Cromwell VII Cruiser Tank, TL6 (1943-1950)
After several failed British cruiser designs, the Cromwell entered production in 1943, fitted with a derated version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine, known as the Meteor. The resulting tank was fairly boxy, with a Christie-type suspension. The first Cromwells were armed with 6-pounders (57mm) and one MG. Later versions were uparmed to 75mm guns (primarily to allow the firing of useful HE shells), though they were still ougunned by German tanks. One variant mounted a 95mm howitzer (24 shells) for close support. Fortunately, the Cromwell was reasonably fast and, unlike many prior British tanks, was mechanically reliable. It continued in British service for some years after the war. Many Cromwells had an additional DR 110 of applique armor on the front hull.
There were two significant tanks that were based on the Cromwell:
Challenger: The Cromwell hull was lengthened (with six rather
than five roadwheels per side) and an ungainly box turret placed atop it
with the excellent British 17-pdr gun. It was not very good as a battle
tank (having a high silhouette) and the extra weight (70,550 lbs loaded)
resulted in poorer performance. However, as a tank killer, with one Challenger
backing up three Cromwells, it performed reasonably well in 1944-45, but
was removed from service shortly after the war.
Comet: From experience gained from the Challenger came the Comet.
It used a normal-length Cromwell hull, modified to take a larger turret.
The new gun was essentially a de-tuned 17-pdr, designated a 77mm gun (though
it was actually 76.2mm). It used the projectiles of the 17-pdr and the
powder charges of the 3" 20cwt AA gun. It entered production in September
1944 but was not used in combat until March 1945.
Subassemblies: Medium Tank chassis +3, full rotation Medium AFV
turret +2, tracks +3
P&P: 440 kW gasoline w/tracked drivetrain, 139 gallons gasoline
(fire chance: 10) in self-sealing tanks, 170 mile range (road)
Occ: 5 NCS (driver, cannon gunner, cannon loader, bow machine
gunner and commander)
Cargo: 1 Body, 2 Tur
| Armor | F | R/L | B | T | U |
| Body | 4/205 | 4/105 | 4/105 | 4/65 | 4/25 |
| Turret | 4/245 | 4/205 | 4/185 | 4/65 | 0/0 |
| Tracks | 4/40 | 4/40 | 4/40 | 4/40 | 4/40 |
Weaponry
75mm Medium Tank Gun/OQF MKV [Turret:F] (24 HE, 40 AP)
Ground LMG/7.92mm BESA coaxial [Turret:F] (3500 solid)
Ground LMG/7.92mm BESA bow [Body:F] (1450 solid)
Equipment
Turret: Medium radio reciever/transmitter
Body: Fire extinguisher, traversing gear for turret
Statistics
| Size: 21'x10'x9' | Payload: approx. 3300 lbs | Lwt: 61,700 lbs (30.9 tons) |
| Volume: 108 | Maint.: 40 hours | Price: ? |
HT: 10
HP: 1500 [body], 540 [each track], 200 [turret]
| gSpeed: 32 | gAccel: 3 | gDecel: 20 | gMR: 0.25 | gSR: 5 | GP: very low (4/5) |
Design Notes
The turret can rotate completely in 15 seconds (24 degress per second).
Armor is Average quality (DR 82 per inch).
Sources
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles, Ian Hogg
and John Weeks, Prentice-Hall, 1980
http://www.shadowsfolly.com/wwii/Britain/CruiserMkVIIIA27M.htm