the Wheeling suspension bridge, 1849. That should satisfy and scruples.
http://wheeling.weirton.lib.wv.us/landmark/bridges/susp/bridge8.htm

Wait. It doesn't specify cable, does it. They here are some chain candidates from 1801 (Jacob's Creek, PA) and 1807 (Potomic River)
http://www.bridgemeister.com/list.php?type=full&page=1

40. Laredo is the world's largest inland port.

That one isn't passing the smell test. I quickly see that Pittsburgh and St. Louis claim 2nd place. Duluth-Superior claims to be the largest inland port in the world as does Montreal. (So does Atlanta which has neither ships nor barge traffic.)

Here's a link to a USArmy CoE PDF which ranks them as of 2003 http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/inlandport03f.pdf

1. Huntington (defined as covering 100 miles of the Ohio River plus a couple of side rivers.)
2. St. Louis
3. Pittsburgh
4. Memphis
5. Cincinatti
6. St. Paul
7. Louisville
8. Mt. Vernon, IN
9. Tulsa
10. Gunthersville, AL

11-20: Nashville, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Greenville, MS, Minneapolis, Elvis Stahr Harbor, KY ???, Helena AR, Lake Providence, LA (I doubt that one as well) Rosedale, MS, Knoxville, TN (Getting kind of small.)( “Inland Ports” are ports that are located on rivers and do not handle deep draft ship traffic. )

In any event, we are down to 20, they are getting small, and Larado hasn't shown up yet. I think it would be safe to call them on this one.

I didn't see the legitimate claim of most counties. (Georgia is second).

[PAR35]

Your post reminded me that in addition to the AA baseball team you mentioned, Frisco also has a major league soccer team.

Speaking of AA ball, there are teams in Fort Worth and Midland that I can think of off the top of my head, plus Nolan Ryan owns a team down in either Round Rock or Austin. (Looks like the Round Rock team moved to Corpus). Doesn't San Antonio also have a team? (Just checked - The Missions)

[PAR35]

5. Tennessee won its nickname as The Volunteer State during the War of 1812 when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee displayed marked valor in the Battle of New Orleans.

I had always heard that it came from the Spanish-American War.

48. Coca-Cola was first bottle in 1899 at a plant on Patten Parkway in downtown Chattanooga From the Coca Cola web site:

1894 … A modest start for a bold idea In a candy store in Vicksburg, Mississippi, brisk sales of the new fountain beverage called Coca-Cola impressed the store's owner, Joseph A. Biedenharn. He began bottling Coca-Cola to sell, using a common glass bottle called a Hutchinson.
http://www2.coca-cola.com/ourcompany/historybottling.html

Unrelated trivia. I don't know if it is still true, but a valuable chunk of downtown Chattanooga used to be owned by the State of Georgia. It was the northern terminus of the state owned Western and Atlantic RR (still owned by the state but leased to CSX).

[alfa6]

It's a Monday Morning Bump for the Freeepr Foxhole, Here's a fine foto to get the week started off in a fine fashion.

Y'all have a great week

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[The Mayor]

Excellent!

[The Mayor]

March 6, 2006

A Personal Thank You

Read:
2 Corinthians 1:3-11

[God] comforts us . . . that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble. —2 Corinthians 1:4

Bible In One Year: Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 10:1-31

For more than 3 years, our family has traveled the road of sorrow and comfort since the death of our daughter Melissa.

That ministry of comfort is described in 2 Corinthians 1, where Paul wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (vv.3-4).

Over these years, I have shared with Our Daily Bread readers what we've learned from God and what we've learned about Him. Our family has been touched by the comfort He has brought us through His Word and His people.

When I wrote about God's work of comfort through this tragedy, hundreds upon hundreds of readers sent us letters, e-mails, photos, songs, poems, paintings, and more to express sympathy, love, and appreciation. God brought us comfort, and I shared. God brought others comfort, and they shared. In their love, God's people have shown how His ministry of comfort works. Thank you for caring for us.

If we've been comforted by God, we can have a part in the incredible ministry of comfort to others. —Dave Branon

The comfort God has given us
He wants us all to share
With others who, with broken hearts,
Are caught in deep despair. —Sper

Those who have suffered are best able to help those who are suffering.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Where Can We Find Comfort?

[snippy_about_it]

Fellow citizens & compatriots --
I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna -- I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country --

VICTORY OR DEATH

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.

P.S. The Lord is on our side -- When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn -- We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves --

Travis

[Professional Engineer]

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

[w_over_w]

Bah, there is so much nonsense included and not enough significant trivia.

Thanks to: San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, Rebecca Edinger, Brien Segers, Hill DeWolfe, Cari Murtagh, Eric Gomez, Valorie75, Mary Chastain, pkimbrel
[probably democrats]

[w_over_w]

I think it would be safe to call them on this one.

Count on it . . . right after Wyoming.

[w_over_w]

. . . always brings tears to my eyes.

[Peanut Gallery]

beautiful!

[snippy_about_it]

((hugs))

Yep.

[Soaring Feather]

Oh no, it's Monday! I wanted to sleep in longer,
but am losing my grip!
Good morning, FOXHOLE!

[colorado tanker]

Mornin' Alfa. Great pik. One of our texts last Sunday was God's covenant expressed to Moses, symbolized by the rainbow.

[Candor7]

Apology, OFF Topic!!!

Please Freeper Fox Holers!

Help Our Canadian Soldiers!!!!!

I sent this on to Prime Minister Harper.
Please Freep Him at E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

---

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

I am a Canadian Citizen living in the United States.

I am writing you about the rules of Engagement for the Princes Patricia Rifles currently stationed in, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

I copy hereunder, a post to the Free Republic discussion list to which many Canadians belong. We see a vulnerability in the Canadian Forces that can lead to very serious problems for the Conservative party and your government.

I simply request you to review the MoD Rules of Engagement for CFOR in Kandahar, so that General Fraser has the ability to mount an anti-Guerrilla interdiction operation if necessary. Reconstruction cannot begin before security is achieved in the area of operations.

God Bless you Mr. Prime Minister, keep the Princess Patricia Soldiers as safe as possible in this difficult work.

Yours,

( Sign'd True name)

---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1590566/posts?page=93

---

The politics in Canada's Ministry of Defence ( MoD) are to have CFOR create an image. They have no intention of even letting the Princess Patricia Rifles get the job done.

The Rules of Engagement (ROE) for CFOR appear to be really not risk effective.

I believe the ROE for CFOR should be changed to an anti-guerilla interdiction operation. The Talibanis are infiltrating Kandahar from Quetta. This traffic needs to be stopped before the reconstruction work can begin the way it should.

Would you go into an unsecured zone, put down your weapon and take off your helmet, and then sit on the ground??

These troops are well trained, and I can assure you they have ROE that are too unrealistic, micromanaged from Ottawa. The liberals in MoD Canada want this force to fail, and to embarass the newly elected conservative government in Canada, and have the public demand a troop recall. Politics are being played with the lives of young Canadian soldiers.

I mean, whats a sea change in Canadian politics worth,to get back to the liberals ? Couple hundred of English speaking Canadians die so we can get back to francophone federal politicians controlling Ottawa? Someone in MoD has decided our young Canadians in an English speaking Scots Canadian regiment are quite expendable.

If it was the Royal 22nd Regiment in Kandahar, staffed mostly by French Canadians, I can assure you that the ROE would be much more vigorous and aggressive.

Turn General Fraser loose, and let him command in the field to do what is necessary to help interdict the Quetta/ Kandahar Talibabi traffic.Change the ROE for the Princess Pats!!!!!!

This is Prime Minister Harper's first significant challange from a fedreal bureaucracy still dedicated to liberalism, and how it goes, so shall the national body politic go. I hope Harper is on a back channel to MoD making sure this Peace Corps shite ROE stops NOW!!!!

[Professional Engineer]

Hi miss Feather.

Lunch minute has come and gone.

[Soaring Feather]

Busy, busy. Well, at least the caps lock is not on. LOL

What's Bittygirl learning new these days??

[Professional Engineer]

Texas Facts and Trivia

What, not even a mention of Johnson Space Center. gees.

S78-34519 --- A pre-construction view of the site of the Manned Spacecraft Center. The photo shows a medium view of an animal shelter and windmill on acreage designated as the site for construction of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center.

[Professional Engineer]

What's Bittygirl learning new these days??

The little knackster has learned to open(with dad's thumb) a bottle of body lotion and soothe her razor chapped shins. Turn the bathtub water on/off. Climb into and out of said tub.

She like to sit on my desk and turn the desk light on and off, on and off, on and...