The lighweight, compact Valentine had been an infantry tank first implemented in 1940 by Uk forces. It came as a welcome addition the beleagured British who had been forced into a desperate evacuation from Dunkirk, when valuable materiel needed to be left out. A total run of over 7,000 units (manufactured in Britain and Canada) made the Valentine the most prolifically produced British tank during WWII. The Mk.II/IV variant was loaded with the 40mm 2-pounder weapon, and featured a 130 hp diesel motor in addition to a "slow motion" coil sprung suspension system that offered it sufficient flexibility for the infantry tank part. It débuted in November 1941 in North Africa, and ended up being nevertheless serving in Tunisia, in May 1943. Valentines had been additionally passed away in significant numbers toward Soviet Union underneath the "lend-lease" program. They were used mostly in reconnaissance roles.
