Vickers AFV Sales to China

I have found the following in my notes regarding AFV sales to China during the 1930's. The information was supplied to me by e-mail in response to a query on the old George Bradford AFV News forum many years ago.

Unfortunately, I have lost the name and e-mail address of the author of the document. He cites as sources the archives of Vickers-Armstrong held at Cambridge University and the Tank Museum, Bovington.

"The complete list for Vickers AFV sale to China for 1928-38 are:

Second Quarter 1930: 12 Vickers-Carden-Loyd (VCL) Mk.VI machinegun carriers (with unspecified machineguns, probably Vickers Class C) and 6 trailers plus spares, etc. for 15,770 pounds sterling.

First Quarter 1933: 12 VCL amphibian light tanks for the Canton provincial government for 37,380 pounds sterling.

Fourth Quarter 1933: 1 VCL amphibian light tank with 8mm machinegun for 3,000 pounds sterling.

First Quarter 1934: 12 VCL amphibian light tanks, 12 6-ton tanks, and 3,200 rounds of 47mm ammunition for 100,190 pounds sterling. The 12 6-ton tanks were serial numbered VAE800-811 and were ordered on 9 March 1934 on TD1882 by Matheson & Co., Lombard Street, London EC3 for China. They had Superflexit fuel lines, were painted in camouflage and were armed with a Type B 47mm and a Class C 7.92mm water-cooled machinegun. They were delivered to Nanking 29 September to 13 November 1934.

Second Quarter 1934: 4 VCL amphibian light tanks, 4 6-ton tanks, 2,860 rounds of ammunition and spares for 39,947 pounds sterling. The 6-ton tanks were serial numbered VAE845-848 and were ordered on 25 May 1934 on TD1966 for China. They were equipped with Superflexit fuel lines, were painted in camouflage and were armed with a Type B 47mm and a Class C 7.92mm water-cooled machinegun. They were delivered 11 March to 10 May 1935.

Fourth Quarter 1935: 4 VCL light tanks, 4 6-ton tanks, radios, 2,400 rounds of ammunition for 37,500 pounds sterling. The 6-ton tanks were serial numbered VAE1148-1151 and ordered on 12 October 1935 on TD2650. They also had Superflexit fuel lines, a Pyrene fire extinguisher, were painted in camouflage and were armed with a Type B 47mm and 7.92mm water-cooled machinegun. Of note is that they were each equipped with a Marconi G2A transmitter-receiver set and were delivered on 21 October 1936. These tanks initially had twin machinegun turrets but the order was changed to single gun turrets which added 5,700 pounds to the contract price."

Although the focus of the above information is clearly the Vickers 6-ton tanks, the contract dates and information may be of use in tracing further information on the VCL 4-ton light tanks in question.

David