Designed by Vickers in 1936 and built for the purpose of replacing the aging Medium Mark 1 and 2. It was to incorporate the best features of the cancelled A6 project. This tank was in active service from 1938 to 1941. The Close Support (C.S.) version mounted a 3.7" howitzer in place of the 2 pounder main gun. The Germans were known to have used a few captured Mark 1 C.S. tanks in North Africa as late as 1942.
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An improved version of the Mark 1. This tank was better armored so it could act as an "Infantry Tank" (see the Infantry Tank section) when needed. However, production models showed to be too lightly armored for the role and so the tank was reclassified as a "Heavy Cruiser". This tank would see combat in France and North Africa. No auxiliary turrets were fitted. Initially a hull MG was omitted but was added from 1940 onwards. The main production model was the Mark 2A. Toward the end of their service life extra armor was fitted to a few models but the exact amount is unknown. There was also a close support (C.S.) version as in the Mark 1.
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This version came as a result of observations of the Soviet BT fast tank series. The Nuffield Company spent just under 2 years designing this tank. The vehicle design began in 1936 and was in service by 1939. The design was based directly on a Christie tank imported from the United States and had a Christie suspension. The tank saw action both in France and North Africa.
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Basically the Mark 4 was a upgrade of the A13 (see above). Extra armor was added for crew protection. Hollow "V" sides were fitted to the turret - though the purpose is unsure. Hollow charge shells were only then being "discovered" for anti-armor use. The upper part of the V could be used to deflect a side turret shot upwards, but why the bottom was a purposeful shot trap is clearly a mistake. The Mark 4 was in production before the Mark 3 in 1938. The Mark 4 saw action in Africa and France. Note the Christie suspension.
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The General Staff, impressed with the Soviet T28 Medium Tank and wanting a heavier cruiser, ordered an design attempt. The design was ordered in 1937 but was cancelled in 1939 due to constantly changing requirements. The A14E1 was built by LMSR. The A14E1 had twin front MG turrets and the proposed main gun was to be a 2pdr. The vehicle weighed 29.5 tons and was powered by a 500hp Thornycroft engine. The A16E1 was built by Nuffield. This vehicle had a Christie suspension and was powered by a Liberty Aircraft Engine. This project was also cancelled in 1939 for the same reasons as the A14E1. |
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When the A13 prototype proved to be too slow and generally "unwanted", LMSR was asked to build a new vehicle using as many of the A13 parts as possible. The new design was called the A13 Mark 3, Cruiser Tank Mark 5, later to be known as the "Covenanter". The Covenanter was a low vehicle equipped with a Christie suspension and a purpose built Meadows flathead 12 engine. Sadly, the vehicle was plagued with mechanical and cooling problems that caused the tank to end it's days as a training vehicle - never seeing combat. The tank's years of operation were from 1940 to 1943. Some were converted into the C.S. (close support) model by replacing the 2pdr main gun with a 3" howitzer. Covenanter 4 was basically a modification of the cooling system. AMRA was the "Anti Mine Rolling Attachment" conceived in 1937. This tank pushed a framework consisting of 4 spring mounted castors. The castors were placed so that 2 each rolled in front of each track. The purpose was to detonate pressure type mines before one could damage a track. The frame was bolted to the tank and could easily be removed. While not used operationally, this vehicle did serve as a test for future AMRA mountings.
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A larger version of the A13 Covenanter. This design used many of the components of the A13 series - but - with the Liberty aircraft engine for power. In service in 1941 and produced until 1943, 5300 of these vehicles were built. A model ordered directly "off the drawing board", it featured a Christie suspension. Sadly, the tank was still too lightly armored and mechanically unreliable. This was one of the main British tanks to see action in North Africa against the Italians and Germans. The auxiliary machine gun turret was later deleted. Crusader 2 featured added frontal armor. Crusader C.S. (Close Support) featured a replacement of the 2pdr main gun with a 3" howitzer. Crusader 3 featured the upgrade to a 6pdr (57mm) main gun.
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Designed by Leyland as a improvement on the Crusader and Cavalier. As with the Cavalier, this tank was an interim development using the Liberty engine. Centaurs were used for training and special purpose roles. Years of service were from 1942 to 1945.
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Perhaps the most important British tank at the time of the invasion of Europe in 1944. Vehicles in the later part of the series were constructed using 100% welding. The Cromwell continued in service long after WW2 ended. Cromwell 2 (not pictured) had it's hull mounted MG removed for more internal storage. Cromwell 2 also had wider tracks installed. Cromwell 5w (not pictured) was the first all welded model and was fitted with a 75mm main gun. Cromwell O.P. (not pictured) was the command version. The O.P. had a dummy gun and extra radio equipment.
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A 1942 design in reply to the call for a tank with a gun that could take on any German tank. The chosen gun was the excellent 17pdr. Attempts to use the A27 design showed that it was too small and light to accept the new gun and so a complete tank was designed around it. This tank only saw limited service owing to the numbers of available Sherman Firefly available.
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The Comet resulted from a hurried need to fit the 17pdr gun to the chassis of a Cromwell/Challenger. The 17pdr was also redesigned as well into a shorter, lighter version that came to be called the 77mm. Not on the prototype, return rollers were added to the production line as built by Leyland. A new, and much more aesthetic turret was added. The design was all welded. The tanks were in service in early 1945.
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The last of the cruisers and the first of a wise combination of the Infantry and Cruiser tanks. Classified as a "heavy cruiser", it was designed to compete with the heaviest of German tanks. The 6 pilot vehicles ready for field trials were ready in May 1945 - just as the war ended. The Centurion lent itself easily to upgrades as the tank went on to live through 13 different "marks" along with various sub and special models. Perhaps the most "beautiful" of all the cruiser tank series.
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Last Update: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 |
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