Tetrarch

Miniatures are supplied unpainted and assembly may be required.

The Tetrarch tank was originally designed as a replacement for the Light Tank Mk VI. Like its predecessor it was built and designed by Vickers Armstrong, with design work starting in 1937. On completion it went into trials in 1938 and was accepted into service with the British army, but not immediately into the light tank role.

Production started in the middle of 1940 and first deliveries took place in November. Production was continuous (though delayed by bombing of the Metro-Cammell works) and ceased in the first quarter of 1942. The Army decided to accept the limited number of Tetrarchs available and rely on American production of the Locust to fulfill future needs.

It was armed with a 2pdr gun with a coaxial machine-gun in it’s turret. The turret was actually the same as that used by the Daimler Armored Car. Some vehicles were fitted with an additional drum fuel tank on the engine deck rear.

Some vehicles were also fitted with the Littlejohn adaptor, an addition to increase the muzzle velocity of the 2pdr to give it better anti-tank performance. Some Tetrarch light tanks were armed with a 3” howitzer for close support work.

It used a skid steering system that involved pivoting the wheels to make the tracks flex and the centre wheels would move in or out to bow the track. It was controlled by a steering wheel. However, if the driver needed to execute a very sharp turn, he could use either of 2 levers to apply the brakes.

It first saw combat during the invasion of Madagascar, supporting the invasion to retake this French colony in May 1942.

Three Special Service Squadrons of tanks were formed in 1942; the third of these became the Airborne Light Tank Squadron RAC and joined the 1st Airborne Division. When the 1st Airborne Division’s Recce Squadrons went to Africa the Airborne Light Tank Squadron was transferred to the newly formed 6th Airborne Division.

This Squadron was armed with the Tetrarch. The Hamilcar Glider was designed to carry the Tetrarch. During the Normandy invasions one squadron of the Airborne 6th Armored Reconnaissance Regiment landed in 30 Hamilcar gliders on June 6, 1944 in the second wave to support the 6th Airborne Division at the River Orne.

Eighteen to twenty Tetrarch tanks left Britain, a few were damaged on landing in Normandy, but the bulk went into combat supporting the Paras on the ground.

In Normandy the Tetrarchs were in more or less continuous use until replaced by the 8 Cromwells prior to the breakout.

The Tetrarchs in the squadron and regimental HQs were retained for a time to serve alongside the Cromwells.