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One of the primary Cruiser Tank s of the United Kingdom during World War II , the Cruiser Tank VI Crusader was perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign . Over 5,300 were built. HISTORY In 1939 Nuffield Mechanisation And Aero was offered the opportunity to take part in the production of the A13 Mk III (later To Become The Cruiser V "Covenanter") tank, which was still in design stage. Nuffield, however, preferred to work on its own version of the A13. This new tank was adopted as Cruiser Tank VI Crusader, under General Staff specification '''A15'''. Although Crusader is often referred to as an improved version of the Covenanter, in fact it was a parallel design. Despite a later start, the prototype of the Crusader was ready six weeks before the first Covenanter. Unlike earlier "Christie cruisers", Crusader had five road wheels each side to improve weight distribution. It had different engine than the Covenanter, different steering system and a conventional cooling system with radiators in the engine compartment. At the left hand side of the front hull - a place occupied by the engine radiator in the Covenanter - was mounted a small hand-traversed auxiliary turret armed with a Besa machine gun. The auxiliary turret was awkward to use and was often removed in the field or remained unoccupied. Both A13 Mk III and A15 designs shared the same main turret. Early production vehicles had a "semi-internal" cast mantlet, which was quickly replaced in production by better protected big cast mantlet with three vertical slits - for the main gun, for a coaxial Besa MG and for a sighting telescope. COMBAT HISTORY The tank first saw combat during Operation Battleaxe and played a crucial role in the following Operation Crusader which was named after it. Although the Crusader was faster than any tanks it opposed, its potential was limited by a relatively light 2-pounder gun, thin armour and mechanical problems. A particular tactical limitation was the lack of an High Explosive (HE) Shell for the main armament - these existed but were never supplied. Axis tank forces developed an extremely effective tactic of engaging British Imperial tank forces by retiring behind a screen of concealed anti-tank (AT) guns. The pursuing tanks could then be engaged by the artillery. With the German anti-tank guns out of range of the tanks' machine guns and without a high explosive shell to return fire, the tanks were left with the equally unpalatable options of either withdrawing under fire or trying to overrun the gun screen. After the completion of the North African Campaign, the availability of better tanks such as the Sherman and Cromwell relegated the Crusader to secondary duties such as Anti-aircraft mounts or gun tractors. In these roles it served for the remainder of the war. VARIANTS Crusader I (Cruiser Mk.VI) Original production version. The auxiliary turret was often removed in the field, eliminating the hull machine gunner position.
Crusader II (Cruiser Mk.VIA) The Crusader II had increased armour on hull front and turret front. As with the Mk I, the auxiliary turret was often removed.
Crusader III Due to delays with the Cavalier , the Crusader was upgunned with the 6-pounder , the first British tank to mount this gun. The larger gun restricted turret space so the crew was reduced to three, with the commander acting also as gun loader. The Crusader III first saw action at the Second Battle Of El Alamein in October.
Crusader III AA Mk I The 6-pdr was replaced with a Bofors 40mm Anti-aircraft Gun with an autoloader and powered mounting in an open topped turret. The crew numbered 4 - gun commander, gun layer, loader, and driver. Crusader III AA Mk II / Mk III A Crusader armed with twin Oerlikon 20 Mm Guns for anti-aircaft use. Mk III only differed from the Mk II by the position of the radio, which was moved to the hull in order to free some space inside the turret. A variation with triple Oerlikons that was produced in very limited quantities. Due to Allied Air Superiority none of the AA versions saw much action.
Crusader II Gun Tractor Mk I A Crusader tank hull with a simple boxy superstructure used to tow 17 Pounder Anti-tank Gun s. Crusader ARV Mk I Armored Recovery Vehicle based on turretless Crusader hull. One prototype was built in 1942. Crusader SP Guns
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