Cromwell Cruiser Tank 1942 SO
New Vanguard • 104
Cromwell Cruiser Tank 1942-50
David Fletcher & Richard CHarley . Illustrated by Peter Sarson
DAVID FLETCHER was bom In t 942. He has written a number of books and articles on mllilary subjects and Is currently the historian at the
CONTENTS GENESIS
3
Tank Museum. Bovington, UK. He has spent over 40 years
CAVALIER DESCRIBED
5
studying the dovelopment of Bntlsh annoured vehicles dunng the two World Wan;.
• Armour
,mel turret • Enginc. u"ilnsmis"llon and "luspen<;ion • GUll
CAVALIER PRODUCTION RICHARD C HARLEY was bom in 1953. He has spent over 35 years modelling, drawing and researching British military vehicles and has writ1en and illustrated many articles for
7
• Ob"('I"Y:.llion POSI Tank • Annour('d Recmery Vchicle
ENTER ROLLS-ROYCE
9
Tanketto. Centurion and AFV News. He has studied
• Cruiser l\lark \'TlI r\27l\1 Croll1well • Crui"er ~lark VIII A27L CCIlL.'1ur • The h,blid...
the Cromwell tank family for over 25 years and this book
THE GUNS
13
MARKS AND TYPES
14
the enlhuslasts' Journals
supercedes all of his previous articles on this subject.
• Wdded Cl'Oll1wells
GOING WEST
18
annoured vehicle publications end Is regarded 85 one of the
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
20
world's greet illustrators of military vehicles. Peter lives
• Operation Dmrllltl
and works In Dorset, UK.
• Roral ~1.lrin{·s
PETER SARSON has produced graphic cutaways for many
• Bailie CrolTIwt.'11
CROMWELL IN ACTION
23
WARTIME VARIANTS AND SPECIALIST VEHICLES
25
• Command and ('.antrol Tanks • Armoured Rl'cO\'cl,,\ Vehicle
• • • •
.\.:\ Tanks Cenlaur DOleI' .\30 Challt'nger Illlo \ction • ,.\30 ,\\-enger SP2 • \3-1 Comet • Comel Crocodile
POST-WAR DEVELOPMENTS
40
• F\'-II 0 I Chariotcer • Comet I Armoured \1aiI1lCll
CONCLUSION
43
BIBLIOGRAPHY
44
COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY
45
INDEX
48
CROMWELL CRUISER TANK
1942-50
GENESIS erorc he left France ill lhe summer or 1940. BrigadIer V)'')'an Pope sellt an urgent ICllcr to a colleague "Il the War Office in London. One key paragraph read, 'We must h,\\e thicker ,mnCJ\If on our fighting tanks and c\cry lank 11l1l"t can)' a cannon. The 2~pdr is good enough now, but only just. We must mOUlll something better and put it behind 40 to 80mm orarmour,' Pope, who was Lord Con's ;l.ch-isor on armoured fighting vchicles ell General Ileadquarters of the British Expedition,,!) Force. had the leucr delivered by hane!. Things had gone so badly in Fnillce that Pope was not e\en ccrtain he wOllld get hOl11e. If it sounded like a counsel of despair it probably was, but Pope had learned some unpleasalll bcts in France. UnrortlllHltely he was too late; the next generation of crlli<;er tank~ was already on the stocks. Granted, bOlh the Covcnanler and Crusader (sec New Vanguard 14) were uparmoured as an clllcrgenC}' measure. bllt nothing could be done aboUl the gun; not at lhat stage an}'wa}'. With the cOlllllry stripped or tanks following event.s in France and under imlllinent threat of invasion, it made more sense to conlinue production of existing types than risk the Inevitable dda}'~ of producing nc\\, Diles. In any case, there was the demand frolll the Middlt: East to consider. II hilS been estimated that losses in France arrested lank dc\'e!apmcllt in Britain by two years. and what applied to tanks was cquall}' true afallli-tank guns. An improved allli·tank gun. a 57mm weapon known as the 6-poundcr, Wi.l"i ready far production in 1939. BUl, again due to events in
Muffled against the cold, the crew of this early production Cavalier await the arrival of the kIng and queen at a site on Cannock Chase. Her Majesty will unveil the name CROMWELL, which Wtl5 the original title for this lank.
3
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or 19-42.
.
\ tunmi,y or Popc·~ Ieurr i\ the emph~ls he 'l!)!W;lI, In giH.' LO the imporlance 0'- thicker annUli] OH'r .1 bl'ucr gllll. C~,cllaJ1lcr and Cru\ilCler wen: .!lrcad) in the design stage ,,'hen \\;11' hc.:gan and the 2-pdr was ll~e onl~' gun
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to ronlOllll to the "'(',lIed ,lItiwc!e of tht· dri,-el 011 till' light ,mel hull l1Ia('hilll' g'ullner on the lelL A . . hon. lonj.{iwdinal bulkhead divided these two. .\micbhip\ \"'lS lhe liKhtinK cOlllpartllleill into \dli(h lhe tUiTet filled ,md the bulkhead behind lhat aClcd a.. . a firewall bel\\ct'n the ere\\' and the cllhrlne cOmp,U1Jllenl. A filial bulkhead separated the engine cOlllpartmem rrom lhe lI';IIl"'llIission and final dlives, Armour
British practice on armour orig-in(\l1~ ra\"oured homogeneous plme, the type he\t suited LO resist attack b)' capped armollr·piercing shot as used bv , the Germans. The Germans preferred blCc-hardencd plate, whIch was beller at keeping Oul plain AI' shot. Briti"lh anllour qualin' was not all it might ha\e been in 19·11 and plate mer 35111111 (1.37in) thick tended to nake rrom the back under impact; thus the hull front and visor plates Oil the new cmisers were made lip from two thinner plait's, The sides \,'ere as they had been on Crusader, \,-ith Ihe Christie also double lavered, , suspension units sandwiched between the inner and allier plates. Gun and turret
The turret was little more than <:1 six-sided box constructed in the ne\\' Ordnance QF riOed 57ml1l, 6-pdr Mark III. the first \ersion designed for use in tanks. It was mounted co-axially with a 7.921ll1ll BES.-\ air-cooled machine b'1.lIl and a sighting telescope C~o 39 ~Ik IS) on the left. .\ second BESA wa~ phlccd in the hull, to the Jeri oj the driver and in the roof or the turret was a breech-loading 2in bomb thrower lIsed primarih to launch smoke round'S. Thc gun mounting was unusual 10 the extent that it employed an imemal mamlel behind a rrlath'ely large, square opening in the front of the turret. It wa~ nner popular \\'ith tauk crews, who belie\cd Ihat the ~h~dow creatcd b~ the aperture provided the enemy with an aiming pOIIH. although thiS \\~ probably a piece of lank crew mylhology. Engine, transmission and suspension
6
~le('"hal1i(,lc'lChl \tceOl\g gear to the final dmc reduction and finalh to the clme \prOC~l'lS, Cl'.al'....hift ;:\nd \Ieeling brake controb, \\('rc plll'UIll,ttkalh upc:ratl.'d. Smpenslon was \imllh a '1trOIlP"er \erSiOll of ,I C'.nl\
Fully stowed Cavalier ARV Man I. Ahead of it the big Caterpillar 08 tractor represents an earlier period of tank recovery. Visible stowage includes Hollebone towing bars at the rear, front jib arms to the lett and the tow cable with snatch blocks.
ChmLic "'\'H'm that Lord "uflield It.ld introduled 11110 8n1.lIn Jo,llIo\\ for the .Idditiollal \\eiglll "uITield\ ('ngmct>f' ledun:d tilt' kll~th of tIl(: \wing ,lml'. \\hich mea III thaI C,a\,tlll:'r gmt' iL\ (1'("'\ .t much hlllllpl('f ndc than iL<;; predecc"'ior. The tfad,s 'H'rc 1ll.1Ilg-;llle'it." \1<"c.'I, dr"t pin \\..(·kwn t\1)e 355ml11 (1Iin) wide ,mel 1O11111ll Hin) pilch - 1211inl....\ pc:r "lICh'.
I
CAVALIER PRODUCTION Tank production in Britain worl..ec! Oil whal was dc\n;!wd ,L'I a Part'llt,lgc SVSlClIl. The Parent was the cOlllpall\ with ove ....'1\ rl'<;,poll'iibilil~ fOl ;:, particular l
Winston Churchill 15 shown a Cromwell IV or No 2 Squadron, 2nd Welsh Guards, in March
1944. Notice how this regiment kept all markings as low down as possible, making them less eye-catching to the enemy. The aptly named Blenheim was the squadron commander's tank. The tittlng on top ot the turret Is • PlM mounting, lacking its machine guns.
7
t,lkl' the nt.'\\ i511111l 1,"-1Il nor the 95111111 howivl'r. Final produClioll would bt~ l()O lank.s wilh 6-pdr guns and Ihe balance of 340 to be completed as Ob,\('!"'\1\tiOIl Post (Or) tanks. This decbion meant that the lank had been m-illen ofT as a combat type but was still deemed suit,-,blc for an imponalll auxilmn role. Observation Post Tank
The or Tank was a mobile signal station that oper-ated in the frontline passing information back to gun batteries in the rear. It looked like any other tank, but it was in fact it sheep in wolf's clothing. In it fast·l11oving battle situation it was irwaluable, able to summon artillery support at a moment's notice in response to a difficult situation. It was operated b~ Ihe Roral Artillery and canied a FDa, or Forward Obsen'alion Officer. The 'office' was the turret from which the 6--pdr gun was removed to make morc space, although the BESA was retained and a dummy gun fitted to disguise its special role. The turret contained t\\'o No 19 and one No 18 wireless sets with sealS for the commander and operator. The front machine-gun position \\<15 remO\"ed and here was located an auxilial) charging engine, three sets of extr-a batteries and three cable reels. The exhaust and silencer for U1C charging set - either the Tiny Tim or Chore Ilorse model- were located on the hull roof. Brackets for tlle cable reels were mounted on tlle rear mudguards. Olll\\'ardly the ani}' other modification was an el\tra aerial on the turret. Armoured Recovery Vehicle
Following a decision b} tlle War Office Recover) Commiuee lhal a protected lOwing vehicle was required to 1110\'C disabled tanks frolll tlle battlefield, an Experimental RecO\'ery Section tested a range of turrctless tanks for this role. The general principle was to prmide an anTIoureci recover} "ehicle for each class of tank, so a prototype Cavalier ARV dul)' appeared. The LOwing powers oftl1cse tanks were limited so a
Although the vehicle here Is In fact an OP tank, this photograph provides a good view of a Cromwell Mark IV with TWe F hull In post-1948 condItion. Prominent on the turret Is
8
the All-Round Vision cupola, late-style vane .Ight and turret stowage box••.
"
.,\ .. tCIIl of block.\ .md t,lfllt" c,IITit.'d lO ('nh'1l1«' PO\\C.·1. I lit I,Ull ,tbo r.1I ril'd.\ ponable jib ,lIld hoi'lllO h,lIldle ht'.\\'\ ("OIl1POI1l·l1t". In Ill<' e\{'111 the C'-\
ENTER ROLLS-ROYCE The next siage in the Crolll\\l'll ...aga repn'\Cllb the onl~ truh inspirationalll1omc11l in the wartimc British lanl stOI)', and it \\a;; dul' 10 whatmightlx' call1'd Ihe old boys' nelwork of the Uritillh mOlOr indu ...ln, Hen~' Spurriel", third in line in the Lc,land ~\lotOl·'" (hnIH 111.\1 il published a bool
Seen at the Rolls-Royce Clan Foundry at Belper, Derbyshire, In August 1943 this is the experimental Cromwell Pilot D, which dIsplays the frontal appllqu6 armour, wider tr,tcb and, of course, the welded turret.
9
,till Lltl'd a Illitior problem. A me
It would h:t\e made a 10l of sense to appl)- lhe new engine and lransmission to C.·walicr, but Lord Nufiield would not he~\r of it. ~htior ",Ileration~ would have been required to the original design bUlthis was not impossible and production could have been speeded up. Yet Lord Nuflield insisted and he was indulged. His company spcntlhe next IWO ycars producing 500 totally useless Cm'aliers. 1I1e\;rabl)'. howe,'er, Cromwell was almost indislinguishable from its predecessor at first glance. Buill b) BRCW lhe fir~l example wa.s actually nllming- by January 1942, and following cXlcnsh'e uials il was declared to be 'cxceptionall)r good' b) ulOse responsible, NOl, il has LO be said, lhat this necessaril} meant "ery much in ,;cw of whm else was available. Nevertheless, lhings looked so promising (hm b~ ~la" 19-12 il was agreed thal production of Cromwell mUSl be expanded and, as a result, morc firms wert' dn\wn il1lo the group. This expansion brought with il certain problems due, according lO one commentator, to 'obstinate praclices'. Few arc aCluall" specified but the impression is givcn of finns, set liLe concrete illlo reaClionan\'icloIian habiL'i, Ulat could lIot be persuaded to change \\;tl1 the times
10
From this elevated angle there 15 a good view of the Vauxhalldesigned turret and the A33-style driver's hatch on one of the two single-skin welded Cromwell hulls from BReW, The tank was photograph&d at Chertae)' sometime In 11M3.
nOl", illdt't'd, on ,1(COttllt 01 tht' \\,11. ant' l'\..unplc \\111 \ulli«'. Ih,1I of .1 \It'c1wOlk... in tht, llol1h-ea.'it of England plOd\lCll1~ ill lIlOUI l>.tnd.. f(ll til( frOllt plclle~of(:rOlll\\c1L nH~"'t' plmed to bt, ...o poor th"t IOU of tht· Ilt'\\ ti.1l1~ \\eft.' immediatch titled with thl' 1I.'eI \\.lIning lIi,lng-1t- lO infOlIll would·bt., u~er\ thill Ihr~ were nOI
a much more comfortable ride. A.. Cromwell impro\ed (lml rt'cei\ed he
agree to
Il.
Lc}land 1\loIOl""l W,L~ 1101 lo.. t to lank production; the General Staff agreed to a compromise whereb~ LC\lands ,\ould produce a tank similar to Crol1lwdl that tool.. the old ~lIlTieid Libert\' engine. now in an imprmed mode!. lht' ~Iarl.. \', A curiom re~lIlt of this was the rl'quircment that
One of the participants in I
the Fighting Vehicle Proving Establishment Three Thousand Mile Trial, A welded Cromwell Vllw, it lacks applique armour, hence the additional ballast to make up the weight. This view also reveals the tow hook and rear .moke eml"ers.
11
Abandoned on Gold Beach on D-Dav. this Cenuur of 1at Armoured Support Regiment, Royal Marines, has been selected to display the Deep Wading trunking and the Porpoise reserve ammunlbon sledge that It towed ashore
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behind it.
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Crom\\C:'1I lal1~. '{~Irtin!{ with the '\('conel pilot model. . . boule! be capable of a('«'pLin~ lite Libert\ CllbrlllC. llS (:enl:lur \\,l' of lilkillg tilC ~J('te()r. -rl1\" where there W..IS olle. Illl\\ there \\('rt'lltrc'l."••111 1...110\\11 ;l\ Cromwell at fir'll. t:ltinJalt'h lhn {'Iltcrcd \Cr\ice .\:0,: Crui'ler Tank ~I;lrl... \'11 .\2--1 C;:w,lIier (original1\ Cl'Oll1wl'1I l) Cruiser Tank Mark \'1 II A27L Centaur (originalh Cromwcll II) Crui'lcrTank ~larl.. \'111 A2nl Croll1\H:1I (orig-inalh Croll1\\tlllll). Land :-"1 signih Libl'rl\ and ~klcor ell~inc'i l"e,ptCliH·h. Cent.aur was not Silllph a Cromwell tank ',;Ih a LihellY enginc, there were nUllIerous delail dinerencl·.... For c,ample C:clllilllr emplo\{'d tht wOlln-opcrated \ldek tl'nsioning 'l\'llcm ,Idop[('d rOI Crm,tc!et alld Ca\,lIkr where Cromwell uscd
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CROMWELL FAMILY MAIN ARMAMENT PERFORMANCE 1941-54 Weapons
Armament for:
2-pdr Mks IX or X
Triple mounting With 3,n AP hoWItzer and BESA MG, AP HVrr proposed for A24 but nol adopted
6-pdr Mk Y
Cavaltet I.
Centaur I.
CcomweU I. II and III
Ammunition
Muzzle m/sec (fUsee)
Penetration in mm (in) at 30 de9rees velocities to vertical 457m 915m 1371m 1B28m (SOOyd): (1.500yd): (2,OOOyd): (' ,0000dl'
792 (2600) 853128001
58 (2 28) 64 (2521
52 (2.05) 57 (2.24}
46 (1 81) 51 (201)
40 (1 57) 45(1 77)
APeS
862(2830) 822 (2700) 1188 (3900)
75 (2 951 81 {3.191 1311516)
67 (2 64) 7412.91) 117(461)
55 (2 17) 63 (2.48) 108 (4 25)
52 (2.05) 56 (2 20) 90 13 54)
APe APeBC
95mm Mk I
Centauc IV. Cromwell VI and VIII
HEAT
327 (1075)
11014.33J
110 (4.33)
75mm Mks YorYA
Cenlaur 111. Cromwell N. V. Vw. Vllw, VII. A3JE1 and E2
APM72 APe M61
618 (2030) 618 (2030)
76 (2 99) 66 (260)
63 (2 481 60 (2 36)
51 (2.01) 55(217)
43 (1 ,69) 50 (1 97)
76mm M1Al
US 76mm proposed for A34, but not adopled
APe M62 APCR M93
792 (2600) 1036(3400)
93 (3.66) 157(6,18)
88 (3 46) 135 (5.311
82 (3 23) 116 (4 57)
75 (2 95) 98 (3.86)
A30 Challenger and SP2 Avenger
APCBC APDS
884 (29001 1203(3950)
140(551) 208 (8 19)
130(5121 192 (7.56)
120 (4 72) 176 (6.93)
1" (4.37) 161 (6,34)
A34 Cornel
APCBC APOS
792 (2600) 1120 (3675)
110 (4.33) 178(701)
105(413) 150 (5.91)
91 13.58) 131 (5,16)
89 (3 50)
APCBC APDS Mil 3
1019 (3346) 1430 (4692l
196 C7.721 295(1161)
183 (7 20) 277 (10.91)
169 (6 65) 260 (1024)
156 (6 14) 24319.57)
17-pdr Mks and VII 77mm Mk I 2O·pdr Mk 1
"
FV4101 Charioteer
122(480)
13
I ht' IIcl' t:k\,lIioll alTangclllcllI already descJiIX'c1 \\,L\ fillc J.{in'J1 II PIllPC!l\ u,ulwd gunncr, bllt illllade the task or Ii ri nJ.{ I IE morc c1ifliullt ,mel in ,111\ c.""t' dcmanck'd a ,\dl-balanced gUll. Thi"t could not be ,I( hinc:d wilh Ihe h~blicl i~lI1l1n, so a CI1.Ic!{" !>)"slt'm of gealed ele\<;'Hion was ~Illplo~l'd, which "tome bc1ie\ed garc the wor'll or both worlds. Yet thi~ W,L" Ilol the gun the al111\ w,,-med, III ~1i1rch 1942 \'id.el~.\1111"iu·ongs h.ld oITered a new, high-\'clocil)- 75mlll gun wilh a SO
MARKS AND TYPES The ~lIb..di\i~ion ~)ee~l. common II1d.lcatc... ~ome dc\(>lopmel1t. In
of an}' brin.'1l model or lank b} l\l;\I'~ is, <1l1d has always practice world \\;de. E.ach succeeding ~Iark nomm'"" c1~a~1ge in gun powcr. armour or other physic,;) Bnt.:1111, at least up to (he achcllI of Chieftain. these l\larI..s
CROMWELL FAMILY PRODUCTION TOTALS 1942-45 Manufacturers BReW Co_ Ltd Engllsh-Electnc Harland & Wolff John Fowler & Co. Leyland Motors LMS Railway Co Ltd Metro·Cammell Moms Motors Nuffleld M&A Ruston-Bucyrus Ruston & Hornsby Vauxhall MotOfS Grand Totals
14
Cavalier
Centaur
156 125 529 643 45 203 300 503
138 150
Cromwell Cromwell Challenger Comet (riveted) (welded)
256 803
123 1
A33 Avenger 'excelsior'
Totals
80
659 1238 125 953 1988 '5 450 138 353
200 276
274 735
150 610
300
150
2
35 1821
35
2368
2 126
300 2
200
1188
2
80
6288
CROMWELL FAMILY MARKS AND TYPES CAVALIERS
Nuffield Mechanization & Aero. and Ruston & Hornsby
Marks
Types
Main Armament
Notes
A 8
6 pdr Mk III or V
Riveted hu
II
A
6-pdr Mk III or V
Trials vefllcle with 3~mm IS Snltracll.S No seres produClt()l"l
CROMWELLS
BRCW, Metropolrtan-Cammell. English-Electric and Vauxhall Motors
Marks
v
C
VI
C, D,
boiled turrel 355mIT' 14 n)trac __ s
Main Armament
Notes
6-Pdr Mk III or V
R'veted hull bolted tunet. 3tJ.5mm 11-=
) tracloS
75mm Mk V
E. F
95mm Mk t
d,llo
Similar to flveted Type A
6-pdr Mk III
PIlot welded double-s!...ln hull welded turret. applique armour. large canister spongs and 394mm (15 5'0) tracks
'Cromwell IJ'
Similar to nveled Type B
6-pdr Mk III
PIlot welded single-skin hull. compoSite casVwelded turret, large canister spongs and 39.tmm (15 Sin) tracks
VwO
Ow
75mm Mk V
Production welded hull, bolted turret, applique armour. large canlSler springs and 355mm (14In} tracks
VwE
Ew
75mm Mk V
Slm!lar to Cromwell VwD but low-speed flnal driVes
VllwE
Ew
75mm M __ V
Similar to Cromwell VwE but heavy-duty front axles and 39-imm {15.5fnjtracks
CENTAUR GROUP TANKS Centaurs only: Harland & Wolff, LMS, Mechanlzation & Aero. Moms Motors and Ruston-Bucyrus Centaurs and Cromwells: English-Electric, Fowler and Leyland Motors Tanks
Marks
Centaur
Types
MalO Armament
A.BC
()..pdr Mk III
or V
Notes Arveted hutl bolted turret and 355mm (14In) tracks
Centaur
II
not known
6-pclr Mk lit Of V
DeSignatIon reserved for Centaur With 394mm (15.5rn) lracks No senes production
Centaur
III
C.O
75mm Mk.v
RIVeted hull. bolted turret and 355mm (14In) tracks
Centaur
IV
C.O
95mm Mk I
ditto
Cromwell
x
A
6-pdr Mk III or V
EXls!lng Centaur I converted for trials wrth Meteor engine
CrOmwell
III
A.C
6-pdr Mk III or V
New production Centaur I bUilt With Meteor engine
Cromwell
IV
C.O. E
75mm Mk V
New production Centaur III burlt With Meteor engine Cromwell track adjuster on vehicles bUIlt to FS (Final SpecificatIon) standards
Cromwell
VI
DE
95mm Mk I
New productIon Centaur IV built to FS standards Wlth Meteor engine and Cromwell track adjuster
Cromwell
IV
F
75mm Mk V
New produchon Centaur III bUilt to FS standards With Meteor engIne and Cromwell SUSpenSIon and track adjuster
REWORKED CROMWELLS
Reworked by Royal Ordnance Factories, post-1945. (Original manufacturers BRCW, English-Electric, Fowler, Leyland and Metro-Cammell)
Marks
Hull Types
Main Armament
Reworked from:
7
C. D. E. F
75mm Mk 5
Cromwells 4, 5 and 6 No applique armour
7w
Ow
75mm Mk 5
Cromwe1l5w Applrque armour retained
8
O. E. F
95mm Mk 1
Cromwell 6 No applrque armour
Rr'f!t'!'1 C"m'tN'llls Mar, 4 J (J(ld 6 wer8 r8worl.ed wllh large camMer spllngs and 394mm (IS SmJ tracks, /G" f:lliJ) IIfl;N 'J"~e .u"J /;}/(' pa/tlJm /rac"!J'J'j(d.~ Some T~pe Cs were converTed to Type Os Mood,ad Ip,! I, ')ul, tj'lP.r II ", h I,'led'o OJlt"", '10(/ r~peS C D JfId f Cen/aur /racJc ad!us,er was replaced by Cromwellt~f)e C',m J , rf,
15
FV4101 CHARIOTEER
Robinson & Kershaw ltd
Marks
Hull Types
Main Armament
Converted from:
6
D. E. F
20·pdr Mk 1
Cromwel16
7
0, E, F
20-pdr Mk 1
Cromwell 7
7w
Ow, Ew
20-pdr Mk 1
Cromwell 7w
8
D.E.F
20·pdr Mk 1
Cromwell 8
Ctomwel MatI< 5s were rewoI1<ed 10 Marl!" 8 statlCWd dunng convet$IOtI. All Type Cs were convened to Type Os. AJI nveled Types 0 lind E we,. modified WIth CmmweR 7w drivers escape hatches.
lI'ilIalh shO\\ed up a~ \islIal differences that could IX' recogni7ed by lhose in t.he kno\\'.
Cromwell, CenLcn aL all. especially in an cl11l'rgen0. The rc\iscd design im'olved replacing the hatch \\ith a door lha! opened sideways, mm;ng part of the roof \\iLh iL :\'obocl) cOlild c1csclibe lhis as a \'aSl imprmcmclll, but iL worked well cnough and tanks Lhus modified were classified as having Trpe B hulls. Of COUI~C, in order LO clear space for L11e halch to open, OIlC eXLernal slowage locker was deleted. Naturally lhe problem repealed itself on the drher\ ~ide, but it was nOl possible lO. mirror the hull gunner's halch beclluse certain engine controls were 111 lhe wa)'. Once modifications had been inlroduced it resulted in lhe Trpe F hull, which rC
Chosen to Illustrate the Ortllt Swan, thl••hows n Polish Cromwell racing palt II Jeep Ilnd 8n abandonod PnK 43, 88mm nntl-tnnk gun. The u,nks move
Ie
on one route, c(Nltlng one another In gront cloud. 01 dust While support vehlcl••
u•• n purtlllel Illn••
CROMWELL FAMILY we NUMBERS nnd MANUFACTURERS we No R."ge5
Tanks, Marks & Types
Manufacturers
184618-84620
Cavalier IA (pIlots)
Nuffleld Mechanizations & Aero
T120415-120689 T188657-188681
CromwelllC, VIC, VIO. VIE. VIF
Metropolitan-Cammell Camage & Wagon Co Ltd
T121150-121406 T121701-121822 T121863
CromwelllA, IC, VC Cromwell VwO. VwE. VlIwE
BU1Tltngham RaIlway Carnage & Wagon Co Ltd (BRCW)
T129620-130119
Cavalier IA, IB
Nuffleld MechanizatIOns & Aero, and Ruston & Hornsby Ltd
T13012G-130164
Centaur IA
LMS Railway Co
T171762-171766
Centaur IA (pIlots) Cromwell X (pilots)
Leyland Motors and Enghsh-Electnc
T183800-186510
Centaur IA. lB. IC Cenlaur HlC, IUD Centaur IVC, IVO. CentalK III AA.I Centaur Dozer
Gun tanks by Enghsh-Electnc. Fowle!: Leyland Harland & Wolff CS and AA lanks by Fowler Dozer conversIOnS by MG Cars
T187501-188082
Cromwell NO, IVE. al"ld VIE
Gun lanks by Leyland and Fowler CS tanks by Fowler
T188151-188656 Tl88687-188926
Cromwell IVF
English-ElectriC. Leyland and Fowler
T189400-190064
Cromwell lilA. IItG, IVC, and VlO
Gun tanks by Enghsh-Electnc CS tanks by Fowler
1217801-217880 T218001-218562
Centaur mc Centaur III AAI Centaur Dozer Centaur Taurus
MorriS Molors, Nuffleld M&A, and Ruslon-Bucyrus Dozer and Taurus converslo"s by MG Cars
T255310
Cromwell VwE
English-Electric
T271901-2721oo
Challenger I
BRCW Co ltd
T334901-335308 T335331-336108
Comet IA. IB
Leyland, Fowler, Engllsh-Electrlc and Metropoilian-Cammell
$348560-348639
SP, 17-pdr, Avenger
BRCWCo, Ltd
I~J
II. \k.l1l\dllk
01 lht· oldel hIH'''' \\t'll' Il'llll-lillnl \\ilh .1 Ill'\\ rll i'l'I .... halt Ii \\ llh 11,11" . . plit dl.lgoll.dh ~ tilt' 1'('.11 flap ... illlJ>h (11 opped Jlllll pl.lCt·, 11I.1ll C'llll'l~('nn Ille dli'l'l IHhhl'd opell tlll' !J(II1l 1l,lp .lIul hill)( heel Ill(' /(",11 (lilt: .I ... iell' il' Ill' 1),lkcl 0\11. '\cll.L11 I\pt, IIlOdili,.llllllh \\('1(' Illlpnl\(·lllt·lIl .... I Ill' c';lrl\ ri\l'I('cl \,1111..... \\('J(' \\(,lg-Illl'd 10 tilt' 11111il 01 1I11'1I "'1I'pell... illll'> ,IIHI the ,l{hhllOIl 01 un\ OP('I,1I10/l,11 (,C\lliplllC'lIl Ill.tell· Ilh'111 O\t'l\\(·ig-hl. I Ill' J.tllh Bo,lId J(,lurl.llllh .Ipplll'l'd it .'l0 pC'1 (c'lll It'(hllliOll 01 t·ngull·-(Olllp.IJITllt'lll ,'"UOIlI !c) rOllljll..'m.llt' ,lIld I hi... (h,lIlgl' \\.1" lllll nelll( n\lI11 hull h pI' ( "0111('
Welded Cromwells Ilic' (,rolll\\t,1I \\oule! c h.mgc' ill Ill,un \\.1", Inll thl' 1ll"'1
"lIi( h \\.1'" lil'l (OIl u!l'll·cl 111 I ~J 11 - (''l'lI hdlllt' lilt, I i'l'll'l1 1'1101 modc·l ... h,n\ het'n
dndllplllt'l1t \\.1'" 1)(.( ('Il1!>t'l
\q'lckd
igllllit,1ll1
(lIl1 ... IIIH
111111.
(Olllple'lt'd \\('lding oll('lt'd "'C'H'I;11 ,t
li''''1
"pc \
1.1\11111
".l'
IHllllln 1\1-,:,(,\\. I" hull I 1I11t 1\\ l'd Iht' .lIul il ,11"'0 h,1(1 ,I "t'ldl'd 11I1It·l. \\ide Il.lth", .11111.\ Ilt'\\,
\\l'ldnl (,llIlmH'1I
I'dOI D
17
Op.n for busln•••, I CrfHrlWII'" ,... Type f Command rank Of Ha.dqu.rtert 22nd Armour~ Brig.de, 7th Armour-.d Dlvl~. photogr.phed In 1845, Both turret we.pon. Ire dumm..., and bent to prove It. Ther. I. a rna•• of Intriguing detail in this picture.
large canister ~pring \llSPCll"iioll penniuing a wcigl'll increa~e LO 28..1 tonlle~ (28 wm), BRC\\' had b11"c.H difficult)' ,,-riding Pilot D's double, homogenous ii-mIL plates. but whell ~Iachineable Qualit~ annour became available the)' built lWO further wclded hulls ,\;I.h lhid,er, ,ingle hull plate,. These new hlllls followed Lhc T'pe B I'l\oul. but al\{) had an imprmcd dl;\f'r\ e"cape halch based on the .\33 ,\s..')inc c1l'rJ.,. and Pilol D\
.l'
""'Ii
4
GOING WEST I hrou~hot1t t1~l' 1><,I;od 'dll'1l th(',('
18
CTui'n lalll.." "l'rt' b('ill~ (I< \('Io»(·d. 1\1)11,11 I.ml.., ',ue coming in for a b
Ri
Late- 1II Februal"\ 19..t t the l:ml.. 30;\l"d de(lllllding c,lpadl' O\('r to (.lOllmdl "ith the prO\i~o that if in ,i'\. mOlllh . . · tlml' Ill(' I,m\.- ...!Iolllcl pro\{' unrdiable. production should he CUI .mel \1Ilt.,nCit .l'\.-Ctl 10 ...upph IlHlH' tanl.Js. A5 late as Septemocr 19·t~ ,Ulother "'l'lIior onin'r \\lOU' 'Ihl' mn"'l disturbing featufl' of the CronmeU l,ml.. i.. the ract th,lt Ib IIllwn'nt dC"'Ig:n will not pennit the fitling:ofa bt.'!lel gun than lhl' Illl'diulll \l'IcIC\{\ j;JI11II\' Thcrc i'i no doubt th,u the \11lelic~lIl~ i.lf{rccct. 111 ~ 1,IICh 19 1:\ tlwil (;l'l\n.ll 5om('l"\ell ,\~as urging Blitain 10 liitop IllO\\.-ing: tall\"".. ,thog-I,ther ,lilt! l'n,. 1111' request \\'
looking immaculate, even down to. polished muule brake, this I•• Cromwell OP of 6th Armoured Division, seen outside the Battery Worbhops after the war, NOllce that it retains its Normandy Cowl.
19
)\1111 .. 11 1,lId,,, ,Il,dl
II\(' ('I1I1I1\\cll leI 111(' .. Iclt, dlJ\\1l ,0 IMclh 111.11 (,("11('1,11
Rh 1I,lId'Pll "lOh'.1 'Llllllllg 1l'!>OII III
till" "'llltl\
,diu 11 Iw Cit-'ll lllwel lilt'
BIIII,II ,I'
I hl' \l1Il'1 ie.11l' lilted mil' 01 lht' (.l'IlI,Hll" "llh Ihl"ll I.lIt"1 gUll ",lhlllll'l hut II \\.1' 1101 ,"lopll'cl, ,\11CIIH'lIl1t'l \\,1,111(' hlld ("l1gIlH' {(llIlp.lled \\lIh till.' \klt'ot it \\,\" ll11dt'rpO\\t'lcd .1lIe1 III «("lll.HI! III (loltmdllhe hlld \H111ld not ht' illh'lChallgt',lhlc \\ilh til(' Idlnt\ (II \klt'OI. In .. pill' ultlm. !.t',land rOlllllllll'd 10 .tlglll' in LI\llIll III IJH' FOlCll'nglllc 1111ld the I.IllI.. Board IIIit'd it 0111 III luh 1~)n. \\111" ",lk'lI11'Il"
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS lilt' Iif'd
Pll1c!lIlIIOIl
(;('III<1tll'
,Illel
(;1"0111\\('11, beg.1l1 10 It'pl.lCl·
(O\nl.llltt'l\ III ~hh
,\nIlOlllt'd [)I\i,ioll in \1'111 I~)I:). although ,UIIH' It'g-IIlH:nl, h.ld 10 \\;\il UIlIII Sq>tl'l1Ihn lor thl'll 1i1"1 (:nllln\l,II... BOlh I\pl'" \\CIt" .. t111111lCh-1 dl·\l·lopIlWI1l .... 0 tht'lil .. ll,tIll-... i.... lIl'c1 \H·It· hllllt 10 1)1 0101\ pc "t,tncl.u-d.., Crt'\, .. "0011 di ...fo\ l'll'el Ih,lt Ih(' C('1l1.1II1 ",t.. nil
11101(' Il'Ii.II)Il'
Ihan IIw
l'nginl' "pr.\H·c! oil OH'I \klt'OI \\,I .. ll·
II'> dUlrh \',1'" "l'"k ,Hid Ih(' Lih('I" Iht.' I,Hli,uo". CIII .. illg ml·.!lc.llillg, LrolTl\\('II\
(:mi.'l1
I11Hlhk<;;fHIH', hilt
hOlh '\pCI, ... unt·It'd
fmlll g('arhff\ ,tllli
.. !t'('1 illl-{ dl'll'( I .
\\or"l' "'ill, thl'
ddlH'l" 1,IUIl til C('lll,llll-'" to (:nllll\\l·ll.. \\.1'" Ii\(, 10 (lilt' .lIId I h i.. ,11.lrll\t'd I h(' di, i.. 1t 111,11 (lIllllll,lIldl'1. \ I.IJlll"{.l·11l'fa I I) \ In, Oil ~i JUIll' hI.: lOlllpl.Ulll·d Ih.1I \\ hilt' hI.' Hlldt'll,Wml Ih.ll (,l'llI.HIl \\,1" ol1h .1 ''1(11)-:~''1) lIlllll ... ullilu'lll \ll'lt'lll, \\l'I(' pIIICIIIl('d fllr Ihl' (1111ll\,l'11 t() ll'pl,KC il. Ih.tI polin did Ilol 'lI>pt',1I 10 hI.' .Inqm·d on Ihl' plOdlH liOli ..ide I Ie Cllll .. ldl'I(·c1 Ih.lI (.lolll\\('11 hOldd c1l'\('lop into a lil .. H I,..... tlllk hili Ih,lt Ct'llIiltll hOllld he.: ,I ..t"lonel-I.lll· ont', .1IId I"l'POI H'c! 111.11 hi" I~~I (,t'lllillil" h,ld I('«('j\(·d q,; cit-len I t-p1 II I"', ill( hldlllg ~:\ (hitch 1.lihllt·... ,,1111(' ollh tllllT of hi .. ~l) (IOIll\\l'lI .. had gl\t'll 1I\111hll' 01 .111\ l-i1ld, CClll.1l11 IcqulIl'd f.1l Illfll(' 1ll.lill[(·n:II\{(' ,II HI. h('(";\Il ..t: il
\\.h 1I11c!lT-
!H)\\l'n-d. "" I ihl'll\ l'l1glllt' hold III \\OIl- 1l.U--oIH ,lit Illl' tillll' ~llllllllil\g Itp lit" .l..... t'l!{'d [h,1l '.111\ .U[l'lIlpt [Il .."ddle Ihl' lighllllg lrollp'" \\i[!J .Ill ilidint'If'Jllli~htlll,~1Il,lchine 101 Ihl' ... Il-t' ol",ollll' nllhldl'l;lIiOll Illhl'l Ih.1Il
1111111.11"'\, \\ilt'l\
20
,I fil ... t-< 1,1.... Ill.ldlllll' ('.tli
Iw plllchu cd, \Hltdd h(' uUlIin.tl".
Raising the Jib on a Cromwell ARV I. The tank revene' until the wire, linking track and JIb, raise. the latter In the co~t place, whon the men on top Will .ocure the .tay. A chain hol.t I. locured to tho lib, th.... I' • VICe. on Ih. hull front and tho OESA machlno gun I, ,UII In plftce.
The pilot model of the Centaur III AnU.Alrcreft Tank Mark II, Ihowlng the enlarged turret. The gunner's light Is not In place, but one can site the ,ulllllary engine exhaust on the trackguard and the aerial base on the turret top.
and he asked for the policy
he unequi\Ocal1r clalilicd. Tht' \\'al Olli(l' duly obliged him with the hardeM lest it could c!n;sc, 'ihon 01 COlllllllllillg
bOlh tanks
La
to
bauJe.
Operation Dracula As tjtle~ go Operation Dmfllfa seem\ La htl\'c been calcul:ut'd to im ilL' tile ribald ,,~t. In fact it probablY dcrin'd from the title of the inili~ltlllg officer. }"Iajor-Ceneral Richardson. the Director, RO)ctl ,\nlloured C0'l)\ or DRAC (previollsl)' the DAF\'). R...ichard<,on had beell po\t('d II) Washington by the time Drarufa beh',\11 in ,\ug-mt nJ.l:~, bUl the 11Iilll who mattered was the tri.IIA I) t'lIIl-.\ could be lested for reli
PIN FOR ~tc.UIZ\l>lG BL~O(. \" "Ti~~ELL'KG p~mOH
GOlDE
,I
~2M
.¥' 6tUUl~'CI'
Business-end view of a Centaur Dozer or Trallbreaker showing various fittings. This Is In fact the prototype, Identified by the hinged hatch, replacing the nOrmal blanking-off plate, which was unIque to this vehIcle. It wal Provided to give the commander a view forwards when he was not using the armoured bOll directly above.
21
Centaur Tauru. 17·pdr Gun Tractor, one of nln. converted by MG Can of Abingdon. The full-length sand guard. were designed for Cromwell, but were very rarely seen on gun tank••
armoured formations. Thu~ it could also be seen flS a nlmiliari'
22
Battle Cromwell In Februar; 19-1-1 LevI-mel ~IOlOr\ ,ulI1oullced Ihe ~peci£ici\lion for whal the\ c1c"Icribed as the Battle Cromwell, although the official de'lignatioll \\<1'1 FS. fOl Final Specification. In c""('!ln' it W;~ a shon catalogue 01 !<.-atull''l ('lllch .t"l the lype of \lcteor engine .mel \<\I;a01 of transmi"'lion to be ll"Il'd ~Hl(llhl' pt
pll'IMrn\ fn. {hTP \\,u!Ln\.t I \ult
.1lI,I'fI1lJ If p"'1
"\I~~t'''t.. Ih.\I .\ llUlllhll III Ihnl" .lllIIlII\! IIlC ," ..
hOllOlllt'd flllt' hIIlU!ll'l! pn «('111 \1.ItI\ Cltllll\\('lh th.U"l"H'cllll 'Olth·\\t·,t1'lllO!'(·"t rt
hell' not
not tip to Fin.1I ""pt·( Ili{.lllllll 1lI .1111( ..pn ,.. l.t'\I,md 'lIld FCl\\1l't .. h.td tll"\ III1Iud lIu' •
(.nH1l\\dl (#tllllP, hut
It '\,t-. .. till
,\
I,I{(
.1!.!,.1111"1
hllllcht'd P., (Iolll\\dh \\t"'t" Illjtl •• ("(1 b\ D-D,I\ htlt ollh I:-l~ h,ld hn.t ,1«<'1111'(\ h\ \p.il 1911. ~OJ11C' It'~IlIU'JlI" ollh .t'.lf!ln\ lull
lime. Four
l.''l.lhh'lhllleut 011 lilt'
('\1'
of ("lllh.lIl.,lllll11
Royal Marines 111.111 Cnon to PIOlldt· Rt)\,il \I.\lllll' (Ollllll.m
acquin'd HO (t'IlI.IUI 9:l1ll1ll tltN··... llppllll 1,1111.." and developed" ,')It'lll of KIIIlIl{'l"\ h,l'ccI upon 11.1\.\\ !-:"llnlitt" h't 11l11<jllt" The plan \\,t\ lO remme..' till' l·l\~il1l·... frolll thc..''l' 1.lIll... ,md mOllnl ,Ih"m 011 Tan).. L.nding C•. lfl. 1,Il\ed high l'lllHlgh to liu' I)\l'l till' huh,.11'" Thc~e craft would thl'll opcralt' 011 till' he,\( Ill". hring1l1g dO\\ll lill' 01\ ),!,lI;nc..' objCCli\t>'! as n·(lt1ll"l'd.•mel 1;",\11\ 11m ,l"hou' ,lilt! (Ollllll\ll' lillll!.: from the ~horelill(,. Since till, would cil'Ill.llld tOll,idn'lhlc..' ("pnHlllIllt· III amlllunition. lht' \",\f,111( t'ng-inl' r()lIIp~1l1111l'l1h \\(Hl1d bl' U'l'd In
additionill rounds. Then l:\er'lthing rll.ll1gl'd
I
,lllll'
FCll1O\\l1l~ .1llt"\lT(I'l· OIlI1U·I)OI ..l·llO....I,
General ~Iolligollll'n 'l1lg"1{(,\led II \\Ould tlwkl' I11(JI(' \l'ml' 101 l1H' 1.lllk, 10 land and dri\l' ,I .. hm('. \() C'1lg-im" \\t'tl' lclilled .Iml Rm.ll \.llltlllll'11 Corps dri\el"< Ir,tIl,lened 10 111(' ~l.tl\ll(". FOIllll'd ,b Ihl' RII\.11 \l.lI,'W Armolllcd Support (,rollp, il cOlllpri'll'd I\m .ltI1101lIl·c\ It'g-iIIH'lll', <;ulxli,idl'd ill b
CROMWELL IN ACTION Report"! on thl' CrJC.:uhl'lIe,," 01 ClOl1l \\'d I 011 lhl' hatlll'1i{:lc1 ,Ill' compoHndl'd 01 oflki,d \\i"hllll thinking", !H'1'1tlll.d 100,lIt\ III 'lmpk llli,unde'.. . l.uu!lng OUl' COlllllwnl,HOl, "riling 1l11ltt' RfI\,,1 \/"Illfl//Iffl (mIn jmtrlud. It'pO'ICd Oil tht' flltt.' 011110'(' CnHll\\'l'lh ch"UOH'c! illlhl' (kh.H h at Villel' BOC.'1, Ill' '1,1\". ',l llli"h,lj> th,1I pili the (.I"'c' .lg,Il11.. t 1\111I,h 1.1111.. c1c,ig-ll 1M ht'lll'l th,Ul ,I do/ell 'PlTdw\ ill I',Uli.llIll'lll (mild dn (.,olll\\l'lll1l,1\ h.I\{' hl'('11 !\ril.lin .... J.lh' ..l 1.1ll1.., hut II \\ h.mlh IH'''" .llld 011 \\{'ldl'd I\pt." tltt' lltJlll,tl ,llilltl\ll \\,1\ (,',\(Ih lht' tlllt' thlll..lll""" ,I"
I I
"t!"
23
21ST ARMY GROUP AND ALLIED UNITS OPERATING CAOMWEU FAMILY AFYS, 1'" .5
Form.tio"
Rlglments
rank.
RlmtlrQ
ROval Mannes Armoured
1st & 2nd Armoured Support RegIments. AM
Centaur IV Normandy, 0 Day to 0 14
s...pport Group (RMASGI 5th (Independent) Armoured Support Battery. RM
Free French Forces
Centaur IV Ex RMASG. no combat IIl'VlCe
51S1 Highlafld DI.....slon (attached)
13e Regiment des Dragons 6th lAA Battery, 27th Light AntI-Aircraft Regiment, RA
Centaur IV Ex-RMASG, until 3017144
6th Alrborne O1VI$IOO (attached)
(a) 'X' Armoured Battery. 53rd Ught Regiment. AA (h) 1sl Canadian Ceotaur Battery, RCA
Centaur IV Ex-AMASG. transferred to Canadians on 6/8144
6th Airborne DIVISIon
6th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment
Cromwell
7th Armoured DIVision
8th King's Royal losh Hussars
Cromwell Armoured Reece Regt Challenger
DIVISIonal Reece Reg!
7th Armoured DIVISion 1st Royal Tank Regiment (22nd Armoured Bngade) 5th Royal Tank Regiment 4th County of London Yeomanry 5th Royal Inmskilleo Dragoon Guards 11 th Armoured DIVISIon 2nd Northants Yeomanry 15119th Hussars
Cromwell 4CLY replaced by SRIOG 8/44 Challenger Challenger in SRTA, 8144 Comet in lATA. Berlin, 9/45 Comet
11th Armoured DIVISIon (29th and 159th Bngade Groups)
Cornel
15119th Hussars 123rd Hussars 2nd Fife & Forfar Yeomanry 3rd Royal Tank Regiment
Cromwell Armd Reece Regts 2NY replaced Challenger by 15/19H 8/44 Cromwell Challenger
3/45 to 5/45. Challenger In 15/19H only
Guards Armoured DIVISIon 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards
Cromwell Armoured Reece Regt Challenger
1st (PoliSh) Armoured DMslOl1
10th (Polish) Mounted Rifles RegIment
Cromwell Armoured Reece Regt Challenger
1st (Czechoslovakian) Independent Armoured Bngade Group
1st, 2nd and 3rd (Czechoslovakian) Armoured Regiments
Cromwell 1st Canadian Army. Dunkirk, 9/44 to Challenger 5/45
79th Armoured DIVISIOn. 87 Assault Dozer Squadron, Royal Engineers (1 st Assault Brigade, RE)
Centaur Dozer
Germany, 4/45 to 5145
Tigl'J. It \\;1... Ihl' ~'1111 Ih.ll \\.1' Iht.· pl'Oblem. In LUI, given p,cd\t.·h Ihe ,all1(' tIIcllrn,I
\'iller, Hoc.lgt', ('qUlppl'c1 \\ilh Tigl'l'\ olll,ide
l10t
(,\L'n
II -t1h el.Y tlH.'III't'!H"
had
b('('11
ojJt"l,UiOlial information 011 Cromwl'1I ,til' 2hl \1111\ (~I(jUP "!t'"hlli(,ll Rl'p
bl"t '(JUICt', 01
This scruffy-lookIng Cromwell IV Type E Is of no SignIficance In
Itsell except that It was used, at the "nd of WWIl, to test a British version of the German Zimmerilt antl-magnoUc paste. App.rentl~
24
the stuN came oN In chunk. every time It was htt,
'-.' ,.1: "
l10f
~
S3
T 218562 <.
A2: Centaur III AA Tank Mark I, Great Britain, 1944
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.. 0 ::l .... .,
B
,
,
~
C 1: Cromwell Mark Vw, 5th Royal Tank
,~ ..d
Regiment, 22nd Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, Normandy, 1944
C2: Cromwell Mark VI, A Squadron, 10th Mounted Rifles, 1st Polish
Armoured Division, Normandy, 1944
~.:;
n
D: CROMWELL TANK
•
D
I 1 Pan.1rlQ brake
2 idling speed COtllroi screw 3 R>ght hand steenng _ 4 Hand throttle lever
5 Choke control Ievef 6 Left hand steenng lever 7 Driver's seat 8 Driver's penscope 9 HydraulIC fluid supply tank
10 SuSpe!'lSlOn lubrication tank 11 BESA MG 7.92mm 12 OF 75nvn t>gh elCplosow sheIs 13 Soghbng telescope 14 Breech 75nvn goo 15 Spare prism box for tank penscope 16 Radio equipment No19 17 AmmunrtlOll box fQ( BESA In feed tray 18 4 gal water tanks x 3 19 Box for spares and lools 20 $potlamp
21
Ajr
lIlIe! cover door
22 Suspension unrts 23 Hoi gunners door 24 Starter motor
25 Gumer's seat 26 AnvnJn.lOO bins (cut-away) 27 Base Junction 28 CorMlander's seat
29 Telescope (spare) 30 Cylinder CO.
31 BESA Ammunition boxes 32 75mm spent cartridge bag 33 Gear Ievef 34 Clutch pedal 35 Brake pedal 36 Accelerator
'" E1: Cromwell Armoured Recover~ Vehicle Mark I, C Squadron, 2nd Northants Yeomanr)', 11 th Armoured Division
E2: Cromwell Mark IV, King's Own Hussars, 7th Armoured Division, Operation 8/ackcock. January 1945
I
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F
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G1: A30 Challenger, 1st Cz.echoslovaklan Independent Brigade Group, Dunkirk, 1944
G2: FV4101 Charioteer, 3rd Tank Regiment, Jordanian Royal Armoured Corps, 1960
uiUJl
Aqn
rile I,UlJ.. \\,l'i prai"cd for ill, n:lI,tbilll), thl' onh major pl()blelll htlllj.\: HIMI· wl1t:d t~TCS {hat began to crumble Undl'l tilt, "train. A \horLIg'C 01 \P,lIt' road wheels led LO "iomc unil' call11ibali,ing- tht'ir CnlS
WARTIME VARIANTS AND SPECIALIST VEHICLES Command and Control Tanks
The RO\f\1 Armoured Corps half-\earl~ report for the first half of 1944 lisls COlllmand. Control. Re,ir Linl.. and 01' (Obsen,-\tion Post) \~
CAVALIER, CENTAUR, CROMWELL AND COMET HULL TYPES CAVALIERS, CENTAURS, AND RIVETED CROMWELLS Type
Description
Applicable to:
A
Two escape hatches In dnving compartment roof, belly escape hatch, four trackguard stowage lockers. Hull floor plate 6mm (0.24in) thick with additional spaced. 8mm (0.31In) layer below crew compartments No 20 gimbal mounting lor hull BESA With No 35 periscopic gunsight and separate viSion periscope for hull gunner Long-range fuel tank optional. Engine deck air intake standard on Cromwells and optional on Centaurs, depending on manufacturer.
Cavalier 1 Cromwell I, 111 and X
B
Side escape hatch for hull gunner. Belly escape hatch deleted. Three trackguard stowage lockers. No 20 gimbal 0( No 21 ball mounting fOf hull BESA. Hull gunner's vision periscope deleted. Long-range fuel tank optional.
Cavalier I Centaur I
c
Similar to Type B but engine compartment armour reduced and long-range fuel tank deleted to save weight. New pattern of engine deck air intake for aU CromweHs and some Centaurs. No 20 gimbal Of No 21 ball mounting for hull BESA. Hull gunner's viSion periscope reinstated on later vehicles. ReVISed trackguards Introduced on tater CromwellVCs.
Centaur I, III and IV Cromwelll, III, IV, V
o
Sundar to Type C but engine deck redesigned to Improve access to radiators. No 21 ball mounting for hull BESA, huH gunner's vision periscope and revised trackguards all standard.
Centaur III and IV CromweU IV and VI
E
Similar to Type 0 but laminated floor plate replaced by a single-skin 14mm (0.55In) f100f plate.
Cromwell IV and VI
F
Cromwell IV and VI $lOllIar to Type E, but WIth driver's stele escape hatch. Two trackguard stowage lockers. Two turret sKie stowage lockers. Towing ropes stowed on glacIS plate. Late vehicles had WD Paltern sprung drawbar for guns and trailers. All Type F had Cromwell suspension as standard. eon,1OOed on {»ge 34
andVl
33
CAVALIER, CENTAUR, CROMWELL AND COMET HULL TYPES WELDED CAOMWElLS Type
Description
Applicable to:
Ow
Welded hull simIlar 10 rlveled Type O. A33-pattern driver's roof hatch Incorporating one of
Cromwell VwD
hIs penscopes. Smgle-skln 10mm (039In) floor plate Applique armour. Large canlsler
suspenSIon with 355mm (14In) tracks. Ew
(a) welded hulllClentlcat 10 Type Ow, but fitted with low-speed final dnves and 355mm
Cromwell VwE
(14In) tracks (bl Welded huilldentlcal 10 Type Ow but fitted with low-speed final drives, heavy-duty front axles and 394mm (15 Sm) tracks.
Cromwell VllwE
COMETS Mark and Type
Description
Comet 1 Type A
Onglnal A34 welded hull deslgn With exhaust system similar to Cromwell Normandy Cowl standard
Comet 1 Type B
Revised A34 hull wIth fishtailed exhaust pipes and Normandy Cowl defeted Frontal armour JOInls reinforced with steel angles N B Early Type Bs wen! built wIth exhaust ports blanked off and Normandy Cowls fitted UIIti fIShtailed eXhausts became avallable_
Crom\\ell Command Tank One t'
I"unl
11<.2.0'
10
,IIIlIOUII'd IITOllll.li .....lll(t.
1q.~llllt·Il""
Crolllwell ObllCl'valiol1 Po.., (OP) Tank J"o ,() PI ,111<1
I\\()
'\0 :\X
pllll,dlil' "('1\. ,lIlllollt ;llld ,llllllHll1l1lll11 Il·r.lilln!. [ ..... IWel (II "llilll'l\
1 q~11111'1I"" 111 .111lHHlll·d
I
d" i.. I011
,llld .lnJIOUlcd hI il',HIl' .~
.lll'l l.lIlll' (Oll],ll I LlIlk... 10IlH'IIl'd ill 1I11'lil'ld
I~).\il
\\1I!l11 111''\CII!1(tII111l1.lIHI ..t·I,IIl1l':'\O
"('I ,\lHI,1 \
III
"('1
l "('(\
110 . ....
I'ht·.. l· \\1'1\' ('qllippl'cl
\llppoIISigll,il .. l'llil (\SSl)
h\ R.\lli.lhHll (ll1itIT"IO Ulllllollighh'l-boJll!lt'I",
lh('\ ,11,,0 h.ld .\ dUllll1l\ gUll ,llU! \\('1 (. lillnl \\ill! tl'll'''C
(\1'1(
.1l·1
i,d..
(.11...1'11
hUIll I .ll'ltu('d (,('1111,111 l'qlll[lIlH'llI
Armoured Recovery Vehicle ()lIlh,lIdh 111,111
lw
dl"llll~lIl'>h ,I (10111\\(,11 \R\ hlllll 111(' \\hl'lI '"1h .. 111\,(,(\ hlth I('(O\(T\ ('qlllplll('I1I.
dllli(lI[1 In
(.1\,111<'1 \1'\'1011. 1'''pl'lI,llh
,111111111'0.;11 Ih,' olnillu, till It 11'11(('" III 11"1111 .. 01'
-
t lIgllll
IllI .1I1.mgt·l1h'lIl, .UI· W\ I I .... I,ll hn'll ddl\('lnl In
ILIl-(
Ih('H'
till' I'IHI
(OIl"IlIU 1101\ 1hn hn I' COll'n lcd 1\ ( 1IIIIlIH II, \\1111 hpc' ( hlllh
AA tanks 1.11'1.., lilll d
,n.'
34
\\lIh .11111 Ill( Lilt
III I' hi I'
1101
,\
III \\
RITlll(l,
)1
C
hom
III
.. ho\\
II I
,
(1,111'>1111'>""111
,1,1, ." ( ' ,If' I
.lIul II
111111\\\'
. Jill I It'''l' \\l'I(' 1101 n(·\\ n ..... ltllg glll1 1.1ll!.. ... lI'lI,t1h \I.tl I..
:.tllll .. to plO\Hlc' ,Ill tldt 11«' lUI ,II 1110111 I,d III
I
LI, 1111 c· .... jKlh·lI« 111 h,tluc 111 111111 '111 II ll.l It II cli H IOpllll'IH ,lIl11. lollo\\Illg I .... pn Wilt I' \\1I1t II I I ' I Itt lin t ( I I !,,: Il .111 ....' I II'> , ,. 111"1 I .111 .... 1'1[, 111.11 tlnoh l d tlpOli lh, ( III . I ' \ ""," ..' I I I I ( 11II.uII \\.1" It '.IUlt tI .I" III ~ I '.Ie c'l hiT '1-\\ ... I 11.11111.1 "11111 "Ill .lIld III
Onober 19-13 a protot\pe wa.\ in..~pccted. It was . . imilar to the Cms..u!er A \ Tank ~Iark III, but with Polstcn cannon replacing the 20mm Oerlil...on", of the former. Since the turret was cramped, and liable to quite \'iolellt 1ll00ement in .\cLion, the \\irdess set with its operator W:'b imtalled in the hull. In Cm:\ader the ..\ r\ ImTct was po\\ered by the 1;.1111...·5 engine, but lhe Centaur employed an auxiliary generator located in (he nose of lhe rank \\ith its own c:\haus{ pipe sllu:ued on the nearside trackguard. :\0 real-on hll~ t:'\'er been found LO explain why Centaur AA tanJ...s should not ha\(' replaced Ihe unreliable Clll~aders with the armourcd di\"isiol1S in Europe. I-Io\\e\er, b\' October 19·1-! the order for Cent.lllf J \ 1,\Ilks ~lark I had bet'u CUl back from 4:;0 to 100 and its replacement, the ~larl..ll. probabl) oilly exisled as
Cromwell T187820 was a Mark IV Type E Issued to the Specialized Armour Development Establishment (SADE) and is here being used to test a version of the Canadian Indestructible RoUer Device (CIRD), which has pulled the centre of gravity well forward.
Taken from the special tower at the Lulworth Gunnery SChool, this top view of A30 Challenger shows how the central part of the hull had to be enlarged to take the bigger turret. Notice also how far forward the commander's cupola is located.
Centaur Dozer The dcmi"l' of Ihe ami-aircraft lank programme was followed quickly b) a re\i"l1 01 intcre...t in armoured hulldolcr tank..... The CruS<1.der had been te.. tcd in thi.. role bIll found \\tli:'. • I. • -:.~ \ running mer a . . mall jib althe frollt. The dri\er \.11 . . in his usual place whiit' the whiclc commander 'i~ -_ . •:1".... ..... . orcupicd Ihe posilion on hi .. left. cO\l'ITd I" .111 . . . . . . . . h, i ,- ,""'" .. -,''l ,.". armoured conning 100\cr. """'~ • 111(' War Office requirement for ~n{) nmchillt" W,lS Illel h, Me: C
.
.,,". .. ,,;i' ~
.... .
35
O.t.1I vltw of .n -'30 ChaH.,.,
In •• rvlce .howlng bot~ tun" h.tch. . open .nd the CUrYed .trlp of .rmour thlt protectM the tur~t ring .t the 'rOll'I. No unit detail. Ire IVlII,bI. beyond the faet tnlt the turret Inslgnl' .uggestJ; .. Troop In
C Squ'dron; a .ystem tyPIClJ of t5/19th Hussars.
go ope''i.niol1.l1 umil Aptil 19-15. CetHtlur DO/cr'i later Claw ~1'I'\ icc in lhe Korl'~\11 War and eYell the 19:>6 Suo crish. in Operation ,\I/l~kdeer. Centaur K...lngaroos. deClClibed ali turrct!c,,,, pt·'....onnel canicr"" are melltioncd ,H the l'nd of lhe Wilr. Some det,lih onntl carrier... 10 be lOwed, full of lroOpS, bt'hind bailie 1.1I1I...'i. •\ redundant Clol11\\ell \\<1'i ("omt'lled in Franct'. \\ilh ellg-iuc door.. from iI SIH'II11an tanl... filll'C1 ,Il lhe bilfl..., Inll it pl.Ul 10 modi') Lemau" in Iht, L-t\. \\,l'i cltoppl'd. Or,urill/{'" 'iuni\l-' I()! olh('1 Cl"(Hll\\c11 pn~{'ch. induding: one with ;til l"po'il'd, multiple lIl<\chillL'i{UIl moul1lil1f{ ,Ind l'\l'll ;l 'il'lf-propelled /{UII \\'ilh it 2j·pc!l in an ('Il(!o"ec! 'ilnu lUI c. 1he')e \'-t'rt' 11('\t'r buill. bUI olh<:'1 ("pCI il1l('llt.l1l1l()(lilicalion.. will be f(Hlt1(\ illllong- lill' photograph.... A30 Challenger
The oOici,1I 11Ilt.' i... [h,ll BRCW \\"('Il' ,I'il..ed [0 ell''iig-ll a Ill'\' 1.1111.. '\\Itll tht· minimulll .1111011111 of dl''iign .n lei dc\ dopmt'lll t h.H \\,olllcll'.u-n Illl' I 'i pounder glill '. 011 Iht' other hand \\. \. Roholh,llll, Ihel1 (hid l'ng-illl'IT ,tt llil' Dl'JMIIllll'nt oll:ull.. l)"-·... i~n. 1.11(" d.\inll'd 'h,lI it \\,1'" hi... ideil anellh.l\ Ihl' dl''''l~n \HlIl... \\<1-'" c,lrric'c1 11111 h\ Ii"" l{oll .... Rmet· Ic,
I'll{'
origill'i or Chall('l1glT ,\I (. OP('II 10 \ ariou . . i Illl''1)]l'lill iot l"'.
f.1\Ottl
lh('
IImnll
lim' ...ml(' ,hl'll' i'i Ilion- h,tlel
t-' ICll'net' 10 lMcl.. It up. II"" Ihal plll.L'l(" ;d)()lltllH' 111lnillllll1l ,ll110Ul1l 01 {Inl~ll .lIul dl'\l'lopllll'lll
36
lli,1l ... llOlllci ",(" ,hI' ,11,trIn hd('" Illll-{in~. \('1 I[ "PII(·.II ... In h.l\(' h('l"11 Hrill ... h poll<\ IOJ I.IIll.. c1I''iigl1 ... ill(1' 1~IIO, Pl'lll"ll!l IC",• ...tlll.lhlt· 1011, II Ollt' I'" Illlplll\ Ill~ upon 1I11~ I>l, ... I. 1)111 1\111 \\hl"ll 11 11l\oh(,'i l.d"ll~.1 ... hOl {CIII Ilttll 1('... 1111'1 III VllIH'tlllllg Ie...... Ih,lll .1<11''111011(', I lu' I1I,tlLt'1 \\.1'" IItll lll'lIlO\l'd h\ h.llIdlllg p.\lh 01 lhl' lk... i~l1 III dillu I III fillll\ 111 lilt, hopt, Ih.\I Iht·\ ((lldd IH' 11I,ult III h.HIIUJllIlI ,lftt'I\\.tl(!'i. 111I1'i "(ill.. 1111 lilt. lllllll \\.1'" 41I1l11... lt'f\ III "'Ulhl'lI K Pill 01 B.lIlt .1
One of a series of classic pictures showing a Challenger of 4 Troop, C Squadron, 15/19th Hussars in Holland In October 1944, Considerable effort has been made to camouflage both gun and turret, which seems only to emphasize Its apparent bulk,
1187820 agaIn, with CIRD brackets et the front, now modIfied to carry end fire four 7lUmm (3In)l)'phoon rockets with 27kg (60Ib) warheads. This wa. another SADE trial, staged In 1i48.
firm tlMl nOimalh ~pecialiIed in the manufaclure or large crane~, while BReW den'loped the chilssi~ to recei\l' it. Thi~ \\ould be the big .!thon cut 'linee it '\a~ a modification to the A2nl hull. which had to be enlarged to carn .\ bigger and much he,wier turret. Tht, ('1I..,elllial requirelllC'nt wa." 10 increase thc diamcter of the turret ring lrom l;j2"hnlll (60in) on thc Cromwell to l77811l1ll (70in), ami this was done b\ cl"t'<.tling a lIt'w central 'iuperstnlcture, elevated aborc the lnel or the engine deck and extended outwards over the tracks. The desihrr\ team also deemed it necessal"\ to extend the tank 10 accommodatt' tht· !lCW \1I1:>t'l"'itnIClllle and reduce the ground pressure (on account or the gn'attr weighl) b\ putting more tfack on the ground. Since the hull had to lx' siretched. all extra wheel Miltion was added on each 'iide 10 'llppon it. Lengl!u'ning a lauk \\;thoUl \\;dening it in proportion im'
Another SADE trial, a deyelopment of the wartime C.nal Defence light scheme, saw thl, Mark Vllw mounting a pair 01 mercury-vapour ,potlights
8t the lront. For experimental purpo", power was supplied by two generators mounted on the reer deck.
37
inc lude, tilt' hea\'\', tJnk TOG 2) to Challenger. This \\,1'" the abilit~. from inside the lighting compartlllC'nt, LO jack up the turret by up to 25.4mm ( Iill). The idea was that Llle risk of it jamming lhrough acriden1.11 damage or enemy action could be oh\iatcd by raising the tun'ct slIfJicielllly 10 clear [he problem and then loweling it tlgnin. Tank Board represcllLatives ~aw lhe proLOtype ,\30 al Farnborough in August 1942, It was an ung-ainl) looking thing \\;th the tall, solid tl1n'et dominating a long, low hull. Gunnery trials at l.ul\\t)rth revealed lha[ tile new Metropolitan Vil'ker, ~kladyne electric turret traH'rse gear wmkcd \CI) well, bUI il was suggested lhal a second 10
Company works at Smethwick, Birmingham, showing A30 Avenger hulls on the production line with turrets waiting in the
it
adjoining bay.
,11'10 <;;1\ed \\l'ig-IJI.
B, Fl'hruan 19·13 A:m had bl'cH accepled lor production and all order l(ll 200 placnl with BRew, WJlh the prmiso that [hey LO(J~ prc(ec\cnc(' OH:r Cnllll\ldl production. Ch,J11cngt'!"\ role ",a'l LI 'JwClilli/ecl OIW: [0 prO\ide IOllg-l(IlI~e ,lilli-lank "uppon for tla' Crolll\ft'lI, in its tegimellt and 1101 to lepl.lu: Illl'lII, ii' i\lolltg-omcn '\eem, 10 haw belit~\l'd ill 011(' timc.
Into action Cbalkngl'l, lih.t' 1\' more poplllill ri'al the Sht'lllltltl Filen" \\a, dt':-nibt'cl at Iht' liml' a'" a hole pUIl('her (tlie holt·.. being in other pl'opk\ [,Ink,). On pap('1 ,ll ka"'l it ceJllld dck,\{ II] mm (..1.~7in) 01" ,IIIllOIII ,II I,Ulgl" IIp to I.K~Hlll CU)O(hd) firing \PCBC 'lltlllIUlli,ioll. hill \\hl'lllilin~,\PDSlllat figule \\l'Il{ up 10 1(111ll11l {(l.:~ lin). III pr.IClin: 11 ..n'Ill'l lhl' gun 111)
\\0\,
nOl '~'I au II I'<\t l' ;l' il llli~ht h'l\l' bel'lI ,\I1d tIlt' 'I1g-1ll.~
bl'llt'l Ih.1I1 ,l\l'ragl'.
SOllH'
'lI~gt''I1 t!l;ll thl' IOlllld could \\ohhit' in
11114 111 .Ill(\ II('odwl flOlIl illl ohllque \trike \\ hell il . . hould h,I\{' 'illl'l\hl'd 'll,ll~hl tllluugh II i, aho \\01111 recalllllg wh,H L.1w E\pcrill\l'lllal \\'in 1r o[ lILt' (;UlIlIt'l\ ~l hool al l.ul\\onh ";lId 01 Ch.l1kllO'l'1 [hat 'uIlck7 rill
"pe.lIl rOndllJOII<;, 11ll' lH'llorJll.UH l' ,11 10110 I Illgl· ... ottll(' 1-I-POllllC 1l'r 1:' ' ,
~llll
lould IlO[
IW.lelied Ull ,\... ,I t'olllpell',lllllg 1.1(\01' 101 ill,t
,UlIlOUI Pl0llTlHlll
11\ (.l'IIll.IIlI.II1k In
hell '0 Ihe gllll \\ l'i II'trllll"ll '
•
•. . '
,,',[1, , ,I, <'.1 1[1 1\
11"pL'CI
Cll·'\".
tilt' 1I11(·le.. t.. III 11111[0111111'
(1OIllM·ll ....·quIPJled ll·~llllt'llI'I ttl
38
A view inside the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon
Ch,l!ll'l1gn'l \1t'IC ollh
i"'lIt'd
10
hll 0l\l' " ' I 1_ I' I ." . '.ltllJlg \llt 1 ) ,It I I"hl",Il' HI \llgU'1 1~111 llilliled "I"" , It""I,1 'I I ,11'1' 11'\1';1 l'r ,I \\I·,Iklll' .... 111 lilt' {Illtllldki ,1\"('lIIbh th,1l Jl· ... ulted l ,I' I I I I 11 l( \\ 10 l' Ot )l'lllg \\llh
A production Avenger adopts a hull-down position, providing a good view of the range of movement of the suspension statrons. This example is fitted with the special roof added to provide protectIon from mortar rounds and air bursts.
A30 Avenger SP2
In British service tank destroyers were the province or the Royal Aniller)' who operated the American Ml0, re-armed with a 17-pdr gUll, and the Valentine Archer equipped with the same wcapon, thill last as an interim measure. Although a comempon.u)· of the Archer in terms of design, A30 Ii-pounder SP (the name Avenger was not adopted until afICr thc war) lOok longer to c\'oh'e. Essentially it was a low-profile version of UH~ A30 Challenger's hull with a 17-pdr in an equally low turret that was open at Ule lOp" Following experience in North-West Europe, where the Gennans employed air-burst shells LO han11 tank destroyer crews, the turrCl of Avenger, also known as SP2, was fined WiUl a spaced head cover. iL was an impressive-looking machine, but arrived tOO latc to see operational sen"ice and only served briefly with two anti-tank regiments when hostilities were o\'er. The Royal Artillel)' Wing at Bovington Camp ccased teaching A\'enger after 1949, A34 Comet
Comet and Diamond T tank transporter. The tank's turret has been reversed for travel and the gun locked to its cradle on the rear deck. Notice how the Normandy Cowl ;s split to accept the muzzle of the longer gun.
111
Although il ",as 100 large LO lit Cromwell, development of Vickers' SD-calibre, high-\'e1ocilY 7rlllllll gun continucd, However, to confuse ule issue. by the time il entered scn;ce the calibre had changed to 76,2mm, lhe breech modified to accept 17-pdr ammunition while lhe orncial desCliption allered to 77mm, to disljn6'1.1ish it from the longer weapon filled LO Challenger. The new gun proved to be morc accurale Ulan Ule l7-pdr when firing HE rounds. Despile ulis the Tank Board at one poilll suggesled lhal the new American i6mm gun should be comidcred. Fortunately, since lhis weapon l~liled to li\'e lip to expectations, the final choice of the new British gun hclped to make Comct an excellellt tank. Lc)'land i\loLOrs was appointed manufacluring Parent, having c\"idently overcome their suspicion of the i\leteor engine. Indeed in 1ll0llt respects, apart from the IUITet, Comet was little more than an imprm'ed Cromwell - proving that, if the job was done properly, a mediocre British lank could be imprO\·ed. The result was impressive. The UlrrCI W,LIi a welded structure \,~lh an UI'lU5u,tl cast front of quile complex shape conLaining an external mantlct rcces!lcd within the lmret ring, There was an eXlension althe rear to con Lain the radio and counter·!xdance Ihe head!;r gun.. \11 All-Round Vision cupola was lilted as standard, as were return rollers to support the top rull of !llt' wider (45i11lm - ISin) tracks. Sllb~('ql1l'lll tri.t\-.
39
Photogr.phed on p."d. wrth 3rd Roy.1 Tank R-V1m'nt In Hong Kong, thl, M.rtl I Comet h.s Ita War D.p.rtm'nt regl.tratlon on the .Id, and a local registration martl.fng on the front, This picture
w.. tak.n
~n
an .ra when Britain maintaIned garrisons In many parts of the world,
"'\lg~e"'led that thc..e ~en'ed no useful purpose al all, btlllhe\ do help to
idelllih the tank. 1..... lIed first 10 291h .\rmollrl'd Btigade in 11th ,\rmollred Di\i...ion, Comel soon prmed popular, even to ere" ... \\ith long c\'pnit'nn' of the Sherman. 11 \\".\ f~\ ... tt l1lilnoeu\Table and .IbO\c all il could fi~ht. It was like !1ming an ('Illin' rcg-imel1l of Fireflies, easih a match fOI Ihe Palllher and prrfl'Clh capable of dealing: with Ihe Tiger al lllo"t ranges, Th('f(' i.. 110 hard c\;cknce fCll lilt.' l',i ... tenCt..' of COllllllimd and Control COl11el'" bel ore Ih(' elld of the war, althoug-h rq~il1lelll,11 CO.. cert.l1llh lI...cd COlllet ... ,md "'lIl'\i"ing PO\t-h
POST-WAR DEVELOPMENTS I ht.,
01 CIOIll\\t·II.llld (.011\('1 in Ihl' pO'I"\,1l \\01 h\ 1I11~hl hi' ... lIl1\llll·d lip. ,h I,ll .1.., lhe BI ili... h 1'1.1((
\rlm \\,I'd0I1CI'llled,lIl,1 FI~IHill~ \dlICh' Dt"I,gn
In 1>1',) Il'POII t.ll1,-,O ill \\hirh ,ht, 1\\0 t,wl, \\t.I(' 1Il.IIl-t·d cllmn .l'" nlhwr;,ablt· ,n .\11 I.tllgl· ... 10 nt·n RU"I,Ul .lllli·t.llll- \\l\\POIl hom lilt' old illllUIl gun of 111(' 1-:~1 up\\,ml... hl.lhil,hll1l·m
't"l\l'(\ \\llh 111,111' h'lllItlll.tl \lIm 1(,~lIltt Ill' lip It) Jln I. m,un 01 lhl',e 1.1I\l-.. t \('lllIdl" ( ClIIU"'"
40
\H n" ... 1040 l...pilt'c1 ill Iltt"
\hdclh- I, .... 1
Feamaught was a Comet of Headquarters Squadron, 6th Royal Tank Regiment, which was converted to the command role with a dummy 95mm gun, a weapon never actually fitted
to Comet. The tank was photographed on a rail llat In
Italy. Just after the war.
pQST·WWll CROMWELL REWORKING PROGRAMMES Survlvl!l9' orllllntll Marks itnd Typtls
N"
Reworked Crom_lls
Reworhd 10 I.ter
Cromwell Tolals
Converted 10 Cneflower.
ChW101... Total.
Ma,ks Msnufo<:turer
BReW Co. Ltd
Mark
"'pe A
I I
C V, NF$ C Vw, FS Ow I/w, FS Ew VIlw. FS Ew Enghsh·EJeclnc
Fowler
Leyland elc,
Melropolltan·
Cammell
Grnnd Tolals
JV
NF$ IV, FS VI FS VI, FS IV, FS IV, F$ VI, VI. Vt, V1 V!.
NFS NFS FS FS FS
C C
0 E
1 1 13 5 3 36
,
26
1 36
E
50
F
18.
C 0 0 E F
Ma,k
Mark
Mark
40
7
7.
0 0
0 0
2 77
•• •• •
••
19 65
•,
••
2 17
••
67 225
• •• •• •
5 13 13 98 491
0
7
•
5 2 11 14
5
43.
80
7
Merk
•
0
•• "• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •
•• •
Mark
50
,.,
• 1 1 42 12 3 36 47
'43
.. 3
137 414
5 7 24 27 153 1109
M.",
Mlrk
7
7.
• • •• •• • •
0
0
•• •• • •• •,
•• ••
2
5
36
..•
•• •• ••
60 '54
•• •• •• • ••
3 2 38 44
••
5
261
41
Mark
•
•• •• •• ••
2 17
•• ••
11 14
52
..
•• • • 2 5
36 40
2
18
,.. •• 60
14 16 9S
442
IIOWC\L'l" lI\lTC liCIT "Iill Crolll\\l'II... 10 "p,I1T ;Iud mam 01 Lhl'"e \It'lL'
rL'\\,.r" ,,( IH."llll' illlellded 10 hrill~ "un i\ ing 1':lllil'l 10
"lIhjC(1 10 \1.11'"'' lip
.l III.!iOl
ili"h . \l"l1l\ Cl':l"ed 10 U"l' Roman llulIleral... lor ~l.ll" dt'"il-{ll'ltiOIl" ami ",\il< hed 10 ,\r';lhi(, Thu", 101 l"dIl1pk, ,t \l"arti111L' Cl'Olllwl'11 \'\\ mighl be HI
l"l'\\orl...cd to
,lppC.rr
,t'i a ~brl...
7\\,
Proh;lhh Ihl' 1,1"[ CrcHll\ldl... 10 lire lheir 14111l~ ill ,Illgcr \\illt Blili"h lorn'" \lnL' t1ww 01 Iht' Il'COllll.li"'i,l1lcl.' tlOOP oj Htll Kil1g\ Rm:1I Iri"h Illl"'.lr" :l1ld I:--'lh Field Regillltlll Ro\,d .\rtilkn (g-Illhlrllled OP Ialll...,,) in
It
\\a":1
tall ordl'l.
We h;lH' aln.·ad\ "cell tilt' plOhlclll" ill\o!\I'd III lill1ng 111(' li-p(b, ,l1ul Ill<' ~O-pell, \\hie h lil'il dp]H',u\'d ill 1~II7, \\.1"
l'\('11
blgg-l'l 11 h,ld ht'I'1l
41
CROMWELL FAMILY: OVERSEAS DELIVERIES & SALES, 1943-72 Com-t Ch.rlot..r Totals r CheUeoVCromw.n Centaur C.valier
1
Auslra la Austna
82 22 14
Burma
Cuba Czechoslovakia Elfe Ftnland 43 France Greece Hong Kong
22
168
8 41
71
52
69
,,,,,0<
2
49 20
Jordan
Lebanon Ponugal Soulh Afnca
nI.
6 123
43
193
22
177
14 190 8 79 114 52 69 2 49 20 6 13
13
West Germany
189
Evaluatton vehicle
22
nI. 26
26
USSR Grand Totals
38
1 82
Not••
Ex·lst (Czechoslovakian) Armd Bela Includmg some Cavaher OPs Hong Kong gamson Stolen from 4n Dragoon Guards, 1948 '967 War survivors sold to Lebal'lOl'l Excludes ex-JordanIan vehlcles Not available Evaluation vehicles
747
101 (hl' ( ('IlI11!iOIl \1.11 ~ :\ hUI «('nllll ion pJOdlU lioll \\,1' ill ,lIll"II' '0 Ihell' \\t'll' gllll' 10 'p0111 lilt' IH"\\ dl',igll ".1',,111(' \\iI\ ill \\huh ~YO~ m.IIl.I!4"l'c110 \\l
\\1\110111 Il.I\ill~ 10 t"\ll'nd
it.
Thl' l1lt'illlt th.11 lhl' h.l,ir CWlll\\l'JI
hull
1{'lll~\lIIl'd lilt,\( I "(I Ihal IH'llollll.111H' .llId !l'll;l!)Ilil\ \\t'll' Ill/I .Lffcul'
lUll ,Ill· rill'
O\l'l,dl
n'''lllt \\,1' c!H·.ldlul
Ill'\\ WIIl'1 \\.1" ('1l01ll101l' .•lIld III kl'('p
.UIlIlIlI1 \\.1'.1 1I1l'Il' :\~1I11l1 (1..-lil1) .lllclllw
tlu:
"i
\\l'lglll c1ol\l1 hOlll,1I
ill'l ~,-)J111l\ (Iill)"
rhi"
\\hi( lithe (Il'\\ \\ollid Ill' gi\(·11.1 "{,("IIIHI (Ii.mu·, \' lUI lilt' (U'\\, Ihl'\ orig-in,dh Illillihn('d till 1'1' (hilt'l In.ukl I.Hlio Opt'I.ItOl ,\IIe1 nlllllll,IIUII'1 glllllll'1. I hi, I' \dl\" .Il I tll" til Illl· lllllt"t Ilwll. \\Iu'll 11(' \1, .... Ill'ilhn 11l.l(lil1~ 1101
\\,l,nOI ,I 1.lnk 111
tlpn,l\lll~ Iht, 1.1<110. till' Ill, Ide I (ollid lile tlH' tu-,I'\i.d l1l.ttllllll" gUll
1111'1{" \\.1' Illl Ill.lt hillt' ~11Il
1I11l11l1h,(t 10 IIH· kit III lIlt" Ill.lin ,II 111.1 1lll'1 11
hull. 11ll' 'p.1l1 10 IIH' It'll III lilt, tllI\t'l \1 ..... 1".11111.11\..1"<1 101 11ll' II{'\\' pn'(Hl,t1 1-11, .11t1\cl\l~h "OI\II'lllllt" ,I IIHlllh m,II1 11,I\dlt'
IIH'
(1,~)Olhdl, 'I' IIH" I 1111 11 1l.11HIl'I
,llH\
dlln1 Jill" lIOIl1 1111 11.\IIJ.. IllJile Ihi, llllllllJ
1l1,11I 11101- !II" pl.IU'
.1' glllllll'l
(h,lllllln"1 h.I' .lh.1
~11I1 .llld II lI,ul.1 :!,t'llI""lIlllll III
1111
It
\Hlllld (h'1llou1I1
dC'ttI1H'c\ ,..... 111 .1I11t-l.llll..
1111 lIlllll11111011
\\1111 thl"
I,IIIL (\1"'1111\1"1'_ I'\U"IH
pi 1'\101\' Ih,1I
II,,"
1\\,1' ltllh nit IlIwll IllIh("\("1 lht" .uldlliOIi III
,I 10-,\\.1,11 III.U hllll' ~1l11
,hollill qu,lIlh
II ,I' ,I
1.1Ill..
,1111\ Ih,1I \\.1" 1\ II.UlII\ IInh II h,I' 11\"11 ('I\('d \llh'lI II
1'11'1
\"1I11"lnl
'("1\11('
hllh
kllllnll,ll
\1111\
11~Il1Ullhtlllht Rll\,d \llIIOllll'ltltllJl' \'\111'11" II' '1"1\llt
\11111 lilt"
Btlll"h \1111\
111\ hi II I 'POII{ d, ,I' ,110\111
42
,OIl 1111 1',1;':1
III
1\,1' ,llllll ,!Ill I
lhl" 1.lhk
,II
Ihl
A Cromwell V Type C. reworked to Cromwell 7 Type 0 for post-war service in the Middle East, The SA serial was normally Issued to tanks that did not qualify for FS (Final Specification). The crew are chattmg to the locals, bul the lank is not mounting ils machme guns,
TrIpoli I•• Cromwell VIII 1')tpe F th.t .tarted life a. a Cromwell VI. It Is shown here In company wIth Comots of 40th Royal rink Regiment (23rd Armoured Brigade) on parada In Liverpool. Later stili this tank became a Charioteer (se& photo on page 45).
There are two instances of Ch
Once a Cromwell IV Type E, reworiled to a Mark 7 and now an abandoned wreck in Korea in company with a Churehill Mark 7 of 7th Royal Tank Regiment.
Almost certain I) the last manifestiltion of Comet in a service role was the Arl110ured ~laiJllenance Vehicle cmplo)'ed by the Army of the Republic ofSoUlh ,-\flica. Note the word 'maintenance' as distinct from ·recovery'. The Comet A~I\' prototype was de"e1oped by the Orange Free State Command Workshops at Bloemfontein in 1978. Once lhi~ ychicle had been evaluated il became one of three Comet AMVs lO enter sen;ce with lhe 50mh :\frican Arm)' in 1980. il was a dramatic conversion wilh a Cominental V·12 air-cooled engine linked to all Allison lhree-speed alllOmatic ge'lrbox replacing the original driyc u-ain. The Illnelless lank had a crew of four, a powerftJl Hydrovane hydraulic crane al the rear and a cradle capable of c
CONCLUSION In a clearing alongside a road in Thetford Forest. a Cromwell t;mk can be found. perched on a blick plinth. il is a memorial to the 7th Armoured Division, the Desen Rms. who trained in lhis area in Lhe months IClIding up to D-Da)' in 19·14. Silling up tJlcrc in lhe weather tile tallk looks ~1ll<\1I. with its nanow tracks and box·like tlllTct; It doc, not dominate the scene, as somc of i~ l.\l"'ger .\l1leliran 01 Gel1nan contclllporarie\ might. And ){,l it did tlwjob.
43
The blzarre·looklng COMAES_1S vehicle on a Comet IB ch...I" Ammunition Is stowed In tu~, either side of the gun, and passed through an auto-loader at the back, The crew all remain inside the hull. The lank was part of an Anglo·German project of the 1910s that did not last very long.
There i~ an old countJ") Sc.1.\ing lhat applies to almost any implemenl - th.1I il i" not the tool bUI 'the man behind un' thai Counl\, This must bt' tnit' of Ihe:.· Cromwt'1l; it underwent a long pCliod of preparalion to the point that il was \inual1" out of dale when it first went into aClion. \et it led lhree Bliti\h and one Polish annollrcd di\i~iolls, and .1 C/eeh brigade:.' to \'ictor'l in Europe, Good or bad lhi\ mUSl be due in no \mall
pan to 'the men behind lin',
BIBLIOGRAPHY Cour.t~c. G.,lIi~t"l1 oj
'hI' 151hl/91h I\i".£(s Hoyt! Ill/Han 1939-19·15,
Gale & Poldl'n: 1949 Fiuroy, Olhil,'\/I'I/ of \,dolll (\'III'h NlIJs(l/j) /929-/957, pri'"al<.' puhlic,ltillll: 1961 j<)Ill'\, Kl'ith, Si'!.l' Fow Day" oj II Sarll/llud; SIl1I1"If'/~ St Edmul1(l\bun PI 1.:\;"; 1990 i\ I i IleI", CIIl
Poor but rare picture of Charioteer In British service, Sulled up almost to Aed Squa'"
44
standards it is serving with 2Jrd Armoured Brigade durin" • parade through LIverpool. It Is probably 46th (Liverpool Welsh) Aoyal Tank Rqlment,
COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY A1: CENTAUR MARK I, 1ST FIFE & FORFAR YEOMANRY, 28TH ARMOUREO BRIGAOE, 9TH ARMOUREO OIVISION, GREAT BRITAIN,
APRil 1943 ThIS Centaur I. bUIlt by Enghsh-Electnc of Stafford. exhibits the Type A hull, with stowage boxes extending right to the front of the upper hull on both sides. The air-Intake co\'er behind the turret IS more typIcal of Cromwell tanks, althOugh It was seen on this maker's Centaurs as well. The red'white/red flash on the side. more common In Ihe desert
and Italy, was an identification mark later replaced by the whlte star In Europe. The distmctlve Panda's head deVIce of 9th Armoured DIVision was never seen outside the Unrted Kingdom, but 1st Fife & Forlar later converted to Crocodile flame-throwers and served as part of 79th Armoured DIviSIon. The red square with 53 In white Indicates the Jumor regiment In the annoured brigade.
A2: CENTAUR III AA TANK MARK I, GREAT BRITAIN, 1944 Accorchng to contemporary reports Centaurs were due to replace Crusader tanks In the antl-alrcrah. role III tlrTle fO( the InvaSion of Europe, but this never happened. Manangs shown here are therefore limited to the War Department number, a graduated scale on the mantlet and the symbol, a black cannon on the Royal Armoured Corps colours of the Gunnery School, Lulworth Camp. Dorset. In additIOn to the gunner/commander the turret contained two loaders who sat In very cramped POSIUonS, vulnerable to InjUry from the rapidly moving guns and the dIfficulty of handling large ammunition drums In confined spaces Thus the No 19 Wireless set was located close to the dnver and the aenal base may be seen on the glaCIS plate. Directly behind It IS the exhaust plpe fOf the auxiliary generator. which was also Situated close to the dnver's poSItion. Rate of fire per gun was 450 rounds per minute.
ABOVE Cromwell VIII (see photo on page 43) in its new guise as Charioteer 01ZW29. From this angle the turret looks perfectly reasonable while the 20·pdr gun appears
positively massive. External stowage has not been fitted; normally there would be a towing cable at the front and camouflage netting on the sides of the turret, but the barrel clamp, used to secure the gun when the turret Is reversed, Is visible at the back of the hull, This tank ultimately went to Jortlan.
6tlOl'. Photographed in the Taw estuary in North Devon, with Appledore across the water. this Charioteer, with l'ype A barrel, Is on Deep Wading trials at the CombIned Operations Experimental Establishment (COXE). The turret crew are taking no chances - both men wear life jackets.
B: CENTAUR MARK IV, NO.2 BATTERY, 1ST REGIMENT, ROYAL MARINE ARMOUREO SUPPORT GROUP, NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 The most stnklOQ feature of these tanks has always been the distinctive turret markings, graduated In degrees of the compass. whIch were a relic of the anginal plan to shoot from landing craft operating off-shore. The gunner's penscope was replaced by an artillery SIght projecting through an armoured box located ahead of the commander's POSitIon. Each regiment comprised two bananas, each of four troops. Each troop Included four 95mm Centaurs and a Sherman command tank. IndiVIdual troops were Identified by letter and tank names were selected to match. usually those of Royal Navy warships, HMS Hunter being an H Class destroyer.
45
Hull machine guns were removed - they would have been useless on board ship. Exira stowage mdlcates the e~lent to which this unit had to function entirely on its own
resources once ashore C1: CROMWELL MARK VW, 5TH ROYAL TANK REGIMENT, 22ND ARMOURED BRIGADE, 7TH ARMOURED DIVISION, NORMANDY, 1944 Typical of veleran Desert Rats, this tank is seriously cluttered with additIOnal stores and also dIsplays one versIon of the follage-style turret camouflage adopted dunng the hedgerow fighting In Normandy. thiS tank also sports the so-called 'Normandy Cowl', a deY1ce to prevent exhaust fumes from cycling back lhrough the turret when the tank was Idling. The battered state of thIs Cromwell's trackguards would be entirely typical of a tank that had come a long way with its crew Made of hghl-gauge metal to save weight, they were easily damaged by enemy fire or dnvmg incidents. At nus stage m the war (from November 1944) 5th RTA was the Jumor armoured regiment In the brigade (No 53) below 5th Dragoon Guards and 1st RTA. C2: CROMWELL MARK VI, A SQUADRON, 10TH MOUNTED RIFLES, 1ST POLISH ARMOURED DIVISION, NORMANDY, 1944 The 10th Mounted Rifles was diviSional reconnaIssance regiment to 1st Polish Armoured, hence the white squadron sign. Each squadron would Include two 95mm close-support tanks_ Orgarnzed along the lines of a typical Bntlsh armoured diVISIOn of the time, 1st Polish had three regiments of Sherman tanks In the armoured brigade and Cromwells (wIth A30 Challengers) only In the reconnaissance regiment. The Poles used their armour With considerable verve In debatable areas they tended to advance with all guns blazmg, giving adjacent Bntlsh unIts the impression that some ternble battle was taking place nearby,
ABOVE Excellent shot of a Centaur Mark I Type B .t speed, It Is demonstrating the effect of its rear smoke emi"ers at Porton Down on Salisbury Plain in May 1944. BELOW A Centaur with Type A hull being used to test the
new 95mm howitzer {without its counterweight}. Notice the one perforated-lyre road wheel and the air intake, behind the turret, more lypical of a Cromwell,
--------,
D, CROMWELL TANK
,
See plate for full details.
E1: CROMWELL ARMOURED RECOVERY
VEHICLE MARK I, C SOUADRON ,
markings, The 7th Armoured Dlvrsion was the only one to be
2ND NORTH ANTS YEOMANRY • 11TH ARMOURED DIVISION
equipped pnmarily WIth Cromwell tanks Although 8th Hussars were nominally the diViSional reconnaissance regrment they had. by the winter of 1945, effectively become a fourth armoured regiment In
Again the squadron symbol being In whrte Indicates thai 2nd Northamptonshlre Yeomanry was acting as drvlslonal reconnaissance regiment for 11th Armoured This would be the only regiment In the diVISion to be eqUipped With CromweUs and each squadron had one AAV When not In use the Jib and holst were stowed upon the vehICle along With many other Items reqUIred I I S Of recovery opera IonS Ince these vehIcles were not equipped With power w nches they used snatch blocks and holdfasls to recover the casualty and then tow II to a locatIOn 'h I could be ed 110m IN Ich I cam away by a tank transporter The ARV was manned by REME the Royal ElectnCa! and M h Eng '1~ ec an,Ca!
46
E2: CROMWELL MARK IV, KING'S OWN HUSSARS, 7TH ARMOURED DIVISION OPERATION BLACKCOCK, JANUARY ~9 Opt, " or B ·::Ilcod: l'lvOlved some bItter fl hh 45 w :'.' co od'lI,)I'\ around the Oul hlG 9 ng In harsh c ennan border Tanks : : Iv;;en 8 'ough CoalIng 01 Whitewash to reduce conlrast snowy landscape and thiS ob1lerated VIrtually all
22nd Armoured Bngade, which reflected expenence In the field, ThIs Cromwell has the Type F hull, whICh can also be recognrzed by the small stowage boxes now earned on the turret Sides
F: A34 COMET, REGIMENTAL HEADOUARTERS, 2ND FIFE & FORFAA YEOMANRY, 11TH ARMOURED DIVISION, GERMANY, 1945 The four patron salOts of the Unrted Kingdom were represented at RHO Samt Andrew is shown hefe· appropnately for a Sconlsh regIment Although offlCl~ Command and Control vel"Slons of Comet were II1trOdue after the war there IS no record of them earlIer However, ao extra aanal mounhng appears to have been fitled on U. glaCIS plate of Sarm Andrew suggestIng a fteld modtf.catlOl1 The white 53 mdlcates that ~t thiS time 2nd Fife & Forfar "as lhe JunIor regiment In 29th Armoured Bngade, a fact alSO reflected rn the blue diamond symbol represefllll'lg regimental headquarters
Seen at Harland & Wolff in Belfast a new Centaur I, still awaiting lis armament. ThIs tank has perforated tyres on all road wheels and the Cromwell·type air Intake that was also typical of Centaurs built by English-Electric and
problem common to all 17 -pdr armed tanks was the length of the gun. which seemed to attract enemy attentIOn. Among many attempts to disgUise it the method shown, 01 pamtlng half of the underside in a paler colour, was the most popular.
the LMS Railway.
G2: FV4101 CHARIOTEER, 3RD TANK REGIMENT, JORDANIAN ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS, 1960
From thIS low angle the wider (457mml18In) tracks give the Comet a much more solid appearance than tts predecessor the Cromwell It was better armoured than A27M if not qUite as fast. but the 77mm gun could penetrate 122mm (4.81n) of armour at 1,828m (2.000yd) finng APDS and was also renowned for Its accuracy. Unfortunately, Comet arrived on the scene too late to take full advantage of this,
G1: A30 CHALLENGER, 1ST CZECHOSLOVAKIAN INDEPENDENT BRIGADE GROUP, DUNKIRK, 1944 EqUipped entirety with Cromwells and Challengers, apart from some Stuart reconnaissance tanks, the Czech regiments spent most of their time Investing the German gamson in the port of Dunklrt<, whICh had been by-passed by the main A1hed advance. When hostilities ended the Czechs and their tanks returned home. Seen in profile the Challenger looks ungainly, although In fact It had a slightly lower profile than a Sherman. One
Following service with the BritIsh Territorial Army, 189 of the 442 Cromwell tanks converted to Chanoteers were sold abroad. Austna took 82, Finland finished up with 38, Jordan 49 and Lebanon 20. The Jordaman tanks were among the most potent AFVs In the Middle East when they jOined the Arab Legion In 1954. but they were worse than obsolete by the time of the 1967 Six-Day War and those that SUrviVed the Israeli counter-attack were passed to Lebanon where. follOWing their ciVil war, some were taken over by the Palestine liberation Orgamzation_ The artwor1< shows a Jordanian tank fitted with the B-type 20-pdr (83.4mm/3.28In) gun, identified by the concentric fume extractor half way down the barrel. A Challenger, displaying the additional frontal armour usod on the last hundred tanks to leave BirmIngham. Alongside is the far lower profile of the prototype: Avenger Tank Destroyer, which mounts the same gun In an open-top turret.
47
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The design, development. operallon and history of the machinery of warfare through the ages
Cromwell Cruiser Tank
1942-50 For most of World War II, British tank development remained
faithful to the design philosophy inaugurated during World War I. Experiences in North Africa
highlighted naws in this basic design. however, and the General Staff idenlified the need for a new Full colour artwork
Unnvalled detail
heavy cruiser that could combine speed and manoeuvrability with
increased armOur and armament.
The Cromwell Cmiser tank was designed as a result and soon proved itself one of the fastest and most successful tanks deployed by the Allies during World War II.
This book details the design and development of U1C Cromwell
and its many variants, from its introduction at D.Day, through
its many successes in the finaJ Cutaway drt'hork
Photographs
year of World War 11 and beyond.
ISBN 1-84176-814-6
OSPREY 5,
I
G
\\ w,", o!iprt'YPublhhing.col1l
9
