Valentine Mark IX Tank. While often critical of Western tank designs received through lend-lease, the Soviets considered the Valentine useful, and favored it for its superior mobility to the earlier Matilda tank, especially in winter conditions. Valentine production continued in 1944 solely to meet Soviet requirements, and all Valentines produced in Canada were used for lend-lease. Later models such as the Mark IX were equipped with the 6-pounder (57mm) main armament, with superior antiarmor performance to the early models with the 40mm 2-pounder, and most critically, the ability to deliver a useful HE round against soft targets. The 81 Valentines deployed to the Far East for the Manchurian offensive likely served with 6th Guards Tank Army reconnaissance elements.