NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Crusader tank

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. Over 5300 were built. Image File history File links Crusader_tank_III.jpg This file is from Wikimedia Commons [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The metre (Commonwealth English) or meter (American English) (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... The word ton or tonne is derived from the Old English tunne, and ultimately from the Old French tonne, and referred originally to a large cask with a capacity of 252 wine gallons, which holds approximately 2100 pounds of water. ... A British Comet with Christie suspension The Christie suspension is a suspension system developed by Walter Christie for his tank designs. ... The QF 2-pounder gun was a British anti-tank gun. ... The QF 6-pdr 7 cwt was a British anti-tank gun of World War 2. ... 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. ... Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... General characteristics Layout V-12 Cooling water Cylinders 12 Valve type Displacement 27 litres Rotation rate 1700 rpm Power 400 hp Power (300 kW Weight 383kg The Liberty L-12 was a 27 litre water-cooled 45 degree V-12 aircraft engine of 400 horsepower (300 kW). ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the interwar period. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII or World War Two), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the... During World War II the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 to May 13, 1943. ...

History

In 1939 Nuffield Mechanisation and Aero was offered to take part in the production of the Covenanter, which was still in design stage. Nuffield, however, preferred to work on its own version of the A13. This new tank was adopted as Cruiser Tank 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. The prototype of the Crusader was ready even before that of the Covenanter. The Nuffield Organisation was an automobile manufacturing company in the United Kingdom. ... Covenanter The Cruiser Mk V Covenanter was a British Cruiser tank of World War II, influenced by the Soviet T-28. ...

Although it was faster than any tanks it opposed, its potential was limited by a relatively light 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. The tank first saw combat during Operation Battleaxe and played a crucial role in the following Operation Crusader which was named after it. The QF 2-pounder gun was a British anti-tank gun. ... A shell is a projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, is not solid but contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large projectiles without a filling which are properly termed shot. ... Combatants Germany, Italy United Kingdom, India Commanders Erwin Rommel Archibald Wavell Noel Beresford-Peirse Strength Afrika Korps including 5th Light Division and 15th Panzer Division, about 13,000 XIII Corp consisting of 7th Armoured Division and 4th Indian Division 20,000+ troops with 200 tanks Casualties 12 tanks destroyed 700... Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Poland Germany Italy Commanders Claude Auchinleck Alan Gordon Cunningham Neil Ritchie Erwin Rommel Ludwig CrÃ¼well Strength 8th Army comprising XIII Corps, XXX Corps and 70th Division. ...

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. The M4 Medium Tank was the main tank designed and built by the US for use in World War II. In the UK lend-lease M4s were dubbed M4 General Sherman after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, continuing a practice of naming American tanks after famous Generals. ... 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... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ...

Variants

Crusader I

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

Image File history File links Crusader Mk II This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ... Image File history File links Crusader Mk II This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ...

Crusader II

The Crusader II had increased frontal armour. Like with the Mk I, the auxiliary turret was often removed.

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. General characteristics Length 6. ... The QF 6-pdr 7 cwt was a British anti-tank gun of World War 2. ... Combatants Allies (mostly Commonwealth forces) Axis (mostly German and Italian) Commanders Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Strength 200,000 men, 1,030 tanks, 900 guns, 530 aircraft 100,000 men, 500 tanks, 500 guns, 350 aircraft Casualties 13,500 dead and wounded, 710 tanks 12,000 dead and wounded, 25,000...

Image File history File links Crusader III Gun Tractor MK I in Overloon (Niederlande) Fotograf: Alexander Buschorn (1987) Lizenz: GNU-FDL Template:Bild-GFDL Taken from nl. ... Image File history File links Crusader III Gun Tractor MK I in Overloon (Niederlande) Fotograf: Alexander Buschorn (1987) Lizenz: GNU-FDL Template:Bild-GFDL Taken from nl. ...

Crusader II Gun Tractor Mk I

A Crusader tank hull with a simple boxy superstructure used to tow 17 Pounder anti-tank guns. (Redirected from 17 pounder) The 17-pounder (17-pdr) was a 77 mm anti-tank gun developed by the United Kingdom during World War II. It was the best Allied anti-tank gun of the war, able to defeat all German armor and the equal of all their guns up... Anti-tank, or simply AT, refers to any method of combating military armored fighting vehicles, notably tanks. ...

Crusader III AA Mk I

The 6-pdr was replaced with a Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun with an autoloader and powered mounting in an open topped turret. The crew numbered 4 - gun commander, gun layer, loader, and driver. The Bofors 40 mm gun is a famous autocannon designed by the Swedish firm of Bofors. ...

Crusader III AA Mk II / Mk III

A Crusader armed with twin Oerlikon 20 mm guns for anti-aircaft 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. The design of the Oerlikon 20mm cannon, by Reinhold Becker dates back to 1914, and is still in use today, after having been used extensively during the Second World War. ... When spelt with a capital A, Allies usually denotes the countries supporting the Triple Entente who fought together against the Central Powers in World War I and against the Axis Powers in World War II. For more information, see the related articles: Allies of World War I and Allies of... Air superiority is the dominance in the air power of one side of a aerial conflict over the air force of the opposing force, which is unable to give an effective resistance. ...

Crusader ARV Mk I

Armored recovery vehicle based on turretless Crusader hull. One prototype was built in 1942. Conqueror Armoured Recovery Vehicle 2 An armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to repair battle-damaged or broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them off the battlefield for more extensive repairs. ...

Crusader SP Guns

Additional equipment

References

External links

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

Categories: Medium tanks | World War II British tanks An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII or World War Two), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the... 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. ... General characteristics Length 4 m Width 2. ... 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 interwar period. ... General characteristics Length 5. ... General characteristics Length 5. ... General characteristics Length 6 m Width 2. ... General characteristics Length 6 m Width 2. ... Covenanter The Cruiser Mk V Covenanter was a British Cruiser tank of World War II, influenced by the Soviet T-28. ... 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... 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. ... The Cruiser Comet was a British tank that first saw use near the end of World War II. It is often considered the best overall British tank of the war. ... 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 the war in Europe, and to the threat of Japan expanding the war to the Pacific or even a possible Japanese invasion of Australia. ... The infantry tank was a concept developed by the British in the years leading up to World War II. They were intended to work alongside infantry. ... General characteristics Length 4. ... The A12 Infantry Tank II Matilda (sometimes referred to as Senior Matilda or Matilda II) was a British tank of World War II. In a somewhat unorthodox move, it shared the same name as the A11 Infantry Tank I. The name Matilda itself comes from a cartoon duck. ... 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. ... General characteristics Length 24 ft 5 in, 7. ... A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artilley or locomotive artillery) vehicles mount a large howitzer (or alternatively mortar or rockets) and are used for long-range indirect bombardment support. ... A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armoured fighting vehicle. ... The M113, one of the most common tracked APCs, on duty during the Vietnam War Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. ... The Bishop was a British self-propelled artillery vehicle based on the Valentine II chassis. ... General characteristics Length 20 ft 1 in/ 6. ... The Archer was a British tank destroyer used during World War II based on the Valentine chassis. ... 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, or as machine gun platforms. ... 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. ... Military armored cars A French VBL reconnaissance vehicle. ... The Daimler Scout Car, known in service as Dingo, was a British light fast 4WD reconnaisance vehicle also used in the liaison role during the Second World War. ... General characteristics Length: 4. ... 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. ... General characteristics Length: 5. ... General characteristics Length 4 m Width 2. ... 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. ... 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 Valiant was a British tank design of the Second World War, based upon the Valentine tank but only reached the prototype stage. ... 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. ...

Contents

History

Variants

Crusader I

Crusader II

Crusader III

Crusader II Gun Tractor Mk I

Crusader III AA Mk I

Crusader III AA Mk II / Mk III

Crusader ARV Mk I

Crusader SP Guns

Additional equipment

References

External links

One quick question before you continue, thanks!

What kind of info are you after?

Contents

History GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Variants

Crusader I

Crusader II

Crusader III

Crusader II Gun Tractor Mk I

Crusader III AA Mk I

Crusader III AA Mk II / Mk III

Crusader ARV Mk I

Crusader SP Guns

Additional equipment

References

External links

One quick question before you continue, thanks!

What kind of info are you after?

History