A17 Civkers Tetrarch MK.I/Mk.ICS Light Tank

The A17 Tetrarch, a lightweight tank produced by Vickers-Armstrong, was initiated in 1937 as a private project without War Office support. Its armor reached up to 14 mm, yielding a combat weight of 7.6 tons. Powered by a 165 bhp Meadows 12-cylinder petrol engine, it achieved a road speed exceeding 65 km/h. Armed with a 2 Pounder anti-tank gun and a co-axial 7.92mm Besa machine gun, the War Office approved the pilot tank in 1938, ordering 220 units. By 1941, the Light Tank's favor waned, reducing the contract to 177. Among these, 20 were sent to the Soviet Union, and a few to West Africa for an invasion of French Madagascar. The remaining tanks were allocated to UK Airborne Forces. By 1944, some were fitted with 3 inch howitzers, designated Tetrarch MkICS, while others received "Little John" squeeze-bore adaptors for their 2 Pdr guns. Tanks of the 6th Airborne Division's Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment were deployed in France on D-Day, serving until replaced by heavier Cromwell tanks. The Tetrarch was retired in 1945, held in reserve until 1950, when all were scrapped.