| Tank, Light Mk VII, Tetrarch I | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Light tank |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom
|
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1938 |
| Manufacturer | Vickers-Armstrong |
| Produced | 1940[1], 1941-1943 |
| Number built | 177 |
| Variants | Tetrarch I CS, Tetrarch DD |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.5 long ton (7.5 t) |
| Length | 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m) |
| Width | 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)[1] |
| Height | 6 ft 11 in (2.12 m)[1] |
| Crew | 3[1] (Commander, gunner, driver) |
| | |
| Armour | 16 mm |
| Primary armament | 2 pounder (40 mm) 50 rounds |
| Secondary armament | 7.92 mm Besa MG 2,025 rounds |
| Engine | Meadows 12 cylinder petrol 165 hp |
| Suspension | coil spring |
| Operational range | 140 miles (224 km)[1] |
| Speed | 40 mph[1], off-road 28 mph |
The Tank, Light Mk VII, Tetrarch I was a British light tank produced during the Second World War, initially for the reconnaissance role but later for use by airborne forces.
Contents |
Design and Development
The first Tetrarch prototype (then called a PR Tank or Purdah), was produced by Vickers-Armstrong in 1938. The vehicle was approved by the Army and production started in 1940, only to cease soon after following the bad performance of light tanks during the prevailing stage of the war. The production of Mk VIIs was restarted in 1941 following the adoption of the vehicle by airborne forces, since it was light enough to be deployed from the air, via Hamilcar gliders, to support paratroops. The name "Tetrarch" was given to the vehicle in 1943. The most interesting feature of the Tetrarch was its unique skid steering system that accomplished turns by the lateral movement of road wheels, which bowed the tracks.[1] For sharp turns, the driver had to apply brakes to one track in the traditional fashion.[1] The Tetrarch turret design was also used on the Daimler Armoured Car
Combat history
- A small number were deployed during Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Madagascar in 1942.
- Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, 6th Airborne Division- landed by Hamilcar glider as part of Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944 on the River Orne
- Rhine crossing March 24, 1945.
- Twenty Tetrachs were supplied to the USSR, where they were used as the subject of many propaganda photographs. They also carried out some patrols in the Caucasus.[1]
Variants
Tetrarch I CS
- Close support version with a 3-inch (76 mm) howitzer.
Tetrarch DD
- One Tetrarch was fitted and tested with a propeller drive and canvas collapsible flotation screens in June 1941 at Brent Reservoir. The test was a success and Straussler DD (Duplex Drive) was adopted for the Valentine and Sherman.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bean, Tim; Fowler, Will (2002). Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin’s armoured might. Ian Allen publishing isbn= 0711028982, pp148-150.
External links
Tanks | |
|---|---|
| Light tanks | Vickers 6-Ton • Mk II • Mk III • Mk IV • Mk V • Mk VI • Mk VII Tetrarch |
| Cruiser tanks | Mk I • Mk II • Mk III • Mk IV • Mk V Covenanter • Mk VI Crusader • Mk VII Cavalier Mk VIII Centaur • Mk VIII Cromwell • Challenger • Comet • Sherman Firefly • Ram (Canada) • Sentinel (Australia) |
| Infantry tanks | Mk I Matilda • Mk II Matilda • Mk III Valentine • Mk IV Churchill |
Self-propelled artillery |
|---|
| Bishop • Sexton • Deacon • Archer |
Armoured personnel carriers |
|---|
| Universal Carrier • Loyd Carrier • Kangaroo • Terrapin |
Scout Cars and Armoured cars | |
|---|---|
| Scout Cars | Daimler Dingo • Dingo Scout Car (Australia) • Humber Scout Car • Lynx Scout Car (Canada) • S1 Scout Car (Australia) |
| Light Reconnaissance Cars | Humber LRC • Morris LRC • Otter LRC (Canada) |
| Armoured Cars | AEC Armoured Car • Coventry Armoured Car • Daimler Armoured Car • Fox Armoured Car (Canada) • Guy Armoured Car • Humber Armoured Car • Lanchester Armoured Car • Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car (South Africa) • Morris CS9 • Rhino Heavy Armoured Car (Australia) • Rolls-Royce Armoured Car • Rover Light Armoured Car (Australia) • Standard Beaverette • Armoured Carrier Wheeled Indian Pattern (India) |
| Armoured Trucks | Bedford OXA • C15TA Armoured Truck (Canada) |
| Armoured Command Vehicles | AEC ACV • Guy Lizard ACV |
Experimental vehicles |
|---|
| Avenger • Black Prince • Centurion • Excelsior • TOG 1 • TOG 2 • Tortoise • Valiant • Harry Hopkins • Alecto • Thornycroft Bison |
Unarmoured vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Artillery tractors | AEC Matador • Morris C8 Quad • Scammell Pioneer • Canadian Military Pattern |
| Trucks and lorries | Bedford QLD • Austin K2 • Morris 15 cwt |
| Tank transporters | Diamond T tank transporter • Scammell Pioneer Semi-trailer |
| Utility and cars | Car, Heavy Utility 4x2 Ford C11 • Car, Light Utility ("Tilly") • Car, 4-Seater 4x2 |
| British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II | |
| British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II |
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