Sentinel Vs Valentine

[Ryan]

Would Australia have been better served during the war if it too, along with Canada, had manufactured the Valentine tank instead of the Sentinel tank?

Canada was able to bring Valentine tanks into production within 11 months (June 1940-May1941) of beginning the program. Production for the next few months was slow but they were being produced.
Australia on the other hand went its own course developing the Sentinel tank over a 22 month period (Nov1940-Aug1942). Production was slow and was terminated in mid 1943.
By mid 43 Australia had enough tanks from the USA or UK at hand to equip its field units warranting Sentinel termination. I think it has to be said however if Sentinel development and production had continued into 1944 the AC3 model with 25pdr would had served very well in the South West Pacific.
But what if Australia had joined Canada, in July 1940, in the development and production of the Valentine tank locally. Would it be reasonable to say Australia may have begun production some 12 months later, in July 1941? This would have given the army a much needed boost by the time of the entry of Japan to the war in Dec 1941. Australia having only 10 Vickers VIB and 10 M3 Stuarts then. The year 1942 would then have been a full year of tank production in Australia.
There is some issues I have with it in my head, such as suitable armour and the powerplant. Would we have had to use cast armour like the Sentinel, delaying the program? Would it have been acceptable using the Cadillac 117hp V8 found locally or could Canada supply diesel powerplants in time?

Would an earlier 12 month period of tank production in Australia have made much difference in the long run?

Just thinking