In 1934, Sir John Carden of Vickers-Armstrong was asked to provide a "reasonably cheap tank" as a replacement for some of the medium models then in use.

It incorporated the best features of the cancelled Medium Mk III design, but lighter so that it could be powered by a commercial petrol engine.

The system was by Nash & Thompson and similar to that being introduced on the Vickers Wellington medium bomber aircraft.

Both of these smaller turrets were permanently manned, which gave the tank a total crew of six (commander, gunner, loader, driver and two machine-gunners).

[3] The later Valentine infantry tank essentially used the same lower hull and suspension, though with considerably more armour.

[4] The Cruiser was an effective tank in the French, Greek and early North African campaigns.

[citation needed] Another issue was that the areas around the front machine gun turrets created a frontal surface that was more vulnerable to enemy fire than it would have been had it been a simple flat plate.