Light Tank Mk VI | |
|---|---|
| Country | UK |
| Role | Light tank |
| In service | 1936–1942 |
| Built | 1682 |
The Tank, Light, Mk VI was a British light tank, produced by Vickers-Armstrongs in the late 1930s, which saw service during the Second World War. The Tank, Light, Mk VI was the sixth in the line of light tanks built by Vickers-Armstrongs for the British Army during the interwar period. The company had achieved a degree of standardization with their previous five models, and the Mark VI was identical in all but a few respects.
Source: Light Tank Mk VI on Wikipedia
| Mk.VIB Light Tank Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographers | Vladimir Yakubov, Matthew Flegal |
| Localisation | Jacques Littlefield Collection |
| Photos | 48 |
See also:
General Characteristics and Role
The Light Tank Mk VI was the final and most numerous variant of a series of light tanks built by Vickers-Armstrongs for the British Army between 1936 and 1940. It was designed primarily for the reconnaissance role, prioritizing speed and ease of transport over armor protection or offensive power. It was the standard light tank of the British and Commonwealth forces at the start of World War II, seeing action during the Battle of France and the early stages of the North African campaign. While reliable and mechanically sound, the Mk VI was quickly rendered obsolete by heavier German tanks, and its limited armament made it unsuitable for direct combat, leading to its eventual relegation to training duties.
| Property | Typical Value (Light Tank Mk VI) |
|---|---|
| Role | Light Tank, Reconnaissance |
| National Origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Vickers-Armstrongs |
| Service Entry | 1936 |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver) |
| Length | 3.96 m (13 ft 0 in) |
| Width | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) |
| Height | 2.28 m (7 ft 6 in) |
| Combat Weight | 5.2 long tons (5.3 tonnes) |
Powerplant and Mobility
- Engine: 1 x Meadows ESTB 6-cylinder liquid-cooled petrol engine.
- Power Output: 88 hp (66 kW).
- Maximum Speed (Road): 56 km/h (35 mph).
- Suspension: Horstmann coil spring suspension (similar to a bogie system), which provided a smooth ride and good cross-country performance for its weight class.
- Key Design Feature: The Mk VI was characterized by its elevated commander’s turret (known as a cupola), which offered excellent observation capabilities but also made the tank very tall and an easy target.
Armament and Armor
- Primary Armament: 1 x .50 inch (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun.
- Secondary Armament: 1 x .303 inch (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun (coaxial).
- Armor (Max): 14 mm (0.55 in) max frontal armor. The armor was designed only to protect the crew from small arms fire and fragmentation, not from anti-tank weapons.
- Production: Over 1,600 units of the Mk VI and its minor variations (Mk VIA, VIB, VIC) were produced, making it one of the most widely used British tanks before the introduction of the Crusader and Matilda.
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