Crusader tank

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Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI, Crusader
A Crusader II tank in the Western Desert, 2 October 1942. Image: Imperial War Museum, London.
Type	Cruiser tank
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer	Nuffield Mechanisation and Aero
Number built	5,300
Specifications
Weight	19.1 to 20.1 t
Length	5.97 m
Width	2.77 m
Height	2.24 m
Crew	Mk III: 3 (Commander, gunner, driver) Mk I,II: 4 or 5 (+ Loader, hull gunner)
Armour	Mk I: 26 mm Mk II,III: 32
Primary armament	Mk I,II: QF 2 pdr (40 mm) 110 rounds Mk III: QF 6 pdr (57 mm) 65 rounds
Secondary armament	1 or 2 Besa MG 5,000 rounds (Max.)
Engine	Nuffield Liberty L-12 340 hp (254 kW)
Power/weight	17.2-18 hp/tonne
Suspension	Christie
Operational range	322 km
Speed	42 km/h (road) 24 km/h (off-road)

One of the primary cruiser tanks of the United Kingdom during World War II, the Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI Crusader (A15) was perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign. Over 5,300 were built.

Contents 1 History 2 Combat history 3 Variants 3.1 Crusader I (Cruiser Mk VI) 3.2 Crusader II (Cruiser Mk VIA) 3.3 Crusader III 3.4 Crusader III, AA Mk I 3.5 Crusader III, AA Mk II / Mk III 3.6 Crusader II, Gun Tractor Mk I 3.7 Crusader ARV Mk I 3.8 Crusader SP Guns 3.9 Additional equipment 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

In 1939 Nuffield Mechanisation and Aero was offered the opportunity to take part in the production of the A13 Mk III (later to become the Tank, Cruiser Mk V "Covenanter") tank, which was still in design stage. Nuffield, however, preferred to work on its own version of the A13. This new tank was adopted as Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI Crusader, under General Staff specification A15. Although Crusader is often referred to as an improved version of the Covenanter, in fact it was a parallel design. Despite a later start, the prototype of the Crusader was ready six weeks before the first Covenanter.

Unlike earlier "Christie cruisers", Crusader had five road wheels each side to improve weight distribution. It had a different engine than the Covenanter, different steering system and a conventional cooling system with radiators in the engine compartment. At the left hand side of the front hull - a place occupied by the engine radiator in the Covenanter - was mounted a small hand-traversed auxiliary turret armed with a Besa machine gun. The auxiliary turret was awkward to use and was often removed in the field or remained unoccupied. Both (A13 Mk III) and (A15) designs shared the same main turret. Early production vehicles had a "semi-internal" cast mantlet, which was quickly replaced in production by better protected big cast mantlet with three vertical slits - for the main gun, for a coaxial Besa MG and for a sighting telescope.

[edit] Combat history

The tank first saw combat during Operation Battleaxe and played a crucial role in the following Operation Crusader which was named after it.

Although the Crusader was faster than any tanks it opposed, its potential was limited by a relatively light QF 2-pounder gun, thin armour and mechanical problems. A particular tactical limitation was the lack of an High Explosive (HE) shell for the main armament - these existed but were never supplied. Axis tank forces developed an extremely effective tactic of engaging British Imperial tank forces by retiring behind a screen of concealed anti-tank (AT) guns. The pursuing tanks could then be engaged by the artillery. With the German anti-tank guns out of range of the tanks' machine guns and without a high explosive shell to return fire, the tanks were left with the equally unpalatable options of either withdrawing under fire or trying to overrun the gun screen.

After the completion of the North African Campaign, the availability of better tanks such as the Sherman and Cromwell relegated the Crusader to secondary duties such as anti-aircraft mounts or gun tractors. In these roles it served for the remainder of the war.

[edit] Variants

[edit] Crusader I (Cruiser Mk VI)

Original production version. The auxiliary turret was often removed in the field, eliminating the hull machine gunner position.

• Crusader I CS (Cruiser Mk VI CS) (Close Support) mounted a 3 inch howitzer in the turret instead of the 2-pounder.

[edit] Crusader II (Cruiser Mk VIA)

The Crusader II had increased armour on hull front and turret front. As with the Mk I, the auxiliary turret was often removed.

• Crusader II CS (Cruiser Mk VIA CS) mounted a 3 inch howitzer in the turret.
• Command tank version existed with dummy gun and two No. 19 radios.

[edit] Crusader III

Due to delays with the Cavalier, the Crusader was upgunned with the 6-pounder, the first British tank to mount this gun. The larger gun restricted turret space so the crew was reduced to three, with the commander acting also as gun loader. The Crusader III first saw action at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October.

• Observation post version existed with dummy gun, two No. 19 radios and No. 18 radio.

[edit] Crusader III, AA Mk I

The 6-pdr was replaced with a Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun with an autoloader and powered mounting in an open topped turret. The crew numbered four: gun commander, gun layer, loader, and driver.

[edit] Crusader III, AA Mk II / Mk III

A Crusader armed with twin Oerlikon 20 mm guns for anti-aircraft use. Mk III only differed from the Mk II by the position of the radio, which was moved to the hull in order to free some space inside the turret. A variation with triple Oerlikons that was produced in very limited quantities. Due to Allied air superiority none of the AA versions saw much action.

Crusader AA comes ashore from an LST on to the pierhead at the Mulberry artificial harbour at Arromanches, August 1944.

Crusader AA tank mounting a triple Oerlikon gun in a hull-down position, 19 July 1944.

[edit] Crusader II, Gun Tractor Mk I

A Crusader tank hull with a simple boxy superstructure used to tow 17 pounder anti-tank guns.

[edit] Crusader ARV Mk I

Armored recovery vehicle based on turretless Crusader hull. One prototype was built in 1942.

[edit] Crusader SP Guns

• A post-war modification was built, probably for testing purposes only, with 5.5 inch gun installed at the front of the vehicle, facing back.
• Some Crusaders sold after the war to Argentina were converted to self-propelled guns, with French 75 mm or 105 mm gun installed in a large, boxy superstructure.

[edit] Additional equipment

• Anti-Mine Roller Attachment (AMRA) Mk Id - a mine clearing device consisting of four heavy rollers suspended from a frame. Weight of the rollers could be increased by filling them with water, sand etc.
• Floatation kit, consisting of two pontoons attached to hull sides, special blades attached to tracks to propel the vehicle in water and a cowl over engine air intakes and cooling louvres.

[edit] References

• Fletcher, David, and Peter Sarson. Crusader and Covenanter Cruiser Tank 1939–1945 (New Vanguard 14). Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-512-8.

[edit] External links

• Detailed Crusader performance statistics and production data
• LemaireSoft
• Naše noviny - The Crusader Tank
• OnWar Mk I, Mk II, Mk III
• WWII vehicles
• Crusader MkII photo gallery at svsm.org