Vickers 6-Ton (Polish service)
In service 1934 - 1939
The British export light tank Poland bought in 1931, studied intensively and then redesigned into the 7TP. Thirty-eight served in Polish units until 1939.
Built byVickers-Armstrongs
Photograph pending. No clearly licensed photograph of this vehicle was found.
Development history
Vickers designed the 6-Ton for export and sold it to a dozen armies; Poland ordered thirty-eight in 1931 in both the twin-machine-gun and single 47 mm turret forms. Polish engineers found the Armstrong Siddeley engine prone to overheating and the whole vehicle cramped, and their fixes - a Saurer diesel, a taller superstructure, improved cooling and a Swedish Bofors gun - became the 7TP rather than a modification of the original. The surviving Vickers tanks were grouped into two light tank companies which fought in the defence of Warsaw and around Mokra in September 1939. Several were rearmed with 37 mm Bofors guns in 1939 to standardise ammunition with the 7TP.
Variants
One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.
Twin-turret (Model A)
1934Two turrets each with a 7.92 mm machine gun, as originally delivered.
Single-turret (Model B)
1934One turret with the 47 mm Vickers QQF gun and coaxial machine gun.
Rearmed with 37 mm Bofors
1939Polish conversion standardising ammunition with the 7TP fleet.
Notable actions
- Invasion of Poland (1939)
- Siege of Warsaw (1939)