This article lists British armoured fighting vehicle production during the Second World War.
Light tanks had mostly been discounted by the start of the war in all roles except airborne (generally replaced with the Carrier).
Prior to 1936, tank design and production came under the responsibility of the Master General of the Ordnance, who appointed a Director of Mechanisation.
As works within the Ministry of Supply scaled up, a new Director General of Tanks and Transport, Peter Bennett,[5][page needed] took on the capability of design leadership, and in 1940 added a Controller of Mechanisation (Major-General A.E.
[9][page needed] As such, tank design was increasingly reliant on industry experience and capabilities within Vickers, Vauxhall, Leyland Motors, Nuffield, and later Rolls-Royce.
Rolls-Royce, aided by Leyland and Vauxhall, started to become more involved in improving the design of a greater array of tank components, increasing performance and reliability.
[4] The role was outside of the usual hierarchy, allowing Robotham to co-ordinate efforts between DTD and industry while adding some much needed technical advice to the Tank Board and General Staff.
The Tank Board stayed in similar configuration for the rest of the war, although individuals filling the roles varied.
[9][4] As 1942 progressed, Viscount Weir was replaced by Commander Robert Micklem RN of Vickers as Chief Executive of Tank Design.
Claude Gibb was appointed Director-General of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, although Lucas continued to work under him.
Crusader was used extensively in North Africa, but suffered from problems with reliability and insufficient numbers were able to be fielded, many returning to workshops for servicing.
In parallel, Britain started to look at US made tanks to meet the Cruiser requirement, initially requesting the US to build Crusaders.
When US tanks entered British use, the Cromwell and Centaur design requirement was changed to move from the 6-pounder to 75mm for commonality of ammunition.
An uprated 75mm High Velocity gun was designed to overcome the issue, but proved too large for the new tanks, placing a renewed focus on the 17-pounder.
It mounted a further upgrade to the High Velocity gun that previously couldn't be fitted to Cromwell, now made capable of firing 17pounder (nominally 77mm) projectiles.
Both were cancelled when faults with the Churchill were rectified, and the vehicle proved capable of meeting battlefield requirements.
A related design but with a different engine – specification A27L – was the 'Tank, Cruiser, Mark VIII Centaur' This means that vehicles may be referenced in part or whole by combination of those elements.
A significant redesign could lead to the issue of a new specification number without a new Mark, for instance the Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill – originally built to specification A22 in 1940 – underwent a redesign leading to a better armoured vehicle the Churchill VII.
The Matilda II was produced by Vulcan Foundry, John Fowler & Co., Ruston & Hornsby, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, Harland and Wolff, and the North British Locomotive Company.
As well as Marks I, II, III, IV and V of the Matilda, some were rebuilt with the Canal Defence Light Total production 1937–43: 2,987.
No A13 Mk III saw combat as all but one (which was sent to North Africa) were stationed in Great Britain during the war and used for training.
The last production Crusaders were produced without turrets as they were to be converted to artillery tractors or self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
Cromwell was produced in several marks: I, III (II was a design that did not proceed to production), IV, IVw, Vw, VI, VII, VIIw, VIII.
As the war progressed the Universal Carriers became one of the most numerous armoured vehicles on the battlefield, with some estimates stating as many as 200,000 produced.
Loyd carriers were solely built in Britain, while Universal types were manufactured across the British Commonwealth, with a significant number coming from Canada.
This involved some elements of compromise as the body had to fit an existing shape or size, while the weight shifted with heavy armour and weaponry.
The rapid manoeuvre warfare practiced in the North African Campaign led to a requirement for a self-propelled artillery vehicle.
The principle of portee, carrying anti-tank guns on the back of trucks was limited to smaller calibres.
The first armoured vehicles were brought into action at the battle of El Alamein and development continued throughout the war.
As the war progressed, self-propelled artillery saw further development in an anti-armour role, with the Archer and Achilles mounting 17-pounder guns.