Light tank Mk.VIII (A-25) HARRY HOPKINS

Despite the fact that Tetrarch light tank was not as satisfactory as expected, Vickers began the development of another new light tank designated as “Tank, Light Mk.VII revised“, which would finally be renamed as “Light tank Mk.VIII (A-25) Harry Hopkins“. It was designed during 1941, and in September a request for 1,000 units was ordered. Later, in November 1941, this order would be raised to 2,410, but was drastically reduced to 92 tanks built until February 1945. The mechanical components were the same of Tetrarch, although with reinforced armour, a more spacious turret and a new hydraulically assisted steering. The Harry Hopkins tank was not delivered to combat units, and can be considered a waste of resources and efforts at a time when other weapons would have been more useful to the British armed forces. Harry Hopkins light tank was the last of several series of light tanks that began to enter service since 1929, and that generally gave operating results lower than expected.

HARRY HOPKINS tank gallery and more info