A17 Light Tank Mk VII Tetrarch

The A17 Light Tank Mk VII Tetrarch was a light tank produced during the Second World War for the British Army. Depending on sources, between 100 and 177 were built, with 20 of these delivered to the Soviet Union under the Lend Lease agreement.

A change in British Army doctrine, against the use of light tanks, and overheating issues, resulted in the Tetrarch not being deployed to North Africa. However, its small size allowed for used in Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Madagascar during May 1942. Six A17s were used for the operation, along with six Valentine tanks. Three Tetrarchs and five Valentines were destroyed during the otherwise successful operation.

Approximately 19 Tetrarchs were used during Operation Tonga, the British airborne assault on D-Day where they were transported using Hamilcar gliders. Assigned to the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, they supported other British airborne units until they linked up with forces advancing from the invasion beaches. At this time they were withdrawn from direct frontline use as they proved extremely vulnerable to German tanks and self propelled guns.

Soviet Tetrarchs were generally used for training, although two were used operationally, where they were lost to enemy action.