“If we have to depend on the Angus Workshops to win the war, I am afraid it will be another ten years.” So said an unknown officer in October 1941, about Canadian Valentine tank production. Two are shown here undergoing testing. 1/14

When Canada declared war on Germany on September 10, 1939, it had no experience producing tanks whatsoever. The Canadian Army had operated no tanks in combat in WW1 and given it little thought since. 2/14

The possibility of Canada aiding UK production of the Valentine tank began to be explored the very next month, only to be canceled in March 1940. Overall the Canadians expected any tank forces they raised to be equipped by the British. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine_tank) 3/14

After the fall of France, that was obviously not possible - Britain needed all the manufacturing power it had to replace its losses, and then some. An order for 300 Valentine tanks was placed with Canadian Pacific Rail’s Angus Shops in Montreal 4/14

This started very slowly, and very badly. First it was the lack of information and technical drawings from the UK, but even in October 1941 CPR did not seem to have come to grips with tank production. 5/14

However, things improved rapidly from that, and (as the tank was no longer top of the line at this point) the UK agreed to accept the entire production run as Lend-Lease aid for the USSR. 6/14

Production continued until May 1943. It should be noted that the Russians liked the Valentine and used it in a reconnaissance role right up until the end of the war! 7/14

After traveling to the coast by rail, the Valentines were sent to the USSR as part of convoys from Iceland to Murmansk - threatened by German aircraft, submarines, and surface vessels.. Later, a safer trip via Iran was used instead. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-5-minute-history-of-arctic-convoys 8/14

Thirty-two Valentines were kept for local training. Camp Borden (now CFB Borden) in southern Ontario was the main training location for the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. There is a museum there with the probably best collection of armoured vehicles in Canada. 9/14

Setting up Valentine production in Canada meant finding local components. Canada looked south to the USA to see what engines and gearboxes might be available. There they found the GMC 6-71 diesel, manufactured in nearby Detroit. http://usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/General%20Motors/detroit-diesel.htm 10/14

This was a very suitable engine and was used in all future British versions of the Valentine except the VIII (which was not put into production). It was paired with the American-made Spicer gearbox. The electrical system had to be redesigned at 24V. 11/14

The Canadian Valentines were designated Mark VI and Mark VII. Both had a 2-pounder main gun; the Mk VI had a Besa machine gun and the more numerous Mark VII an American .30 Browning instead. 12/14

Although the first Canadian Valentines had riveted hulls, from about tank #100 casting was used for the nose, which gave the tank a different look. 13/14

A total of 1420 Valentines were made in Canada during WW2, which got its industry off to a good start on tracked vehicles. 14/14