Sidi el Barrani, Egypt, 13 December 1940. Official caption of the photo (AWM 004415): "Official photographers take shots of the ruins of the Italian stronghold a few hours after the Britih Army had passed through". A personal note: my uncle, my mother's brother, captain of Regio Esercito (Italian Royal Army) on duty in 10th Italian Army, destroyed by British Army (Compass Operation), was taken prisoner at Sidi el Barrani and spent six years like POW in the concentration camp for officers of Yol, India. Victor Sierra

Sidi el Barrani

battle in britania

British-made Vickers 6-Ton Tank (Mark E, Type B), in the course of assessment by the British Royal Tank Regiment.  The British rejected the "6 Ton".  However, it proved to be a very successful export product, being sold to many countries including Greece, Finland, Soviet Union, Thailand, Bolivia, Portugal, Bulgaria and China.  The widespread distribution of the various "6 Ton" types led to some odd situations; for example, both in the Spanish Civil War and the Winter War, tanks of this type fought each other.  They also formed a significant part of Polish tank strength in 1939.

The Vickers "6 Ton" also acted as a basis for a large number of derivative designs, notably the Polish 7TP.  All round, for a vehicle was only used by its country of origin to a very limited extent as a training vehicle (and then only under the immediate pressure of war), this was a very influential and important tank design.  Best regards, JR.