A25 Light Tank Mk. VIII Harry Hopkins
Designed as a successor to the Mk VII Tetrarch light tank, the A25 Light Tank Mk. VIII was longer, wider and had more armour than its predecessor. Ordered into large scale production in late 1941, it ran into immediate problems with redesigns required. These proved difficult to overcome and by February 1943, only six had been produced and only 100 by February 1945.
By mid-1941, the War Office and British Army decided that light tanks were a liability on the battlefield. Their only possible use was with reconnaissance units, however the American M5 Stuart light tank had fulfilled this role, Consequently, they were passed to the RAF for airfield defence and none saw combat.
One was modified with wings, intended to be towed as a glider to support airborne forces. However, after it crashed on its first flight the idea was dropped.
A variant of the Mk. VIII was developed as a self-propelled gun. Initially known as the Harry Hopkins CS (close support), it was eventually named the Alecto (after on of the Greek Furies). Click here for photos of the Alecto.
