Valentines for Victory

The plucky little Valentine tank was in the very first catalog of tanks offered to the Soviet Union by the British. The first Valentines went into battle in November of 1941, and despite orders ceasing due to the Valentine's obsolescence, Valentine tanks remained in the Red Army until the end of the war, not just fancy Mark XIs but regular old MkIII*s as well.

"To the commander of the 6th Guards Cavalry Grodno Division

Battle report #0113, HQ of the 198th Allenstein Tank Regiment, Rheinsberg, 10:30, April 30th, 1945. Map 100.000, dated 1935

1. The regiment, in cooperation with the 28th Cavalry Regiment, travelled 40 km with battles on April 29th, 1945, capturing the following settlements: Barsdorf, Blumenow, Zootzen, Tramzov, Buchholz, Burow, Menz, Rheinsberg.
2. The following damage was done to the enemy:
1. Destroyed:
1. 11 large caliber guns
2. 19 automatic guns
3. 1 SPG
4. 14 AA machineguns
5. 20 hand machineguns
6. 8 mortars
7. 9 APCs
8. 7 tractors
9. 123 cars
10. 23 motorcycles
11. 100 bicycles
12. 80 trailers
13. 134 soldiers and officers killed
2. 60 enemy soldiers and officers were taken prisoner
3. 725 Soviet prisoners of war were liberated
3. No materiel or personnel losses were taken on April 29th, 1945
4. The regiment has:
1. 5 T-34 tanks, 5 combat ready
2. 10 Valentine MkIX tanks, 8 combat ready
3. 3 Valentine MkIII tanks, 3 combat ready
4. 7 SU-100, 7 combat ready
5. 5 S-76, 5 combat ready
   Two MkIX tanks need medium repairs, and one SU-100 needs light repairs.
5. Supplies:
1. Fuel and lubricant
1. Gasoline: 0.5 refills
2. Gasoil: 1.3 refills
3. Aircraft lubricant: 1.3 refills
2. Ammunition:
1. 100 mm shells: 2 refills
2. 85 mm shells: 2 refills
3. 57 mm shells: 1.3 refills
4. 40 mm shells: 0.5 refills
5. BESA ammunition: 1.8 refills
6. Bren ammunition: 1.8 refills
7. DT ammunition: 1.8 refills
3. Food: 3 days
6. Communication with HQ is done through a communications officer."

CAMD RF 3895-135762-1