Crusader Mk III | |
|---|---|
| Country | UK |
| Type | Tank |
| Built | 5300 |
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks during the early part of the Second World War. Over 5,000 tanks were manufactured and they made important contributions to the British victories during the North African Campaign. The Crusader tank would not see active service beyond Africa, but the chassis of the tank was modified to create anti-aircraft, fire support, observation, communication, bulldozer and recovery vehicle variants.
Source: Crusader Mk III on Wikipedia
| Crusader Mk III A | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 22 |
| Crusader III AA Mk III Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Musee des Blindes, Saumur |
| Photos | 106 |
See also:
The Crusader 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
- Main Armament: 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.
- Engine: 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)
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Mass (Weight) | 19.7 long tons (20.0 t) |
| Length | 19 ft 8.5 in (5.97 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) |
| Height | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) |
| Engine | 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 |
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