The British Army developed several 'Infantry tanks' that were used in World War II. These tanks were not designed for tank to tank battles but for direct support of the infantry. As a result, they were more heavily armored than the faster 'cruiser' tanks, a great deal slower as all they had to do was keep up with advancing infantry and there was no need for the large guns on other medium or heavy tanks.

The first successful British infantry tank was the Matilda, which was quite heavily armored and most difficult to stop. The next production tank was the Valentine, developed during the late 1930s. Though it went through a somewhat difficult development, the Valentine was the most successful with over 8,000 units of a bewildering number of variants built between 1940 and 1944. The Valentine accounted for about a quarter of all British tank production during the war. The tank was used in every theater of operations in which British or Commonwealth forces fought and many were used post war. New Zealand, for instance, held on to their late mark Valentines until the mid 1950s.

The tanks were built by a number of manufacturers in the UK and in Canada as well (where the Mk. VI and VII were produced). The Valentine kept the 2 pound gun for most of its production run, later switching over to the larger 6 pounder. Other differences between the versions were the use of various gasoline or diesel engines, with the diesels being more prevalent in all but the initial production tank. 

In this book, author David Doyle has located preserved examples of the Mark III, Mark VI, Mark IX and a rare Duplex Drive amphibious Valentine. As with other books in this series, there are extensive full color photos of these vehicles. Unlike some previous titles, there are not that many period images and only a few color profiles though there is a nicely done pair of three view drawings of the Mk II and Mk III.

That makes this volume an excellent reference for the modeler and one that enthusiasts will want to add to their library.

September 2010

My thanks to Squadron Products for the review copy. Get yours today at your favorite shop or on-line retailer.

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