Vehicle layout Valentine tank

driver s position, both periscopes , hatch visible. photo of mark vi tank @ cfb borden



crew inside valentine tank loading 2-pounder gun

the valentine of conventional layout, divided internally 3 compartments; front driver s position, fighting compartment turret , engine , transmission driving tracks through rear sprockets. driver s area contained driver , driving controls. driver sat on hull centre line, entering through either of 2 angled hatches on seat, though there emergency exit hatch beneath seat. driver had direct vision port—cut in 1 of hull cross members—in front of him , 2 periscopes in roof on head. driving clutch , brake steering through levers, control rods ran length of hull transmission @ rear.

behind driver bulkhead formed hull cross-member , separated him fighting compartment. first tanks had two-man turret, gunner on left of gun , commander acting loader on right. when three-man turrets introduced, commander sat rear of turret. turret made of cast front , cast rear riveted side plates of rolled steel. tanks carried radio in turret rear. tanks used wireless set no. 11 tannoy crew; later tanks had wireless set no. 19, included crew communications long , short range networks. turret rotation electric motor controlled gunner, hand-wheel manual backup. restrictions two-man turret placed on commander, made more if troop commander , responsible directing actions of 2 other tanks besides own, addressed enlarging turret mark iii loader main armament carried. turret ring diameter not changed, space found moving gun mounting forward in extended front plate , increasing bulge in rear of turret. increased weight half ton on 2.5 long tons (2.5 t) two-man turret.

a bulkhead separated fighting compartment engine compartment. engine, clutch , gearbox bolted form single unit. first valentines used petrol engine , diesel engine distinguished mark ii—at time tank infantry mark iii*— mark i, based on aec comet, commercial road vehicle engine. mark iv used gmc detroit diesel; these majority of used in desert campaigns. gearbox 5-speed, 1-reverse meadows; improved tracks added later marks.