After Italy declared war on Britain in June 1940 British and Commonwealth forces went into action in North Africa against the Italians, and later the German Afrika Corps, with newly developed weapons like the Valentine Mk III infantry tank, so called because it came off the drawing board on St. Valentine's Day 1938.

The North Africa Tableau shows a Matador artillery tractor (left) and a Valentine tank by a German 5cm anti-tank position

Originally developed as a heavily armoured infantry tank to accompany soldiers on foot, it was often used as a wide ranging cruiser tank in the fluid desert battles. The Valentine went on to be produced in greater numbers than any other British tank.

The war in North Africa, from 1940 to 1943, saw increased standardisation of weapon types on the Allied side, particularly after the United States joined the war, but on both sides equipment became larger and more efficient. As tanks grew in size so did the anti-tank guns designed to counter them. For the German forces the standard weapon was the 5 cm PaK38 anti-tank gun while the British had the 6-pounder.