AC1 (Australian Cruiser 1)5:
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum
With Japan becoming a threat in the Pacific and England occupied by Germany, the Australian Ministry of Munitions started to consider building their own tanks in early July 1940. In November the Australian General Staff developed the requirements for a tank. It was to have a 2-pdr (40 mm) gun and two 7.7 mm (0.303") machine guns.5 It was to use as many of the same components as the American M3 Light Tank.5 The engine was to be three Cadillac automobile engines joined together.5 Cast armor was also a requirement.5
The estimated 2,000 would be needed and first ones to be ready by July 1941 and 70 per month being produced. Advisors arrived from England and development started. Among the advisors was Colonel Watson who had studied the M3 medium who helped with the design.
A wooden prototype was built in early 1941 and in October the first hull had been cast. The first 3 pilot models were completed in January 1942, only 22 months after the original General Staff specifications.
The Chullona Tank Assembly Shops in New South Wales would produce the tanks. Production started in August 1942 with a total of 66 being built. A new factory was built, but with America able to supply enough tanks for Australia's use production ceased and the tank was used for training.
AC2:
Was another design that was dropped after truck components became unavailable from US.
AC3:
Had 25 pdr howitzer mounted in turret. This had a larger turret ring and turret. The hull MG was removed. The 3 engines were given a single crankcase. Prototypes appeared in early 1943. Never went into production.
AC4:
Was to have the 17 pdr gun in turret. However, none were available and 2 25 pdr guns were installed in the turret to simulate the recoil of the 17 pdr. Prototype was built in mid-1943. One of the prototypes had a torsion bar suspension.
Description
It was designed with a one piece hull and cast turret. It had rubber-block suspension with horizontal volute bogies similar to the French Hotchkiss.
The hull MG had a armored sleeve.
Usage
Used only for training.
| AC-1 | AC-3 | AC-4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 51 | Commander, driver, hull gunner, gunner, loader.2 52,3,4,5 |
Commander, driver, gunner, loader.2 52 |
|
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 62,720 lb, 62,732 lb 28 tons1 28,489 kg1 |
62,720 lb2,3,4,5 28,450 kg4,5 |
62,720 lb2 | |
| Length w/gun | 20' 9"1 6.4 m1 |
20' 9"2,3,4,5 6.325 m4,5 |
20' 9"2 | |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 9' 1", 8' 5"1 2.59 m1 |
8' 4.75"4,5, 8' 5"2,3 2.56 m4,5 |
8' 5"2 | |
| Width | 8' 2", 8' 5", 9' 1"1 2.8 m1 |
9' 1"2,3,4,5 2.768 m4,5 |
9' 1"2 | |
| Width over tracks | ||||
| Ground clearance | 1' 3" | |||
| Ground contact length | ||||
| Ground pressure | ||||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 40 mm (2 pdr)1 | 2 pdr. OQF2 2 pdr.3,4 |
25 pdr.2,4,5 25 pdr. howitzer3 |
17 pdr.3,4,5 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 2: 7.62 mm MG1 7.7 mm, coaxial, hull |
2: Vickers .303 cal MG2 2: Vickers MG3 2: 7.7 mm MG4 |
Vickers .303 cal MG2 | |
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 130 | 1302 | ||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 4,250 | 4,2502 | ||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 651 | 252, 652, 25 - 263, 25-655 | 25 - 654 252, 652 |
|
| Hull Front, Upper | ||||
| Hull Front, Lower | ||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | ||||
| Hull Sides, Lower | ||||
| Hull Rear | ||||
| Hull Top | ||||
| Hull Bottom | ||||
| Turret Front | ||||
| Turret Sides | ||||
| Turret Rear | ||||
| Turret Top | ||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | 3 x Cadillac1 | 3: Cadillac2,3,4,5 | 3: Cadillac2 | |
| Bore / stroke | ||||
| Cooling | ||||
| Cylinders | 81 x 31 | V-82,3 | V-82 | |
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 1171 x 31 | 117 each2,3 3304,5 |
3972 | |
| Power to weight ratio | ||||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | ||||
| Steering | ||||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline1 | Gasoline2,4,5 | Gasoline2 | |
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Road consumption | ||||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360°2 | 360°2 | ||
| Max speed | 20 mph, 30 mph1 48 kph1 |
20 mph3, 30 mph2,4,5 48.2 kph4,5 |
30 mph2 | |
| Cross country speed | 20 mph2 | 20 mph2 | ||
| Road radius | 200 miles, 198 miles1 319 km1 |
200 miles2,4,5 322 km4,5 |
229 miles2 | |
| Cross country radius | ||||
| Turning radius | ||||
| Elevation limits | ||||
| Fording depth | 3' 11.5" | 4'2 | 4'2 | |
| Trench crossing | 8' | 8'4,5, 9' 6"2 2.438 m4,5 |
9' 6"2 | |
| Vertical obstacle | 2'2 | 4'2 | ||
| Climbing ability | ||||
| Suspension (Type) | Volute Scissors | |||
| Wheels each side | 6x2 | |||
| Return rollers each side | 3 | |||
| Tracks (Type) | ||||
| Length | ||||
| Width | 16.5" | 16.5"2 | 16.5"2 | |
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | ||||
| Pitch | ||||
| Tire tread | ||||
| Track centers/tread | 7' 6.5"2 | 7' 6.5"2 | ||
| Production | 1/42 - 7/43: 66 | 8/1942: 663 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
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