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The Valentine or infantry Tank Mark III was a Vickers development based on the Cruiser Tank Marks I and II but with heavier armor.It was ordered'off the drawing board'and the prototype was ready on 14 February 1940 hence the name Valentine.By the time production ceased in 1944 8,275 had been manufactured in the UK and Canada a higher total then for any other British tank.Most Canadian examples were shipped direct to the Soviet Union.
The initial armament of a single turret-mounted 2-pounder(40 mm)gun was replaced by a 6-pounder(57 mm)and finally a 75 mm(2.96 in)gun there were 11 marks of Valentine tank.At first AEC petrol engines were used but later models had diesels.Following the usual spate of into service troubles Valentines proved to be popular and reliable vehicles,even if they were difficult to drive.Obselete in Europe by 1943(many soldiered on in the Far East)the Valentine was diverted to special roles.Important variants included the Bishop and the Archer.Valentines were used for trials involving assault bridges(some were used in Burma),mine rollers,flame-throwers,Canal Defence Lights and the Duplex Drive swimming tank systems.
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