Light Tank Mk VIII
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Tank, Light, Mk VIII, Harry Hopkins (A25) | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| Length | 4.34 m |
| Width | 2.65 m |
| Height | 2.11 m |
| Weight | 8.5 Long tons |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 6 - 38 mm |
| Main armament | Ordnance QF 2 pounder
50 Rounds |
| Secondary armament | 7.92 mm Besa machine gun
2,025 Rounds |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | Meadows 12 cyl. gasoline 148 hp (110 kW) |
| Suspension | |
| Road speed | 48 km/h |
| Power/weight | 17.4 hp/tonne |
| Range | 225 km |
The Tank, Light, Mk VIII, Harry Hopkins (A25) was developed by Vickers for airborne forces of the British Army during World War II. It was known as the Harry Hopkins tank, after the US politician.
The design was a further development of the Tetrarch. It featured a new, redesigned turret and hull with thicker, sloping armour for improved shot deflection. Like the Tetrach, it had skid steering, which operated by bowing the tracks by lateral movements of the centre road wheels, but power assistance was added. The vehicle was armed with a QF 2 pounder gun, with 50 rounds of ammunition, and a coaxial 7.92mm Besa machine gun, with 2,025 rounds of ammunition. A taper bore Littlejohn adaptor could be fitted to the barrel of the 2 pdr to use APCR shot which had improved armour penetration.
Three prototypes were authorised in April 1941 and production was then switched to Metro-Cammell, manufacturers of the Tetrarch. About 100 vehicles were eventually delivered, between June 1943 and March 1945, but it was not used in combat.
A modified chassis was employed as the basis for the experimental Alecto self propelled gun.
- Leland Ness (2002) Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles: The Complete Guide, Harper Collins, London and New York, ISBN 0-00-711228-9
- WWII vehicles
- Czolgiem.com
| Light tanks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vickers 6-Ton | Mk II | Mk III | Mk IV | Mk V | Mk VI | Mk VII Tetrarch | ||
| Cruiser tanks | ||
| Mk I | Mk II | Mk III | Mk IV | Mk V Covenanter | Mk VI Crusader | Mk VII Cavalier Mk VIII Centaur | Mk VIII Cromwell | Challenger | Comet | Sherman Firefly | Ram (Canada) | Sentinel (Australia) | ||
| Infantry tanks | ||
| Mk I Matilda | Mk II Matilda | Mk III Valentine | Mk IV Churchill | ||
| Scout Cars |
|---|
| Daimler Dingo | Dingo Scout Car (Australia) | Humber Scout Car | Lynx Scout Car (Canada) | S1 Scout Car (Australia) |
| Light Reconnaissance Cars |
| Humber LRC | Morris LRC | Otter LRC (Canada) |
| Armoured Cars |
| AEC Armoured Car | Coventry Armoured Car | Daimler Armoured Car | Fox Armoured Car (Canada) Guy Armoured Car | Humber Armoured Car | Lanchester Armoured Car Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car (South Africa) | Morris CS9 | Rhino Heavy Armoured Car (Australia) | Rolls-Royce Armoured Car | Rover Light Armoured Car (Australia) | Standard Beaverette | Armoured Carrier Wheeled Indian Pattern (India) |
| Armoured Trucks |
| Bedford OXA | C15TA Armoured Truck (Canada) |
| Armoured Command Vehicles |
| AEC ACV | Guy Lizard ACV |
| Unarmoured vehicles |
|---|
| British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II |
|---|
 |
This United Kingdom military article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This military vehicle article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |