British Cruiser Tanks WW2

The War War Archives Archi ves British Cruiser Tanks of World War 2

£7.95

 Archive photogr photographs aphs and contemporar contemporaryy dra drawings

 MUSÉE DU DÉBARQUEMENT DÉBARQUEMENT,, UTAH BEACH, NORMANDY  We are delighted to announce the opening of our Gallery in this most prestigious location, within the Utah Beach Museum. Now entering its 50th anniversary, the site has undergone extensive development making it one of the most important D-Day museum’s museum’s in the world so if you are in the area we would be delighted to welcome you to view one of the most extensive displays of Military Art anywhere!

Sword Beach

Ste Marie du Mont

NEW COLLECTORS ALWAYS WELCOME – PLEASE CALL FOR FREE BROCHURE PACK With our extensive galleries in Buckinghamshire, California and Normandy we are one of the world’s foremost specialists in Military and Aviation Art. Please call or see our website for details of our vast range by the worlds foremost Military Artists. We We would be delighted to welcome you at any of our locations, where you can browse with no obligation ob ligation in a relaxed and informal environment.

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Verville Battery

The Road to the Rhine

Stonewall Brigade

(44) 01296 625681 Vine Tree House, Back Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6EB UK 815 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA 93023, USA Tel: 01296 625681 Fax: 01296 620668 Tel/Fax: Toll Free (800) 528 0887 www.aceshigh-uk.com [email protected] www.aceshigh-usa.com [email protected] Gallery Open Tues - Sat 9am – 5.30 pm Gallery open Mon – Fri 9am – 5 pm Sun 10am – 4pm ( phone lines open 7 days) Weekends by appointment – call for details

 MUSÉE DU DÉBARQUEMENT DÉBARQUEMENT,, UTAH BEACH, NORMANDY  We are delighted to announce the opening of our Gallery in this most prestigious location, within the Utah Beach Museum. Now entering its 50th anniversary, the site has undergone extensive development making it one of the most important D-Day museum’s museum’s in the world so if you are in the area we would be delighted to welcome you to view one of the most extensive displays of Military Art anywhere!

Sword Beach

Ste Marie du Mont

NEW COLLECTORS ALWAYS WELCOME – PLEASE CALL FOR FREE BROCHURE PACK With our extensive galleries in Buckinghamshire, California and Normandy we are one of the world’s foremost specialists in Military and Aviation Art. Please call or see our website for details of our vast range by the worlds foremost Military Artists. We We would be delighted to welcome you at any of our locations, where you can browse with no obligation ob ligation in a relaxed and informal environment.

CONTACT US NOW TO JOIN OUR EMAIL UPDATE LIST – WWW.ACESHIGH-UK.COM

Verville Battery

The Road to the Rhine

Stonewall Brigade

(44) 01296 625681 Vine Tree House, Back Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6EB UK 815 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA 93023, USA Tel: 01296 625681 Fax: 01296 620668 Tel/Fax: Toll Free (800) 528 0887 www.aceshigh-uk.com [email protected] www.aceshigh-usa.com [email protected] Gallery Open Tues - Sat 9am – 5.30 pm Gallery open Mon – Fri 9am – 5 pm Sun 10am – 4pm ( phone lines open 7 days) Weekends by appointment – call for details

INTRODUCTION

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eveloped according to a specification drawn up by Lieutenant-Colonel E D Swinton, and designed by William Tritton, Tritton, the tank was the brainchild of Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty.. Churchill hoped that his massive, armoured Admiralty ‘landships’ would would be able to break the stalemate that was the inevitable result of the opposing armies becoming entrenched on the Western Front. The name, ‘tank’, was derived from the cover story that the machines, which were initially built by William Foster & Company and the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Company, were water tanks intended for use in Mesopotamia. The first tanks went into battle with the British Army on the Somme in 1916 and, by the end of the war,, hundreds of these machines had been war constructed and deployed, with varying degrees of success. Production Production ceased after the Armistice in 1918 although the development of medium tanks, as well as a smaller, faster machine, described as a light infantry tank, continued. Strict controls on military expenditure during the 1920s meant that any

development was slow, slow, but, by the end of the decade, a consensus had emerged that saw light tanks being developed for infantry support, with faster, so-called medium tanks intended for a more mobile role. By 1937, this policy had progressed further, further, with the War Office describing describi ng three types typ es of machine... machin e... light tanks were intended for the scouting and reconnaissance role; cruiser tanks were designed to break through enemy lines and to exploit targets of opportunity; and infantry tanks, as the name suggests, were intended to support advancing infantry. It soon became clear that the light tank was of very limited value and, aside from the airborne role, this type of machine was not developed fur ther. But, throughout World World War 2, British tanks were developed specifically for use either as cruisers or as infantry tanks, with those tanks of US manufacture in service with the British Army, similarly assigned to one of these two roles. With hindsight, the policy was clearly flawed but, of far more serious consequence was the fact that, at least during the th e early years of the war war,,

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British tanks were generally brought into service before development was complete and before teething troubles had been ironed out. The British also lagged behind the Germans in the development of armoured protection and in the provision of sufficiently powerful power ful tank guns. It would be fair to say that most of the British tank designs of World War War 2 were either inadequate or mechanically unreliable... or, in the worst cases, both inadequate and unreliable! It was only when the Allied troops stormed the D-Day beaches in June 1944, that the British, at last, had a tank that could face the heavier German machines on a more-or-less equal footing...‘in the shape of the Cromwell and the re-gunned Sherman Firefly Firefly,, and, later, the Comet. By the time the war was over, over, the out-dated cruiser and infantry tank concept was being questioned in favour of a more universal design based on the more successful cruisers. Pat Ware

Editor 

Providing a fitting memorial to the 7th Armoured Division, who were stationed in Thetford Forest between January and May 1944 while they prepared for the invasion of Normandy, this Cromwell IV, nick-named ‘Little Audrey’, stands on a plinth alongside the A1065 road in Norfolk, north of Mundford. The Cromwell was one of the best British tanks of the period, and provided much of the tank strength of the British Army in Normandy. Normandy.  (Simon Thomson) The War Archives

Mechanised Warfare British Cruiser Tanks of World War 2 Editor Pat Ware. Design and layout Rob layout  Rob Terry. Scanningassistant Lizzie Ware. Image restoration Paul restoration Paul Sanderson. Picture credits All photographs from the Warehouse Archive unless otherwise credited. Published by Kelsey Publishing Group, Cudham Tithe Barn, Berry’s Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG. Telephone 01959 541444. Fax 01959 541400. www.kelsey.co.uk Printed by William Gibbons & Sons Ltd, Willenhall, West Midlands. © 2014 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with prior permission in writing from the publisher. The The publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in ar ticles or advertisements. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or Publisher. ISBN 978-1-909786-31-8 978-1-909786-31-8

The War Archives British Cruiser Tanks of World War 2 3

INTRODUCTION

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THE DESIGN OF BRITISH TANKS TO 1945

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The first tanks appeared on the battlefield in September 1916 but nobody was really sure what to do with them. By 1939, British tank doctrine called for two types of tank... cruiser tanks that were designed to break through enemy lines, and infantry tanks, designed to support advancing foot soldiers.

10 CRUISER TANK MK I Cheap to build, and simple to operate, the Vickers cruiser tank Mk I of 1937 replaced existing medium tanks.

12 CRUISER TANKS MKS II AND IIA Originally intended as an infantry tank, the Vickers cruiser tank Mk II evolved into an improved and up-armoured version of the earlier Mk I.

14 CRUISER TANK MKS III, IV AND IVA Under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel G Martel, the cruiser tanks Mk III, IV and IVA were the first to employ the patented Christie suspension that allowed tanks to travel at high speeds across country.

24 CRUISER TANK MK V, COVENANTER Officially designated cruiser tank Mk V, the Covenanter was the first British tank to be given a name. Unfortunately it proved to be unreliable and prone to over-heating.

30 CRUISER TANK MK VI, CRUSADER The Crusader was described as a heavy cruiser and was constructed using as many components as possible of the earlier Covenanter... but was no more reliable.

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44 CRUISER TANK MK VII, CAVALIER Like the Crusader II, the Cavalier was armed with a 6-pounder (57mm) main gun, but the addditional weight of armour proved too much for the automotive components, and the tank was both slow and unreliable.

46 CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CROMWELL The Rolls-Royce Meteor powered Cromwell was possibly the first British tank design of the war that that did not prove to be disappointing. More than 4,000 examples were constructed.

58 COMET Based on the Cromwell, but mounting a more-powerful 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun, the Comet was fast, wellprotected and hard-hitting... sadly it arrived too late to affect the outcome of the war.

66 CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CENTAUR Based broadly on the hull and turret of the Cavalier, the Centaur was designed to allow subsequent upgrading once Rolls-Royce Meteor engines were available in quantity.

70 CHALLENGER With its big 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun, the Challenger was an attempt at coming up with a design that could defeat the heavily-armoured German tanks. A lack of adequate development meant that problems with the handling and suspension were never resolved.

74 CENTURION

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The Centurion was the best British tank of World War 2... unfortunately, it was not completed in time to see any action. Nevertheless, the Centurion remained in production for 20 years and proved enormously successful.

83 USBUILT MEDIUM TANKS IN BRITISH SERVICE For almost the entire duration of the conflict, British industry was unable to manufacture sufficient numbers of tanks, and thousands were supplied by the USA in the form of the M3 Lee/Grant and the M4 Sherman.

88 HEAVY TANKS Since the mid-1930s, British tank doctrine had called for a mix of medium and light tanks, with the former described either as cruisers or infantry tanks. Light tanks were largely discontinued after 1940 but, as German tanks grew ever more monstrous, it seemed that the age of the heavy tank was not over.

94 THE DESIGN OF BRITISH TANKS FROM 1945 Despite the, inevitably muddled tank policy of the immediate post-war years, the most successful British tank of the period was the Centurion, which had started life being described as a cruiser... but the appearance of the massive Soviet IS-3 was seen as something of a game-changer, resulting in the development of the Conqueror heavy tank.

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 THE DESIGN OF BRITISH TANKS TO 1945  THE TANKS THAT the British Army put into battle on the Somme in September 1916 were crude devices. Poorly armoured, mechanically unreliable and, with their sponson-mounted guns, often difficult to manoeuvre into a firing position. During their first deployment, just 32 out of a total of 49 tanks were considered to be sufficiently mechanically fit to take part in the action... which was only partially successful. It wasn’t until November 1917, at Cambrai, that British tanks achieved a significant result when more than 400 machines penetrated almost six miles into enemy-held territory across a seven-mile wide front. Unfortunately, the infantry failed to exploit the breakthrough, and much of the territory gained was swiftly recaptured by the Germans. Development of the British heavy tank continued through the war, with a smaller design, described as the ‘tank, medium Mk A’, also going into production in 1917. British heavy and medium tanks remained in service into the 1920s, eventually being superseded by the Vickers-designed ‘tank, medium, Mks I to III’, and ‘tank, light, Mks I to VI’. Armed with a Hotchkiss 3-pounder

A male Mk I heavy tank, complete with the original tail wheels, designed to aid trench crossing, photographed on the Somme in September 1916. The Mk I was the first armoured tracked vehicle to be put into production.

(47mm) gun, the Vickers medium was the first British tank to have a rotating turret, a feature that had first appeared on the French Renault FT-17 light tank of 1917.  The Vickers medium became the backbone of British armoured forces between the wars. Despite having entered service in 1923, some even survived as training aids into the early years of World War 2. However, in the late 1920s, the War Office came up with a new design of tank that reflected the then-current thinking regarding the deployment of armoured forces. Eventually going into production in 1937 to replace the existing medium, Mks I and II, the new tank was described as ‘tank, cruiser, Mk I’, or A9. War Office thinking of the period held that highly-mobile cruiser tanks – sometimes known as ‘cavalry tanks’ – would be deployed in an independent role, reflecting naval practice, which described large warships as cruisers. Lightly armoured and lightly gunned, the cruiser tank was intended to make reconnaissance forays deep into enemy territory, much as horsemounted cavalry had in former conflicts. The more heavily armoured infantry tanks would be used for support during infantry

assaults... the weight of armour meant that they were appreciably slower than the cruisers, but, since the role of the infantry tank was to support foot soldiers during an attack, this was considered unimportant.  The A9 was the first of a series of similar cruisers, all too many of which were, unfortunately, poorly designed and rushed into production. Next came the cruiser Mks III, IV and IVA (A13) of 1938, which featured Christie-style suspension that permitted high road speeds to be attained, but which was powered by the archaic Liberty V12 aero engine dating from World War I. This was replaced by the Meadows-powered Mk V, although the adoption of names for British tanks in 1938 saw this subsequently known as the Covenanter. The Crusader heavy cruiser of 1939 was more successful, fighting in the Western Desert in 1941, and subsequently being up-gunned and up-armoured.  The Cavalier and Centaur designs of 1942 were described as heavy cruisers, but both proved to be underpowered, and often unreliable, and the situation did not improve until the appearance of the Rolls-Royce powered Cromwell, which was amongst the

Mk V male heavy tank that has come to grief in a trench. Dating from 1918, the Mk V was the first British tank that could be driven by one man... previous models had required a driver, two steersmen and a commander, the latter also operating the brakes.

BRITISH TANK DESIGN

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fastest tanks of World War 2. In Cromwell V form, it was also the first British tank to feature all-welded construction. Challenger was a modified Cromwell mounting a 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun, but it was the Comet, a much-modified Cromwell equipped with improved suspension, a highly-accurate 77mm gun, and heavier armour that proved to be the most successful tank of the period.  The concept of cruiser and infantry tanks survived through the war with new designs of both types being put into production.  There was also a brief reprise of the heavy tank... but, if the Centurion had made it into production before VE Day, not only would it have been Britain’s best cruiser tank of the conflict, but it would also have been one of the best tank designs of the war. •

Dating from 1917, the Renault FT-17 was the first tank to feature a revolving turret and was, perhaps, more representative of future tank development than the heavy British machines. Removable tail skids aided trench-crossing performance.

Originally described as a ‘light tank’, the medium tank Mk I provided the backbone of the Royal Tank Regiment between the wars, with around 160 examples constructed by the Royal Ordnance Factory and Vickers-Armstrong between 1923 and 1928. The main gun was a 3-pounder (47mm), and there were three 0.303in Vickers machine guns.

The medium Mk II was similar to the earlier Mk I, but featured thicker armour, up from 6.5mm to 8mm, armoured suspension skirts and improved accessibility to the engine. Some of these tanks were still in use as training aids as late as 1941.

Period cut-away illustration of the medium Mk II showing the general internal layout and disposition of the crew (one man is not shown).

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Designed as a possible replacement for the medium Mk II, the A6 medium tank – often described as the 16-tonner – was designed by Vickers-Armstrong in 1928. The 3-pounder (47mm) main gun was retained, and there were machine guns in small, auxiliary forward turrets. Three prototypes were built – A6E1, A6E2 and A6E3 – before the project was abandoned.

In 1930, even before trials on the 16-tonner had been completed, three more prototypes, this time described as ‘tank, medium, Mk III’ were constructed by Vickers-Armstrong. Fabricated using what was described as ‘cement tank armour’ (CTA), with a thickness of 10mm, the Mk III was armed with the usual 3-pounder (47mm) main gun, together with three Vickers machine guns, one installed co-axially with the main gun. Again, just three examples were constructed.

The A6 was followed by yet another experimental design, now designated A7, again with three examples constructed. A7E1 and A7E2 were powered by an eight-cylinder air-cooled Armstrong-Siddeley engine, whilst E3 used twin AEC diesels. The main gun was the 3-pounder (47mm) weapon that had been used in earlier medium tanks and there were two Vickers machine guns, one of which was in a ball mount at the front of the hull.

With the A6, the sixteen-tonner and the A7 all proving way too costly, it was obvious that a cheaper medium tank was required. It finally appeared, in the form of the cruiser tank Mk I, in 1936, signalling the beginning of a line of development that would continue to the Centurion. However, there were still one or two blind alleys to be explored and one of these was the experimental A14E1 heavy cruiser of 1938. There was no series production, but lessons were learned that could be put into practice later.

Dating from 1938, the A16 was another dead-end design that was used to investigate transmission and steering systems. It was effectively a development of the A13 Covenanter (cruiser tank Mk V) with heavy-duty Christie suspension, and a Merritt-Brown controlled differential steering system. Like the A6 and the A14, there were also twin forward turrets.

Strategic thinking of the period recognised that a medium tank was not always the most appropriate tool for the job and War Office doctrine called for a mix of medium and light tanks, with the design of the latter based on the Carden-Loyd Mk VII. Entering service with the British Army in 1929 as the light tank Mk I, the vehicle was operated by a crew of two and was armed with a single Vickers machine gun.

BRITISH TANK DESIGN

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The final development of the light tank series, the Mk VI, came into service in 1936 and was widely used during the early years of World War 2, with three subsequent variants (Mk VIA, Mk VIB and Mk VICC).

Light tank Mk VIA, recognisable by the multi-sided cupola, being loaded onto a six-wheeled truck during some kind of public demonstration. Note the coil spring Horstman suspension system.

Somewhat inappropriately nick-named Demon, this infantry tank Mk I, otherwise known as Matilda or A11, shows off the ungainly appearance of the type. Restricted by strict budgetary constraints, the engine was a Ford V8 unit and the leaf-spring suspension was similar to other Vickers-Armstrong tracked vehicles. Production started in 1937, with 139 examples built... it was not especially effective, but was not easily penetrated by German anti-tank guns of the time.

Originally produced by Vickers-Armstrong as a private venture, the Valentine, or infantry tank Mk III, borrowed heavily from the cruiser Mks I and II. The design was offered to the War Offi ce two days before Valentine’s Day 1938, with a contract placed in 1939. Some 8,275 examples were built before production ceased in 1944, with around 1,400 built in Canada. The type was heavily involved in the North African campaign. Although armed with only a 2-pounder (40mm) main gun, the infantry tank Mk II, otherwise known as A12, or Matilda I*, II, III or IV, depending on the detail modifications, was a far more successful design. A pilot model appeared in 1938 and a total of 3,000 were constructed, with some seeing action in France and the Western Desert.

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CRUISER TANK Mk I  THE CRUISER TANK Mk I was designed by Sir John Carden of Vickers-Armstrong in 1934 to meet a General Staff Requirement for a medium tank of simple design and relatively low cost that could replace the medium tank Mks I and II.  The design, which was designated A9 by the Department of Tank Design, was based on work that had been carried out by Vickers for the cancelled medium tank Mk III (A6), and the tank went into limited production in 1937. A total of just 125 examples were constructed, 50 by Vickers and 75 by Harland and Wolff, before it was superseded by the improved cruiser Mk II.  The boat-shaped hull, which was constructed from riveted armour plate, had a maximum thickness of armoured protection of 14mm at the front (hull and turret), and a minimum of 6mm, giving a combat weight of 28,728 lb (13,058kg). The

Designed by Sir John Carden of VickersArmstrong, the A9 was the first tank to be described as a cruiser and was armed with either a 2-pounder (40mm) main gun or, for the close support role, with a 3.7in mortar. Power came from an AEC A179 six-cylinder engine. Production started in 1937, and just 125 examples were constructed, but the type saw some action in France and the Middle East.

layout of the vehicle conformed to what had, by this time, become the norm for tanks, with the engine placed at the rear, the driving compartment at the front, and the turret and fighting compartment in the centre, and there was somewhat cramped accommodation for a six-man crew, consisting of commander, gunner, loader, driver, and two machine gunners. This was the first type of British tank to be fitted with a powered traversing system for the turret. Unlike previous medium tanks, which had tended to be armed with a 3-pounder (47mm) gun, the A9 carried a 2-pounder (40mm) quick-firing (QF) main gun that provided improved penetration against enemy armour by virtue of its higher muzzle velocity. In addition, there were three 0.303in Vickers machine guns, one alongside the main gun in the turret, and

one each in two auxiliary turrets at the front of the hull, to either side of the driver. A close-support version was also produced (cruiser, Mk I CS) in which the 2-pounder (40mm) main gun was replaced by a 3.7in howitzer. It was originally intended that the vehicle would be powered by the engine of the Rolls-Royce Phantom II motorcar, but, when this proved inadequate, a modified AEC Type A179 six-cylinder petrol engine of 9.64 litres was selected. The engine produced 150bhp, and was arranged to drive the rear sprockets through a Meadows five-speed slidingpinion crash gearbox and epicyclic final drive. The tracks were supported on a pair of triple-wheeled rubber-tyred bogies on either side, with so-called Vickers ‘slowmotion’ suspension provided by a pivoted beam with coil springs and hydraulic shock

CRUISER TANK MK I

Cruiser Mk I photographed from the side. This example, which is clearly operating in the desert, has been fitted with extended sand skirts.

absorbers. Maximum speed on the road was 24mph (39km/h), with a range of 100 miles (162km); maximum speed across country was 15mph (24km/h).  The medium Mk I remained in service to 1941, and was deployed against German Pz Kpfw I, II, III and IV  tanks by the 1st Armoured Division in France and Belgium, and by the 2nd and 7th Armoured Divisions in North Africa. •

Above: Photographed in France in May 1940, this knockedout cruiser Mk I belonged to the British 1st Armoured Division. Right: Cruiser tank Mk I photographed in action in the Middle East. Note the twin Vickers machine guns carried in twin auxiliary turrets flanking the opened driver’s hatch.

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CRUISER TANK TANK Mks M ks II I I and IIA DESIGNATED A10, AND originally intended as an infantry tank, the cruiser tank Mk II was developed by Vickers-Armstrong in parallel to the A9. Work started in 1934, although the tank was not ready for production until 1938 and, when the A10 finally entered production, it had evolved into a much-improved version of the A9 and was described as a heavy cruiser tank. Whilst the hull and turret followed the same basic design as the A9, as would befit the tank in its original infantry role, the thickness of the frontal armour was increased, initially to 25mm, and on production machines, to 30mm, using appliqué plates... this was the first use of appliqué armour on a British tank. The use of additional armour had the effect of increasing the weight to 31,696 lb (14,407kg) and thus reducing the maximum top speed on roads to 18mph (29km/h), with 8mph (13km/h) available

across country.  The 2-pounde 2-pounderr (40mm) (40mm) main gun of the A9 was retained, together with the co-axial 0.303in Vickers machine gun, but the auxiliary turrets were deleted. In the Mk IIA variant, which appeared in 1940 after just 13 examples had been built, the mount for the main gun was redesigned, and the co-axial Vickers machine gun was replaced by a Besa 7.92mm machine gun, with a second gun of this type mounted in the nose, alongside the driver. As with the A9, there was also a close-support variant (cruiser Mk IIA CS) armed with a 3.7in howitzer and two 7.92mm Besa machine guns. By removing the third machine gun, it was possible to reduce the crew to five men, consisting of commander, gunner, loader, loader, driver, and hull machine gunner.  The basic basic automotiv automotive e details details and and suspension were identical to the cruiser Mk I,

although the gear ratios were altered to help compensate for the increased weight. A total of 175 vehicles were constructed between 1938 and 1940, by which time the design was considered to be obsolete: 10 were constructed by Vickers-Armstrong, 120 by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company, and 45 by the MetropolitanCammell Carriage & Wagon Company. Just 30 of the total were of the cruiser Mk IIA CS variant. A10s fought alongside A9s with the 1st Armoured Division in France and in the Western Desert until around the end of 1941.

Late production examples of the cruiser tank Mk IIA lacked the hull machine gun that was fitted to earlier versions. Above: Photographed in France in 1940, this cruiser tank Mk IIA belongs to the British 1st Armoured Division.

CRUISER TANK MKS II AND IIA

Entering production in 1938, cruiser tank Mk II, or A10, was an improved version of the earlier A9, with increased armoured protection to the hull using appliqué plates and without the auxiliary turrets. Production was very limited, but, again, the tank saw action in France and the Middle East.

Side elevation of the pilot version of the A10 cruiser tank Mk II showing the Vickers ‘slow-motion’ coil-spring suspension and the distinctive 2+1 twin bogies. The main gun, on both the Mk II and Mk IIA variants was the ubiquitous 2-pounder (40mm), whilst the Mk IIA CS close-support variant was armed with a 3.7in howitzer.

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CRUISER TANK Mks III, IV and IVA IN 1936, LIEUTENANT�COLONEL G Martel, Assistant Director of Mechanization at the War Office, decided that future British cruiser tanks would use a version of J Walter Christie’s suspension system. Using large-diameter rubber-tyred road wheels that were carried on swinging arms and supported on coil springs, Christie’s suspension allowed greater vertical deflection of the wheels than existing systems which, in turn, allowed the tank to run at much higher speeds on difficult terrain. The system also permitted the tank to operate without tracks using just the road wheels. A pair of Christie tanks were procured from the USA and subjected to a series of trials, in which it was decided that the ‘trackless’ facility was of little interest, and that the hulls were too short and narrow to accept the proposed Liberty V12 aero engine and Nuffield four-speed transmission. Morris-Commercial Cars, through their subsidiary Nuffield

The cruiser tank Mk III, or A13, was developed by MorrisCommercial, and was the first of the series to feature the Christie suspension system that allowed high cross-country speeds to be attained. The first Morris-buil Morris-builtt prototype was designated A13E2.

Rear view of the A13E2 prototype showing the twin exhaust systems of the Nuffield Liberty V12 aero engine, the characteristic large-diameter road wheels, and the curious flat track sections.

CRUISER TANK MKS III, IV AND IVA

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Above: Production cruiser tank Mk III (A13). Constructed by Nuffield Mechanizations & Aero, the first examples were delivered in late 1938 and some were deployed to France in 1940 with the 1st Armoured Division. Right: Lacking its main gun, this Mk IV was photographed cresting a rise during training. The angle of the photograph shows off the redesigned turret. Left-hand side elevation of the cruiser tank Mk III. The turret, which mounts a 2-pounder (40mm) main gun, is similar to that used on the cruisers Mk I and Mk II.

Mechanizations & Aero, were asked to design and build two prototypes for a cruiser tank incorporating the Christie suspension system in a new hull. The first of these prototypes, designated A13E2 – the original Christie design having been identified as A13E1 – was ready for trials in October 1937, with the second (A13E3) following in early 1938. Once the initial difficulties were ironed out, production of what was now described as ‘tank, cruiser, Mk III’ (A13) was entrusted to Nuffield Mechanizations, and the first of 65 examples was delivered in early 1939, with the contract completed by the summer of that year.  The new hull carried a turret that was similar to that used on the cruiser Mk II, mounting a 2-pounder (40mm) main gun, together with a co-axial 0.303in Vickers machine gun. The use of a single machine

gun allowed the crew to be reduced to four men – commander, gunner, loader and driver – and, with a combat weight of 31,808 lb (14,458kg), the new tank had an excellent power-to-weight ratio and was capable of a maximum speed of 30mph (49km/h) on roads, and 24mph (39km/h) across country. Unfortunately, this turn of speed was at the expense of protection, with armour that was just 14mm thick at its maximum... a figure that was quickly shown to be inadequate. Experience gained in action led to the decision, taken in early 1939, to produce an up-armoured version of the A13, using a new undercut turret, in the form of the cruiser tank Mk IV (A13 Mk II). The maximum thickness of armour on the nose, glacis plate and turret front was increased to 30mm, thus increasing the weight to 33,040 lb (15,018kg), and some

early Mk III variants were subsequently re-worked to Mk IV standard. The final variant, known as the cruiser tank Mk IVA, used a 7.92mm Besa machine gun in place of the Vickers, and saw the Nuffield transmission supplemented by a Wilson epicyclic gear-change and steering system. A total of 655 examples of the cruiser Mks IV and IVA were produced by Nuffield Mechanizations, the workshops of the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS), Leyland Motors, and English Electric. Production of the type was eventually halted in favour of the Covenanter (A13 Mk III) in early 1940.  The cruisers Mk III, IV and IVA were deployed in France by the 1st Armoured Division in 1940, and in Libya by the 7th Armoured Division during 1940 and 1941, in both cases, coming up against German Pz Kpfw I, II, III and IV  tanks. •

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The cruiser Mk IV was used by the 1st Armoured Division in France, where this example was photographed busy demolishing a house, as well as in Libya. The type had an excellent top speed, but was not particularly reliable.

Nick-named ‘Snow White’, this Scammell Pioneer TRMU20 tank transporter, with its 20-ton TRCU20 semi-trailer was photographed in France in 1940 with a cruiser Mk IV load.

CRUISER TANK MKS III, IV AND IVA Column of cruiser tanks Mk IV or IVA of 1st Armoured Division, photographed during a training exercise in Britain.

In 1938, the Scammell Pioneer tank transporter was uprated to 30 tons by the use of a new semi-trailer, changing the tractor designation to TRMU30 and the trailer to TRCU30. The fact that the cruiser Mk IV load, which, incidentally weighed scarcely 15 tons, lacks its main gun suggests that this might have been an exercise.

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Wonderful period cut-away illustration of the medium Mk IV from t he rear, showing the position of the Liberty V12 aero engine and the accommodation provided for

he four-man crew. Note the German armoured c ar pushed into the ditch as the ‘Tommies’ sweep by.

The major change between the Mk III and the Mk IV (A13 Mk II) lay in the design of the turret, which, on the Mk IV and the subsequent Mk IVA, had additional armour and featured under-cut sides. Initial

ly, the armaments were unchanged, but the Mk IVA had a 7.92mm Besa machine gun in place of the previous Vickers.

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Front three-quarter view of the cruiser Mk IV or IVA. Total production of the Mk III, IV and IVA amounted to 335 examples.

Cruiser tanks Mk IV or IVA photographed during training. The type offered a maximum speed of 30mph (49km/h) on the road, and 14mph (23km/h) across country.

CRUISER TANK MKS III, IV AND IVA

‘Somewhere in England’. As yet ignorant of how British tanks will be outclassed by the Germans, locals stand and watch as a column of cruiser Mk IV or Mk IVA tanks pass down their lane.

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CRUISER TANK Mk V, COVENANTER IN 1937�38, THE workshops of the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) undertook the construction of a prototype heavy cruiser tank using the bell-crank Horstman suspension and a Thornycroft type RY V12 petrol engine producing 500bhp. Preliminary trials of the vehicle, designated A14, showed it to be noisy, slow and mechanically unreliable, and, by 1939, the project had been cancelled. Meanwhile, attention had turned to producing an improved version of the A13 Mk II, initially described as the A13 Mk III, but subsequently named Covenanter – thus beginning the tradition of naming British tanks using words beginning with the letter ‘C’. A wooden mock-up was produced in 1939 based on the lower hull of the A13 Mk II, but demonstrating an admirably low profile, which was made possible by the use of a horizontally-opposed engine configuration. The low-silhouette turret featured heavily angled sides in order to

offer the maximum protection, and the thickness of armour ranged from a maximum of 40mm to a minimum of 7mm.  The hull, which was of riveted construction, provided accommodation for a crew of four, consisting of the commander, gunner, loader, and driver.  The main gun was the trusty 2-pounder (40mm), with a co-axial 7.92mm Besa machine gun; a roof-mounted 0.303in Bren gun was generally provided for anti-aircraft protection. A close-support variant (cruiser, Mk V CS) was also produced, fitted with a 3in howitzer in place of the 2-pounder (40mm) gun.  The tank was powered by a purposedesigned Meadows type DAV flat-12 petrol engine, producing 280-300bhp, arranged to drive the rear sprockets through a Meadows four-speed gearbox and Wilson epicyclic steering/braking system; earlier plans to use a Wilson gearbox were abandoned due to fears about production. Despite a combat weight of 40,320 lb

Although also described as cruiser tank Mk V (A13 Mk III), the Covenanter was the first British tank to be given a name. A purpose-designed Meadows flat-12 engine helped to maintain a low profile, whilst the use of Christie suspension ensured good cross-country performance. The main gun was the QF 2-pounder (40mm).

(18,327kg), the Covenanter was capable of a top speed on the road of 31mph (50km/h), whilst the use of the Christie suspension from the A13 Mk II gave a creditable cross-country speed of 25mph (40km/h). A total of 1,7771 examples were constructed by LMS Workshops, Leyland and English Electric, with the latter companies operating under the parentage of the LMS. Unfortunately, despite considerable potential, the Covenanter proved to be a disappointment with breakdowns due to over-heating being all too common. Various modifications were made, leading to the appearance of the Covenanter II, III and IV, but the problem was never resolved satisfactorily and the type was never used in combat. Many were used for training in Britain and the Middle East, whilst others were converted to bridgelayer, observation post (OP), command, and armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) roles. •

CRUISER TANK MK V, COVENANTER

Head-on view of the Covenanter showing the 7.92mm Besa co-axial machine gun. A close-support variant was also produced with a 3in howitzer.

Covenanter being carried on a US-built White 920 18-ton tank transporter. Originally intended for the French Army, these trucks were diverted to Britain and fitted with the tank-transporter body after the fall of France in 1940.  (Tank Museum)

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Column of three Covenanters photographed during training. Note the louvres alongside the driver’s opened hatch, designed to ensure that the engine was kept cool. Despite several modifications, cooling always remained a problem and the tank never saw combat.

CRUISER TANK MK V, COVENANTER

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The angle of this photograph emphasises the low profile of the Covenanter hull, achieved through the use of a horizontally-opposed engine.

The cooling problems meant that the Covenanter was never really satisfactory as a gun tank, but the chassis was also developed for use as a bridgelayer. Here, the 30-foot (9.15m) long scissor bridge is raised on the hydraulic ram ready to be launched across the gap.

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The bridge is unfolded across the gap and the nose is dropped down on the opposite side.

Once the bridge is placed in position, the tank is disengaged and withdrawn. Once the bridge has been used, it can be reconnected to the tank and lifted into the stowage position.

Celebrating 40 years of business 36  1974-2014

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CRUISER TANK TANK Mk VI, CRUSADER WORK ON THE CRUSADER – cruiser tank Mk VI, or A15 – started in 1938, with the first examples running in trials by the summer of the following year. Described as a heavy cruiser, the Crusader utilised components of the A13 series but was powered by a Liberty V12 aero engine, and featured a lengthened hull, necessitating an additional road wheel, and increased thickness of armour.  The big Liberty Liberty engine, engine, produced under licence by Nuffield Mechanizations, produced around 340bhp, and in combination with a Nuffield four-speed crash gearbox, gave a top speed on the road of 27mph (44km/h). At the same time, the Christie suspension provided a high standard of off-road performance. In the initial Crusader I variant, frontal armour was 14mm on the hull and 20mm on the turret; by the addition of appliqué armour, this was increased to 20mm and 30mm, respectively, for Crusader II, and 20mm and 32mm for Crusader III. Crusaders were produced by nine companies under the design parentage of the Nuffield Organisation.This Organisat ion.This is the original Crusader I, which was fitted with a auxiliary front machine gun turret.

The pilot model for the A16 Crusader (cruiser tank Mk VI) was completed in March 1940, with a total number of 5,300 tanks manufactured once production got underway underway.. The pilot model suffered from overheating, overheating, inadequate ventilation ventilation and problems with the gearchange.

CRUISER TANK MK VI, CRUSADER

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Crusader I production line at the Wolseley plant in Birmingham.

Minimum thickness in all cases was 7mm.  The lengthened hull provided a little more internal space for the crew, with four men required to operate Crusader I and II, and three men for Crusader III. Crusader I and II carried the familiar 2-pounder (40mm) main gun, together with a co-axial 7.92mm Besa machine gun, with a second 7.92mm gun carried in a small auxiliary turret in the nose; anti-aircraft protection was provided by a 0.303in Bren gun mounted on the turret roof. The auxiliary turret was deleted from the subsequent Crusader III, and the main gun was replaced by a harder-hitting

6-pounder (57mm) gun; the co-axial and anti-aircraft machine guns were retained. A close-support version (cruiser Mk VI CS) was produced, in which the main gun was replaced by a 3in howitzer.  The Crusader remained in production until 1943 by which time nine companies, operating under Nuffield’s design parentage, had constructed a total of 5,300 vehicles. The type first went into action at Capuzzo in June 1940 and was used in most of the major engagements in the North African desert, including 6-pounder equipped Crusader IIs that were deployed in the Battle of El Alamein

in 1942. Initially, the heat of the desert brought an inevitable toll of breakdowns, including failed fan drives and clogged air cleaners, but the tank was fast and well-regarded by crews, even if it was not really a match for the superior Pz Kpfw III and IV  tanks against which it was often pitched. Although withdrawn from front-line service in mid-1943, the tank continued to be used as a training aid. Many were also converted to other roles, including anti-aircraft, gun tractor, armoured recovery vehicle (ARV), ‘dozer, and crane. •

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Whilst Crusader I and II were fitted with the familiar 2-pounder (40mm) main gun, Crusader III had a more powerful 6-pounder weapon (57mm). Cleaning the gun after action was a tedious, but very necessary, task.

CRUISER TANK MK VI, CRUSADER

Crusader I captured at speed in the desert.

Brand-new Crusader I photographed outside the Wolseley plant.

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Period coloured postcard showing a Crusader I at speed.

Crusader I cresting a rise. The patented Christie suspension used on almost all British cruiser tanks gave excellent high-speed crosscountry performance by providing independent suspension for each road wheel, using a system of pivoted bell cranks and heavy coil springs.

CRUISER TANK MK VI, CRUSADER

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Crusader I being towed by an experimental 6x6 modification of the Scammell R100 Pioneer. Normally equipped with a 6x4 drive-line, this particular Scammell variant was intended for use as a heavy artillery tractor.

Crusader (foreground) and Covenanter tanks training in Yorkshire.

Running tanks on their tracks, particularly in desert conditions, is very heavy on maintenance. In order to save undue wear and tear, these Crusaders are being carried on US-built White-Ruxtall 922 18-ton tank transporters, originally intended for France but later diverted to Britain. A 10-ton winch was provided to help load disabled tanks.

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Crusader III also lacked the auxiliary machine-gun turret at the front but, in addition, both the hull and turret were up-armoured, and the tank was equipped with a 6-pounder (57mm) main gun. Production started in May 1942.

Below: The anti-aircraft variant of the Crusader was produced in four versions, with either a single 40mm Bofors gun or twin 20mm Oerlikon cannons; a training version was also produced with triple Oerlikon cannons. The photograph shows the Crusader III, AA (anti-aircraft) Mk II with a new turret carrying twin Oerlikon cannons.

Above: Crusader III, AA (anti-aircraft) Mk I mounting a single 40mm Bofors gun in an open-topped turret.

CRUISER TANK MK VI, CRUSADER

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Official stowage diagram showing a front view of the turret and fighting compartment of the Crusader III.

Official stowage diagram showing a rear view of the turret and fighting compartment of the Crusader III.

Official stowage diagram showing the exterior rear, and right-hand side of the hull of the Crusader III.

Official stowage diagram showing the exterior front, and left-hand side of the hull of t he Crusader III.

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In 1944/45 a number of Crusader II and III chassis were stripped of their turrets and converted for use as gun tractors. This is possibly a prototype.

Crusader III gun tractor photographed during towing trials with a 17-pounder anti-tank gun and limber, the latter in the form of the number 27 artillery trailer. The trial report concluded that the modified Crusader performed satisfactorily in this role.

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44

CRUISER TANK Mk VII, CAVALIER IN LATE 1940, DISSATISFACTION with the Covenanter and the Crusader led to demands for a new heavy cruiser, designated A24, with improved levels of armoured protection, more power, and a larger diameter turret ring that would permit the use of a bigger turret, and perhaps also allow subsequent upgunning. Unsurprisingly, mechanical reliability was also considered to be a priority. Leyland Motors, and Vauxhall both put forward proposals, but it was Nuffield Mechanizations & Aero who were asked to build six pilot vehicles based on the hull and automotive components of the existing Crusader. Unfortunately the weight penalty resulting from increasing the armour to a maximum of 76mm on forward-facing surfaces of the turret, and 63mm on the front of the hull, combined

with the use of the existing, and increasingly archaic, Nuffield Liberty V12 engine, and four-speed Nuffield transmission, meant that the automotive performance was actually inferior to that of the Crusader, as well as being even more unreliable. Top speed was down to 24mph (39km/h), although the improved Christie suspension allowed a maximum cross-country speed of 14mph (23km/h).  The main gun was the 6-pounder (57mm) that had been used in Crusader II, albeit mounted in a new, rectangular turret; some examples were fitted with the later Mk V version of this gun, which can be identified by the use of a counterweight on the muzzle. Additional armaments included a pair of 7.92mm Besa machine guns, one co-axial with the main gun, the other in a ball mount in the hull front, with an 0.303in Bren gun

provided for anti-aircraft use. Initially dubbed Cromwell I, the A24 was subsequently renamed Cavalier, with a total of 500 tanks ordered, ‘off the drawing board’, in June 1941. The pilot model was delivered in January 1942, but the tank was immediately assigned to training duties, with none used in combat. About half were subsequently converted to the observation post role (OP), whereby a few found themselves with the Royal Artillery in northwest Europe following the Normandy landings; others were converted to armoured recovery vehicles (ARV). As much as anything, it was the lack of success with the Cavalier that brought to an end the process of ordering new tanks ‘sight unseen’, with future tank design being put onto a more sound footing. •

Retaining the Liberty V12 aero engine, the Nuffield-designed Cavalier (A24, or cruiser tank Mk VII) was similar to the Crusader, but with heavier armour. Like the Crusader III, the Cavalier mounted a 6-pounder (57mm) main gun, but the additional weight of armour had a negative effect on performance. Just 500 were built with many converted to the observation post (OP) or armoured recovery (ARV) role.

CRUISER TANK MK VII, CAVALIER

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Built under licence by the Nuffield Organisation, and used in cruiser tanks A13 Mks I and II, A15 and A27L, the Liberty L-12 had its origins in an aircraft engine designed by Jessie G Vincent and Elbert J Hall back in 1917. For the Cavalier, the engine was uprated to what was described as Mk IV configuration and, although capable of producing more than 400bhp from its 27,030cc, it was, nevertheless, an old-fashioned design, and required a capacious engine compartment. (US Department of the Navy, Bureau of  Aeronautics, Aeronautical Engineering Laboratory)

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CRUISER TANK Mk VIII, CROMWELL  THE DESIGN OF WHAT was initially described as Cromwell III or Cromwell ‘M’ was undertaken by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company with assistance from the Department of Tank Design (DTD), and Rolls-Royce Limited, who supplied the engines. The project started in 1941 when Rolls-Royce converted a batch of Merlin V12 aero engines for tank use, removing the superchargers and detuning the engine to provide 600bhp. Two of these engines were installed in a pair of Crusader tanks for test running and, following the inevitable debugging, the go-ahead was given to develop the tank further. The first mild steel prototype was completed in March 1942. Designated A27M, and now identified simply as Cromwell, production started in January 1943, with Leyland appointed as design parent for the whole A27 series. The use of the superb Rolls-Royce engine – which, in tank form, was known as the Meteor – combined with a five-speed Merritt-Brown transmission and a modified version of the

Similar in appearance to the original Centaur, Cromwell I mounted a 6-pounder (57mm) main gun and was protected by a maximum of 76mm of frontal armour.

Rear three-quarter view of one of the development Cromwells (A27M, or cruiser tank Mk VIII) produced in 1942. The Cromwell was designed by the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Company, in conjunction with Rolls-Royce, and, although always inferior to the heavier German tanks, was one of the best British tanks of World War 2.

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CROMWELL

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The suspension was described as an ‘improved Christie system’ and used trailing swing arms supported on coil springs and heavy-duty shock absorbers, thus suspending each wheel independently.

Christie suspension, ensured that the A27M was one of the fastest tanks of the war with a top speed on the road of 38mph (62km/h), and with 18mph (29km/h) available across country; later variants saw the top speed reduced to 32mph (52km/h) to reduce suspension wear. On early variants, the hull was provided a maximum of 76mm of armoured protection on the turret front, with a minimum of 14mm; on the Cromwell Vw and VIIw, the hull was of all-welded construction, with a maximum thickness of 101mm. As regards the main armament, Cromwells I, II and III were equipped with the 6-pounder (57mm) gun, together with a pair of 7.92mm Besa machine guns, one installed alongside the main gun, the other in a ball mount at the front of the hull; the usual 0.303in Bren gun was provided for antiaircraft defence. Cromwells IV, V and VII were fitted with a dual-purpose 75mm main gun capable of firing both high-explosive (HE) and anti-tank rounds, whilst for Cromwells VI and VIII the main gun was of 95mm calibre.

The Cromwell was powered by the Rolls-Royce V12 Meteor engine, a normally-aspirated and downrated version of the Merlin aero engine. The engine produced some 600bhp from a capacity of 27,022cc and the tank was capable of a top speed on the road of 38mph (63km/h).

 The Cromwell was designed to be operated by a crew of five men – consisting of commander, gunner, loader/radio operator, co-driver/machine gunner, and driver.  The hull was rather narrow, which must have made the crew conditions somewhat cramped, as well as preventing the tank from being readily adapted to mount the very successful 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun. Eight major variants were produced, with total production amounting to 4,016 examples. Despite not being up to the standard of the German Pz Kpfw IVs Panther, the Cromwell was one of the best and most significant British tanks of the war, and was deployed by the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiments of all of the British Armoured Divisions in northwest Europe as well as by the Armoured Brigade. With the turret removed, the Cromwell also provided the basis for an armoured recovery vehicle (ARV); other variants included an armoured observation post (OP), with a dummy gun fitted, and a command vehicle. A few were equipped with the Canadian indestructible roller device (CIRD) for clearing minefields. •

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Front right-hand three-quarter view of the up-armoured Cromwell II development vehicle... sometimes identified as Cromwell D. The 25mm thick appliqué armour can clearly be seen on the face and sides of   the turret and on the front of the hull...

... this eventually went into production as Cromwell VII.

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CROMWELL

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Cromwell IV was actually a re-engined Centaur III with a 75mm main gun in place of the standard 6-pounder (57mm) of the early Cromwell.

By the time Cromwell production got underway in 1943, Leyland Motors had been appointed as design parents for the entire A27 series. These new tanks were photographed at Leyland’s Ministry of Supply plant in Lancashire.

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Modelled in 1:76 scale, the Airfix Cromwell IV is a fine plastic model kit depicting what was one of the most successful British tanks of World War 2. Visit www.airfix.com

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CROMWELL

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Left: Although otherwise identical to the Cromwell IV, Cromwell Vw was the first British tank to use an all-welded hull. Here, the upper plate of the hull, with the turret ring clearly visible, is seen in the jig that was used to support it during the welding operations.

Below: Completed Cromwell hull ready to be transferred to the assembly line... note the apertures along the sides to accommodate the swinging arms of the Christie suspension system.

Below: Cromwell VII was a reworked Cromwell IV, with the 75mm gun, that had been up-armoured with an additional 25mm of appliqué armour welded to the front of the hull. Wider tracks were also fitted and the suspension was improved to cope with the increased weight.

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CROMWELL

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The Cromwell remained in service into the post-war period. This chart was one of a series produced as part of an ‘AFV Recognition Handbook’ in 1952; the document included similar data for the major British, American and Soviet tanks in use at the time.

Cromwell with a battle-damaged turret. The ‘scoop’ out of the side of the turret was caused by a 75mm armour-piercing ballistic-capped (APBC) shell... the turret traverse was unaffected.

54

Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspects a Cromwell IV belonging to the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards.

Cromwell VI was intended for the close-support role, and was identical to the Cromwell IV, but had the 75mm main gun replaced by a 95mm howitzer.

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CROMWELL

C opy  of Depar tment of  T ank Design (DTD ) draw ing show ing outline dimensions f  or the C ro  mw ell IV , V  and V II.

DTD diagram showing the thicknesses of welded plate used in the construction of the Cromwell hull.

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A30 Avenger self-propelled gun (left) photographed alongside a proposed improved Cromwell. Nothing is known of the ‘improved version’ although it appears to be armed with the 17-pounder (76.2mm) or 77mm gun of the Sherman Firefly or Comet, in a larger cast turret.

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CROMWELL

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Department of Tank Design (DTD) drawing showing outline dimensions for what was described as Comet I... although, there never was a Comet II or subsequent varian

.

DTD diagram showing the thicknesses of welded plate used in the construct ion of the, all-welded, Cromwell hull.

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COMET FAST AND RELIABLE, THE Rolls-Royce Meteor-engined A34 Comet was the most successful wartime iteration of the British heavy cruiser tank concept and, with its 77mm main gun and maximum 101mm of frontal armour, was almost a match for the formidable German Tiger  and Panther tanks. The design work was carried out by Leyland Motors, with the pilot model completed by February 1944. Many detail improvements were made before production started in late 1944, and, although it was based on the Cromwell, the Comet was virtually a brand-new tank. Perhaps, the most significant change, compared to the Cromwell, was the adoption of a compact version of the 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun that had been used to such effect in the Sherman Firefly. Designed by Vickers-Armstrong, and described as the ‘Vickers HV (high

Appearing in 1944, the A34 Comet was designed by Leyland Motors to overcome the problems that were being encountered with the A27M Cromwell. It was armed with a compact ‘77mm’ version of the 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun that had been used to such good effect in the Sherman Firefly.

velocity) 75mm’... although it quickly became known simply as the ‘77mm’, the gun was designed to fire the same type of ammunition as the 17-pounder (76.2mm) with only a slightly reduced penetrating power. There was also a co-axial 7.92mm Besa machine gun, with a second, identical weapon in a ball mount at the front of the hull. Although similar in appearance, the all-welded hull was longer than that of the Cromwell, with a new, larger welded turret placed further back and closer to the centreline of the vehicle. The improved Christie suspension system was adopted, now with the addition of track return rollers, and the Comet was powered by a Rolls-Royce Meteor Mk III V12 petrol engine producing 600bhp, and driving the rear sprockets through a David Brown five-speed manual gearbox.  The 78,800 lb (35,818kg) Comet was

capable of 30mph (49km/h) on the road, and 16mph (26km/h) across country. Inside, there was space for a crew of five, consisting of the commander, gunner, loader, machine gunner/codriver, and driver.  Total production amounted to 1,186 units, with the first Comets issued to the 11th Armoured Division in March 1945. Unfortunately, the Comet arrived too late to have much effect on the outcome of the war in Europe, but here, at last, was a British tank that was reliable, hardhitting, fast and well protected. Indeed, the Comet offered a sufficiently impressive performance to remain in service for a further 15 years after VE Day, with a number seeing service in Korea. Surplus Comets were sold to Burma, Finland, South Africa and Ireland, with the latter purchasing eight at the end of the 1950s. •

COMET

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The code on the front of the hull – ‘A34 P1.MS’ –  identifies this as the first A34 pilot model constructed from mild, as opposed to armoured, steel. The pilot model borrowed the Cromwell suspension, lacking the track-return rollers that were added when the tank went into production.

A34 P1.MS pilot model viewed from the right-hand side. Note how the 77mm gun requires a completely-new design of cast turret.

By the time the Comet entered production, so many changes and improvements had been made that it was virtually a new tank. Most noticeable of these was the stronger suspension with the addition of four track-return rollers.

Comets were all produced by Leyland at their factory in Lancashire, with total production amounting to 1,186 vehicles.

The production Comet was a handsome, purposeful vehicle and, through a combination of speed, reliability and firepower, was almost a match for the German Tiger  and Panther heavy tanks. Sadly, it appeared too late to play any significant part in the Allied war effort in northwest Europe.

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Sectional view through the Comet showing the driving compartment at the front, the turret and fighting compartment in the centre, and the engine and transmission located at the rear.

Liberally draped with camouflage netting, this Comet demonstrates the length of the barrel on the hard-hitting 77mm gun.

Like the Cromwell, many Comets remained in British service into the post-war period. This chart was one of a series produced as part of an ‘AFV Recognition Handbook’ in 1952; similar data was included for all of the major British, American and Soviet tanks in use at the time.

Production Comet showing the hull-mounted 7.92mm Besa machine gun; a second, identical gun, was installed co-axially with the main gun. Note the spare track link sections on the turret side. Although not apparent in this example, a canvas cover was used to help weatherproof the aperture provided in the turret for the gun mantlet.

COMET

Comet at speed... despite what is undoubtedly a considerable amount of engine and mechanical noise, the tank is apparently not disturbing the cows grazing in the field behind!

Cresting a small rise, this Comet demonstrates the weakness of most armoured fighting vehicles... the relative lack of protection to the armoured floor, which, in this case, is just 14mm thick. Any experienced tank commander would avoid exposing the belly of his tank to the enemy.

DTD drawing showing the arrangement of the Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 engine, the David Brown five-speed gearbox and the controlled-differential system as installed in the engine compartment of the Comet hull.

Comet TYI 499 (previously with the British post-war registration 16ZR26) was the last of the eight Comets supplied to the Irish Army. Here, Lieutenant Kelly demonstrates the finer points of the machine to a group of trainee offi cers. (Colin Stone)

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In 1958, the Irish government purchased the first four of, what ended up as, eight Comets at a price of £22,000 each, with deliveries to the Irish Army taking place the following year. The vehicles were withdrawn in 1977, with one preserved in running, but not operational, condition, and with two more in service as gate guardians. (Colin Stone)

Looking well-weathered, a Comet remains on station as a gate guardian at the Curragh Camp, although it is now mounted on a low plinth. (Colin Stone)

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CRUISER TANK Mk VIII, CENTAUR  THE A27 SAGA WOULD not be complete without mentioning the Centaur. As part of their proposals for the, then, A24 project, Leyland Motors had suggested using a modified version of the Cavalier chassis, powered by the Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 engine, which, as we have seen, was derived from the Merlin aero engine. At the time, there was no spare capacity for producing a tank version of the Merlin engine and an interim version of the A27 heavy cruiser tank was developed using the existing Liberty engine together with a Merritt-Brown five-speed gearbox. The work was carried out in such a way that the Liberty engine could subsequently be replaced by the Meteor with the minimum of re-engineering. Named Centaur, and designated A27L – to differentiate it from the subsequent Rolls-Royce engined version, which was identified as A27M – the design work was initially entrusted to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company, and then English Electric, with manufacture by Leyland Motors. In 1943, Leyland, who already had design parentage of the Cromwell and the Comet, also took on design responsibility for the Centaur. Designed for a crew of five, the pilot model appeared in June 1942, with the first production vehicles completed later that year. The maximum thickness of armour was 76mm to the turret front, with a

Head-on view of the Centaur I with the original 6-pounder (57mm) gun; in the Centaur III variant, this was replaced by a more-powerful 75mm gun; a 7.92mm Besa machine gun can be seen to the right of the main gun, with a similar weapon in a ball mount in the hull.

Designed in 1941, the Centaur (A27L, or cruiser tank Mk VIII) was effectively a Cromwell powered by the Nuffield-built Liberty V12 engine – hence the ‘L’ in the code – rather than the Rolls-Royce Meteor.

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CENTAUR

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Rear view of a Centaur I showing the side stowage bins and the heavy pistol port in the turret side.

Above: High-level rear three-quarter view of a Centaur I showing the flat rear deck and the air outlet from the engine compartment. Note the prominent counterweight on the business end of the gun barrel.

minimum of 20mm, giving a combat weight of 63,600 lb (28,909kg). Maximum speed on the road was 27mph (44km/h), with 16mph (26km/h) available across country.  The design was developed through three major variants: Centaurs I and II were equipped with a 6-pounder (57mm) main gun, together with two 7.92mm Besa machine guns, one installed co-axially with the main gun, and an 0.303in Bren gun for anti-aircraft protection; Centaur III used a 75mm main gun in place of the 6-pounder; and Centaur IV was equipped with an up-rated engine and a 95mm howitzer. Some of the latter were deployed by the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group to provide covering fire during the assault phase of the D-Day landings. A total of 950 Centaurs were built, but, once the development work for the Meteor engine had been completed, many were retrofitted with the new engine, and were identified as Cromwell X or, later, as Cromwell III. Others were converted to various roles, including artillery observation post (OP), with a dummy gun fitted to the turret; anti-aircraft tank, with either an Oerlikon or Polsten gun; dozer; armoured recovery vehicle; and armoured personnel carrier, in all cases, with the turret removed. •

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Department of Tank Design (DTD) drawing showing right-hand exterior and front stowage arrangements for the Centaur I.

DTD drawing showing interior turret and front of hull stowage arrangements for the Centaur I.

CRUISER TANK MK VIII, CENTAUR

DTD drawing showing left-hand exterior and rear stowage arrangements for the Centaur I.

DTD drawing showing driver’s compartment stowage arrangements for the Centaur I.

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CHALLENGER EXPERIENCE GAINED DURING ENCOUNTERS with German Panzers in the first three years of the war had indicated that most British, and for that matter American, tanks were effectively out-gunned. The A30 Challenger was an early attempt at producing a British heavy cruiser tank with increased penetrating power that could meet the German tanks on their own terms. By utilising a lengthened and widened Cromwell hull, together with a new, larger turret, it was possible to mount the new Ordnance quick-firing (OQF) high-velocity 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun, together with a co-axial 0.30in Browning machine gun. Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company undertook the redesign of the Cromwell hull, lengthening it sufficiently to require an extra road wheel, whilst Stothert & Pitt provided the huge, angular cast turret. Elsewhere, Cromwell components were used wherever possible and the Challenger, which weighed a massive 72,800 lb (33,090kg), was powered by the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine driving through a David Brown five-speed gearbox. The frontal armour of the turret on the pilot model was a maximum of 102mm, although this was subsequently reduced to 63mm in an attempt at keeping the weight under control, with a maximum of 30mm on the hull. The inadequacies of British tank guns became apparent during the campaign in the Western Desert in 1941 and the A30 Challenger was an attempt to get around this problem without resorting to designing yet another brand new tank. It consisted essentially of a lengthened A27M chassis on which was mounted a new, cast turret carrying a 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun.

The A30 was never successful, and just 200 were constructed. The additional weight placed too much of a load on the suspension and the sheer height of the turret must have presented a tempting target. Nevertheless, Challengers were used in northwest Europe in 1944.

CHALLENGER

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Sectional view through the Challenger hull and turret showing the internal arrangements. Also designated A30, the Avenger self-propelled gun consisted of the Challenger hull, on which was mounted a new cast, open-topped turret for the 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun.

Although the top speed was a creditable 32mph (52km/h), the increased weight ensured that there would be problems with the suspension, and the enormous height of the turret created handling problems. Nevertheless, ‘needs must’, and in 1943 an order was placed for 200, or possibly 260, Challengers. The first production examples were completed in March 1944, and although never more than a stopgap measure, the Challenger was at least able to

match the firepower of the 75mm and 88mm guns of the German Tiger  and Panther   heavy tanks. Although the tank saw action in Normandy in 1944/45, the Sherman Firefly, also equipped with the 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun was seen as a better option. An improved Challenger II was planned, using a redesigned turret, but this never passed the prototype stage.  There was also a self-propelled gun (SPG)

variant of the Challenger described as A30 Avenger. Designed by Leyland Motors during 1943, the Avenger consisted essentially of the Challenger hull, with the suspension modified to include track-return rollers. The 17-pounder (76.2mm) OQF gun was mounted in a new, lower turret with a mild-steel canopy and a large rear counterweight. A contract was issued for 230 Avengers in 1944, but delivery was not completed until 1946. •

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View of the breech of the 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun from inside the turret... the breech components appear to be manufactured from timber, which would suggest that this is the development vehicle produced by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company.

CHALLENGER

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The pilot model for the A30 Avenger was produced by Leyland Motors, who were design parents for the A27 series, in 1944, and an order for 230 vehicles was placed that same year, with deliveries arriving from 1946... too late to affect the outcome of the war.

Even with the curious mild-steel canopy in place, the low, open-topped turret meant that the Avenger was almost two feet (610mm) lower than the Challenger. In this shot, the turret is traversed to the rear, showing the large counterweight.

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CENTURION  THE FACT THAT DESIGN work for the A41 Centurion heavy cruiser tank – later to be described as a ‘medium gun tank’ – started in 1943 should firmly establish its credentials as a World War 2 tank, despite a career that did not really get underway until 1946. Designed by the Department of  Tank Design under Sir Claude Gibb, the Centurion was a response to a War Office request for a new ‘universal’ tank. Significant improvements were called for in the key areas of firepower, mobility and protection, as well as in reliability and durability, and the Centurion was also the first British tank to be designed without regard to the maximum weight and dimensional restrictions that had previously been imposed by adhering to the railway loading gauge. AEC Limited was appointed as the design parent with work getting underway on a heavy cruiser variant, designated Centurion Mk I, and intended to mount the 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun that had proved capable of defeating the heavier German tanks of the period. A mock-up appeared in May 1944, featuring a welded boat-

Work on the Rolls-Royce powered A41 Centurion started in July 1943, with AEC producing a mock-up by May of the following year. The first of 20 pilot vehicles, seen here, was delivered in May 1945.

shaped hull with a sloping 76mm thick glacis plate and a welded rolled-steel turret; the maximum thickness of armour on the turret face was 127mm. As with the successful A27M Cromwell and A34 Comet, power was provided by the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine, this time driving through a Merritt-Brown Z51R five-speed transmission with two reverse gears. The anticipated overall weight meant that the Christie suspension was no longer felt to be appropriate and a modified Horstman coil-spring design was adopted.  The hull provided accommodation for a crew of four, consisting of commander, gunner, loader, and driver, with the role of machine-gunner omitted in favour of more stowage space for ammunition. Maximum road speed was 23mph (37km/h), with 15mph (24km/h) available across country. A contract was placed for 20 pilot models, all to be equipped with the 17-pounder main gun... although, in practice five of them ended up mounting a 77mm gun. In addition, there were various combinations of 20mm Polsten cannons and 7.92mm Besa machine guns, with the

intention being to gauge user response to help decide on the most appropriate secondary armament. Five of the pilot vehicles – designated A41S – were also to have been fitted with the SinclairMeadows Powerflow SSS (‘synchromesh self-shifting’) twin-range automatic transmission, offering four forward gears and three reverse. Six of the pilot vehicles were shipped to 22nd Armoured Brigade in Germany for testing in the spring of 1945, but, by this time the war in Europe was over, and no Centurions were used in anger during the conflict. By January 1945, work had started on the A41* and on the up-armoured A41A, or Centurion Mk 2, which featured a new cast turret. Centurions started to enter service with the British Army i n December 1946.  The Centurion was eventually developed through 13 major ‘marks’ and 25 variants over a period of 20 years and, despite its prodigious thirst and relatively low top speed, it went on to be recognised as one of the best tanks in the world. •

CENTURION

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Designated Centurion I, and produced in various configurations featuring Polsten and Besa machine guns, the pilot models were all equipped with the 17-pounder (76.2mm) main gun and featured Horstman suspension.

Another view of pilot vehicle number 1, showing the cast turret carrying the 17-pounder (76.2mm) main gun, with a 20mm Polsten cannon in a co-axial mount. The sloped armour at the front of the hull was a first for a British tank, and was intended to be able to withstand German 88mm rounds.

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The Centurion I was produced at the Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF) at Barnbow, Nottingham and Woolwich; Centurion II was produced at ROF Barnbow and at Vickers-Armstrong. Fighting Vehicles Development Department (FVDD) drawing showing the outline dimensions for the Centurion I and IV.

CENTURION

FVDD drawing showing transportation dimensions for Centurion II and III.

Rear view of the first Centurion I pilot vehicle showing the rear turret escape hatch fitted to pilot vehicles 1-10.

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FVDD stowage sketch for the interior of the turret and the left-hand hull front of Centurion II.

FVDD drawing showing the exterior front and lef t-hand side stowage arrangements for Centurion II.

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Following the production of 20 pilot vehicles, the Centurion was put into production in late 1945 as the A41A Centurion II, retaining the 17-pounder (76.2mm) main gun, but with a new turret and numerous detail improvements.

FVDD diagram showing plate thicknesses for the hull and turret of Centurions I and IV.

US�BUILT MEDIUM TANKS IN BRITISH SERVICE

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US-BUILT MEDIUM TANKS IN BRITISH SERVICE  TOTAL BRITISH TANK PRODUCT ION during the conflict amounted to 25,116 vehicles, but it was never enough. Following the evacuation from Dunkirk, where so much equipment, including 400 tanks, was abandoned, the War Office turned to the USA for help and, in June 1940, representatives of the British Tank Commission arrived in the USA with the intention of buying medium tanks – the closest US equivalent to the British cruiser tank concept. When the M3 medium tank went into production in April 1941, alongside an initial contract for 1,000 tanks being constructed for the US Army, the British had placed orders for a fur ther 1,686 for which the government was forced to pay on a strict ‘cash and carry ’ basis. By 1942, the first batch of M3 medium tanks started to arrive on British shores. M3 variants were produced with either a cast, welded or riveted hull, having a maximum thickness of 37mm and a minimum of 12mm, and, according to the specific variant, the power unit was either a Wright or Continental radial engine, twin GM diesels, or a Chrysler 30-cylinder multi-bank engine. The suspension was by means of a vertical volute-spring system (VVSS), and the tank was capable of a top

First appearing in 1941, the US-built M3 medium tank was known either as the General Grant or the General Lee, according to whether it was built to US or British Army specification. The US Army’s Lee, seen here, had a commander’s cupola on top of the turret, this was not present on the Grant. (US Department of Defense)

speed of around 26mph (42km/h) on roads, reducing to 16mph (26km/h) across country. Unfortunately, the hull was too small to accept a turret that could accommodate the 75mm gun, meaning this had to be mounted in a side sponson but, on top of the hull, there was a small revolving turret mounting a 37mm gun, and, on top of this was the commander’s cupola, mounting a 0.30in machine gun. Unsurprisingly, the War Office was not entirely happy with some features of the design, and the British version mounted a larger cast turret, without the cupola. This version was described as the General Grant, whilst the US version was the General Lee... although the word ‘General’ was rarely used.  The M3 was fast and reliable, but it was difficult to aim and, due to its height, stuck out like a sore thumb.... but it had the advantage of being available in relatively large numbers and 2,900 examples were supplied to Britain before it started to be superseded by the M4 Sherman from early 1942.  The Sherman retained the lower hull, volute-spring suspension, and automotive equipment of the Lee/Grant, but all Shermans were either of cast or welded construction, eventually with a maximum

thickness of 64mm on the hull and 76mm on the turret face; there was also an assault tank variant (M4A3E8) with 102mm and 178mm of armour, respectively. The radial engine was also retained as was the Chrysler multi-bank and the twin GM diesels, but there was one other production engine option in the shape of the Ford V8, as well as experimental Caterpillar radial diesels. The vertical volute-spring suspension eventually gave way to an improved design using wider tracks and horizontal volute springs (HVSS).  The 75mm main gun of the Lee/Grant was now mounted in a proper turret, although it was eventually replaced by a 76mm weapon; there was also a closesupport variant mounting a 105mm howitzer. Nevertheless, the Sherman was still out-gunned by the heavier German tanks and it wasn’t until the British 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun was fitted into what became the Sherman Firefly in 1943/44, that the M4 was finally, almost, a match for the German Tigers and Panthers.  The Sherman remained in production until 1945 and was used by all of the Allies, with a total of 17,181 supplied to Britain out of a total production of almost 50,000. •

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Above: British Army M3 Grant photographed in North Africa in 1942. The M3 was in front-line service with the British between 1942 and about March 1944 and played a significant role in the fighting at El Alamein. (US Department of Defense)

Above: Designed for a crew of six, the first version of the M3 had a riveted hull... a manufacturing technique that was also still being used for British tanks at the time There were five subsequent variants (M3A1 thru’ M3A5), with differences in the method of construction – riveted, cast or welded hull – and in the engine. Not all were supplied to the British. (US Department of Defense)

The M3 was never considered to be more than a stopgap design. The difficulties of fitting the 75mm main gun into a turret were insurmountable and a sponson was provided on the right-hand side of the hull. A 37mm gun was mounted in a small cast turret giving an unacceptably-high profile: in the US Army’s Lee version – also supplied to the British – this was made worse by the use of a rotating commander’s cupola. (US Department of Defense)

US�BUILT MEDIUM TANKS IN BRITISH SERVICE

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With a pilot model constructed by the Lima Locomotive Works in February 1941, the M4 Sherman was a replacement for the earlier M3 Lee/Grant. Although the lower part of the hull and the automotive arrangements were derived from the M3, the 75mm gun was now mounted in a rotating turret. This example is a Ford-built M4A3, but the tank was also built by nine other companies, with both cast- and welded-hull versions produced.  (Ford Motor Company)

Sectional drawing of the GM-built Sherman M4A2, which was powered by a pair of water-cooled Detroit Diesel 6-71 truck engines operating through a common transmission. Other engines included the Ford GAA V8, Chrysler A-57 30-cylinder multi-bank, and a Wright or Continental R-975 air-cooled radial; there was also an experimental Caterpillar air-cooled radial diesel.

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Above: The original 75mm gun was eventually superseded by a 76mm weapon that, unfortunately, proved to be little better. There was also a Sherman close-support variant equipped with a 105mm howitzer. The photograph shows this variant, in M4A3 guise, in British Army service. (Tank Museum) Left: Whilst the US Army’s nomenclature for Shermans is complex enough, the British Army decided it would be a good idea to rename them all... thus the M4 became Sherman I, Hybrid I, IB or IBY, the M4A1 was referred to as the Sherman II, IIA, etc, the M4A2 was described as Sherman III, or IIIAY... and so on. This training pamphlet covers the Sherman III.

Almost 50,000 Shermans were constructed between 1942 and 1945 and, alongside service with the US and British Armies, the type was used by all of the Allies, including these examples operated by the Free French. (US Department of Defense)

US�BUILT MEDIUM TANKS IN BRITISH SERVICE

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The Sherman was reliable, easy to drive and available in large numbers, but, compared to the heavier German tanks, it was poorly armoured and undergunned. It was not easy to do anything about the levels of armoured protection, but, by turning it sideways, the British found a way to fit a 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun into the cast Sherman turret. Described as the Sherman Firefly, with a ‘C’ appended to the British designation (eg Sherman IVC) to indicate the modification, here, at last was an Allied tank that could take on a Tiger or Panther. (Tank Museum)

For the amphibious phase of the D-Day landings, Shermans were fitted with twin propeller drive and collapsible rubberised-canvas wading screens that allowed them to swim ashore from landing craft. Known as DD (duplex drive) tanks, once on dry land, the screen was collapsed and the propeller drive disengaged allowing the vehicle to perform as a standard gun tank. (Firestone)

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HEAVY TANKS  THE PRODUCTION OF HEAVY tanks had ended in 1918, with all subsequent designs described, initially, as medium and light tanks. The light tank had also fallen from favour by 1940, by which time, British Army tanks were being described as either cruiser or infantry tanks. However, when Britain had declared war on Germany in 1939 many feared a return to trench warfare, realising that, if this were the case, then heavy tanks, with the emphasis on their trench-crossing performance, would be required once again. As things turned out, World War 2 was essentially a war of movement... but, nevertheless, this didn’t stop the War Office from commissioning a real old-fashioned heavy tank. In February 1940, Sir Albert Stern, who had been involved in designing tanks during World War I, assembled a team of his former associates and set about designing a tank capable of operating across the shattered ground that had been typical of the Western Front. Dubbed TOG – meaning ‘the old gang’ – the first prototype, TOG I, was produced by William Foster & Company, and was ready for trials in October 1940. Featuring un-sprung wrap-around tracks, the tank was powered by a 600bhp Paxman-Ricardo 12-cylinder diesel engine, driving a pair of generators that fed power to electric motors, giving the machine a maximum speed of 8.5mph (14km/h). It had originally been planned to incorporate sponson-mounted guns but, when the prototype appeared, these had been replaced by the turret of a Matilda II infantry tank mounting a 2-pounder (40mm) main gun, together with a hull-

Named ‘TOG’ for ‘the old gang’ design team who produced it, TOG I was a heavy tank intended for fighting in the typical trench conditions that had prevailed on the Western Front during World War I. In its original form, there was a 77mm gun in the nose, with a turret-mounted 2-pounder (40mm) ‘borrowed’, in its entirety, from the A12 Matilda infantry tank; side sponsons were also intended to house a pair of 2-pounder (40mm) guns. The drive system was originally diesel-electric using a Paxman-Ricardo V12 engine coupled to a pair of generators and electric motors.

mounted 17-pounder (76.2mm). TOG 1 became TOG IA when it was subsequently fitted with a hydraulic drive system. A second prototype, TOG II, appeared in March 1941, using the original dieselelectric drive system, but with lower tracks.  TOG II initially carried a square turret mounting a 6-pounder (57mm gun), but this was subsequently replaced by the Stothert & Pitt turret intended for the Challenger, with a 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun. A planned TOG IIR, which would have been shorter and equipped with torsionbar suspension, was never completed...

TOG II had lowered tracks, and mounted a much larger turret which carried a 6-pounder (57mm) gun; it was also intended that there would be side sponsons, but, as with TOG I, these were never completed.

and there was no series production of any version.  The question of designing heavy tanks came to the fore again in 1943, but, this time, it was driven by the imperatives of firepower and protection, and the resulting A33 heavy assault tank was an attempt to produce a standard or ‘universal’ tank chassis adaptable to either the infantry or cruiser roles. Two prototypes, sometimes described as Excelsior, were constructed by English Electric using a modified A27 hull, up-armoured to a maximum thickness of 114mm... resulting in a combat weight of 100,800 lb (45,818kg). The engine was the by-now familiar Rolls-Royce Meteor, driving the rear sprockets through a five-speed Merritt-Brown transmission. Although both prototypes were armed with nothing more lethal than the 6-pounder (57mm) gun, it was envisaged that, if the tank went into production, this would be replaced by a 75mm weapon.  The work was terminated in May 1944 with no further vehicles constructed. Finally, mention must be made of the A39 Tortoise heavy assault tank. In 1942, the War Office was seeking a heavy tank destroyer that would be able to penetrate the armour of ‘all other tanks and tank destroyers’ of the period, without putting itself at risk. Design work was

HEAVY TANKS

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View of TOG II from the rear. There was no series production of either TOG variant, but this example has been preserved at the Tank Museum, Bovington.

Based on a widened and strengthened A27M Cromwell hull, the A33 heavy assault tank – or Excelsior – was constructed in 1943. The track and suspension system used on the first example to be built was a version of that used on the American M6 heavy tank; the second vehicle used a strengthened Cromwell-type suspension.

entrusted to Nuffield Mechanizations & Aero in 1944, with the intention of having the first vehicle ready the following year. A full-size wooden mock-up was eventually, produced for approval, but it wasn’t until 1947 that Nuffield completed six running prototypes. Designed around a massive one-piece casting, 230mm thick at its maximum, the hull lacked a conventional turret, thereby eliminating the potential weakness resulting from the need for a turret ring, and the 32-pounder (94mm) main gun was carried in a huge ball mount. Power came from a Rolls-Royce Meteor petrol engine driving the front sprockets through a Merritt-Brown six-speed gearbox, and there was torsion-bar suspension, with eight wheel stations per side. Aptly named Tortoise, the resulting machine weighing some 174,720 lb (79,418kg). The quoted top speed was just 12mph (20km/h) on the road, and with 4mph (6.5km/h) achievable across country. Unsurprisingly, the project was abandoned soon after the delivery of the prototypes. •

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 Just two pilot vehicles for the A33 project were constructed and there was no series production. The project was abandoned in 1944.

Although it was originally envisaged that a 6-pounder (57mm) would be used, by the time the prototypes appeared this had been superseded by a 75mm gun, together with two 7.92mm Besa macine guns, one installed co-axially in the turret.

HEAVY TANKS

Dimensional diagram showing the colossal size of the Tortoise... overall length is shown as 33ft (9.9m); the width was 12ft 10in (3.3m) and the vehicle had a combat weight of 174,720 lb (79,418kg).

The A39 Tortoise was a heavy assault tank – although these days it would be considered a self-propelled gun – designed to take on the biggest German tanks and tank destroyers. The hull consisted of a one-piece huge c asting, with the gun carried in a ball mount at the front; power came from a Rolls-Royce Meteor engine and the machine rode on 16 pairs of bogies either side. This wooden mock-up was produced in 1943/44.

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93 HEAVY TANKS Not surprisingly, the huge size and weight of the Tortoise created transportation difficulties. Here prototype one is loaded onto a Pickfords eight-line solid-wheeled trailer that is coupled to a pair of Scammell drawbar tractors.

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 THE DESIGN OF BRITISH TANKS FROM 1945 BY THE TIME THE Allies landed on the D-Day beaches, the main tanks in service with British armoured units were the A27M Cromwell, officially described as ‘tank, cruiser, Mk VIII’, the A22 Churchill, or ‘tank, infantry, Mk IV’, and the M4 Sherman, which was also considered to be a cruiser. Within weeks of the landings, FieldMarshal Montgomery was openly proposing that the distinction between infantry and cruiser tanks be abandoned. In the post-war period, some 200 Cromwells were fitted with a new turret and 20-pounder (84mm) anti-tank gun; in this form the tank was renamed Charioteer.  The vehicles were issued to Royal Armoured Corps units in Germany, but were phased out from 1956, with many subsequently sold to Austria, Finland, Jordan and Lebanon. However, the emergence of the huge Soviet IS-3 main battle tank in 1944, had led the Allies to re-assess some of the conventional wisdoms regarding levels of firepower and protection, and it wasn’t until the end of the war that British tank designers had the opportunity to take

stock of existing tanks. At the same time, through the work of the Combined Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee, they were able to appraise all German technical research into aspects of tank design and technology. Meanwhile, the A41 Centurion had started to enter service in 1946. It had been designed as a cruiser tank under the old World War 2 doctrine, and, in the light of a document drawn up in 1947, was likely to have a short service life. Drawing on experiences gained by 21 Army Group in 1944/45, the document proposed that, for the future, the British Army would be equipped with three types of tank – the 100-ton FV100 assault tank, the 50-ton FV200 ‘universal’ tank, and the 10-ton FV300 light tank. The Centurion did not feature in this scheme and was viewed as a stopgap measure to be superseded as the new tanks entered service.  The FV100 and FV300 were soon abandoned, but initial work started on the FV200 ‘universal’ tank, using an enlarged version of the Centurion chassis, with additional road wheels and suspension

units. The original mild-steel Centurion hull, which had been produced by AEC in 1944, was rebuilt and widened for use as a development vehicle, and English Electric was eventually appointed as the main contractor. The first FV200 prototype was completed in 1948 but, within a year, this project, too, had been cancelled, but the shockwaves created by the appearance of the Soviet IS-3, with its 230mm armour and 122mm main gun, continued to reverberate and there were many in the West who argued that ‘bigger was better’. It was felt that there was still a need for a new gun tank in the 50-60-ton weight range, and this led to the FV200 chassis being adapted to provide the basis for the FV214 Conqueror heavy gun tank. However, nothing was straightforward, and delays in finalising the specification for the Conqueror led to the appearance, in 1954, of a test-bed vehicle comprising the hull of the Conqueror, onto which was mounted a Centurion turret. Described as the FV221 Caernarvon, it was planned that once 60 of these had been constructed, production would switch to the Conqueror.

Replacing the A30 Avenger, the post-war Charioteer was a refurbished A27M Cromwell that had been fitted with a new, larger turret and 20-pounder (84mm) anti-tank gun. The gun was traversed to the rear during transport.

THE DESIGN OF BRITISH TANKS FROM 1945

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In August 1945, with the war in Europe over, contracts were issued for 100 examples of the A41* Centurion Mk I with the 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun in a rolled-steel turret, and 100 examples of the A41A Centurion Mk 2 with a cast turret. The photograph shows the first production A41* at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich.

Recognition data for the Charioteer taken from the ‘AFV Recognition Handbook’ of 1952.

 The first Conqueror appeared the following year, in 1955. Designed for a crew of four, it was a huge machine, featuring a welded hull, with a maximum thickness of 178mm, onto which was mounted a massive one-piece cast turret carrying a 120mm rifled gun. Power came from an upgraded and fuel-injected version of the Rolls-Royce V12 Meteor, producing 810bhp, and driving through a Merritt-Brown Z52 or Z52R transmission, both systems offering five forward speeds and two reverse. The Horstman suspension was similar to that used on the Centurion, with horizontal coil-springs acting in opposed pairs. Production started in 1956 with the total number of vehicles constructed reaching 180-185, including conversions of Caernarvon.  The Conqueror was never felt to be satisfactory and, by the late 1960s, both it and the Centurion had been replaced by the Chieftain... which, despite being described as a main battle tank (MBT) followed many of the successful design principles of the Centurion... the last of the old cruisers! •

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Designed to be able to wade into deep water, the Centurion beach armoured recovery vehicle (BARV) replaced a similar vehicle based on the M4 Sherman, and was intended to keep beaches clear of disabled vehicles during amphibious assaults.

Photographed in 1965, this Centurion Mk 3 is being used as a training vehicle for  junior leaders.

The Centurion hull, in both Mk 3 and Mk 5 configuration, was also used as the basis of a bridgelayer, mounting a Class 80 ‘bridge, tank, number 6’. Consisting of parallel trackways, the 52ft (15.86m) long bridge was deployed by means of hydraulics driven by an auxiliary engine.

THE DESIGN OF BRITISH TANKS FROM 1945

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Originally designated A45, and often described as a ‘capital tank’, just one example of the FV200 was constructed before the project was abandoned. The prototype mounted a Centurion turret and 17-pounder (76.2mm) gun on a new, larger hull.

Whilst the details of the Conqueror project were being finalised, the FV221 Caernarvon appeared, using the Conqueror hull onto which was mounted a Centurion turret.

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The abandoned FV200 project was used as the basis for the FV214 Conqueror heavy gun tank. Intended as a response to the appearance of the Soviet IS-3 tank, the Conqueror mounted a 120mm gun; the maximum thickness of armour on the welded hull was 178mm.

FV3802 was a self-propelled gun that used a shortened version of the Centurion chassis, mounting a 25-pounder (87.6mm) gun in an armoured box-like superstructure. The vehicle was prototyped, but never put into production.

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