Valentine Mark VI Closeup Part 2

Part 2 of our look at the Valentine begins with the left side of the vehicle. Dominating the left fender is the huge muffler and exhaust, sandwiched under two large fender braces and alongside the hull. Further aft (nearer the camera) can be seen the supports for the engine access doors and, outboard of those, the tool racks for the shovel and crowbar. The large handles on the engine bay doors can clearly be seen.

The exhaust exits out of the engine compartment at the front left, then feeds through this immense muffler and exits just to the left of the driver's position. Presumably this was done because, as an intended infantry support tank, the troops following behind the vehicle would not have to suck in exhaust gases. The muffler guard on this vehicle is covered with mesh. Although almost all vehicles photographed have a sheet metal cover over the muffler, a picture of the Valentine prototype (#116, p. 62) in Chamberlain and Ellis' British and American Tanks of World War II shows the prototype Valentine with a mesh guard similar to this one. Hence, it is possible that this is a feature of very early Valentine production, as opposed to a post-war fitting to replace a missing component. More recently, I came across a photo of Canadian Valentines being shipped to Russia during the war which all had this muffler guard as well, so it may very well be a feature of at least some Canadian production vehicles. Just in front of the muffler on the fender is a post and wingnut for stowage of the pickaxe head. The return rollers and tracks can also clearly be seen in this view.

This shot shows the engine deck area to advantage. To the left, the cast exhaust housing, which leads to the muffler, can be seen exiting out of the hull side plate. The rear of the turret, including the cast turret rear, is prominent, as is the distinctive antenna mount for the Number 11 Wireless Set, which is housed in the rear of the turret and operated by the tank commander.

Details of the engine access doors, including their hinges and grab handles, can be seen here. The supports for the engine access doors are also clearly visible. The large doors with the handles open towards the center of the vehicle, while the smaller portions open down and out. Notice the upswept part of the fender to the right of the photo, and the large hexagonal bolts all over the vehicle.

This view of the right side of the Valentine allow us a better view of the vehicle's stowage arrangements. This helps to identify this vehicle as an extremely early production example. The construction of the fender braces, as well as the upswept portion of the fender towards the rear, can also be seen.

The tool brackets on the fender are for the pickaxe handle (closest to the camera) and the large track-tensioning tool ("hockey stick") inboard under the round clasps. The device to the left of the photo on the engine deck is a latch for the hinged engine cover; in this case, the catch is open.

This is the driver's area looking down from the turret, showing the door, hinge, and periscopes. The texture of the armour plate in this area is quite visible, as is the construction of the bow with its splash guards. Sharp-eyed viewers may notice the Royal Ordnance Factory's foundry mark in the top of the 2 pdr. barrel, complete with crown and "GVI" (for George VI)!