The Crusader
Tank was the standard British tank during the early stages of
the Second World War. This tank could reach
40mph and was well armoured and was was used in Tobruk
in June 1941. Tank crews soon found out that the Crusader was uncomfortable
to operate and the engine was unreliable.
As a result
the General Staff of the British Army
ordered a new tank to replace the Crusader
Tank. The Leyland company was given the contract and it was decided
to power the new Cromwell Tank with a Rolls Royce Meteor, detuned
aircraft engine.
The Cromwell
Tank was not used until the D-Day
Landings
in June
1944. It proved to be a fast and agile tank but its 75mm gun was outmatched
by the German tanks in the battles that took place in France during
the next few weeks. Accompanied by the American built Sherman
Tank,
the Cromwell was employed in Europe throughout the rest of the war.
Production of the Cromwell came to an end in 1945.
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