Light Tank Mark II was introduced into service in 1930 as a direct development of Light Tank Mark IA. It was one of the first vehicles to have Cemented Tank Armour, a type of face-hardened armour which resulted in significant weight savings. This armour was used in all light tanks henceforth, up to Mk VI. The leaf suspension of the Light Tank Mark I was replaced with Horstmann suspension with horizontally mounted springs. Light Tank Mark II was still in use as a training vehicle as late as 1940.
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Summary of Principal Light Tank Mk II Variants
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| Light Tank Mk II | No 1 Mk I turret with no air louvres on turret side and a sliding roof hatch. 16 built, 12 by Vickers-Armstrong, 4 by Royal Ordnance Factory. |
| Light Tank Mk IIA |
Two fuel tanks. Built by Royal Ordnance Factory. No 1 Mk II turret has air louvres on each side at the top. The sliding roof hatch of the No 1 Mk I was replaced with a more secure arrangement of a folding hatch with two doors. |
| Light Tank Mk IIB |
One large capacity fuel tank. Built by Vickers. Turret as Mk IIA |
| Light Tank Mk II Indian Pattern | Square non-rotating cupola on louvred turret. Sources suggest that these vehicles were not refitted with Rolls Royce engines. |
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Originally these vehicles were manufactured with a Meadows engine, but most were refitted with a Rolls Royce engine. Turrets later upgraded to Mk I* and Mk II* both with louvres with anti-bullet splash baffles fitted. The suspension was also upgraded on most vehicles to a dual spring system. |
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| Armament | 1 x Vickers MG, 4000 rounds |
| Weight | 4.25 tons |
| Suspension | Horstmann |
| Armour | 4 mm/10 mm |
| Dimensions |
Length: 11' 9" Width: 6' 3.5" Height: 6' 7.5" |
| Max Road Speed | 30 mph |
| Operational range | 125 miles |
| Engine |
Original: Meadows 58 bhp Refitted: Rolls Royce 6 cyl. 66 bhp |
(pre-GS 'A' number designations)
