Valentine production numbers.

Howdy all.

I've been doing some research for the Valentine to put on the Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine_tank, but I can't seem to find production figures asides from total in Britian, total in Canada, and the first two Mk's.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

Total production, as found on http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/britain/valentine.html : 8,275 units.
Of which: Mk.I 350, Mk.II 675, rest unknown.
production of the converted Archer tank destroyer: about 700.
hope this helps!

 

Does the number of Archers (and therefore Bishops) count against the total Valentines produced? (I wasn't sure if that number is tanks proper, or just the chassis).

And, even if total numbers aren't known, does anyone know which variation was the most produced?

 

I have read somewhere that Canada produced about 1.400 Valentines beginning on Mk VI.
Magnus

 

I think the total numbers I gave account for the Valentine only, and that the number of Archers produced is separated; therefore, 700 more Valentine chassis were built for Archers and an unknown numbers of chassis for Bishops, on top of the over 8000 Valentines proper.

But as always, I'm not sure.

 

All my sources agree on a total production of 8275 Valentines, of which 1420 were produced in Cananda. 650 Mks III and VIII were converted to Valentine DD tanks.

I´ve not managed to find the exact production numbers of the Bishop. But some sources indicate that only 80 were completed. 665 Archers were built, out of 800 ordered. I believe these numbers are in addition to the 8275 Valentines allready produced.

 

I found that there werwe 12,000+ made sounds too large though

 

Almost all sources give a total of 8275 Valentines (Infantry Tank Mark III and Infantry Tank Mark III*) produced between 1940 - 1944.
The only production breakdowns I have been able find show 350 Mk I, 700 Mk II, and 630 Mk IX. 1,420 Valentine Marks VI/VII/VIIA were produced in Canada, all but 30 going to the Soviets as lend lease.

The 80 Bishops and 665 Archers were probably not counted in the total as they were purpose built and considered different design types.

Total British AFV production during the war was around 25,000. Even at 8,275 Valentines accounted for about a third. 12,000+ does sound too large (half of all Brit tanks).