British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II
Encyclopedia
This article lists British armoured fighting vehicle
production during World War II
.
specification e.g. A13. This could apply to more than one vehicle or if the vehicle was privately developed not have a General Staff number at all. Secondly by a descriptive name - e.g. "Tank, Infantry, Mark II". This scheme was introduced during the war and not always retrospectively applied to earlier designs. The descriptive name could also be modified by the inclusion of "A" denoting an armament change or "*" donoting some other change. Thirdly by a name - e.g. Crusader.
When its successors were delayed the Crusader was modified to take the 6 pounder gun.
The tanks that received the names Cavalier, Centaur and Cromwell were all designs to meet the same requirement for a cruiser tank to replace the Crusader tank
. Design work took place in 1941 and 1942. The Cavalier and Centaur used the Nuffield Liberty engine while Cromwell used the more powerful Rolls-Royce Meteor
. Cromwell was first used in action in June 1944.
were abandoned at Dunkirk.
Total production 1937-40: 140.
was produced by Vulcan Foundry
, John Fowler & Co.
, Ruston & Hornsby, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
, Harland and Wolff
, and the North British Locomotive Company
As well as Marks I, II, III, IV and V of the Matilda, some were rebuilt with the Canal Defence Light
Total production 1937-43: 2,987.
There were eleven different Marks of Valentine.
Total production 1939-45 of Valentine Mks I, II, III and IV: 8,275.
Total production 1940-43 of Crusader Mks I, II and III: 5,300.
Some of these were reworks of earlier Cromwells, some of reworked Centaurs.
Total Production 1943-44 3,066
Light Reconnaissance Cars
Armoured Cars
Armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
production during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Nomenclature
Tanks were known by one of three identification schemes. Firstly a General StaffGeneral Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
specification e.g. A13. This could apply to more than one vehicle or if the vehicle was privately developed not have a General Staff number at all. Secondly by a descriptive name - e.g. "Tank, Infantry, Mark II". This scheme was introduced during the war and not always retrospectively applied to earlier designs. The descriptive name could also be modified by the inclusion of "A" denoting an armament change or "*" donoting some other change. Thirdly by a name - e.g. Crusader.
Cruiser tanks
Crusader and Covenanter were parallel designs for a cheaper cruiser tank than the A16 design proposed to replace the Cruiser Mark IV. Both designs were ordered in 1939 prior to the start of the war. The first tanks were delivered in 1940. Cavalier was used for training in the UK while Crusader was used in North Africa.When its successors were delayed the Crusader was modified to take the 6 pounder gun.
The tanks that received the names Cavalier, Centaur and Cromwell were all designs to meet the same requirement for a cruiser tank to replace the Crusader tank
Crusader tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks of the early part Second World War and perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign...
. Design work took place in 1941 and 1942. The Cavalier and Centaur used the Nuffield Liberty engine while Cromwell used the more powerful Rolls-Royce Meteor
Rolls-Royce Meteor
The Rolls-Royce Meteor was a British tank engine of the Second World War.It was developed from the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero-engine by W. A. Robotham and his chassis design and development division at Belper, as they were not involved in aero-engine work...
. Cromwell was first used in action in June 1944.
Tank, Infantry, Mk I, Matilda I (A11)
The Matilda I was a machine gun armed infantry support tank. Those not lost during the fighting of the battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
were abandoned at Dunkirk.
Total production 1937-40: 140.
Tank, Infantry, Mk II, Matilda II (A12)
The Matilda IIMatilda tank
The Infantry Tank Mark II known as the Matilda II was a British infantry tank of the Second World War. It was also identified from its General Staff Specification A12....
was produced by Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
, John Fowler & Co.
John Fowler & Co.
thumb|right|John Fowler & Co. [[steam roller]] of 1923John Fowler & Co Engineers of Leathley Road, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England produced traction engines and ploughing implements and equipment, as well as railway equipment. Fowler also produced the Track Marshall tractor which was a...
, Ruston & Hornsby, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
, Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
, and the North British Locomotive Company
North British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
As well as Marks I, II, III, IV and V of the Matilda, some were rebuilt with the Canal Defence Light
Canal Defence Light
Canal Defence Light was a British "secret weapon" of the Second World War.It was based upon the use of a powerful carbon-arc searchlight mounted on a tank. It was intended to be used during night-time attacks, when the light would allow enemy positions to be targeted...
Total production 1937-43: 2,987.
Tank, Infantry, Mk III, Valentine
Valentine was a private development by Vickers that was accepted by the War Office. It used the suspension of their pre-war A10 Heavy Cruiser design with heavier armour.There were eleven different Marks of Valentine.
Total production 1939-45 of Valentine Mks I, II, III and IV: 8,275.
Tank, Infantry, Mk IV, Churchill (A22)
| Model | Years | Production |
|---|---|---|
| Churchill Mk I | 1941-45 | 303 |
| Churchill Mk II | 1941-45 | 1,127 |
| Churchill Mk III | 675 | |
| Churchill Mk IV | 1,622 | |
| Churchill Mk V | 1941–1945 | 241 |
| Churchill Mk VI | 1941-45 | 200 |
| Churchill Mk VII | 1,600 | |
| Churchill Mk VIII | 1941-45 | 1,600 |
Tank, Cruiser, Mk IV, (A13 Mk II)
The initial production of the Mark IV was by adding extra armour to Mark III. Later production included the extra armour at the time of construction. On top of those converted from the Mk III, 665 of the Mk IVA (with the BESA rather than a Vickers machine gun) were built.Tank, Cruiser, Mk V, Covenanter (A13 Mk III)
Total production: 1,700. Note that no A13 Mk III saw combat as all but one (which was sent to North Africa) were stationed in Great Britain during the war.Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI, Crusader (A15)
The last production Crusaders were produced without turrets as they were to be converted to artillery tractors or self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.Total production 1940-43 of Crusader Mks I, II and III: 5,300.
Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell (A27M)
Cromwell was produced in several marks: I, III (II was a design not preceded with), IV, IVw, Vw, VI, VII, VIIw, VIII.Some of these were reworks of earlier Cromwells, some of reworked Centaurs.
Total Production 1943-44 3,066
Armoured cars
Scout cars- Daimler DingoDaimler Dingo-external links :*** has a Daimler Dingo in its exposition.* wwiivehicles.com**...
- Humber Scout CarHumber Scout CarHumber Scout Car was a British light armoured car used in the Second World War.-History:Although at the outbreak of the Second World War the British Army already had the excellent Daimler Dingo, the need for scout cars could not be met by Daimler alone, so other companies were required to produce...
Light Reconnaissance Cars
- Humber Light Reconnaissance CarHumber Light Reconnaissance CarThe Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, also known as Humberette or Ironside, was a British armoured car produced during the Second World War....
- Morris Light Reconnaissance CarMorris Light Reconnaissance CarMorris Light Reconnaissance Car was a British light armoured car for reconnaisance use produced by the Morris Motor Company and used by the British during the Second World War....
Armoured Cars
- AEC Armoured CarAEC Armoured CarAEC Armoured Car is a series of heavy armoured cars built by the Associated Equipment Company during the Second World War.-History:AEC of Southall, Middlesex was a manufacturer of truck and bus chassis and its Matador artillery tractor was used for towing medium field and heavy anti-aircraft guns...
- Coventry Armoured CarCoventry armoured carThe Coventry armoured car was a British four wheel drive armoured fighting vehicle developed at the end of World War II as a potential replacement for the lighter Humber and Daimler armoured cars.-Development:...
- Daimler Armoured CarDaimler Armoured CarThe Daimler Armoured Car was a British armoured car of the Second World War.-History:The Daimler Armoured Car was a parallel development to the Daimler Dingo "Scout car", a small armoured vehicle for scouting and liaison roles. It was another Birmingham Small Arms design...
- Guy Armoured CarGuy Armoured CarThe Guy Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced in limited numbers during World War II. The car saw limited action during the Battle of France.-Production history and description:...
- Humber Armoured CarHumber Armoured CarThe Humber Armoured Car was one of the most widely produced British armoured cars of the Second World War. It supplemented the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and remained in service until the end of the war.-Development:...
- Lanchester Armoured Car
- Morris CS9Morris CS9The Morris CS9/Light Armoured Car was a British armoured car used by the British Army in the World War II.-History:The vehicle was based on a Morris Commercial C9 4x2 15-cwt truck chassis. On this chassis a rivetted hull was mounted with an open-topped two-man turret. The armament consisted of...
- Standard BeaveretteStandard BeaveretteStandard Car 4x2, or Car Armoured Light Standard, better known as the Beaverette, was a British armoured car produced during World War II.-History:...
See also
- Comparison of early World War II tanksComparison of early World War II tanksThis table compare the tanks in use by the belligerent nations of Europe at the start of the Second World War, employed in the Polish Campaign , the Fall of France , and Operation Barbarossa ....
- French armoured fighting vehicle production during World War IIFrench armoured fighting vehicle production during World War IIThis is a list of French combat vehicle production before and during the Second World War. The numbers given are generally those of vehicles actually delivered including exported vehicles. However, it includes those vehicles not yet delivered in June 1940 in the 1940 totals. For the FT 17 only the...
- German armored fighting vehicle production during World War IIGerman armored fighting vehicle production during World War IIThis article lists production figures for German armored fighting vehicles during the World War II era. Vehicles include tanks, self-propelled artillery, assault guns and tank destroyers....
- Soviet armored fighting vehicle production during World War IISoviet armored fighting vehicle production during World War IIDuring the Second World War from the start of the war between the Soviet Union and Germany on 22 June 1941 Soviet armoured vehicle production was necessary to replace losses due to combat and the loss of production facilities....
- American armored fighting vehicle production during World War IIAmerican armored fighting vehicle production during World War IIThis page details tank production by the United States of America during World War II.- Stuart series :By the time the United States entered the Second World War in 1942 they had only two tanks ready for combat the M1 Combat Car and the M2 Light Tank. Originally both tanks only came equipped with...