Originally adopted by the British Army as a light tank, the Tetrarch became the first British airborne tank.
Light tanks were phased our after the Battle of France and the Tetrarch struggled to find a role. Ultimately it was adopted by Airborne Forces as it could be lifted by glider.
The Tetrarch’s great claim to fame dates from 6 June 1944 (D-Day) when a 20 of these tanks, carried in General Aircraft Hamilcar gliders were towed across the channel and landed in support of Sixth Airborne Division on the western flank of the invasion forces. Those that landed safely were mainly used to support the paratroopers with reconnaissance and not to fight German tanks. Of those that landed, the few sent into action soon came to grief.
The Tetrarch’s most unusual feature is the steering system that works by turning the road wheels and actually bending the tracks so that, on large-radius turns it can be driven more or less like a wheeled vehicle.
The Tank Museum’s Tetrarch
This tank has been converted to a Close Support Tetrarch, replacing the standard 2 pounder gun with a 3″ howitzer. It has serial number T9274 and was built it November 1940. It was used for training at the Gunnery Wing of the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School at Lulworth, then came to The Tank Museum in 1949. It is now one of just two surviving Tetrarch tanks in the world.
