Valentine X

The Valentine X was the designation given to Valentine infantry tanks that were built from new with the 6-pounder gun. The Mk III and Mk V had introduced a larger three-man turret, but retained the 2-pounder gun. Some of these tanks were later upgunned with the 6-pounder anti-tank gun, as the Mk VIII and Mk IX respectively. The new gun took up more space, and so the coaxial machine gun and third crew member had to be removed.

On the Mk X the mantlet was redesigned to allow the 7.92mm Besa machine gun to be reinstalled, but there was still only room for a two-man crew. The reintroduction of the machine gun also reduced the space available for shell storage, and the Mk X could only carry 46 6-pounder shells, compared to 53 in the Mk VIII and Mk X.

It used the same hull as the Mk V, and the same upgraded 165hp G.M.C. 6-71 diesel engine as the Mk IX. The Mk X introduced splash plates to protect the turret ring.

The Mk X was in production during 1943.

The Mk X was one of three versions armed with the 6-pounder gun. The Mk VIII was an up-gunned version of the Mk III and the Mk IX was an up-gunned version of the Mk V.

Names
Valentine X

Stats
Production:
Hull Length: 6m 32.5cm/ 20ft 9in
Hull Width: 2m 63cm/ 8ft 7.5in
Height: 2m 27cm/ 7ft 5.5in
Crew: 3
Weight: 17,200kg/  16.9 tons
Engine: 165hp GMC 6-71 Model 6004
Max Speed on road: 24km/h/ 15mph
Max Speed off road: 18km/h / 11mph
Max Range: 225km/ 140 miles
Armament: QF 6-pounder Mk V, 7.92mm Besa machine gun

Armour
Turret front: 65mm
Turret sides: 60mm
Nose: 60mm at 21 degrees
Glacis plate: 30mm at 68 degrees
Hull sides: 60mm vertical

Valentine Infantry Tank 1938-45, Bruce Oliver Newsome. Looks at the most numerous British tank of the Second World War, but one that only saw limited combat service, mainly in North Africa. Notable for the amount of information packed into a series of tables, including specifications and identifying features of the many versions of the Valentine, as well as the interesting material on the interior of the tank, how it was driven, and on the many special variants such as the Archer self -propelled gun, which carried its main gun pointing backwards. [read full review]
cover cover cover

 

WWII Home Page | WWII Subject Index | WWII Books | WWII Links | Day by Day

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (29 June 2015), Valentine X , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_valentine_X.html

Help - F.A.Q. - Contact Us - Search - Recent - About Us - Privacy