NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Comet tank

The Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British tank that first saw use near the end of World War II. BESA machine gun Type medium machine gun Nationality UK (Czech) Era World War 2 History Date of design 1936 Production period 1939-1945 (?) Service duration 1939-1945 Operators UK War service World War 2 Specifications Type Caliber 7. ... The Rolls-Royce Meteor was a British tank engine developed from the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero-engine. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Production

Combat experience against the Germans in the Western Desert Campaign demonstrated to the British the inferiority of their tanks. A request was thus made to Leyland Motors Ltd for a new tank that could achieve combat superiority over German models; for reasons of economy and efficiency, it additionally had to use as many components of their Cromwell tank as possible. The Western Desert Campaign was the primary early theatre of the North African Campaign of World War II. It is sometimes referred to as the Egypt-Libya Campaign. ... Leyland flatbed Leyland Motors was a British vehicle manufacturer of lorries and buses. ... The A27M Cruiser Tank VIII Cromwell, named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. It was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed, and...

The initial design was the Challenger, basically a 17 pounder anti-tank gun mounted onto a Cromwell chassis. The large weapon required a decrease in armor as well as other design concessions, and ultimately production was stopped after only 200 units were built. The Tank, Cruiser, Challenger (A30) was an attempt to mount the 17 Pounder gun on the Cromwell tank chassis to give a tank with more anti-tank firepower to add to the Cruiser tank units. ... 17-pounder in Batey ha-Osef museum, Israel. ... Anti-tank, or simply AT, refers to any method of combating military armored fighting vehicles, notably tanks. ... Look up Chassis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In a second attempt (the A34), the tank designers opted to use a highly-modified version of the 17 pounder, the 77 mm. The new gun was still of the same 76.2mm calibre as the 17 pdr, but was designated "77mm" because it used ammunition that was different and non-interchangeable with the 17 pdr, and also had a lower muzzle velocity than the original gun. Several other upgrades were added as well: armor protection was increased, both the hull and turret were of welded construction with a cast mantlet, ammunition was now stored in armored bins, the suspension was strengthened, return rollers were added, and the turret was electrically traversed (a design feature taken from the earlier Churchill tank), with a generator powered by the main engines. The 17-pounder (17-pdr) was a 76. ... A mantlet was a large shield or portable shelter used for stopping arrows or bullets, in medieval warfare. ... The Infantry Tank IV Churchill was a heavy British infantry tank of the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. ...

The first prototype was ready in February 1944 and production models began to be delivered in September. By the end of the war, 1,200 units had been produced.

Usage

The British 11th Armoured Division was the first to receive the new tanks in December of 1944 and the only division to be completely refitted by the end of the war. Because of its late arrival, the Comet did not participate in any major battles though it was involved in the crossing of the Rhine and the later Berlin Victory Parade in July 1945. The Comet tank's maximum speed of 32 miles per hour was greatly exploited on the German Autobahns. British 11th Armoured Division: The Black Bull. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Rhine (German: ; Dutch: ; French: ; Italian: ; Romansh: ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe at 1,320 kilometres (820 miles), with an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... It has been suggested that German Autobahns be merged into this article or section. ...

During the following Korean War, the Comet served along with the heavier Centurion, a successor tank introduced in 1949 partially based on its design. The Comet remained in British service until 1958 when the remaining tanks were sold to foreign governments; up until the 1980s, it could be found in the armies of various nations such as South Africa. Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States Medical staff: Denmark, Australia, Italy, Norway, Sweden Communist states: Democratic Peopleâ€™s Republic of Korea, Peoples Republic of China, Soviet Union Commanders... The Centurion was the primary British Main Battle Tank of the immediate post-war era, and considered by many to be one of the best British tank designs of all time. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Comet MK I model B was also used by Finnish Defence Forces armoured brigade until 1970.
The Finnish Defence Forces (Finnish Puolustusvoimat; Swedish FÃ¶rsvarsmakten) is a cadre army of 16500, of which 8700 professional soldiers (officers), with a standard readiness strength of 34,700 people in uniform (27,300 army, 3,000 navy, and 4,400 air force). ...

References

External links

Categories: Cruiser tanks | World War II British tanks Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Vickers 6-Ton Tank or Vickers Mark E was a British light tank designed as a private project at Vickers. ... The Light tank MkII to Mark V were a series of similar British small tanks produced in the years between World War One and World War Two. ... The Light tank MkII to Mark V were a series of similar British small tanks produced in the years between World War One and World War Two. ... The Light tank MkII to Mark V were a series of similar British small tanks produced in the years between World War One and World War Two. ... The Light tank MkII to Mark V were a series of similar British small tanks produced in the years between World War One and World War Two. ... The Tank, Light, Mk VI was a British light tank built by Vickers and used by the British Army during World War II. // The Vickers design was ready for production when the United Kingdom began its large rearmament program. ... The Mk VII Tetrarch light tank was a British design of tank produced during the Second World War initially for reconnaisance purposes but used by airborne forces. ... The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the inter-war period. ... General characteristics Length 5. ... General characteristics Length 5. ... General characteristics Length 6 m Width 2. ... General characteristics Length 6 m Width 2. ... The Tank, Cruiser, Mk V, Covenanter (A13 Mk III) was a British Cruiser tank of the Second World War named for the Covenanters, a Scottish religious faction in the British Isles at the time of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. ... One of the primary cruiser tanks of the United Kingdom during World War II, the Cruiser Tank VI Crusader was perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign. ... General characteristics Length 6. ... A27M Cruiser Tank VIII Cromwell was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. It was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed, and reasonable armor. ... The A27M Cruiser Tank VIII Cromwell, named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. It was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed, and... The Tank, Cruiser, Challenger (A30) was an attempt to mount the 17 Pounder gun on the Cromwell tank chassis to give a tank with more anti-tank firepower to add to the Cruiser tank units. ... The Sherman Firefly (M4A4 VC Firefly) was a British variation of the M4 Sherman tank, fitted with the more powerful 17 pounder main gun. ... The Ram was a Cruiser tank designed and built by Canada in the Second World War, based on the U.S. M3 Medium tank. ... The Sentinel tank was designed in Australia in World War II in response to a possible Japanese invasion. ... The infantry tank was a concept developed by the British in the years leading up to World War II. They were generally more heavily armoured compared to the lighter cruiser tanks, which would allow them to operate in close concert with infantry to help them break through heavily defended areas... General characteristics Length 4. ... The Tank, Infantry, Mk II, Matilda II (A12) (sometimes referred to as Senior Matilda) was a British tank of World War II. In a somewhat unorthodox move, it shared the same name as the Tank, Infantry, Mk I (A11). ... The most numerous British manufactured tank of World War II, the Infantry Tank III Valentine was known mainly for its inexpensive cost and high reliability. ... The Infantry Tank IV Churchill was a heavy British infantry tank of the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. ... A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artillery or locomotive artillery) vehicles are a way of giving mobility to artillery. ... The Bishop was a British self-propelled artillery vehicle based on the Valentine II chassis. ... General characteristics Length 20 ft 1 in/ 6. ... The AEC Mk I Gun Carrier, known as Deacon, was a British armoured fighting vehicle of the Second World War. ... The SP 17pdr, Valentine, Mk I, Archer was a British anti-tank vehicle (tank destroyer) used during World War II based on the Valentine chassis. ... Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport infantry on the battlefield. ... The Universal Carrier, usually known as a Bren Gun Carrier (even when it was not carrying a Bren), was a small, tracked British-designed military vehicle, used widely by Allied forces during World War II. Universal Carriers were usually used for transporting personnel and equipment, mostly support weapons, or as... General characteristics Length 4. ... Kangaroo personnel carrier A Kangaroo was a World War II British or Commonwealth armoured personnel carrier, created by conversion of a tank chassis. ... A Terrapin can be seen on the left during the Battle of the Scheldt in the Netherlands, 1944. ... Military armored cars A French VBL reconnaissance vehicle. ... The Daimler Scout Car, known in service as Dingo, was a British light fast 4WD reconnaissance vehicle also used in the liaison role during the Second World War. ... The Dingo Scout Car was a light armoured car built in Australia during Second World War. ... Humber Scout Car was a British light armoured car used in the World War II. // History Although at the outbreak of the World War II the British Army already had the excellent Daimler Dingo, the need for scout cars could not be met by Daimler alone, so other companies were... The Daimler Scout Car, known in service as Dingo, was a British light fast 4WD reconnaissance vehicle also used in the liaison role during the Second World War. ... Scout Car S1 (American), was an armoured car produced in Australia for the US Army during the Second World War. ... Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, also known as Ironside, was a British armoured car produced during the World War II. History Produced by Rootes groop, the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car was an armored car based on the Humber Super Snipe luxury car chassis with some minor changes such as War Department... Morris Light Reconnaissance Car was a British armoured car produced during the World War II. History Morris LRC was an armoured car built by Morris Motor Company. ... The Otter Light Reconnaissance Car was an armoured car produced by Canada during the Second World War. ... General characteristics Length: 5. ... The Coventry armoured car was a British four wheel drive (4X4) armoured fighting vehicle developed at the end of World War II as a potential replacement for the lighter Humber and Daimler series of armoured cars. ... General characteristics Length 4 m Width 2. ... The Fox Armoured Car was a wheeled armoured fighting vehicle produced by Canada in the Second World War. ... The Guy Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced in limited numbers during World War II. The car saw limited action during the Battle of France. ... General characteristics Length: 4. ... Lanchester Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced in limited numbers in late 1920s and early 1930s. ... South African Reconnaissance Car, better known under its British designation Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car, was an armored vehicle produced in South Africa for the British Army during the World War II. // History In 1938 South African government initiated development of an armored car. ... Morris CS9, was a British armoured car used by the British Army in the World War II. History The vehicle was based on Morris 4x2 15-cwt truck chassis. ... Car, Armoured, Heavy (Aust), also known as Rhino, was an armoured car designed in Australia during the Second World War. ... The Rolls-Royce armoured car was an armoured car developed in 1914 and used in World War I and in the early part of World War II. It was a simple vehicle built on a Rolls Royce car chassis. ... The Light Armoured Car (Aust), also known as Rover, was an armoured car produced in Australia during the Second World War. ... Standard Car 4x2, or Car Armoured Light Standard, better known as the Beaverette, was a British armoured car produced during the World War II. History The first version of the vehicle was built in 1940 by Standard Motor Company at the instigation of Lord Beaverbrook, then Minister of Aircraft Production... Armoured Carrier, Wheeled, Indian Pattern (ACV-IP), known also as Indian Pattern Carrier or under other similar names, was an armoured car produced in India during the World War II. History At the outbreak of the World War II the United Kingdom was unable to meet the needs of the... Bedford OXA was a British improvised armoured vehicle built during the World War II by mounting armoured body on a Bedford OXD 1. ... The C15TA Armoured Truck was an armoured vehicle produced by Canada during the Second World War. ... AEC Armoured Command Vehicle was a series of command vehicles built by the British Associated Equipment Company during the Second World War. ... The Guy Lizard Armoured Command Vehicle was a British command vehicle built during World War II. 21 units were built, some were used in 1940 by the British Expeditionary Force in France. ... General characteristics Length 26 ft 4, m Width 9 ft 6, m Height ft 9, m Weight t Suspension Chrste Speed 32 mph, 52 km/h road 15 mph, 24 km/h off-road Range 120 m, 260 km Primary armament QF17 pdr Secondary armament 0. ... General characteristics Length 7. ... The Centurion was the primary British Main Battle Tank of the immediate post-war era, and considered by many to be one of the best British tank designs of all time. ... The Excelsior was an experimental tank based on the Cromwell (A27) developed in the Second World War when there were concerns as to performance of the Churchill tank. ... General characteristics Length 10. ... The TOG 2 was a prototype British heavy tank design produced in the early part of the Second World War in case the battlefields of Northern France turned into the mass of trenches and craters that had happened during the First World War. ... The A39 Tortoise heavy assault tank was a British heavy tank design developed in World War II but never put into production. ... The A38 Valiant was a British tank design of the Second World War, based upon the Valentine tank but only reached the prototype stage. ... The Light Tank Mark VIII was developed by Vickers for airborne forces of the British Army during World War Two. ... The Alecto was an experimental self propelled gun developed by the British in World War 2 but terminated with the end of the war in Europe. ... This article lists British AFV production during World War II. // Infantry Tank Mk I Matilda (A11) Total production 1937-40: 140. ...

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Usage

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Production