Kruisvaarder Mk III | |
|---|---|
| Land | Uk |
| Type | tank |
| Gebouwd | 5300 |
De Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI of A15 Crusader was een van de belangrijkste Britse kruisertanks tijdens het begin van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Meer dan 5.000 tanks werden vervaardigd en ze leverden belangrijke bijdragen aan de Britse overwinningen tijdens de Noord-Afrikaanse campagne. De Kruisvaarderstank zou geen actieve dienst buiten Afrika zien, maar het chassis van de tank werd aangepast om luchtafweer-, brandondersteunings-, observatie-, communicatie-, bulldozer- en herstelvoertuigvarianten te creëren.
| Kruisvaarder Mk III A | |
|---|---|
| Fotograaf | Onbewust |
| Lokalisatie | Onbewust |
| Foto 's | 22 |
| Crusader III AA Mk III Rond Te Lopen | |
|---|---|
| Fotograaf | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Lokalisatie | Musee des Blindes, Saumur |
| Foto 's | 106 |
Zie ook:
De Kruisvaarder Mk III (officially Tank, Cruiser Mark VI, Crusader III) was the third major variant of the British Crusader series of cruiser tanks during World War II.
It was the first British tank to be equipped with the significantly more powerful 57 mm Ordnance QF 6-pounder gun, which substantially improved its anti-tank capability over the earlier Mk I and Mk II models.
Key Improvements and Service History
- Hoofdbewapening: Ordnance QF 6-pounder (57 mm) gun, replacing the QF 2-pounder (40 mm) gun.
- Crew Reduction: The larger gun limited turret space, forcing the crew to be reduced from 5 to 3 (Commander/Loader, Gunner, Driver). The auxiliary hull machine gun turret was removed for ammunition storage.
- Motor: Equipped with the Mark IV Liberty engine, which addressed many of the mechanical reliability issues that plagued earlier Crusader models in the harsh North African environment.
- First Service: Saw extensive action in the North African campaign, notably at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942.
Despite its improved gun, the Crusader Mk III was still lightly armored compared to newer German tanks and was eventually replaced by American-supplied M4 Sherman and M3 Grant tanks by late 1942–1943.
Specifications (Crusader Mk III)
| Specificatie | Waarde |
|---|---|
| Mass (Weight) | 19.7 long tons (20.0 t) |
| Lengte | 19 ft 8.5 in (5.97 m) |
| Breedte | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) |
| Hoogte | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) |
| Motor | Nuffield Liberty Mark IV V-12 petrol |
| Horsepower | 340 hp (250 kW) |
| Maximum Speed (Road) | 26 mph (42 km/h) |
| Max Armor (Hull Front) | Up to 51 mm (combined plates) |
| Main Armament | 1 x Ordnance QF 6-pounder (57 mm) gun |
Views : 5253
