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So I have recently developed an interest in tanks. Started to play world of tanks a few months back and then wanted to know more about the machines I was playing, and by extension the nations and armies which built them. And I have noticed something which I find rather odd. With one very important exception each of the major participants began the war with a number of vehicles in production, these vehicles would be improved, replaced as the war progressed and built in huge numbers (over fifty five thousand for the T-34).
However sticking out from this is the British. While they did build a very large number of tank types during the war they could never settle on a design to become the standard for the whole army until after the war was over. Rather they would design one tank, build it for a while, recognize problems with the design and then build a totally new tank.
While they did build a sizeable number of tanks such as the matilda and valentine tanks they never reached the levels that other nations managed.
But what if after the battle of France the British army decides that it needs a standard design and sets about developing such a vehicle. An infantry and cruiser tank are to be built. The Cruiser is to be in the twelve to twenty ton range, will be equipped with a two pounder with the ability to mount a six pounder should the need arise. The vehicle should be protected against 57mm guns from a range at least of four hundred meters and be able to speed along at thirty five miles.
The infantry tank is to be equipped with a six pounder gun with the provision that should the need arise a heavier gun can be carried. It is to have a weight of between twenty and thirty tons and be protected against its own gun at a range of up to four hundred meters.
Begun in 1940 the vehicles enter production in 42 and serve as the main line vehicles for the British army through the rest of the war.

What could you expect these vehicles would change about the war in Africa? Europe? Asia? How would it affect the army with the vastly simplified issue of keeping the tanks in service?
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