Tetrarch tank
The Light Tank Mk VII, Tetrarch I was a tank designed by the Britanniques during the Second world war. Envisaged initially like armoured tank of recognition, it was transformed thereafter into transportable by air armoured tank.
design and development
The first prototype of Tetrarch (called PR Tank or Purdah) was produced by the company Vickers-Armstrongs in 1938. The vehicle was approved by the army and was ordered as of 1940 in order to fill the vacuum created by the low quality of the tank light available to the beginning of the war.The production of this tank was started again in 1941 after the adoption of this one by the airborne forces because it was sufficiently light to be to deploy by air via the heavy Planeur S Hamilcar in order to provide a support armor-plated to the troops of parachutists. The nickname of Tetrach (Tétrarque) was given in 1943.
The most interesting device of Tetrarch was its ordering of single direction of skid which functioned thanks to the side movement of the wheels which curved the caterpillars. To direct the vehicle, the driver slowed down a caterpillar, like any other tracked machine.
It should be noted that the turret of this tank was also placed on the Daimler Armoured Because, a fighting vehicle on wheels.
Use with the combat
A small number of tanks were deployed during the Bataille of Madagascar during the Opération Ironclad in 1942.The regiment parachutist armor-plated of recognition (Airborne Armoured Recognition Regiment) of the 6th division British parachutist (6th Airborne Division), landed with of Tetrarch at the edge of the Flowering ash in Hamilcar sailplanes during the Opération Overlord the June 6th, 1944 in the morning.
Certains Tetrach took part in the Traversée from the Rhine on March 24th, 1945.
20 Tetrach were delivered to the Soviet Union within the framework of the law lease-lend. They were photographed with the drive but ever observed on the battle fields.
Alternatives
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Tetrarch I CS
- Version Combat Support armed with an howitzer of 3-inch (76 mm).
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Tetrarch DD
- Tetrarch was equipped with a propelling marine propeller and screens folding stools with floating in fabric in June 1941 with Brent Reservoir. The test was a success and the system Duplex Drive of Straussler was adopted in order to equip thereafter, the amphibious versions of the Valentine and the Sherman, which will be used in particular at the time of the Opération Overlord.
Comparable tank
external bonds
- WWII vehicles