Crusader tank

Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI, Crusader
A Crusader II tank in the Western Desert, 2 October 1942. Image: Imperial War Museum, London.
Type	Cruiser tank
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1941–1945
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Designer	Nuffield
Designed	1939/1940
Manufacturer	Nuffield Mechanizations and Aero Ltd
Produced	1940–1943
No. built	5,300
Specifications
Weight	18.8 to 19.7 long tons (19.1 to 20.0 t)
Length	20 ft 8.5 in (5.97 m)
Width	9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
Height	7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
Crew	Mk III: 3 (Commander, gunner, driver) Mk I, II: 4 or 5 (+ Loader, hull gunner)
Armour	Mk I: 40 mm Mk II: 49, III: 51
Main armament	Mk I, II: QF 2 pdr (40 mm) 110 rounds Mk III: QF 6 pdr (57 mm) 65 rounds
Secondary armament	1 or 2 × Besa machine gun 4,950 rounds
Engine	Nuffield Liberty Mark II, III, or IV 27-litre V-12 petrol engine 340 bhp (254 kW) at 1,500 rpm
Power/weight	17 hp (12.7 kW) / tonne
Transmission	Nuffield constant mesh 4-speed-and-reverse
Suspension	Christie helical spring
Ground clearance	1 ft 4 in (0.41 m)
Fuel capacity	110 Imperial gallons in 3 fuel tanks (+30 auxiliary)
Operational range	200 mi (322 km) on roads 146 mi (235 km) cross country
Speed	26 mph (42 km/h) (road) 15 mph (24 km/h) (off-road)
Steering system	Wilson epicyclic steering

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.

The first variation 'Crusader I' tank entered service in 1941, and, though manoeuvrable, it was relatively lightly armoured and under-armed. Improved armour thickness to 49mm marked out the "Crusader II' variant. The main armament for the Crusader Mark I and II's was an Ordnance QF 2 pounder (40mm) main gun, but the 'Crusader III' was fitted with an Ordnance QF 6 pounder (57mm) main gun. This variant was more than a match for the mid-generation German Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks that it faced in combat. As part of the 1st Armoured Brigade, the Crusader was to prove vital during the Battle of El Alamein, at Tobruk and in Tunisia.

Retained in service because of delays with its replacement, by late 1942, the lack of armament upgrades, plus reliability problems due to the harsh desert conditions and the appearance of Tiger I heavy tanks among the German Afrika Korps, saw the Crusader replaced by US-supplied M3 Grant and then by the Sherman medium tanks.

In 1938, Nuffield Mechanizations and Aero Limited produced their A16 design for a heavy cruiser tank based on Christie suspension. Looking for a lighter and cheaper tank to build, the General Staff requested alternatives. To this end, the A13 Mk III cruiser tank, which would enter service as the "Tank, Cruiser Mk V" (and known in service as "Covenanter"), was designed. Nuffield was, in 1939, offered the opportunity to take part in the production of the Covenanter.